bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Approach of Complex Dual Hesitant Fuzzy Sets and Their Applications in Pattern Recognition and Medical Diagnosis
Authors: Ur Rehman Ubaid , Mahmood Tahir , Ali Zeeshan , Panityakul Thammarat
Published: April 2021

Complex dual hesitant fuzzy set (CDHFS) is an assortment of complex fuzzy set (CFS) and dual hesitant fuzzy set (DHFS). In this manuscript, the notion of the CDHFS is explored and its operational laws are discussed. The new methodology of the complex interval-valued dual hesitant fuzzy set (CIvDHFS) and its necessary laws are introduced and are also defensible with the help of examples. Further, the antilogarithmic and with-out exponential-based similarity measures, generalized similarity measures, and their important characteristics are also developed. These similarity measures are applied in the environment of pattern recognition and medical diagnosis to evaluate the proficiency and feasibility of the established measures. We also solved some numerical examples using the established measures to examine the reliability and validity of the proposed measures by comparing these with existing measures. To strengthen the proposed study, the comparative analysis is made and it is conferred that the proposed study is much more superior to the existing studies.
Identification and Prediction of Allo-Source Overpressure Caused by Vertical Transfer: Example from an HTHP Gas Reservoir in the Ledong Slope in the Yinggehai Basin
Authors: Fan Caiwei , Xu Changgui , Li Chao , Liu Aiqun , Li Hu , Hou Jingxian , Zhang Xiaoying , Lu Bin , Li Jun
Published: April 2021

The Yinggehai Basin is a typical high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) gas-bearing basin. The pressure coefficient exceeds 2.2 in deeply-buried Miocene reservoirs in the Ledong Slope, a nondiapir zone in the Yinggehai Basin. Determining the overpressure mechanisms and predicting the pore pressure are key issues for natural gas exploration and development in the Ledong Slope. In this paper, overpressure mechanisms were investigated according to the analysis of vertical effective stress-logging responses and geological evaluations, and the pore pressure was predicted using the Bowers method. The loading-unloading crossplots indicated that the overpressure that existed in reservoirs mainly consists of two types: neighbor-source and allo-source overpressure. The neighbor-source overpressure is mainly caused by the pressure transmission from the adjacent mudstone to the reservoir, with a pressure coefficient less than 1.5 ~ 1.6. The high-magnitude overpressure points with pressure coefficients greater than 1.6 show a typical unloading response, indicating elevated sandstone pressures rather than in situ mudstone pressures, which are most likely to be generated by overpressure vertical transfer. The high-magnitude overpressure fluid generated by the high mature ultradeep buried N1s source rock migrated to the shallower reservoirs via hidden faults/microfractures, which led to the vertical transfer of overpressure. Vertically transferred overpressure was generated at 1.5 ~0.2 Ma, which is beneficial for the preservation of overpressure in lenticular sandbodies. The estimated pore pressure by the Bowers method is in good agreement with the measured pressure and provides a meaningful reference for predrilling pressure prediction in nondiapir or diapir zones in the Yinggehai Basin.
Proteomic Analysis Revealed the Characteristics of Key Proteins Involved in the Regulation of Inflammatory Response, Leukocyte Transendothelial Migration, Phagocytosis, and Immune Process during Early Lung Blast Injury
Authors: Liu Yunen , Tong Changci , Cong Peifang , Liu Ying , Shi Xiuyun , Shi Lin , Mao Shun , Zhao Yan , Jin Hongxu , Hou Mingxiao
Published: April 2021

Previous studies found that blast injury caused a significant increased expression of interleukin‐1, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor, a significant decrease in the expression of IL‐10, an increase in Evans blue leakage, and a significant increase in inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs. However, the molecular characteristics of lung injury at different time points after blast exposure have not yet been reported. Therefore, in this study, tandem mass spectrometry (TMT) quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis were used for the first time to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of lung blast injury at different time points. Forty‐eight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 1 w after low‐intensity blast exposure. TMT quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis were performed to analyze protein expression profiling in the lungs from control and blast‐exposed mice, and differential protein expression was verified by Western blotting. The results demonstrated that blast exposure induced severe lung injury, leukocyte infiltration, and the production of inflammatory factors in mice. After analyzing the expression changes in global proteins and inflammation‐related proteomes after blast exposure, the results showed that a total of 6861 global proteins and 608 differentially expressed proteins were identified, of which 215, 128, 187, 232, and 65 proteins were identified at 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 1 week after blast exposure, respectively. Moreover, blast exposure‐induced 177 differentially expressed proteins were associated with inflammatory responses, which were enriched in the inflammatory response regulation, leukocyte transendothelial migration, phagocytosis, and immune response. Therefore, blast exposure may induce early inflammatory response of lung tissue by regulating the expression of key proteins in the inflammatory process, suggesting that early inflammatory response may be the initiating factor of lung blast injury. These data can provide potential therapeutic candidates or approaches for the development of future treatment of lung blast injury.
Crack Evolution Characteristics and Cracking Mechanism of Red Beds in Central Sichuan during Seepage and Swelling
Authors: Zhou Zhe , Chen Shanxiong , Wang Yinhui , Dai Zhangjun
Published: April 2021

Crack is one of the important factors affecting the engineering characteristics of expansive rock and soil. In order to study the evolution characteristics and cracking mechanism of red beds in Central Sichuan during seepage and swelling, multiple groups of cracking tests are conducted under different initial states with a self-made device. In addition, combining swelling-softening mechanism of expansive rock and numerical analysis, the swelling-cracking mechanism is studied. The following research results are obtained. (1) The evolution process of swelling cracks is divided into three stages: the generation stage, the rapid development stage, and the stabilization stage. In the rapid development stage, the increase in the crack degree accounts for 90% of the whole process. (2) The final crack degree of the sample is related to the initial water content, water absorption method, and clay mineral content. The lower the initial water content, the greater the final crack degree of the sample. The final crack degree under the soaking water absorption method is greater than that under the capillary water absorption method, and the final crack degree of mudstone is greater than that of argillaceous sandstone and sandstone. (3) The development of swelling cracks is controlled by three significant values of water absorption, which are

w

1

,

w

2

, and

w

3

, respectively, representing the beginning of cracking, the starting of the rapid development stage, and the starting of the stabilization stage. Among them,

w

2

is of great significance in engineering practice. It shows that the development of cracks has entered a stage of rapid development, and the crack degree in this stage will increase exponentially with water absorption. (4) Uneven water absorption and uneven distribution of clay minerals lead to uneven swelling of expansive rock, which in turn generates swelling stress. Under the combined action of swelling stress and water swelling-softening, the internal structure of the rock is destroyed, leading to the generation and development of the cracks. Due to the different causes of uneven expansion, the mechanical mechanism of cracking and the shape of the resulting cracks will be different.
SummEval: Re-evaluating Summarization Evaluation
Authors: Fabbri Alexander R. , Kryściński Wojciech , McCann Bryan , Xiong Caiming , Socher Richard , Radev Dragomir
Published: April 2021

The scarcity of comprehensive up-to-date studies on evaluation metrics for text summarization and the lack of consensus regarding evaluation protocols continue to inhibit progress. We address the existing shortcomings of summarization evaluation methods along five dimensions: 1) we re-evaluate 14 automatic evaluation metrics in a comprehensive and consistent fashion using neural summarization model outputs along with expert and crowd-sourced human annotations; 2) we consistently benchmark 23 recent summarization models using the aforementioned automatic evaluation metrics; 3) we assemble the largest collection of summaries generated by models trained on the CNN/DailyMail news dataset and share it in a unified format; 4) we implement and share a toolkit that provides an extensible and unified API for evaluating summarization models across a broad range of automatic metrics; and 5) we assemble and share the largest and most diverse, in terms of model types, collection of human judgments of model-generated summaries on the CNN/Daily Mail dataset annotated by both expert judges and crowd-source workers. We hope that this work will help promote a more complete evaluation protocol for text summarization as well as advance research in developing evaluation metrics that better correlate with human judgments.
An Error Analysis Framework for Shallow Surface Realization
Authors: Shimorina Anastasia , Parmentier Yannick , Gardent Claire
Published: April 2021

The metrics standardly used to evaluate Natural Language Generation (NLG) models, such as BLEU or METEOR, fail to provide information on which linguistic factors impact performance. Focusing on Surface Realization (SR), the task of converting an unordered dependency tree into a well-formed sentence, we propose a framework for error analysis which permits identifying which features of the input affect the models’ results. This framework consists of two main components: (i) correlation analyses between a wide range of syntactic metrics and standard performance metrics and (ii) a set of techniques to automatically identify syntactic constructs that often co-occur with low performance scores. We demonstrate the advantages of our framework by performing error analysis on the results of 174 system runs submitted to the Multilingual SR shared tasks; we show that dependency edge accuracy correlate with automatic metrics thereby providing a more interpretable basis for evaluation; and we suggest ways in which our framework could be used to improve models and data. The framework is available in the form of a toolkit which can be used both by campaign organizers to provide detailed, linguistically interpretable feedback on the state of the art in multilingual SR, and by individual researchers to improve models and datasets.1
The early assemblage of Middle–Late Jurassic Yanliao biota: checklist, bibliography and statistical analysis of described taxa from the Daohugou beds and coeval deposits

Authors: LIAN XIN-NENG , CAI CHEN-YANG , HUANG DI-YING
Published: April 2021

Checklists of all described organisms from the Daohugou biota, and insects from the Haifanggou Formation at Haifeng Village (Beipiao City, Liaoning Province) and the ‘Jiulongshan Formation’ at Zhouyingzi Village (Luanping County, Chengde City, Hebei Province), are provided. Fossil insects from the Daohugou biota are summarized, including a total of 760 valid species reported in 396 research papers from 2001 to April, 2021. The heyday of exploration of Daohugou insects has been lasted for a decade from 2006 to 2016 according to the number of published papers.
1. John Hunt
Authors: Yeandle David
Published: April 2021

This chapter provides an introduction to the character and person of the Rev. Dr John Hunt and his relevance within the context of the Victorian Church of England. Sections are devoted to his family and upbringing in Perth as the son of a shoemaker, his education in Scotland, including early influences on his religious development and his studies at St Andrews. Brief sections explore his scholarship and his two marriages.
3. Town Life
Authors: Yeandle David
Published: April 2021

This chapter explores Hunt’s ordination in the Church of England and first curacy (1) in working-class Bishopwearmouth (1855–59). It then examines his first metropolitan curacy (2) in Islington (1859), which proved to be unsatisfactory, and from which he was dismissed, owing to disagreements with his incumbent. Problematic interactions with the Bishop of London are documented as well as the funding of curacies by the Pastoral Aid Society. Applications for new curacies, following an advertisement in the Evangelical Record, and Hunt’s experiences obtaining references and going for trial engagements, some extraordinary, culminating in a successful, but unlicensed, engagement at Walham Green (3) are examined, which he has to leave after three months, owing to difficulties with the funding.
Performance evaluation of pipelines for mapping, variant calling and interval padding, for the analysis of NGS germline panels
Authors: Zanti Maria , Michailidou Kyriaki , Loizidou Maria A. , Machattou Christina , Pirpa Panagiota , Christodoulou Kyproula , Spyrou George M. , Kyriacou Kyriacos , Hadjisavvas Andreas
Published: April 2021

Background

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) represents a significant advancement in clinical genetics. However, its use creates several technical, data interpretation and management challenges. It is essential to follow a consistent data analysis pipeline to achieve the highest possible accuracy and avoid false variant calls. Herein, we aimed to compare the performance of twenty-eight combinations of NGS data analysis pipeline compartments, including short-read mapping (BWA-MEM, Bowtie2, Stampy), variant calling (GATK-HaplotypeCaller, GATK-UnifiedGenotyper, SAMtools) and interval padding (null, 50 bp, 100 bp) methods, along with a commercially available pipeline (BWA Enrichment, Illumina®). Fourteen germline DNA samples from breast cancer patients were sequenced using a targeted NGS panel approach and subjected to data analysis.

Results

We highlight that interval padding is required for the accurate detection of intronic variants including spliceogenic pathogenic variants (PVs). In addition, using nearly default parameters, the BWA Enrichment algorithm, failed to detect these spliceogenic PVs and a missense PV in the TP53 gene. We also recommend the BWA-MEM algorithm for sequence alignment, whereas variant calling should be performed using a combination of variant calling algorithms; GATK-HaplotypeCaller and SAMtools for the accurate detection of insertions/deletions and GATK-UnifiedGenotyper for the efficient detection of single nucleotide variant calls.

Conclusions

These findings have important implications towards the identification of clinically actionable variants through panel testing in a clinical laboratory setting, when dedicated bioinformatics personnel might not always be available. The results also reveal the necessity of improving the existing tools and/or at the same time developing new pipelines to generate more reliable and more consistent data.
Transcriptome regulation of carotenoids in five flesh-colored watermelons (Citrullus lanatus)
Authors: Yuan Pingli , Umer Muhammad Jawad , He Nan , Zhao Shengjie , Lu Xuqiang , Zhu Hongju , Gong Chengsheng , Diao Weinan , Gebremeskel Haileslassie , Kuang Hanhui , Liu Wenge
Published: April 2021

Background

Fruit flesh color in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a great index for evaluating the appearance quality and a key contributor influencing consumers’ preferences. But the molecular mechanism of this intricate trait remains largely unknown. Here, the carotenoids and transcriptome dynamics during the fruit development of cultivated watermelon with five different flesh colors were analyzed.

Results

A total of 13 carotenoids and 16,781 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1295 transcription factors (TFs), were detected in five watermelon genotypes during the fruit development. The comprehensive accumulation patterns of carotenoids were closely related to flesh color. A number of potential structural genes and transcription factors were found to be associated with the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway using comparative transcriptome analysis. The differentially expressed genes were divided into six subclusters and distributed in different GO terms and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, we performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis and predicted the hub genes in six main modules determining carotenoid contents. Cla018406 (a chaperone protein dnaJ-like protein) may be a candidate gene for β-carotene accumulation and highly expressed in orange flesh-colored fruit. Cla007686 (a zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein) was highly expressed in the red flesh-colored watermelon, maybe a key regulator of lycopene accumulation. Cla003760 (membrane protein) and Cla021635 (photosystem I reaction center subunit II) were predicted to be the hub genes and may play an essential role in yellow flesh formation.

Conclusions

The composition and contents of carotenoids in five watermelon genotypes vary greatly. A series of candidate genes were revealed through combined analysis of metabolites and transcriptome. These results provide an important data resource for dissecting candidate genes and molecular basis governing flesh color formation in watermelon fruit.
Developing and validating a risk algorithm to diagnose Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis in symptomatic Rwandan women
Authors: Wall Kristin M. , Nyombayire Julien , Parker Rachel , Ingabire Rosine , Bizimana Jean , Mukamuyango Jeannine , Mazzei Amelia , Price Matt A. , Unyuzimana Marie Aimee , Tichacek Amanda , Allen Susan , Karita Etienne
Published: April 2021

Background

Algorithms that bridge the gap between syndromic sexually transmitted infection (STI) management and treatment based in realistic diagnostic options and local epidemiology are urgently needed across Africa. Our objective was to develop and validate a risk algorithm forNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) andChlamydia trachomatis(CT) diagnosis among symptomatic Rwandan women and to compare risk algorithm performance to the current Rwandan National Criteria for NG/CT diagnosis.

Methods

The risk algorithm was derived in a cohort (n = 468) comprised of symptomatic women in Kigali who sought free screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and vaginal dysbioses at our research site. We used logistic regression to derive a risk algorithm for prediction of NG/CT infection. Ten-fold cross-validation internally validated the risk algorithm. We applied the risk algorithm to an external validation cohort also comprised of symptomatic Rwandan women (n = 305). Measures of calibration, discrimination, and screening performance of our risk algorithm compared to the current Rwandan National Criteria are presented.

Results

The prevalence of NG/CT in the derivation cohort was 34.6%. The risk algorithm included: age < =25, having no/primary education, not having full-time employment, using condoms only sometimes, not reporting genital itching, testing negative for vaginal candida, and testing positive for bacterial vaginosis. The model was well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshowp = 0.831). Higher risk scores were significantly associated with increased prevalence of NG/CT infection (p < 0.001). Using a cut-point score of > = 5, the risk algorithm had a sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 54%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 48%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 85%. Internal and external validation showed similar predictive ability of the risk algorithm, which outperformed the Rwandan National Criteria. Applying the Rwandan National Criteria cutoff of > = 2 (the current cutoff) to our derivation cohort had a sensitivity of 26%, specificity of 89%, PPV of 55%, and NPV of 69%.

Conclusions

These data support use of a locally relevant, evidence-based risk algorithm to significantly reduce the number of untreated NG/CT cases in symptomatic Rwandan women. The risk algorithm could be a cost-effective way to target treatment to those at highest NG/CT risk. The algorithm could also aid in sexually transmitted infection risk and prevention communication between providers and clients.
Indoor nocturnal noise is associated with body mass index and blood pressure: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Sha , Fong Daniel Yee Tak , Wong Janet Yuen Ha , McPherson Bradley , Lau Esther Yuet Ying , Huang Lixi , Mary Sau Man I. P.
Published: April 2021

Background

Studies have demonstrated that noise is associated with various health problems, such as obesity and hypertension. Although the evidence of the associations of noise with obesity and hypertension is inconsistent, there seems to be a stronger association of the latter. This study aimed to investigate the associations of noise with body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure in adults living in multi-story residential buildings.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hong Kong from February 2018 to September 2019. The Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, ENRICHD Social Support Instrument, Patient Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were administered to the participants. BMI and blood pressure were assessed. Nocturnal noise exposure and total sleep duration were measured for a week.

Results

Five hundred adults (66.4% female), with an average age of 39 years (range: 18–80), completed the study. The average levels of nocturnal noise, BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 51.3 dBA, 22.2 kg/m2, 116.0 mmHg, and 75.4 mmHg, respectively. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, nocturnal noise was associated with BMI (b = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.01 to 1.06, p = 0.045) and SBP (b = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.12 to 4.68, p = 0.001). No association was detected between nocturnal noise and DBP (b = 0.79, 95% CI: − 0.56 to 2.13, p = 0.253). Specifically, higher nocturnal noise was associated with higher BMI (b = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.07 to 1.38, p = 0.031) and SBP (b = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.51 to 5.31, p < 0.001) in females but only higher SBP (b = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.35 to 4.92, p < 0.001) in males. The association between noise and SBP remained significant (b = 2.41, 95% CI: 0.62 to 4.20, p = 0.008) after additionally adjusting for lifestyle, diagnosis of hypertension, psychometric constructs, and sleep.

Conclusions

Indoor nocturnal noise was associated with BMI and blood pressure in females but only blood pressure in males. It is important to control nocturnal noise or use soundproofing materials in buildings to reduce noise exposure.
Trust in health information sources and its associations with COVID-19 disruptions to social relationships and health services among people living with HIV
Authors: Kalichman Seth C. , Shkembi Bruno , Kalichman Moira O. , Eaton Lisa A.
Published: April 2021

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is potentially severe for individuals with compromised immune systems, including people living with HIV. Along with the direct health threats of COVID-19, there are disruptions to social relationships and health services resulting from mitigation efforts instituted by public health authorities. This study examined the relationship between trust in the government and trust in COVID-19 health information from the US CDC, state health departments, and social media on the experience of COVID-19 social and health services-related disruptions.

Methods

People living with HIV (N = 459) recruited through social media advertisements and chain referrals completed confidential surveys delivered through an online platform.

Results

Participants experienced high-levels of disruptions to social relationships and health services attributable to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. We also observed high-rates of inaccurate information and low-levels of trust in government and sources of COVID-19 information. Greater disruptions to social relationships were predicted by more concern about oneself and others contracting COVID-19, whereas disruptions to health services were predicted by greater concern for oneself contracting COVID-19, greater general medical mistrust, and less trust in information from the CDC.

Conclusions

Findings have implications for the necessity of rebuilding public trust in credible sources of health information and stepping up efforts to counter sources of inaccurate information.
Individual and social determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake
Authors: Viswanath K. , Bekalu Mesfin , Dhawan Dhriti , Pinnamaneni Ramya , Lang Jenna , McLoud Rachel
Published: April 2021

Background

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact and efforts are being made to speed up vaccinations. The growing problem of vaccine hesitancy may affect the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine. We examined the individual, communication and social determinants associated with vaccines uptake.

Methods

Data come from a nationwide online probability-based panel of 1012 representative adults in the United States and the survey was conducted before the vaccines were available. People under the federal poverty level and racial and ethnic minorities were oversampled. Our outcome variables of interest were likelihood of vaccinating self and likelihood of vaccinating people under one’s care (such as children) measuring behavioral intentions. Independent variables included perceptions of risk, exposure to different media for COVID-19 news, political party identification, confidence in scientists and social determinants of health. Logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain the effects of independent variables on the two outcome variables.

Results

The results indicated that 68 and 65% agreed to get the vaccine for themselves and people under their care, respectively. Risk perceptions (severity of and susceptibility to COVID-19) were significantly associated with vaccine uptake. People who relied on “conservative” news outlets, Republicans, and who had low confidence in scientists are least likely to vaccinate self or children. Non-Hispanic Blacks and those with least schooling were also less likely to receive vaccine for themselves or people in their care.

Conclusions

Our study identified race/ethnicity, risk perceptions, exposure to different media for COVID-19 news, party identification and confidence in scientists as factors that would be affecting COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The good news is that these are addressable through strategic public health communications, but a lot of work remains to be done with some urgency.
Occupational burnout and job satisfaction among physicians in times of COVID-19 crisis: a convergent parallel mixed-method study
Authors: Alrawashdeh Hamzeh Mohammad , Al-Tammemi Ala’a B. , Alzawahreh Mohammad Kh. , Al-Tamimi Ashraf , Elkholy Mohamed , Al Sarireh Fawaz , Abusamak Mohammad , Elehamer Nafisa M. K. , Malkawi Ahmad , Al-Dolat Wedad , Abu-Ismail Luai , Al-Far Ali , Ghoul Imene
Published: April 2021

Background

Healthcare professionals including physicians were subjected to an increased workload during the COVID-19 crisis, leaving them exposed to significant physical and psychological distress. Therefore, our present study aimed to (i) assess the prevalence of burnout and levels of job satisfaction among physicians in Jordan, and (ii) explore physicians’ opinions, experiences, and perceptions during the pandemic crisis.

Methods

This was a mixed-method study that utilized a structured web-based questionnaire and semi-structured individual interviews. The 10-Item Burnout Measure-Short version (BMS), and the 5-Item Short Index of Job Satisfaction (SIJS) were adopted to assess occupational burnout and job satisfaction, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, based on a conceptual framework that was developed from Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation and Job Demands-Resources Model. Descriptive statistics and regression models, as well as inductive thematic analysis, were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.

Results

A total of 973 survey responses and 11 interviews were included in our analysis. The prevalence of burnout among physicians was (57.7%). Several significant factors were positively associated with burnout, including female gender, working at highly loaded hospitals, working for long hours, doing night shifts, lack of sufficient access to personal protective equipment, and being positively tested for SARS-CoV-2. Regarding job satisfaction, regression analysis revealed that age was positively associated with higher levels of job satisfaction. On contrary, being a general practitioner or specialist, working at highly loaded hospitals, low salaries, and suffering from burnout have predicted lower levels of job satisfaction.

Besides, four themes have emerged from the thematic analysis: (i) Work-induced psychological distress during the pandemic, (ii) Decision-driven satisfactory and dissatisfactory experiences, (iii) Impact of the pandemic on doctor-patient communication and professional skills, and (iv) Economic impacts of the pandemic crisis and lockdown.

Conclusion

A significant physical and psychological burden was associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Reliable efforts should be implemented aiming at protecting physicians’ physical and mental wellbeing, enhancing their working conditions, and raising awareness about burnout. Evidence-based decisions and proper utilization of financial and human resources at institutional and national levels are believed to be crucial for the sustainability of the health workforce, especially in crises.
Stem retention and survival in revision of anatomical convertible shoulder arthroplasty to reverse arthroplasty: a Dutch registry study
Authors: Theelen Luuk M. A. , Mory Ben , Venkatesan Sharmila , Spekenbrink-Spooren Anneke , Janssen Loes , Lambers Heerspink Frederik O.
Published: April 2021

Background

Convertible stem designs allow for stem retention during revision from anatomical to reverse shoulder arthroplasty. In some cases conversion is not possible for example due to excessive soft tissue tensioning. In these cases a total revision is necessary. The primary aim of this Dutch registry study was to evaluate the unforeseen stem reversion percentages in revision of convertible anatomical shoulder arthroplasty to reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods

Shoulder arthroplasties (n = 2834) performed between 2014 and 2016 registered in the Dutch Arthroplasty Registry were selected. In 2016 94% of primary arthroplasties and 92% of revision arthroplasties were registered in the database. Arthroplasties were selected on convertibility. Mean follow-up was 2.4 years. We analysed the number of revisions for convertible and non-convertible designs. Cases with obligatory revisions as periprosthetic joint infections, stem loosening and periprosthetic fractures were excluded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate humeral stem survival. Multivariate cox-regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for stem revision.

Results

The majority of procedures (respectively 90.9 and 72.1% for the convertible and non-convertible group) concerned a conversion to reverse shoulder arthroplasty (p = .02). In the convertible group, the stem was retained in 29 out of 40 patients (72.5%). Overall implant survival was 94.5% after a mean follow-up of 2.4 years. Hemiartroplasty, fracture as primary indication, previous shoulder surgery and lower age were risk factors for revision.

Conclusions

Although convertible designs are gaining popularity due to their expected advantage in revision arthroplasty, surgeons should be aware that during a revision procedure in 27.5% of the patients an unforeseen stem revision is necessary.
COVID-19’s impact on faculty and staff at a School of Medicine in the US: what is the blueprint for the future?
Authors: Gottenborg Emily , Yu Amy , Naderi Roxana , Keniston Angela , McBeth Lauren , Morrison Katherine , Schwartz David , Burden Marisha
Published: April 2021

Background

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused unprecedented challenges within medical centers, revealing inequities embedded in the medical community and exposing fragile social support systems. While faculty and staff faced extraordinary demands in workplace duties, personal responsibilities also increased. The goal of this study was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal and professional activities of faculty and staff in order to illuminate current challenges and explore solutions.

Methods

Qualitative, semi-structured group interviews involved faculty and staff at four affiliate sites within the Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. Focus groups addressed the impact of COVID-19 on (1) Changes to roles and responsibilities at work and at home, (2) Resources utilized to manage these changes and, (3) Potential strategies for how the Department could assist faculty and staff. Thematic analysis was conducted using an inductive method at the semantic level to form themes and subthemes.

Results

Qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts revealed themes of: (1) Challenges and disparities experienced during the pandemic, (2) Disproportionate impact on women personally and professionally, (3) Institutional factors that contributed to wellness and burnout, and (4) Solutions and strategies to support faculty and staff. Within each of these themes were multiple subthemes including increased professional and personal demands, concern for personal safety, a sense of internal guilt, financial uncertainty, missed professional opportunities, and a negative impact on mentoring. Solutions were offered and included an emphasis on addressing preexisting inequities, the importance of community, and workplace flexibility.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic created burdens for already challenged faculty and staff in both their personal and professional lives. Swift action and advocacy by academic institutions is needed to support the lives and careers of our colleagues now and in the future.
Correction to: Psychological experience and coping strategies of patients in the Northeast US delaying care for infertility during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Seifer David B. , Petok William D. , Agrawal Alisha , Glenn Tanya L. , Bayer Arielle H. , Witt Barry R. , Burgin Blair D. , Lieman Harry J.
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
HLA-A2.1-restricted ECM1-derived epitope LA through DC cross-activation priming CD8+ T and NK cells: a novel therapeutic tumour vaccine
Authors: Yu Zhaojin , Liu Wensi , He Ying , Sun Mingli , Yu Jiankun , Jiao Xue , Han Qiang , Tang Haichao , Zhang Bing , Xian Yunkai , Qi Jing , Gong Jing , Xin Wang , Shi Gang , Shan Fengping , Zhang Rui , Li Jianping , Wei Minjie
Published: April 2021

Background

CD8+T cell-mediated adaptive cellular immunity and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated innate immunity both play important roles in tumour immunity. This study aimed to develop therapeutic tumour vaccines based on double-activation of CD8+T and NK cells.

Methods

The immune Epitope database, Molecular Operating Environment software, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for epitope identification. Flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, UPLC-QTOF-MS, and RNA-seq were utilized for evaluating immunity of PBMC-derived DCs, CD8+T or NK cells and related pathways.HLA-A2.1transgenic mice combined with immunologically reconstituted tumour-bearing mice were used to examine the antitumour effect and safety of epitope vaccines.

Results

We identified novel HLA-A2.1-restricted extracellular matrix protein 1(ECM1)-derived immunodominant epitopes in which LA induced a potent immune response. We also found that LA-loaded DCs upregulated the frequency of CD3+/CD8+T cells, CD45RO+/CD69+activated memory T cells, and CD3−/CD16+/CD56+NK cells. We demonstrated cytotoxic granule release of LA/DC-CTLs or LA/DC-NK cells and cytotoxicity against tumour cells and microtissue blocks via the predominant IFN-γ/perforin/granzyme B cell death pathway. Further investigating the mechanism of LA-mediated CD8+T activation, we found that LA could be internalized into DCs through phagocytosis and then formed a LA-MHC-I complex presented onto the DC surface for recognition of the T cell receptor to upregulate Zap70 phosphorylation levels to further activate CD8+T cells by DC-CTL interactions. In addition, LA-mediated DC-NK crosstalk through stimulation of the TLR4-p38 MAPK pathway increased MICA/B expression on DCs to interact with NKG2D for NK activation. Promisingly, LA could activate CD8+T cells and NK cells simultaneously via interacting with DCs to suppress tumours in vivo. Moreover, the safety of LA was confirmed.

Conclusions

LA-induced immune antitumour activity through DC cross-activation with CD8+T and NK cells, which demonstrated proof-of-concept evidence for the capability and safety of a novel therapeutic tumour vaccine.
Desert Geopolitics
Authors: Koch Natalie
Published: April 2021

In 2014 the largest dairy company in the Middle East, Almarai, purchased a farm near Vicksburg, Arizona, to grow alfalfa as feed for cattle in Saudi Arabia. Almarai is headquartered at Al Kharj farms, just outside of Riyadh, where it has a herd of more than 93,000 milk cows. Given that dairy and alfalfa farms both require an immense amount of water to maintain, what explains these developments in the deserts of Arizona and Arabia? The answers are historical and contemporary, demanding an approach to “desert geopolitics” that explains how environmental and political narratives bind experts across space and time. As a study in political geography and environmental history, this article uncovers a geopolitics of connection that has long linked the US Southwest and the Middle East, as well as the interlocking imperial visions advanced in their deserts. To understand these arid entanglements, I show how Almarai's purchase of the Vicksburg farm is part of a genealogy of exchanges between Saudi Arabia and Arizona that dates to the early 1940s. The history of Al Kharj and the decades-long agricultural connections between Arizona and Saudi Arabia sheds light on how specific actors imagine the “desert” as a naturalized site of scarcity, but also of opportunity to build politically and economically useful bridges between the two regions.
Zeolite Catalysis Enables Efficient Pyrazinone Synthesis in Water
Authors: Hisada Tomoya , Kitanosono Taku , Yamashita Yasuhiro , Kobayashi Shū
Published: April 2021

We employed herein a Linde Type A zeolite as a heterogeneous catalyst to condense amino acid amides with glyoxal affording pyrazinones. The synthesis was conducted in water without using corrosive reagents, organic solvents, or additives. The power of this “aquachemistry” was demonstrated through robust, continuous-flow synthesis.
The Role of Behavioral Frictions in Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment and Risk: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Authors: Domurat Richard , Menashe Isaac , Yin Wesley
Published: April 2021

We experimentally varied information mailed to 87,000 households in California’s health insurance marketplace to study the role of frictions in insurance take-up. Reminders about the enrollment deadline raised enrollment by 1.3 pp (16 percent) in this typically low take-up population. Heterogeneous effects of personalized subsidy information indicate misperceptions about program benefits. Consistent with an adverse selection model with frictional enrollment costs, the intervention lowered average spending risk by 5.1 percent, implying that marginal respondents were 37 percent less costly than inframarginal consumers. We observe the largest positive selection among low income consumers, who exhibit the largest frictions in enrollment. Finally, we estimate the implied value of the letter intervention to be $25 to $53 per month in subsidy dollars. These results suggest that frictions may partially explain low take-up for marketplace insurance, and that interventions reducing them can improve enrollment and market risk in exchanges. (JEL C93, G22, G52, H75, I13)
Μελέτη λεπτής υφής σε ηλιακές ραδιοεξάρσεις τύπου ΙΙ με χρήση ραδιοφασματικών παρατηρήσεων
Authors: Αρματάς Σπυρίδων
Published: April 2021

Οι ηλιακές ραδιοεξάρσεις και η λεπτή υφή που περιέχεται σε αυτές αποτελούν ένα πολύ χρήσιμο διαγνωστικό εργαλείο για την ερμηνεία των μηχανισμών εκπομπής, για τα χαρακτηριστικά της ραδιοπηγής και για τη δομή του μαγνητικού πεδίου. Η λεπτή υφή των ηλιακών ραδιοεξάρσεων περιλαμβάνει δομές πολύ μικρής διάρκειας και αντίστοιχου μικρού συχνοτικού εύρους. Η παρούσα διατριβή έθεσε ως στόχο τον εντοπισμό και την ανάδειξη δομών λεπτής υφής εντός των ραδιοεξάρσεων τύπου ΙΙ. Τα μετρικά μήκη κύματος αποτελούν το κύριο τμήμα αποτύπωσης των ραδιοεξάρσεων αυτού του τύπου στο ηλιακό στέμμα. Έτσι, οι συχνότητες παρατήρησης των δυο δεκτών (ASG-SAO) του ραδιοφασματογράφου ARTEMIS-J.L.S, που είναι εγκαταστημένος από το Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών στον δορυφορικό σταθμό του ΟΤΕ στις Θερμοπύλες, επιτρέπουν, μεταξύ άλλων, την καταγραφή των ραδιοεξάρσεων τύπου ΙΙ. Ιδιαίτερα το εύρος λειτουργίας (270-450 MHz) του υψηλής διακριτικής ικανότητας στον χρόνο (10 ms) δέκτη SAO, μας έδωσε μια προοπτική αναζήτησης πιθανών δομών λεπτής και υπέρ-λεπτής υφής εντός των ραδιοεξάρσεων τύπου ΙΙ. Ενώ στις ραδιοεξάρσεις τύπου IV έχουν καταγραφεί λεπτές υφές τύπου αιχμών εδώ και δεκαετίες, για πρώτη φορά εντοπίστηκαν και αναδείχτηκαν αντίστοιχες δομές εντός των ραδιοεξάρσεων τύπου ΙΙ. Διακρίναμε 6 φαινόμενα τα οποία καταγράφηκαν από το δέκτη SAO και υπολογίσαμε τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά (διάρκεια, συχνοτικό εύρος και σχετικό ρυθμό ολίσθησης) των δομών τύπου αιχμών που αυτά περιέχουν. Παράλληλα επιτεύχθηκε ταυτοποίηση των εντοπισμένων αιχμών του ARTΕMIS/SAO μέσω των μονοδιάστατων και δισδιάστατων εικόνων του ραδιοηλιογράφου του Nançay (NRH) για ένα από τα επιλεγμένα φαινόμενα. Τα αποτελέσματα των μετρήσεων, μας έδωσαν μια πιο ολοκληρωμένη τριδιάστατη απεικόνιση των πολύ μικρών δομών, που συνοδεύτηκαν από μετρήσεις χαρακτηριστικών όπως η θέση, οι διαστάσεις και η μετατόπιση της ραδιοπηγής. Μέσω των παρατηρήσεων αυτών προέκυψαν ενδιαφέροντα συμπεράσματα για την προέλευση των αιχμών που εντοπίστηκαν καθώς και για τη δομή του μετώπου του ΜΥΔ κρουστικού κύματος και τους συσχετιζόμενους με αυτό, μηχανισμούς εκπομπής.
Teaching mathematics as a way of thinking – not calculating
Authors: Devlin Keith
Published: April 2021

Important aspects of mathematical thinking are exploring, questioning, working systematically, visualizing, conjecturing, explaining, generalizing, justifying, and proving (but excluding the execution of formal procedures either done by machines or viewed as a “lower-level”, mechanical activity). See, for example, Stacey (2006); Devlin (2012a,b,c); Singh et al. (2018); NRICH (2020).Mathematical thinking is what this essay is about. But before I start, it should be noted that I write from the perspective of a career that spanned both academic research in pure mathematics and the world of applied mathematics, where I worked on a wide range of real-life problems for private industry and government.
Computerized cavernosography is a method of preoperative preparation of patients for penile prosthesis implantation
Authors: Kyzlasov P. , Mustafayev Ali , Bashkov A. , Udalov Yu. , Topuzov T , Martov A.
Published: April 2021

Purpose: to evaluate the possibilities of CT cavernosography in the preoperative preparation of patients, in order to determine the size of cavernous bodies, for the correct selection of the size of pemile implants.

Material and methods: 26 patients who underwent penile prosthesis implantation with preoperative preparation in the form of CT cavernosography, in order to determine the size of cavernous bodies.

Results: In 15 patients, the data on the sizes of cavernosography coincided with the true ones without errors, in 11 patients the error was 0.5 cm (which was compensated by the nozzles from the kit). During the observation of complications after the installation of penile prosthesis implantation associated with improper selection of size was not fixed.

Conclusion: CT cavernosography is an effective way of preoperative planning of patients with the aim of clarifying the size of cavernous bodies and selecting the right size of the prosthesis. This method allows you to select an implant with an accuracy of 0.5 cm, which in turn will reduce the risk of complications associated with improper selection of prostheses, as well as improve the economic component in the form of reducing the number of cases when the prosthesis was opened with an incorrectly selected size, which queue leads to financial loss of the clinic.
Calibration Algorithms for Estimating the Number of Radiogenic Deaths in a Cohort
Authors: Vasilyev E , Annenkova E , Biryukov A. , Orlov Yu. , Dumansky S , Tukov A.
Published: April 2021

Background: Development of algorithms for estimating the number of radiogenic deaths in a cohort that happened or may happen before an arbitrary moment in time. Algorithms should be based on continuous lifelong risk models and minimize the errors of estimates based on deformable non-radiation models ("seed" models) reflecting the general patterns of Russian mortality, but with the possibility of calibrating according to selected data.

Materials and methods: For the study, the databases of the register of liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident – employees of the enterprises of the Ministry of Atomic Energy of Russia were used. Persons with a non-zero dose of ionizing radiation received as a result of the accident and who were registered in the register until 2018 were selected from the register. There are 7324 men and 655 women in this sample. The number of deaths from the beginning of the observation period until 1996, 2006, 2016 from all causes, as well as from solid cancers and leukemias, was used as a reference data for the calibration. Radiation risk was calculated using UNSCEAR 2006 models. Calibration was performed using the Levenberg – Marquardt method.

Results: A general formula was obtained for assessing the excess lifetime risk of death, which is the basis of the developed algorithms. The "seed" models of the risk of death from all causes and from solid cancers and leukemia’s were obtained. In accordance with the purpose of the work, two algorithms have been developed. The first algorithm is intended for direct (without using radiation risk models) estimation of the number of radiation-induced deaths in a cohort. The second uses radiation risk models. The performance of the algorithms was tested using the industry register of liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. In particular, a 30 % calculated increase in the estimated number of deaths from radiation-induced solid cancers was recorded using calibrated models.

Conclusions: The proposed calculation algorithms for calibrated models provide reliable (if the radiation risk models are considered sufficiently adequate) estimates of the number of Chernobyl deaths for points in time preceding the current one and, presumably, more accurate predictive estimates compared to the calculation algorithm for uncalibrated models. The low sensitivity of the lifelong risk model to variations in the parameters of the background models and the total mortality model makes it possible to apply models calibrated according to the liquidator register to other closely related populations (NPP workers, etc.).