bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adenotonsillectomy Does not Alter the Risk of Upper Airway Infections in Children
Authors: Kim Jong‐Yeup , Ko Inseok , Kim Dong‐Kyu , Yu Myeong Sang
Published: March 2021

Objective

Given the conflicting evidence regarding adenotonsillectomy and the risk of upper airway infections (UAIs), including acute pharyngitis (APT), rhinosinusitis (ARS), and otitis media (AOM), we evaluated the risk of developing UAIs following adenotonsillectomy in a childhood population.

Methods

In this population‐based follow‐up study, we used data from the National Health Insurance Service‐National Sample Cohort. The adenotonsillectomy group (n = 2,377) included patients aged <10 years who underwent an adenotonsillectomy. For every patient with APT (n = 2,309), ARS (n = 2,308), and AOM (n = 2,207) who had an adenotonsillectomy, four participants were randomly selected for the control groups (n = 9,204, n = 9,196, and n = 8,788, respectively) using propensity score matching. The number of postoperative hospital visits for UAIs was recorded for 1 to 9 years, and the equivalence test was used to compare the number of visits between the adenotonsillectomy and control groups.

Results

There were no significant differences in the incidence of APT, ARS, or AOM at the margin of equivalence of difference (−0.5 < 95% confidence interval of difference < 0.5) between the two groups from postoperative year 1 to year 9. The hospital visits for these diseases gradually decreased over time in both groups. There was a significant decrease in the number of visits for APT, ARS, and AOM in the 5–9 years age group when compared with those in the <4 years age group (P < .01).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that adenotonsillectomy does not alter the frequency of UAIs in children.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 131:2376–2383, 2021
Co‐occurrence of orofacial clefts and clubfoot phenotypes in a sub‐Saharan African cohort: Whole‐exome sequencing implicates multiple syndromes and genes
Authors: Gowans Lord J. J. , Al Dhaheri Noura , Li Mary , Busch Tamara , Obiri‐Yeboah Solomon , Oti Alexander A. , Sabbah Daniel K. , Arthur Fareed K. N. , Awotoye Waheed O. , Alade Azeez A. , Twumasi Peter , Agbenorku Pius , Plange‐Rhule Gyikua , Naicker Thirona , Donkor Peter , Murray Jeffrey C. , Sobreira Nara L. M. , Butali Azeez
Published: March 2021

Background

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are congenital malformations of the face and palate, with an incidence of 1 per 700 live births. Clubfoot or congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) is a three‐dimensional abnormality of the leg, ankle, and feet that leads to the anomalous positioning of foot and ankle joints and has an incidence of 1 per 1000 live births. OFCs and CTEV may occur together or separately in certain genetic syndromes in addition to other congenital abnormalities. Here, we sought to decipher the genetic etiology of OFC and CTEV that occurred together in six probands.

Methods

At the time of recruitment, the most clinically obvious congenital anomalies in these individuals were the OFC and CTEV. We carried out whole‐exome sequencing (WES) on DNA samples from probands and available parents employing the Agilent SureSelect XT kit and Illumina HiSeq2500 platform, followed by bioinformatics analyses. WES variants were validated by clinical Sanger Sequencing.

Results

Of the six probands, we observed probable pathogenic genetic variants in four. In three probands with probable pathogenic genetic variants, each individual had variants in three different genes, whereas one proband had probable pathogenic variant in just one gene. In one proband, we observed variants in DIS3L2, a gene associated with Perlman syndrome. A second proband had variants in EPG5 (associated with Vici Syndrome), BARX1 and MKI67, while another proband had potentially etiologic variants in FRAS1 (associated with Fraser Syndrome 1), TCOF1 (associated with Treacher Collins Syndrome 1) and MKI67. The last proband had variants in FRAS1, PRDM16 (associated with Cardiomyopathy, dilated, 1LL/Left ventricular noncompaction 8) and CHD7 (associated with CHARGE syndrome/Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism 5 with or without anosmia).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that clubfoot and OFCs are two congenital abnormalities that can co‐occur in certain individuals with varying genetic causes and expressivity, warranting the need for deep phenotyping.
Ring‐shaped antenna array for multistatic microwave breast imaging systems
Authors: Lee Kwang‐Jae , Son Seong‐Ho
Published: March 2021

This article presents a ring‐shaped antenna array for multistatic microwave breast imaging. The antenna element uses a compact double‐ridged waveguide probe operating from 3 to 6 GHz, and its radiation performance is experimentally verified in a lossy immersion liquid with a pass loss of −0.67 dB/mm. Eight antenna elements are integrated into a 150 mm diameter ring structure that sufficiently surrounds the breast. The ring structure has a 15 mm groove between the antenna elements to reduce the electromagnetic influence of the ring wall to less than 0.5 dB.
High maternal folic acid intake around conception alters mouse blastocyst lineage allocation and expression of key developmental regulatory genes
Authors: Penailillo R. S. , Eckert J. J. , Burton M. A. , Burdge G. C. , Fleming T. P. , Lillycrop K. A.
Published: March 2021

Folate, a cofactor for the supply of one‐carbon groups, is required by epigenetic processes to regulate cell lineage determination during development. The intake of folic acid (FA), the synthetic form of folate, has increased significantly over the past decade, but the effects of high periconceptional FA intake on cell lineage determination in the early embryo remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of maternal high FA (HFA) intake on blastocyst development and expression of key regulatory genes. C57BL/6 adult female mice were fed either Control diet (1 mg FA) for 4 weeks before conception and during the preimplantation period (Con‐Con); Control diet for 4 weeks preconception, followed by HFA (5 mg FA) diet during preimplantation (Con‐HFA); or HFA diet for 4 weeks preconception and during preimplantation (HFA‐HFA). At E3.5, blastocyst cell number, protein, and mRNA expression were measured. In HFA‐HFA blastocysts, trophectoderm cell numbers and expression of CDX2, Oct‐4, and Nanog were reduced compared with Con‐Con blastocysts; Con‐HFA blastocysts showed lower CDX2 and Oct‐4 expression than Con‐Con blastocysts. These findings suggest periconceptional HFA intake induces changes in key regulators of embryo morphogenesis with potential implications for subsequent development.
Expression and function of interleukin‐1β is required for hamster blastocyst hatching: Involvement of hatching‐associated cathepsin proteases
Authors: Pathak Madhulika , Vani Venkatappa , Seshagiri Polani B.
Published: March 2021

In mammals, the phenomenon of blastocyst hatching is an essential prerequisite for successful implantation. Blastocyst hatching is regulated by various molecules. Of them, cytokines, expressed by preimplantation embryos, are thought to be functionally important in blastocyst development and hatching, but their mechanistic roles are not clearly understood. Here, we examined the involvement of two cytokines, namely, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and its natural antagonist, IL‐1ra, in blastocyst hatching in the golden hamster. Blastocysts expressed both cytokines and their receptor, IL‐1rt1. Supplementation of IL‐1β to cultured eight‐cell embryos improved blastocyst hatching (84.1% ± 4.2% vs. 66.6% ± 6.8%; treated vs. control). This improvement was diminished by IL‐1ra treatment (23.6% ± 12.9% vs. 76.4% ± 12.9%; treated vs. control). Interestingly, IL‐1β‐treated embryos showed increased messenger RNA expression of zonalytic proteases, that is, cathepsin‐L and ‐B by 1.9 ± 0.5‐ and 3.5 ± 0.1‐folds, respectively. This was accompanied by their increased enzyme activities; cathepsin‐L by 2.8 ± 0.7 fold and ‐B by 2.3 ± 0.7‐fold. Strikingly, proteases and IL‐1β were intensely colocalized to trophectodermal projections of hatching blastocysts. This is the first report to show the involvement of embryonic IL‐1β in regulating hatching‐associated proteases required for blastocyst hatching.
The collection and reporting of measures of deprivation in musculoskeletal research: An international survey study
Authors: Smith Toby O. , Heelas Leila , Buck Jackie , Hanson Sarah
Published: March 2021

Background

The reporting of deprivation measures is typically poor in musculoskeletal (MSK) research.

Aims

To explore MSK researcher's perspectives on the deprivation indices and measures that are, or could be, collected and reported in their studies, and potential barriers and facilitators to collecting these data.

Materials & Methods

An online international survey was undertaken to determine knowledge, use and reporting of deprivation indices and measures by MSK researchers and the factors which influence this. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

42 respondents from 16 countries completed the survey. The index of multiple deprivation was the most well‐known measure (26%) although only 17% had reported data from this index. Most commonly reported markers of deprivation were: employment (60%), education (60%) and ethnicity (50%). Most common barriers to collecting these data included: uncertainty on perceived importance of deprivation measures (79%), what should be collected (71%), and concerns on missing data and sensitivities from participants reluctant to provide this information (33%). Consensus on necessary measures to be collected and reported (88%) and improved awareness of the relationship between deprivation and MSK health (79%) were considered key activities to improve deprivation recording in MSK research.

Discussion & Conclusion

There is poor awareness of the collection and reporting of deprivation measures in MSK research. Greater understanding on the importance of these data in reducing inequalities in MSK care is needed to facilitate improvement. This would enable greater assessment of generalisability and to assess whether interventions have different effects in people from different socio‐economic groups.
Coping with shortages caused by disruptive events in automobile supply chains
Authors: Jiang Yi , Shu Jia , Song Miao
Published: March 2021

Unpredictable disruptive events significantly increase the difficulty of the management of automobile supply chains. In this paper, we propose an automobile production planning problem with component chips substitution in a finite planning horizon. The shortage of one chip can be compensated by another chip of the same type with a higher‐end feature at an additional cost. Therefore, the automobile manufacturer can divert the on‐hand inventory of chips to product lines that are more profitable in the event of shortages caused by supply chain disruptions. To cope with this, we propose a max‐min robust optimization model that captures the uncertain supplies of chips. We show that the robust model has a mixed‐integer programming equivalence that can be solved by a commercial IP solver directly. We compare the max‐min robust model with the corresponding deterministic and two‐stage stochastic models for the same problem through extensive numerical experiments. The computational results show that the max‐min robust model outperforms the other two models in terms of the average and worst‐case profits.
Summation pollution of principal component analysis and an improved algorithm for location sensitive data
Authors: Li Jingwei , Cai Xiao‐Chuan
Published: March 2021

Principal component analysis (PCA) is widely used for dimensionality reduction and unsupervised learning. The reconstruction error is sometimes large even when a large number of eigenmode is used. In this paper, we show that this unexpected error source is the pollution effect of a summation operation in the objective function of the PCA algorithm. The summation operator brings together unrelated parts of the data into the same optimization and the result is the reduction of the accuracy of the overall algorithm. We introduce a domain decomposed PCA that improves the accuracy, and surprisingly also increases the parallelism of the algorithm. To demonstrate the accuracy and parallel efficiency of the proposed algorithm, we consider three applications including a face recognition problem, a brain tumor detection problem using two‐ and three‐dimensional MRI images.
Clinical presentations and outcomes of children with cancer and COVID‐19: A systematic review
Authors: Meena Jagdish Prasad , Kumar Gupta Aditya , Tanwar Pranay , Ram Jat Kana , Mohan Pandey Ravindra , Seth Rachna
Published: March 2021

Information regarding the novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) in pediatric oncology is limited. We conducted a systematic review of the available published literature on children with cancer affected by COVID‐19. The last date of the study search was October 20, 2020, and 33 studies comprising 226 children were included for the final analysis. Data were extracted in a predefined data collection form, and the variables were extracted and analyzed. Patients with hematological malignancies were more in number. Males and children on intensive treatment were more frequently affected. Fever was the commonest symptom. The disease was asymptomatic/mild in 48% and severe in 9.6%. Consolidation, peribronchial cuffing, and consolidation with ground glass opacities were the common imaging findings. Hydroxychloroquine was the most frequently used drug for COVID‐19. About 10% of children required intensive care, and about 32% had oxygen requirements. The percentage of children who died due to COVID‐19 was 4.9%. The severity, morbidity, and mortality of COVID‐19 in pediatric oncology were more compared to the general pediatric population. This information can help in risk stratification for the management of COVID‐19.
Experimental investigation of mixed mode fracture toughness of glass fiber/epoxy laminates with sea water absorption
Authors:   Hilal, Khan Rafiullah
Published: March 2021

Degradation of composites properties with water absorption is a severe threat to its application in marine structures and humid environments. Real life composite structures often work under mixed mode loading. In this paper, Glass fiber composite has been investigated for the influence of sea water aging on the fracture toughness under mixed mode loading. Glass fiber/epoxy specimens were immersed for 21 and 35 days in sea water. Controlled mixed mode loading was applied using mixed mode bending fixture. Dry and moisture‐saturated specimens were tested for fracture toughness over the room temperature by varying lever length of MMB apparatus. Under mixed mode loading the strain‐energy release rate decreased with increase in moisture content. The approximate decrease in fracture toughness was observed 31% and 48.55%, respectively, for 21 and 35 days specimens as compared with dry specimen. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed interfacial debonding to be leading failure mechanism, representing a strong effect of sea water degradation on fracture toughness results.
Mechanical and acoustic emission properties of vegetable fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites for percussion instrument drums
Authors: Liu Fanxizi , Wang Keqin , Lang Chenhong , Guan Fuwang , Jiang Jinhua , Qiu Yiping
Published: March 2021

Percussion instrument drums are traditionally made of wood, which is becoming less available as environmental concerns grow. In order to replace wood in percussion instruments, four types of epoxy resin composites reinforced with fabrics of hemp, flax, ramie, and jute, respectively, are fabricated using vacuum assisted resin infusion molding. The tensile and flexural properties of the composites are measured and compared with those of ailanthus wood. The results show that the flexural strengths and moduli of the composites are either better or in between to those of the horizontal and vertical strips of the wood. An acoustic test method is developed to test the acoustic performance of the composites and the wood. The results show that the composites have lower acoustic dynamic moduli, acoustic radiation damping coefficients, sound velocity, and higher acoustic impedance than those of the wood due to their lower flexural moduli and higher specific densities. The shapes of the acoustic spectra for the composites are somewhat similar to those of ailanthus. The acoustic performance comprehensive scores of the four composites are also in between those of the vertical and the horizontal strips of ailanthus. It is possible to match the acoustic performance of ailanthus by increasing the flexural modulus and decreasing the specific density of the composites through reducing the yarn crimp, increasing the fiber volume fraction, and introducing microvoids into the composites.
Effects of structural variation on the self‐assembly of bis‐urea based bolaamphiphiles
Authors: Liu Jie , Schotman Maaike J. G. , Hendrix Marco M. R. M. , Lou Xianwen , Marín San Román Patricia P. , Voets Ilja K. , Sijbesma Rint P.
Published: March 2021

We report on the self‐assembly in water of a set of bis‐urea amphiphiles. A range of techniques, including dynamic light scattering, Cryo‐TEM, SAXS, and MS are used to study the effect of structural variation on the morphology of the assemblies. The length, dispersity, and end‐group of the ethylene glycol hydrophilic part of the molecule, as well as of the alkyl chain length are varied to tailor the morphology towards soluble wormlike micelles. Slight modification on molecular structures gave a large difference in self‐assembly behavior in water, giving guidelines for the design of rodlike supramolecular fibers with novel functionalities, such as strain‐stiffening and bioactivity.
Stephen Taber and the development of North American cryostratigraphy and periglacial geomorphology
Authors: Nelson Frederick E. , French Hugh M.
Published: March 2021

Stephen Taber's early work on ice segregation and frost heaving was far ahead of its time. His laboratory experiments regarding ice segregation led to our current understanding of frost heave by civil and geotechnical engineers building roads and other structures in cold regions. It also laid the foundation for later process‐oriented field studies of cold‐climate geomorphic processes. Taber's 1943 regional monograph on the origin and history of perennially frozen ground in Alaska, published by the Geological Society of America, was the earliest example of regional cryostratigraphy, and pioneered the regional permafrost and Quaternary studies undertaken later by Katasonov, Popov, Mackay, Péwé, Hopkins, and others. An important dimension of Taber's Alaska work was his application of knowledge gained through laboratory experimentation to the interpretation of ground‐ice exposures in the field. While S. W. Muller is widely regarded as the “father” of permafrost studies in North America, Taber is properly viewed as the “progenitor” of cryostratigraphic studies, although he is not yet widely regarded as such. This study uses archival resources to provide historical context regarding the development of Taber's monograph, to investigate details about the review and publication process it underwent, and to explore the question of why it remains undervalued.
Proportional assist and neurally adjusted ventilation: Clinical knowledge and future trials in newborn infants
Authors: Sindelar Richard , McKinney Robin L. , Wallström Linda , Keszler Martin
Published: March 2021

Different types of patient triggered ventilator modes have become the mainstay of ventilation in term and preterm newborn infants. Maintaining spontaneous breathing has allowed for earlier weaning and the additive effects of respiratory efforts combined with pre‐set mechanical inflations have reduced mean airway pressures, both of which are important components in trying to avoid lung injury and promote normal lung development. New sophisticated modes of assisted ventilation have been developed during the last decades where the control of ventilator support is turned over to the patient. The ventilator detects the respiratory effort and adjusts ventilatory assistance proportionally to each phase of the respiratory cycle, thus enabling the patient to have full control of the start, the duration and the amount of ventilatory assistance. In this paper we will review the literature on the ventilatory modes of proportional assist ventilation and neurally adjusted ventilatory assistance, examine the different ways the signals are analyzed, propose future studies, and suggest ways to apply these modes in the clinical environment.
Community detection in the sparse hypergraph stochastic block model
Authors: Pal Soumik , Zhu Yizhe
Published: March 2021

We consider the community detection problem in sparse random hypergraphs. Angelini et al. in [6] conjectured the existence of a sharp threshold on model parameters for community detection in sparse hypergraphs generated by a hypergraph stochastic block model. We solve the positive part of the conjecture for the case of two blocks: above the threshold, there is a spectral algorithm which asymptotically almost surely constructs a partition of the hypergraph correlated with the true partition. Our method is a generalization to random hypergraphs of the method developed by Massoulié (2014) for sparse random graphs.
Fiber Coupled Near‐Field Thermoplasmonic Emission from Gold Nanorods at 1100 K
Authors: Li Jiayu , Wuenschell Jeffrey , Li Zhuo , Bera Subhabrata , Liu Kai , Tang Renhong , Du Henry , Ohodnicki Paul R. , Shen Sheng
Published: March 2021

Nanostructured gold has attracted significant interest from materials science, chemistry, optics and photonics, and biology due to their extraordinary potential for manipulating visible and near‐infrared light through the excitation of plasmon resonances. However, gold nanostructures are rarely measured experimentally in their plasmonic properties and hardly used for high‐temperature applications because of the inherent instability in mass and shape due to the high surface energy at elevated temperatures. In this work, the first direct observation of thermally excited surface plasmons in gold nanorods at 1100 K is demonstrated. By coupling with an optical fiber in the near‐field, the thermally excited surface plasmons from gold nanorods can be converted into the propagating modes in the optical fiber and experimentally characterized in a remote manner. This fiber‐coupled technique can effectively characterize the near‐field thermoplasmonic emission from gold nanorods. A direct simulation scheme is also developed to quantitively understand the thermal emission from the array of gold nanorods. The experimental work in conjunction with the direct simulation results paves the way of using gold nanostructures as high‐temperature plasmonic nanomaterials, which has important implications in thermal energy conversion, thermal emission control, and chemical sensing.
Least favourability of the uniform distribution for tests of the concavity of a distribution function
Authors: Beare Brendan K.
Published: March 2021

A test of the concavity of a distribution function with support contained in the unit interval may be based on a statistic constructed from the Lp‐norm of the difference between an empirical distribution function and its least concave majorant. It is shown here that the uniform distribution is least favourable for such a test, in the sense that the limiting distribution of the statistic obtained under uniformity stochastically dominates the limiting distribution obtained under any other concave distribution function.
Parasitic causes of meat and organs in cattle at four slaughterhouses in Sistan‐Baluchestan Province, Southeastern Iran between 2008 and 2016
Authors: Khedri Javad , Radfar Mohammad Hossein , Nikbakht Behzad , Zahedi Rouhollah , Hosseini Mehdi , Azizzadeh Mohammad , Borji Hassan
Published: March 2021

This 8‐year (from 2008 to 2016) retrospective study calculated the percentage of carcass and organ (lung and liver) condemnations and estimated the direct financial costs at four slaughterhouses in Sistan‐Baluchestan Province, Southeastern Iran. Each carcass and organ (lung and liver) was thoroughly examined through inspection, palpation and incision following the standard protocol. Identification of the parasites was performed macroscopically. The total direct economic loss due to meat's condemnation was estimated by adding weights of each organ or carcass part and multiplying individual organ totals by their 2016 market unit price. A total of 857,039 cattle were slaughtered during this period, 64,497 livers (7.5%), 31,401 lungs (3.6%) and the carcasses of 1,171 cattle (0.1%) were condemned due to lesions caused by parasites. The main parasitic lesions in the condemned livers were attributed to Echinococcus granulosus (4.2%), Fasciola spp. (3.1%) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.1%). All the condemned lungs were due to E. granulosus (3.6%). Taenia saginata cysticerci were detected in 0.1% of inspected animals. Liver condemnation due to cystic echinococcosis was the highest in fall (4.7%, p < 0.001); while lung condemnation was the highest during spring (3.98%, p < 0.001). Liver condemnation due to Fasciola spp. was the lowest in winter (2.99%, p < 0.001). Carcass condemnation as a result of cysticercosis was the highest in summer (p < 0.001). Considering the 2016 market prices, condemnations due to the studied parasites caused direct costs estimated U.S. $ 3,191,879. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report estimating the monetary losses due to parasitic infections in the slaughterhouses of this province. Due to the high financial impact of the studied parasites, a control programme should be implemented to decrease this impact.
Higher-Order Spectral Clustering for Geometric Graphs
Authors: Avrachenkov Konstantin , Bobu Andrei , Dreveton Maximilien
Published: March 2021

The present paper is devoted to clustering geometric graphs. While the standard spectral clustering is often not effective for geometric graphs, we present an effective generalization, which we call higher-order spectral clustering. It resembles in concept the classical spectral clustering method but uses for partitioning the eigenvector associated with a higher-order eigenvalue. We establish the weak consistency of this algorithm for a wide class of geometric graphs which we call Soft Geometric Block Model. A small adjustment of the algorithm provides strong consistency. We also show that our method is effective in numerical experiments even for graphs of modest size.
Coupled simulation of flow-induced viscous and elastic anisotropy of short-fiber reinforced composites
Authors: Karl Tobias , Gatti Davide , Böhlke Thomas , Frohnapfel Bettina
Published: March 2021

The present work discusses the impact of the back coupling of the fiber orientation distribution on the base flow and on the fiber orientation itself during mold filling simulations. Flows through a channel and over a backward-facing step are investigated. Different closure approximations are considered for modeling the flow-induced evolution of anisotropy. The results corresponding to the decoupled approach, in which the effect of fibers on local fluid properties is neglected, build the basis of comparison. The modeling is limited to a laminar, incompressible, and isothermal flow of a fiber suspension consisting of rigid short fibers suspended in an isotropic Newtonian matrix fluid. A linear, anisotropic constitutive law is used in combination with a uniform fiber volume fraction of 10% and an aspect ratio of 10. To evaluate the impact of back coupling and of different closure methods in view of the manufactured solid composite the resulting anisotropic elastic properties are investigated based on the Mori–Tanaka method combined with an orientation average scheme. Relative to the range [0, 1] the pointwise difference in fiber orientation between the decoupled and the coupled approach is found to be$$\pm 5{\%}$$±5%in the channel and$$\pm 30{\%}$$±30%in the backward-facing step, respectively. The viscosity and the elasticity tensor show both significant flow-induced anisotropies as well as a strong dependence on closure and coupling.
Upper bounds for the ground state energy of the Laplacian with zero magnetic field on planar domains
Authors: Colbois Bruno , Savo Alessandro
Published: March 2021

We obtain upper bounds for the first eigenvalue of the magnetic Laplacian associated to a closed potential 1-form (hence, with zero magnetic field) acting on complex functions of a planar domain$$\Omega $$Ω, with magnetic Neumann boundary conditions. It is well known that the first eigenvalue is positive whenever the potential admits at least one non-integral flux. By gauge invariance, the lowest eigenvalue is simply zero if the domain is simply connected; then, we obtain an upper bound of the ground state energy depending only on the ratio between the number of holes and the area; modulo a numerical constant the upper bound is sharp and we show that in fact equality is attained (modulo a constant) for Aharonov-Bohm-type operators acting on domains punctured at a maximal$$\epsilon $$ϵ-net. In the last part, we show that the upper bound can be refined, provided that one can transform the given domain in a simply connected one by performing a number of cuts with sufficiently small total length; we thus obtain an upper bound of the lowest eigenvalue by the ratio between the number of holes and the area, multiplied by a Cheeger-type constant, which tends to zero when the domain is metrically close to a simply connected one.
Differences in Breast Cancer Presentation at Time of Diagnosis for Black and White Women in High Resource Settings
Authors: Osei-Twum Jo-Ann , Gedleh Sahra , Lofters Aisha , Nnorom Onye
Published: March 2021

This paper provides a narrative review of the existing literature on differences in demographic and biological features of breast cancer at time of diagnosis between Black and White women in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Electronic database searches for published peer-reviewed articles on this topic were conducted, and 78 articles were included in the final narrative review. Differences between Black and White women were compared for eight categories including age, tumour stage, size, grade, lymph node involvement, and hormone status. Black women were significantly more likely to present with less favourable tumour features at the time of diagnosis than White women. Significant differences were reported in age at diagnosis, tumour stage, size, grade and hormone status, particularly triple negative breast cancer. Limitations on the generalizability of the review findings are discussed, as well as the implications of these findings on future research, especially within the Canadian context.
Bestimmt das Angebot die Förderquote? – Effekte der räumlichen Nähe von Förderschulen auf den Anteil von Schülerinnen und Schülern mit Förderbedarf an Grundschulen
Authors: Goldan Janka , Grosche Michael
Published: March 2021

In dem vorliegenden Beitrag wird erstmals umfassend empirisch untersucht, ob vorhandene Angebotsstrukturen in Form von Förderschulen einen systematischen Einfluss auf die Zahl der als sonderpädagogisch förderbedürftig diagnostizierten Schülerinnen und Schüler an naheliegenden Grundschulen haben. Die Hypothese wird systemtheoretisch hergeleitet und anhand von statistischen und wissenschaftlichen Befunden verdeutlicht. Datenbasis bildet die amtliche Schulstatistik Nordrhein-Westfalens für die Grundschulen der Jahre 2010/11 bis 2017/18. Zur Überprüfung der Annahme, dass der Anteil der Schülerinnen und Schüler mit einem formal diagnostizierten Förderbedarf an Grundschulen höher ist, je geringer die räumliche Distanz zur nächstgelegenen Förderschule ausfällt, wird ein Tobit-Regressionsmodell unter Berücksichtigung der Mehrebenenstruktur der Daten berechnet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen für verschiedene Förderschwerpunkte – unter Kontrolle konfundierender Variablen – signifikante Effekte und bestätigen die Annahme. Mögliche Mechanismen des Effekts und Implikationen für die Praxis amtlicher Feststellungsverfahren werden vor dem Hintergrund der schulischen Inklusion beleuchtet.
Fish out of water: consumers’ unfamiliarity with the appearance of commercial fish species
Authors: Cusa Marine , Falcão Luara , De Jesus Joseph , Biolatti Cristina , Blondeel Lancelot , Bracken Fiona S. A. , Devriese Lisa , Garcés-Pastor Sandra , Minoudi Styliani , Gubili Chrysoula , Acutis Pier Luigi , Mariani Stefano
Published: March 2021

Seafood labels play an increasingly key role in assisting consumers in purchasing processed and featureless fish products, and in encouraging sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices. While informed purchasing choices are typically influenced by traceability and labelling awareness, they also depend on the consumers’ ability to identify and discriminate the fish species available on the market, which to date remains notably unexplored. We asked 720 people across six European countries to identify pictures of six fish species commonly sold in Europe. We reveal that European consumers have a poor understanding of the appearance of the fish they consume (overall ∼ 30% correct identification), with British consumers performing the poorest and Spanish ones doing best. We noted cultural association with some species, whereby the most regionally consumed fish are more easily recognized. We argue that despite recent improvements in technological solutions, stakeholder dialogue, and policy implementation, seafood market transparency will remain open to malpractice until consumers restore connection with their food.
New species in Orchidaceae from Madagascar
Authors: Hermans Johan , Rajaovelona Landy , Cribb Phillip
Published: March 2021

Five new species from Madagascar,Aerangis bovicornu(Vandeae: Angraecinae),Angraecopsis lemurelloides(Vandeae: Angraecinae), Didymoplexis stella-silvae(Gastrodieae),Habenaria crocodilium(Orchideae: Orchidinae) andPolystachya siederi(Vandeae: Polystachinae) are described and illustrated. A short summary of endemism and the history of description of orchids of Madagascar are given.
A symmetric Bloch–Okounkov theorem
Authors: van Ittersum Jan-Willem M.
Published: March 2021

The algebra of so-called shifted symmetric functions on partitions has the property that for all elements a certain generating series, called the q-bracket, is a quasimodular form. More generally, if a graded algebra Aof functions on partitions has the property that the q-bracket of every element is a quasimodular form of the same weight, we call Aa quasimodular algebra. We introduce a new quasimodular algebra $$\mathcal {T}$$Tconsisting of symmetric polynomials in the part sizes and multiplicities.
FSD-SLAM: a fast semi-direct SLAM algorithm
Authors: Dong Xiang , Cheng Long , Peng Hu , Li Teng
Published: March 2021

Current visual-based simultaneous localization and mapping(SLAM) system suffers from feature loss caused by fast motion and unstructured scene in complex environments. Addressing this problem, a fast semi-direct SLAM algorithm is proposed in this paper. The main idea of this method is to combine the feature point method with the direct method in order to improve the robustness of the system in the environment of scarce visual features and low texture. First, the feature enhancement module based on subgraph is developed to extract image feature points more stably. Second, an apparent shape weighted fusion method is proposed for camera pose estimation, which can still work robustly in the absence of feature points. Third, an incremental dynamic covariance scaling algorithm is studied for optimizing the error of camera pose estimation. Finally, based on the optimized camera pose, a face element model is designed to estimate and fuse the point cloud pose, and obtain an ideal three-dimensional point cloud map. The proposed algorithm has been tested extensively on the benchmark TUM dataset and the real environment. The results show that the algorithm has better performance than existing visual based SLAM algorithms.
Do caregivers who connect online have better outcomes? A systematic review of online peer-support interventions for caregivers of people with stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis
Authors: Wallace Sarah J. , Kothari Janaki , Jayasekera Anushki , Tointon Jessica , Baiyewun Toluwalase , Shrubsole Kirstine
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives:

This systematic review aimed to identify and appraise the evidence for online peer-support interventions for caregivers of stroke survivors (with and without aphasia), and people with dementia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Research Design and Methods:

Systematic review conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five databases were systematically searched up until September 2020: EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) scales. Interventions were described using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.

Results:

A total of 3026 records were identified from database searches. Following screening, 18 studies reporting 17 interventions were included in this review. Most studies (n = 13) reported interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. All studies incorporated an element of peer support as part of the intervention, however, most interventions (n = 15) comprised both psychosocial and educational elements. Statistically significant changes were reported for 11 interventions in one or more of the following domains: caregiver knowledge, mental health, stress, depression, distress, burden, self-efficacy, mastery, helplessness and perceived support. Qualitative outcomes included perceived reductions in stress and increased emotional and informational support.

Discussion and Implications:

Positive changes in caregiver outcomes were identified in response to multi-component online interventions (i.e., peer support in addition to education). Peer support was often poorly described, limiting the conclusions that could be drawn about the intervention components which result in better outcomes. Online interventions may provide an accessible and effective means of supporting caregivers.
Variational assimilation of web camera-derived estimates of visibility for Alaska aviation
Authors: Carley Jacob R. , Matthews Michael , Morris Matthew T. , De Pondeca Manuel S. F. V. , Colavito Jenny , Yang Runhua
Published: March 2021

The Real Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA), a two-dimensional variational analysis algorithm, is used to provide hourly analyses of surface sensible weather elements for situational awareness at spatial resolutions of 3 km over Alaska. In this work we focus on the analysis of horizontal visibility in Alaska, which is a region prone to weather related aviation accidents that are in part due to a relatively sparse observation network. In this study we evaluate the impact of assimilating estimates of horizontal visibility derived from a novel network of web cameras in Alaska with the RTMA. Results suggest that the web camera-derived estimates of visibility can capture low visibility conditions and have the potential to improve the RTMA visibility analysis under conditions of low instrument flight rules and instrument flight rules.
Judicial Review of Compliance with the Precautionary Principle from Paraquat to Blaise: “Quantitative Thresholds,” Risk Assessment, and the Gap Between Regulation and Regulatory Implementation
Authors: Leonelli Giulia Claudia
Published: March 2021

This Article frames the precautionary principle as an inner limit to the EU institutions’ broad discretion in the field of EU risk regulation, contextualizing recourse to the principle against the more encompassing backdrop of socially acceptable risk approaches. On these grounds, it inquires to what extent the precautionary principle may be successfully invoked in challenges to acts which are deemed insufficiently protective. The opening sections set the ground for the analysis. The third section analyzes challenges to regulatory acts, arguing that the Court has followed a quantitative threshold approach. This is legally tenable and appropriate; however, it cannot do justice to the true nature of the precautionary principle. The following sections analyze cases involving legislative acts. This includes an in-depth examination of the recent Blaise case, which has put judicial review of compliance with the precautionary principle under the spotlight. Against this overall background, this Article concludes that judicial review can hardly do justice to the precautionary principle, as applicable to the risk management process and underpinning EU legislative frameworks. It will ultimately rest on EU risk managers and EU legislators to ensure that the principle is applied and that its overarching goals are pursued.
Antiviral use in healthcare workers—A systematic review
Authors: Tadount Fazia , Laghdir Zineb , Quach Caroline
Published: March 2021

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are likely part of the rapid response and control in influenza pandemics and institutional outbreaks. We conducted a systematic review to appraise the current evidence on the use of NAIs among healthcare workers in the context of an influenza pandemic.
Exploring the relationship between pain and self-harm thoughts and behaviours in young people using network analysis
Authors: Hinze Verena , Ford Tamsin , Evans Robin , Gjelsvik Bergljot , Crane Catherine
Published: March 2021

Background

Self-harm thoughts and behaviours (SHTBs) are a serious public health concern in young people. Emerging research suggests that pain may be an important correlate of SHTBs in young people. However, it remains unclear whether this association is driven by the shared association with other correlates of SHTBs. This study used network analysis to delineate the relationship between SHTBs, pain and other correlates of SHTBs in a population-based sample of young people.

Methods

We performed secondary analyses, using data from 7977 young people aged 5–16 years who participated in the British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey in 2004. We used χ2 tests and network analysis to examine the complex interplay between SHTBs, pain and other correlates of SHTBs, including psychiatric disorders, childhood trauma, stressful life events, parental distress, family dysfunction, peer problems and inhibitory control deficits.

Results

Pain was associated with a doubled risk of SHTBs, and likewise, SHTBs were associated with a doubled risk of pain. Furthermore, network analysis showed that although pain was significantly associated with all measured correlates of SHTBs, except family dysfunction, pain was most strongly associated with SHTBs, after accounting for these measured correlates.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to utilise network analysis to provide novel insights into the complex relationship between SHTBs, pain and other known correlates of SHTBs in young people. Results suggest that pain is an independent correlate of SHTBs. Future research should aim to identify underlying mechanisms.
Rational and natural theology in Anne Conway's Principia
Authors: Head Jonathan
Published: March 2021

This paper gives an account of the religious epistemology and theological working methods used in Anne Conway's Principia Philosophiae antiquissimae et recentissimae (1690). It is argued that the epistemic foundations of Conway's philosophical theology are rooted in a personal revelation of the existence and nature of God, which forms a framework through which the natural world can be approached and studied as creation. In this way, we can clarify both the place of Conway's work in the intellectual currents of the seventeenth century and various aspects of her metaphysical system, such as her account of creation.
Stable Calibrations of Six-DOF Serial Robots by Using Identification Models with Equalized Singular Values
Authors: Jiang Zhouxiang , Huang Min
Published: March 2021

In typical calibration methods (kinematic or non-kinematic) for serial industrial robot, though measurement instruments with high resolutions are adopted, measurement configurations are optimized, and redundant parameters are eliminated from identification model, calibration accuracy is still limited under measurement noise. This might be because huge gaps still exist among the singular values of typical identification Jacobians, thereby causing the identification models ill conditioned. This paper addresses such problem by using new identification models established in two steps. First, the typical models are divided into the submodels with truncated singular values. In this way, the unknown parameters corresponding to the abnormal singular values are removed, thereby reducing the condition numbers of the new submodels. However, these models might still be ill conditioned. Therefore, the second step is to further centralize the singular values of each submodel by using a matrix balance method. Afterward, all submodels are well conditioned and obtain much higher observability indices compared with those of typical models. Simulation results indicate that significant improvements in the stability of identification results and the identifiability of unknown parameters are acquired by using the new identification submodels. Experimental results indicate that the proposed calibration method increases the identification accuracy without incurring additional hardware setup costs to the typical calibration method.
Dictatorship, transition, and the forging of political science in Uruguay
Authors: Ravecca Paulo
Published: March 2021

Argument

The study examines the trajectory of Uruguayan Political Science (PS) from a critical theory perspective. Concretely, the article focuses on PS’ institutional birth and early period (1980s and 1990s) and shows how broader political and ideological transformations had a significant impact on its discourse on Uruguayan democracy. Three components of such discourse are unpacked: The embrace of liberalism, the rejection of Marxism, and the uncritical engagement with the local political system, particularly the ‘traditional parties.’ The argument is supported by a systematic analysis of the 163 articles published byRevista Uruguaya de Ciencia Política(RUCP) from 1987 to 2012 and 22 in-depth interviews with scholars from theInstituto de Ciencia Política(ICP) atUniversidad de la República(UdelaR).
A novel online assessment of pragmatic and core language skills: An attempt to tease apart language domains in children
Authors: WILSON Alexander C. , BISHOP Dorothy V. M.
Published: March 2021

It remains unclear whether pragmatic language skills and core language skills (grammar and vocabulary) are distinct language domains. The present work aimed to tease apart these domains using a novel online assessment battery administered to almost 400 children aged 7 to 13 years. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that pragmatic and core language domains could be measured separately, but that both domains were highly related (r = .79). However, zero-order correlations between pragmatic tests were quite small, indicating that task-specific skills played an important role in performance, and follow-up exploratory factor analysis suggested that pragmatics might be best understood as a family of skills rather than a domain. This means that these different pragmatic skills may have different cognitive underpinnings and also need to be assessed separately. However, our overall results supported the idea that pragmatic and core aspects of language are closely related during development, with one area scaffolding development in the other.