bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is there a difference in how people from different socio-environmental contexts perceive discomfort due to glare from daylight?
Authors: Pierson C , Piderit B , Iwata T , Bodart M , Wienold J
Published: January 2021

Exposure to daylight has much to offer and should be optimised to maximise its potential. In order to harvest its benefits, any visual discomfort from daylight should be anticipated and minimised. Hence, there is the need to predict discomfort from daylight glare. While more than 20 models for predicting discomfort from daylight glare have been developed, none accurately predict it. The inclusion of additional factors in the models may improve the predictions. One such factor is the socio-environmental context of the observer. This study compares the evaluations of discomfort glare from daylight for office buildings in four socio-environmental contexts: Chile, Belgium, Japan and Switzerland. The evaluations of discomfort glare, each consisting of subjective assessments and physical measurements of a view condition, were collected at the office desks of 401 participants, although only 211 responses were used in the analyses due to exclusion rules. The results do not suggest evidence of an influence of socio-environmental context on discomfort from daylight glare. In other words, the participants in this study perceived discomfort glare similarly, regardless of their socio-environmental context.
Personal prenatal ultrasound use by women’s health professionals: An ethical analysis
Authors: Gross Marielle S , Geller Gail , Lyerly Anne Drapkin
Published: January 2021

Prenatal ultrasound use is skyrocketing despite limited evidence of improved outcomes. One factor driving this trend is the widely recognized psychological appeal of real-time fetal imaging. Meanwhile, considering imperfect safety evidence, U.S. professional guidelines dictate that prenatal ultrasound—a screening test—should be governed by expected clinical benefits—an opportunity for intervention. However, when women’s healthcare professionals themselves are pregnant, their access to ultrasound technology permits informal, personal use that may deviate from standard-of-care, e.g., for reassurance. Highlighting a poignant case wherein a pregnant obstetrician’s personal ultrasound use had unforeseen negative consequences, we explore this issue within context of professional ethics and informal medical care. We discuss how women’s health professionals’ self-care may influence and inform prenatal care at large. We advocate curtailing informal prenatal ultrasound use, but also potentially broadening accepted indications for or relaxing proscriptions against ultrasounds for patients. Further research and updated, evidence-based, ethically-sound guidelines are needed.
Health Care Utilization Following Inpatient Femoropopliteal Revascularization With Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis
Authors: Gurin Michael I. , Beyer Sebastian E. , Weinberg Mitchell , Parikh Sahil A. , Armstrong Ehrin J. , Albaghdadi Mazen S. , Aronow Herbert D. , Carroll Brett J. , Yeh Robert , Secemsky Eric A.
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To examine nationwide variations in inpatient use of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for treating femoropopliteal segment occlusive disease and whether DCBs are associated with reduced early out-of-hospital health care utilization.

Materials and Methods

The study included 24,022 patients who survived hospitalization for femoropopliteal revascularization using DCB angioplasty (n=7850) or uncoated balloon angioplasty (n=16,172) in the 2016–2017 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Differences in patient, hospitalization, and institutional characteristics were compared between treatment strategies. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine differences in 6-month rates of readmission, amputation, and repeat intervention. Results are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Patients treated with DCBs had a higher prevalence of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco use. Revascularization with a DCB was associated with shorter hospitalizations, lower median hospitalization costs, and fewer inpatient lower extremity amputations. Readmissions at 6 months were decreased in patients treated with DCBs compared with uncoated balloon angioplasty (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.98, p=0.014). The most common reasons for readmission were complications related to procedures (15.4%) and diabetes (15.4%). Compared to patients treated with DCBs, patients treated with uncoated balloon angioplasty were more often readmitted with early procedure-related complications (13.3% vs 17.5%). There were no between-group differences in readmission for sepsis, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure.

Conclusion

DCBs are less often used compared to uncoated balloons during inpatient femoropopliteal procedures. While DCB utilization is associated with more severe comorbidities and advanced peripheral artery disease, readmission rates are decreased through the first 6 months.
Parental Feeding Concerns for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Family-Centered Analysis
Authors: Bonsall Aaron , Thullen Matthew , Stevenson Brittney Lynn , Sohl Kristin
Published: January 2021

This study identifies and describes feeding concerns of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and examines the extent to which parents relate those concerns as having been addressed by therapists. Survey data were collected from 113 parents of children with ASD. Of the parents surveyed, 68% described a past or present concern with feeding; 60% of those parents with concerns said a therapist had not addressed those concerns. Feeding concerns were more likely addressed when therapists shared parent’s concerns. Specific types of concerns, such as those around food selectivity and food refusal, were more likely addressed than difficulties around mealtime. A gap is identified between parental report of feeding difficulties and parental report of professional services addressing feeding needs. This analysis presents an opportunity for occupational therapists in the area of feeding, particularly around identifying and addressing parental concerns.
Implementation of vibration and stability evaluation criteria for rotating machineries equipped with active magnetic bearings
Authors: Li Kexiang , Peng Cong , Deng Zhiquan , Zhang Zhongming , Cai Kaiwen
Published: January 2021

Imbalance vibration is the main factor affecting the stability of rotating machineries equipped with active magnetic bearings (AMB). Accordingly, for safe and reliable operation, ISO 14839 standard sets out guidelines for measuring and evaluating the vibration and stability. However, technical approaches to realize fulfillment of the evaluation criteria have never been studied in theory. This paper presents insights of these criteria and proposes effective methods to simultaneously implement these evaluation criteria. Based on imbalance vibration model of AMB-rotor system, the theoretical connections between these evaluation indices are revealed. In order to obtain accurate vibration model of single-input single-output (SISO) AMB-rotor system, modal analysis is carried out and equivalent mass of SISO system is figured out. Afterwards, with the analysis of sensitivity function in theory, new indices of the evaluation criteria are proposed, which helps establish requirements of controller design and rotor balance quality. Finally, through experimental verification on a test rig, the limitations on the evaluation criteria can be negligible, and the proposed methods to simultaneously implement the evaluation criteria are validated.
Comment: The Next Frontier: Prosody Research Gets Interpersonal
Authors: Pell Marc D. , Kotz Sonja A.
Published: January 2021

Neurocognitive models (e.g., Schirmer & Kotz, 2006) have helped to characterize how listeners incrementally derive meaning from vocal expressions of emotion in spoken language, what neural mechanisms are involved at different processing stages, and their relative time course. But how can these insights be applied to communicative situations in which prosody serves a predominantly interpersonal function? This comment examines recent data highlighting the dynamic interplay of prosody and language, when vocal attributes serve the sociopragmatic goals of the speaker or reveal interpersonal information that listeners use to construct a mental representation of what is being communicated. Our comment serves as a beacon to researchers interested in how the neurocognitive system “makes sense” of socioemotive aspects of prosody.
Crying babies
Authors: Goodhead Harriet , Wilkinson Hannah , Craver Lily
Published: January 2021

‘My baby won’t stop crying doctor!’ - This presentation to a GP surgery can make even the more experienced practitioner feel uneasy. The complaint is non-specific with a broad range of differential diagnoses including severe or potentially life-threatening pathologies. Despite this, it is reassuring to know that in most cases, infant crying is not only a benign but also a normal behaviour. This article will discuss how to distinguish normal infant crying from a pathological cause and subsequent management approaches.
Experimental design of the Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Pulmonary Hypertension (EDIPHY) trial
Authors: Walsh Thomas P. , Baird Grayson L. , Atalay Michael K. , Agarwal Saurabh , Arcuri Daniel , Klinger James R. , Mullin Christopher J. , Morreo Heather , Normandin Brynn , Shiva Sruti , Whittenhall Mary , Ventetuolo Corey E.
Published: January 2021

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains life‐limiting despite numerous approved vasodilator therapies. Right ventricular (RV) function determines outcome in PAH but no treatments directly target RV adaptation. PAH is more common in women, yet women have better RV function and survival as compared to men with PAH. Lower levels of the adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester are associated with more severe pulmonary vascular disease, worse RV function, and mortality independent of other sex hormones in men and women with PAH. DHEA has direct effects on nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) synthesis and signaling, direct antihypertrophic effects on cardiomyocytes, and mitigates oxidative stress. Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone in Pulmonary Hypertension (EDIPHY) is an on‐going randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover trial of DHEA in men (n = 13) and pre‐ and post‐menopausal women (n = 13) with Group 1 PAH funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. We will determine whether orally administered DHEA 50 mg daily for 18 weeks affects RV longitudinal strain measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, markers of RV remodeling and oxidative stress, NO and ET‐1 signaling, sex hormone levels, other PAH intermediate end points, side effects, and safety. The crossover design will elucidate sex‐based phenotypes in PAH and whether active treatment with DHEA impacts NO and ET‐1 biosynthesis. EDIPHY is the first clinical trial of an endogenous sex hormone in PAH. Herein we present the study’s rationale and experimental design.
Study of the effect of Occlutech Atrial Flow Regulator on symptoms, hemodynamics, and echocardiographic parameters in advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Sivakumar Kothandam , Rohitraj Gopalavilasam R. , Rajendran Monica , Thivianathan Nithya
Published: January 2021

Optimal sized balloon atrial septostomy improves hemodynamics in advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension. Occlutech Atrial Flow Regulator is designed to provide an atrial septal fenestration diameter titrated according to the age and right atrial pressures. This observational study analyzed symptoms, exercise distance, oxygen saturations, hemodynamics and echocardiographic parameters after Atrial Flow Regulator implantation in patients with syncope or right‐heart failure. Patients with high‐risk predictors of mortality during septostomy were scrutinized. Thirty‐nine patients (9 children) with syncope (34/39) or right‐heart failure (27/39) underwent Atrial Flow Regulator implantation without procedural complications. Six‐minute walk distance increased from 310 ± 158.2 to 376.4 ± 182.6 m, none developed syncope. Oxygen saturations reduced from 96.4 ± 6.4% to 92 ± 4.9% at rest and further to 80.3 ± 5.9% on exercise. Right atrial pressures reduced from 9.4 ± 5 (2–27) mmHg to 6.9 ± 2.6 (1–12) mmHg, while cardiac index increased from 2.4 ± 0.8 (0.98–4.3) to 3 ± 1 (1.1–5.3) L/min/m2 and systemic oxygen transport increased from 546.1 ± 157.9 (256.2–910.5) to 637.2 ± 191.1 (301.3–1020.2) ml/min. Echocardiographic improvement included significant reduction of pericardial effusion and inferior caval congestion at a median follow‐up of 37 months. Overall survival improved except two early and one late deaths in high‐risk patients. Five of seven patients with advanced disease and key hemodynamic predictors of mortality survived. Acute hemodynamic benefits in pulmonary arterial hypertension after Atrial Flow Regulator were improved cardiac output, systemic oxygen transport, and reduced right atrial pressures. Improvement of symptoms especially syncope, exercise duration, and right ventricular systolic function as well as device patency were sustained on mid‐term follow‐up. Implantation was safe in all including young children without procedural complications. Mortality was noted only in patients who had high‐risk predictors and patients at advanced stage of the disease.
Coresidence with kin and subjective well-being in the transition to adulthood: A comparison of the United States, Germany, Japan and China
Authors: Nauck Bernhard , Ren Qiang
Published: January 2021

Although residence patterns during the transition to adulthood are dynamic and have a high influence on subjective well-being, empirical studies are scarce, especially with regard to international comparisons. The way living arrangements during the transition to adulthood are normatively framed in bilinear, neolocal kinship cultures is very different from the way they are framed in patrilineal, patrilocal cultures. Thus, living arrangements such as living alone, living with parents and especially living with in-laws should correspond to varying levels of well-being depending on the culture. Based on panel data (National Longitudinal Survey of Youth – NLSY97, German Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics, Japanese Life Course Panel Survey and China Family Panel Studies), we analyzed the levels of subjective well-being of young adults aged 20–35 in households of varying family composition across cultures and over time. Differences between patrilineal, patrilocal kinship systems in Japan and China and bilineal, neolocal kinship systems in Germany and the United States became evident in lower levels of subjective well-being of young adults in China and Japan than in Germany and the United States, when living alone or in single-parent families. Germany and the United States were similar in their strong gender differences in subjective well-being, with young women showing a much lower level than men, but differed with regard to the variation by coresidence type, which was higher in the United States than in Germany. Gender differences in Japan and China were related to living in extended households, which resulted in very low levels of subjective well-being for young women, whereas the impact was small in China. Despite the differences in kinship systems, institutional regulations, and opportunity structures, living in a nuclear family of procreation was associated with the highest level of subjective well-being for young men and women in all four countries.
Seeking Proxies for Internal States as a Possible Alternative for Rationality and Experientiality
Authors: Jokić Biljana , Purić Danka
Published: January 2021

The Cognitive–Experiential Self-Theory (CEST) proposes rationality and experientiality as independent personality constructs explaining how people process information. Recent empirical studies show that some people have low scores on both of these dimensions (the so-called disengaged profile). Another model, Seeking Proxies for Internal States (SPIS), primarily proposed to explain obsessive-compulsive tendencies, provides a framework under which both rationality and experientiality can be understood as internal resources of a person. Low rationality and experientiality could thus be overcome by seeking external clues. In two subsequent studies on independent nonclinical samples (psychology students N = 268 and technical sciences students N = 549), we examined the relationship between constructs from CEST and SPIS models, and in addition, explored their patterns of interoceptive awareness (IA) in Study 2. A latent profile analysis showed that the disengaged profile was related to high SPIS and OC tendencies in both samples. In addition, rationality and experientiality had similar and more positive correlations with some IA dimensions, compared to SPIS (and OCI)—IA correlations. Thus, impaired connection to internal states together with OC tendencies might contribute to the understanding of the specific thinking style of those who do not primarily rely on either rationality or experientiality.
Precision Medicine for Breath-Focused Mind-Body Therapies for Stress and Anxiety: Are We Ready Yet?
Authors: Lavretsky Helen , Feldman Jack L
Published: January 2021

In this viewpoint, we present an argument for transdisciplinary “precision medicine” approaches that combine studies of basic neurobiology of breathing in animal and human models of stress that can help characterize physiological and neural biomarkers and mechanisms of breathing control and emotion regulation in humans. Such mechanistic research is fundamental for the development of more effective and mechanism-based mind-body therapies. The potential for this research to positively impact public health is high, as breathing techniques are inexpensive, accessible, and cross-culturally accepted, with fewer complications then observed with other standard therapies for stress-related disorders.
PARP inhibitors and the Kidney
Authors: Deshpande Priya P , Perazella Mark A , Jhaveri Kenar D
Published: January 2021

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are crucial in repairing DNA after a damaging event. However, several studies indicate that more extensive DNA disruption causes overactivity of PARP and can ultimately lead to cellular necrosis particularly in the setting of ischemia- related or sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI). Though the anti-cancer effects of PARP inhibitors (PARPis) are well known, especially in cases of Breast Cancer gene mutations, there exists a potential for the use of these drugs in treating ischemic AKI. Though the beneficial effects of PARPis in attenuating ischemic AKI has been shown in animal models, testing has yet to be done in humans. Studies have also found that PARPis interact with proximal tubular transporter channels and cause a physiologic increase serum creatinine, however the long- term effects on kidney function, proteinuria and hematuria are unclear. The use of PARPis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and malignancy may result in the amplification of adverse effects such as anemia and thrombocytopenia. Safe dosing of these agents in patients with advanced CKD and end stage kidney disease (ESKD) is yet to be determined as these populations were excluded from clinical trials. This manuscript reviews the current data on the kidney effects of PARPis and opens the door to further research in this arena.
Expertise, legitimacy and subjectivity: Three techniques for a will to govern low carbon energy projects in India
Authors: Kumar Ankit
Published: January 2021

This paper advances the understanding of the politics of governing energy for development projects by non-state actors. Building on Tania Murray Li’s work on trusteeship, and drawing on governmentality studies, along with ethnographic insights from two low carbon energy projects, this paper illuminates two less examined aspects of politics of energy projects. First, the designs of these projects embed particular imagined subjects, and specific techniques, to afford governance. In particular, trustees use techniques of expertise, techniques of legitimacy, and techniques of subjectivity. Second, trusteeship is a contingent phenomenon as a clear line between trustees and subjects is often missing. Many actors, simultaneously trustees and subjects, also carry socio-cultural subjectivities of class, caste and gender, which complicates the conduct of conduct. Some trustees look for benefiting people, some for profits, some to make a political career and, yet others, to support their social groups. By engaging with trusteeship, the paper flags that the governance techniques do not always benefit the ‘beneficiaries’ and are often counterproductive. The article emerges from nine-month ethnographic research done in 2012–13 in five villages in India using participant observations, interviews and group discussion, in addition to analysis of project websites and documentary materials.
Estimating public space metrics from nineteenth-century urban cartography: Barcelona’s Cerdà Plan of urban expansion
Authors: Santasusagna Riu Albert , Tort Donada Joan , Vadrí Fortuny Maria Teresa , Paül Carril Valerià
Published: January 2021

Urban cartography enables us to trace the historical and spatial evolution of human settlements, but it also furnishes us with the opportunity to obtain and analyse urban data from the perspective of the present day. Urban plans drafted for the reform and expansion of a city can provide us with valuable urban information about the planned use of new public space. In Western Europe, the historical cartography of Barcelona (Spain) maps the city’s mid-nineteenth century urban expansion project designed to fulfil egalitarian, social and hygienist goals. Here, using geographic information system tools, we digitize Barcelona’s cartography so as to create an urban dataset based on the city’s urban plans – the Cerdà Plans (1859 and 1863) – and to estimate its public space typology. Social centres, hospitals, green spaces, residential areas and communication infrastructures are identified and metrised, and urban public open spaces are analysed using various urban indicators. The urban data thus obtained represent a notable advance on attempts to quantify Cerdà’s original project. The importance attached to public space (>75%) and to both communication infrastructure and urban public open spaces is indicative of the desire to create a new city and to break with the values of old Barcelona. In short, the data obtained serve to undertake a detailed comparison with the present-day reality of Barcelona.
Impaired T- and NK-cell reconstitution after haploidentical HCT with posttransplant cyclophosphamide
Authors: Rambaldi Benedetta , Kim Haesook T. , Reynolds Carol , Chamling Rai Sharmila , Arihara Yohei , Kubo Tomohiro , Buon Leutz , Gooptu Mahasweta , Koreth John , Cutler Corey , Nikiforow Sarah , Ho Vincent T. , Alyea Edwin P. , Antin Joseph H. , Wu Catherine J. , Soiffer Robert J. , Ritz Jerome , Romee Rizwan
Published: January 2021

Administration of posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has significantly expanded the number of patients undergoing HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT). To examine immune reconstitution in these patients, we monitored T- and natural killer (NK)-cell recovery in 60 patients receiving bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts after haplo-HCT with PTCy and 35 patients receiving HLA-matched donor PBSC grafts with standard graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Compared with HLA-matched recipients, early T-cell recovery was delayed in haplo-HCT patients and skewed toward effector memory T cells with markedly reduced naive T cells. We found higher regulatory T (Treg)-cell/conventional T (Tcon)-cell ratios early after HCT and increased PD-1 expression on memory T cells. Within the haplo-HCT, patients who did not develop chronic GVHD (cGVHD) had higher PD-1 expression on central and effector memory CD4+ Treg cells at 1 month after transplant. These findings suggest an immunologic milieu that promotes immune tolerance in haplo-HCT patients. NK cells were decreased early after haplo-HCT with preferential expansion of immature CD56brightCD16− NK cells compared with matched donor transplants. One month after transplant, mass cytometry revealed enrichment of immature NK-cell metaclusters with high NKG2A, low CD57, and low killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor expression after haplo-HCT, which partially recovered 3 months post-HCT. At 2 months, immature NK cells from both groups were functionally impaired, but interleukin-15 priming corrected these defects in vitro. Increased immature/mature NK-cell ratios were associated with cytomegalovirus reactivation and increased incidence of cGVHD after haplo-HCT. These homeostatic imbalances in T- and NK-cell reconstitution after haplo-HCT reveal opportunities for early immune-based interventions to optimize clinical outcomes.
A predictive nomogram for mortality of cancer patients with invasive candidiasis: a 10-year study in a cancer center of North China
Authors: Li Ding , Li Tianjiao , Bai Changsen , Zhang Qing , Li Zheng , Li Xichuan
Published: January 2021

Background

Invasive candidiasis is the most common fungal disease among hospitalized patients and continues to be a major cause of mortality. Risk factors for mortality have been studied previously but rarely developed into a predictive nomogram, especially for cancer patients. We constructed a nomogram for mortality prediction based on a retrospective review of 10 years of data for cancer patients with invasive candidiasis.

Methods

Clinical data for cancer patients with invasive candidiasis during the period of 2010–2019 were studied; the cases were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts. Variables in the training cohort were subjected to a predictive nomogram based on multivariate logistic regression analysis and a stepwise algorithm. We assessed the performance of the nomogram through the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA) in both the training and validation cohorts.

Results

A total of 207 cases of invasive candidiasis were examined, and the crude 30-day mortality was 28.0%. Candida albicans (48.3%) was the predominant species responsible for infection, followed by the Candida glabrata complex (24.2%) and Candida tropicalis (10.1%). The training and validation cohorts contained 147 and 60 cases, respectively. The predictive nomogram consisted of bloodstream infections, intensive care unit (ICU) admitted > 3 days, no prior surgery, metastasis and no source control. The AUCs of the training and validation cohorts were 0.895 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.846–0.945) and 0.862 (95% CI, 0.770–0.955), respectively. The net benefit of the model performed better than “treatment for all” in DCA and was also better for opting low-risk patients out of treatment than “treatment for none” in opt-out DCA.

Conclusion

Cancer patients with invasive candidiasis exhibit high crude mortality. The predictive nomogram established in this study can provide a probability of mortality for a given patient, which will be beneficial for therapeutic strategies and outcome improvement.
Asymmetric response to ranibizumab in mixed choroidal neovascularization in a neovascular age-related macular degeneration diagnosed on OCT angiography – case report
Authors: Pencak Martin , Veith Miroslav
Published: January 2021

Background

To present a case report of a patient with a mixed choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) with an asymmetric response to ranibizumab diagnosed on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTa).

Case presentation

A 61-year-old male was referred to our department in September 2017 due to decreased vision in his left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 43 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters in the left eye. Macular edema was present in the left eye, and a mixed CNV was identified on the OCTa. Therapy with intravitreal ranibizumab was commenced. After 5 ranibizumab injections, the BCVA was 42 ETDRS letters, and considerable intraretinal edema was still present. OCTa showed a resolution of the type 2 lesion of the mixed CNV; however, the type 1 lesion had continued to grow. The patient was then switched to intravitreal aflibercept. After 3 monthly aflibercept injections, the BCVA improved to 53 ETDRS letters, and a reduction of the edema was observed on the optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCTa showed a decrease in both the area and vessel density in the type 1 lesion of the CNV. Therapy with aflibercept was continued; however, while the intraretinal edema continued to improve, atrophy developed in the macula and the BCVA worsened to 43 ETDRS letters.

Conclusions

Ranibizumab nonresponse in a neovascular age-related macular degeneration is not uncommon. However, to our knowledge, this is the first described case of an asymmetric response to ranibizumab in a mixed CNV. While the type 2 lesion of the CNV reacted swiftly to the ranibizumab therapy, the type 1 lesion continued to grow. As with some other cases of ranibizumab resistance, switching to aflibercept proved effective.
Analysis of hand-forearm anthropometric components in assessing handgrip and pinch strengths of school-aged children and adolescents: a partial least squares (PLS) approach
Authors: Rostamzadeh Sajjad , Saremi Mahnaz , Vosoughi Shahram , Bradtmiller Bruce , Janani Leila , Farshad Ali Asghar , Taheri Fereshteh
Published: January 2021

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of hand-forearm anthropometric dimensions on handgrip and pinch strengths among 7–18 years children and adolescents and to investigate the extent to which these variables can be used to predict hand strength.

Methods

Four types of hand strengths including handgrip, tip to tip, key, and three-jaw chuck pinches were measured in 2637 healthy children and adolescents (1391 boys and 1246 girls) aged 7–18 years using standard adjustable Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer and pinch gauge. A set of 17 hand-forearm anthropometric dimensions were also measured with an accurate digital caliper and tape measure.

Results

No significant differences were found between the hand strengths of boys and girls up to the age of 10 years. Gender related differences in handgrip and pinches were observed from the age of 11 years onwards, with boys always being stronger. The dominant hand was stronger than the non-dominant hand (8% for handgrip and by about 10% for all three types of pinches). The strongest correlations were found between the hand length and hand strengths (r > 0.83 for handgrip and three all pinches; p < 0.001, 2-tailed). Based on the partial least squares (PLS) analysis, 8 out of 17 anthropometric indices including hand length, hand circumference, thumb length, index finger length, middle finger length, and forearm length had considerable loadings in the PLS analysis, which together accounted for 46% of the total variance.

Conclusions

These results may be used by health professionals in clinical settings as well as by designers to create ergonomic hand tools.
Correction to: Amyloid-β misfolding as a plasma biomarker indicates risk for future clinical Alzheimer’s disease in individuals with subjective cognitive decline
Authors: Stockmann Julia , Verberk Inge M. W. , Timmesfeld Nina , Denz Robin , Budde Brian , Lange-Leifhelm Julia , Scheltens Philip , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Nabers Andreas , Teunissen Charlotte E. , Gerwert Klaus
Published: January 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Cloud-based intelligent self-diagnosis and department recommendation service using Chinese medical BERT
Authors: Wang Junshu , Zhang Guoming , Wang Wei , Zhang Ka , Sheng Yehua
Published: January 2021

With the rapid development of hospital informatization and Internet medical service in recent years, most hospitals have launched online hospital appointment registration systems to remove patient queues and improve the efficiency of medical services. However, most of the patients lack professional medical knowledge and have no idea of how to choose department when registering. To instruct the patients to seek medical care and register effectively, we proposed CIDRS, an intelligent self-diagnosis and department recommendation framework based on Chinese medical Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) in the cloud computing environment. We also established a Chinese BERT model (CHMBERT) trained on a large-scale Chinese medical text corpus. This model was used to optimize self-diagnosis and department recommendation tasks. To solve the limited computing power of terminals, we deployed the proposed framework in a cloud computing environment based on container and micro-service technologies. Real-world medical datasets from hospitals were used in the experiments, and results showed that the proposed model was superior to the traditional deep learning models and other pre-trained language models in terms of performance.
Past, present, and future of smart learning: a topic-based bibliometric analysis
Authors: Chen Xieling , Zou Di , Xie Haoran , Wang Fu Lee
Published: January 2021

Innovative information and communication technologies have reformed higher education from the traditional way to smart learning. Smart learning applies technological and social developments and facilitates effective personalized learning with innovative technologies, especially smart devices and online technologies. Smart learning has attracted increasing research interest from the academia. This study aims to comprehensively review the research field of smart learning by conducting a topic modeling analysis of 555 smart learning publications collected from the Scopus database. In particular, it seeks answers to (1) what the major research topics concerning smart learning were, and (2) how these topics evolved. Results demonstrate several major research issues, for example, Interactive and multimedia learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, Attendance and attention recognition, Blended learning for smart learning, and Affective and biometric computing. Furthermore, several emerging topics were identified, for example, Smart learning analytics, Software engineering for e-learning systems, IoT (Internet of things) and cloud computing, and STEM education. Additionally, potential inter-topic directions were highlighted, for instance, Attendance and attention recognition and IoT and cloud computing, Semantics and ontology and Mobile learning, Feedback and assessment and MOOCs (massive open online courses) and course content management, as well as Blended learning for smart learning and Ecosystem and ambient intelligence.
A novel roadmap connecting the 1H-MRS total choline resonance to all hallmarks of cancer following targeted therapy
Authors: Iorio Egidio , Podo Franca , Leach Martin O. , Koutcher Jason , Blankenberg Francis G. , Norfray Joseph F.
Published: January 2021

This review describes a cellular adaptive stress signalling roadmap connecting the1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) total choline peak at 3.2 ppm (tCho) to cancer response after targeted therapy (TT). Recent research on cell signalling, tCho metabolism, and TT of cancer has been retrospectively re-examined. Signalling research describes how the unfolded protein response (UPR), a major stress signalling network, transduces, regulates, and rewires the total membrane turnover in different cancer hallmarks after a TT stress. In particular, the UPR signalling maintains or increases total membrane turnover in all pro-survival hallmarks, whilst dramatically decreases turnover during apoptosis, a pro-death hallmark. Recent research depicts the TT-induced stress as a crucial event responsible for interrupting UPR pro-survival pathways, leading to an UPR-mediated cell death. The1H-MRS tCho resonance represents the total mobile precursors and products during the enzymatic modification of phosphatidylcholine membrane abundance. The tCho profile represents a biomarker that noninvasively monitors TT-induced enzymatic changes in total membrane turnover in a wide variety of existing and new anticancer treatments targeting specific layers of the UPR signalling network. Our overview strongly suggests further evaluating and validating the1H-MRS tCho peak as a powerful noninvasive imaging biomarker of cancer response in TT clinical trials.
Induction of resistance in chili against Sclerotium rolfsii by plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria and Anagallis arvensis
Authors: Sharf Warda , Javaid Arshad , Shoaib Amna , Khan Iqra Haider
Published: January 2021

Background

Sclerotium rolfsiiis a soil-borne fungal pathogen causing diseases in more than 500 plant species. It causes southern blight disease in chili. Chemical fungicides are used to control this disease, which also pollute the environment. The present study was designed to assess the potential of two species of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) viz.Bacillus megateriumandPseudomonas fluorescence, and an allelopathic weed,Anagallis arvensisL., for the control of southern blight disease of chili.

Results

Initially, three PGPR strains, viz.B. megateriumOSR3,B. megateriumZMR6, andP. fluorescencePF-097, were selected for their in vitro antagonistic assessment againstS. rolfsiiby dual culture technique on potato dextrose agar medium. OSR3 showed the highest antagonistic potential (68%), followed by PF-097 (54%) and ZMR6 (33%).In a pot experiment, the two best strains of PGPR, namely OSR3 and PF-097, and dried biomass ofA. arvensis(DBA) in different concentrations (1, 2 and 3%) were used to manage southern blight disease of chili.In positive control treatment (S. rolfsiionly), plant survival was low (73%) than the negative control (100%). OSR3, PF-097, OSR3 + 2% DBA, and PF-097 + 2% DBA significantly enhanced plant survival over positive control. The highest increase in chili growth over positive control was recorded due to OSR3, followed by PF-097 inoculations. Contents of carotenoid and chlorophyll were significantly decreased due to the fungal pathogen and improved due to PGPR strains. Application of the two PGPR strains and different concentrations ofA. arvensisdistinctly increased the catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and polyphenol peroxidase (PPO) activities over positive control.

Conclusions

The present study concluded that PGPR strainsB. megateriumOSR3 andP. fluorescencePF-097 can control southern blight disease effectively and increase growth and yield of chili.
Involvement of GluA1-AMPAR-mediated LTP in time-dependent decline of cognitive function in rats with temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Luo Xiaoqing , Yu Xiaoli , Liang Jufang , Sun Ruidi , Li Cheng , Jiang Jun
Published: January 2021

Background

Cognitive impairment is one of the common comorbidities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Previous studies have found significant decay of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in TLE rats with cognitive impairment. As the activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) is responsible for LTP formation and learning and memory, we investigated whether AMPARs are involved in the LTP inhibition and the TLE-associated cognitive impairments.

Methods

TLE rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lithium chloride-pilocarpine on postnatal day 21 (P21). Learning and memory performance, hippocampal expression of membrane GluA1-AMPARs, and hippocampal LTP were tested by behavioral tests, western blotting, and field potential recording, respectively, at 1, 5 and 13 weeks after induction of status epilepticu (SE). Finally, the effects of (S)-AMPA, an agonist of AMPARs, on LTP and cognitive function were tested.

Results

Results of behavioral tests revealed an time-dependent decline in the learning and memory of TLE rats when compared to the age-matched controls at week 5 and 13, rather than at week 1 after the induction of SE. Western blotting showed that the hippocampal expression of membrane GluA1 was significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner in the TLE rats when compared to the age-matched controls at weeks 5 and 13, rather than at week 1 after the induction of SE. Similarly, the hippocampal LTP was inhibited in a time-dependent manner in TLE rats at weeks 5 and 13, rather than at week 1 after the induction of SE. Moreover, intra-hippocampal injection of (S)-AMPA ameliorated the deficits in learning as well as spatial and emotional memory in a dose-dependent manner, and partially reversed the inhibition of CA1 LTP in the TLE rats at week 13 after the induction of SE.

Conclusions

The reduced expression of hippocampal membrane GluA1 may be involved in LTP decay in CA1 and cognition impairment in TLE rats.
Developing a Clinical Prediction Score: Comparing Prediction Accuracy of Integer Scores to Statistical Regression Models
Authors: Subramanian Vigneshwar , Mascha Edward J. , Kattan Michael W.
Published: January 2021

Researchers often convert prediction tools built on statistical regression models into integer scores and risk classification systems in the name of simplicity. However, this workflow discards useful information and reduces prediction accuracy. We, therefore, investigated the impact on prediction accuracy when researchers simplify a regression model into an integer score using a simulation study and an example clinical data set. Simulated independent training and test sets (n = 1000) were randomly generated such that a logistic regression model would perform at a specified target area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9. After fitting a logistic regression with continuous covariates to each data set, continuous variables were dichotomized using data-dependent cut points. A logistic regression was refit, and the coefficients were scaled and rounded to create an integer score. A risk classification system was built by stratifying integer scores into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk tertiles. Discrimination and calibration were assessed by calculating the AUC and index of prediction accuracy (IPA) for each model. The optimism in performance between the training set and test set was calculated for both AUC and IPA. The logistic regression model using the continuous form of covariates outperformed all other models. In the simulation study, converting the logistic regression model to an integer score and subsequent risk classification system incurred an average decrease of 0.057–0.094 in AUC, and an absolute 6.2%–17.5% in IPA. The largest decrease in both AUC and IPA occurred in the dichotomization step. The dichotomization and risk stratification steps also increased the optimism of the resulting models, such that they appeared to be able to predict better than they actually would on new data. In the clinical data set, converting the logistic regression with continuous covariates to an integer score incurred a decrease in externally validated AUC of 0.06 and a decrease in externally validated IPA of 13%. Converting a regression model to an integer score decreases model performance considerably. Therefore, we recommend developing a regression model that incorporates all available information to make the most accurate predictions possible, and using the unaltered regression model when making predictions for individual patients. In all cases, researchers should be mindful that they correctly validate the specific model that is intended for clinical use.
Characteristic postmortem computed tomography findings of ingestion of benzine
Authors: Tokue Hiroyuki , Kominato Yoshihiko , Sano Rie , Takahashi Yoichiro , Hayakawa Akira , Fukuda Haruki , Tokue Azusa , Tsushima Yoshito
Published: January 2021

There are some reports investigating the cause of death by examining the contents of the stomach and duodenum using postmortem computed tomography, but most of these have been based on radiopaque contents. Here, we report a case of suicide after ingesting a large amount of benzine. Although the gastric contents were radiolucent, the characteristic postmortem computed tomography imaging findings helped to determine the cause of death.
An inventory and assessment of glaciers, rock glaciers, perennial snowfields, and permafrost landforms in the Teton Range, WY, USA
Authors: Goff Paepin D. , Butler David R.
Published: January 2021

Glaciers, rock glaciers, and permafrost landforms store water within ice reserves in alpine and periglacial zones. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of northwestern Wyoming, U.S.A., these landforms charge the hydrological system through meltwater, which raises questions about the ecological impacts of these limited water reserves in a regime trending toward warmer and drier conditions. Here, I investigate the impact of glacier and rock glacier meltwater on the ecological systems within the Grand Teton, Wind River, and Gros Ventre mountain watersheds. This investigation relies on remotely sensed satellite imagery, aerial photography, and Lidar, as well as in situ field data. With these data, I provide a high-resolution inventory of glacial, rock glacial, and permafrost landforms in the GYE.

 

Featured photo by Grand Teton on Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/2hwtrRb
For everything there was a season: phenological shifts in the Tetons
Authors: Bloom Trevor , Riginos Corinna , O'Leary Donal
Published: January 2021

Around the world, phenology — the timing of ecological events — is shifting as the climate warms. This can lead to a variety of consequences for individual species and entire ecological communities. Grand Teton National Park biologists have identified this topic (“effect of earlier plant flowering on pollinators and wildlife”) as one of their priority research needs. We assembled phenological observations of first flowering dates for 49 species collected by Frank Craighead, Jr. in the 1970s, before significant warming occurred. In 2016 we began standardized phenological observations of these same species, plus an additional 61 for a total of 110 species, in the same locations. First flowering date for 65% of the species with historic records correlated significantly with mean spring temperature; these species are therefore expected to flower earlier now than in the 1970s. Early spring flowers had the largest shifts in phenology, emerging an average of 21 days earlier now relative to the 1970s. Yet not all species are emerging earlier. In particular, phenology of late summer/early fall flowering plants was largely unchanged. In 2017, we initiated pollinator collections at our key phenology sites. Additional years of observations will allow us to better understand plant-pollinator interactions and identify potential phenological mismatches.

 

Featured photo by Shawna Wolf, taken from the AMK Ranch photo collection.
Front Matter
Authors: Dillon Michael
Published: January 2021

This entry contains the front cover and front matter.