bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose with a novel fluorescent probe by the enzymatic reaction of amino functionalized MOF nanosheets
Authors: Chen Jing , Xu Yali , Xu Fanghong , Zhang Qian , Li Shuying , Lu Xiaoquan
Published: March 2021

The mechanism for detecting H2O2 and glucose in the system of the NH2-MIL-53(Al)-HRP enzymatic reaction.
Correction: Depolymerization of polystyrene under ambient conditions
Authors: Balema Viktor P. , Hlova Ihor Z. , Carnahan Scott L. , Seyedi Mastooreh , Dolotko Oleksandr , Rossini Aaron J. , Luzinov Igor
Published: March 2021

Correction for ‘Depolymerization of polystyrene under ambient conditions’ by Viktor P. Balema et al., New J. Chem., 2021, 45, 2935–2938, DOI: 10.1039/D0NJ05984F.
History and Lingering Impact of the Arbitrary 25-dB Cutoff for Normal Hearing
Authors: Gatlin Andrea E. , Dhar Sumitrajit
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Since its inception nearly a century ago, the audiogram has become the gold standard for reporting an individual's hearing status. The interpretation of the audiogram, namely, where normal hearing ends and hearing loss begins, impacts all areas of audiology: research, clinical, and medicolegal. Where to define normal hearing was the subject of great debate during the early decades of audiology. Revisiting this history reveals how the 25-dB HL cutoff came to be; a decision concerned more with the legal consequences than the scientific persuasiveness of the definition of normal hearing. Since the 1970s, the 25-dB HL cutoff has defined normal-hearing control groups in research and informed treatment recommendations in the clinic.

Conclusions

Today, in 2020, closer evaluation of this so-called normal-hearing group reveals a variety of deficits not captured by the audiogram. The history of how normal hearing came to be defined in conjunction with this growing body of research serves as a good reminder to look beyond the audiogram. This is especially important as the field of audiology looks ahead toward improved diagnostics, earlier detection, and new technologies/treatments.
Investigating position-dependent chiral light-matter interactions
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: March 2021

Cross waveguides embedded with quantum dots can be used as both a one-way unidirectional waveguide and a circularly polarized beam splitter, which could help develop complex quantum networks.
Soybean production and yield in the context of global climatic changes
Authors: Gonçalves Sergio Luiz , Farias, José Renato Bouças , Sibaldelli Rubson Natal Ribeiro
Published: March 2021

The global context of climate change predicts increases in the risk of important climatic factors that could directly influence plant survival and crop yields. Such projections are made using models of plant growth and development, climate, and possible future scenarios. However, the use of different models and methodologies, combined with different scenarios, produces an infinity of contrasting results, considering different combinations of temperature, water distribution, and CO
2
concentration in the atmosphere. This work makes projections of the possible climatic and environmental effects on the development and the yield of the soybean considering different scenarios. For maintenance and yield improvements, the needs and possibilities of using techniques related to the climate and the use and protection of soils and cultivars already adapted to different environments are emphasized. It is also expected that science will evolve to adapt plants to the expected stresses. Science should act to select genotypes that can respond to stresses by initiating processes that result in the activation of responses at the molecular, biochemical, and physiological level, in the fight to increase tolerance to abiotic stresses. Such advances lead us to believe that the exploration of the existing genetic variability will enable the selection of genotypes tolerant to drought, saline soils, and high temperatures. It is concluded that the set of knowledge that we have today, together with the scientific advances that are yet to come, allows humanity to continue having the hope of having a better future than those predicted in the most pessimistic scenarios.
Study on Micro-Structure and Macro-Mechanical Properties of Bush-Restored Tailings Soil
Authors: Yang Qingchao , Hao Zhe , Cheng Wenjing , Teng Da , Wang Xiaoming , Lei Shengyou
Published: March 2021

Taking the tailings pond repaired by sea buckthorn as an example, the effects of shrub restoration on the microstructure and corresponding macroscopic mechanical properties of tailings soil were studied. Phytoremediation and non-phytoremediation of tailings soil were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, consolidation, infiltration and shear tests. The results show that: Under the action of phytoremediation, the tailing particles have developed from loose and disorderly to compact and orderly. The distribution of tailings soil aggregates tends to be uniform, and the average particle size of tailings soil aggregates has increased slowly and steadily. The time of phytoremediation increased, but the compressibility and permeability of tailings soil decreased gradually. The compressive modulus of tailings soil was increased gradually. The cohesion of tailings soil was increased firstly and then decreased, but it was greater than that of unrepaired tailings soil. Internal friction angle of tailings soil was the trend of decreasing first and then increasing.
Long-Term Weather Prediction Based on GA-BP Neural Network
Authors: Dou Kening , Sun Xiaoqi
Published: March 2021

A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the weights and thresholds of the BP neural network in this paper, this method improves the disadvantages of the BP neural network. For example, It is insensitive to weights and thresholds. In addition, it has a slow convergence rate and is prone to fall into local minima. etc. To verify the improvement effect, the BP neural networks and the improved BP neural networks were used to simulate the weather in Rizhao city, Shandong Province, respectively. The results of simulation show that the GA-BP neural network model is superior to BP neural network model in the accuracy of temperature prediction in long-term weather. Next, the GA-BP neural network was further optimized by selecting the optimal number of hidden layers and changing the impact factors, and the prediction results were fitted. The analysis shows that the accuracy of the improved GA-BP model in prediction is higher.
The Influence of Nutrient Removal by Different Harvest Time of the Emerged Plant in the Wetland System
Authors: Xiao Liwei
Published: March 2021

In order to avoid the secondary pollution caused by the withering of plants, experiments on reasonable harvesting time of emerged plants in the constructed wetland (CWs) was conducted. The results showed that the best plant regrowth and nutrients removal efficiency by harvested plant were happened when plants were harvested at the withering period (January). Whenever plants were harvested, the removal amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the CWs was greater than that in the non-harvesting CWs. When plants were harvested at the early growing period, the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by the CWs reached the maximum, which were 92.39 mg·L−1 and 237.17 mg·L−1, respectively. Therefore, based on the plant regrowth and nutrient removal efficiency of the CWs, it is suggested to harvest emerged plants after the growth period (preferably the withering period), which will be most conductive to the long-term effective operation of the CWs.
Analysis on the Influence of Topography on a Short-Time Local Heavy Rainfall Forecast in Western Xinjiang
Authors: Gao Hua , Bao Dongling , Li Wei , Zheng Zuofang
Published: March 2021

Based on the prediction results of RmAPs-CAV1.0, a short time heavy rainfall in western Xinjiang was simulated and analyzed. By comparing the forecast results with the actual precipitation, it is found that RMAPS-CAV1.0 can accurately reflect the important forecast parameters of the short-time heavy precipitation system, such as precipitation level and starting time. Contrast observation and prediction results found that the terrain has forced effect to the surface wind field, the precipitation process in Yili valley special opening of the west mountain terrain, the center is located in Kazakhstan in central Asia low vortex cause lower for the westerly Yili river valley, the center is located in the Tarim Basin of central Asia for Piandongfeng middle low vortex makes the Yili river valley, cause the Yili river valley and the lower levels of vertical wind shear reinforcement; In the Yili River Valley, the combination of topography and the central Asian vortex circulation in Kazakhstan forms a low-altitude convergence line. The low-level westerly winds transport water vapor into the valley, and the northerly airflow in the valley and the northern margin of the Taklamakan Desert converge near the windward slope, and the enhanced upward movement results in the uplift of the water vapor accumulated in the valley. The result analysis of RMAPS-CAV1.0 shows that the warm and cold airflow and water vapor under the action of topography have important contributions to the generation of this precipitation.
Method of Calculating Lake Water Storage in Areas without Topographical Data Based on Google Earth Engine
Authors: Sun Jiajun , Cui Yingjie , Cao Hongbin
Published: March 2021

Accurate ecological lake water calculation plays an important role in maintaining ecological health of and protecting lakes. However, the lack of topographical data for the bottom of the lake results in some complexity to the calculation of ecological lake water storage. This study uses remote sensing big data to overcome the data limitations of water calculations and accurately calculates the ecological water storage of Baiyangdian Lake. The results show that the water surface area of Baiyangdian Lake can be divided into a dry period (average water area of 7.15 km2), a decline period (155.64 km2), a stable period (67.29 km2), and a recovery period (119.17 km2). The ecological water storage of the lake has evolved from 200 million m3 to the current 300–600 million m3. This study provides an important reference for the ecological lake water calculations when topographical data is not available and for lakes with complex bottom topography.
Modification Works of Impressed Current Cathodic Protection System for Steel Sheet Piles Bulkhead Wharf
Authors: Li Yan , Liu Qiang , Qin Yongkun , Zhu Xichang
Published: March 2021

The steel sheet piles have been protected effectively by the cathodic protection system against seawater corrosion for 40 years. There is no phenomenon of corrosion perforation and corrosion damage. However, many instruments and parts of the cathodic protection system do not work properly now, whilst many new cathodic protection materials are produced and more effective. In order to prevent the steel sheet piles from seawater corrosion, the ICCP system should been modified perfectly.
Study on Influence of High Activity Alkaline Electrolyzed Water on Sulfate Resistance Property of Concrete
Authors: Liu Guibin , Zhang Tianyu , Yu Qi , Li Qiuyi , Wang Liang
Published: March 2021

In this study, a kind of alkaline electrolyzed waters with the pH of 10.5 was used to enhance the sulfate resistance properties of concrete with mineral admixture at different proportioning. The results showed that Alkaline electrolyzed water in concrete can activate the pozzolanic effect of mineral admixtures, leading to an increase of compressive strength. The compressive strengths of electrolyzed water concrete (DJ) were all high than those of natural tap water concrete (TW) at same mineral admixture proportion. Through 120 times of sulfate attack cycles, the sulfate resistance coefficients of TW concrete with different proportions were 90.4~93.7%, and those of DJ concrete is 94.7~96.8%. The sulfate corrosion resistance property of DJ concrete was improved. The corrosion products AFt and gypsum on the surface of concrete were formed by the reaction of Ca2+ in cement paste and free SO4
2- infiltrated into the solution, which would further deepen the internal Ca2+ migration. In order to maintain the overall charge balance, K+ ions in alkaline electrolyzed water moved in, so as to slow down the corrosion of concrete. The SEM micromorphology showed that the internal structure of alkaline electrolyzed water concrete was more dense and compact, the porosity is relatively lower, which was less affected by sulfate corrosion. The microstructure of DJ concrete with mineral admixtures was more developed and denser than TW concrete.
Research on the Cultural Landscape Greenway Model of Water Network City——Taking Suzhou as an Example
Authors: Xu Zixuan , Ma Jianwu
Published: March 2021

Water network cities have special natural ecological characteristics, creating a good living environment. However, as the process of urbanization in my country accelerates, the lack of cultural characteristics and the destruction of the ecological environment have become serious obstacles to the development of water network cities. The harmonious water network bureau has changed in the past, and the contradiction between water cities has become increasingly prominent. The article researches and summarizes the construction principles and design techniques of cultural landscape greenways, and takes the water network city, Suzhou as a case to discuss the key points of the construction of cultural landscape greenways in Suzhou, and provide the cultural landscape greenway network practice in the water network city Provide a certain theoretical guidance.
Design and Experimental Study of Traveling Wave Signal Generator for Distribution Network
Authors: Wu Mengke , Li Haofeng , Gao Jun , Han Hangjie , Xue Weisheng , Deng Qingbo , Yu Kun , Zeng Xiangjun
Published: March 2021

Aiming at the problem of operation safety and stability of electrical equipment in distribution network caused by impulse voltage, this paper will study and analyze the traveling wave signal generator. Through the study of the standard lightning wave shape characteristics and the mechanism and characteristics of the existing lightning impulse voltage signal generator equipment, the working principle of the corresponding traveling wave signal generator was designed and the relevant parameters were calculated. Finally, the results of the research and analysis were simulated and analyzed with the Multisim simulation software. Test results show that the impulse voltage generated by the full wave form basic satisfy the provisions of this design is expected waveform, and consistent with the actual lightning wave shape, therefore, this thesis studies the traveling wave signal generator unit can meet the normal travelling wave signal of traveling wave positioning system requirements, verify the real effectiveness and practicability of this thesis research.
Research on Self-compensating Oil Sleeve for Hydraulic Chuck
Authors: Yang Jiangbo , Wang Song , Xu Pengbo , Chen Xiang , Chen Fenglei
Published: March 2021

Based on the oil supply principle of hydraulic chuck, analysis of the structural characteristics and failure reasons of the oil distribution sleeve showed that the main reason for the increase of the leakage of the oil sleeve is the increase of the value of the seal gap caused by the increase of the temperature and pressure of the hydraulic oil. The self-compensating oil sleeve for the rotary oil distribution of hydraulic chuck is designed by theoretical calculation, and the deformation of the self-compensating oil distribution sleeve and the common oil distribution sleeve are compared and analyzed by finite element software, and the sealing performance of the two kinds of oil sleeve is compared and analyzed by test. The results show that the sealing gap of the self-compensating oil sleeve has dynamic stability compared with that of the ordinary oil sleeve, and the leakage of the self-compensating oil sleeve is stable under the working condition, which can provide reference for the design innovation of the rotary oil distribution sleeve for the chuck of the full hydraulic drilling machine.
The Application of Probabilistic Hesitation Fuzzy Lingustic in Urban Livability
Authors: Chen Xiuming , Wang Chouxuan , Zhang Chenchen
Published: March 2021

With the continuous improvement of residents' living conditions and the improvement of spiritual civilization construction, urban livability has become the focus of attention of the government and urban residents, as well as a hot topic of research by experts and scholars at home and abroad. How to choose a suitable city to live in has become a group decision-making (GDM) problem that we have to deal with. However, the changeable decision environment leads to the fact that the decision information of the above GDM problem cannot be expressed by traditional display values. Therefore, we choose the probabilistic hesitation fuzzy linguistic term set (PHFLTS) and then study the consensus among preference relations (PRs). This paper will study the group consensus model based on PHFLTS. At present, it has been studied in supply chain management, public opinion prediction and other fields. This paper first defines the concept of PHFLTS and distance measure, then defines the similarity measure and the consistency index (CI) based on the distance measure, constructs the group consensus level (GCI), can express the uncertain preference information given by the decision maker more comprehensively. Finally, specific example is given to rank the cities and the future research direction is prospected.
Prospects for development of a drilling tool for producing minerals in frozen soils
Authors: Zenin Maksim , Martyuchenko Igor , Kolesnikov Aleksey , Boykov Evgeniy
Published: March 2021

This article reveals importance and relevance of exploration and development by drilling tools of minerals in frozen soils. The problems that arise during operations of drilling tools are considered. Existing types of drilling tools for mining are described. The advantages and disadvantages are listed, the principles of action and the type of soil deformation during the interaction of a tool with frozen soil are considered. The necessity of developing a drilling tool that implements a less energy-intensive production process and does not destroy the structure of solid minerals is considered. A comparative analysis of the drilling speed and energy intensity of soil destruction by drilling tools is carried out. Conclusions are drawn about the effectiveness of the proposed drilling tool.
The adhesive behavior of the polyethylene component in the “GP-ice” for studying the ice propulsion of the promising Arctic icebreakers
Authors: Zuev Valeri , Dvoichenko Yuri , Sebin Andrei , Semenova Natalia
Published: March 2021

The maritime constituent is the crucial component of the Artic transport and logistics system. In the modern period of the development of science and technology, the ice model experiment in the experimental model basin is the main instrument of the research engineer, who creates and develops the existing arctic vessels forms. The article is dealt with the one of the aspects of the composite model ice (“GP-ice”) consisting of the polyethylene granules frozen into natural ice. The crucial factor providing the modelling conditions is the model ice strength reduction due to lower adhesion forces on the granules. The aim of this investigation was to assess the reliability of the existing data and to obtain the one’s own results in terms of the adhesion strength value at the normal fracture. The experimentation procedure in the NNSTU small ice tank is presented. The adhesive compound strength of the high-pressure polyethylene and ice at the normal fracture was determined. The analysis of results, which has satisfactory statistical characteristics, is presented. As the experiments results, the dependence of the adhesion strength value on the temperature inside the heat chamber (-20, -10) was revealed. The influence of the frozen surface boundaries was also significant and had a negatively impact on the results of the samples separation of a smaller dimension-type. In further the obtained results will be used in the mathematical models of the “GP-ice” deformation and fracture, as well as for improving the ice cover composite model for testing the promising Arctic icebreakers forms in the experimental model ice basin.
Approach to environmental risk assessment in the design and operation of oil fields in the Arctic region
Authors: Rukavitsyn Vadim , Ekzarian Vladimir
Published: March 2021

Environmental risk is the basis for environmental safety assessment for any object. Without a risk assessment, it is extremely difficult to control the permissibility of certain anthropogenic impacts on the environment. At the same time the active development of hydrocarbon production in the Arctic region, can lead to irreversible consequences for the environment because of the special vulnerability of this territory to man-made impacts. In this regard it became necessary to create a universal and practical methodology for the environmental risks assessment. This article proposes an approach to assessing environmental risks for the design and operation of oil fields in the Arctic region, which allows comprehensive reviewing of the environmental safety of hydrocarbon production, as well as prompt and optimal response to environmental pollution. The criteria for risk assessment, their significance, as well as the structure and methodology of the assessment itself are analyzed.
A map of mass spectrometry-basedin silicofragmentation prediction and compound identification in metabolomics
Authors: Krettler Christoph A , Thallinger Gerhard G
Published: March 2021

Metabolomics, the comprehensive study of the metabolome, and lipidomics—the large-scale study of pathways and networks of cellular lipids—are major driving forces in enabling personalized medicine. Complicated and error-prone data analysis still remains a bottleneck, however, especially for identifying novel metabolites. Comparing experimental mass spectra to curated databases containing reference spectra has been the gold standard for identification of compounds, but constructing such databases is a costly and time-demanding task. Many software applications try to circumvent this process by utilizing cutting-edge advances in computational methods—including quantum chemistry and machine learning—and simulate mass spectra by performing theoretical, so called in silico fragmentations of compounds. Other solutions concentrate directly on experimental spectra and try to identify structural properties by investigating reoccurring patterns and the relationships between them. The considerable progress made in the field allows recent approaches to provide valuable clues to expedite annotation of experimental mass spectra. This review sheds light on individual strengths and weaknesses of these tools, and attempts to evaluate them—especially in view of lipidomics, when considering complex mixtures found in biological samples as well as mass spectrometer inter-instrument variability.
Steady states and pattern formation of the density-suppressed motility model
Authors: Wang Zhi-An , Xu Xin
Published: March 2021

This paper considers the stationary problem of density-suppressed motility models proposed in Fu et al. (2012) and Liu et al. (2011) in one dimension with Neumman boundary conditions. The models consist of parabolic equations with cross-diffusion and degeneracy. We employ the global bifurcation theory and Helly compactness theorem to explore the conditions under which non-constant stationary (pattern) solutions exist and asymptotic profiles of solutions as some parameter value is small. When the cell growth is not considered, we are able to show the monotonicity of solutions and hence achieve a global bifurcation diagram by treating the chemical diffusion rate as a bifurcation parameter. Furthermore, we show that the solutions have boundary spikes as the chemical diffusion rate tends to zero and identify the conditions for the non-existence of non-constant solutions. When transformed to specific motility functions, our results indeed give sharp conditions on the existence of non-constant stationary solutions. While with the cell growth, the structure of global bifurcation diagram is much more complicated and in particular the solution loses the monotonicity property. By treating the growth rate as a bifurcation parameter, we identify a minimum range of growth rate in which non-constant stationary solutions are warranted, while a global bifurcation diagram can still be attained in a special situation. We use numerical simulations to test our analytical results and illustrate that patterns can be very intricate and stable stationary solutions may not exist when the parameter value is outside the minimal range identified in our paper.
Steady slip flow of Newtonian fluids through tangential polygonal microchannels
Authors: Keady Grant
Published: March 2021

The concern in this paper is the problem of finding—or, at least, approximating—functions, defined within and on the boundary of a tangential polygon, functions whose Laplacian is $-1$ and which satisfy a homogeneous Robin boundary condition on the boundary. The parameter in the Robin condition is denoted by $\beta $. The integral of the solution over the interior, denoted by $Q$, is, in the context of flows in a microchannel, the volume flow rate. A variational estimate of the dependence of $Q$ on $\beta $ and the polygon’s geometry is studied. Classes of tangential polygons treated include regular polygons and triangles, especially isosceles: the variational estimate $R(\beta )$ is a rational function which approximates $Q(\beta )$ closely.
A posteriori error estimation and space-time adaptivity for a linear stochastic PDE with additive noise
Authors: Majee Ananta K , Prohl Andreas
Published: March 2021

We present a strong residual-based a posteriori error estimate for a finite element-based space-time discretization of the linear stochastic convected heat equation with additive noise. This error estimate is used for an adaptive algorithm that automatically selects deterministic mesh parameters in space and time. For every $n \geq 0$, we find a new time-step $\tau _n$, a new spatial mesh ${\mathcal M}_{n}$ terminating within finitely many iterations and a finite element value approximation $Y^n_h$ on this spatial mesh, which then approximates strongly the solution of the stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) within a prescribed tolerance.
Postoperative Admission of Adult Craniotomy Patients to the Neuroscience Ward Reduces Length of Stay and Cost
Authors: Sun Matthew Z , Babayan Diana , Chen Jia-Shu , Wang Maxwell M , Naik Priyanka K , Reitz Kara , Li Jingyi Jessica , Pouratian Nader , Kim Won
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

The neurointensive care unit (NICU) has traditionally been the default recovery unit after elective craniotomies.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether admitting adult patients without significant comorbidities to the neuroscience ward (NW) instead of NICU for recovery resulted in similar clinical outcome while reducing length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization cost.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and cost data of adult patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy at a university hospital within a 5-yr period who had a LOS less than 7 d. We compared those admitted to the NICU for 1 night of recovery versus those directly admitted to the NW.

RESULTS

The NICU and NW groups included 340 and 209 patients, respectively, and were comparable in terms of age, ethnicity, overall health, and expected LOS. NW admissions had shorter LOS (3.046 vs 3.586 d, P < .001), and independently predicted shorter LOS in multivariate analysis. While the NICU group had longer surgeries (6.8 vs 6.4 h), there was no statistically significant difference in the cost of surgery. The NW group was associated with reduced hospitalization cost by $3193 per admission on average (P < .001). Clinically, there were no statistically significant differences in the rate of return to Operating Room, Emergency Department readmission, or hospital readmission within 30 d.

CONCLUSION

Admitting adult craniotomy patients without significant comorbidities, who are expected to have short LOS, to NW was associated with reduced LOS and total cost of admission, without significant differences in postoperative clinical outcome.
Development of a new tracking detector with fine-grained nuclear emulsion for sub-MeV neutron measurement
Authors: Shiraishi T , Todoroki I , Naka T , Umemoto A , Kobayashi R , Sato O
Published: March 2021

We have developed a new sub-MeV neutron detector with high position resolution, energy resolution, and directional sensitivity, and low background. The detector is based on a super-fine-grained nuclear emulsion, called a nano-imaging tracker (NIT), and it is capable of detecting neutron-induced proton recoils as tracks through topological analysis with sub-micrometric accuracy. We used a type of NIT with AgBr:I crystals of ($98 \pm 10$) nm size dispersed in gelatin. First, we calibrated the performance of the NIT device for detecting monochromatic neutrons with sub-MeV energy generated by nuclear fusion reactions, and the detection efficiency for recoil proton tracks of more than 2 $\mu$m range was consistently 100% (the 1 $\sigma$ lower limit was 83%) in accordance with expectations from manual analysis. In addition, the recoil energy and angle distribution obtained good agreement with kinematical expectations. The primary neutron energy was reconstructed using these, and it was evaluated as 42% full width at half maximum at 540 keV. Furthermore, we demonstrated a newly developed automatic track recognition system dedicated to track ranges of more than a few micrometers. It achieved a recognition efficiency of ($74 \pm 4$)%, and the recoil energy and angle distribution obtained good agreement with manual analysis. Finally, it indicated a very high rejection power for $\gamma$-rays.
Vaccine nationalism: a predicament in ending the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lagman James Darwin N
Published: March 2021

In a recent correspondence, vaccine hesitancy and its pressing issue in possible delaying of being triumphant in the pandemic was discussed. This paper highlights vaccine nationalism as a predicament that would not just delay but worsen the present situation of the pandemic. This study suggests a global response among countries that people must see the world as a global village and as one community it must save collectively.
Highly Skilled Women Reaching the Top: A Cost-free Achievement? Analyzing the Gender Promotion Gap in the Medical Profession
Authors: Gaiaschi Camilla
Published: March 2021

This paper investigates the gender promotion gap in a particular highly skilled profession, that of physicians. The following analyses are based on a dataset of more than a thousand doctors working in Italy, a country in which hospitals play a central role in the national health care system. Given a three-step career ladder—first level, vice, and head—this research finds that women are 8% less likely than men to be promoted from the first level to vice, whereas no significant disadvantage is found in the promotion from vice to head. This suggests that the vertical segregation is due more to a sticky floors mechanism than to a glass ceiling effect. Moreover, no motherhood penalty occurs. Private organizations appear to be more gender equal than public ones and similar, albeit weaker, findings come from the analysis of the specialties, cautiously suggesting that the male-dominated area of surgery is more gender equal than the female-dominated area of medicine. These findings point out that women in highly skilled professions may encounter fewer obstacles to promotion than in the general labor market. Furthermore, they may encounter fewer obstacles within the most competitive organizations and specialty areas than across the profession in general. This is not, however, because of a greater number of opportunities, but because they represent a highly selected and career-oriented population. These results shed light on the costs of such achievement for women, both in terms of effort and in terms of equality among women themselves.
Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Before and After Attending a Mental Health Course
Authors: Abuhammad Sawsan , Hamaideh Shaher
Published: March 2021

This study aims to compare the attitudes of nursing students in Jordan toward seeking professional psychological help, before and after taking part in a mental health course. A pretest-posttest design was used to assess the attitudes of 205 nursing students attending a state-run university in Zarqa City, Jordan. A significant difference was found in Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help subscales before and after the course, implying that it would be useful for policy makers to provide periodic comprehensive mental health education and courses for practicing health care providers.
Physiotherapy Management Response for Patients With Lymphedema Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the State of Qatar: A Perspective Study
Authors: Sundrasekaran Anita , Abdalla Emad , Sobani Sumaiya , Shafi Mohamed , Al-Mudahka Noora Rashed
Published: March 2021

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread rapidly, forcing changes to health care systems across the globe. COVID-19 outbreak in Qatar has led to the application of preventive measures and cutting of face-to-face outpatient services across Hamad Medical Corporation, the main provider of primary and tertiary health care, aiming to reduce the risk of transmission. The disruption of face-to-face management of patients with cancer and primary lymphedema added to the lack of literature, specifically on its rehabilitation, during such unprecedented crisis and raised the need to quickly modulate our lymphedema outpatient physiotherapy services to ensure the continuity of care. This article describes how our team redesigned its lymphedema management approach through rapid development of online educational treatment resources and implementation of telerehabilitation to patients with lymphedema for the first time in Qatar. Unforeseen challenges were addressed in a 4-phased plan comprising operational, telephonic, virtual, and face-to-face phases, with a descriptive statistical analysis of data and the outpatient activity recorded throughout the phases. Evaluating the efficacy of such program in future research may open up windows for telerehabilitation to become a cornerstone in lymphedema care even after the pandemic.
Changing profiles of cancer burden worldwide and in China: a secondary analysis of the global cancer statistics 2020
Authors: Cao Wei , Chen Hong-Da , Yu Yi-Wen , Li Ni , Chen Wan-Qing
Published: March 2021

Background:

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, but its burden is not uniform. GLOBOCAN 2020 has newly updated the estimates of cancer burden. This study summarizes the most recent changing profiles of cancer burden worldwide and in China and compares the cancer data of China with those of other regions.

Methods:

We conducted a descriptive secondary analysis of the GLOBOCAN 2020 data. To depict the changing global profile of the leading cancer types in 2020 compared with 2018, we extracted the numbers of cases and deaths in 2018 from GLOBOCAN 2018. We also obtained cancer incidence and mortality from the 2015 National Cancer Registry Report in China when sorting the leading cancer types by new cases and deaths. For the leading cancer types according to sex in China, we summarized the estimated numbers of incidence and mortality, and calculated China's percentage of the global new cases and deaths.

Results:

Breast cancer displaced lung cancer to become the most leading diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2020. Lung, liver, stomach, breast, and colon cancers were the top five leading causes of cancer-related death, among which liver cancer changed from the third-highest cancer mortality in 2018 to the second-highest in 2020. China accounted for 24% of newly diagnosed cases and 30% of the cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. Among the 185 countries included in the database, China's age-standardized incidence rate (204.8 per 100,000) ranked 65th and the age-standardized mortality rate (129.4 per 100,000) ranked 13th. The two rates were above the global average. Lung cancer remained the most common cancer type and the leading cause of cancer death in China. However, breast cancer became the most frequent cancer type among women if the incidence was stratified by sex. Incidences of colorectal cancer and breast cancer increased rapidly. The leading causes of cancer death varied minimally in ranking from 2015 to 2020 in China. Gastrointestinal cancers, including stomach, colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancers, contributed to a massive burden of cancer for both sexes.

Conclusions:

The burden of breast cancer is increasing globally. China is undergoing cancer transition with an increasing burden of lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and breast cancers. The mortality rate of cancer in China is high. Comprehensive strategies are urgently needed to target China's changing profiles of the cancer burden.
Supporting Struggling Students Through Therapeutic Communication
Authors: Tyson Gwendolyn , Beck Melissa Schwartz
Published: March 2021

Although nursing faculty teach students the basics of therapeutic communication for patient care, faculty may be overlooking the significance of using therapeutic communication with their students. When nursing students experience stress and mental health concerns such as sadness, anxiety, negative thoughts, and depression, instructors need to assess these problems and implement therapeutic communication strategies. Faculty who recognize symptoms and engage students can promote healthy relationships and positive academic outcomes while exemplifying Christlike care for their students.
Medication Adherence Among Patients With Corneal Diseases
Authors: Khan Mariam , Michelson Sarah , Newman-Casey Paula Anne , Woodward Maria A.
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

Medication nonadherence is a ubiquitous problem. However, the adherence of patients to medications to manage corneal conditions is unknown. A prospective cohort study investigated the patterns of eye drop adherence among patients with corneal conditions.

Methods:

Patients older than or equal to 18 years taking prescription eye medications were recruited from an academic center's corneal clinic. Data collected included age, sex, total doses of eye medications, and category of primary corneal diagnosis. Participants completed adapted versions of the 12-question Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) and the 3-question Voils' Medication Adherence Scale (VMAS). Survey data were dichotomized as “adherent” and “nonadherent,” and subscales reported for reasons of nonadherence. Logistic regression analyses were used to test associations with adherence.

Results:

A total of 199 participants were surveyed from February to March 2019 (95% response rate). Participants were aged 19 to 93 years with a mean age of 59 years (SD 17.8). The percent of participants considered nonadherent was 72% by the ARMS and 33% by the VMAS. Older age was associated with higher adherence by the ARMS (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.93, P = 0.004) and by the VMAS (odds ratio = 1.24, confidence interval, 1.04–1.48, P = 0.012). Adherence was not significantly associated with race, sex, education, total doses of eye medications, or primary cornea diagnosis.

Conclusions:

Medication adherence was lower than expected, particularly on the ARMS scale that asks more detailed questions. Clinicians should engage in conversations about adherence, especially with younger patients, if they are not seeing an expected clinical response.
Kingella kingae Displaced S. aureus as the Most Common Cause of Acute Septic Arthritis in Children of All Ages
Authors: Gouveia Catarina , Duarte Mariana , Norte Susana , Arcangelo Joana , Pinto Margarida , Correia Cristina , Simões Maria João , Canhão Helena , Tavares Delfin
Published: March 2021

Background:

Acute septic arthritis (SA) still remains a challenge with significant worldwide morbidity. In recent years, Kingella kingae has emerged and treatment regimens have become shorter. We aim to analyze trends in SA etiology and management and to identify risk factors for complications.

Methods:

Longitudinal observational, single center study of children (<18 years old) with SA admitted to a tertiary care pediatric hospital, from 2003 to 2018, in 2 cohorts, before and after implementation of nucleic acid amplification assays (2014). Clinical, treatment and disease progression data were obtained.

Results:

A total of 247 children were identified, with an average annual incidence of 24.9/100,000, 57.9% males with a median age of 2 (1–6) years. In the last 5 years, a 1.7-fold increase in the annual incidence, a lower median age at diagnosis and an improved microbiologic yield (49%) was noticed. K. kingae became the most frequent bacteria (51.9%) followed by MSSA (19.2%) and S. pyogenes (9.6%). Children were more often treated for fewer intravenous days (10.7 vs. 13.2 days, P = 0.01) but had more complications (20.6% vs. 11.4%, P = 0.049) with a similar sequelae rate (3.7%). Risk factors for complications were C-reactive protein ≥80 mg/L and Staphylococcus aureus infection, and for sequelae at 6 months, age ≥4 years and CRP ≥ 80 mg/L.

Conclusions:

The present study confirms that K. kingae was the most common causative organism of acute SA. There was a trend, although small, for decreasing antibiotic duration. Older children with high inflammatory parameters might be at higher risk of sequelae.
Retapamulin Activity Against Pediatric Strains of Mupirocin-resistant Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Patel Ami B. , Lighter Jennifer , Fulmer Yi , Copin Richard , Ratner Adam J. , Shopsin Bo
Published: March 2021

Retapamulin activity against 53 isolates obtained from a mupirocin-resistant community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pediatric disease cluster was evaluated using broth microdilution. All strains were susceptible to retapamulin with minimum inhibitory concentrations ≤ 0.5 μg/mL. DNA sequence analysis of rplC and cfr identified one rplC strain variant that did not demonstrate reduced phenotypic susceptibility to retapamulin. These results demonstrate that retapamulin may be a useful alternative therapy for mupirocin-resistant community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus, especially in disease clusters.
A Case of Congenital Leukemia With MYB-GATA1 Fusion Gene in a Female Patient
Authors: Ozono Shuichi , Yano Shoichiro , Oishi Saori , Mitsuo Miho , Nakagawa Shinichiro , Toki Tsutomu , Terui Kiminori , Ito Etsuro
Published: March 2021

We report a female newborn with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) associated with a MYB-GATA1 fusion gene. Morphologic findings of myeloid lineage were obtained using light microscopy. Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood showed a complex karyotype: 46,X,-X,add(3)(q21),der(6)add(6)(q21)del(6)(q?), +mar1[5]/46,XX[15]. Targeted RNA sequencing revealed a MYB-GATA1 fusion gene. Reduced-dose AML-type chemotherapy resulted in remission and survival for >3 years without relapse. The present case demonstrated the feasibility of carrying out targeted RNA sequencing for identifying MYB-GATA1 and supports the notion that neonatal AML with MYB-GATA1 with reduced chemotherapy may show better prognosis than other highly toxic therapies.
Mesial Temporal Sclerosis as Late Consequence of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Pediatric Hemato-oncologic Patients
Authors: Faraci Maura , Nobile Giulia , Nobili Lino , Masetti Riccardo , Cordelli Duccio , Toni Francesco , Giardino Stefano , Morana Giovanni , Mancardi Maria M.
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Drug resistant epilepsy has rarely been reported following posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), with few cases of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). The aim of this study was to report clinical and neuroimaging features of MTS subsequent to PRES in hemato-oncologic/stem cell transplanted children.

Materials and Methods:

Among 70 children treated in 2 pediatric hemato-oncologic Italian centers between 1994 and 2018 and presenting an episode of PRES, we retrospectively identified and analyzed a subgroup of patients who developed epilepsy and MTS.

Results:

Nine of 70 patients (12.8%) developed post-PRES persistent seizures with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of MTS. One patient died few months after MTS diagnosis, because of hematologic complications; the remaining 8 patients showed unprovoked seizures over time leading to the diagnosis of epilepsy, focal in all and drug resistant in 4. At PRES diagnosis, all patients with further evidence of epilepsy and MTS suffered of convulsive seizures, evolving into status epilepticus in 3. In 3 patients a borderline cognitive level or intellectual disability were diagnosed after the onset of epilepsy, and 2 had behavioral problems impacting their quality of life.

Conclusions:

MTS and long-term focal epilepsy, along with potential cognitive and behavioral disorders, are not uncommon in older pediatric patients following PRES.
68Ga-FAPI PET/CT in Thyroid Cancer With Thyroglobulin Elevation and Negative Iodine Scintigraphy
Authors: Fu Hao , Fu Jie , Huang Jingxiong , Su Xinyi , Chen Haojun
Published: March 2021

Differentiated thyroid cancer with thyroglobulin elevation and negative iodine scintigraphy (TENIS) syndrome is a diagnostic and therapy dilemma. In this study, we present a case of TENIS with detectable metastases in the larynx and lung on the CT scan. 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT was performed for further detection of tumor recurrence and metastases, which showed intense 68Ga-FAPI activity in the metastatic lesions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of TENIS presenting with FAPI-avid metastatic lesions, demonstrating its usefulness for localizing recurrent or metastatic lesions in patients with TENIS.
Rescue Protocol to Improve the Image Quality of 18F-FDG PET/CT Myocardial Metabolic Imaging
Authors: Sun Xiao-Xin , Li Shuheng , Wang Yawen , Li Wei , Wei Hongxing , He Zuo-Xiang
Published: March 2021

Purpose

18F-FDG PET myocardial metabolic imaging is used to estimate myocardial viability. However, poor image quality can affect the accurate quantification of viable myocardium. We assessed the feasibility of a rescue protocol that reinjected low-dose 18F-FDG with simultaneous 1 to 2 U of insulin injection and oral administration of 10 g of glucose to improve the image quality of 18F-FDG PET myocardial metabolic imaging.

Patients and Methods

Fifty-one consecutive patients with poor quality to uninterpretable 18F-FDG PET/CT myocardial metabolic images received the rescue protocol immediately after the initial image acquisition. The postrescue image acquisition was performed 1 hour later. The rescue image quality was compared with the initial image. The qualitative visual estimation of the images was graded as follows: grade 0, homogeneous, minimal uptake; grade 1, predominantly minimal or mild uptake; grade 2, moderate uptake; and grade 3, good uptake. The myocardium–to–blood pool activity ratio (M/B) was measured to assess the image quality quantitatively.

Results

The grades of 0 to 3 were observed in 24 (47%), 27 (53%), 0 (0%), and 0 (0%) patients, respectively, for the initial imaging, and in 0 (0%), 3 (5.9%), 4 (7.8%), and 44 (86.3%) patients for the rescue imaging (P < 0.001). The rescue M/B was significantly higher than the initial M/B (3.4 ± 1.4 vs 1.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The rescue protocol successfully and rapidly improved the quality of myocardial 18F-FDG metabolic imaging.