bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are Athlete-Owned Leagues a Viable Alternative for Professional Sport?
Authors: McLeod Christopher M.
Published: November 2020

Sport leagues have been critiqued for their cartel-like behavior, monopsony power, and many occupational health risks to athletes. Athlete-owned sports leagues are an alternative way of organizing professional sport that may benefit athletes and the industry. This article examines the viability of athlete-owned leagues by reviewing theory and research on worker-owned firms and applying the findings to sports leagues with athlete ownership, with a focus on the Premier Lacrosse League. Five criteria are shown to affect the viability of worker ownership: heterogeneity of interests, capital-labor ratios, time horizons, motivation and efficiency, and conflict with capitalists. When applied to the sport industry, athlete ownership is likely in sports like beach volleyball and skateboarding but unlikely in sports like American football and soccer. Athlete-owned sports leagues have some benefits when compared with capitalist-owned leagues, but they will struggle in markets with incumbents.
Women’s Collectives and State-Led Development in West Bengal: Reimagining Selves During Counterinsurgency
Authors: Kamra Lipika
Published: November 2020

This article examines the micropolitics of state-directed women’s collectives in India called self-help groups. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in a setting where development becomes a means of counterinsurgency for the state, it looks at how rural women in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal use these collectives to negotiate with the state and make claims on state actors. The article argues that rural women aspire to new individual selves through their membership of SHG collectives. Women reimagined their selfhoods through their access to the state-sponsored public sphere and building new roles for themselves within it. The argument is presented in conversation with research on self-help groups and microfinance initiatives for rural women, and it builds on work that examines the unintended consequences of such development interventions for women’s lives.
Heart Failure Caregiver Self-Care: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Graven Lucinda J. , Boel-Studt Shamra , Buck Harleah G. , Abbott Laurie , Grant Joan S.
Published: November 2020

Little is known about heart failure (HF) caregiver self-care. This article reports a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional, descriptive study involving 530 HF caregivers. A three-step latent class mixture model identified HF caregiver classes at risk for poor self-care and examined the relationship between the identified self-care classes and caregiver burden and depression. Caregivers completed online surveys on self-care, caregiver burden, depression, problem-solving, social support, and family function. Caregivers were 41.39 (±10.38) years old, 78.3% Caucasian, and 50.9% men. Three classes of HF caregivers (24% Low-Risk, 24.9% Moderate-Risk, 51.1% High-Risk) were identified. High-Risk caregivers had the worst self-care and the lowest levels of social support, problem-solving, and family function. Moderate-Risk caregivers were the most experienced and had the best self-care yet had the most comorbidities. High-Risk caregivers reported more caregiver burden and depression. “At-risk” caregivers may benefit from self-care and support programs, but more research is needed.
Adverse effects of COVID-19-related lockdown on pain, physical activity and psychological well-being in people with chronic pain
Authors: Fallon Nicholas , Brown Christopher , Twiddy Hannah , Brian Eleanor , Frank Bernhard , Nurmikko Turo , Stancak Andrej
Published: November 2020

Countries across the world imposed lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been proposed that lockdown conditions, including social and physical distancing measures, may disproportionately impact those living with chronic pain and require rapid adaptation to treatment and care strategies. Using an online methodology, we investigated how lockdown restrictions in the United Kingdom impacted individuals with chronic pain (N = 431) relative to a healthy control group (N = 88). Data were collected during the most stringent period of lockdown in the United Kingdom (mid-April to early-May 2020). In accordance with the fear-avoidance model, we hypothesised lockdown-related increases in pain and psychological distress, which would be mediated by levels of pain catastrophising. Responses indicated that people with chronic pain perceived increased pain severity, compared to their estimation of typical pain levels prior to lockdown (p < .001). They were also more adversely affected by lockdown conditions compared to pain-free individuals, demonstrating greater self-perceived increases in anxiety and depressed mood, increased loneliness and reduced levels of physical exercise (p ⩽ .001). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that pain catastrophising was an important factor relating to the extent of self-perceived increases in pain severity during lockdown (β = .27, p < .001) and also mediated the relationship between decreased mood and pain. Perceived decreases in levels of physical exercise also related to perceptions of increased pain (β = .15, p < .001). Interestingly, levels of pain intensity (measured at two time points at pre and during lockdown) in a subgroup (N = 85) did not demonstrate a significant change. However, individuals in this subgroup still reported self-perceived pain increases during lockdown, which were also predicted by baseline levels of pain catastrophising. Overall, the findings indicate that people with chronic pain suffer adverse effects of lockdown including self-perceived increases in their pain. Remote pain management provision to target reduction of pain catastrophising and increase health behaviours including physical activity could be beneficial for this vulnerable population.
Assessing suitability for long-term colorectal cancer shared care: a scenario-based qualitative study
Authors: Vuong Kylie , Uebel Kerry , Agaliotis Maria , Jun Stella , Taggart Jane , Suchy Sue , Liauw Winston , Chin Melvin , Webber Kate , Harris Mark
Published: November 2020

Background

Shared care is the preferred model for long-term survivorship care by cancer survivors, general practitioners and specialists. However, survivorship care remains specialist-led. A risk-stratified approach has been proposed to select suitable patients for long-term shared care after survivors have completed adjuvant cancer treatment. This study aims to use patient scenarios to explore views on patient suitability for long-term colorectal cancer shared care across the risk spectrum from survivors, general practitioners and specialists.

Methods

Participants completed a brief questionnaire assessing demographics and clinical issues before a semi-structured in-depth interview. The interviews focused on the participant’s view on suitability for long term cancer shared care, challenges and facilitators in delivering it and resources that would be helpful. We conducted thematic analysis using an inductive approach to discover new concepts and themes.

Results

Interviews were conducted with 10 cancer survivors, 6 general practitioners and 9 cancer specialists. The main themes that emerged were patient-centredness, team resilience underlined by mutual trust and stronger system supports by way of cancer-specific training, survivorship care protocols, shared information systems, care coordination and navigational supports.

Conclusions

Decisions on the appropriateness of this model for patients need to be made collaboratively with cancer survivors, considering their trust and relationship with their general practitioners and the support they need. Further research on improving mutual trust and operationalising support systems would assist in the integration of shared survivorship care.
Modification of the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for gallbladder carcinoma to improve prognostic precision
Authors: Jiang Wei , Zhao Bingqing , Li Yongcheng , Qi Dunfeng , Wang Daxing
Published: November 2020

Background

The 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) came into force since 2018. However, the prognostic precision of this staging system has not been properly assessed. This study aimed to evaluate the latest staging system and suggest modifications to improve its prognostic precision.

Methods

Data of patients with GBC was included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (2004–2015) and multicenter database (2010–2017). Baseline clinicopathologic characteristics were recorded including age, sex, race, grade, T category, N category, M category and stage. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival functions. The prediction power of the AJCC 8th edition and its modified version were evaluated using the concordance index (C-index).

Results

A total of 2779 GBC patients were included in the SEER database and 591 were collected from multicenter database. While no significant difference in survival of patients was observed between stages IVA and IVB using the 8th AJCC staging system (p > 0.05), the prognosis of stage IIIA showed a slightly better outcome than stage IIIB (p = 0.046) in the SEER database. In the multicenter database, there was no significant difference between stage IIIA and stage IIIB (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant difference in the survival of patients between stages IIIA and IIIB was observed when M0 patients with at least 6 lymph nodes (LNs) were analyzed (p > 0.05) for both SEER and multicenter database. On the other hand, a modified staging system was able to stratify patients from stage IIIA, stage IIIB and stage IV (p < 0.001). For the SEER database, the C-indexes of 8th AJCC staging system and that of its modified version were 0.709 and 0.742, respectively. For the multicenter database, the C-index of 8th AJCC staging system and that of our modified version were 0.635 and 0.679, respectively.

Conclusions

The modified 8th staging system proposed in this study can improve the prognostic precision of the 8th AJCC staging system for GBC. We therefore suggest including these modifications in the next update of AJCC staging system for GBC.
Early essential newborn care is associated with increased breastfeeding: a quasi-experimental study from Sichuan Province of Western China
Authors: Wang Chen-ran , Li Xia-yun , Zhang Lin , Wu Lin-man , Tan Ling , Yuan Fei , Guo Yao , Williams Sarah , Xu Tao
Published: November 2020

Background

Breastfeeding is critical to promote maternal and child health. China has set national targets to further improve the exclusive breastfeeding rate. We aimed to examine associations between the provision of early essential newborn care (EENC) and breastfeeding outcomes among full term vaginally delivered neonates in the first 6 months of life.

Methods

We conducted a quasi-experimental study in eight maternal and children’s hospitals in Mianyang City and Deyang City in Sichuan Province of western China. Four hospitals were randomly selected as the intervention group with the implementation of EENC while others as the control group receiving routine care. We assessed effects of EENC on breastfeeding initiation time, duration of first-time breastfeeding, and exclusive breastfeeding rates up to 6 months of age. Data were collected after delivery, at hospital discharge, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post birth in the baseline phase from May to June 2017 and post-EENC phase from October to December 2017. We performed univariate analyses to ascertain differences between the two groups, and difference in difference (DID) models to explore the net effects.

Results

Of the 1349 enrolled mother and newborn pairs in our study, 1131 (83.9%) were followed up at 1 month of age, 1075 (79.7%) at 3 months, and 981 (72.7%) at 6 months. EENC was associated with earlier median time to initiate breastfeeding (25 min vs. 33 min, P <  0.01), an increased chance of successful first-time breastfeeding (OR 5.53; 95% CI 2.69, 11.40), longer duration of skin to skin contact (SSC) (21.53 min; 95% CI 18.17, 24.89) and longer duration of the first breastfeed (4.16 min; 95% CI 2.10, 6.22), and an increased likelihood of being exclusively breastfed at discharge (74.5% vs. 55.0%, P <  0.001), 3 months (OR 3.20; 95% CI 1.01, 10.15), and 6 months (OR 4.91; 95% CI 1.71, 14.13) of age.

Conclusions

EENC enhances breastfeeding initiation and increases exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months of age. Our evidence suggests that nationwide scale up of EENC would increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate in the first 6 months of life.
Drug-related relapses in drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
Authors: Jörg Lukas , Helbling Arthur , Yerly Daniel , Pichler Werner J.
Published: November 2020

Background

A drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe T cell mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Relapses of symptoms in the recovery phase are frequent and linked to the reduction of the corticosteroid treatment, to viral reactivations or to the exposure to new drugs. Here, we analyzed, how often the exposure to new drugs leads to new sensitization or drug-related relapses without detectable sensitization.

Methods

46 patients with DRESS treated in the allergy division of the Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, were retrospectively assessed. Drug-related relapses were analyzed in terms of frequency and whether a possible sensitization evaluated by skin tests and/or lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT) to the new drugs was detectable. Furthermore, drug tolerance was evaluated in a subset of patients.

Results

56 relapses were observed in 27 of 46 patients with DRESS (58.7%). 33 (58.9%) of these relapses were associated with the use of new drugs, 30 drug-related relapses were evaluated by patch test and/or lymphocyte transformation test. In 8/30 (26.7%) drug-related relapses, a sensitization to the new drug was demonstrated, suggesting the emergence of a multiple drug hypersensitivity syndrome (MDH). 14 patients experienced 22 drug-related relapses without any detectable sensitization and only 1/6 patients developed new symptoms upon reexposure.

Conclusion

Patients with DRESS frequently suffered from drug related relapses. Half of the patients with drug-related relapses developed a MDH with proven sensitizations not only to the DRESS inducing drugs, but also to newly applied drugs. When not sensitized, drugs involved in drug related relapses could be reintroduced, if needed. Here, we propose a procedure for drug testing and future management of drug-related relapses in DRESS.
Enhanced interpolation-based interference rejection combining for black-space cognitive radio in time-varying channels
Authors: Srinivasan Sudharsan , Dikmese Sener , Renfors Markku
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we investigate multi-antenna interference rejection combing (IRC)-based black-space cognitive radio (BS-CR) operation in time-varying channels. The idea of BS-CR is to transmit secondary user (SU) signal in the same frequency band with the primary user (PU) such that SU’s power spectral density is clearly below that of the PU, and no significant interference is inflicted on the PU receivers. We explore the effects of interpolation and mobility on the novel blind IRC technique which allows such operation mode for effective reuse of the PU spectrum for relatively short-distance CR communication. We assume that both the PU system and the BS-CR use orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveforms with common numerology. In this case, the PU interference on the BS-CR signal is strictly flat-fading at subcarrier level. Sample covariance matrix-based IRC adaptation is applied during silent gaps in CR operation. We evaluate the effect of the gap length on the link performance, using known PU channel-based interference covariance estimation as reference. We also propose an interpolation-based scheme for tracking the spatial covariance in time-varying channels, demonstrating significantly improved robustness compared to the earlier scheme. The performance of the proposed IRC scheme is tested considering terrestrial digital TV broadcasting (DVB-T) as the primary service. Also joint PU and co-channel CR interference cancellation is included in the study. The resulting interference suppression capability is evaluated with different PU interference power levels, silent gap durations, data block lengths, and CR device mobilities.
Multi-level host-based intrusion detection system for Internet of things
Authors: Gassais Robin , Ezzati-Jivan Naser , Fernandez Jose M. , Aloise Daniel , Dagenais Michel R.
Published: November 2020

The growth of the Internet of things (IoT) has ushered in a new area of inter-connectivity and innovation in the home. Many devices, once separate, can now be interacted with remotely, improving efficiency and organization. This, however, comes at the cost of rising security vulnerabilities. Vendors are competing to create and release quickly innovative connected objects, without focusing on the security issues. As a consequence, attacks involving smart devices, or targeting them, are proliferating, creating threats to user’s privacy and even their physical security. Additionally, the heterogeneous technologies involved in IoT make attempts to develop protection on smart devices much harder. Most of the intrusion detection systems developed for those platforms are based on network activity. However, on many systems, intrusions cannot easily or reliably be detected from network traces. We propose a novel host-based automated framework for intrusion detection. Our work combines user space and kernel space information and machine learning techniques to detect various kinds of intrusions in smart devices. Our solution use tracing techniques to automatically get devices behavior, process this data into numeric arrays to train several machine learning algorithms, and raise alerts whenever an intrusion is found. We implemented several machine learning algorithms, including deep learning ones, to achieve high detection capabilities, while adding little overhead on the monitored devices. We tested our solution within a realistic home automation system with actual threats.
Development and randomized controlled trial evaluation of E-learning trainings for professionals
Authors: König Elisa , Maier Anna , Fegert Jörg Michael , Hoffmann Ulrike
Published: November 2020

Background

Child maltreatment and consequently child protection are highly relevant and current issues in our society. Medical institutions are widely regarded as places of healing, care and support. But they also hold risk factors to promote child maltreatment. Efforts have to be taken in order to offer help to victims by medical institutions and to reduce risk factors for child maltreatment. Therefore, health professionals in the field of child protection must be trained and sensitized for these two purposes.

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry / Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Ulm in Germany is developing E-Learning courses directed to health professionals in order to create flexible advanced training courses for dealing with child abuse, and to increase competences in child protection. Due to their specific role in (institutional) child protection, three courses and their evaluation will be presented in this article. The aim of the studies is to examine if those online-courses are increasing knowledge and skills in child protection and how satisfied participants are with course quality.

Methods

Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) were conducted with one wait-list control group and one group participating in the course (= intervention group). The RCTs took place from October 2016 to March 2017 for two courses, and from May 2017 to September 2017 for the other course. Data were analysed with mixed design ANOVA. For evaluation of user satisfaction, descriptive statistics are reported.

Results

For all three courses, knowledge and practical capacities on the topic of the intervention group raised significantly in comparison to the values of the control group. Furthermore, participants of the course for managers felt better prepared to meet their responsibilities in regard to institutional child protection and came up with ideas on how to implement safeguarding standards in their institution. Overall, participants were very satisfied with the structure and the content of the courses.

Conclusions

The article shows that the online-courses are an effective and well-accepted approach to train professionals in topics regarding (institutional) child protection by contributing to the participants´ abilities to create medical facilities into a place of competence and protection.
Social capital and the diffusion of learning management systems: a case study
Authors: Boland Bill
Published: November 2020

The diffusion and adoption process of a learning management system (LMS) at higher education institutes faces several obstacles; some of which are unique to contexts while others are shared experiences. This diffusion case study compares the adoption process of the LMS Blackboard at two universities, Texas A&M University and Monash University in Australia, investigating the factors which impacted the adoption of the innovation at each context as well as the extent to which social capital influenced the diffusion process. The study specifically examined the different adopters involved, the objections raised, the barriers encountered, and the significant factors either resulting in the success or the failure of the innovation, employing a social capital-infused theoretical framework of diffusion within organizations outlined by Frank, Zhao, and Borman (Sociol Educ 77:148–171, 2004). Primary and secondary data were analyzed and examined from three peer-reviewed, empirical articles for comparison within the study.

Findings highlighted strong alignment with Rogers’ (Diffusion of innovations, 2003) diffusion of innovations theory as well as the importance of social capital maintained by Frank and colleagues (Sociol Educ 77:148–171, 2004). Though describing different adoption processes and factors, each context supported the universal idea behind diffusion theory that members of a social system communicate an innovation through social channels over time and that innovators and early adopters play a vital role in this process (Rogers, Diffusion of innovations, 2003). As higher education institutes advance further into the twenty-first century and adopt more innovations within their learning frameworks and systems, this diffusion case study stresses the importance of understanding diffusion theory, having an in-depth knowledge of the stakeholders involved in the adoption process, and creating and implementing a meticulous diffusion plan to ensure a successful diffusion and adoption process.
Screening marine algae metabolites as high-affinity inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro): an in silico analysis to identify novel drug candidates to combat COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Muteeb Ghazala , Alshoaibi Adil , Aatif Mohammad , Rehman Md. Tabish , Qayyum M. Zuhaib
Published: November 2020

The recent dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 from Wuhan city to all over the world has created a pandemic. COVID-19 has cost many human lives and created an enormous economic burden. Although many drugs/vaccines are in different stages of clinical trials, still none is clinically available. We have screened a marine seaweed database (1110 compounds) against 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 using computational approaches. High throughput virtual screening was performed on compounds, and 86 of them with docking score <  − 5.000 kcal mol−1 were subjected to standard-precision docking. Based on binding energies (< − 6.000 kcal mol−1), 9 compounds were further shortlisted and subjected to extra-precision docking. Free energy calculation by Prime-MM/GBSA suggested RC002, GA004, and GA006 as the most potent inhibitors of 3CLpro. An analysis of ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) properties of RC002, GA004, and GA006 indicated that only RC002 (callophysin A, from red alga Callophycus oppositifolius) passed Lipinski’s, Veber’s, PAINS and Brenk’s filters and displayed drug-like and lead-like properties. Analysis of 3CLpro-callophysin A complex revealed the involvement of salt bridge, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions. callophysin A interacted with the catalytic residues (His41 and Cys145) of 3CLpro; hence it may act as a mechanism-based competitive inhibitor. Docking energy and docking affinity of callophysin A towards 3CLpro was − 8.776 kcal mol−1 and 2.73 × 106 M−1, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the stability of the 3CLpro-callophysin A complex. The findings of this study may serve as the basis for further validation by in vitro and in vivo studies.
A fixed reconstruction of fully edentulous patients with immediate function using an apically tapered implant design: a retrospective clinical study
Authors: Eskan Mehmet Akif , Uzel Gokhan , Yilmaz Seyit
Published: November 2020

Background

Immediate function has become an accepted treatment modality for fixed restorations in completely edentulous jaws. It is known that implant microtopography (surface) may enhance osseointegration, while implant macrotopography (macrodesign) plays an important role in primary stability in the patient requiring an immediate loading. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the edentulous subjects treated with narrow and/or regular diameter, which placed and loaded immediately.

Methods

Forty-two consecutive patients received 171 implants, including regular and narrow diameter implants (NDIs). Each jaw, 19 mandibles and 24 maxillae, was treated with a fixed-full arch prosthesis according to the Straumann® Pro Arch concept. The majority (95%) of the restorations were supported by four implants, of which the posterior two implants were tilted. A provisional functional acrylic prosthesis was delivered on the day of surgery. All patients were followed up to 55 months. Cumulative survival rate was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Radiological measurement of marginal bone level was performed.

Results

The overall follow-up time for survival rate was up to 55 months. Four implants (3 implants in maxilla, 1 implant in mandible) were lost, resulting in an overall cumulative implant survival rate of 97.7%. Implant survival rate in the axial and tilted implants was not statistically significant. The mean of interproximal marginal bone loss was 0.15 mm after 24 months. Good soft tissue health was observed in almost 99% of patients. The final prosthesis survival rate was 100%.

Conclusions

The results of this retrospective pilot study indicated that total edentulous patients requiring an immediate implant placement and loading can be successfully treated with this implant design. The improved mechanical properties of these implants might give a more conservative treatment option for the jaws showing a severe horizontal alveolar bone resorption.
Complement C9 expression is associated with damaged myocardial cells in pediatric sudden death cases of fulminant myocarditis
Authors: Uno Akari Takaya , Hitosugi Masahito , Nakamura Mami , Nakanishi Tomoyuki , Mima Takahiro , Higuchi Yoshihisa
Published: November 2020

Background

Because disease progression is so fast in sudden death of acute fulminant myocarditis, damage of myocardial cells is not evident in routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. To understand damage to myocardial cells and the mechanism of sudden death, immunohistochemical staining was performed for two forensic autopsy cases.

Case presentation

The patients were a healthy 5-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy. They suddenly died within 2 days of appearance of flu-like symptoms. An autopsy showed accumulation of yellowish-clear pericardial fluid containing fibrin deposits, fluid blood in the heart, and congestion of visceral organs. Histologically, minor necrosis or degeneration of myocardial cells with mainly lymphocytic infiltration was observed sometimes in tissue sections. Immunohistochemically, positive complement C9 staining and negative sirtuin 1 staining were found. These findings suggested wide damage of myocardial cells, even in regions with no marked changes in myocardial cells with hematoxylin and eosin staining. These areas corresponded to those with strong accumulation of lymphocytes.

Conclusions

Immunohistochemistry for complement C9 and sirtuin 1 might become a new tool for evaluating damage of myocardial cells of fulminant acute myocarditis.
Efficacy of prophylactic selective arterial embolization for renal angiomyolipomas: identifying predictors of 50% volume reduction
Authors: Hongyo Hidenari , Higashihara Hiroki , Osuga Keigo , Kashiwagi Eiji , Kosai Shinya , Nagai Keisuke , Tanaka Kaishu , Ono Yusuke , Ujike Takeshi , Uemura Motohide , Imamura Ryoichi , Nonomura Norio , Tomiyama Noriyuki
Published: November 2020

Background

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has been widely performed for renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) as prophylaxis or emergency treatment. On the other hand, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have recently been used for tuberous sclerosis (TSC)-related AMLs, and no comparison between the effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors versus prophylactic selective TAE has yet been performed.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of TAE for AML tumor volume reduction and predictors of tumor volume decrease over 50%, with reference to the EXIST-2 trial.

Methods

A total of 44 patients who underwent 48 prophylactic embolization procedures for 50 AMLs in a single institution between 2004 and 2018 were included. Indications for TAE of AMLs were tumor size ≥4 cm or aneurysm ≥5 mm in diameter on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT). Microspheres, ethanol, and micro-coils were used as embolic agents. The percentage volume reduction from before TAE to the minimum volume during follow-up after TAE was calculated, and predictors for 50% volume reduction were identified by univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses.

Results

The technical success rate was 100% (50 of 50). No severe acute complications related to the procedure were encountered. Tumor volume reduction of ≥50% was observed in 35/50 AMLs. There was a significant difference in the rate of tumor volume reduction of 50% between the presence and absence of an aneurysm ≥5 mm and between tumor diameter ≥ 70 mm and < 70 mm on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, tumor diameter < 70 mm was the only independent predictor of significant tumor volume reduction after TAE.

Conclusion

Prophylactic selective TAE for AMLs has good tumor-reduction effects, especially for AMLs with tumor diameter < 70 mm.
Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Evaluation During the COVID-19 Confinement Period in France
Authors: Bruyneel Anne-Violette , Beauviche Juliette , Caussé Benoit , Walters Kylie
Published: November 2020

Since March 2020 Europe has faced the COVID-19 epidemic. General confinement measures imposed by governments have had a strong impact on cultural practices, including within dance schools. This article describes the actions implemented by the Dance Department of the Lyon National Conservatory
of Music and Dance (CNSMDL, France) in order to ensure pedagogical continuity during the confinement period. The study focused on the 12 preparatory-year students in contemporary dance. Despite numerous constraints—primarily small workspaces, unstable Internet connections, and the difficulty
of correcting technical dance moves at a distance—all students and teachers were able to maintain pedagogical follow-up through a series of constructed activities. Students appreciated the social aspect (the relationship with their teachers and fellow students) and day-structuring component
of the scheduling. The online activities helped to avoid student isolation, and motivation seemed unaffected. While online exercises can never replace "in the flesh" dance classes, this crisis provided an opportunity to develop pedagogical innovations and tools that could be reused in face-to-face
dance instruction in other contexts such as injuries and intermittent work conditions.
Increased Female Athlete Triad Knowledge Among Collegiate Dancers Following a Brief Educational Video Intervention
Authors: Brown Katie , Yates Michelle , Meenan Melanie , Brown Ann F.
Published: November 2020

The female athlete triad (triad) is prevalent among aesthetic athletes, including dancers. However, there is limited research regarding triad knowledge or triad educational interventions among collegiate dancers. This study was intended to help correct that shortage. Participants (N
= 24) completed two questionnaires: one assessed demographics, triad risk, and disordered eating (DE) risk; the other measured triad knowledge before and after viewing a 10-minute triad video. Twenty-seven percent of participants were found to be at risk for DE, 27% were at risk for the triad,
and 8% were at risk for both. Significant improvements in triad knowledge were observed following the educational video; 4.08 ± 1.83 pre-intervention to 6.75 ± 0.09 post-intervention out of a possible 7, p < 0.001. There were no differences in triad knowledge when comparing
freshmen and sophomores to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. This research confirms that triad education should be a continuous component of collegiate dancers' curricula to promote their overall health and wellness, and that the triad video can be an effective educational tool for
supporting that goal.
Bilateral Differences in Dancers' Dynamic Postural Stability During Jump Landings
Authors: Clarke Frances , Koutedakis Yiannis , Wilson Margaret , Wyon Matthew
Published: November 2020

Although traditional dance training aims to train dancers' legs equally, the recognized practice of predominately starting and repeating exercises on one side more than the other has led to suggestions that technique classes may cause lateral bias. Such an imbalance could lead to a
greater risk of injury; however, despite this potential risk, little is known about the effects of bilateral differences on dancers' postural stability during jump landings, a key dynamic action in dance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of possible bilateral differences
on dynamic postural stability during single-leg landing using a time-to-stabilization protocol. Thirty-two injury-free female university undergraduate dancers (19 ± 1.9 years; 164.8 ± 6.7 cm; 62.6 ± 13.6 kg) volunteered for the study. They completed a two-foot to one-foot
jump over a bar onto a force platform while stabilizing as quickly as possible. The landing leg was randomly assigned, and participants completed three trials for each leg. No significant differences in dynamic postural stability between right and left legs were revealed, and poor effect size
was noted (p > 0.05): MLSI: t = -.04, df = 190, p = 0.940 (CI = -.04, .04, r2 = 0); APSI: t = .65, df = 190, p = 0.519 (CI = -.06-, .12, r2 = .09); VSI: t = 1.85, df = 190, p = 0.066 (CI = -.02, .68, r2 = .27); DPSI: t = 1.88, df = 190, p = 0.061 (CI = -.02,
.70, r2 = .27). The results of this study do not support the notion that dance training may cause lateral bias with its associated risk of injury. Furthermore, dancers' self-perceptions of leg dominance did not correlate with their ability to balance in single-leg landings or to
absorb the ground reaction forces often associated with injury. Even when biased training exists, it may not have detrimental effects on the dancer's postural stability.
Towards establishing extracellular vesicle-associated RNAs as biomarkers for HER2+ breast cancer
Authors: Hisey Colin L. , Tomek Petr , Nursalim Yohanes N.S. , Chamley Lawrence W. , Leung Euphemia
Published: November 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as key players in breast cancer progression and hold immense promise as cancer biomarkers. However, difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities of EVs for the identification of potential biomarkers hampers progress in this area. To circumvent this obstacle, we cultured BT-474 breast cancer cells in a two-chambered bioreactor with CDM-HD serum replacement to significantly improve the yield of cancer cell-associated EVs and eliminate bovine EV contamination. Cancer-relevant mRNAs BIRC5 (Survivin) and YBX1, as well as long-noncoding RNAs HOTAIR, ZFAS1, and AGAP2-AS1 were detected in BT-474 EVs by quantitative RT-PCR. Bioinformatics meta-analyses showed that BIRC5 and HOTAIR RNAs were substantially upregulated in breast tumours compared to non-tumour breast tissue, warranting further studies to explore their usefulness as biomarkers in patient EV samples. We envision this effective procedure for obtaining large amounts of cancer-specific EVs will accelerate discovery of EV-associated RNA biomarkers for cancers including HER2+ breast cancer.
Parasitic control at housing in cattle: a modern rationale
Authors: Allan Jennifer
Published: November 2020

Anthelmintic treatment at housing remains the cornerstone of common nematode and trematode management in the UK, taking advantage of the low re-infection risk once away from pasture. Treatment removes any endoparasite burdens acquired during the grazing season and reduces effects on productivity through the winter, as well as levels of larvae and eggs shed onto the pasture at spring turnout. This article covers the four most common parasitic disease complexes encountered in the UK that benefit from treatment at housing.
CattleReview
Authors: Barrett David C
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

In this Cattle Review we consider three recent papers looking at postpartum uterine disease, Mycoplasma bovis and bovine respiratory disease vaccination.
Modernising BRD control
Authors: Potter Tim , Baxter-Smith Kat
Published: November 2020

To minimise the impact of BRD on farm rapid identification and early treament are required. Prevention involves maximising immunity, managing stressful periods and optimising the environment.
Calf scour management and alternative therapies
Authors: Barragry Tom
Published: November 2020

Prevention is better than cure undoubtedly, but allied to that is a new approach to the types of products that should be considered in the light of current antimicrobial resistance issues and the heightened importance of calf immunity.
Sheep farmers and vets working together. Why? What? How?
Authors: Lovatt Fiona
Published: November 2020

‘Vets are not interested and don't care about sheep.’ ‘Sheep farmers are grumpy and don't need vets.’ ‘The cost of a sheep is not worth the price of a vet…’ Comments, that you may have heard, but are thoroughly out of date in the current sheep industry where keen sheep veterinary surgeons are valued as pivotal members of the flock team. This presentation explored the relationships between veterinary surgeons and sheep farmers. It identified how veterinary surgeons can optimise their value with an emphasis on good preventative medicine and how sheep flocks can improve their performance to deliver mutual benefits and maximum job satisfaction.
Impact of Flock Health Clubs
Authors: Noble Nicola , Occhiuto Francesca , Lovatt Fiona , Johnson Marion , Jones Wendy , Kaler Jasmeet
Published: November 2020

Sheep farming is an important part of UK agriculture with significantly more breeding females than either the pig or cattle sectors. Whether grazing alongside arable rotations or utilising the marginal uplands, sheep farms arguably play a key role that is embedded within UK rural society. However, research led by University of Nottingham has identified various challenges and barriers that have affected relationships between UK sheep farmers and the veterinary profession. In response to these findings, Flock Health Clubs were developed as an initiative that aimed for improved and cost-effective sheep farmer–veterinary interaction. We report quantitative and qualitative data that assess the impact of Flock Health Clubs and indeed show tangible improvements in both farmer–veterinary surgeon relationships and measures of flock health and welfare.
Spray Characterization of Aerosol Delivery Systems for Use in Stored Product Facilities
Authors: Asuncion Fei Xyza B. , Brabec Daniel L. , Casada Mark E. , Maghirang Ronaldo G. , Arthur Frank H. , Campbell James F. , Zhu Kun Yan , Martin Daniel E.
Published: November 2020

Highlights

Handheld sprayers generated larger droplets and wider droplet size distributions than compressed gas sprayers.

Sprayers with higher pressure and nozzles with wider spray angle produced smaller droplets.

Droplet size distribution influenced spray coverage, mass concentration, deposition, and sprayer efficacy.

The handheld sprayers had less spray coverage and efficiency than the compressed gas sprayers.

The deposition at different locations was influenced by the volume of the space, aerosol dosage, and spray time.

Abstract. Aerosol insecticides, including pyrethrins, can be used as methyl bromide replacements to control stored product insects inside flour mills and rice mills. The effectiveness of aerosol application for insect control requires knowing the spray characteristics of the equipment to be used and understanding factors that influence the effectiveness of insecticide application. The objectives of this study, as part of efforts to optimize aerosol applications, were to evaluate the characteristics of six aerosol delivery systems (two handheld sprayers and compressed gas sprayer systems fitted with two types of manifolds and two types of nozzles), estimate the dispersion and deposition of aerosol in a simulated stored product facility, and determine how the dispersion and deposition are affected by the characteristics of the sprayers. Results showed that the spray systems differed significantly in spray characteristics. The compressed gas sprayers generated significantly smaller droplets, more uniform droplet size distribution, and better spray coverage than the handheld sprayers. The ellipsoidal nozzle produced significantly smaller droplets than the circular nozzle. While the type of manifold had no significant effect on deposition, higher aerosol dosage and spray time resulted in significantly higher deposition. Results of this study will be used to improve spray techniques for stored product insect control, to validate computational fluid dynamics modeling of aerosol application, and to improve testing methods in large-scale spray testing inside commercial facilities. Keywords: APS spectrometer, Droplet size distribution, HELOS KR-Vario, Mass deposition, Spray characteristics, Spray nozzles.
Concentrations and regularities of disperse-phase distribution of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in natural water
Authors: Milyukin Mikhail V. , Gorban Maksym V. , Gorban Maksym V.
Published: November 2020

This article presents the monitoring results of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water of the Dnieper River for the period 2011–2019. Total levels of OCPs, PCBs and PAHs consist of 1,4–17,1; 2,8–57,2; and 7,5–378,6 ng/L, respectively. A significant increase in pollution levels was not identified. Research results of the disperse-phase distribution of these substances in water were also provided. Less than half of the total contents of pollutants were in the water phase. Average water-soluble parts of OCPs, PCBs, and PAHs accounted for 32, 42, and 44 %, respectively. It was shown that water-soluble parts of individual pollutants decrease with the increase in the coefficients of hydrophobicity of compounds. The clearest reliable, relevant correlation between water-soluble parts of individual congeners and coefficients of hydrophobicity was obtained for PCBs.
Investigation of localized state emissions in quaternary InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb multiple quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Jia Huimin , Shen Lin , Li Xiang , Kang Yubin , Fang Xuan , Fang Dan , Lin Fengyuan , Tang Jilong , Wang Dengkui , Ma Xiaohui , Wei Zhipeng
Published: November 2020

As an essential structure of infrared semiconductor lasers, the optical properties of InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb multiple quantum wells need to be fully investigated. In this paper, the temperature and excitation power-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb MQWs are measured. A strong free exciton emission with a photon energy of 0.631 eV was observed at room temperature. Besides the main peak, an obvious shoulder peak, located at the low photon energy position under low temperature range (T≤90 K), was confirmed to be an emission of defect related localized carriers by power-dependent PL spectra. The power-dependent PL spectra were dominated by the localized carriers emission under low excitation power (Iex≤20 mW), while the free-exciton emission dominated the PL spectra gradually when excitation power higher than 40 mW. This phenomenon is ascribed to the dissociation of localized states. Our work is of great significance for the device applications of InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb multiple quantum wells.
AgNPs decorated volcano-like Ag arrays for ultra-sensitive Raman detection
Authors: Zhengkun Wang , Ning Sun , Yong Zhu , Jie Zhang
Published: November 2020

An ultra-sensitive SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) substrate was fabricated orderly by depositing 360 nm Ag film on the surface of V-shaped AAO (anodized aluminum oxide), utilizing NaOH solution to remove the AAO template, the neat volcano-like Ag arrays substrate (N-V-Ag) was obtained, and then depositing 1.5, 6 and 10 nm Ag film on the surface of the N-V-Ag to obtain the AgNPs decorated volcano-like Ag arrays substrates (AgNPs-V-Ag-1.5, AgNPs-V-Ag-6 and AgNPs-V-Ag-10, respectively). Experimental results indicated that the cavity resonance mode (super-radiant bright modes) and the rim mode as well as “NP mode” (subradiant dark mode) have strong interferences, which results in a significant change in the distribution of the hot spots in the cavity compared with the N-V-Ag. The analytical enhancement factor (AEF) of AgNPs-V-Ag could reach up to 1.5 × 1011, improved by 5 orders of magnitude compared with the N-V-Ag. This novel substrate could obtain extremely low limits of detection (LOD) of 10−13 mol/L (-13 M) for Rhodamine 6G (R6G).
Program-controlled single soliton microcomb source
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Xie Peng , Wang Weiqiang , Wang Yang , Lu Zhizhou , Wang Leiran , Chu Sai T. , Little Brent E. , Zhao Wei , Zhang Wenfu
Published: November 2020

Soliton microcombs (SMCs) are spontaneously formed in a coherently pumped high-quality microresonator, which provides a new tool for use as an on-chip frequency comb for applications of high-precision metrology and spectroscopy. However, generation of SMCs seriously relies on advanced experimental techniques from professional scientists. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a program-controlled single SMC source where the intracavity thermal effect is timely balanced using an auxiliary laser during single SMC generation. The microcomb power is adopted as the criteria for microcomb states discrimination and a forward and backward thermal tuning technique is employed for the deterministic single SMC generation. Further, based on a closed-loop control system, the repetition rate stability of the SMC source improved more than 20 times and the pump frequency can be continuously tuned by simply changing the operation temperature. The reliability of the SMC source is verified by consecutive 200 generation trials and maintaining over 10 h. We believe the proposed SMC source will have significant promising influences in future SMC-based application development.