bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of color‐learning rates among eight species of three insect orders (Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera)
Authors: Kandori Ikuo , Fukada Satoshi , Kurosaki Tsutomu , Yokoi Tomoyuki , Papaj Daniel R.
Published: June 2021

Learning plays an important role in food acquisition in a wide range of insect species. However, few studies have explored differences in the ability to learn floral cues among pollinator species across insect orders. In this study, we examined associative learning of flower color with nectar rewards for females or female workers in two bee species (an eusocial bumblebee [Bombus ignitus] and a solitary mason bee [Osmia orientalis]) and two hoverfly species (Eristalis cerealis and E. tenax). Prior data for females of four butterfly species (Idea leuconoe, Argyreus hyperbius, Pieris rapae, and Lycaena phlaeas) were included for analyses of flower color‐learning rate in a total of eight species of three insect orders (Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera). All eight species learned flower colors associated with food. Flower color‐learning rate was highest in B. ignitus, followed by the two larger butterflies (I. leuconoe and A. hyperbius), the two smaller butterflies (P. rapae and L. phlaeas), and the remaining species (E. cerealis, E. tenax, and O. orientalis). These results represent the first evidence that the ability to learn floral cues differs among flower‐visiting insects of different orders. We discuss the adaptive significance of superior learning abilities in bumblebees and butterflies and that of inferior learning abilities in the two hoverflies and mason bees.
The effect of sample temperature variations during sample preparation on measured blood ethanol concentration
Authors: Kosecki Patrick Allan , Brooke Phillip , Canonico Erika
Published: June 2021

Since the accuracy of headspace gas chromatographic analysis of blood for ethanol concentration has been so well established over the past several decades, it has become commonplace in court proceedings to attack preanalytical handling of the blood samples including the lack of measuring sample temperature prior to sample preparation. The impact on measured ethanol concentration of allowing refrigerated (~4℃) samples varying amounts of time to equilibrate with room temperature, 24, 4, 3, 2, and 1 h, prior to sample preparation was evaluated. Samples were diluted 1:10 with an internal standard using a diluter/dispenser and analyzed using headspace gas chromatography. The mean ethanol concentration measured for the sixteen samples at each of the five equilibration times was 0.153 g/dl. The F‐critical from the one‐way ANOVA was 2.4937. The calculated F value was 0.4209. Additionally, the effect on measured ethanol concentration of having calibrators at different temperatures than case samples was investigated. Three groups were analyzed: all calibrators, controls, and samples given 24 h to equilibrate with room temperature, all calibrators, controls, and samples prepared immediately after removal from refrigeration, and calibrators sampled immediately after removal from refrigerator with samples and controls allowed 24 h to equilibrate with room temperature. The mean ethanol concentration measured for the thirty blood samples in each of the three groups was 0.197 g/dl. The F‐critical from the one‐way ANOVA was 3.1013. The calculated F value was 0.0188. Measured ethanol concentrations were insensitive to the variations in preanalytical conditions evaluated in this study.
Dorsal and ventral striatum activity in individuals with buying‐shopping disorder during cue‐exposure: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Trotzke Patrick , Starcke Katrin , Pedersen Anya , Brand Matthias
Published: June 2021

Background and Aims

Buying‐shopping disorder (BSD) is a clinical condition in which individuals lose control over their buying behaviour and continue buying despite negative consequences such as indebtedness, loss of family and friends. BSD has been considered a behavioural addiction and first studies provide evidence for cue‐reactivity and craving as potential pathomechanisms. The current study aimed at investigating neural correlates of cue‐reactivity and craving in individuals with BSD using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Methods

A cue‐reactivity paradigm comprising individualised shopping‐related and control cues was applied in n = 18 individuals diagnosed with BSD and n = 18 gender, age, and handedness matched control participants using fMRI. Outside the scanner, symptoms of BSD and craving reactions towards shopping (before and after the cue‐reactivity paradigm) were assessed via questionnaires.

Findings

Higher subjective craving reactions towards shopping, prior and after exposure to shopping cues, were observed in individuals with BSD compared to control participants. Consistent with studies in addiction research, we found increased activations in the dorsal striatum for individuals with BSD compared to control participants during exposure to shopping cues. Activity in the ventral striatum was associated with symptoms of BSD in affected individuals, but not in control participants.

Conclusions

Consistent with studies investigating cue‐reactivity in substance‐use and behavioural addictions, the association between cue‐exposure and activities in reward‐related brain structures such as the dorsal and ventral striatum in BSD participants may contribute to a neural explanation of why individuals experience irresistible urges to buy and lose control over their behaviour.
Comorbidity before and after a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Bernstein Charles N. , Nugent Zoann , Shaffer Seth , Singh Harminder , Marrie Ruth Ann
Published: June 2021

Background

Comorbidity is an important predictor of how disease course in inflammatory bowel (IBD) evolves.

Aims

To determine pre‐diagnosis relative rates (RR) and post‐diagnosis hazard ratios (HR) of component diseases of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) in a cohort study of persons with IBD.

Methods

The University of Manitoba IBD Epidemiology Database includes all Manitobans with IBD from 1 April 1984 through 31 March 2018 and matched controls. All outpatient physician claims and hospital discharge abstracts were searched for diagnostic codes for CCI component diseases. Some diseases were collapsed into one group such that we assessed 12 conditions. We report the RR of these conditions prior to IBD and the incidence of these diagnoses after IBD. Using Cox proportional hazards regression we report post‐diagnosis HR. Confidence intervals were adjusted for Bonferroni correction.

Results

The RR of cardiovascular diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases, connective tissue disease/rheumatic diseases, renal disease, liver diseases, peptic ulcer disease, and cancer were all increased prior to diagnoses of IBD compared to controls. All comorbidities were increased post IBD diagnosis. The increased HR for dementia in persons with Crohn's disease was a concerning novel finding. The increased association with paraplegia/hemiplegia was unexpected. For all comorbidities, except diabetes, the age at diagnosis was younger in IBD than controls.

Conclusions

Persons with IBD have a higher comorbidity burden than persons without IBD. Optimal care plans for persons with IBD should include an assessment for other comorbidities that include just about every other organ system.
Managing the uncertainty associated with being a parent of a child with a long‐term disability
Authors: Reeder Jim , Morris Jane
Published: June 2021

Aim

This article aims to explore the important theme of uncertainty and how this is experienced by parents of children with long‐term disability or illness. It also aims to consider how health professionals might offer support to parents to manage their uncertainty without taking away their hope.

Background

Before taking up their role in a collaborative partnership with health professionals, parents first need to ‘get used’ to being a parent of a child with long‐term disability. During this time, parents experience considerable uncertainty and employ different strategies to try to manage this.

Methods

The study was guided by a constructivist grounded theory methodology. This involved an iterative process of repeated cycles of data collection and analysis, which consisted of 12 semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with 14 parents of children accessing paediatric services within a single National Health Service (NHS) Trust.

Results

The overarching theme of ‘managing uncertainty’ is presented with its constituent core categories/subthemes of ‘minimizing concerns’, ‘getting an answer’ and ‘prioritizing the diagnosis’.

Conclusions

This article presents and discusses a new understanding of how parents might be supported to manage the uncertainty associated with having a child with a long‐term disability. It is suggested that support needs to move beyond the provision of accurate and timely information, to include measures/strategies that help parents to accept and make sense of their situation. Re‐centring the child and reducing focus on diagnosis may help to allow space for continued hope.
Infants’ Mapping of New Faces to New Voices
Authors: Orena Adriel John , Werker Janet F.
Published: June 2021

The ability to identify individuals by voice is fundamental for communication. However, little is known about the expectations that infants hold when learning unfamiliar voices. Here, the voice‐learning skills of 4‐ and 8‐month‐olds (N = 53; 29 girls, 14 boys of various ethnicities) were tested using a preferential‐looking task that involved audiovisual stimuli of their mothers and other unfamiliar women. Findings reveal that the expectation that novel voices map on to novel faces emerges between 4 and 8 months of age, and that infants can retain learning of face‐voice pairings via nonostensive cues by 8 months of age. This study provides new insights about infants’ use of disambiguation and fast mapping in early voice learning.
State‐of‐the‐art machine learning algorithms for the prediction of outcomes after contemporary heart transplantation: Results from the UNOS database
Authors: Kampaktsis Polydoros N. , Tzani Aspasia , Doulamis Ilias P. , Moustakidis Serafeim , Drosou Anastasios , Diakos Nikolaos , Drakos Stavros G. , Briasoulis Alexandros
Published: June 2021

Purpose

We sought to develop and validate machine learning (ML) models to increase the predictive accuracy of mortality after heart transplantation (HT).

Methods and results

We included adult HT recipients from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database between 2010 and 2018 using solely pre‐transplant variables. The study cohort comprised 18 625 patients (53 ± 13 years, 73% males) and was randomly split into a derivation and a validation cohort with a 3:1 ratio. At 1‐year after HT, there were 2334 (12.5%) deaths. Out of a total of 134 pre‐transplant variables, 39 were selected as highly predictive of 1‐year mortality via feature selection algorithm and were used to train five ML models. AUC for the prediction of 1‐year survival was .689, .642, .649, .637, .526 for the Adaboost, Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, and K‐nearest neighbor models, respectively, whereas the Index for Mortality Prediction after Cardiac Transplantation (IMPACT) score had an AUC of .569. Local interpretable model‐agnostic explanations (LIME) analysis was used in the best performing model to identify the relative impact of key predictors. ML models for 3‐ and 5‐year survival as well as acute rejection were also developed in a secondary analysis and yielded AUCs of .629, .609, and .610 using 27, 31, and 91 selected variables respectively.

Conclusion

Machine learning models showed good predictive accuracy of outcomes after heart transplantation.
Academia is racist: Barriers women faculty face in academic public contexts
Authors: Mousa Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Through addressing four public universities in Egypt, the author of this paper aims to uncover the main barriers women faculty face when fulfilling their academic roles. The author employed a qualitative research method through conducting semi‐structured interviews with 40 female academics. Moreover, he subsequently used thematic analysis to determine the main ideas in the transcripts. The author of the present study has identified the poor representation of women faculty at both professorial levels and in managerial academic positions. The study indicated that heavy teaching loads, lengthy working hours, accusations of low productivity, growth of masculine power distance and limited empowerment opportunities are the main barriers hindering the status and representation of women faculty in the addressed universities. The findings also showed that social realities, which include the implicit relations among humans (male and female faculty in this case) in the workplace and also relations between humans and their surrounding natural world (stakeholders in the surrounding environment in the present case) decide the volume of knowledge and level of power women might attain. This paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management and higher education, in which empirical studies on the status of women faculty and the barriers they face have been limited so far.
Patients as partners in health research: A scoping review
Authors: McCarron Tamara L. , Clement Fiona , Rasiah Jananee , Moran Chelsea , Moffat Karen , Gonzalez Andrea , Wasylak Tracy , Santana Maria
Published: June 2021

Background

The role of patient involvement in health research has evolved over the past decade. Despite efforts to engage patients as partners, the role is not well understood. We undertook this review to understand the engagement practices of patients who assume roles as partners in health research.

Methods

Using a recognized methodological approach, two academic databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) and grey literature sources were searched. Findings were organized into one of the three higher levels of engagement, described by the Patient and Researcher Engagement framework developed by Manafo. We examined and quantified the supportive strategies used during involvement, used thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke and themed the purpose of engagement, and categorized the reported outcomes according to the CIHR Engagement Framework.

Results

Out of 6621 records, 119 sources were included in the review. Thematic analysis of the purpose of engagement revealed five themes: documenting and advancing PPI, relevance of research, co‐building, capacity building and impact on research. Improved research design was the most common reported outcome and the most common role for patient partners was as members of the research team, and the most commonly used strategy to support involvement was by meetings.

Conclusion

The evidence collected during this review advanced our understanding of the engagement of patients as research partners. As patient involvement becomes more mainstream, this knowledge will aid researchers and policy‐makers in the development of approaches and tools to support engagement.

Patient/User Involvement

Patients led and conducted the grey literature search, including the synthesis and interpretation of the findings.
Can existing electronic medical records be used to quantify cardiovascular risk at point of care?
Authors: Klimis Harry , Shaw Tim , Von Huben Amy , Charlston Emma , Usherwood Tim , Jennings Garry , Messom Ray , Thiagalingam Aravinda , Gunja Naren , Shetty Amith , Chow Clara K.
Published: June 2021

Background

Using electronic data for cardiovascular risk stratification could help in prioritising healthcare access and optimise cardiovascular prevention.

Aims

To determine whether assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk (Australian absolute cardiovascular disease risk (ACVDR)) and short‐term ischaemic risk (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, and Troponin (HEART) score) is possible from available data in Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and My Health Record (MHR) of patients presenting with acute cardiac symptoms to a Rapid Access Cardiology Clinic (RACC).

Methods

Audit of EMR and MHR on 200 randomly selected adults who presented to RACC between 1 March 2017 and 4 February 2020. The main outcomes were the proportion of patients for which ACVDR score and HEART score could be calculated.

Results

Mean age was 55.2 ± 17.8 years and 43% were female. Most (85%) were referred from emergency for chest pain (52%). Forty‐six percent had hypertension, 35% obesity, 20% diabetes mellitus, 17% ischaemic heart disease and 18% were current smokers. There was no significant difference in MHR accessibility with age, gender and number of comorbidities. An ACVDR score could be estimated for 17.5% (EMR) and 0% (MHR) of patients. None had complete data to estimate HEART score in either EMR or MHR. Most commonly missing variables for ACVDR score were blood pressure (MHR) and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (EMR), and for HEART score the missing variables were body mass index and comorbidities (MHR and EMR).

Conclusions

Significant gaps are apparent in electronic medical data capture of key variables to perform cardiovascular risk assessment. Medical data capture should prioritise the collection of clinically important data to help address gaps in cardiovascular management.
Parasitism and host dispersal plasticity in an aquatic model system
Authors: Zilio Giacomo , Nørgaard Louise S. , Petrucci Giovanni , Zeballos Nathalie , Gougat‐Barbera Claire , Fronhofer Emanuel A. , Kaltz Oliver
Published: June 2021

Dispersal is a central determinant of spatial dynamics in communities and ecosystems, and various ecological factors can shape the evolution of constitutive and plastic dispersal behaviours. One important driver of dispersal plasticity is the biotic environment. Parasites, for example, influence the internal condition of infected hosts and define external patch quality. Thus, state‐dependent dispersal may be determined by infection status and context‐dependent dispersal by the abundance of infected hosts in the population. A prerequisite for such dispersal plasticity to evolve is a genetic basis on which natural selection can act. Using interconnected microcosms, we investigated dispersal in experimental populations of the freshwater protistParamecium caudatumin response to the bacterial parasiteHolospora undulata. For a collection of 20 natural host strains, we found substantial variation in constitutive dispersal and to a lesser degree in dispersal plasticity. First, infection tended to increase or decrease dispersal relative to uninfected controls, depending on strain identity, indicative of state‐dependent dispersal plasticity. Infection additionally decreased host swimming speed compared to the uninfected counterparts. Second, for certain strains, there was a weak negative association between dispersal and infection prevalence, such that uninfected hosts dispersed less when infection was more frequent in the population, indicating context‐dependent dispersal plasticity. Future experiments may test whether the observed differences in dispersal plasticity are sufficiently strong to be picked up by natural selection. The evolution of dispersal plasticity as a strategy to mitigate parasite effects spatially may have important implications for epidemiological dynamics.
Heat transfer analysis of convective and microwave drying of dragon fruit
Authors: Bhagya Raj Gurajala V.S. , Dash Kshirod K.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive three‐dimensional analytical model for predicting the temperature profile during microwave and convective drying of dragon fruit. A combined electromagnetic (Maxwell's equation) and heat transfer model was used for modeling of microwave drying. This heat transfer modeling is applicable to describe the thermal dissipation during the microwave and convective drying of agricultural produces. In this process, the dragon fruit cube of 15 mm was dried at a microwave power of 200, 400, and 600 W during the microwave drying process and hot air temperature of 60°C during the convective drying process. During microwave drying, the core or center temperature was maximum compared with the temperature at the surface of the dragon fruit cube. The predicted temperature at the center of the dragon fruit cube exposed to the microwave power of 200, 400, and 600 W for 60 s of drying time was 34.67, 44.34, and 54.02°C, respectively. In convective drying, the temperature at the edges was higher than the temperature at the center point of the dragon fruit cube. During convective drying, the fruit sample attained the maximum temperature of 60°C after being exposed to hot air for 8 min. The RMSE and values between experimental and model projected values were less than 0.988 and 0.029 in microwave drying and less than 0.891 and 0.018 in convective drying, indicating that the model projected values were in good agreement with the experimental values.

Practical Applications

The importance of thermal processes in deciding the safety and quality of food products is emergent. This model can predict food product temperature distribution during the hot air drying and microwave drying of Dragon fruit cubes. The economy of the drying process is often influenced by the nature and operation of these processes and hence modeling of the drying process is a crucial factor for the industry. These results can be used to quantify heat and moisture distribution, as well as to monitor the drying process of fruits and vegetables, saving energy and time.
Predictors of short‐term hospitalization and emergency department presentations in aged care
Authors: Inacio Maria C. , Jorissen Robert N. , Khadka Jyoti , Whitehead Craig , Maddison John , Bourke Alice , Pham Clarabelle T. , Karnon Jonathon , Wesselingh Steve L. , Lynch Elizabeth , Harvey Gillian , Caughey Gillian E. , Crotty Maria
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To examine individual, medication, system, and healthcare related predictors of hospitalization and emergency department (ED) presentation within 90 days of entering the aged care sector, and to create risk‐profiles associated with these outcomes.

Design and setting

Retrospective population‐based cohort study using data from the Registry of Senior Australians.

Participants

Older people (aged 65 and older) with an aged care eligibility assessment in South Australia between January 1, 2013 and May 31, 2016 (N = 22,130).

Measurements

Primary outcomes were unplanned hospitalization and ED presentation within 90 days of assessment. Individual, medication, system, and healthcare related predictors of the outcomes at the time of assessment, within 90 days or 1‐year prior. Fine–Gray models were used to calculate subdistribution hazard ratios (sHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Harrell's C‐index assessed predictive ability.

Results

Four thousand nine‐hundred and six (22.2%) individuals were hospitalized and 5028 (22.7%) had an ED presentation within 90 days. Predictors of hospitalization included: being a man (hospitalization sHR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.26–1.42), ≥3 urgent after‐hours attendances (hospitalization sHR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.06–1.39), increasing frailty index score (hospitalization sHR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.11–1.28), individuals using glucocorticoids (hospitalization sHR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.20), sulfonamides (hospitalization sHR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.10–1.27), trimethoprim antibiotics (hospitalization sHR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.03–1.29), unplanned hospitalizations 30 days prior (hospitalization sHR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.23), and ED presentations 1 year prior (hospitalization sHR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.10). Similar predictors and hazard estimates were also observed for ED presentations. The hospitalization models out‐of‐sample predictive ability (C‐index = 0.653, 95% CI 0.635–0.670) and ED presentations (C‐index = 0.647, 95% CI 0.630–0.663) were moderate.

Conclusions

One in five individuals with aged care eligibility assessments had unplanned hospitalizations and/or ED presentation within 90 days with several predictors identified at the time of aged care eligibility assessment. This is an actionable period for targeting at‐risk individuals to reduce hospitalizations.
Bulk inclusion micro‐zircon U–Pb geochronology: A new tool to date low‐grade metamorphism
Authors: Hollinetz M. Sophie , Schneider David A. , McFarlane Christopher R. M. , Huet Benjamin , Rantitsch Gerd , Grasemann Bernhard
Published: June 2021

Dating low‐grade metamorphism is challenging since such rocks commonly lack suitable target minerals for acquiring pressure–temperature–time–deformation (P–T–t–d) data. Herein a new geochronological method termed ‘bulk inclusion dating’ is applied to a chloritoid‐bearing schist from the Staufen‐Höllengebirge Nappe (SHN, Austroalpine Unit, Eastern Alps, Austria) for which Cretaceous metamorphism is imprecisely constrained. Thermodynamic modelling of the phase relations and mineral chemistry predicts the stability of the equilibrium assemblage in a P–T field between 450–490℃ and 0.5–0.7 GPa, which agrees with peak temperature constraints ~490℃ derived from Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material. Chemical zoning of, and the zonation of inclusions within, chloritoid confirm porphyroblast growth at these conditions. High‐resolution imaging reveals thousands of minute (length: 0.1–3 µm), euhedral micro‐zircon crystals included in chloritoid porphyroblasts and in the matrix. The morphological and microstructural characteristics of micro‐zircon as well as the crystal size distributions indicate that it nucleated and grew at greenschist facies conditions most likely from a Zr‐saturated fluid. In situ laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy bulk inclusion dating of metamorphic zircon in the chloritoid rim using a laser spot diameter of 120 μm yields a U–Pb age of 116.7 ± 9.1 Ma (MSWD: 1.5, n: 79). We interpret zircon precipitation and progressive coarsening coeval with chloritoid growth during prograde metamorphism and thus link the age to the late prograde part of the P–T evolution. The contribution of other U‐bearing phases (apatite, epidote, rutile) does not significantly disturb the U–Pb age. The data provide clear evidence for Early Cretaceous metamorphism in the SHN and indicates that metamorphism started at least 20 m.y. before the formation of eclogites in the Austroalpine Unit. The method introduced here allows integration between metamorphic conditions and age constraints in low‐grade metamorphic rocks and opens up new potential applications in petrochronology.
Monopronucleated (1PN) and tripronuclear (3PN) zygotes formation during assisted reproduction in POSEIDON group 4 patients: Emphasizing on polar bodies
Authors: Tsai Ni‐Chin , Su Yu‐Ting , Lin Yu‐Ju , Chiang Hsin‐Ju , Huang Fu‐Jen , Kung Fu‐Tsai , Huang Hsuan‐Wei , Lan Kuo‐Chung
Published: June 2021

Aim

Abnormal fertilization (1PN/3PN) and its accompanying polar body (PB) conditions have been less discussed in poor ovarian responders. By observing the PBs, we analyzed the mechanisms of abnormal fertilization and aimed to explore the role of intracytoplasmic sperm injection/in vitro fertilization (ICSI/IVF) in POSEIDON group 4 patients.

Methods

An observational study. All fresh IVF/ICSI cycles from January 2018 to December 2019 were evaluated. The inclusion criteria were POSEIDON group 4. Fertilization and PB conditions were assessed 16–18 h post‐insemination. Primary observation endpoints including normal fertilization, abnormal fertilization, and total fertilization failure rate.

Results

A total of 351 cycles involving 180 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 15 cycles reported no retrieved oocytes. Finally, 336 cycles (IVF, n = 267; ICSI, n = 69) were included. A total of 1005 oocytes and 939 embryos were assessed. The mean female age was 40.8 years, and the mean AMH level was 0.6 ng/mL. The normal fertilization rate was 69.7%. The zygote distribution was 18.7% 0PN, 3.9% 1PN, 66.9% 2PN, 9.5% 3PN, and 1.0% ≥4PN. For 1PN zygotes, 59% were denoted as 1PN2PB. The mean 3PN rate was 8.9%.

Conclusions

In POSEIDON group 4, most of the monopronucleated zygotes were 1PN2PB. Digyny (3PN1PB), due to failure to extrude the second PB, was the major cause of triploidy in which ICSI could not circumvent. The distribution of abnormally fertilized zygotes was similar in IVF and ICSI. To investigate the mechanisms of abnormal fertilization and assess whether ICSI is necessary, analysis of PB will provide important clues.
Reproductive phenology and morphology of Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales, Ochrophyta) from southern New Zealand in relation to wave exposure1
Authors: Leal Pablo P. , Roleda Michael Y. , Fernández Pamela A. , Nitschke Udo , Hurd Catriona L.
Published: June 2021

Macrocystis pyrifera is a major habitat forming kelp in coastal ecosystems of temperate regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. We investigated the seasonal occurrence of adult sporophytes, morphological characteristics, and reproductive phenology at two sites within a wave‐protected harbour and two wave‐exposed sites in southern New Zealand every 3–4 months between 2012 and 2013. Seasonality in reproduction was assessed via the number of sporophylls, the occurrence of sori on sporophylls, and non‐sporophyllous laminae (fertile pneumatocyst‐bearing blades and fertile apical scimitars), meiospore release, and germination. We found that M. pyrifera was present and reproductive year‐round in three of the four sites, and patterns were similar for the wave‐exposure conditions. Sori were found on pneumatocyst‐bearing blades and apical scimitars in addition to the sporophylls, and viable meiospores were released from all three types of laminae. Morphological variations between sites with different wave exposure indicate that sporophytes from wave‐protected sites have bigger blades and holdfasts and are longer than those from wave‐exposed sites. We discuss the implications of these biological variables for the ecology of M. pyrifera inhabiting different wave exposure environments in southern New Zealand.
Management of NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis
Authors: Maya‐Miles Douglas , Ampuero Javier , Gallego‐Durán Rocío , Dingianna Paola , Romero‐Gómez Manuel
Published: June 2021

The prevalence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased to 25% in the general population and could double by 2030. Liver fibrosis is the main indicator of morbidity and mortality and recent estimations suggest a substantial number of individuals with undiagnosed advanced liver disease. Strategies to monitor advanced fibrosis are essential for early detection, referral, diagnosis and treatment in primary care and endocrine units, where NAFLD and consequently liver fibrosis are more prevalent. Blood‐based non‐invasive methods could be used to stratify patients according to the risk of the progression of fibrosis and combined with imaging techniques to improve stratification. Powerful new diagnostic tools such as MRE and PDFF are emerging and might prevent the need for liver biopsy in the near future. The current therapeutic landscape of NAFLD is rapidly evolving with an increasing number of molecules that treat key factors involved in its progression, but that still have a limited or no ability to effectively reverse fibrosis. Management of this disease will probably require a combination of sequential and personalized treatments as a result of its complex and dynamic pathophysiology. Lifestyle interventions are still the most effective therapeutic option and should be better integrated into patient management together with specific programs of bariatric endoscopy/surgery for morbidly obese patients.
Real‐world evidence in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Mospan Andrea R. , Morris Heather L. , Fried Michael W.
Published: June 2021

Real‐world evidence includes all health‐related information, such as electronic health records, insurance claims, pharmacy records and wearables that are obtained outside of clinical trials. These data can provide critical insights into the natural history of disease and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of treatment regimens used in clinical practice. Real‐world data have been applied to varying degrees by global regulatory agencies to inform and expedite many phases of drug development and help refine the use of therapeutic regimens after marketing, especially in populations that are under‐represented in registration trials. For the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, early detection provides the best chance for curative therapies, whose success has been evaluated in numerous cohorts. The availability of novel systemic therapies, including kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies, has provided new treatment options and improved survival in patients with advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Real‐world longitudinal observational studies can help understand the long‐term safety and effectiveness of these agents.
Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Towards a pathomolecular approach
Authors: Paradis Valérie
Published: June 2021

Molecular analysis of primary liver malignancies has provided a refinement of the pathological diagnosis of this entity and the identification of an increasing number of tumor subtypes of hepatocellular proliferation, either malignant (hepatocellular carcinomas) or benign (hepatocellular adenomas). Besides the diagnosis, a combined pathomolecular approach can also provide further insights into patient prognosis, and help select patients who can benefit from targeted therapies. Hepatocellular carcinomas define a heterogeneous group of malignant hepatocellular proliferation at various levels: macroscopic, histological and molecular. While most carcinomas occur in patients with chronic liver diseases and advanced fibrosis in the background liver, some arise from the malignant transformation of a pre‐existing hepatocellular adenoma. TERT promoter mutations are the most frequent genomic alterations observed in the process of malignancy, and they occur early in the process of liver carcinogenesis. Overall, a more active biopsy strategy should be considered a key step in the management of patients with HCC.
Empirical Studies on Truth and the Project of Re‐engineering Truth
Authors: Reuter Kevin , Brun Georg
Published: June 2021

Most philosophers have largely downplayed any relevance of multiple meanings of the folk concept of truth in the empirical domain. However, confusions about what truth is have surged in political and everyday discourse. In order to resolve these confusions, we argue that we need a more accurate picture of how the term ‘true’ is in fact used. Our experimental studies reveal that the use of ‘true’ shows substantial variance within the empirical domain, indicating that ‘true’ is ambiguous between a correspondence and a coherence reading. We then explore the consequences of these results for the project of re‐engineering truth.
CO2‐responsiveness of leaf isoprene emission: Why do species differ?
Authors: Niinemets Ülo , Rasulov Bahtijor , Talts Eero
Published: June 2021

Leaf isoprene emission rate, I, decreases with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration with major implications for global change. There is a significant interspecific variability in [CO2]‐responsiveness of I, but the extent of this variation is unknown and its reasons are not understood. We hypothesized that the magnitude of emission reduction reflects the size and changeability of precursor pools responsible for isoprene emission (dimethylallyl diphosphate, DMADP and 2‐methyl‐erythritol 2,4‐cyclodiphosphate, MEcDP). Changes in I and intermediate pool sizes upon increase of [CO2] from 400 to 1500 μmol/mol were studied in nine woody species spanning boreal to tropical ecosystems. I varied 10‐fold, total substrate pool size 37‐fold and the ratio of DMADP/MEcDP pool sizes 57‐fold. At higher [CO2], I was reduced on average by 65%, but [CO2]‐responsiveness varied an order of magnitude across species. The increase in [CO2] resulted in concomitant reductions in both substrate pools. The variation in [CO2]‐responsiveness across species scaled with the reduction in pool sizes, the substrate pool size supported and the share of DMADP in total substrate pool. This study highlights a major interspecific variation in [CO2]‐responsiveness of isoprene emission and conclusively links this variation to interspecific variability in [CO2] effects on substrate availability and intermediate pool size.
Quantifying SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection Risk Within the Google/Apple Exposure Notification Framework to Inform Quarantine Recommendations
Authors: Wilson Amanda M. , Aviles Nathan , Petrie James I. , Beamer Paloma I. , Szabo Zsombor , Xie Michelle , McIllece Janet , Chen Yijie , Son Young‐Jun , Halai Sameer , White Tina , Ernst Kacey C. , Masel Joanna
Published: June 2021

Most early Bluetooth‐based exposure notification apps use three binary classifications to recommend quarantine following SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure: a window of infectiousness in the transmitter, ≥15 minutes duration, and Bluetooth attenuation below a threshold. However, Bluetooth attenuation is not a reliable measure of distance, and infection risk is not a binary function of distance, nor duration, nor timing. We model uncertainty in the shape and orientation of an exhaled virus‐containing plume and in inhalation parameters, and measure uncertainty in distance as a function of Bluetooth attenuation. We calculate expected dose by combining this with estimated infectiousness based on timing relative to symptom onset. We calibrate an exponential dose–response curve based on infection probabilities of household contacts. The probability of current or future infectiousness, conditioned on how long postexposure an exposed individual has been symptom‐free, decreases during quarantine, with shape determined by incubation periods, proportion of asymptomatic cases, and asymptomatic shedding durations. It can be adjusted for negative test results using Bayes' theorem. We capture a 10‐fold range of risk using six infectiousness values, 11‐fold range using three Bluetooth attenuation bins, ∼sixfold range from exposure duration given the 30 minute duration cap imposed by the Google/Apple v1.1, and ∼11‐fold between the beginning and end of 14 day quarantine. Public health authorities can either set a threshold on initial infection risk to determine 14‐day quarantine onset, or on the conditional probability of current and future infectiousness conditions to determine both quarantine and duration.
Use of DPB1 T‐cell epitope algorithm among italian transplant centers: A survey on behalf of Associazione Italiana di Immunogenetica e Biologia dei Trapianti
Authors: Crocchiolo Roberto , Mele Lia , Testi Manuela , Scollo Chiara Mariadele , Murgia Barbara , Rossi Angela , Vecchiato Cinzia , Grammatico Paola , Mininni Donata , Longhi Elena , Manfroi Silvia , Giuliodori Silvia , Castellani Laura , Carella Graziella , Lai Sara , Azzaro Maria Pia , Mazzi Benedetta , Perotti Laura , Penta Roberta , Lombardo Claudia , Tognellini Rita , Andreani Marco , Albergoni Maria Paola , Nesci Sonia , Cappuzzo Valentina , Chiusolo Patrizia , Garino Elena , Cappucci Giuseppe , Ceschini Nadia , Bevilacqua Elena , Guizzardi Elisabetta , Tagliaferri Cinzia Marina , Piazza Antonina , Carcassi Carlo , Miotti Valeria
Published: June 2021

The HLA‐DPB1 locus has been demonstrated to have a significant role on patients' outcome after allogeneic HSCT, and the so‐called T‐cell epitope (TCE) algorithm has been incorporated in international guidelines for the selection of unrelated donors. The purpose of the present study is to measure, through a national survey conducted on behalf of the Associazione Italiana di Immunogenetica e Biologia dei Trapianti (AIBT), the extent of awareness and use of HLA‐DPB1 TCE‐based algorithms during the donor search. 89% of the HLA laboratories answered to a short questionnaire and the results showed a progressive increase of the laboratories typing DPB1 in patients and their potential donors during the search (from 44% to 79% during the 2010–2019 period) as well as the application of a TCE‐based algorithm for the donor choice whenever possible (from 24% to 65% during the same period). The DP‐permissiveness status is detailed in the official HLA typing report by 12%, 32% and 50% of laboratories in 2010, 2015 and 2019, respectively. The present data indicate an encouraging raise in the awareness of the HLA‐DPB1 role in unrelated donor selection; noteworthy, mentioning the TCE‐based permissiveness status in the HLA typing report of each potential unrelated donor represents a notable mean to raise awareness among transplant physicians and to support them in their task of choosing the best donor. Nonetheless, despite the compelling evidence of the predictive ability of TCE‐based algorithms, further efforts are still needed to extend its application to all transplant centers in Italy.
CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF PLASTIC WASTES: POSSIBILITY OF REINFORCING MATERIAL FOR SOIL
Authors: Yuriz Yasmin , Tuan Ismail Tuan Noor Hasanah , Mohamed Ismail , Mat Hassan Nik Normunira
Published: June 2021

The current statistic shows that the percentage of plastic has significantly increased in the landfill and leads to environmental issues due to its non-biodegradable characteristic. However, these challenges can be turned into opportunities by reusing and recycling such waste for civil engineering applications. Hence, the focuses of this paper are to analyze the possibility of utilizing plastic waste in the soil reinforcement field using VOSviewer software and to evaluate the chemical, thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of the plastics (plastic straw, plastic bottle, and plastic bag). The data for this study was collected from the articles published in Scopus. Nevertheless, there are very limited articles that relate soil reinforcement with the thermal, chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of plastic waste. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the properties of plastic waste, which were plastic bottles, plastic bags, and plastic straw. The properties of plastic waste have been investigated to ensure it meets the requirement for soil reinforcement technology. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated the presence of carbon and hydrogen chains in those plastics waste. The plastic straw, plastic bag, and plastic bottle were degraded at 382°C, 456°C, and 449°C, respectively. This finding indicated that all of these plastics waste were thermally stable in the tropical temperature. Moreover, the densities of the plastics waste were less than 1 g/cm3, which contributes to the lightweight material and it’s very crucial to eliminating the self-loading from the reinforcement material.
COMPARISON OF WIRELESS ADAPTERS INTERFERENCE BASED ON DIFFERENCES OF FLOOR POSITION
Authors: Arnomo Sasa Ani , Yulia Yulia , Ibrahim Noraini
Published: June 2021

The wireless network adapter has now been widely developed. The wireless adapter receives signal strength has several levels. It depends on the signal strength of the device with respect to the wireless signal and access point. The external adapter is used by computers that are not equipped with a wireless network adapter. Usually, internet users use a USB wireless adapter. An external adapter can also amplify signal reception from hotspots. The problem is how users consider using an external wireless adapter or just an onboard wireless adapter when there are many networks interfering with the weak signal strength of the access point. The method is implemented by measuring the value of the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). The purpose of this study is to compare the received signal strength in conditions where the signal before interference and after experiencing interference (interference). Meanwhile, the measured RSSI value is divided into four floors and with different distances for each floor. Each floor is measured by five distances. The average value of signal strength at a distance of 10 meters is -74 dBm using the onboard wireless adapter and -69 dBm using a USB wireless adapter. The value obtained after the interference is -75 dBm and the USB wireless adapter gets -61 dBm. The reduction of the RSSI value between interference and non-interference is 3%. The onboard wireless adapter is affected by interference while the external wireless adapter is not affected.
Utilidad del Doppler pulsado en el diagnóstico ecográfico de neumotórax oculto: a propósito de un caso
Authors: Montero Vargas Leidy Jholeth , Montaña David Enrique , Valencia Canastero Carlos Fernando
Published: June 2021

presentamos el caso de una paciente que consulta por dificultad respiratoria posterior a un accidente de tránsito en donde la radiografía de tórax y los modos habituales de ultrasonido no permitieron realizar el diagnostico, mientras que la realización de PW sugirió la presencia de neumotórax, lo que posteriormente se confirmó con la tomografía de tórax, considerando que por lo que consideramos el modo PW se podría considerar como complemento al algoritmo de ecografía  pulmonar para  descartar la presencia de neumotórax a fin de mejorar su rendimiento, PW es un método fácil y rápido de realizar con el cual podemos efectuar un diagnóstico preciso.
Semiología de las alucinaciones en tumores del sistema nervioso central
Authors: Salamanca-Ternera María Lucía , Acevedo González Juan Carlos
Published: June 2021

Los tumores de sistema nervioso central (SNC) corresponden al 2% de todas las neoplasias, aunque no son los más frecuentes tienen un gran componente de morbimortalidad (Pardo C, Cendales R). Ésta es en parte dada por sintomatología de carácter psiquiátrico, incluyendo alucinaciones, impactando de manera importante la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Es por esto que es de vital importancia reconocerlos y enfocar adecuadamente al paciente con este tipo de síntomas, teniendo la precaución de no pasar de alto una patología orgánica, ya que estas pueden ser tratables e incluso curables. Se realizó una búsqueda de literatura relacionada con este tema, tanto en artículos académicos como en libros. A lo largo de este escrito se busca caracterizar la aparición de alucinaciones en el contexto de los tumores cerebrales y hacer énfasis en la importancia de su adecuada aproximación diagnóstica.
La importancia de la presunción clínica en el diagnóstico de tromboembolismo pulmonar de baja probabilidad: presentación de caso
Authors: Flórez González Gustavo Andrés , Acevedo Guiot Andrea del Pilar
Published: June 2021

El tromboembolismo pulmonar es una condición clínica ligada a diversos factores de riesgo y a una alta morbimortalidad. Las escalas orientadas en establecer una probabilidad pre-test están diseñadas para detectar factores de riesgo para presentar la enfermedad, sin embargo su diagnóstico es un gran reto cuando no existen dichos factores, como en el reporte de este caso atendido en un hospital de cuarto nivel (Hospital Universitario San Ignacio) en Bogotá D.C. (Colombia).

Se tomó como base la guía de tromboembolismo pulmonar de la sociedad europea de cardiología del 2019 y se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura utilizando los términos mesh: “tromboembolismo pulmonar en pacientes de baja probabilidad” en las fuentes Pubmed, google schoolar y scopus, con obtención de resultados insuficientes lo cual hace importante reportar este caso y conlleva a resaltar el impacto de la presunción clínica como herramienta fundamental de diagnóstico en urgencias.
Tuberculosis del sistema nervioso central en una paciente anciana: reporte de caso
Authors: Ariza Galindo Carlos José , Palacio Sanguino Alejandra , Gómez Arteaga Ronald Camilo
Published: June 2021

RESUMEN. La tuberculosis (TB) es una patología prevalente a nivel global en nuestra sociedad, siendo la población anciana una de las más susceptible a desarrollarla dada la presencia de condiciones especiales, tales como: inmunosenescencia, pluripatología, polifarmacia, desnutrición, entre otros. En los ancianos, el compromiso del sistema nervioso central como manifestación extrapulmonar de la infección por TB representa un reto diagnóstico debido a sus manifestaciones atípicas, lo que implica la necesidad de un diagnóstico temprano y tratamiento precoz en aras de evitar un daño neurológico mayor y e irreversible.