bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acid Neutralizing Capacity of Selected Antacid Suspensions Available in the Ghanaian Market
Authors: Amengor Cedric Dzidzor Kodjo , Akuffo Owusu Frederick William , Kwaning James , Iddrisu Albara Halidu , Ohemeng Alexander , Acheampomaa Darinple Acquah , Gyapong Patience
Published: September 2020

Antacids are substances commonly used by patients to obtain fast symptomatic relief from dyspepsia. They are weak bases which neutralize excess gastric acid and subsequently raise the pH of the gastric contents. The potency of the antacids depends mainly on their acid neutralization capacity (ANC) and this can vary from one brand to another. Several dosage forms of antacids are available for use by patients. However, In Ghana, suspensions are the commonest dosage form of antacids which is preferred by patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the acid neutralizing capacity of six (6) randomly selected brands of antacid suspensions on the Ghanaian market using potentiometric acid-base titration. The samples were coded A-F to avoid any bias in the study. All the sampled brands had more than one year to expiry as indicated on their label.

Brand D had the highest ANC of 29.70 mEq/dose whiles brand A had the lowest ANC of 11.25 mEq/dose. From the results obtained, it can be inferred that acid neutralization can be more effective and rapidly achieved with liquid antacids containing a high amount of magnesium hydroxide and aluminium Hydroxide. Hence, for acute symptomatic relief from dyspepsia, antacids containing a higher concentration of magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide would be most beneficial to patients.
Lymphocystic Disease in Wild Croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) and Flounder (Paralichthys orbignyanus)
Authors: Pedrosa V. F. , Klosterhoff M. C. , De Medeiros A. F. F. , Paz-Villarraga C. A. , Romano L. A.
Published: September 2020

Lymphocystis disease has been reported worldwide in several species of freshwater fish and marine fish, naturally infected in the wild environment, or in intensive crops in farms. Nodular warty lesions of irregular surface were observed in the tegument and fins and mouth in a species of croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) caught in Cassino beach Rio Grande RS, Brazil and flounder (Paralichthys orbignyanus) caught in the city of San Clemente, Argentina. The skin lesions fragments were fixed in 20% buffered formalin, and the histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), where microscopic alterations were visualized in the form of hyaline capsule with small basophilic structures in nodules and fibroblastic cells proliferation. The reported cases were based on the disease macroscopic findings characteristic of a lymphocystis disease, along with the histopathology, which confirmed the presence of the disease in the analyzed tissues.
Optimization of Signal Coverage Area in Mobile Communication Networks
Authors: Osahenvemwen O. A.
Published: September 2020

This study presents the optimization of signal coverage area in third generation WCDMA technology of mobile communication networks, aim at improving signal coverage area or overcoming the presence dead zone in mobile communication network. Various parameters that affect Signal coverage area in mobile communication network were determined. Optimization mathematical model based on Lagrange mathematical method was developed in line with the necessary parameters and characteristics. The developed mathematical model was simulated using MATLAB and Wolfram Mathematical Software using data obtain from mobile communication Network ‘A’ at Asaba, Delta State. The obtained data were number of duplex channels, frequency, load capacity of the base station, interference, distance power received, power transmitted etc. The result obtain are the critical points with fade-off of the radio signal. The coverage area indicates a non-linear function, therefore to minimize threshold parameter such as interference; pathloss and power received values will increase as the coverage area of the base station increases.
Food Assistance to the Calamity-Hit Victims of Recurrent Floods, Cyclones, Earthquakes and Droughts in India – A Review
Authors: Dhami Pushpa , Bains Kiran , Kaur Harpreet , Jain Shruti
Published: September 2020

India has been facing the wrath of natural calamities pertaining to its unique geography and varied climatic patterns from time immemorial. The purpose of this paper is to gather data pertaining to food assistance provided to stranded evacuees in the aftermath of Natural Calamities. Food assistance forms crucial part of humanitarian assistance to provide immediate relief to victims and help in their speedy recovery from injuries, illness and psychological distress. We aimed to collect information on the type of food, quantities of food and cultural competence of food because India has a wide diversity in food eating patterns across its regions. We also took into account the rescue operations involving role of different stakeholders like government organizations, Armed forces, paramilitary forces, NGOs, international donors and volunteers who usually work independently but gather together aftermath of any calamity or disaster, to address the problems that arise with a common shared goal in a coordinated and effective manner. The paper was basically a desk study involving compilation and analyses of information and data from official documents, research papers/reports of National and International agencies, NGOs and media reports such as newspaper articles featuring the updates on calamity. The paper concluded that, although there is enough information on disaster aftermath including rescue operations yet there is a dearth of detailed information about the food assistance in terms of type of food, quantities and cultural competency of food aid. The findings suggested that cultural competence in food aid is an important area to focus on as the stranded evacuees may have a wider acceptance of the food when they see culturally familiar foods in their food basket. Also, there should be clear documentation of the food aid in terms of quantity and distribution so that nutrition professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders can effectively debate and design the food policies and feeding programmes incongruent with identified food needs of stranded evacuees.
Patterns of Scrotal Sonographic Findings in Suspected Subfertile Males in Enugu, Nigeria
Authors: Emeka Kevin Mgbe Emeka Kevin Mgbe , Ajare Enyeribe Chuks , Okere Philip
Published: September 2020

Introduction: There are varied scrotal findings in subfertile males of which ultrasonography is a readily available, non-ionizing and reproducible imaging modality of choice for proper assessment.

Aim: To identify the patterns of scrotal ultrasonographic findings in suspected subfertile males in Enugu. 

Study Design: A comparative cross sectional prospective study. 

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Radiation Medicine University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, between July 2019 and February 2020. 

Methodology: 130 adult males comprising 65 suspected subfertile males and 65 normal adult males were recruited for this study. Ultrasound scanning was done on research participants using 5.0-7.5 MHz linear transducer on a mobile “ALOKA” ultrasound machine. The obtained data were coded, validated, and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS software, version 24, percentage, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t test. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 

Results: A total of 130 subjects were scanned. The mean age was 41.2years. The mean testicular volume was 10.01±4.09 cm3. There was a wide variety of findings in the assessed subfertile males ranging from normal to inhomogeneous testicular echotexture and varicocoele. Varicocoele was the commonest finding accounting for 50% of other findings, followed by hydrocoele (22%), then 10% had inhomogeneous echotexture while microlithiasis, undescended testis as well as epididymal cyst all had 6%. 

Conclusion: Ultrasonographic evaluation of testis is invaluable in the assessment of patterns of findings in male subfertility. Varicocoele was the commonest sonologic finding among the suspected subfertile males. This is reassuring as varicocoele is readily treatable cause of subfertility compared to complex multifactorial causes of female subfertility.
Integral barrier Lyapunov function‐based adaptive fuzzy output feedback control for nonlinear delayed systems with time‐varying full‐state constraints
Authors: Ye Dan , Wang Kaiyu , Yang Haijiao , Zhao Xingang
Published: September 2020

In this article, an adaptive fuzzy output feedback control method is presented for nonlinear time‐delay systems with time‐varying full state constraints and input saturation. To overcome the problem of time‐varying constraints, the integral barrier Lyapunov functions (IBLFs) integrating with dynamic surface control (DSC) are applied for the first time to keep the state from violating constraints. The effects of unknown time delays can be removed by using designed Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functions (LKFs). An auxiliary design system is introduced to solve the problem of input saturation. The unknown nonlinear functions are approximated by the fuzzy logic systems (FLS), and the unmeasured states are estimated by a designed fuzzy observer. The novel controller can guarantee that all signals remain semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded and satisfactory tracking performance is achieved. Finally, two simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness of the presented control methods.
Artificial Water Channels: Towards Biomimetic Membranes for Desalination
Authors: Huang Li‐Bo , Di Vincenzo Maria , Li Yuhao , Barboiu Mihail
Published: September 2020

Natural Aquaporin (AQP) channels are efficient water translocating proteins, rejecting ions. Inspired by this masterpiece of nature, Artificial Water Channels (AWCs) with controlled functional structures, can be potentially used to mimic the AQPs to a certain extent, offering flexible avenues toward biomimetic membranes for water purification. The objective of this paper is to trace the historical development and significant advancements of current reported AWCs. Meanwhile, we attempt to reveal important structural insights and supramolecular self‐assembly principles governing the selective water transport mechanisms, toward innovative AWC‐based biomimetic membranes for desalination.
Bypassing the Inertness of Aziridine/CO2 Systems to Access 5‐Aryl‐2‐Oxazolidinones: Catalyst‐Free Synthesis Under Ambient Conditions
Authors: Bresciani Giulio , Antico Emanuele , Ciancaleoni Gianluca , Zacchini Stefano , Pampaloni Guido , Marchetti Fabio
Published: September 2020

The development of sustainable synthetic routes to access valuable oxazolidinones via CO2 fixation is an active research area, and the aziridine/carbon dioxide coupling has aroused a considerable interest. This reaction features a high activation barrier and thus requires a catalytic system, and may present some other critical issues. Here, the straightforward gram‐scale synthesis of a series of 5‐aryl‐2‐oxazolidinones was developed at ambient temperature and atmospheric CO2 pressure, in the absence of any catalyst/co‐catalyst. The key to this innovative procedure consists in the direct transfer of the pre‐formed amine/CO2 adduct (carbamate) to common aziridine precursors (dimethylsulfonium salts), replacing the classical sequential addition of amine (intermediate isolation of aziridine) and then CO2. The reaction mechanism was investigated by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations applied to model cases.
SARS‐CoV‐2 multifaceted interaction with human host. Part I: What we have learnt and done so far, and the still unknown realities
Authors: Delcuve Geneviève P. , Lakowski Ted M. , Su Ruey‐Chyi , Beacon Tasnim H. , Davie James R.
Published: September 2020

SARS‐CoV‐2, the causing agent of the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic, is a beta‐coronavirus which has 80% genetic homology with SARS‐CoV, but displays increased virulence and transmissibility. Initially, SARS‐CoV‐2 was considered a respiratory virus generally causing a mild disease, only severe and fatal in the elderly and individuals with underlying conditions. Severe illnesses and fatalities were attributed to a cytokine storm, an excessive response from the host immune system. However, with the number of infections over 10 millions and still soaring, the insidious and stealthy nature of the virus has emerged, as it causes a vast array of diverse unexpected symptoms among infected individuals, including the young and healthy. It has become evident that besides infecting the respiratory tract, SARS‐CoV‐2 can affect many organs, possibly through the infection of the endothelium. This review presents an overview of our learning curve with the novel virus emergence, transmission, pathology, biological properties and host‐interactions. It also briefly describes remedial measures taken until an effective vaccine is available, that is non‐pharmaceutical interventions to reduce the viral spread and the repurposing of existing drugs, approved or in development for other conditions to eliminate the virus or mitigate the cytokine storm.
High risk of Clostridium difficile infection among spinal cord injured patients after the use of antibiotics commonly used to treat urinary tract infections
Authors: Liu Bonnie , Reid Jennifer , Silverman Michael , Welk Blayne
Published: September 2020

Aim

To characterize the use of common urinary tract infections (UTI)‐relevant antibiotics after an SCI and determine the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) from these antibiotics.

Methods

We used routinely collected data from Ontario (Canada) to conduct a retrospective, cohort study. We identified people >18 years of age with a traumatic SCI between April 2003 and March 2017. The primary exposure was an outpatient UTI‐relevant antibiotic prescription during our observation period, and the primary outcome was evidence of a CDI. An adjusted cox proportional hazards model was used, and antibiotic exposure was modeled as a categorical, time‐varying variable based on whether the patient likely had a UTI or not.

Results

We identified 2528 people with SCI; 1642 (65%) were exposed at least once to an antibiotic of interest. The most commonly prescribed UTI‐relevant antibiotic was fluoroquinolone (34%). Most patients did not have investigations for a UTI before the use of any of the different antibiotic classes. A small number of patients (5%) used chronic (>3 months) UTI‐relevant antibiotics. The overall proportion of patients diagnosed with CDI was 7.4% (9.3/10 000 patient‐days). The adjusted hazard ratio for CDI within 30 days was 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.9–6.7, p < .01) if they were exposed to a UTI‐relevant antibiotic likely associated with a UTI, which was similar to the risk from UTI‐relevant antibiotics which may not have been for a UTI.

Conclusions

The rate of CDI is high in this population and outpatient antibiotics that are commonly used for UTIs are a significant risk factor for CDI.
Explaining Recurrent Machine Learning Models: Integral Privacy Revisited
Authors: Torra Vicenç , Navarro-Arribas Guillermo , Galván Edgar
Published: September 2020

We have recently introduced a privacy model for statistical and machine learning models called integral privacy. A model extracted from a database or, in general, the output of a function satisfies integral privacy when the number of generators of this model is sufficiently large and diverse. In this paper we show how the maximal c-consensus meets problem can be used to study the databases that generate an integrally private solution. We also introduce a definition of integral privacy based on minimal sets in terms of this maximal c-consensus meets problem.
Reducing the Forensic Footprint with Android Accessibility Attacks
Authors: Leguesse Yonas , Vella Mark , Colombo Christian , Hernandez-Castro Julio
Published: September 2020

Android accessibility features include a robust set of tools allowing developers to create apps for assisting people with disabilities. Unfortunately, this useful set of tools can also be abused and turned into an attack vector, providing malware with the ability to interact and read content from third-party apps.

In this work, we are the first to study the impact that the stealthy exploitation of Android accessibility services can have on significantly reducing the forensic footprint of malware attacks, thus hindering both live and post-incident forensic investigations. We show that through Living off the Land (LotL) tactics, or by offering a malware-only substitute for attacks typically requiring more elaborate schemes, accessibility-based malware can be rendered virtually undetectable.

In the LotL approach, we demonstrate accessibility-enabled SMS and command and control (C2) capabilities. As for the latter, we show a complete cryptocurrency wallet theft, whereby the accessibility trojan can hijack the entire withdrawal process of a widely used app, including two-factor authentication (2FA). In both cases, we demonstrate how the attacks result in significantly diminished forensic evidence when compared to similar attacks not employing accessibility tools, even to the extent of maintaining device take-over without requiring malware persistence.
Effect of fracturoscopy on the incidence of surgical site infections post tibial plateau fracture surgery
Authors: Henkelmann Ralf , Krause Matthias , Alm Lena , Glaab Richard , Mende Meinhard , Ull Christopher , Braun Philipp-Johannes , Katthagen Christoph , Gensior Tobias J. , Frosch Karl-Heinz , Hepp Pierre
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Surgical treatment of tibial plateau fracture (TPF) is common. Surgical site infections (SSI) are among the most serious complications of TPF. This multicentre study aimed to evaluate the effect of fracturoscopy on the incidence of surgical site infections in patients with TPF.

Methods

We performed a retrospective multicentre study. All patients with an AO/OTA 41 B and C TPF from January 2005 to December 2014 were included. Patients were divided into three groups: those who underwent arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation (ARIF), and those who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with fracturoscopy, and those treated with ORIF without fracturoscopy. The groups were compared to assess the effect of fracturoscopy. We characterised our cohort and the subgroups using descriptive statistics. Furthermore, we fitted a logistic regression model which was reduced and simplified by a selection procedure (both directions) using the Akaike information criterion (AIC). From the final model, odds ratios and inclusive 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

Overall, 52 patients who underwent fracturoscopy, 48 patients who underwent ARIF, and 2000 patients treated with ORIF were identified. The rate of SSI was 0% (0/48) in the ARIF group and 1.9% (1/52) in the fracturoscopy group compared to 4.7% (93/2000) in the ORIF group (OR = 0.40, p = 0.37). Regression analyses indicated a potential positive effect of fracturoscopy (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.07–5.68; p = 0.69).

Conclusion

Our study shows that fracturoscopy is associated with reduced rates of SSI. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to investigate this.

Level of evidence

Level III.
FC Sets and Twisters: The Basics of Orbifold Deconstruction
Authors: Bantay Peter
Published: September 2020

We present a detailed account of the properties of $$\text {twister}$$
twister
s and their generalizations, $$\text {FC set}$$

FC set

s, which are essential ingredients of the orbifold deconstruction procedure aimed at recognizing whether a given conformal model may be obtained as an orbifold of another one, and if so, to identify the twist group and the original model. The close analogy with the character theory of finite groups is discussed, and its origin explained.
Biological properties of bone marrow plasma cells influence their recovery in aspirate specimens: impact on classification of plasma cell disorders and potential bias to evaluation of treatment response
Authors: Demyanets Svitlana , Kaider Alexandra , Simonitsch-Klupp Ingrid , Bayer Günther , Subasic Almira , Thalhammer Renate , Esterbauer Harald , Krauth Maria T. , Agis Hermine , Reiter Thomas , Schwarzinger Ilse
Published: September 2020

Methods to estimate bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) basically include histopathology, cytomorphology, and flow cytometry. The present study compares the outcomes of these methods with special focus on the impact of BMPC-specific characteristics on their recovery by either method. Laboratory reports of diagnostic samples from 238 consecutive patients with suspected or known plasma cell disease were retrospectively analyzed. The median (IQR) proportion of BMPC was 30.0% (15.0–70.0%) by histological review (hBMPC), 7.0% (2.0–16.0%) by smear review (sBMPC), and 3.0% (0.8–10.0%) by flow cytometry (fBMPC). The disparity of results between core biopsy and aspirate smear was enhanced in case of poor quality of the smear, increased BM fiber content, higher grade cell atypia, expression of CD56 (all P < 0.0001), the number of cytogenetic aberrations (P = 0.0002), and abnormalities of the MYC gene (P = 0.0002). Conversely, expression of CD19 and a non-clonal plasma cell phenotype were associated with a lower difference between hBMPC and sBMPC (both P < 0.0001). The disparity between the percentages of sBMPC and fBMPC was associated with the quality of the smear (P = 0.0007) and expression of CD56 (P < 0.0001). Our results suggest that the recovery of BMPC in aspirate specimens not only is a matter of sampling quality but also depends on biological cell properties. Aspiration failure due to malignant type features of BMPC may lead to misclassification of plasma cell disorders and represent a bias for the detection of minimal residual disease after therapy.
Genetic research and clinical analysis of deletional Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0 -thalassemia and Southeast Asian HPFH in South China
Authors: Wu Yuanjun , Yao Qianyu , Zhong Ming , Wu Jianying , Xie Longxu , Su Linnan , Yu Fubing
Published: September 2020

Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia and SEA-HPFH are the most common types of β-globin gene cluster deletion in Chinese population. The aim of the study was to analyze clinical features of deletional Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia and Southeast Asian hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (SEA-HPFH) in South China. A total of 930 subjects with fetal hemoglobin (HbF) level ≥ 2% were selected on genetic research of Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia and SEA-HPFH. The gap polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the deletions. One hundred cases of Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia were detected, including 90 cases of Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0/βN-thalassemia, 7 cases of Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0 /βN-thalassemia combined with α-thalassemia, 2 cases of Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia combined with β-thalassemia, and 1 case of Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia combined with β-gene mutation. One hundred nine cases of SEA-HPFH were detected, including 97 cases of SEA-HPFH/βN, 9 cases of SEA-HPFH/βN combined with α-thalassemia, 2 cases of SEA-HPFH combined with β-thalassemia, and 1 case of SEA-HPFH combined with β-gene mutation. Statistical analysis indicates significant differences in MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin), and HbA2 and HbF levels between Chinese Gγ+(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia heterozygotes and SEA-HPFH heterozygotes (P < 0.001). There are statistical differences in hematological parameters between them. Clinical phenotypic analysis can provide guidance for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.
Wie gut sind Patienten mit entzündlich rheumatischen Erkrankungen gegen Masern geschützt?
Authors: Kiltz U. , Celik A. , Tsiami S. , Baraliakos X. , Andreica I. , Kiefer D. , Bühring B. , Braun J.
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund

Patienten mit entzündlich rheumatischen Erkrankungen haben aufgrund ihrer Autoimmunerkrankung, aber auch bedingt durch die immunsuppressive Medikation ein erhöhtes Infektrisiko. Obwohl Impfungen in der Primärprophylaxe von Infektionen bekanntermaßen effektiv sind, ist die Impfrate in Deutschland generell zu niedrig. Wegen des zuletzt zunehmenden, teils epidemieartigen Auftretens von Masern ist die Lebendimpfung gegen Masern in Deutschland seit Kurzem gesetzlich vorgeschrieben.

Fragestellung

Wie viele Patienten mit entzündlich rheumatischen Erkrankungen sind aktuell ausreichend gegen Masern geschützt?

Methode

Patienten mit entzündlich rheumatischen Erkrankungen des Rheumazentrums Ruhrgebiet wurden zwischen Dezember 2017 und Oktober 2018 prospektiv und konsekutiv eingeschlossen. Dabei wurden Daten zu Erkrankung und Therapie auf Ebene von Substanzklassen sowie die Impf- und Infektanamnese erhoben. Alle Angaben zu Impfungen wurden im Impfpass kontrolliert. Antikörpertiter gegen Masern wurden mit ELISA bestimmt. Als Schwellenwert für einen ausreichenden Schutz gegen Masern wurden 150 mIU/ml festgelegt.

Ergebnis

Von 975 Patienten konnten 540 (55,4 %) einen Impfausweis vorlegen. Bei 201 Patienten mit Ausweis (37,2 %) lagen dokumentierte Impfungen seit Geburt vor. Insgesamt hatten 45 von 267 nach 1970 geborene Patienten (16,9 %) einen suffizienten Impfschutz gegen Masern. Die anamnestischen Angaben zu einer Masernerkrankung in der Kindheit differenzierten nicht zwischen Patienten mit und ohne protektiven Masern-IgG-Antikörpern. Protektive Masern-IgG-Antikörper wurden bei 901 Patienten von 928 Patienten mit Messung der Masern-IgG-Antikörperspiegel (97,1 %) nachgewiesen. Die unterschiedlichen Wirkprinzipien der aktuellen immunsuppressiven Therapie hatten darauf keinen Einfluss.

Diskussion

Diese Daten zeigen, dass mindestens 2,9 % der Patienten keinen ausreichenden Schutz gegen Masern haben. Interessanterweise hatte die Mehrheit der nach 1970 geborenen Patienten protektive Antikörper trotz fehlenden Impfschutzes gegen Masern. Die Anstrengungen sowohl im primär- als auch im fachärztlichen Bereich sollten dringend verstärkt werden, um eine adäquate Infektionsprophylaxe bei besonders gefährdeten Patienten gewährleisten zu können.
Informal caregiver well-being during and after patients’ treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer: a prospective, exploratory study
Authors: Langenberg S. M. C. H. , Poort H. , Wymenga A. N. M. , de Groot J. W. , Muller E. W. , van der Graaf W. T. A. , Prins J. B. , van Herpen C. M. L.
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Caring for a significant other during cancer treatment can be demanding. Little is known about the well-being of informal caregivers of patients with colon cancer. This study aims to examine informal caregiver well-being during adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Material and methods

This exploratory longitudinal, prospective study measured the course of informal caregiver burden (Self-Perceived Pressure of Informal Care), distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), health-related quality of life (RAND-36), marital satisfaction (Maudsley Marital Questionnaire), social support (Social Support List – Discrepancies), fatigue (Abbreviated Fatigue Questionnaire), and self-esteem (Caregiver Reaction Assessment) before (T0), during (T1), and after (T2) patients’ treatment.

Results

Baseline data of 60 out of 76 eligible dyads (79%) were analyzed. Mean levels of informal caregiver burden and distress improved significantly over time, as did their health-related quality of life and perceived social support. At baseline, 30% and 26.7% of informal caregivers reported moderate-to-high levels of burden and clinically relevant levels of distress, respectively, which changed to 20% and 18.8% at T2. Informal caregiver burden and distress at baseline were the strongest predictors of informal caregiver burden and distress during and following patients’ treatment, respectively.

Conclusion

When informal caregivers and patients experience problems before start of adjuvant chemotherapy, problems seem to improve over time. Approximately 20% of informal caregivers remain burdened and distressed after patients’ end of treatment. Paying attention to baseline distress and burden seems indicated, as these were strong predictors of informal caregivers’ well-being during and after treatment.
Symptommanagement – pflegewissenschaftliche Modelle in der Theorie und Praxis
Authors: Naegele Matthias
Published: September 2020

Hintergrund

Das Management von krankheits- und therapiebedingten Symptomen ist eine Kernaufgabe onkologischer Pflege. Neben eigener Beratung und Anbieten von Interventionen koordiniert Pflege das multidisziplinäre Team. Chronisch kranke Krebspatienten müssen lernen, ihre Symptome selbst zu managen.

Fragestellung

Welche Faktoren müssen bei der Entwicklung maßgeschneiderter Symptommanagement-Interventionen besonders berücksichtigt werden?

Methode

Die Fragestellung wird literaturgestützt und anhand von praktischen Erfahrungen aufgearbeitet.

Ergebnisse

Das Modell von Dodd et al. stellt die Grundlage des pflegerischen Verständnisses von Symptommanagement dar. Ausgehend von der Symptomerfahrung der Patienten können individuelle Symptommanagement-Interventionen entwickelt werden. Leitend sind dabei die Fragen: Was? Wann? Wo? Warum? Wie viel? Für wen? Wie? Die Evaluation findet durch Erheben des funktionellen oder emotionalen Status, der Fähigkeit zur Selbstpflege, Kosten, Lebensqualität, sowie Morbidität und Mortalität statt.

Schlussfolgerung

Für eine erfolgreiche Symptommanagement-Intervention ist multidisziplinäres Zusammenarbeiten erforderlich. Dabei müssen Symptome, die zu einer intensiven Symptomerfahrung führen, zunächst identifiziert und verstanden werden. Auf dieser Basis können Interventionen entwickelt und evaluiert werden
Spinal intramedullary schwannomas—report of a case and extensive review of the literature
Authors: Swiatek V. M. , Stein K.-P. , Cukaz H. B. , Rashidi A. , Skalej M. , Mawrin C. , Sandalcioglu I. E. , Neyazi B.
Published: September 2020

Intramedullary schwannomas (IMS) represent exceptional rare pathologies. They commonly present as solitary lesions; only five cases of multiple IMS have been described so far. Here, we report the sixth case of a woman with multiple IMS. Additionally, we performed the first complete systematic review of the literature for all cases reporting IMS. We performed a systematic review of the literature in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled (CENTRAL) to retrieve all relevant studies and case reports on IMS. In a second step, we analysed all reported studies with respect to additional cases, which were not identified through the database search. Studies published in other languages than English were included. One hundred nineteen studies including 165 reported cases were included. In only five cases, the patients harboured more than one IMS. Gender ratio showed a ratio of nearly 3:2 (male:female); mean age of disease presentation was 40.2 years; 11 patients suffered from neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1 or 2 (6.6%). IMS are rare. Our first systematic review on this pathology revealed 166 cases, including the here reported case of multiple IMS. Our review offers a basis for further investigation on this disease.
Carbon fiber–reinforced PEEK versus titanium implants: an in vitro comparison of susceptibility artifacts in CT and MR imaging
Authors: Krätzig Theresa , Mende Klaus C. , Mohme Malte , Kniep Helge , Dreimann Marc , Stangenberg Martin , Westphal Manfred , Gauer Tobias , Eicker Sven O.
Published: September 2020

Artifacts in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to titanium implants in spine surgery are known to cause difficulties in follow-up imaging, radiation planning, and precise dose delivery in patients with spinal tumors. Carbon fiber–reinforced polyetheretherketon (CFRP) implants aim to reduce these artifacts. Our aim was to analyze susceptibility artifacts of these implants using a standardized in vitro model. Titanium and CFRP screw-rod phantoms were embedded in 3% agarose gel. Phantoms were scanned with Siemens Somatom AS Open and 3.0-T Siemens Skyra scanners. Regions of interest (ROIs) were plotted and analyzed for CT and MRI at clinically relevant localizations. CT voxel–based imaging analysis showed a significant difference of artifact intensity and central overlay between titanium and CFRP phantoms. For the virtual regions of the spinal canal, titanium implants (ti) presented − 30.7 HU vs. 33.4 HU mean for CFRP (p < 0.001), at the posterior margin of the vertebral body 68.9 HU (ti) vs. 59.8 HU (CFRP) (p < 0.001) and at the anterior part of the vertebral body 201.2 HU (ti) vs. 70.4 HU (CFRP) (p < 0.001), respectively. MRI data was only visually interpreted due to the low sample size and lack of an objective measuring system as Hounsfield units in CT. CT imaging of the phantom with typical implant configuration for thoracic stabilization could demonstrate a significant artifact reduction in CFRP implants compared with titanium implants for evaluation of index structures. Radiolucency with less artifacts provides a better interpretation of follow-up imaging, radiation planning, and more precise dose delivery.
Competition Among Mental Health Organizations: Environmental Drivers and Strategic Responses
Authors: Bunger Alicia C. , Choi Mi Sun , MacDowell Hannah , Gregoire Thomas
Published: September 2020

While mental health system reforms have sought to leverage competition in the private sector to improve service quality and costs, competition among mental health organizations is poorly understood. To inform future studies about the impact of policy and system reforms on mental health organizations and service delivery, this qualitative study explores (1) resources for which organizations compete most intensively, (2) drivers of competition, and (3) leaders’ strategic organizational responses. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 15 organizational leaders (CEO’s, executive directors) representing about 22% of organizations in the regional mental health market. Interviews covered leaders’ perceptions about competition, and their strategic responses. Porter’s seminal framework on competition was used to interpret codes and themes. Intensive competition for personnel was driven by workforce shortages, new for-profit organizations, and alternative employment opportunities. In response, organizations have attended to wages/benefits, recruitment, and retention. However, strong community need, expanded insurance coverage, and a history of local strategic responses that created service niches appeared to have minimized competition for financial resources in the region. Competition for funding and clients was expected to intensify under systems reform, and in anticipation, organizations were expanding services. Leaders also feared for the viability of smaller organizations in highly competitive environments. Consistent with theory on competition, mental health organizations compete and respond in ways that might improve services. However, the goals of privatization may have been unrealized because of minimal competition for funding and clients, and intense competition may undermine quality.
Basel Compliance and Financial Stability: Evidence from Islamic Banks
Authors: Bitar Mohammad , Naceur Sami Ben , Ayadi Rym , Walker Thomas
Published: September 2020

We find that compliance with the Basel Core Principles (BCPs) has a strong positive effect on the stability of conventional banks, and a positive but less pronounced effect on the stability of Islamic banks. We also find that the main impact of compliance is an increase in capital ratios, whereas other components of the Z-score are negatively affected. This reflects the desire of banks to be more closely integrated into the global financial system by holding higher capital ratios. The findings also justify the 2015 decision of the Islamic Financial Services Board to publish similar principles for Islamic banks.
Alzheimer’s disease: natural products as inhibitors of neuroinflammation
Authors: Olajide Olumayokun A. , Sarker Satyajit D.
Published: September 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and affects 44 million people worldwide. New emerging evidence from pre-clinical and clinical investigations shows that neuroinflammation is a major pathological component of AD suggesting that anti-inflammatory strategies are important in delaying the onset or slowing the progression of the disease. However, efforts to employ current anti-inflammatory agents in AD clinical trials have produced limited success. Consequently, there is a need to explore anti-inflammatory natural products, which target neuroinflammatory pathways relevant to AD pathogenesis. This review summarises important druggable molecular targets of neuroinflammation and presents classes of anti-neuroinflammatory natural products with potentials for preventing and reducing symptoms of AD.
Specific Disease Knowledge as Predictor of Susceptibility to Availability Bias in Diagnostic Reasoning: a Randomized Controlled Experiment
Authors: Mamede Sílvia , Goeijenbier Marco , Schuit Stephanie C. E. , de Carvalho Filho Marco Antonio , Staal Justine , Zwaan Laura , Schmidt Henk G.
Published: September 2020

Background

Bias in reasoning rather than knowledge gaps has been identified as the origin of most diagnostic errors. However, the role of knowledge in counteracting bias is unclear.

Objective

To examine whether knowledge of discriminating features (findings that discriminate between look-alike diseases) predicts susceptibility to bias.

Design

Three-phase randomized experiment. Phase 1 (bias-inducing): Participants were exposed to a set of clinical cases (either hepatitis-IBD or AMI-encephalopathy). Phase 2 (diagnosis): All participants diagnosed the same cases; 4 resembled hepatitis-IBD, 4 AMI-encephalopathy (but all with different diagnoses). Availability bias was expected in the 4 cases similar to those encountered in phase 1. Phase 3 (knowledge evaluation): For each disease, participants decided (max. 2 s) which of 24 findings was associated with the disease. Accuracy of decisions on discriminating features, taken as a measure of knowledge, was expected to predict susceptibility to bias.

Participants

Internal medicine residents at Erasmus MC, Netherlands.

Main Measures

The frequency with which higher-knowledge and lower-knowledge physicians gave biased diagnoses based on phase 1 exposure (range 0–4). Time to diagnose was also measured.

Key Results

Sixty-two physicians participated. Higher-knowledge physicians yielded to availability bias less often than lower-knowledge physicians (0.35 vs 0.97; p = 0.001; difference, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.28–0.95]). Whereas lower-knowledge physicians tended to make more of these errors on subjected-to-bias than on not-subjected-to-bias cases (p = 0.06; difference, 0.35 [CI, − 0.02–0.73]), higher-knowledge physicians resisted the bias (p = 0.28). Both groups spent more time to diagnose subjected-to-bias than not-subjected-to-bias cases (p = 0.04), without differences between groups.

Conclusions

Knowledge of features that discriminate between look-alike diseases reduced susceptibility to bias in a simulated setting. Reflecting further may be required to overcome bias, but succeeding depends on having the appropriate knowledge. Future research should examine whether the findings apply to real practice and to more experienced physicians.
The London Classification: Improving Characterization and Classification of Anorectal Function with Anorectal Manometry
Authors: Scott S. Mark , Carrington Emma V.
Published: September 2020

Purpose of Review

Objective measurement of anorectal sensorimotor function is a requisite component in the clinical evaluation of patients with intractable symptoms of anorectal dysfunction. Regrettably, the utility of the most established and widely employed investigations for such measurement (anorectal manometry (ARM), rectal sensory testing and the balloon expulsion test) has been limited by wide variations in clinical practice.

Recent Findings

This article summarizes the recently published International Anorectal Physiology Working Group (IAPWG) consensus and London Classification of anorectal disorders, together with relevant allied literature, to provide guidance on the indications for, equipment, protocol, measurement definitions and results interpretation for ARM, rectal sensory testing and the balloon expulsion test.

The London Classification is a standardized method and nomenclature for description of alterations in anorectal motor and sensory function using office-based investigations, adoption of which should bring much needed harmonization of practice.
Efficient monitoring of public transport journeys
Authors: Gündling Felix , Hopp Florian , Weihe Karsten
Published: September 2020

Many things can go wrong on a journey. From minor disturbances like a track change to major problems like train cancellations, everything can happen. The broad availability of smartphones enables us to keep the traveler up-to-date with information relevant for the journey. This way, the traveler can react to changes as early as possible and make well-informed decisions. Naive approaches are too inefficient to monitor a large number of journeys in real-time. This paper presents an efficient way to monitor millions of journeys in parallel. In our approach, the selection of change notices to be communicated to a traveler may be flexibly adapted to the travelers individual needs.
The effect of different test protocols and walking distances on gait speed in older persons
Authors: Krumpoch Sebastian , Lindemann Ulrich , Rappl Anja , Becker Clemens , Sieber Cornel C. , Freiberger Ellen
Published: September 2020

Background and aims

Walking is the core physical activity of older persons. The assessment of walking capacity is increasingly important for clinical purposes and clinical research. Differences between assessment tools and protocols for short walks to obtain gait characteristics can be responsible for changes, e.g., in gait speed from 0.1 to 0.2 m/s. The purpose of this study was to generate further knowledge for the harmonization and/or standardization of short walk-test protocols for assessing gait characteristics under supervised conditions.

Methods

For this cross-sectional study, 150 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 80.5 ± 4.5 years) were recruited. Participants performed eight walks differing in the distance (8-versus 4-m), static versus dynamic trials and comparing different test speed instructions (usual versus maximal) on an electronic walkway.

Results

A meaningful significant difference in mean usual gait speed was documented comparing the 4-m dynamic and static test protocol (0.12 m/s; p = 0.001). For the same comparison over an 8-m distance (dynamic versus static) and for the comparison between usual gait speed over 4-and 8-m, the differences in gait speed were smaller, but still statistically significant (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Gait speed was faster, if the test protocol did not include a static start or stop. The differences were greater for a shorter walking distance. This aspect should be considered for the comparison of study results and is particularly relevant for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Role of interfacial water in adhesion, friction, and wear—A critical review
Authors: Chen Lei , Qian Linmao
Published: September 2020

Surficial water adsorption and interfacial water condensation as natural phenomena that can alter the contact status of the solid interface and tribological performances are crucial in all length scales, i.e., from earthquakes to skating at the macroscale level and even to micro/nano-electromechanical systems (M/NEMS) at the microscale/nanoscale level. Interfacial water exhibits diverse structure and properties from bulk water because of its further interaction with solid surfaces. In this paper, the evolutions of the molecular configuration of the adsorbed water layer depending on solid surface chemistry (wettability) and structure, environmental conditions (i.e., relative humidity and temperature), and experimental parameters (i.e., sliding speed and normal load) and their impacts on tribological performances, such as adhesion, friction, and wear, are systematically reviewed. Based on these factors, interfacial water can increase or reduce adhesion and friction as well as facilitate or suppress the tribochemical wear depending on the water condensation kinetics at the interface as well as the thickness and structure of the involved interfacial water.
Consensus-Based Group Task Assignment with Social Impact in Spatial Crowdsourcing
Authors: Li Xiang , Zhao Yan , Zhou Xiaofang , Zheng Kai
Published: September 2020

With the pervasiveness of GPS-enabled smart devices and increased wireless communication technologies, spatial crowdsourcing (SC) has drawn increasing attention in assigning location-sensitive tasks to moving workers. In real-world scenarios, for the complex tasks, SC is more likely to assign each task to more than one worker, called group task assignment (GTA), for the reason that an individual worker cannot complete the task well by herself. It is a challenging issue to assign worker groups the tasks that they are interested in and willing to perform. In this paper, we propose a novel framework for group task assignment based on worker groups’ preferences, which includes two components: social impact-based preference modeling (SIPM) and preference-aware group task assignment (PGTA). SIPM employs a bipartite graph embedding model and the attention mechanism to learn the social impact-based preferences of different worker groups on different task categories. PGTA utilizes an optimal task assignment algorithm based on the tree decomposition technique to maximize the overall task assignments, in which we give higher priorities to the worker groups showing more interests in the tasks. We further optimize the original framework by proposing strategies to improve the effectiveness of group task assignment, wherein a deep learning method and the group consensus are taken into consideration. Extensive empirical studies verify that the proposed techniques and optimization strategies can settle the problem nicely.
Almost periodic invariant tori for the NLS on the circle
Authors: Massetti Jessica Elisa , Procesi Michela , Biasco Luca
Published: September 2020

In this paper we study the existence and linear stability of almost periodic solutions for a NLS equation on the circle with external parameters. Starting from the seminal result of Bourgain in [15] on the quintic NLS, we propose a novel approach allowing to prove in a unified framework the persistence of finite and infinite dimensional invariant tori, which are the support of the desired solutions. The persistence result is given through a rather abstract “counter-term theorem” à la Herman, directly in the original elliptic variables without passing to action-angle ones. Our framework allows us to find “many more” almost periodic solutions with respect to the existing literature and consider also non-translation invariant PDEs.