bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of a new sphindid genus (Coleoptera, Sphindidae, Protosphindinae) in Cretaceous amber of Northern Myanmar and taxonomic notes
Authors: KIREJTSHUK ALEXANDER G. , WILLIG CYRIL , CHETVERIKOV PHILIPP E.
Published: December 2019

Burmops neli gen. et sp. nov. is described from Cretaceous amber of Northern Myanmar, which is preliminarily assigned to the subfamily Protosphindinae Sen Gupta & Crowson, 1979 (family Sphindidae). This is the first record of the subfamily from the Mesozoic and the first in the fossil record at all. The new genus differs from the Recent Protosphindus Sen Gupta & Crowson, 1979 and Cretaceous Pleuroceratos Poinar & Kirejtshuk, 2008 (transferred here to the subfamily Protosphindinae) in the rather convex dorsum, head with peculiar pattern of above grooves and convexities, regular elytral punctation of longitudinal rows of very coarse punctures, non-explanate and gently undulate pronotal sides (without large teeth), sharp and subrectilinear longitudinal carinae and sharp carina along anterior edge of pronotum, and also rather projecting anterior edge of pronotum. New studies of additional specimens of Pleuroceratos burmiticus from Cretaceous amber of Northern Myanmar made it possible to establish a tentative position of this genus in the subfamily Protosphindinae, very similar and closely related to Protosphindus. The fossil record of this specialized beetle family can be considered as an indirect evidence of the presence of their food resource (slime molds) in Cretaceous ecosystems.
A new species of spongiphorine earwig in Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic (Dermaptera: Spongiphoridae)
Authors: ENGEL MICHAEL S.
Published: December 2019

Earwigs (Dermaptera) are an often-ignored group of polyneopteran insects, with nearly 2000 extant species distributed throughout the world (Grimaldi & Engel, 2005; Stork, 2018). All of the modern diversity belongs to the suborder Neodermaptera, a clade that first definitively appears in the Early Cretaceous (Engel et al., 2011; Wolfe et al., 2016), but likely diverged in the Late Jurassic, although there is a rich gradation of earlier earwig variety extending back to at least the Late Triassic (Kelly et al., 2017). The earlier-diverging lineages (such as Archidermaptera, Eodermaptera, and Turanodermaptera [Turanodermatidae]) lack some of the otherwise characteristic synapomorphies of crown-group Dermaptera, such as loss of ocelli, loss of tegminal venation, or reduction of the ovipositor (Grimaldi & Engel, 2005). While there is a rich variety of forms and morphological disparity among fossil Dermaptera, their record compared to other orders remains comparatively meagre. Given this overall scarcity in the fossil record, there is nonetheless a decent variety of lineages documented from various Cenozoic deposits (Wappler et al., 2005). A fairly large number of taxa have been described from Palaeogene and early Neogene impressions (e.g., Heer, 1865; Zhang, 1989; Zhang et al., 1994; Chatzimanolis & Engel, 2010), although the precise systematic placement of many are challenging to confirm given the nature of their preservation and the characters widely needed to properly assign earwigs. Those species preserved as amber inclusions offer a wider breadth of characters from which to ascertain affinities, and earwigs have been previously described from Oise, Baltic, Dominican, and Mexican ambers (Burr, 1911a; Nel et al., 2003; Ross & Engel, 2013; Engel, 2016, 2017).
The ant genus Tapinoma Förster (Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) in Miocene amber of Peru

Authors: PERRICHOT VINCENT , SALAS-GISMONDI RODOLFO , ANTOINE PIERRE-OLIVIER
Published: December 2019

On the 17 extant subfamilies of ants, Dolichoderinae is one of the four major species-rich clades (with Formicinae, Ponerinae, and Myrmicinae), and a cosmopolitan group including some of the world’s most invasive species such as the Argentine ant and white-footed ant. It comprises currently 846 species in 28 extant and 20 extinct genera (Bolton, 2019). Most of the fossils are Cenozoic in age, which accords with the timeline of the Dolichoderinae as proposed by molecular phylogenetic studies (Ward et al., 2010; Moreau & Bell, 2013; Borowiec et al., 2019). According to these studies, crown-group dolichoderines arose sometime between 66 and 53 million years ago. Thus, around or after the Cretaceous–Paleogene transition, although this would have been preceded by approximately 30 million years of stem group evolution. Cretaceous dolichoderines are exceedingly rare indeed, and the only two known genera—Eotapinoma Dlussky, and Chronomyrmex McKellar, Glasier & Engel, from Canadian Campanian amber (79–78 Ma)—although originally placed in the Tapinomini and Leptomyrmecini, respectively, have been suggested to be stem dolichoderines (Dlussky, 1999; McKellar et al., 2013; Boudinot et al., 2016). Another fossil dolichoderine was reported from “Cretaceous amber” of Ethiopia (LaPolla et al., 2013: suppl. fig. 5) but this amber is now known to be much younger in age, likely Miocene (Perrichot et al., 2016, 2018). The first definitive crown-group dolichoderines are thus currently from the middle Eocene (50–45 Ma) of Europe and North America, belonging to various extinct species of the genera Dolichoderus, Iridomyrmex, Liometopum, and Tapinoma (see Barden, 2017). Some earlier crown-group dolichoderines may be present in early Eocene (55–52 Ma) ambers from France, India, and China (Perrichot, pers. observ.), but these have yet to be formally described.
A new species of Aoruroides Travassos & Kloss, 1958 (Nematoda: xyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) parasite of the wood-burrowing cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Shiraki, 1906) (Blattodea: Blaberidae: Panesthiinae) from Japan with comments on the validity of the genus Aoruroides
Authors: MORFFE JANS , GARCÍA NAYLA , HASEGAWA KOICHI , CARRENO RAMON A.
Published: December 2019

Aoruroides chubudaigaku n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) is described from the wood-burrowing cockroach Panesthia angustipennis spadica (Shiraki, 1906) (Blattodea: Blaberidae: Panesthiinae) from Aichi prefecture, Japan. Females of A. chubudaigaku n. sp. are similar to A. costaricensis Carreno & Tuhela, 2011 by the position of the nerve ring at level of the first third of the isthmus, the body length and the comparative measurements of the oesophagus and tail. They differ by the position of the excretory pore and the vulva. The males of A. chubudaigaku n. sp. are characterized by the absence of ornamentations in the cervical cuticle and the nerve ring located at the posterior third of the corpus. In addition, the males of the new species can be differentiated by the length of the body and the comparative lengths of the oesophagus and the tail. The phylogeny of A. chubudaigaku n. sp. is inferred by the D2-D3 domains of the LSU rDNA and the validity of the genus Aoruroides Travassos & Kloss, 1958 is discussed on the basis of both molecular and morphological data. This constitutes the first species of the genus Aoruroides described from the Japanese archipelago.
A new monotypic genus and new species of lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellini) from western South America
Authors: VANDENBERG NATALIA J.
Published: December 2019

A new monotypic genus Argosadalia gen. nov. and new species A. priscilla sp. nov. are described from the forests of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru. The new taxon is placed in the tribe Coccinellini in a group informally designated as the “Neda-group,” and comprising the genera Neda Mulsant; Mononeda Crotch; Neoharmonia Crotch and Argosadalia. Key morphological and anatomical characters of the new taxa are described and illustrated and the character states that define the Neda-group are reviewed.
Kelyflata gen. nov. adds to Selizini flatids in Madagascar (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae)
Authors: ŚWIERCZEWSKI DARIUSZ , STROIŃSKI ADAM
Published: December 2019

A new genus of flatid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Flatidae), Kelyflata gen. nov., is described for Kelyflata capensis sp. nov. (type species) and Kelyflata ilakakae sp. nov. from the island of Madagascar. Habitus, male external and internal genital structures of the new species are illustrated. Kelyflata is probably endemic to Madagascar where it is known to date, only from a southern part of the island.
Predicting Low-Level Wind Shear Using 200-m-Resolution NWP at the Hong Kong International Airport
Authors: Hon Kai-Kwong
Published: December 2019

“Low-level wind shear” is a known aviation safety hazard and refers to a sustained change in head wind encountered by an aircraft during takeoff or landing. Because of their small spatiotemporal scales and high variability, automatic alerting of wind shears at airports around the world is almost exclusively detection based (using remote sensing equipment). Numerical modeling studies so far mainly cover individual cases and lack systematic validation. This paper presents the first statistical evaluation of numerical weather prediction (NWP) model performance in predicting low-level wind shear at a major international airport over a 2-yr continuous period. The 200-m-resolution Aviation Model (AVM) of the Hong Kong Observatory is used to generate runway-specific wind shear forecasts at 1-min output intervals for the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), known for its susceptibility to wind shear occurrence. The AVM forecasts are then validated against over 800 actual reports of wind shear by aircraft pilots over the two major arrival runway corridors, 07LA and 25RA, at HKIA between 2014 and 2015 using a verification scheme with the same level of spatiotemporal stringency as operational alerting systems at HKIA. With “relative operating characteristic” analysis, positive skill is consistently observed across both runway corridors throughout the study period and across all considered forecast lead times out to 6 h ahead. This study serves to establish and document the current capability of fine-resolution NWP in predicting the phenomenon of low-level wind shear for aviation weather applications.
Combined State-Parameter Estimation with the LETKF for Convective-Scale Weather Forecasting
Authors: Ruckstuhl Y. , Janjić T.
Published: December 2019

We investigate the feasibility of addressing model error by perturbing and estimating uncertain static model parameters using the localized ensemble transform Kalman filter. In particular we use the augmented state approach, where parameters are updated by observations via their correlation with observed state variables. This online approach offers a flexible, yet consistent way to better fit model variables affected by the chosen parameters to observations, while ensuring feasible model states. We show in a nearly operational convection-permitting configuration that the prediction of clouds and precipitation with the COSMO-DE model is improved if the two-dimensional roughness length parameter is estimated with the augmented state approach. Here, the targeted model error is the roughness length itself and the surface fluxes, which influence the initiation of convection. At analysis time, Gaussian noise with a specified correlation matrix is added to the roughness length to regulate the parameter spread. In the northern part of the COSMO-DE domain, where the terrain is mostly flat and assimilated surface wind measurements are dense, estimating the roughness length led to improved forecasts of up to 6 h of clouds and precipitation. In the southern part of the domain, the parameter estimation was detrimental unless the correlation length scale of the Gaussian noise that is added to the roughness length is increased. The impact of the parameter estimation was found to be larger when synoptic forcing is weak and the model output is more sensitive to the roughness length.
Video-enhanced follow-up training improves basic life support skills retention in laypersons: A prospective randomized controlled trial
Authors: You Kyoung Min , Shin Jonghwan , Lee Se Jong , Lee Hui Jai , Jung Jin Hee , Son Yeong Ju , Hwang Seong Youn
Published: December 2019

Background:

Retraining and retention for basic life support skills after initial basic life support education are important for high-quality basic life support performance at the scene.

Objectives:

We investigated whether delivery of a personal-training video clip reduced basic life support skill degradation in laypersons.

Methods:

After a basic life support layperson training course, the participants were randomized to the video group and control group. The layperson learners in the video group were provided with a video clip of themselves during basic life support education course and a follow-up text message every 3 months after initial basic life support course. The control group only received a follow-up text message every 3 months, without a video clip. The performances of all participants were reviewed initially and after 12 months in each group.

Results:

The total number of participants was 186. Among them, 22 in the video group and 29 in the control group completed the follow-up and final basic life support skill tests. In the control group, basic life support skill level of the participants was at 60.1% after 12 months compared with the initial test and 79.8% in the video group. The performance differences in each basic life support skill score between the initial and follow-up test at 12 months were significantly different between the video group and control group: non-compression, 0.0 (0.0–1.0) versus 1.0 (1.0–2.0); compression, 1.0 (0.0–1.3) versus 1.0 (0.0–4.0); automated external defibrillator, 2.0 (1.0–3.0) versus 3.0 (2.0–4.5) and total score, 4.0 (2.0–5.0) versus 6.0 (3.0–9.5), respectively (all p-values < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Delivery of a basic life support personal-training video clip to laypersons who received basic life support training can reduce performance degradation at 12 months.
Correction to: Clinical diversity of invasive cryptococcosis in AIDS patients from central China: report of two cases with review of literature
Authors: Zhang Yongxi , Cooper Brian , Gui Xi’en , Sherer Renslow , Cao Qian
Published: December 2019

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that Figs. 1 and 2 has been misplaced. Hence, the position of the two pictures should be reversed.
Evaluating the cerebrospinal fluid ctDNA detection by next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis of meningeal Carcinomatosis
Authors: Zhao Yue , He Jun-Ying , Zou Yue-Li , Guo Xiao-Su , Cui Jun-Zhao , Guo Li , Bu Hui
Published: December 2019

Background

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) is the most severe form of brain metastasis and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, the diagnosis of MC is routinely confirmed on the basis of clinical manifestation, positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology, and/or neuroimaging features. However, negative rate of CSF cytology and neuroimaging findings often result in a failure to diagnose MC from the patients who actually have the disease. Here we evaluate the CSF circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the diagnosis of MC.

Methods

A total of 35 CSF samples were collected from 35 patients with MC for CSF cytology examination, CSF ctDNA extraction and cancer-associated gene mutations detection by next-generation sequencing (NGS) at the same time.

Results

The most frequent primary tumor in this study was lung cancer (26/35, 74%), followed by gastric cancer (2/35, 6%), breast cancer (2/35, 6%), prostatic cancer (1/35, 3%), parotid gland carcinoma (1/35, 3%) and lymphoma (1/35, 3%) while no primary tumor could be found in the remaining 2 patients in spite of using various inspection methods. Twenty-five CSF samples (25/35; 71%) were found neoplastic cells in CSF cytology examination while all of the 35 CSF samples (35/35; 100%) were revealed having detectable ctDNA in which cancer-associated gene mutations were detected. All of 35 patients with MC in the study underwent contrast-enhanced brain MRI and/or CT and 22 neuroimaging features (22/35; 63%) were consistent with MC. The sensitivity of the neuroimaging was 88% (95% confidence intervals [95% CI], 75 to 100) (p = 22/25) and 63% (95% CI, 47 to 79) (p = 22/35) compared to those of CSF cytology and CSF ctDNA, respectively. The sensitivity of the CSF cytology was 71% (95% CI, 56 to 86) (n = 25/35) compared to that of CSF ctDNA.

Conclusions

This study suggests a higher sensitivity of CSF ctDNA than those of CSF cytology and neuroimaging findings. We find cancer-associated gene mutations in ctDNA from CSF of patients with MC at 100% of our cohort, and utilizing CSF ctDNA as liquid biopsy technology based on the detection of cancer-associated gene mutations may give additional information to diagnose MC with negative CSF cytology and/or negative neuroimaging findings.
EEG-based image classification via a region-level stacked bi-directional deep learning framework
Authors: Fares Ahmed , Zhong Sheng-hua , Jiang Jianmin
Published: December 2019

Background

As a physiological signal, EEG data cannot be subjectively changed or hidden. Compared with other physiological signals, EEG signals are directly related to human cortical activities with excellent temporal resolution. After the rapid development of machine learning and artificial intelligence, the analysis and calculation of EEGs has made great progress, leading to a significant boost in performances for content understanding and pattern recognition of brain activities across the areas of both neural science and computer vision. While such an enormous advance has attracted wide range of interests among relevant research communities, EEG-based classification of brain activities evoked by images still demands efforts for further improvement with respect to its accuracy, generalization, and interpretation, yet some characters of human brains have been relatively unexplored.

Methods

We propose a region-level stacked bi-directional deep learning framework for EEG-based image classification. Inspired by the hemispheric lateralization of human brains, we propose to extract additional information at regional level to strengthen and emphasize the differences between two hemispheres. The stacked bi-directional long short-term memories are used to capture the dynamic correlations hidden from both the past and the future to the current state in EEG sequences.

Results

Extensive experiments are carried out and our results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed framework. Compared with the existing state-of-the-arts, our framework achieves outstanding performances in EEG-based classification of brain activities evoked by images. In addition, we find that the signals of Gamma band are not only useful for achieving good performances for EEG-based image classification, but also play a significant role in capturing relationships between the neural activations and the specific emotional states.

Conclusions

Our proposed framework provides an improved solution for the problem that, given an image used to stimulate brain activities, we should be able to identify which class the stimuli image comes from by analyzing the EEG signals. The region-level information is extracted to preserve and emphasize the hemispheric lateralization for neural functions or cognitive processes of human brains. Further, stacked bi-directional LSTMs are used to capture the dynamic correlations hidden in EEG data. Extensive experiments on standard EEG-based image classification dataset validate that our framework outperforms the existing state-of-the-arts under various contexts and experimental setups.
Comparative measurement of FeLV load in hemolymphatic tissues of cats with hematologic cytopenias
Authors: Abdollahi-Pirbazari Mehdi , Jamshidi Shahram , Nassiri Seyed Mahdi , Zamani-Ahmadmahmudi Mohamad
Published: December 2019

Background

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a serious viral infection in cats. FeLV is found in some tissues, such as spleen, lymph nodes and epithelial tissues. However, there is controversy about the organ in which the virus can be reliably detected in infected cats. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of viral infection in hemolymphatic tissues, including blood, bone marrow and spleen by reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Results

A total of 31 cats with clinical signs of FeLV infection associated with at least a single lineage hematologic cytopenia were included in this study. Peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen samples were obtained from each cat. Complete blood counts, biochemical tests, and a rapid test to detect FeLV p27 antigen in blood samples of cats were performed. Of 31 cats, 9 had anemia alone, 4 had thrombocytopenia alone, 2 had neutropenia alone, 9 had bicytopenia of anemia and thrombocytopenia, 3 had bicytopenia of anemia and neutropenia, and 4 had pancytopenia. FeLV RNA was then detected by RT-qPCR in the whole blood, bone marrow and spleen. Viral RNA copy numbers were detected in all cats by RT-qPCR whereas 24 out of 31 cats were positive for the serum FeLV antigen. We detected a significantly greater number of viral RNA in the spleen compared with the whole blood and bone marrow.

Conclusion

Spleen is a site where FeLV is most frequently detected in cats with hematologic cytopenias.
Impact of the interval between neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy in the modern era: a population-based propensity-score-matched retrospective cohort study in Asia
Authors: Kuo Yao-Hung , Chien Yu-Wen , Chen Pin-Ru , Feng Chun-Lung , Li Chia-Chin , Chien Chun-Ru
Published: December 2019

Background

Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (nCCRT) is one of the standard-of-care options for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESqCC). The optimal interval between nCCRT and esophagectomy is unknown.

Methods

We constructed a propensity-score-matched [1:1 for long (8–12 weeks) vs short (4–7 weeks) intervals] cohort of LA-ESqCC patients who were diagnosed from 2011 to 2015 and treated with nCCRT via the Taiwan Cancer Registry and related databases. We compared the hazard ratios (HRs) of death using a robust variance estimator. We also evaluated alternative covariables, outcomes, and interval definitions.

Results

Our study population included 80 patients for each group; groups were balanced with respect to the observed covariables. There was no significant difference for the HR of death [1.22; 95% confidence interval 0.78–1.91, P = 0.39] when the long interval group was compared to the short interval group. There were also no significant differences when alternative covariables, outcomes, or interval definitions were evaluated.

Conclusions

In this population-based study in modern Asia, we found that for LA-ESqCC patients treated with nCCRT and esophagectomy, overall survival was similar for either long or short intervals between nCCRT and esophagectomy. Randomized controlled trials are needed to verify this finding.
The impact of adding community-based distribution of oral contraceptives and condoms to a cluster randomized primary health care intervention in rural Tanzania
Authors: Sheff Mallory C. , Jackson Elizabeth F. , Kanté Almamy M. , Rusibamayila Asinath , Phillips James F.
Published: December 2019

Background

Efforts to expand access to family planning in rural Africa often focus on the deployment of community health agents (CHAs).

Methods

This paper reports on results of the impact of a randomized cluster trial of CHA deployment on contraceptive uptake among 3078 baseline and 2551 endline women of reproductive age residing in 50 intervention and 51 comparison villages in Tanzania. Qualitative data were collected to broaden understanding of method preference, reasons for choice, and factors that explain non-use.

Results

Regression difference-in-differences results show that doorstep provision of oral contraceptive pills and condoms was associated with a null effect on modern contraceptive uptake [p = 0.822; CI 0.857; 1.229]. Discussions suggest that expanding geographic access without efforts to improve spousal and social support, respect preference for injectable contraceptives, and address perceived risk of side-effects offset the benefits of adopting contraceptives provided by community-based services.

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrate that increasing access to services does not necessarily catalyze contraceptive use as method choice and spousal dynamics are key components of demand for contraception. Findings attest to the importance of strategies that respond to the climate of demand.

Trial registration

Controlled-Trial.comISRCTN96819844. Retrospectively registered on 29.03.2012.
At the heart of organ donation. Case reports of organ donation after cardiac death in two patients with successfully repaired AAST grade V cardiac injuries
Authors: Fugazzola Paola , Ansaloni Luca , Benni Marco , Circelli Alessandro , Coccolini Federico , Gamberini Emiliano , Nanni Andrea , Russo Emanuele , Tomasoni Matteo , Agnoletti Vanni
Published: December 2019

Background

Trauma victims could be an important source of organs. This article presents two cases of successful organ donation and transplant, after Maastricht category III cardiac death in patients with successfully repaired AAST grade V traumatic cardiac injuries.

Case presentation

The first donor was an adult patient with self-inflicted heart stab wound and non-survivable burn injury. The second one was an adult patient with blunt cardiac and abdominal trauma and an anoxic brain injury due to a car accident. The cardiac injury was promptly repaired in both patients. In the first case, adequate organ perfusion ante-mortem was achieved thanks to venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intensive care unit support. The above procedure allowed successful organ donation and transplantation even after Maastricht category III cardiac death. This is the first case reported where, for organ donation purposes, it was made necessary first thing to avoid the immediate death of the patient, due to a rare and frequently not survivable cardiac injury. The challenge of preserving organ perfusion, due to major burn injury effects, was faced afterwards.

Conclusions

The outcomes of these two cases suggest that a repaired heart injury should not be considered as an absolute contraindication to organ donation, even if it is associated with non-survivable major burns. Therefore, cardiac death could provide an opportunity for these kinds of patients to contribute to the pool of potential organ donors.
Correction to: Cancer cases detected in the prevention and control service of a private cancer clinic in Peru
Authors: Revilla-López José , Anampa-Guzmán Andrea , Marquez Luis Casanova , Weeks Katrina , Pollard Suzanne , Olórtegui-Yzú Adriel , Ruiz-Velazco María , Davila-Edquen Alba , Castro-Dorer Daniel , Wong-Barrenechea Juan , Abad-Seminario Jossira , Gonzáles-Ramos Pamela , Rivera-Sandoval Fiorella , Carracedo-Gonzáles Carlos
Published: December 2019

In the original publication of this article [1] several figures and tables were incorrectly displayed. In this correction article the correct overview of the tables and figures are published. The original article has been updated. The publisher apologizes to the readers & authors for the inconvenience.
Evaluation of an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-based rehabilitation for thermal burn injuries: a prospective non-randomized design
Authors: Neubauer Hubert , Stolle Annette , Ripper Sabine , Klimitz Felix , Ziegenthaler Hans , Strupat Mareike , Kneser Ulrich , Harhaus Leila
Published: December 2019

Background

Severe burn injuries result in relevant restrictions of physical capacity as well as psychological and social integrity and require a specialized rehabilitation. There is a common agreement, among national as well as international burn associations, that burn rehabilitation is a complex, dynamic process which needs an interdisciplinary and specialized treatment team. There is wide agreement that more research is needed in this field.

Methods/design

The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of our new ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health)-based rehabilitation for thermal injuries. Because of ethical reasons, we have chosen a prospective non-randomized design, which takes place at two different rehabilitation centers. At center A, a newly developed ICF-based rehabilitation program was established; at rehabilitation center B, a well-established rehabilitation program has existed for 20 years and is used as reference. The primary research question addresses the “Pre-post comparison of the physical and psychological outcome measurements,” secondary question I looks at the “Examination of the non-inferiority of the new treatment concept with the established concept,” and secondary question II is the “Analysis of the rehabilitation process based on the rehabilitation cycle.”

Only patients of the two burn rehabilitation centers who are insured by workers’ compensation will be asked to participate in this study to avoid outcome bias by insurance status. A physical examination (physical working capacity testing, grip strength, range of motion, and scar evaluation by Cutometer and Vancouver Scar Scale) and a standardized questionnaire battery (Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief , Short Form 36, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the German version of the Symptom Checklist, the Freiburg Social Support Questionnaire, Patient/Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, and Lower Extremity Functional Scale ) measure physical and psychological conditions. Data will be taken on admission, during stay, and on discharge of the rehabilitation program and at follow-up 3 and 12 months after discharge. A minimum of 162 participants will be enrolled in this clinical longitudinal, prospective, observational study.

Discussion

The proof of the effectiveness of the ICF-based rehabilitation program for thermal injuries will give evidence in a comprehensive way for the first time in this field. As result, a standardized rehabilitation concept will be introduced, which can be provided to other rehabilitation institutions treating thermal injuries.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00017702. Registered on 2 September 2019.
Oligoclonal bands and levels of interleukin 4, interleukin 10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in idiopathic intracranial hypertension Egyptian patients
Authors: El-Tamawy Mohamed S. , Zaki Maha A. , Rashed Laila A. , Esmail Eman H. , Mohamed Shaimaa Shaheen , Osama Wesam
Published: December 2019

Background

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological disorder of unknown pathophysiology with many proposed theories that involve CSF dynamics but recently, involvement of inflammatory and autoimmune processes has been postulated.

Objectives

To investigate presence of oligoclonal bands (OCB) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum cytokine level in patients with IIH.

Methods

This study was conducted on 27 IIH female patients and 21 age- and sex-matched control groups. Patient and control groups were subjected to measurement of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels in serum, and CSF oligoclonal bands was measured in the IIH patient group. Body mass index (BMI) was measured to both patients and control.

Results

Serum levels of IL-4, IL-10, and TNF alpha were significantly higher in IIH patients than controls (p <  0.001); 22% of IIH patients had positive OCB in CSF. There was a statistically significant difference regarding TNF-α level in OCB-positive and OCB-negative patients being higher in positive patients. No statistically significant correlation was found between serum levels of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, and BMI.

Conclusion

Autoimmune inflammatory process may play a role in pathophysiology of IIH.
A monographic research on the Assyrian culinary culture in Turkey
Authors: Ozer Cagla
Published: December 2019

Assyrians are the oldest civilization of Mesopotamia and have a history of 5500–6000 years. They are known as the first civilization in history, founded in Antakya by Mor Petrus in 37–43 AD and briefly announcing Christianity to the whole Middle East. Today, it is estimated that there are 12 and a half million Assyrians in the world and 45,000 Assyrians in Turkey. Most of them live in different regions of Eastern Anatolia, mostly in Istanbul.

The Ottoman Empire served as home to countless cultures and religions with its 500-year history, and this cultural wealth made a positive impact on the culinary culture, creating a unique kitchen. Various sources argue that the cultures of Assyrians, especially in the regions where Assyrians lived, constituted Assyrian culinary cultures with a dense population.

In this study, the history of the Assyrian, the regions they lived extensively in the world and Turkey, and the beliefs and practices in birth, marriage, death, feast, and holy days have been examined in terms of gastronomic culture.
Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group Enhanced Observation Study Postoperative Pain Profiles, Analgesic Use, and Transition to Chronic Pain and Excessive and Prolonged Opioid Use Patterns Methodology
Authors: Stuart Ami R. , Kuck Kai , Naik Bhiken I. , Saager Leif , Pace Nathan L. , Domino Karen B. , Posner Karen L. , Alpert Salome B. , Kheterpal Sachin , Sinha Anik K. , Brummett Chad M. , Durieux Marcel E. ,   and the MPOG EOS Investigator Group
Published: December 2019

To study the impact of anesthesia opioid-related outcomes and acute and chronic postsurgical pain, we organized a multicenter study that comprehensively combined detailed perioperative data elements from multiple institutions. By combining pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcomes with automatically extracted high-resolution intraoperative data obtained through the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG), the authors sought to describe the impact of patient characteristics, preoperative psychological factors, surgical procedure, anesthetic course, postoperative pain management, and postdischarge pain management on postdischarge pain profiles and opioid consumption patterns. This study is unique in that it utilized multicenter prospective data collection using a digital case report form integrated with the MPOG framework and database. Therefore, the study serves as a model for future studies using this innovative method. Full results will be reported in future articles; the purpose of this article is to describe the methods of this study.
Uterine compression suture is an effective mode of treatment of postpartum haemorrhage
Authors: Jiang Hongmei , Wang Li , Liang Jing
Published: December 2019

Objective: To compare the effects of uterine compression suture versus conventional mode of treatment for the management of postpartum haemorrhage after caesarean section.

Methods: This study enrolled 84 women with postpartum hemorrhage who were admitted to Binzhou People’s Hospital from August 2017 to October 2018 as the research subjects. They were divided into a control group and an observation group according to random number table method, 42 each group. The patients in the control group were treated by conventional treatment, while those in the observation group were treated by uterine compression suture. The hemorrhage, hemostasis, postoperative recovery and frequency of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results: The amount of bleeding in the observation group was less than that in the control group, and the bleeding time was shorter than that in the control group; the differences had statistical significance (P<0.05). The success rate of hemostasis in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the ineffective rate of hemostasis was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05); the differences were statistically significant. The cleaning time of lochia, the recovery time of uterus and the recovery time of menstruation in the observation group were significantly shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05); the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The frequency of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Uterine compression suture is effective for postpartum hemorrhage of cesarean section, which can effectively reduce postpartum hemorrhage, shorten postpartum hemorrhage time and accelerate the recovery. It is safe and worth clinical promotion.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1072

How to cite this:Jiang H, Wang L, Liang J. Uterine compression suture is an effective mode of treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):131-135. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1072

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Development of a model for the formation of the ecological worldview of students of secondary professional education
Authors: Gasanov Soltan
Published: December 2019

The article is devoted to the search for methodological, theoretical and didactic basic for a modern model of the formation of the ecological worldview of college students. The author made a substantiation of the main components of the model. A two-level concept of the formation of the ecological worldview of students of secondary professional education (SPE) and a set of pedagogical conditions for its implementation are proposed. The proposed model for the formation of the ecological worldview of students of secondary vocational education on the basis of a system-activity approach in the educational process can be pedagogically effective by including in the training and education processes such forms and methods that will put students in the position of researchers and discoverers. In the modern professional educational environment, the training of competitively capable graduates who are ready to withstand the socio-economic changes that arise in society and are able to take responsibility for decisions made becomes one of the main directions of the educational process in institutions of higher and secondary professional education.
IDENTIFICATION OF THERMAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF HOT ROLLING SCALE
Authors: Maalem Badreddine , Berdjane Djamel , BELAHSSEN OKBA , Tairi Latifa , Faci Youcef , Djemili Samira
Published: December 2019

A significant amount of scale is produced during casting of ingots and processing of hot-rolled products. In manufacturing steel, during the various rolling operations, the amount of scale produced is approximately 0.1% of the annual production of the rolling mills. The quality of the thin sheet during rolling is affected by the behavior of the iron oxide layers formed on their surfaces. For this reason, acids and oils are used for the descaling of slabs and billets by means of pressurized water. The calamine, contaminated by these various acids and used oils, is rejected and stored involuntarily on important areas and pollutes soil and groundwater. Micrographic observations as well as X-ray diffraction analysis have shown that calamine consists mainly of iron oxides. Hematite and magnetite become the main components for oxidation times greater than 1 hour. Characterization tests have shown that calamine is dense (ρ = 4.8 g/cm3), its particle size is variable depending on the degree of oxidation (from 0.5 to 10 mm). Simultaneous thermal analysis showed that an increase in mass of the calamine sample with a release of heat. Studies are underway for the physico-chemical characterization of the soils of the storage areas.
KINETIC ANALYSIS OF SECONDARY PRECIPITATION IN A HP40-Nb ALLOY
Authors: Sosa Lissarrague Matías Humberto , Juan Alfredo , Lanz César , La Rocca Bruno , Picasso Alberto
Published: December 2019

The HP40-Nb heat resistant alloy (35Ni-25Cr-Nb) was analysed by means of optical microscopy after aging treatments at 1073 and 1173 K for different times, in order to apply the classic Johnson – Mehl - Avrami – Kolmogorov kinetic model (JMAK), and thus calculate the activation energy of secondary M23C6 precipitation, which occurs during thermal aging. The relevance of this theoretical analysis is to infer the mechanism that controls the nucleation and growth of M23C6 secondary carbides, since the amount and morphology of these phase influences the mechanical properties as well as the corrosion resistance in service. After performing the kinetic analysis using the JMAK model, the activation energy was found to be 208 kJ/mol, which would indicate that the secondary precipitation in this alloy is controlled by the Cr-diffusion phenomenon along the austenitic matrix.
DIFFUSIVE AND DISPLACIVE PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE TORSION
Authors: Straumal Boris , Kilmametov Askar , Mazilkin Andrey Mazilkin , Kogtenkova Olga Kogtenkova , Baretzky Brigitte , Korneva Anna , Zięba Pawel
Published: December 2019

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) can induce various phase transformations. After a certain strain, the dynamic equilibrium establishes between defects production by an external force and their relaxation (annihilation). The grain size, hardness, phase composition etc. in this steady-state does not depend on the initial state of a material and is, therefore, equifinal. In this review we discuss the competition between precipitation and dissolution of precipitates, amorphization and (nano)crystallization, SPD-induced accelerated mass-transfer, allotropic and martensitic transitions and formation of grain boundary phases.
"Rebellions are built on hope"
Authors: Barclay Bridgitte
Published: December 2019

No abstract
Flowering, Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Heliconia Genotypes Under Shade House Conditions
Authors: Naik M. Dilipkumar , Naik M. Raja , Kadiri Lalitha , Arunodhayam K. , Reddy Y.Sharatkumar
Published: December 2019

The present research work was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta during 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design, with three replications and with 8 genotypes. The treated rhizomes were planted under 50 per cent shadehouse condition. All the flowering, physiological attributes and anthocyanin content varied significantly among multiple heliconia genotypes grown under shadehouse conditions. Among multiple genotypes, inflorescence length (26.18 cm), number of spikes clump-1 (4.50), number of bracts spike-1 (9.56) stomatal conductance (0.38 mol m-2 s-1), rate of photosynthesis (9.23 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration rate (4.17 mmol m-2 s-1) and anthocyanin content in flowers (3.64 mg 100 g-1 tissue) recorded highest in genotype G6. However significantly longest stalk (61.25 cm), maximum bract size (25.38 cm2) were recorded in G2 and G1, respectively. While more leaf intercellular CO2 (317.38 µmol m-2 s-1) was recorded in genotype G3.
Head and neck cancer part 3: dental management
Authors: Hackett Stephanie , Jones Oliver , Chatzistavrianou Despoina , Newsum David
Published: December 2019

This is the third and final paper in the series. Oral and dental complications of head and neck cancers, and the associated treatments, can be devastating to patients. General dental practitioners are likely to encounter affected patients at various points along their treatment journey, which may involve the management of treatment side-effects or facilitating the post-treatment rehabilitation. This paper will discuss accepted preventive regimens for patients, management of treatment side-effects and specific cases of restorative rehabilitation post-treatment, highlighting the levels of treatment that can usually be provided in primary and secondary care settings.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: This paper aims to provide the reader with knowledge and confidence to manage the dental needs of head and neck cancer patients and post-treatment side-effects.
Increased primate space in the mandible
Authors: Buckeridge Anna , Anthonappa Robert , King Nigel
Published: December 2019

Primate spaces are diastemata consistent with an inherent physiological pattern rather than functional adaptation. This article presents an atypically increased primate space only in the right mandibular arch.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Differential diagnoses that can be considered for an asymmetrically enlarged primate space include individual variation, tooth size, arch length discrepancy, infection, traumatic dental injury or an obstructive pathology, such as a malignant neoplasm, developmental cyst, odontoma or supernumerary tooth.
Football and palliative care: Qatar
Authors: Smyth Dion
Published: December 2019

Dion Smyth's review of palliative nursing on the internet
Legitimising a radical policy idea: framing basic income as a boost to labour market activity
Authors: Perkiö Johanna
Published: December 2019

The idea of universal and unconditional basic income is gaining increasing traction worldwide. Yet the proposal of unconditional cash seems to run counter to some key normative assumptions in society. This article contributes to an understanding of the political feasibility of basic income from the perspective of framing strategies to legitimise the policy. It examines a framing commonly used by Finnish parties and politicians advocating basic income, that emphasised basic income’s capacity to boost activity and labour market participation. The article finds that basic income was often defended with framing that appealed to activity as a value, and that this framing was most actively pushed by the Greens, and adopted by other parties during the upturns of the debate. The article provides an insight into a strategy of legitimising a politically controversial idea by framing it in a normatively and ideologically resonant way.
Timing it right or timing it wrong: how should income-tested benefits deal with changes in circumstances?
Authors: Millar Jane , Whiteford Peter
Published: December 2019

This article examines the challenges in designing income-tested benefits for people of working age. This is particularly difficult in the context of changing patterns of work and volatility in earnings and income. Matching benefits to needs requires timely assessment and payment. We compare the treatment of timing issues in the working-age welfare systems of the United Kingdom and Australia. The article discusses how these different but similar systems deal with the timing of income receipt and benefit adjustment, problems of overpayment and debt, and draws out some lessons for the design of income-tested provisions.
Moving between frustration and anger
Authors: Carman Mary
Published: December 2019

Frustration is widely recognised to be central to many cases of moral anger in a political context, yet little philosophical attention has been paid to it. In this paper, I offer a much-needed philosophical analysis of frustration, working primarily with the example of the recent South African student protests. By developing a deeper philosophical understanding of frustration and its connections to moral anger, I argue that the movement between the two has a couple of important aspects. First, the movement involves a transformation from simply responding to some opposition to viewing that opposition as wrongfully imposed by an agent; second, in the cases that are my focus, the movement is a response to a persistent opposition that is compounded by an erosion of trust, confidence and hope within a moral community, which ultimately changes the very nature of the opposition into a form of wrongdoing. These aspects allow us to assess the appropriateness of the movement, thereby developing a rich analysis of moral anger arising out of frustration in a political context.