bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient, high-performance semantic segmentation using multi-scale feature extraction
Authors: Knolle Moritz , Kaissis Georgios , Jungmann Friederike , Ziegelmayer Sebastian , Sasse Daniel , Makowski Marcus , Rueckert Daniel , Braren Rickmer
Published: August 2021

The success of deep learning in recent years has arguably been driven by the availability of large datasets for training powerful predictive algorithms. In medical applications however, the sensitive nature of the data limits the collection and exchange of large-scale datasets. Privacy-preserving and collaborative learning systems can enable the successful application of machine learning in medicine. However, collaborative protocols such as federated learning require the frequent transfer of parameter updates over a network. To enable the deployment of such protocols to a wide range of systems with varying computational performance, efficient deep learning architectures for resource-constrained environments are required. Here we present MoNet, a small, highly optimized neural-network-based segmentation algorithm leveraging efficient multi-scale image features. MoNet is a shallow, U-Net-like architecture based on repeated, dilated convolutions with decreasing dilation rates. We apply and test our architecture on the challenging clinical tasks of pancreatic segmentation in computed tomography (CT) images as well as brain tumor segmentation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. We assess our model’s segmentation performance and demonstrate that it provides performance on par with compared architectures while providing superior out-of-sample generalization performance, outperforming larger architectures on an independent validation set, while utilizing significantly fewer parameters. We furthermore confirm the suitability of our architecture for federated learning applications by demonstrating a substantial reduction in serialized model storage requirement as a surrogate for network data transfer. Finally, we evaluate MoNet’s inference latency on the central processing unit (CPU) to determine its utility in environments without access to graphics processing units. Our implementation is publicly available as free and open-source software.
Rural landscape dynamics over time and its consequences for habitat preference patterns of the grey partridge Perdix perdix
Authors: Hille Sabine Marlene , Schöll Eva Maria , Schai-Braun Stéphanie
Published: August 2021

Intensification of agricultural practices has drastically shaped farmland landscapes and generally caused a decline in spatial and temporal heterogeneity, thus leading to changes in habitat quality and food resources and a decline for most farmland birds Europe-wide. The relationship between complex landscape changes and habitat preferences of animals still remains poorly understood. Particularly, temporal and spatial changes in diversity may affect not only habitat choice but also population sizes. To answer that question, we have looked into a severely declining typical farmland bird species, the grey partridge Perdix perdix in a diverse farmland landscape near Vienna to investigate the specific habitat preferences in respect to the change of agricultural landscape over two decades and geographic scales. Using a dataset collected over 7.64 km² and between 2001 and 2017 around Vienna, we calculated Chesson’s electivity index to study the partridge’s change of habitat selection over time on two scales and between winter and spring in 2017. Although the farmland landscape underwent an ongoing diversification over the two decades, the grey partridges declined in numbers and shifted habitat use to less diverse habitats. During covey period in winter, partridges preferred also human infrastructure reservoirs such as roads and used more diverse areas with smaller fields than during breeding where they selected harvested fields but surprisingly, avoided hedges, fallow land and greening. Known as best partridge habitats, those structures when inappropriately managed might rather function as predator reservoirs. The avoidance behaviour may further be a consequence of increasing landscape structuring and edge effects by civilisation constructions. Besides, the loss in size and quality of partridge farmland is altered by crop choice and pesticides reducing plant and insect food. With declining breeding pairs, the grey partridge does not seem to adjust to these unsustainable landscape changes and farmland practices.
A new neutrosophic sign test: An application to COVID-19 data
Authors: Sherwani Rehan Ahmad Khan , Shakeel Huma , Saleem Muhammad , Awan Wajiha Batool , Aslam Muhammad , Farooq Muhammad
Published: August 2021

The Sign test is a famous nonparametric test from classical statistics used to assess the one or two sample averages. The test is practical when the sample size is small, or the distributional assumption under a parametric test does not satisfy. One of the limitations of the Sign test is the exact form of the data, and the existing methodology of the test does not cover the interval-valued data. The interval-valued data often comes from the fuzzy logic where the experiment’s information is not sure and possesses some kind of vagueness, uncertainty or indeterminacy. This research proposed a modified version of the Sign test by considering the indeterminate state and the exact form of the data—the newly proposed sign test methodology is designed for both one-sample and two-sample hypothesis testing problems. The performance of the proposed modified versions of the Sign test is evaluated through two real-life data examples comprised of covid-19 reproduction rate and covid-positive daily occupancy in ICU in Pakistan. The findings of the study suggested that our proposed methodologies are suitable in nonparametric decision-making problems with an interval–valued data. Therefore, applying the new neutrosophic sign test is explicitly recommended in biomedical sciences, engineering, and other statistical fields under an indeterminate environment.
Motion sickness and sense of presence in a virtual reality environment developed for manual wheelchair users, with three different approaches
Authors: Salimi Zohreh , Ferguson-Pell Martin William
Published: August 2021

Visually Induced Motion Sickness (VIMS) is a bothersome and sometimes unsafe experience, frequently experienced in Virtual Reality (VR) environments. In this study, the effect of up to four training sessions to decrease VIMS in the VR environment to a minimal level was tested and verified through explicit declarations of all 14 healthy participants that were recruited in this study. Additionally, the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) was used at the end of each training session to measure responses to different aspects of VIMS. Total, gastrointestinal, and central motion sickness were shown to decrease significantly by the last training session, compared to the first one. After acclimatizing to motion sickness, participants’ sense of presence and the level of their motion sickness in the VR environment were assessed while actuating three novel and sophisticated VR systems. They performed up to four trials of the Illinois agility test in the VR systems and the real world, then completed MSAQ and Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ) at the end of each session. Following acclimatization, the three VR systems generated relatively little motion sickness and high virtual presence scores, with no statistically meaningful difference among them for either MSAQ or IPQ. Also, it was shown that presence has a significant negative correlation with VIMS.
COVID19-associated cardiomyocyte dysfunction, arrhythmias and the effect of Canakinumab
Authors: Dimai Sanzio , Semmler Lukas , Prabhu Ashok , Stachelscheid Harald , Huettemeister Judith , Klaucke Sandra C. , Lacour Philipp , Blaschke Florian , Kruse Jan , Parwani Abdul , Boldt Leif-Hendrik , Bullinger Lars , Pieske Burkert M. , Heinzel Frank R. , Hohendanner Felix
Published: August 2021

Background

Cardiac injury associated with cytokine release frequently occurs in SARS-CoV-2 mediated coronavirus disease (COVID19) and mortality is particularly high in these patients. The mechanistic role of the COVID19 associated cytokine-storm for the concomitant cardiac dysfunction and associated arrhythmias is unclear. Moreover, the role of anti-inflammatory therapy to mitigate cardiac dysfunction remains elusive.

Aims and methods

We investigated the effects of COVID19-associated inflammatory response on cardiac cellular function as well as its cardiac arrhythmogenic potential in rat and induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CM). In addition, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of the IL-1β antagonist Canakinumab using state of the art in-vitro confocal and ratiometric high-throughput microscopy.

Results

Isolated rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were exposed to control or COVID19 serum from intensive care unit (ICU) patients with severe ARDS and impaired cardiac function (LVEF 41±5%; 1/3 of patients on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; CK 154±43 U/l). Rat cardiomyocytes showed an early increase of myofilament sensitivity, a decrease of Ca2+ transient amplitudes and altered baseline [Ca2+] upon exposure to patient serum. In addition, we used iPS-CM to explore the long-term effect of patient serum on cardiac electrical and mechanical function. In iPS-CM, spontaneous Ca2+ release events were more likely to occur upon incubation with COVID19 serum and nuclear as well as cytosolic Ca2+ release were altered. Co-incubation with Canakinumab had no effect on pro-arrhythmogenic Ca2+ release or Ca2+ signaling during excitation-contraction coupling, nor significantly influenced cellular automaticity.

Conclusion

Serum derived from COVID19 patients exerts acute cardio-depressant and chronic pro-arrhythmogenic effects in rat and iPS-derived cardiomyocytes. Canakinumab had no beneficial effect on cellular Ca2+ signaling during excitation-contraction coupling. The presented method utilizing iPS-CM and in-vitro Ca2+ imaging might serve as a novel tool for precision medicine. It allows to investigate cytokine related cardiac dysfunction and pharmacological approaches useful therein.
A machine learning approach to predict extreme inactivity in COPD patients using non-activity-related clinical data
Authors: Aguilaniu Bernard , Hess David , Kelkel Eric , Briault Amandine , Destors Marie , Boutros Jacques , Zhi Li Pei , Antoniadis Anestis
Published: August 2021

Facilitating the identification of extreme inactivity (EI) has the potential to improve morbidity and mortality in COPD patients. Apart from patients with obvious EI, the identification of a such behavior during a real-life consultation is unreliable. We therefore describe a machine learning algorithm to screen for EI, as actimetry measurements are difficult to implement. Complete datasets for 1409 COPD patients were obtained from COLIBRI-COPD, a database of clinicopathological data submitted by French pulmonologists. Patient- and pulmonologist-reported estimates of PA quantity (daily walking time) and intensity (domestic, recreational, or fitness-directed) were first used to assign patients to one of four PA groups (extremely inactive [EI], overtly active [OA], intermediate [INT], inconclusive [INC]). The algorithm was developed by (i) using data from 80% of patients in the EI and OA groups to identify ‘phenotype signatures’ of non-PA-related clinical variables most closely associated with EI or OA; (ii) testing its predictive validity using data from the remaining 20% of EI and OA patients; and (iii) applying the algorithm to identify EI patients in the INT and INC groups. The algorithm’s overall error for predicting EI status among EI and OA patients was 13.7%, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84 (95% confidence intervals: 0.75–0.92). Of the 577 patients in the INT/INC groups, 306 (53%) were reclassified as EI by the algorithm. Patient- and physician- reported estimation may underestimate EI in a large proportion of COPD patients. This algorithm may assist physicians in identifying patients in urgent need of interventions to promote PA.
Suicidal behavior in German military service members: An analysis of attempted- and completed suicides between 2010 and 2016
Authors: Helms Christian , Wertenauer Florian , Spaniol Kai-Uwe , Zimmermann Peter Lutz , Willmund Gerd-Dieter
Published: August 2021

Studies identified service members of the United States (US) Armed Forces as a high-risk group for suicide. A significant increase in the suicide rate in the US Armed Forces was found in recent years. To date, there is no military suicide statistic available for the German Armed Forces. This study examined attempted and completed suicides in active service members of the German Armed Forces between 2010 and 2016 retrospectively, on the basis of archived personal and medical records in the central archives of the Medical Service of German Armed Forces. The primary goal was to establish a suicide-statistic for the German Armed Forces and to calculate and compare the suicides rates with the German population. Secondary every case’s data was analysed the groups of attempted and completed suicides were compared. 262 attempted suicides and 148 completed suicides were included in this study (N = 410). The suicide rates of the German Armed Forces peaked over the years 2014–2015 with a suicide rate of 15–16/100.000 active military service members and exceeded the civilian suicide rate in Germany of around 12/100.000 people during those years, although no general trend could be determined. These service members were mostly young men (attempted suicide 81.7%, completed suicide 99.3%), at the age of 17 - <35 years old (87% attempted suicide, 68,3% completed suicide), and were employed less than 6 years in the German Armed Forces (attempted suicide 72.9%, completed suicide 46.3%). Service members with attempted suicides belonged mostly to the military North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-rank-group for other ranks (lowermost military professionals) OR-1 –OR-4 (48.1%) or to the rank-group OR-6 –OR-9 in the group of completed suicides (34.5%). Only in about one third of cases a psychiatric diagnosis could be found in the records. Most frequent diagnoses were neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision^ICD-10: F4) in 46.8%, and affective disorders (ICD-10: F3) in 43.3% of all cases. In the majority of cases there were signs for potential stressors in the private sector (attempted suicide 90.6%, completed suicide 82.6%). No typical risk factors which would enable a specific prevention could be identified in this analysis. Therefore, should preventive strategies be aiming at a multi-level intervention program.
Fowl adenovirus strains 1/A and 11/D isolated from birds with reovirus infection
Authors: Niczyporuk Jowita Samanta , Kozdrun Wojciech , Czekaj Hanna , Stys-Fijol Natalia
Published: August 2021

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is, in some cases, a fatal disease affecting fowl by adenovirus strains which are subdivided into 5 species (A-E). In the current study, we investigated sequences from the Loop L1 region of the hexon gene of sequences of adenovirus field stains 1/A and 11/D isolated from a poultry flock co-infected with IBH and avian reoviruses ARVs. In early 2021, an epidemiologic survey highlighted the coinfection adenoviruses with other viruses (orthoreovirus infection) as being particularly deleterious within the poultry industry. Here, we investigated the Loop L1 HVR1-4 region of the hexon gene with relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) designation and RSCU inclusive of all the mutations. These are the first results that have been presented on fowl adenovirus species A and D with simultaneous reovirus infection in 38-days old broiler chickens in Poland.
Salivary proteomics in monitoring the therapeutic response of canine oral melanoma
Authors: Ploypetch Sekkarin , Roytrakul Sittiruk , Jaresitthikunchai Janthima , Phaonakrop Narumon , Teewasutrakul Patharakrit , Rungsipipat Anudep , Suriyaphol Gunnaporn
Published: August 2021

Saliva biomarkers are suitable for monitoring the therapeutic response of canine oral melanoma (COM), because saliva directly contacts the tumor, and saliva collection is non-invasive, convenient and cost effective. The present study aimed to investigate novel biomarkers from the salivary proteome of COM treated with surgery and a chemotherapy drug, carboplatin, 1–6 times, using a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry approach. The expression of a potential salivary biomarker, ubiquitin D (UBD), was observed and verified by western blot analysis. A significantly increased ratio of free UBD (fUBD) to conjugated UBD (cUBD) was shown in the pre-surgery stage (PreS) in OM dogs with short-term survival (STS) (less than 12 months after surgery) compared with that with long-term survival (more than 12 months after surgery). In dogs with STS, the ratio was also shown to be augmented in PreS compared with that after surgery, followed by treatment with carboplatin twice, 4 and 5 times [After treatment (AT)2, AT4 and AT5]. In addition, the expression of fUBD was enhanced in PreS compared with that of AT2 in the STS group. In conclusion, this study revealed that a ratio of fUBD to cUBD in PreS was plausibly shown to be a potential prognostic biomarker for survival in dogs with OM.
The educational integration of digital technologies preCovid-19: Lessons for teacher education
Authors: Valverde-Berrocoso Jesús , Fernández-Sánchez María Rosa , Revuelta Dominguez Francisco Ignacio , Sosa-Díaz María José
Published: August 2021

The educational integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has been put to the test because of the need to implement «emergency remote education» as a result of COVID-19. Within this context of uncertainty («viral modernity»), flexible education is an option to promote a more just, equitable, accessible and creative educational system. In order to properly interpret the effects of this unique educational circumstance, it is essential to study the previous situation in terms of the use of digital technologies in teaching practices. The objective of the study is to describe the educational integration of ICT and the teacher education model to obtain evidence that contributes to understanding the phenomenon. To this end, a questionnaire consisting of two self-reporting tools and a scale on the description of teaching practice with ICT was applied. The sample is made up of teachers from public primary and secondary schools (N = 251). Data collection was carried out in the months prior to the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A univariate analysis of the variables and contrast tests of non-parametric hypotheses was carried out, along with calculation of the reliability and construction validity of the measuring instruments. The results reveal the most frequent types of teaching practice with ICT and the spaces where digital technologies are commonly used. Various weaknesses can be identified in digital competence among teachers, as well as in the initial/continuing training model, which contribute to the understanding of the difficulties encountered during "emergency remote education". Participation in ICT didactic innovation projects and the performance of ICT Coordination are associated with more experiential training. Flexible education requires a redefinition of the teacher training model that encourages learning anywhere, anytime.
Long-term inhibition of ferritin2 synthesis in trophocytes and oenocytes by ferritin2 double-stranded RNA ingestion to investigate the mechanisms of magnetoreception in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Hsu Chin-Yuan , Weng Yu-Ting
Published: August 2021

Behavioral studies indicate that honey bees (Apis mellifera) have a capacity for magnetoreception and superparamagnetic magnetite is suggested to be a magnetoreceptor. The long-term inhibition of magnetite formation can be employed to explore the bee’s magnetoreception. A recent study shows that magnetite formation, ferritin2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, and the protein synthesis of ferritin2 in trophocytes and oenocytes were all inhibited by a single injection of ferritin2 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into the hemolymph of honey bees but how to maintain this knockdown of ferritin2 for the long-term is unknown. In this study, we injected ferritin2 dsRNA into the hemolymph of worker bees three times every six days to maintain long-term inhibition; however, multi-microinjections accelerated the death of the bees. To overcome this problem, we further reared newly emerged worker bees daily with ferritin2 dsRNA throughout their lives, demonstrating no impact on their lifespans. Follow-up assays showed that the mRNA expression and protein synthesis of ferritin2 were persistently inhibited. These findings verified that daily ferritin2 dsRNA ingestion not only displays the long-term inhibition of mRNA expression and protein synthesis of ferritin2, but also did not damage the bees. This method of long-term inhibition can be used in behavioral studies of magnetoreception in honey bees.
A new method to compute mechanical properties of a standing skyline for cable yarding
Authors: Knobloch Christian , Bont Leo Gallus
Published: August 2021

Cable-based technologies are the backbone for logistics of timber or construction material on impassable terrain. In Central Europe, the use of standing skylines with pre-stressed, both-sided fixed-anchor cables and multi-span configurations with internal intermediate supports is common. To ensure a safe and cost-effective set-up for cable road operations, it is essential to identify and compute the properties of the skyline (e.g. load path, tensile forces). This task is challenging because it requires dealing with the non‐linear behaviour of the cable structure under the load and has to include all significant physical effects. Several approaches have previously been proposed as practical solutions, however not all physical effects were covered by those approaches, such as the inclination-dependent elastic prolongation of the cable or the longitudinal deflection of the sagging carriage. With our new proposed approach, we aim to close this gap of knowledge, and consider all relevant physical effects. We present a non-linear approach that is able to compute the properties of a wide range of standing skyline configurations, including those with additional cables. This approach offers an extensive solution and a flexible framework for considering individual configurations or particularities by adding equations to the equation system.
Meta-analysis of QTLs associated with popping traits in maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Kaur Sukhdeep , Rakshit Sujay , Choudhary Mukesh , Das Abhijit Kumar , Kumar Ranjeet Ranjan
Published: August 2021

The rising demand for popcorn necessitates improving the popping quality with higher yield of popcorn cultivars. Towards this direction several Quantitative Traits Loci (QTLs) for popping traits have been identified. However, identification of accurate and consistent QTLs across different genetic backgrounds and environments is necessary to effectively utilize the identified QTLs in marker-assisted breeding. In the current study, 99 QTLs related to popping traits reported in 8 different studies were assembled and projected on the reference map "Genetic 2005" using BioMercator v4.2 to identify metaQTLs with consistent QTLs. Total ten metaQTLs were identified on chromosome 1 (7 metaQTLs) and 6 (3 metaQTLs) with physical distance ranging between 0.43 and 12.75 Mb, respectively. Four identified metaQTLs, viz., mQTL1_1, mQTL1_5, mQTL1_7 and mQTL6_2 harboured 5–8 QTL clusters with moderately high R2 value. The clustered QTLs were from two or more experiments. Based on the expression pattern in endosperm and pericarp tissues, a total of 229 genes were selected. Nineteen of these genes are involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Of the 19 genes specifically involved in carbohydrate metabolism, 11 of them were in these regions, implying the importance of these clustered QTLs. MetaQTL1_1 at bin location 1.01 coincided with the reported QTLs related to various agronomic traits like stalk diameter, tassel length, leaf area and plant height. The identified metaQTLs can be further explored for fine mapping and candidate gene identification, which can be validated by loss or gain of function. Identified metaQTLs can be used for introgression of popping traits towards enhancing the popping ability.
Airline transportation and arrival time of international disease spread: A case study of Covid-19
Authors: Kuo Pei-Fen , Chiu Chui-Sheng
Published: August 2021

In this era of globalization, airline transportation has greatly increased international trade and travel within the World Airport Network (WAN). Unfortunately, this convenience has expanded the scope of infectious disease spread from a local to a worldwide occurrence. Thus, scholars have proposed several methods to measure the distances between airports and define the relationship between the distances and arrival times of infectious diseases in various countries. However, such studies suffer from the following limitations. (1) Only traditional statistical methods or graphical representations were utilized to show that the effective distance performed better than the geographical distance technique. Researchers seldom use the survival model to quantify the actual differences among arrival times via various distance methods. (2) Although scholars have found that most diseases tend to spread via the random walk rather than the shortest path method, this hypothesis may no longer be true because the network has been severally altered due to recent COVID-related travel reductions. Therefore, we used 2017 IATA (International Air Transport Association) to establish an airline network via various chosen path strategies (random walk and shortest path). Then, we employed these two networks to quantify each model’s predictive performance in order to estimate the importation probability function of COVID-19 into various countries. The effective distance model was found to more accurately predict arrival dates of COVID-19 than the geographical distance model. However, if pre-Covid airline data is included, the path of disease spread might not follow the random walk theory due to recent flight suspensions and travel restrictions during the epidemic. Lastly, when testing effective distance, the inverse distance survival model and the Cox model yielded very similar importation risk estimates. The results can help authorities design more effective international epidemic prevention and control strategies.
To what extent is telehealth reported to be incorporated into undergraduate and postgraduate allied health curricula: A scoping review
Authors: Hui Kay Yan , Haines Claudia , Bammann Sophie , Hallandal Matthew , Langone Nathan , Williams Ciara , McEvoy Maureen
Published: August 2021

Background

Telehealth has become a necessity within the medical and allied health professions since the COVID-19 Pandemic generated a rapid uptake worldwide. It is now evident that this health delivery format will remain in use well into the future. However, health education training, most particularly allied health, has been slow to ‘catch up’ and adapt curriculum to ensure graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to implement telehealth in the workplace. The aim of this study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of current telehealth curricula in undergraduate and postgraduate allied health education training programs, with a focus on the aims, objectives, content, format, delivery, timeline and assessments.

Methods

A systematic search of Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Scopus, ERIC and relevant grey literature was conducted. Students studying allied health degrees through formal education at either postgraduate or undergraduate level were included, while nursing, dentistry and medical students were excluded. The data from the included studies was extracted and tabulated by country, participants, program and content.

Results

Of the 4484 studies screened, eleven met the eligibility criteria. All studies were published after 2012, highlighting the recency of research in this area. The studies were conducted in four countries (Australia, United Sates of America, United Kingdom, Norway) and participants were from various allied health professions. Of the included studies, four related to undergraduate programs, four to postgraduate programs and for the remaining three, this was not specified. Curricula were delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face delivery, with assessment tasks, where reported, comprising mainly multiple-choice and written tests.

Conclusion

Published reporting of telehealth curricula within allied health programs is limited. Even the minority of programs that do include a telehealth component lack a systematic approach. This indicates that further primary research would be beneficial in this area.
Nationwide surveillance of AIDS-defining illnesses among HIV patients in Japan from 1995 to 2017
Authors: Tanaka Takeshi , Oshima Kazuhiro , Kawano Kei , Tashiro Masato , Tanaka Akitaka , Fujita Ayumi , Tsukamoto Misuzu , Yasuoka Akira , Teruya Katsuji , Izumikawa Koichi
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The accurate prevalence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illnesses (ADIs) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients has not been well investigated. Hence, a longitudinal nationwide surveillance study analyzing the current status and national trend of opportunistic complications in HIV-infected patients in Japan is warranted.

Methods

A nationwide surveillance of opportunistic complications in HIV-infected patients from 1995 to 2017 in Japan was conducted. An annual questionnaire was sent to 383 HIV/AIDS referral hospitals across Japan to collect information (CD4+ lymphocyte count, time of onset, outcome, and antiretroviral therapy [ART] status) of patients diagnosed with any of 23 ADIs between 1995 and 2017.

Results

The response and case capture rates of the questionnaires in 2017 were 53% and 76%, respectively. The number of reported cases of opportunistic complications peaked in 2011 and subsequently declined. Pneumocystis pneumonia (38.7%), cytomegalovirus infection (13.6%), and candidiasis (12.8%) were associated with the cumulative incidence of ADIs between 1995 and 2017. The mortality rate in HIV-infected patients with opportunistic complications substantially decreased to 3.6% in 2017. The mortality rate was significantly higher in HIV patients who received ART within 14 days of diagnosis of complications than in those who received ART 15 days after diagnosis (13.0% vs. 3.2%, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

We have demonstrated a 23-year trend of a newly diagnosed AIDS status in Japan with high accuracy. The current data reveal the importance of Pneumocystis pneumonia as a first-onset illness and that early initiation of ART results in poor outcomes in HIV patients in Japan.
Human upper-airway respiratory airflow: In vivo comparison of computational fluid dynamics simulations and hyperpolarized 129Xe phase contrast MRI velocimetry
Authors: Xiao Qiwei , Stewart Neil J. , Willmering Matthew M. , Gunatilaka Chamindu C. , Thomen Robert P. , Schuh Andreas , Krishnamoorthy Guruprasad , Wang Hui , Amin Raouf S. , Dumoulin Charles L. , Woods Jason C. , Bates Alister J.
Published: August 2021

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of respiratory airflow have the potential to change the clinical assessment of regional airway function in health and disease, in pulmonary medicine and otolaryngology. For example, in diseases where multiple sites of airway obstruction occur, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), CFD simulations can identify which sites of obstruction contribute most to airway resistance and may therefore be candidate sites for airway surgery. The main barrier to clinical uptake of respiratory CFD to date has been the difficulty in validating CFD results against a clinical gold standard. Invasive instrumentation of the upper airway to measure respiratory airflow velocity or pressure can disrupt the airflow and alter the subject’s natural breathing patterns. Therefore, in this study, we instead propose phase contrast (PC) velocimetry magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of inhaled hyperpolarized 129Xe gas as a non-invasive reference to which airflow velocities calculated via CFD can be compared. To that end, we performed subject-specific CFD simulations in airway models derived from 1H MRI, and using respiratory flowrate measurements acquired synchronously with MRI. Airflow velocity vectors calculated by CFD simulations were then qualitatively and quantitatively compared to velocity maps derived from PC velocimetry MRI of inhaled hyperpolarized 129Xe gas. The results show both techniques produce similar spatial distributions of high velocity regions in the anterior-posterior and foot-head directions, indicating good qualitative agreement. Statistically significant correlations and low Bland-Altman bias between the local velocity values produced by the two techniques indicates quantitative agreement. This preliminary in vivo comparison of respiratory airway CFD and PC MRI of hyperpolarized 129Xe gas demonstrates the feasibility of PC MRI as a technique to validate respiratory CFD and forms the basis for further comprehensive validation studies. This study is therefore a first step in the pathway towards clinical adoption of respiratory CFD.
Intentional and unintentional non-adherence to social distancing measures during COVID-19: A mixed-methods analysis
Authors: Eraso Yolanda , Hills Stephen
Published: August 2021

Social distancing measures implemented by governments worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic have proven an effective intervention to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. There is a growing literature on predictors of adherence behaviours to social distancing measures, however, there are no comprehensive insights into the nature and types of non-adherence behaviours. To address this gap in the literature, we studied non-adherence in terms of counts of infringements and people’s accounts on their behaviours in a sample of North London residents. We focused on the following social distancing rules: keeping 2 mts. distancing, meeting family and friends, and going out for non-essential reasons. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was used comprising an online survey (May 1–31, 2020) followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews held with a purposive sample of survey respondents (August 5 –September 21, 2020). A negative binomial regression model (quantitative) and Framework Analysis (qualitative) were undertaken.681 individuals completed the survey, and 30 individuals were interviewed. We integrated survey and interview findings following three levels of the Social Ecological model: individual, interpersonal and community levels. We identified non-adherence behaviours as unintentional (barriers beyond individual’s control) and intentional (deliberate decision). Unintentional adherence was reported by interviewees as, lack of controllability in keeping 2 mts. distancing, environmental constraints, social responsibility towards the community and feeling low risk. Intentional non-adherence was statistically associated with and reported as lack of trust in Government, support from friends, and lack of knowledge about rules. In addition, interviewees reported individual risk assessment and decision making on the extent to following the rules, and perceived lack of adherence in the local area. Our findings indicate that unintentional and intentional non-adherence should be improved by Government partnerships with local communities to build trust in social distancing measures; tailored messaging to young adults emphasising the need of protecting others whilst clarifying the risk of transmission; and ensuring COVID-secured environments by working with environmental health officers.
Everyday life under the PIDE: A quantitative survey on the relations between ordinary citizens and Salazar’s political police (1955–74)
Authors: Simpson Duncan , Louceiro Ana
Published: August 2021

This article examines the relations between Portuguese society and Salazar’s political police (PIDE) from the perspective of the everyday lives of ordinary citizens – in contrast to the small minority of oppositionists that has so far monopolized the attention of historians. It is based on a quantitative survey of 400 respondents in four separate locations across Portugal and addresses two main research questions: To what extent did the sample of ordinary citizens experience the PIDE as a disruptive influence on their daily lives? Was the PIDE ‘normalized’ by them as part of the framework of everyday life? The data analysis calls upon the inputs of the international bibliography of everyday life under dictatorship and critically engages with the existing historiography of the PIDE.
Comportamento do Consumidor Durante a Pandemia de COVID-19
Authors: Medeiros Mirna de Lima , Mascarenhas Rúbia Gisele Tramontin
Published: August 2021

A pandemia da síndrome respiratória aguda grave do coronavírus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), conhecida como COVID-19, já é considerada uma das maiores pandemias da história. Ocasiões como essa provocam disrupções significativas que podem ser temporárias ou permanentes e exigem rápidas adaptações dos negócios já que o consumo além de habitual é contextual. Alimentar-se é essencial, mas o que se considera alimento e o que se deseja (ou se pode) comer não. Depende de escolhas (conscientes e inconscientes) dos consumidores. Tendo em vista esse contexto, essa pesquisa almejou analisar como a pandemia da COVID-19 alterou os hábitos de compra de alimentos em uma cidade de porte médio no Paraná. Para esse fim foi aplicado um questionário online aos residentes de Ponta Grossa. Obteve-se 131 respostas válidas que foram analisadas por meio de estatística descritiva. Como, onde e que alimentos compram os domicílios sofreram alterações. Serviços de entrega e retirada de refeições prontas, bem como o seu preparo no lar sofreram incrementos. Priorizar pequenos empreendimentos locais e lugares onde medidas sanitárias estejam notáveis também passaram a ter mais importância. Já dentre os alimentos consumidos percebeu-se a busca por alimentos frescos e saudáveis em paralelo com doces, bolachas e embutidos. Os resultados apontam que saúde, segurança, solidariedade e compensação podem ser fatores chave para as escolhas alimentares durante e após a pandemia. Esses resultados são de utilidade para empreendedores da área, bem como de outras áreas e coadunam com a literatura internacional especializada com relação a tendências do comportamento do consumidor.
Desempenho dos fundos de Ações Índice Ativos utilizando o CAPM de 1997 a 2019
Authors: Iquiapaza Robert Aldo , Carneiro Rodrigo Lage d’Azevedo , Amaral Hudson Fernandes , Ferreira Bruno Pérez
Published: August 2021

O objetivo foi avaliar o desempenho de fundos de ações índice ativos no mercado brasileiro, ao longo de mais de 21 anos, com base no modelo CAPM, de forma a evidenciar se existem habilidades nos administradores de carteiras desses fundos para superarem o desempenho do índice Ibovespa, controlando a influência do viés de sobrevivência na geração do retorno anormal. O estudo utilizou dados secundários e abordagem quantitativa. A amostra considerou 588 fundos de ações índice ativos de janeiro 1997 a dezembro 2019. O retorno anormal foi calculado regredindo os retornos mensais dos fundos em relação aos retornos mensais do Ibovespa, ambos em excesso à taxa do CDI. Isto é, utilizando a equação de regressão do modelo CAPM. Os resultados revelaram que os fundos de ações índice ativos analisados, em valores médios e medianos, tiveram desempenho significativo positivo. Do total da amostra 64,6% dos fundos apresentaram alfa positivo, ou seja, desempenho ajustado ao risco superior ao do Ibovespa no período analisado. Constatou-se que o fator viés de sobrevivência, no longo prazo, exerceu influência considerável nos resultados de desempenho. O desempenho dos fundos descontinuados foi, em média, significativamente inferior ao dos fundos em funcionamento. Esses resultados podem subsidiar outras pesquisas e a tomada de decisões de investidores que desejem compreender a magnitude do retorno anormal dessa classe de fundos em relação ao Ibovespa no longo prazo, e também para auxiliar na seleção desses fundos de ações visando retornos superiores ao proporcionado pelo índice de referência.
DOSS-QUINBY, Eglal, Gaël SAINT-CIRQ, and Samuel N. ROSENBERG, eds. 2020. Robert de Reims: Songs and Motets.
Authors: O'Sullivan (299–302) Daniel E.
Published: August 2021

Book Review
Fenomenología y performance. Reseña del libro Fenomenología y performance de Germán Vargas Guillén (Bogotá: Aula de Humanidades, 2019. 218 pp.)
Authors: Sánchez Muñoz Rubén
Published: August 2021

El presente trabajo constituye un comentario al libro de Germán Vargas Guillén, Fenomenología y performance (Bogotá: Aula de Humanidades, 2019, 218pp). El libro se conforma de ocho estudios y un anexo. En ellos, el autor centra su atención en una serie de tópicos de sumo interés para la discusión filosófica y para el análisis y la descripción fenomenológica. Presentaremos, en unas breves líneas, algunos de estos temas dada su relevancia y actualidad.
The Sense as Transitivity, Creation and Sharing. Nancy’s Transformation of Heideggerian Ontology in Ontologie of The Bodies
Authors: Rodal Linares Selma
Published: August 2021

En este artículo problematizo el protagonismo del comprender en Ser y tiempo, para demostrar que la modificación conceptual que hace Nancy de la relación como remisión a la estructura relacional “ser-a” es el elemento clave para su transformación de la ontología heideggeriana en una ontología de los cuerpos. Para realizarlo, primero evalúo las implicaciones de la interpretación del lenguaje como dóxa en Heidegger. Luego, a partir de Nancy desarrollo la noción de sentido como transitividad del ser, soportada en la estructura “ser-a”. En tercer lugar, expongo otra noción de mundo correspondiente a la aperturidad ontológica sin ser apriorística, que atenta contra la preeminencia ontológica del humano y enfatiza la fundamentalidad del ser-con. Finalmente, resalto dos consecuencias de este cambio metodológico: la transformación de la existencia en creación de mundo en lugar de comprensión y de la comunidad como régimen ontológico singular-plural.
Husserl: ¿Phenomenology of Mathematic?
Authors: Guamanga Anaconas Miguel Hernando
Published: August 2021

La fenomenología de Husserl está inmersa en un entramado de regresiones y revisiones conceptuales que dificultan la identificación de una estructura sistémica. Los conceptos característicos de la fenomenología carecen de univocidad y no son propios de algunas obras de Husserl. Philosophie der Arithmetik ilustra el problema referido. ¿Puede inscribirse esta obra dentro de la categoría de texto fenomenológico? ¿Es posible hablar de una fenomenología de la matemática en Husserl? y ¿qué sentido tendría esto? Los objetivos del presente ensayo son: primero, analizar la dificultad que tiene Philosophie der Arithmetik para responder a las inquietudes de la filosofía de las matemáticas, y segundo, proponer la posibilidad de una fenomenología de la matemática condicionada a la clarificación conceptual y al estudio crítico de la influencia de la tradición analítica sobre la filosofía de las matemáticas.
The Question of Power in Deleuze’s Work
Authors: Antonelli Marangi Marcelo Sebastián
Published: August 2021

En este artículo abordamos la cuestión del poder en el pensamiento de Deleuze. Según nuestra hipótesis, no hay en su obra un único concepto de poder sino diferentes enfoques (el poder como estrato, control, juicio) no incompatibles entre sí pero que no se dejan reducir a un solo punto de vista. Esta variedad de abordajes puede ser reunida alrededor de dos posiciones generales adoptadas por Deleuze: primero, tiende a relativizar su eficacia respecto de otros elementos más fundamentales (el deseo, los flujos del campo social, las líneas de fuga, la vitalidad inorgánica), realzando así los límites o la impotencia del poder; segundo, le quita valor con relación a otras entidades y procesos en los que deposita su apuesta filosófica (la creación, el devenir, la potencia). Nos proponemos desarrollar estas perspectivas a fin de ofrecer un panorama integral de una temática relevante de la filosofía política deleuziana.
Biosynthesis and characterization of Gynocardia odorata R. Br. mediated silver nanoparticles and evaluation of its antimicrobial activity
Authors: Kalita Dipjyoti , Rajbongshi Himanshu , Devi Nilakshee , Kalita Mohan Chandra , Baruah Sunandan
Published: August 2021

The present study was designed to synthesize Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in aqueous medium using leaf extract of Gynocardia odorata R. Br. (Achariaceae). The synthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using different technique such as UV-Visible Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The reduction of Ag ions to initiate nucleation and subsequent Ostwald Ripening to form nanoparticles was made possible by the presence of various antioxidants in the leaves of Gynocardia odorata. These antioxidants served both as reducing and capping agents. The synthesized Ag-NPs were found to be polydispersed in nature and spherical in shape. With the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) optical absorption band peak at ~440 nm was observed using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. FTIR confirmed the presence of methoxy and allyl groups in the synthesized Ag-NPs and nearly 15-45 nm diameter spherical shaped NPs was validated using TEM. The synthesized Ag-NPs were stable for a long period (more than six months) and showed good antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains and the effect was higher as compared to the normal aqueous extract.
New class of operators where the distance between the identity operator and the generalized Jordan ∗-derivation range is maximal
Authors: Messaoudene Hadia , Mesbah Nadia
Published: August 2021

A new class of operators, larger than

∗

\ast

-finite operators, named generalized

∗

\ast

-finite operators and noted by

Gℱ

∗

(

ℋ

)

{{\mathcal{G {\mathcal F} }}}^{\ast }\left({\mathcal{ {\mathcal H} }})

is introduced, where:

Gℱ

∗

(

ℋ

)

=

{

(

A
,
B

)

∈
ℬ

(

ℋ

)

×
ℬ

(

ℋ

)

:

∥

T
A
−
B

T

∗

−
λ
I

∥

≥

∣

λ

∣

,

∀

λ
∈
C
,

∀

T
∈
ℬ

(

ℋ

)

}

.

{{\mathcal{G {\mathcal F} }}}^{\ast }\left({\mathcal{ {\mathcal H} }})=\{(A,B)\in {\mathcal{ {\mathcal B} }}\left({\mathcal{ {\mathcal H} }})\times {\mathcal{ {\mathcal B} }}\left({\mathcal{ {\mathcal H} }}):\parallel TA-B{T}^{\ast }-\lambda I\parallel \ge | \lambda | ,\hspace{0.33em}\forall \lambda \in {\mathbb{C}},\hspace{0.33em}\forall T\in {\mathcal{ {\mathcal B} }}\left({\mathcal{ {\mathcal H} }})\}.

Basic properties are given. Some examples are also presented.