bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
7-T MRI of explanted liver and ex-vivo pancreatic specimens: prospective study protocol of radiological-pathological correlation feasibility (the EXLIPSE project)
Authors: Cervelli Rosa , Cencini Matteo , Buonincontri Guido , Campana Francesco , Cacciato Insilla Andrea , Aringhieri Giacomo , De Simone Paolo , Boggi Ugo , Campani Daniela , Tosetti Michela , Crocetti Laura
Published: October 2020

The study focuses on radiological-pathological correlation between imaging of ex vivo samples obtained by a 7-T scanner and histological examination. The specimens will be derived from native explanted cirrhotic livers, liver grafts excluded from donation because of severe steatosis, and primary pancreatic tumours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations will be performed within 24 h from liver or pancreatic lesion surgical removal. The MRI protocol will include morphological sequences, quantitative T1, T2, and fat-, water-fraction maps with Cartesian k-space acquisition, and multiparametric methods based on a transient-state “MRI fingerprinting”. Finally, the specimen will be fixed by formalin. Qualitative imaging analysis will be performed by two independent blinded radiologists to assess image consistency score. Quantitative analysis will be performed by drawing regions of interest on different tissue zones to measure T1 and T2 relaxation times as well as fat- and water-fraction. The same tissue areas will be analysed by the pathologists. This study will provide the possibility to improve our knowledge about qualitative and quantitative abdominal imaging assessment at 7 T, by correlating imaging characteristics and the corresponding histological composition of ex vivo specimens, in order to identify imaging biomarkers. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: 13646. Registered 9 July 2019—retrospectively registered
Cannabis sativa extracts protect LDL from Cu2+-mediated oxidation
Authors: Musetti Bruno , González-Ramos Helena , González Mercedes , Bahnson Edward M. , Varela Javier , Thomson Leonor
Published: October 2020

Background

Multiple therapeutic properties have been attributed to Cannabis sativa. However, further research is required to unveil the medicinal potential of Cannabis and the relationship between biological activity and chemical profile.

Objectives

The primary objective of this study was to characterize the chemical profile and antioxidant properties of three varieties of Cannabis sativa available in Uruguay during progressive stages of maturation.

Methods

Fresh samples of female inflorescences from three stable Cannabis sativa phenotypes, collected at different time points during the end of the flowering period were analyzed. Chemical characterization of chloroform extracts was performed by 1H-NMR. The antioxidant properties of the Cannabis sativa extracts, and pure cannabinoids, were measured in a Cu2+-induced LDL oxidation assay.

Results

The main cannabinoids in the youngest inflorescences were tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A, 242 ± 62 mg/g) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 7.3 ± 6.5 mg/g). Cannabinoid levels increased more than twice in two of the mature samples. A third sample showed a lower and constant concentration of THC-A and THC (177 ± 25 and 1 ± 1, respectively). The THC-A/THC rich cannabis extracts increased the latency phase of LDL oxidation by a factor of 1.2–3.5 per μg, and slowed down the propagation phase of lipoperoxidation (IC50 1.7–4.6 μg/mL). Hemp, a cannabidiol (CBD, 198 mg/g) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A, 92 mg/g) rich variety, also prevented the formation of conjugated dienes during LDL oxidation. In fact, 1 μg of extract was able to stretch the latency phase 3.7 times and also to significantly reduce the steepness of the propagation phase (IC50 of 8 μg/mL). Synthetic THC lengthened the duration of the lag phase by a factor of 21 per μg, while for the propagation phase showed an IC50 ≤ 1 μg/mL. Conversely, THC-A was unable to improve any parameter. Meanwhile, the presence of 1 μg of pure CBD and CBD-A increased the initial latency phase 4.8 and 9.4 times, respectively, but did not have an effect on the propagation phase.

Conclusion

Cannabis whole extracts acted on both phases of lipid oxidation in copper challenged LDL. Those effects were just partially related with the content of cannabinoids and partially recapitulated by isolated pure cannabinoids. Our results support the potentially beneficial effects of Cannabis sativa whole extracts on the initial phase of atherosclerosis.
Whole-body magnetic resonance/diffusion-weighted sequence with background signal suppression (WB-MR/DWIBS) vs. 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of lymphoma
Authors: Gamal Gihan Hassan
Published: October 2020

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of whole-body magnetic resonance/diffusion-weighted imaging with background signal suppression (WB-MR/DWIBS) method, with that of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT), for lesion detection and initial staging of patients with lymphoma using the histopathologically diagnosis as a reference standard.

Results

Thirty-two patients with newly pathologically proven lymphoma were enrolled in this prospective study from May 2018 to January 2020 (27 males, 5 females). All patients underwent PET/CT followed by WB-MR/DWIBS as an attempt to compare the performance of both methods for lesion detection and initial staging in patients with lymphoma.

The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET/CT vs WB-MR/DWIBS in correlation with reference standard data in detection of lymphoma were calculated for PET/CT 96%, 100%, 100%, 80%, and 97% while those of WB-MR/DWIBS were 93%, 76%, 96%, 61%, and 91%, respectively.

Conclusion

18F-FDG PET/CT remains the standard reference of imaging in evaluation of lymphoma due to its higher sensitivity and specificity over WB-MR/DWIBS. Future studies with larger cohorts are necessary for better evaluation of the role of WB-MR/DWIBS in lymphoma patients. The current study highlights the potential complementary role of WB-MRI/DWIBS in the context of bone marrow involvement evaluation omitting unnecessary bone marrow biopsy.
Tailoring Therapy for Children With Neuroblastoma on the Basis of Risk Group Classification: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Liang Wayne H. , Federico Sara M. , London Wendy B. , Naranjo Arlene , Irwin Meredith S. , Volchenboum Samuel L. , Cohn Susan L.
Published: October 2020

For children with neuroblastoma, the likelihood of cure varies widely according to age at diagnosis, disease stage, and tumor biology. Treatments are tailored for children with this clinically heterogeneous malignancy on the basis of a combination of markers that are predictive of risk of relapse and death. Sequential risk-based, cooperative-group clinical trials conducted during the past 4 decades have led to improved outcome for children with neuroblastoma. Increasingly accurate risk classification and refinements in treatment stratification strategies have been achieved with the more recent discovery of robust genomic and molecular biomarkers. In this review, we discuss the history of neuroblastoma risk classification in North America and Europe and highlight efforts by the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group (INRG) Task Force to develop a consensus approach for pretreatment stratification using seven risk criteria including an image-based staging system—the INRG Staging System. We also update readers on the current Children’s Oncology Group risk classifier and outline plans for the development of a revised 2021 Children’s Oncology Group classifier that will incorporate INRG Staging System criteria to facilitate harmonization of risk-based frontline treatment strategies conducted around the globe. In addition, we discuss new approaches to establish increasingly robust, future risk classification algorithms that will further refine treatment stratification using machine learning tools and expanded data from electronic health records and the INRG Data Commons.
Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Offspring Early Childhood Growth
Authors: Feghali Maisa , Atlass Jacqueline , Abebe Kaleab Z , Comer Diane , Catov Janet , Caritis Steve , Arslanian Silva , Scifres Christina
Published: October 2020

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with fetal overgrowth, and certain treatments are associated with an increased risk of macrosomia. However, there are limited data about the long-term effect of GDM treatment on childhood growth.

Methods

Cohort study of 816 women with GDM and their offspring delivered between 2009 and 2012. Childhood height and weight through age 3 were collected from the medical record and z-scores and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. We assessed the association between GDM treatment and childhood growth using linear mixed modeling.

Results

Treatment was divided into medical nutritional therapy (MNT) (n = 293), glyburide (n = 421), and insulin (n = 102). At delivery, birthweight, z-score, and BMI were higher in the offspring of women treated with either glyburide or insulin compared to MNT. However, weight, z-score, and BMI were similar among all offspring at 6 months and 1, 2, and 3 years of age. After controlling for covariates, there were differences in the weight z-score (P = 0.01) over the 3-year period by treatment group, but no differences in weight (P = 0.06) or change in BMI (P = 0.28). Pairwise comparisons indicated that insulin was associated with more weight gain compared with MNT (0.69 kg; 95% CI, 0.10-1.28; P = 0.02) and glyburide was associated with a trend toward lower weight z-score compared with MNT (−0.24; 95% CI, −0.47 to 0.003; P = 0.05).

Conclusion

Despite growth differences detected at birth, we observed no meaningful differences in childhood growth from 6 months to 3 years among treatment groups, including in the offspring of women with GDM treated with glyburide.
Influence of Levobupivacaine Regional Scalp Block on Hemodynamic Stability, Intra- and Postoperative Opioid Consumption in Supratentorial Craniotomies: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Carella Michele , Tran Gabriel , Bonhomme Vincent L. , Franssen Colette
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND:

The anesthetic management of supratentorial craniotomy (CR) necessitates tight intraoperative hemodynamic control. This type of surgery may also be associated with substantial postoperative pain. We aimed at evaluating the influence of regional scalp block (SB) on hemodynamic stability during the noxious events of supratentorial craniotomies and total intravenous anesthesia, its influence on intraoperative anesthetic agents’ consumption, and its effect on postoperative pain control.

METHODS:

Sixty patients scheduled for elective CR were prospectively enrolled. Patient, anesthesiologist, and neurosurgeon were blind to the random performance of SB with either levobupivacaine 0.33% (intervention group [group SB], n = 30) or the same volume of saline (control group [group CO], placebo group, n = 30). General anesthesia was induced and maintained using target-controlled infusions of remifentanil and propofol that were adjusted according to hemodynamic parameters and state entropy of the electroencephalogram (SE), respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), SE, and propofol and remifentanil effect-site concentrations (Ce) were recorded at the time of scalp block performance (Baseline), and 0, 1, 3, and 5 minutes after skull-pin fixation (SP), skin incision (SI), CR, and dura-mater incision (DM). Morphine consumption and postoperative pain intensity (0–10 visual analog scale [VAS]) were recorded 1, 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Propofol and remifentanil overall infusion rates were also recorded. Data were analyzed using 2-tailed Student unpaired t tests, 2-way mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) tests for post hoc comparisons as appropriate.

RESULTS:

Demographics and length of anesthetic procedure of group CO and SB were comparable. SP, SI, and CR were associated with a significantly higher MAP in group CO than in group SB, at least at one of the time points of recording surrounding those noxious events. This was not the case at DM. Similarly, HR was significantly higher in group CO than in group SB during SP and SI, at least at 1 of the points of recording, but not during CR and DM. Propofol and remifentanil Ce and overall infusion rates were significantly higher in group CO than in group SB, except for propofol Ce during SP. Postoperative pain VAS and cumulative morphine consumption were significantly higher in group CO than in group SB.

CONCLUSIONS:

In supratentorial craniotomies, SB improves hemodynamic control during noxious events and provides adequate and prolonged postoperative pain control as compared to placebo.
The Effect of Mechanical Ventilation With Low Tidal Volume on Blood Loss During Laparoscopic Liver Resection: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gao Xian , Xiong Ya , Huang Jian , Zhang Ning , Li Jianwei , Zheng Shuguo , Lu Kaizhi , Ma Daqing , Yang Bin , Ning Jiaolin
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND:

Control of bleeding during laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is important for patient safety. It remains unknown what the effects of mechanical ventilation with varying tidal volumes on bleeding during LLR. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume (LTV) reduces surgical bleeding during LLR.

METHODS:

In this prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical study, 82 patients who underwent scheduled LLR were enrolled and randomly received either mechanical ventilation with LTV group (6–8 mL/kg) along with recruitment maneuver (once/30 min) without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or conventional tidal volume (CTV; 10–12 mL/kg) during parenchymal resection. The estimated volume of blood loss during parenchymal resection and the incidence of postoperative respiratory complications were compared between 2 groups.

RESULT:

The estimated volume of blood loss (median [interquartile range {IQR}]) was decreased in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (301 [148, 402] vs 394 [244, 672] mL, P = .009); blood loss per cm2 of transected surface of liver (5.5 [4.1, 7.7] vs 12.2 [9.8, 14.4] mL/cm2, P < .001) and the risk of clinically significant estimated blood loss (>800 mL) were reduced in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (0/40 vs 8/40, P = .003). Blood transfusion was decreased in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (5% vs 20% of patients, P = .043). No patient in the LTV group but 2 patients in the CTV group were switched from LLR to open hepatectomy. Airway plateau pressure was lower in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) (12.7 ± 2.4 vs 17.5 ± 3.5 cm H2O, P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS:

Mechanical ventilation with LTV may reduce bleeding during laparoscopic liver surgery.
“This Isn’t the South Bronx”
Authors: Alomar Maisam
Published: October 2020

This article takes up the issue of substance use disorder, arguing that the discourses surrounding the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic and the present-day opioid epidemic rely on similarly racialized rhetoric, and examining the implications regarding pain and suffering, safety and employment of establishing substance use disorder as a (white) disability and not a (black) criminal liability as it was understood throughout the Reagan-Bushera War on Drugs. These racially disparate characterizations of substance use disorder help shape and in turn are perpetuated by the respective technologies of rehabilitation and criminalization developed in response. This article takes the debate surrounding the categorization of substance use disorder as a prominent case study in how state and civil society understand and relate to an emergent disability through the deployment of law and technology.
Short- and Long-Term Stroboscopic Training Effects on Visuomotor Performance in Elite Youth Sports. Part 2: Brain–Behavior Mechanisms
Authors: HÜLSDÜNKER THORBEN , GUNASEKARA NADIRA , MIERAU ANDREAS
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Stroboscopic training has repeatedly been shown to improve visuomotor abilities. However, although performance improvements were attributed to visual processes, information on the neurophysiological mechanisms is missing. Part 2 of this study investigated the effects of stroboscopic training on neural visual and motor functions and its contribution to training-induced changes in visuomotor reaction time.

Methods

Forty-five young elite badminton athletes participated in this study, of which 32 (age, 13.7 yr) were included in the final data analysis. Participants were assigned to an intervention (stroboscopic vision) or control group (normal vision). Before and after a 10-wk training and after a 6-wk retention period, participants performed visual perception and reaction tasks in response to visual motion stimuli. The N2 and N2-r motion onset visual-evoked potentials, its linear combination (V
lc), and the BA6 negativity potential were determined using a 64-channel EEG.

Results

A significant TIME–GROUP effect was observed for the V
lc score (P = 0.019, ηp
2 = 0.18), indicating a lower V
lc in the intervention group. However, post hoc tests did not reach significance. Within-subject correlation analyses revealed that changes in reaction speed were related to latency changes in N2 (r = 0.59, P < 0.001), N2-r (r = −0.64, P < 0.001), and the combined V
lc (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Regression analyses across participants including multiple (N2/N2-r) or single (V
lc) predictors provided an explained variance of >60% (N2/N2-r, r
2 = 0.62; V
lc, r
2 = 0.64). No training effects or correlations were observed for the BA6 negativity.

Conclusions

The results indicate that faster visuomotor reactions after stroboscopic training are accompanied by accelerated visual perception and processing, whereas motor processes seemed to be unaffected. Stroboscopic training may be promising to specifically address the visual system in visuomotor-demanding sports.
Changing trends of anaemia prevalence among female medical students in a metropolitan setting: Assessment through self-grading and haematological parameters
Authors: Salman Arisha , Qureshi Shamim Akhter , Bilal Azmi Muhammad
Published: October 2020

Objective: To determine the trend of anaemia prevalence among female medical students (FMS) through self-grading along haematological parameters and its association with their nutritional indicators.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public sector health university of Karachi among FMS from April to September 2016. After written informed consent, 216 FMS were assessed for height and weight, for nutrition habits by calculating minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) and anaemia status by self-administered validated self-grading anaemia assessment questionnaire (SGAAQ). The haematological parameters were examined in venous blood sample on Sysmex (XN-3000). The data was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 24. Association between anaemia and nutritional indicators was determined by Chi-square and considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results: Anaemia prevalence was 31% with highest frequency among obese (56%) and 29% FMS achieved MDD-W. The mean SGAAQ score, Hb (g/dl), MCV (fl), MCH (pg) and Ret-He (pg) differed significantly (p = <0.001) between anaemic and non-anaemic students. The mean Hb (g/dl) level was significantly higher for FMS who scored MDD-W >5 (p= 0.04).

Conclusion: Malnutrition and anaemia co-exist despite appropriate awareness of anaemia among FMS. It was associated with self-assessment of anaemia and BMI groups but not with dietary diversity in the present study.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2793

How to cite this:Salman A, Qureshi SA, Azmi MB. Changing trends of anaemia prevalence among female medical students in a metropolitan setting: Assessment through self-grading and haematological parameters. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(7):1533-1538.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2793

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.
Fiji plugins for qualitative image annotations: routine analysis and application to image classification
Authors: Thomas Laurent S. V. , Schaefer Franz , Gehrig Jochen
Published: October 2020

Quantitative measurements and qualitative description of scientific images are both important to describe the complexity of digital image data. While various software solutions for quantitative measurements in images exist, there is a lack of simple tools for the qualitative description of images in common user-oriented image analysis software. To address this issue, we developed a set of Fiji plugins that facilitate the systematic manual annotation of images or image-regions. From a list of user-defined keywords, these plugins generate an easy-to-use graphical interface with buttons or checkboxes for the assignment of single or multiple pre-defined categories to full images or individual regions of interest. In addition to qualitative annotations, any quantitative measurement from the standard Fiji options can also be automatically reported. Besides the interactive user interface, keyboard shortcuts are available to speed-up the annotation process for larger datasets. The annotations are reported in a Fiji result table that can be exported as a pre-formatted csv file, for further analysis with common spreadsheet software or custom automated pipelines. To facilitate and spread the usage of analysis tools, we provide examples of such pipelines, including a complete workflow for training and application of a deep learning model for image classification in KNIME. Ultimately, the plugins enable standardized routine sample evaluation, classification, or ground-truth category annotation of any digital image data compatible with Fiji.
Using developmental evaluation to implement an oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) project in Kenya
Authors: Fogarty Linda , Musau Abednego , Kabue Mark , Were Daniel , Mutegi Jane , Ongwen Patricia , Kamau Mercy , Reed Jason
Published: October 2020

Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in lowering HIV transmission risk. The Bill and Melinda Gates-funded Jilinde Project was designed to identify the best ways to introduce and support PrEP services in Kenya for female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and adolescent girls and young women. We chose Developmental Evaluation (DE) as a core project approach because our goal was not just to recruit 20,000 new PrEP users, but to learn how to deliver PrEP effectively to optimally benefit users in a complex, dynamic, resource-limited setting. This paper describes how we incorporated DE into the Jilinde Project, and shares experiences and lessons learned about the value of DE in PrEP service implementation in a real-world situation.

With the Ministry of Health, Jilinde developed consensus about the structure and roll-out of PrEP services. The DE evaluator, embedded in Jilinde, designed and implemented the five-step DE methodology—collect, review, reflect, record and act—according to a core set of project guiding principles. The paper describes how we operationalized the five elements, citing findings reported and actions taken reflecting on the data. It summarizes challenges to DE implementation, such as uneven uptake and competing demands, and how we addressed those challenges.

Used consistently, DE helped adapt and refine PrEP services, improve service access, reach target audiences and improve continuation rates. The look, feel and yield of our DE efforts evolved over time, increasingly integrated into existing systems and providing deeper and richer understandings, and we learned how to better implement DE in the future.

This case study provides practical guidance for using a DE approach in program design. The DE process can be used successfully working with partners on a common complex public health challenge within a dynamic environment in a way that feeds back into and improves programs.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the human resources for health in India and key policy areas to build a resilient health workforce
Authors: Mukherjee Ankita , Parashar Rakesh
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the already low resourced, fragmented and largely unregulated health systems in countries like India. It has only further exacerbated the stress on human resources for health (HRH) in many unanticipated ways. We explored the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the health workforce in India, and analytically extrapolated the learnings to draw critical components to be addressed in the HRH policies, which can further be used to develop a detailed ‘health workforce resilience’ policy. We examined the existing literature and media reports published during the pandemic period, covering the gaps and challenges that impeded the performance of the health workers. Recommendations were designed by studying the learnings from various measures taken within India and in some other countries. We identified seven key areas that could be leveraged and improved for strengthening resilience among the health workforce. The system-level factors (at macro level) include developing a health workforce resilience policy, planning and funding for emergency preparedness, stakeholder engagement and incentivization mechanisms; the organization-level factors (meso level) include identifying HRH bench strength, mobilizing the health workforce, psycho-social support, protection from disease; and the individual-level factors (micro level) include measures around self-care by health workers. In keeping with the interdisciplinary nature of the associated factors, we emphasize on developing a future-ready health workforce using a multi-sectoral approach for building its strength and resilience.
Time-Dependent Shortest Path Problems with Penalties and Limits on Waiting
Authors: He Edward , Boland Natashia , Nemhauser George , Savelsbergh Martin
Published: October 2020

Waiting at the right location at the right time can be critically important in certain variants of time-dependent shortest path problems. We investigate the computational complexity of time-dependent shortest path problems in which there is either a penalty on waiting or a limit on the total time spent waiting at a given subset of the nodes. We show that some cases are nondeterministic polynomial-time hard, and others can be solved in polynomial time, depending on the choice of the subset of nodes, on whether waiting is penalized or constrained, and on the magnitude of the penalty/waiting limit parameter.

Summary of Contributions: This paper addresses simple yet relevant extensions of a fundamental problem in Operations Research: the Shortest Path Problem (SPP). It considers time-dependent variants of SPP, which can account for changing traffic and/or weather conditions. The first variant that is tackled allows for waiting at certain nodes but at a cost. The second variant instead places a limit on the total waiting. Both variants have applications in transportation, e.g., when it is possible to wait at certain locations if the benefits outweigh the costs. The paper investigates these problems using complexity analysis and algorithm design, both tools from the field of computing. Different cases are considered depending on which of the nodes contribute to the waiting cost or waiting limit (all nodes, all nodes except the origin, a subset of nodes…). The computational complexity of all cases is determined, providing complexity proofs for the variants that are NP-Hard and polynomial time algorithms for the variants that are in P.
Vertical Contracts in a Supply Chain and the Bullwhip Effect
Authors: Qu Zhan , Raff Horst
Published: October 2020

This paper shows that decentralized supply chains, in which upstream firms use linear wholesale prices, may experience lower upstream production and downstream sales volatility than vertically integrated supply chains and may be less susceptible to the bullwhip effect by which the variance of upstream production exceeds the variance of downstream sales. The reason is that decentralized supply chains exhibit a price effect, whereby upstream producers raise wholesale prices in the case of positive demand shocks and lower wholesale prices in the case of negative demand shocks. Whereas upstream producers benefit from the price effect and, thus, from a dampening of the bullwhip effect, downstream firms may lose, and overall supply chain profit may decrease.

This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
Vehicle Maintenance Contracting in Developing Economies: The Role of Social Enterprise
Authors: Chen Li , Kim Sang-Hyun , Lee Hau L.
Published: October 2020

Problem definition: Difficulties in healthcare delivery in developing economies arise from poor road infrastructure of rural communities, where the bulk of the population resides. Although motorcycles are an effective means for delivering healthcare products, governments in developing economies lack expertise in proper maintenance, resulting in frequent vehicle breakdowns. Riders for Health, a nonprofit social enterprise (SE), has developed specialized capabilities that enable significant enhancements in vehicle maintenance. Riders for Health has engaged with the governments and provided its services using different contracting approaches. However, the effect of such practice on improving vehicle availability—the main social mission of Riders for Health—is not well understood. Academic/practical relevance: This paper presents one of the first rigorous analyses of how SEs achieve their goals through innovations in operations. Our analysis highlights the relationship between a social mission objective and a service contract choice, contrasting it with the choice by a profit-maximizing organization traditionally assumed in the service contracting literature in operations management. Methodology: We construct and analyze a stylized model that combines the elements of reliability theory and contract theory, explicitly accounting for the SE’s social mission in her objective function. Results: We find that the “total solution” approach of providing all aspects of vehicle maintenance, including fleet ownership, is a preferred choice for an SE that prioritizes improving vehicle availability; by contrast, an organization that focuses on profit maximization would find this approach less attractive. Moreover, we show that the total solution approach induces the SE to exert more efforts on failure prevention and repair lead time reduction in equilibrium. Our analysis also suggests that the SE could further improve vehicle availability by the total solution approach if it manages a large fleet that consists of vehicles with high resale values. Managerial implications: Our findings provide theoretical support for Riders for Health’s recent move toward the total solution approach as it expands its service into wider rural areas in many countries. The insights obtained from our analysis offer actionable guidelines to other SEs operating in developing economies.
A systematic approach to reduce hospital food waste based on patient experience
Authors: Rathnayake Dimuthu , Dalpatadu Shanti
Published: October 2020

Background/Aims

Organisational research has been shown to enhance the quality of hospital diet services. This study investigated methods to reduce food waste in the inpatient facilities of a large teaching hospital in Sri Lanka.

Methods

A patient experience survey was conducted to assess the quality of hospital diets. A new diet process was formulated and evaluated based on the results.

Results

Patients were satisfied with the food and food service quality, but preferred to eat homemade food during longer hospital stays. Before the intervention, 55% of breakfast meals, 62% of lunch meals and 57% of dinner meals were wasted. Post-intervention evaluation showed a significant reduction in food waste to less than 4% for all meal types.

Conclusions

Offering patients the opportunity to express meal preference through the diet ordering process reduced hospital food waste to less than 4% in total.
Prevención de lesiones por presión: conocimientos y actitudes del personal de enfermería
Authors: Rodríguez Johana Enyd Cifuentes , Gamboa Sandra Guerrero
Published: October 2020

Sinopsis

Objetivo:

Identificar, analizar y sintetizar la evidencia empírica disponible sobre conocimientos y actitudes del personal de enfermería en la prevención de lesiones por presión (LPP).

Método:

Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura publicada entre 2008 y 2019, guiada por las directrices de la declaración PRISMA. Se consultaron bases de datos con los siguientes términos en español, portugués e inglés: actitud, conocimiento, lesión por presión, y enfermeras y enfermeros.

Resultados:

Un total de 33 artículos con abordaje cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo trasversal cumplió con los criterios de revisión. Los hallazgos revelaron un déficit de conocimientos del personal de enfermería sobre las medidas de prevención de LPP. Las actitudes fueron consideradas positivas. Pocos estudios examinaron la relación entre conocimientos, actitudes y práctica de enfermería.

Conclusión:

Se necesita mayor educación continuada en conocimientos y actitudes del personal de enfermería en la prevención de LPP, e investigación sobre alternativas en la organización del trabajo de enfermería. La lectura de guías actualizadas de manera regular y realización de cursos de entrenamiento podrían ser estrategias beneficiosas para ejecutar en la práctica.
Raising awareness of cervical cancer in younger women
Authors: Pinnell Imogen
Published: October 2020

Imogen Pinnell highlights the effect the pandemic has had on younger women accessing the care they need and reminds us of the importance of timely referral for this group
Isolation and loneliness: pilot of a coffee morning hosted in a general practice
Authors: Johnson Louise , Hardy Sheila
Published: October 2020

Social isolation and loneliness are a significant and growing problem in the older population in the UK. Louise Johnson and Sheila Hardy performed a pilot study to see whether it was feasible to host a coffee morning for isolated patients in general practice

Aim:

The aim of this pilot study was to find out whether it was feasible to host a regular coffee morning in a GP practice to reduce isolation and loneliness.

Background:

Social isolation and loneliness are a significant and growing problem in the older population in the UK and have been identified as a risk factor for all cause morbidity and mortality.

Method:

A weekly coffee morning was held over 8 weeks. Feedback was gained via a participant questionnaire.

Results:

In total, 25 people attended the sessions. Just under half felt they had learnt about the healthcare roles in the practice and 80% learnt how to be healthier. Four-fifths were made aware of services and support in the community and 21 felt an increased sense of community. It was difficult for staff to commit due to work responsibilities.

Conclusion:

It is feasible to hold a coffee morning for isolated patients within a GP practice. Feedback from patients was positive. A programme of coffee mornings over a fixed period that encourage engagement in community services would increase the number of patients benefitting.
Characterization of the Response Maps of Alternating-Current Networks
Authors: Rote Günter
Published: October 2020

In an alternating-current network, each edge has a complex conductance with positive real part. The response map is the linear map from the vector of voltages at a subset of boundary nodes to the vector of currents flowing into the network through these nodes. In this paper, it is proved that the known necessary conditions for a linear map to be a response map are sufficient, and we show how to construct an appropriate network for a given response map.
Genotype-Dependent in Vitro Regeneration Assessment from Decapitated Embryonal Axis and Stem-Node Explants among Selected Pigeonpea Varieties
Authors: Kashyap Vandana , Sarangi Bijaya Ketan , Yadav Manoj Kumar , Yadav Dinesh
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT: The inherent regeneration ability among selected varieties of pigeonpea using decapitated embryonal axis and stem-node explants in the presence of different growth regulators were assessed for multiple shoot bud induction. Among three different hormones namely BAP, Kinetin and TDZ tested for in vitro regeneration at different concentration for decapitated embryonal axis explants, BAP was found to be comparatively better as evident from number of buds per explants. IPA-242 variety was found to be the best for direct organogenesis resulting in the formation of 10 buds when subjected to MS Medium supplemented with 2.0 mgL-1 of BAP. Under treatment with different concentration of TDZ, Pusa-9 revealed 10 shoot buds with 0.15 mgL-1 of TDZ. The overall response of these varieties at different concentration of kinetin was very poor. With stem-node explants under variable concentration of BAP, IPA-3088 performed best showing 17 buds per explants. Similarly Pusa-9 and IPA 3088 revealed maximum regeneration ability forming 10 and 8 buds under TDZ and kinetin respectively. NAA was found to be effective growth regulator for rooting of shoots regenerated both from decapitated embryonal axis and stem-node explants.
Escherichia coli in Saudi Arabia: An Overview of Antibiotic-Resistant Strains
Authors: Alharbi Naiyf S.
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial strains are considered as the most important human pathogens. Health issues are increasing in complexity owing to the persistent emergence of antibiotic resistant E. coli strains, which have been isolated and detected worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. A review of the prevalent strains resistant to the standard antibiotics used in a local region is critical and may be beneficial at the national and international levels. Treatment for E. coli infection has been highly difficult by the rise of resistance to most first-line antibiotics. The present study aimed to update the scientific information regarding E. coli strains, which have the ability to resist the standard drugs used to treat bacterial infections in Saudi Arabia. The data retrieved from https://scholar.google.com and Saudi Digital Library (https://sdl.edu.sa/) indicate that E. coli strains isolated from several sources in Saudi Arabia show resistance to almost all antibiotics, except 5th generation cephalosporins (ceftraolin and ceftobiprole), which no isolate in Saudi Arabia has been recorded to resist. Based on the results of the present study, we conclude and recommend that integrated monitoring and management of the antibiotics may reduce the health risks associated with antibiotic resistant E. coli strains.
Knowledge and Awareness toward Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer among Health College Students in the Northern Region of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ahmed Alshrari S
Published: October 2020

The Human Papillomavirus (HPVs), especially the high-risk HPVs, are firmly connected with cervical cancer. This research aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward cervical cancer and HPVs for scanning and prevention. A cross-sectional survey was performed among 434 Health College students in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia to obtain this information. In the present study, 402 students were encompassed in the final analysis. The results revealed that the estimated necessary knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer was 31.07%. The medical knowledge concerning the treatment of HPVs and cervical cancer was 30.98%. The pharmaceutical knowledge was 29.35%, wherein the knowledge about the HPV vaccine was only 8%. The most common barrier preventing the students from receiving the HPV vaccine was inadequate available information (22.13%). The present study showed an insufficient degree of understanding concerning HPV and cervical cancer among students of the Health College in the Northern region of Saudi Arabia. It is recommended that there is a requisite for educational involvement and awareness fights to increase HPV and Cervical Cancer essential knowledge awareness. It is also suggested that vaccines should be granted for mass scale practice and should be incorporated in the national immunization drive of the country for dropping the problem of cervical cancer.
The Naturalization of Orientalism in Herman Melville's Mardi: Whitewashing Arabian Nights?
Authors: Abd-Rabbo Muna
Published: October 2020

The nineteenth-century American novelist, Herman Melville, is oftentimes viewed as a multi-cultured innovator who possibly anticipated post-modernism. In his epic romance,Mardi, Melville incorporates aspects of Orientalism within a Westernized framework, thereby eroding cultural borders. This article focuses onArabian Nightsas one possible parent text forMardion the one hand, and on Melville's naturalization of certain Orientalist concepts in his novel on the other. Furthermore, it explores the question of whether Melville “whitewashes” the Eastern narrative to naturalize the text and thus familiarize Westerners with a foreign culture in the spirit of multi-culturalism, or whether he simply subscribes to the Orientalist stereotypes prevalent in nineteenth-century America.
Feverish Souls: Archives, Identity, and Trauma in
Fihris and Ḥiṣn Al-Turāb
Authors: Khalifa Mahmoud Abdelhamid M. A.
Published: October 2020

The archive is used both literally and metaphorically as a manifestation of the
ubiquity of power and the authority invested in material archives. To work from
the margin and in secrecy is a trait of the subaltern quest of both Wadood the
bookseller and Dr Nameer, as well as the different characters of the De Molina
family. The official history written by the powers that be marginalizes the
other. However, the digging of the archives by the subaltern raises the hope of
an alternative history that saves the traces of the subaltern. The archive
includes physical archives, manuscripts, artefacts, stamps, cassettes, and
photos, as amply shown in Fihris. In Ḥiṣn
al-turāb, the archive has more of a metaphoric than literal
meaning: it is the spectral topos of suppressed desire and
recovered memory. The archive enables the subaltern to speak by digging up and
even making up archives. Both quests are feverish and reflect the trauma that
motivates digging up the past as recovered memory and the desire to keep traces
of the past as tokens of a marginalized identity seeking redress. Archives are
tokens of the past that threaten the integrity of the history written by the
powerful: the hunter. The victims question that history and create nuisance that
offers hope of a more just history that includes the marginalized
subalterns.
Digital holographic microscope for human eye retinal structures recording in vivo
Authors: Zacharovas Stanislovas , Suheimat Marwan , Atchison David A. , Lambert Andrew J.
Published: October 2020

We introduce the digital holographic microscope for recording in vivo human eye retinal structures. Current eye imaging technologies cannot provide images with resolutions better than 1 µm within depths of a few hundred micrometers. This can be improved with digital holography, in which a hologram of the eye captured with digital camera contains information about structures over the full depth of the eye. This information can be reconstructed either optically or numerically. Our hologram recording scheme utilizes working principles of the off-axis digital holographic microscope, designed for reflective micro-object investigation. The eye cornea and lens form the microscope objective. We can record in vivo digital holograms of the human eye retina with resolution after reconstruction of at least 1.3 micrometer.
Dual Fresnel mirror system for 360 degree viewable three-dimensional displays
Authors: Hsu Wei-Feng , Lin Shyh-Tsong , Lin Jeng-Feng
Published: October 2020

360-degree viewable three-dimensional (3D) display systems have gained considerable attention for the unique manner in which they display objects. Most of the optical display devices in these systems employ two parabolic mirrors facing each other separated by a distance equal to the focal length of the mirrors. However, the current configuration is limited to unity magnification and provides a small image relative to the volume of the system. This paper presents a novel 3D display system based on two Fresnel mirrors with different focal lengths facing each other. The distance between the mirrors can be adjusted to alter the magnification of the resulting 3D image. Wave-optics analysis of an optical dual-lens system equivalent to the proposed dual-mirror system was used to simulate the image distance, the transverse and longitudinal magnification, and the minimum length of the proposed system. This paper also addresses issues pertaining to the design and manufacture of Fresnel mirrors. An experiment system using Fresnel mirrors with focal lengths of

60

m
m

and

90

m
m

clearly demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed scheme in terms of 3D image magnification.
Dynamic calibration and compensation method of a large-scale laser beam based on specular reflection for a nonorthogonal shaft laser theodolite measurement system
Authors: Miao Fengjin , Wu Bin , Sun Zefeng , Peng Congcong , Ma Gaoju
Published: October 2020

The nonorthogonal shaft laser theodolite (N-theodolite) measurement system is a new kind of instrument that can be applied to large-scale metrology. Different from traditional theodolites, the three axes of the N-theodolite have no requirements on the orthogonality and intersection. For the measurement in laser scale, the parameters of the system on a large scale must be known. A calibration method of the laser beam based on specular reflection and its compensation are proposed, which are at a range of 12 m. Through the experiments, the results show that the straightness accuracy of the laser beam of the left N-theodolite is 0.12 mm at a range of 12 m, and the right one is 0.14 mm. Through the measurement experiments, the maximum measurement deviation of the system is 0.27 mm, which is verified to be a feasible method to calibrate the laser beam in large-scale space.
Near-single-mode 3 kW monolithic fiber oscillator based on a longitudinally spindle-shaped Yb-doped fiber: publisher’s note
Authors: Zeng Lingfa , Xi Xiaoming , Ye Yun , Zhang Hanwei , Wang Xiaolin , Pan Zhiyong , Wang Zefeng , Xu Xiaojun
Published: October 2020

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett. 45, 5792 (2020)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.404893.
Editorial
Authors: Neto Margarida Sobral
Published: October 2020

Num ano marcado por imprevistos nas nossas vidas pessoais e profissionais resultantes da pandemia COVID19, a publicação, no calendário habitual, do volume 51 da Revista Portuguesa de História constitui uma evidência da capacidade de lidarmos com as incertezas, uma dimensão constituinte da evolução da humanidade.
Nota Introdutória
Authors: Neto Margarida Sobral , Lopes Maria Antónia
Published: October 2020

Após um aturado trabalho de avaliação por pares e de revisão dos textos propostos para publicação à Revista Portuguesa de História, publicam-se neste tomo 10 artigos e 8 recensões críticas, dos quais apresentamos uma breve síntese de conteúdos e de perspetivas de abordagem.
The tale of the significant facts of the Empire’s life. Interpretations and literary representations of the election and departure of the Augusti from Constantine to Julian
Authors: Di cosmo Antonio Pio
Published: October 2020

Panegyrists, bishops, and secular intellectuals recounted the salient events of the Empire and emphasized some events in the biography of the Emperors. These interpreted and adapt the facts, and so favored the sovereign for which they write. These storytellers become arbiters of facts and judges of the Augusti. The panegyrists oftentimes eulogized them, otherwise, the Bishops exercised episcopal munera and discharged them or condemned them, while the pagan intellectuals are critics and longed for a return to tradition. These can also redesign the imagery of Roman power.