bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computed tomography evaluation of proposed implant corridors in canine thoracic vertebrae
Authors: Schmitt Elizabeth M. , Early Peter , Bergman Robert , Riedesel Elizabeth A. , Yuan Lingnan , Mochel Jonathan P. , Kraus Karl H.
Published: July 2021

Objective

Identify acceptable implant corridors in the normal canine thoracic vertebrae (T) from T1 to T9.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Sample Population

Computed tomographic (CT) studies of normal canine thoracic spines (n = 39).

Methods

CT imaging studies of normal T1‐T9 canine spines were evaluated by five independent observers. Each identified a proposed corridor, measured the width, length, and angle off mid‐sagittal that the corridor occupied.

Results

CT studies were from 39 dogs weighing 3.19–60 kg (mean 10.72, SD 9.9 kg). Vertebral corridors ranged in average width from 3.8 to 5.2 mm, the widest being located at T1. They ranged in average length from 13.3 to 17.5 mm, shortest being T1 and longest being T6. The angle of corridors varied the most between individual vertebrae at T1‐T3. The average corridor angles were: T1 = 38°, T2 = 32°, T3 = 27°, T4 = 26°. T5‐T9 angle ranged from 23° to 24°.

Conclusion

The average dimensions of corridors measured in dogs weighing 3.1–60 kg were consistent with those of commercially available cortical screws and pins.

Clinical Significance

Corridor trajectories identified in this population can be achieved from a dorsal approach between T5 and T9. A dorsal approach for implant placement would be challenging for T1‐T4 due to the variability found in these vertebrae as well as regional anatomical constraints.
Molecular detection and characterization of pathogenic Leptospira species in bats (Chiroptera) roosting in human habitats in Nigeria, West Africa
Authors: Kamani Joshua , Harrus Shimon , Ocholi Reuben A. , Yague Irene I. , Nyango Patrick G. , González‐Miguel Javier , Koizumi Nobuo
Published: July 2021

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis with a nearly global distribution. In order to determine the role of bats in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in Nigeria, a total of 231 bats belonging to three families, Pteropodidae (n = 117), Molossidae (n = 107) and Nycteridae (n = 17), roosting in human habitats were screened by PCR and sequencing for the detection of pathogenic Leptospira species. DNA extracted from the kidneys of bats were subjected to conventional PCR targeting the rrs1, rrs2, flaB and secY genes for the detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. Overall, 27 out of the 231 (11.7%) of the samples screened were positive for Leptospira spp. High prevalence (>80%) of Leptospira spp. DNA was detected in Chaerophon and Nycteris bat species captures in an abandoned well located within a human habitation. Sequences generated in this study were highly identical to Leptospira borgpetersenii and Leptospira interrogans and clustered with sequences of pathogenic species in GenBank. The detection of pathogenic Leptospira spp. was significantly associated (p < .001) with the bat species, feeding habit, roosting site and study location. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular detection and characterization of pathogenic Leptospira spp. in bats from Nigeria. Results show that bats in Nigeria are infected with diverse Leptospira genotypes phylogenetically related to known pathogenic, including zoonotic taxa. Together, these findings reinforce bats’ roles as potential reservoirs of Leptospira spp. and should be considered as a starting point for future comparative studies to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of this bacterial pathogen in Nigeria.
Interactions of cone cannabinoid CB1 and dopamine D4 receptors increase day/night difference in rod‐cone gap junction coupling in goldfish retina
Authors: Cao Jiexin , Mangel Stuart C.
Published: July 2021

Key points

Although cone and rod photoreceptor cells in the retina have a type of cannabinoid receptor called a CB1 receptor, little is known about how cannabinoids, the active component in marijuana, affect retinal function.

Studies have shown that a circadian (24‐h) clock in the retina uses dopamine receptors, which are also on photoreceptors, to regulate gap junctions (a type of cell‐to‐cell communication) between rods and cones, so that they are functional (open) at night but closed in the day.

We show that CB1 receptors have opposite effects on rod‐cone gap junctions in day and night, decreasing communication in the day when dopamine receptors are active and increasing communication when dopamine receptors are inactive.

CB1 and dopamine receptors thus work together to enhance the day/night difference in rod‐cone gap junction communication.

The increased rod‐cone communication at night due to cannabinoid CB1 receptors may help improve night vision.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptors and dopamine D4 receptors in the brain form receptor complexes that interact but the physiological function of these interactions in intact tissue remains unclear. In vertebrate retina, rods and cones, which are connected by gap junctions, express both CB1 and D4 receptors. Because the retinal circadian clock uses cone D4 receptors to decrease rod‐cone gap junction coupling in the day and to increase it at night, we studied whether an interaction between cone CB1 and D4 receptors increases the day/night difference in rod‐cone coupling compared to D4 receptors acting alone. Using electrical recording and injections of Neurobiotin tracer into individual cones in intact goldfish retinas, we found that SR141716A (a CB1 receptor antagonist) application alone in the day increased both the extent of rod‐cone tracer coupling and rod input to cones, which reaches cones via open gap junctions. Conversely, SR141716A application alone at night or SR141716A application in the day following 30‐min spiperone (a D4 receptor antagonist) application decreased both rod‐cone tracer coupling and rod input to cones. These results show that endogenous activation of cone CB1 receptors decreases rod‐cone coupling in the day when D4 receptors are activated but increases it at night when D4 receptors are not activated. Therefore, the D4 receptor‐dependent day/night switch in the effects of CB1 receptor activation results in an enhancement of the day/night difference in rod‐cone coupling. This synergistic interaction increases detection of very dim large objects at night and fine spatial details in the day.
Pre‐loading large volume oral electrolytes: tracing fluid and ion fluxes in horses during rest, exercise and recovery
Authors: Waller Amanda P. , Lindinger Michael I.
Published: July 2021

Key points

Exercise results in rapid and large extracellular to intracellular fluid shifts, as well as significant sweating losses of water and ions.

It is unknown whether ions within oral electrolyte supplements are taken up by muscle (and other soft tissues) and whether oral supplementation can effectively offset sweating losses.

Pre‐loading with 8 L of a balanced hypotonic electrolyte supplement attenuated extracellular fluid losses, increased exercise duration and increased sweating fluid and ion losses during submaximal exercise.

Supplemented electrolytes appear in skeletal muscle within 1 h after administration.

Electrolyte supplementation increased exercise performance, improved maintenance of extracellular fluid volumes, and attenuated body fluid losses while maintaining sweating rates.

This study used radioactive sodium (24Na) and potassium (42K) in a balanced, hypotonic electrolyte supplement to trace their appearance in skeletal muscle, and also quantified extracellular and whole‐body fluid and ion changes during electrolyte supplementation, exercise and recovery. In a randomized crossover design, 1 h after administration of 1 to 3 L of water or electrolyte supplement with24Na, horses were exercised at 35% VO2maxto voluntary fatigue or, after administration of 8 L of water or electrolyte supplement with42K were exercised at 50% peak VO2for 45 min (n= 4 in each trial). Pre‐exercise electrolyte supplementation was associated with decreased loss of fluid and electrolytes from the extracellular fluid compartments during exercise and recovery compared with water alone. The improved fluid and ion balance during prolonged exercise was associated with increased exercise duration, despite continuing sweating losses of fluid and ions. Nasogastric administration of radiotracer24Na+and42K+showed rapid absorption into the blood with plasma levels peaking 45 min after administration, followed by distribution into the extracellular space and intracellular fluid of muscle within 1 h. Following exercise, virtually all Na+remained within the extracellular compartment, while the majority of K+underwent intracellular uptake by 2 h of recovery. It is concluded that pre‐loading with a large volume, balanced electrolyte supplement helps maintain whole‐body fluid and ion balance and support muscle function during periods of prolonged sweat ion losses.
Hybrid Reactivity-Equivalent Physical Transformation Method on Double-Heterogeneous System Containing Dispersed Fuel Particles and Burnable Poison Particles
Authors: Lou Lei , Chai Xiaoming , Yao Dong , Peng Xingjie , Li Mancang , Chen Liang , Yu Yingrui , Wang Lianjie
Published: July 2021

Because of the double heterogeneity of particle-dispersed fuel and particle-dispersed burnable poisons in double-heterogeneous (DH) systems, traditional software for reactor neutronics calculation cannot model and calculate them, and the volume homogenization method may bring large calculation deviations. The traditional reactivity-equivalent physical transformation (RPT) method can equivalently transform a DH system into a single-heterogeneous (SH) system which can be modeled and calculated by proven traditional software for reactor neutronic calculation. The DH system containing both particle-dispersed fuel and particle-dispersed burnable poisons can be treated by the Improved RPT (IRPT) method based on the traditional RPT method. However, when the IRPT method is used to treat the DH system containing particle-dispersed burnable poisons with large absorption cross section, large volume fraction or large particle size, there will be larger calculation deviations in the burnup. The Ring RPT (RRPT) method can not only deal with the problem of dispersed fuel particles that can be handled by the traditional RPT method, but also the problem of dispersed burnable poison particles that make the traditional RPT method invalid because of the large absorption cross section. For DH systems containing both particle-dispersed fuel and particle-dispersed burnable poisons, a two-step RRPT (TRRPT) method can be used. For DH systems containing particle-dispersed burnable poison with a large absorption cross section, a large volume fraction, or a large particle size, TRRPT method has higher calculation accuracy than the IRPT method. In this article, it was found that for DH systems containing both particle-dispersed fuel and particle-dispersed burnable poison, the TRRPT method may be invalid in some situation. Also, a new method named hybrid RPT (HRPT) method has been proposed for DH systems containing both particle-dispersed fuel and particle-dispersed burnable poisons, herein. And then the HRPT are analyzed and studied on the equivalent transformation range of DH systems comparing with the TRRPT method and the IRPT method. It was found that the HRPT method not only has a wider equivalent transformation range of DH systems than the TRRPT method, but also has higher calculation accuracy than the IRPT method. Results of depletion calculations for different types, different volume fractions, and different particle sizes of burnable poisons particles dispersed the DH systems with dispersed particle-type fuel and the comparison with Monte Carlo results of grain models have proved the effectiveness and applicability of HRPT method.
The Effect of Transient Characteristics on Optimization of Fixed-Bed Regenerators
Authors: Ramin Hadi , Krishnan Easwaran N. , Gurubalan A. , Simonson Carey J.
Published: July 2021

Fixed-bed regenerators (FBRs) have high sensible effectiveness, making them an energy-efficient air-to-air energy recovery exchanger (AAEE) to reduce energy consumption for ventilation in buildings. FBRs operate by alternately storing and releasing heat in fixed exchangers, which result in outlet temperature that varies with time during both heating and cooling periods. This variation in FBR's outlet temperature adds a new optimization variable that needs to be considered when designing FBRs. For example, in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, careful design is required to prevent large variations in FBR’s outlet temperature (temperature swing (TS)), which might deteriorate occupant thermal comfort and introduce a variable load on the HVAC system. In this paper, a correlation for TS is developed as a function of FBR design parameters. FBRs optimization is performed considering TS as an additional objective to the traditional parameters of exchanger effectiveness, pressure drop, payback period (PBP), and mass. A selection procedure (decision-making procedure) is also integrated into the optimization process to select the optimized FBRs from Pareto fronts. The results show that when TS is included as an additional objective to the optimization and selection process, the selected optimized FBRs have higher mass and effectiveness.
Three-Dimensional Flow Simulation of a Twin-Screw Pump for the Analysis of Gap Flow Characteristics
Authors: Moghaddam Ali H. , Kutschelis Boris , Holz Frank , Börjesson Tomas , Skoda Romuald
Published: July 2021

Unsteady three-dimensional flow simulations on a twin-screw pump are performed for an assessment of the radial, circumferential, and flank gap flow effect on the pump performance. By means of the overset grid technique, rigid computational grids around the counter-rotating spindles yield a high cell quality and a high spatial resolution of the gap backflow down to the viscous sublayer in terms of y+<1. An optimization of the hole-cutting process is performed on a generic gap flow and transferred to the complex moving gaps in the pump. Grid independence is ensured, and conservation properties of the overset grid interpolation technique are assessed. Simulation results are validated against measured pump characteristics. Pump performance in terms of pressure build-up along the flow path through the spindles and volume flow rate is presented for a wide range of spindle speed and pump head. Flow rate fluctuations are found to depend on head but hardly on speed. By a profound assessment of the respective radial, circumferential, and flank gap contribution to the total backflow, the importance of the most complex flank gap is pointed out. Backflow rate characteristics in dependence on the pump head and the pump speed are presented.
Estimating the Total Organic Carbon for Unconventional Shale Resources During the Drilling Process: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed Abdulhamid , Gamal Hany , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Alsaihati Ahmed
Published: July 2021

Total organic carbon (TOC) is an essential parameter that indicates the quality of unconventional reservoirs. In this study, four machine learning (ML) algorithms of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), support vector regression (SVR), functional neural networks (FNN), and random forests (RFs) were optimized to evaluate the TOC. The novelty of this work is that the optimized models predict the TOC from the bulk gamma-ray (GR) and spectral GR logs of uranium, thorium, and potassium only. The ML algorithms were trained on 749 datasets from Well-1, tested on 226 datasets from Well-2, and validated on 73 data points from Well-3. The predictability of the optimized algorithms was also compared with the available equations. The results of this study indicated that the optimized ANFIS, SVR, and RF models overperformed the available empirical equations in predicting the TOC. For validation data of Well-3, the optimized ANFIS, SVR, and RF algorithms predicted the TOC with AAPEs of 10.6%, 12.0%, and 8.9%, respectively, compared with the AAPE of 21.1% when the FNN model was used. While for the same data, the TOC was assessed with AAPEs of 48.6%, 24.6%, 20.2%, and 17.8% when Schmoker model, ΔlogR method, Zhao et al. correlation, and Mahmoud et al. correlation was used, respectively. The optimized models could be applied to estimate the TOC during the drilling process if the drillstring is provided with GR and spectral GR logging tools.
In Vivo
Efficacy of Olorofim against Systemic Scedosporiosis and Lomentosporiosis
Authors: Seyedmousavi S. , Chang Y. C. , Youn J. H. , Law D. , Birch M. , Rex J. H. , Kwon-Chung K. J.
Published: July 2021

Clinically relevant members of the
Scedosporium
/
Pseudallescheria
species complex and
Lomentospora prolificans
are generally resistant against currently available systemic antifungal agents
in vitro
, and infection due to these species is difficult to treat. We studied the
in vivo
efficacy of a new fungicidal agent, olorofim (formerly F901318), against scedosporiosis and lomentosporiosis in neutropenic animals.
Lesion Penetration and Activity Limit the Utility of Second-Line Injectable Agents in Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Ernest Jacqueline P. , Sarathy Jansy , Wang Ning , Kaya Firat , Zimmerman Matthew D. , Strydom Natasha , Wang Han , Xie Min , Gengenbacher Martin , Via Laura E. , Barry Clifton E. , Carter Claire L. , Savic Radojka M. , Dartois Véronique
Published: July 2021

Amikacin and kanamycin are second-line injectables used in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) based on the clinical utility of streptomycin, another aminoglycoside and first-line anti-TB drug. While streptomycin was tested as a single agent in the first controlled TB clinical trial, introduction of amikacin and kanamycin into MDR-TB regimens was not preceded by randomized controlled trials.
Endodontic Infections and the Extent of Antibiotic Overprescription among Italian Dental Practitioners
Authors: Licata Francesca , Di Gennaro Gianfranco , Cautela Vincenza , Nobile Carmelo Giuseppe Angelo , Bianco Aida
Published: July 2021

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the pattern of antibiotic prescription for endodontic infections (EIs) among Italian dental practitioners (DPs) and to explore the role of potential predictors of antibiotic overprescription. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between 1 April and 30 October 2019 using a structured questionnaire.
Role of Dectin-2 in the Phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by Dendritic Cells
Authors: Kitai Yuki , Sato Ko , Tanno Daiki , Yuan Xiaoliang , Umeki Aya , Kasamatsu Jun , Kanno Emi , Tanno Hiromasa , Hara Hiromitsu , Yamasaki Sho , Saijo Shinobu , Iwakura Yoichiro , Ishii Keiko , Kawakami Kazuyoshi
Published: July 2021

The cell walls and capsules of
Cryptococcus neoformans
, a yeast-type fungal pathogen, are rich in polysaccharides. Dectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor (CLR) that recognizes high-mannose polysaccharides.
Examining Pathways of Iron and Sulfur Acquisition, Trafficking, Deployment, and Storage in Mineral-Grown Methanogen Cells
Authors: Payne Devon , Shepard Eric M. , Spietz Rachel L. , Steward Katherine , Brumfield Sue , Young Mark , Bothner Brian , Broderick William E. , Broderick Joan B. , Boyd Eric S.
Published: July 2021

FeS
2
is the most abundant sulfide mineral in the Earth’s crust and is common in environments inhabited by methanogenic archaea. FeS
2
can be reduced by methanogens, yielding aqueous FeS
aq
clusters that are thought to be a source of Fe and S.
Deformation-induced Japan twinning in quartz during incipient mylonitization
Authors: Bestmann Michel , Pennacchioni Giorgio , Grasemann Bernhard
Published: July 2021

Many crystalline rocks of the continental crust contain coarse-grained quartz as a main mineral (e.g., granitoids). Incipient deformation of coarse quartz, which likely controls the accumulation of bulk strain in heterogeneously deformed crustal rock volumes, commonly develops microshear zones (MSZs) of localized recrystallization. At mid-crustal conditions, where quartz deformation is mostly accomplished by subgrain rotation recrystallization, grains of MSZs can show an abrupt change in crystallographic orientation (large misorientation angle) with respect to the host quartz that is still not fully understood. We analyzed MSZs (20–200 µm thick) from deformed coarse-grained (millimeter grain size) quartz veins in the Austroalpine Schobergruppe (Eastern Alps). Electron backscatter diffraction analysis reveals that the MSZs are characterized by a nearly 90° misorientation angle between the c-axes of the host and new grains, which also share one {m} and one {1122} pole, compatible with Japan twinning. This abrupt switch of the c-axis orientation can promote geometrical softening and shear localization. So far, Japan twinning has been interpreted as a growth feature. We show that deformation-induced twinning in quartz, including Japan and Dauphiné twinning, can play an important role in initiation of crystal-plastic deformation within the crust.
Associations between community health workers’ home visits and education-based inequalities in institutional delivery and perinatal mortality in rural Uttar Pradesh, India: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Blanchard Andrea Katryn , Colbourn Tim , Prost Audrey , Ramesh Banadakoppa Manjappa , Isac Shajy , Anthony John , Dehury Bidyadhar , Houweling Tanja A J
Published: July 2021

Introduction

India’s National Health Mission has trained community health workers called Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to visit and counsel women before and after birth. Little is known about the extent to which exposure to ASHAs’ home visits has reduced perinatal health inequalities as intended. This study aimed to examine whether ASHAs’ third trimester home visits may have contributed to equitable improvements in institutional delivery and reductions in perinatal mortality rates (PMRs) between women with varying education levels in Uttar Pradesh (UP) state, India.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey data were collected from a representative sample of 52 615 women who gave birth in the preceding 2 months in rural areas of 25 districts of UP in 2014–2015. We analysed the data using generalised linear modelling to examine the associations between exposure to home visits and education-based inequalities in institutional delivery and PMRs.

Results

Third trimester home visits were associated with higher institutional delivery rates, in particular public facility delivery rates (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.34), and to a lesser extent private facility delivery rates (aRR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.13), after adjusting for confounders. Associations were stronger among women with lower education levels. Having no compared with any third trimester home visits was associated with higher perinatal mortality (aRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.28). Having any versus no visits was more highly associated with lower perinatal mortality among women with lower education levels than those with the most education, and most notably among public facility births.

Conclusions

The results suggest that ASHAs’ home visits in the third trimester contributed to equitable improvements in institutional deliveries and lower PMRs, particularly within the public sector. Broader strategies must reinforce the role of ASHAs’ home visits in reaching the sustainable development goals of improving maternal and newborn health and leaving no one behind.
Clinical effects of high-intensity laser therapy on patients with chronic refractory wounds: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lu Qian , Yin Zhifei , Shen Xuefeng , Li Jinhua , Su Panpan , Feng Min , Xu Xingjun , Li Weiwei , He Chuan , Shen Ying
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on chronic refractory wounds.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

The outpatient wound care department of the Affiliated Jiangsu Shengze Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from August 2019 to June 2020.

Participants

Sixty patients were enrolled in this study and were randomised into control (n=30) and treatment (n=30) groups.

Interventions and outcome measures

The control group was treated only with conventional wound dressing, whereas the treatment group received irradiation with HILT in addition to standard wound care, such as debridement, wound irrigation with normal saline solution and application of dressing and sterile gauze. Patient scores on the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) were evaluated before and after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment.

Results

One patient was excluded from the control group, and a total of 59 subjects completed the trial. The BWAT scores significantly decreased in the treatment group compared with the control group at the end of 3-week treatment (difference=−3.6; 95% CI −6.3 to–0.8; p<0.01). Similarly, patients in treatment group showed a significant reduction of PUSH scores compared with the control group (difference=−5.3; 95% CI −8.1 to –2.6; p<0.01).

Conclusions

The therapeutic effects of HILT on chronic refractory wounds are significant and far more superior to those of conventional wound dressing.

Trial registration number

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; ChiCTR1900023157. URL:http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=38866
Qualitative assessment of the impact of socioeconomic and cultural barriers on uptake and utilisation of tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment tools in East Africa: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Msoka Elizabeth F , Orina Fred , Sanga Erica Samson , Miheso Barbara , Mwanyonga Simeon , Meme Helen , Kiula Kiula , Liyoyo Alphonce , Mwebaza Ivan , Aturinde Augustus , Joloba Moses , Mmbaga Blandina , Amukoye Evans , Ntinginya Nyanda Elias , Gillespie Stephen H , Sabiiti Wilber
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Early diagnosis and timely treatment are key elements of a successful healthcare system. We assessed the role of socioeconomic and cultural norms in accelerating or decelerating uptake and utilisation of health technologies into policy and practice.

Setting

Secondary and tertiary level healthcare facilities (HCFs) in three East African countries. Level of HCF was selected based on the WHO recommendation for implantation of tuberculosis (TB) molecular diagnostics.

Participants

Using implementation of TB diagnostics as a model, we purposively selected participants (TB patients, carers, survivors, healthcare practitioners, community members, opinion leaders and policy-makers) based on their role as stakeholders. In-depth interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were held to collect the data between 2016 and 2018. The data were transcribed, translated, coded and analysed by thematic-content analysis.

Results

A total of 712 individuals participated in the study. Socioeconomic and cultural factors such as poverty, stigma and inadequate knowledge about causes of disease and available remedies, cultural beliefs were associated with low access and utilisation of diagnostic and treatment tools for TB. Poverty made people hesitate to seek formal healthcare resulting in delayed diagnosis and resorting to self-medication and cheap herbal alternatives. Fear of stigma made people hide their sickness and avoid reporting for follow-up treatment visits. Inadequate knowledge and beliefs were fertile ground for aggravated stigma and believing that diseases like TB are caused by spirits and thus cured by spiritual rituals or religious prayers. Cultural norms were also the basis of gender-based imbalance in accessing care, ‘I could not go to hospital without my husband’s permission’, TB survivor.

Conclusion

Our findings show that socioeconomic and cultural factors are substantial ‘roadblocks’ to accelerating the uptake and utilisation of diagnostic and treatment tools. Resolving these barriers should be given equal attention as is to health system barriers.
Co-produced capability framework for successful patient and staff partnerships in healthcare quality improvement: results of a scoping review
Authors: Cox Ruth , Molineux Matthew , Kendall Melissa , Tanner Bernadette , Miller Elizabeth
Published: July 2021

Background

Internationally, patient and public involvement (PPI) is core policy for health service quality improvement (QI). However, authentic QI partnerships are not commonplace. A lack of patient and staff capability to deliver successful partnerships may be a barrier to meaningful QI collaboration.

Objectives

The research questions for this scoping review were: What is known regarding the capabilities required for healthcare staff and patients to effectively partner in QI at the service level?; and What is known regarding the best practice learning and development strategies required to build and support those capabilities?

Methods

A six-stage scoping review was completed. Five electronic databases were searched for publications from January 2010 to February 2020. The database searches incorporated relevant terms for the following concepts: capabilities for PPI in healthcare QI; and best practice learning and development strategies to support those capabilities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis.

Results

Forty-nine papers were included. Very little peer-reviewed literature focused explicitly on capabilities for QI partnerships and thus implicit paper content was analysed. ACapability framework for successful partnerships in healthcare quality improvementwas developed. It includes knowledge, skills and attitudes across three capability domains:Personal Attributes; Relationships and Communication;andPhilosophies, Models and Practices,and incorporates 10 capabilities.Sharing power and leadershipwas discussed in many papers as fundamental and was positioned across all of the domains. Most papers discussed staff and patients’ co-learning (n=28, 57.14%). Workshops or shorter structured training sessions (n=36, 73.47%), and face-to-face learning (n=34, 69.38%) were frequently reported.

Conclusion

The framework developed here could guide individualised development or learning plans for patient partners and staff, or could assist organisations to review learning topics and approaches such as training content, mentoring guidelines or community of practice agendas. Future directions include refining and evaluating the framework. Development approaches such as self-reflection, communities of practice, and remote learning need to be expanded and evaluated.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals distinct cellular factors for response to immunotherapy targeting CD73 and PD-1 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Kim Miok , Min Yong Ki , Jang Jinho , Park Hyejin , Lee Semin , Lee Chang Hoon
Published: July 2021

Background

Although cancer immunotherapy is one of the most effective advanced-stage cancer therapies, no clinically approved cancer immunotherapies currently exist for colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade has exhibited clinical benefits according to ongoing clinical trials. However, ongoing clinical trials for cancer immunotherapies are focused on PD-1 signaling inhibitors such as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and atezolizumab. In this study, we focused on revealing the distinct response mechanism for the potent CD73 ectoenzyme selective inhibitor AB680 as a promising drug candidate that functions by blocking tumorigenic ATP/adenosine signaling in comparison to current therapeutics that block PD-1 to assess the value of this drug as a novel immunotherapy for CRC.

Methods

To understand the distinct mechanism of AB680 in comparison to that of a neutralizing antibody against murine PD-1 used as a PD-1 blocker, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of CD45+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from untreated controls (n=3) and from AB680-treated (n=3) and PD-1-blockade-treated murine CRC in vivo models. We also used flow cytometry, Azoxymethane (AOM)/Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) models, and in vitro functional assays to validate our new findings.

Results

We initially observed that the expressions of Nt5e (a gene for CD73) and Entpd1 (a gene for CD39) affect T cell receptor (TCR) diversity and transcriptional profiles of T cells, thus suggesting their critical roles in T cell exhaustion within tumor. Importantly, PD-1 blockade significantly increased the TCR diversity of Entpd1-negative T cells and Pdcd1-positive T cells. Additionally, we determined that AB680 improved the anticancer functions of immunosuppressed cells such as Treg and exhausted T cells, while the PD-1 blocker quantitatively reduced Malat1high Treg and M2 macrophages. We also verified that PD-1 blockade induced Treg depletion in AOM/DSS CRC in vivo models, and we confirmed that AB680 treatment caused increased activation of CD8+ T cells using an in vitro T cell assay.

Conclusions

The intratumoral immunomodulation of CD73 inhibition is distinct from PD-1 inhibition and exhibits potential as a novel anticancer immunotherapy for CRC, possibly through a synergistic effect when combined with PD-1 blocker treatments. This study may contribute to the ongoing development of anticancer immunotherapies targeting refractory CRC.
Clinicopathological and prognostic values of PD-L1 expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis of 31 studies with 5368 patients
Authors: Liu Zhen , Sun Li , Cai Lei , Guo Man , Xu Guanghui , Liu Shushang , Zheng Gaozan , Wang Qiao , Lian Xiao , Feng Fan , Zhang Hongwei
Published: July 2021

Several immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed death 1 have successfully improved the prognosis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with approval in certain countries. However, whether the expression of PD-L1 is associated with the degree of benefit is unclear yet and a unified standard of antibody and cut-off value of PD-L1 detection is also lacking. The current meta-analysis then aimed to explore the association between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological features as well as prognosis in ESCC.

A systematic search on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases was performed up to 30 March 2021. The correlation between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological features, as well as prognosis in ESCC, was estimated with the random-effects model.

A total of 5368 patients from 31 retrospective studies were enrolled. The overexpression of PD-L1 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (OR 1.342, 95% CI 0.995 to 1.809, p=0.050) and distant metastasis (OR 1.516, 95% CI 1.001 to 2.294, p=0.050). The pooled HR showed that PD-L1 overexpression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival (OS) of patients with ESCC (HR 1.306, 95% CI 1.108 to 1.539, p<0.010) but not disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 1.180, 95% CI 0.937 to 1.487, p=0.160). Heterogeneity decreased significantly in subgroup analyses. The overexpression of PD-L1 was associated with poor DFS at the cut-off point of ≥1% (HR 1.642, 95% CI 1.367 to 1.973, p<0.010; I2=0%) and worse OS at the cut-off point of ≥10% (HR 1.575, 95% CI 1.175 to 2.111, p<0.010; I2=0%).

The overexpression of PD-L1 was correlated with lymph node and distant metastasis as well as poor survival of ESCC.
General Chemistry education in a pandemic
Authors: Canal John P. , Goyan Rebecca L. , Mund Garry
Published: July 2021

With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision to close post-secondary schools to in-person teaching, an opportunity was presented to examine the challenges, benefits, and ability to pivot to an online teaching environment. Given the tight deadline to present Chemistry 121 (General Chemistry and Laboratory I) for the first time as an online course, during the Summer 2020 semester at Simon Fraser University, a team-based approach to develop and run the course was used. The approaches adopted and new course components utilized are analyzed from the students’ perspective to gauge their efficiency. The insight gained from converting this large enrollment course will be offered.
Measuring the scalar induced gravitational waves from observations
Authors: Li Jun , Guo Guang-Hai
Published: July 2021

We consider the scalar induced gravitational waves from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) observations and the gravitational wave observations. In the $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM+r model, we constrain the cosmological parameters within the evolution of the scalar induced gravitational waves by the additional scalar power spectrum. The two special cases called narrow power spectrum and wide power spectrum have influence on the cosmological parameters, especially the combinations of Planck18+BAO+BK15+LISA. We also compare these numerical results from four datasets within LIGO, LISA, IPTA and FAST projects, respectively. The constraints from FAST have a significant impact on tensor-to-scalar ratio. Besides, we only consider the relic density of induced gravitational waves with respect to different frequencies from CMB scale to high frequencies including the range of LIGO and LISA.
Attoscience in phase space
Authors: Chomet H. , Figueira de Morisson Faria C.
Published: July 2021

We provide a brief review of how phase space techniques are explored within strong-field and attosecond science. This includes a broad overview of the existing landscape, with focus on strong-field ionisation and rescattering, high-order harmonic generation, stabilisation and free-electron lasers. Furthermore, using our work on the subject, which deals with ionisation dynamics in atoms and diatomic molecules as well as high-order harmonic generation in inhomogeneous fields, we exemplify how such tools can be employed. One may for instance determine qualitatively different phase space dynamics, explore how bifurcations influence ionisation and high-harmonic generation, establish for which regimes classical and quantum correspondence works or fails, and what role different timescales play. Finally, we conclude the review highlighting the importance of the tools available in quantum optics, quantum information and physical chemistry to strong-field laser–matter interaction.

Graphic Abstract
Design of Hesitation Gestures for Nonverbal Human-Robot Negotiation of Conflicts
Authors: Moon Ajung , Hashmi Maneezhay , Loos H. F. Machiel Van Der , Croft Elizabeth A. , Billard Aude
Published: July 2021

When the question of who should get access to a communal resource first is uncertain, people often negotiate via nonverbal communication to resolve the conflict. What should a robot be programmed to do when such conflicts arise in Human-Robot Interaction? The answer to this question varies depending on the context of the situation. Learning from how humans use hesitation gestures to negotiate a solution in such conflict situations, we present a human-inspired design of nonverbal hesitation gestures that can be used for Human-Robot Negotiation. We extracted characteristic features of such negotiative hesitations humans use, and subsequently designed a trajectory generator (Negotiative Hesitation Generator) that can re-create the features in robot responses to conflicts. Our human-subjects experiment demonstrates the efficacy of the designed robot behaviour against non-negotiative stopping behaviour of a robot. With positive results from our human-robot interaction experiment, we provide a validated trajectory generator with which one can explore the dynamics of human-robot nonverbal negotiation of resource conflicts.
Plant Robot for At-Home Behavioral Activation Therapy Reminders to Young Adults with Depression
Authors: Bhat Ashwin Sadananda , Boersma Christiaan , Meijer Max Jan , Dokter Maaike , Bohlmeijer Ernst , Li Jamy
Published: July 2021

Adolescents with depression who participate in behavioral activation therapy may find it hard to be motivated to perform tasks at home that their therapists recommend. We describe the initial design and usability evaluation of a home device (“PlantBot”) that could be used to remind young adults with depression at home of their behavioral activation therapy-related tasks. The prototype features electronics in a two-layer base, with a fake plant on top and supported using the Amazon Echo voice agent. We use an online panel study to evaluate the usability of our system with youth with past depression (N= 30). Initial findings highlight the device’s usability, potential benefit, and attractiveness of the plant component, as well as multiple improvements to be made.
Explaining in Time
Authors: Arnold Thomas , Kasenberg Daniel , Scheutz Matthias
Published: July 2021

Explainability has emerged as a critical AI research objective, but the breadth of proposed methods and application domains suggest that criteria for explanation vary greatly. In particular, what counts as a good explanation, and what kinds of explanation are computationally feasible, has become trickier in light of oqaque “black box” systems such as deep neural networks. Explanation in such cases has drifted from what many philosophers stipulated as having to involve deductive and causal principles to mere “interpretation,” which approximates what happened in the target system to varying degrees. However, such post hoc constructed rationalizations are highly problematic for social robots that operate interactively in spaces shared with humans. For in such social contexts, explanations of behavior, and, in particular, justifications for violations of expected behavior, should make reference to socially accepted principles and norms.

In this article, we show how a social robot’s actions can face explanatory demands for how it came to act on its decision, what goals, tasks, or purposes its design had those actions pursue and what norms or social constraints the system recognizes in the course of its action. As a result, we argue that explanations for social robots will need to be accurate representations of the system’s operation along causal, purposive, and justificatory lines. These explanations will need to generate appropriate references to principles and norms—explanations based on mere “interpretability” will ultimately fail to connect the robot’s behaviors to its appropriate determinants. We then lay out the foundations for a cognitive robotic architecture for HRI, together with particular component algorithms, for generating explanations and engaging in justificatory dialogues with human interactants. Such explanations track the robot’s
actual
decision-making and behavior, which themselves are determined by normative principles the robot can describe and use for justifications.
The Perceptual Belief Problem
Authors: Thellman Sam , Ziemke Tom
Published: July 2021

The explainability of robotic systems depends on people’s ability to reliably attribute perceptual beliefs to robots, i.e., what robots know (or believe) about objects and events in the world based on their perception. However, the perceptual systems of robots are not necessarily well understood by the majority of people interacting with them. In this article, we explain why this is a significant, difficult, and unique problem in social robotics. The inability to judge what a robot knows (and does not know) about the physical environment it shares with people gives rise to a host of communicative and interactive issues, including difficulties to communicate about objects or adapt to events in the environment. The challenge faced by social robotics researchers or designers who want to facilitate appropriate attributions of perceptual beliefs to robots is to shape human–robot interactions so that people understand what robots know about objects and events in the environment. To meet this challenge, we argue, it is necessary to advance our knowledge of when and why people form incorrect or inadequate mental models of robots’ perceptual and cognitive mechanisms. We outline a general approach to studying this empirically and discuss potential solutions to the problem.
Calculated Relative Thermodynamic Stabilities of the Gd@C82 Isomers
Authors: Slanina Zdeněk , Uhlík Filip , Akasaka Takeshi , Lu Xing , Adamowicz Ludwik
Published: July 2021

Relative equilibrium populations of the IPR (isolated-pentagon-rule) isomers of Gd@C82 under the high-temperature synthetic conditions are calculated. The calculations are based on the Gibbs energy derived using characteristics from the density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/3-21G ∼ SDD entropy term, B2PLYPD/6-31+G* ∼ SDD energetics). In agreement with observations, Gd@C
2v
(9)-C82 is the prevailing isomer while Gd@C

s
(c; 6)-C82 is predicted as a minor species.
Frequency and management of medically actionable incidental findings from genome and exome sequencing data: a systematic review
Authors: Elfatih Amal , Mohammed Idris , Abdelrahman Doua , Mifsud Borbala
Published: July 2021

The application of whole genome/exome sequencing technologies in clinical genetics and research has resulted in the discovery of incidental findings unrelated to the primary purpose of genetic testing. The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics published guidelines for reporting pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants that are deemed to be medically actionable, which allowed us to learn about the epidemiology of incidental findings in different populations. However, consensus guidelines for variant reporting and classification are still lacking. We conducted a systematic literature review of incidental findings in whole genome/exome sequencing studies to obtain a comprehensive understanding of variable reporting and classification methods for variants that are deemed to be medically actionable across different populations. The review highlights the elements that demand further consideration or adjustment.
The Classification of Traveling Wave Solutions to Space-Time Fractional Resonance Nonlinear Schrödinger Type Equation with a Special Kind of Fractional Derivative
Authors: Jia Lianguang , Tang Li
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the classification of single traveling wave solutions to a special kind of space-time fractional Schrödinger type equation with high-order nonlinearities is obtained by the complete discrimination system for polynomial method, where the fractional derivative is defined by Atangana’s conformable definition. The descriptions of the method and the fractional derivative are given, and the concrete procedure of the method is also presented in the paper. Especially, some new solutions such as hyperelliptic functions solution could be found and all the existing results about traveling wave solutions to the equation could also be seen. Moreover, concrete examples indicate that all the solutions obtained in the paper can be realized.