bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The anatomical distribution of non‐melanoma skin cancer: a retrospective cohort study of 22 303 Australian cases
Authors: Khalid Aafreen , van Essen Phillipa , Crittenden Tamara A. , Dean Nicola R.
Published: June 2021

Background

Non‐melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common skin cancers worldwide with research establishing that ultraviolet (UV) radiation influences occurrence. However, recent studies about NMSC tumour frequencies suggested high NMSC predilections in low UV‐exposed skin regions.

Methods

The ‘Human Surface Anatomy Labeling System’ was used to define 100 skin regions to map NMSC locations excised at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017. Data were retrieved from the FMC histopathology database. A customised phrase algorithm was used to run a systematic word search on the dataset to quantify NMSC locations.

Results

A total of 22 303 NMSC excisions were identified; 80% were head and neck excisions. Scalp, periocular and nasal regions showed a significantly greater predilection for basal cell carcinomas (BCC). Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) had significantly more excisions in lip, neck and scalp regions. Regarding gender‐related variations, more males had BCC excisions in ear regions and more females had nasal, lip, and ankle excisions. In SCC excisions, more males had scalp excisions and more females had leg and lip excisions. Considering age‐related variation, significantly higher proportions of BCC were found with forehead excisions compared to scalp, neck and lower limb regions for SCC, all being highest for 60–79‐year age groups.

Conclusion

The relationship between NMSC type and anatomical distribution may be partially explained by gender and age affecting NMSC predilections particularly in the head and neck. However, other skin regions could not be explained solely by these factors.
Using a validated tool to assess whole‐body cadaveric simulation course on open general and emergency surgery
Authors: Killoran Callie B. , Roeder Luisa , James‐McAlpine Janelle , de Costa Alan
Published: June 2021

Background

The Anatomy of Surgical Exposure (ASE) is a cadaver‐based operative surgery simulation course that aims to teach techniques and exposures commonly used in open surgical operations. In this study, we used a validated tool to determine efficacy of assessing skills acquisition in the simulated environment. Our aims were to investigate if the ASE course improves the candidates' surgical performance, and to assess if the validated Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (OSATS) template could be a useful tool for assessing technical skills.

Methods

Participants (n = 33) undertook supervised assessment of specific procedures at 10 cadaveric stations over a 2‐year period; performance was marked using the OSATS template. This template utilizes a seven‐item score to assess general and specific surgical techniques and knowledge using a 5‐point Likert scale. Experienced tutors assessed each surgery for each participant; individual and comparative data over the 3‐day course was used to provide each participant specific feedback at course completion.

Results

Average OSATS scores did not improve significantly over the 3‐day OSATS course. There was a significant positive correlation observed between surgical trainees and OSATS total scores (P = 0.001, r = 0.747), number of years of post‐graduation, and total OSATS scores (P = 0.001, r = 0.527).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that those on the surgical training pathway and those who had graduated earlier, had an overall higher score than those not yet on surgical training. The template was able to provide on‐site specific candidate feedback by the end of the course, identifying areas of improvement of technical surgical skills.
The effect of perioperative hemadsorption in patients operated for acute infective endocarditis—A randomized controlled study
Authors: Asch Silke , Kaufmann Tobias Peter , Walter Michaela , Leistner Marcus , Danner Bernd C. , Perl Thorsten , Kutschka Ingo , Niehaus Heidi
Published: June 2021

Patients operated for infective endocarditis (IE) are at high risk of developing an excessive systemic hyperinflammatory state, resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome and septic shock. Hemoadsorption (HA) by cytokine adsorbers has been successfully applied to remove inflammatory mediators. This randomized controlled trial investigates the effect of perioperative HA therapy on inflammatory parameters and hemodynamic status in patients operated for IE. A total of 20 patients were randomly assigned to either HA therapy or the control group. HA therapy was initiated intraoperatively and continued for 24 hours postoperatively. Cytokine levels (IL‐6, IL‐1b, TNF‐α), leukocytes, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and Procalcitonin (PCT) as well as catecholamine support, and volume requirement were compared between both groups. Operative procedures included aortic (n = 7), mitral (n = 6), and multiple valve surgery (n = 7). All patients survived to discharge. No significant differences concerning median cytokine levels (IL‐6 and TNF‐α) were observed between both groups. CRP and PCT baseline levels were significantly higher in the HA group (59.5 vs. 26.3 mg/dL, P = .029 and 0.17 vs. 0.05 µg/L, P = .015) equalizing after surgery. Patients in the HA group required significantly higher doses of vasopressors (0.093 vs. 0.025 µg/kg/min norepinephrine, P = .029) at 12 hours postoperatively as well as significantly more overall volume replacement (7217 vs. 4185 mL at 12 hours, P = .015; 12 021 vs. 4850 mL at 48 hours, P = .015). HA therapy did neither result in a reduction of inflammatory parameters nor result in an improvement of hemodynamic parameters in patients operated for IE. For a more targeted use of HA therapy, appropriate selection criteria are required.
The Hendra virus vaccine: perceptions regarding the role of antibody titre testing
Authors: Barrett RS , Wiethoelter A , Halpin K
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To elucidate veterinarians' and horse owners' perceptions towards the use of Hendra virus (HeV) antibody titre testing and how it influences veterinary advice.

Methods

Six semi‐structured phone interviews were conducted with veterinarians who have submitted samples for HeV antibody titre testing. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed to identify and report common themes within the data.

Results

Veterinarians are predominantly using the titre tests as an alternative to vaccination due to clients' fear of vaccine reactions. The high cost of titre testing, the difficulty interpreting titre results and a lack of titre test recognition by authorities were the major barriers reported to using this test. Some veterinarians detailed difficulties communicating titre test procedures and results to their clients. The majority of veterinarians accepted titres of 64 or greater as evidence of protective immunity and would rely on those results for 12 months. However, there was discrepancy of these values and the level of confidence veterinarians had in interpreting the results of HeV antibody titre tests varied.

Conclusion

This study has provided an overview of the attitudes of horse owners and veterinarians towards HeV antibody titre testing. Although evidence for HeV vaccination titres as an indication of protective immunity is still inadequate, it will assist veterinarians in interpreting and communicating titre results.
You Are Not the Father: The Need to Terminate the Parental Rights of Rapists to Protect Victims and Children
Authors: O'Dea Christina
Published: June 2021

Twenty‐seven of fifty states require a criminal conviction to terminate the parental rights of a rapist. If a rape results in pregnancy and a woman chooses to carry that pregnancy to term, she may be subjected to fight her rapist in court over the parental rights of the child. In 2015, Congress passed the Rape Survivor Child Custody Act to incentivize states to lower this standard to “clear and convincing evidence.” This Note proposes that this Act be adopted by all fifty states to universally lower the standard of proof required in these cases.
The pricing and carbon abatement decisions of a manufacturer selling with marketplace or reselling mode
Authors: Xu Xiaoping , He Ping , Fan Yiming
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we study the pricing and carbon abatement decisions of a manufacturer who sells products to consumers with environmental awareness through an online platform and an offline channel. The platform operates with marketplace or reselling mode. Cross‐channel spillover effect (CSE) is taken into account to reflect the impact of online channel sales on offline channel sales. With marketplace mode, the manufacturer directly sells its products to consumers on the platform, paying a commission to the platform for each order. With reselling mode, the manufacturer wholesales products to the platform, who then retails them to consumers. We find that the increase in the cross‐channel effect can positively affect the carbon abatement level, the production quantity and the profits of the manufacturer and platform. Marketplace (reselling) mode provides the manufacturer with more profits than reselling (marketplace) mode and induces the manufacturer to adopt greener technology if the CSE is high (low). Marketplace mode cannot coordinate the manufacturer and platform, while reselling mode can if the CSE is negative. We also extend the models to the case under omnichannel strategy and find that omnichannel strategy leads to higher carbon abatement level and brings more profit to the manufacturer under certain conditions. In addition, marketplace mode cannot coordinate the manufacturer and platform, while reselling mode always can. The findings in this paper not only enrich the theoretical research in platform‐based and low‐carbon operations management but also guide the management practice in these aspects.
ERF1 delays flowering through direct inhibition of FLOWERING LOCUS T expression in Arabidopsis
Authors: Chen Yanli , Zhang Liping , Zhang Haiyan , Chen Ligang , Yu Diqiu
Published: June 2021

ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR1 (ERF1) is a key component in ethylene signaling, playing crucial roles in both biotic and abiotic stress responses. Here, we demonstrate that ERF1 also has an important role during floral initiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Knockdown or knockout of ERF1 accelerated floral initiation, whereas overexpression of ERF1 dramatically delayed floral transition. These contrasting phenotypes were correlated with opposite transcript levels of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that ERF1 associates with genomic regions of the FT gene to repress its transcription. ft‐10/ERF1RNAi plants showed a similar flowering phenotype to the ft‐10 mutant, whereas the flowering of FTox/ERF1ox mimicked that of FTox plants, suggesting that ERF1 acts upstream of FT during floral initiation. Similarly, altered floral transition in ethylene‐related mutants was also correlated with FT expression. Further analysis suggested that ERF1 also participates in delay in flowering‐time control mediated by the ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid. Thus, ERF1 may act as a negative modulator of flowering‐time control by repressing FT transcription in Arabidopsis.
Clinical Research and Technique Note of TLIF by Wiltse Approach for the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar
Authors: Jin Yong‐ming , Chen Qi , Chen Chu‐yong , Lyu Jun , Shi Binbin , Yang Chen , Xia Chen
Published: June 2021

Objective

To assess the clinical efficacy and share the technique notes of Wiltse Approach TLIF for the treating single segment degenerative lumbar spinal disease.

Method

In this retrospective controlled study, 780 patients with single segment degenerative lumbar disease who were operated in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were randomly assigned to Wiltse approach group (group A, 410 cases) and conventional open approach group (group B, 370 cases). Patient's assessment of pain and disability were evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) before and after surgery. The incision length, operative time, exposure time, intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, time to ambulation, total length of hospitalization, serum creatine kinase, X‐rays, CT and MRI were also evaluated.

Results

There were no differences in sex, age, pre‐operative ODI score, VAS score between the two groups (P > 0.05). The Wiltse approach group had a shorter incision length with 7.69 ± 0.44 cm compared to the conventional group with 11.13 ± 0.36 cm (P < 0.01). The average operative time was 119.20 ± 14.64 min with exposure time of 16.20 ± 3.42 min in the Wiltse approach group and 145.65 ± 16.98 min with 29.20 ± 3.42 min in the conventional group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Comparing the intraoperative blood loss, hidden blood loss, serum creatine kinase, time to ambulation, total length of hospitalization, the Wiltse approach group was less than the conventional open approach group (P < 0.05). The VAS score of the two groups decreased significantly with time, and the VAS score of the Wiltse group was significantly lower than that of the conventional open approach group (P < 0.05). At last investigation after operation, ODI scores of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with that before operation. Wiltse approach group was significantly lower than that of the conventional open approach group (P < 0.05). The multifidus of the two groups of patients had a certain degree of atrophy. But the Wiltse approach group multifidus muscle atrophy rate is significantly lower than the conventional open approach group.

Conclusion

The Wiltse approach TLIF significantly reduces the damage to the paravertebral muscles and the postoperative incidence of chronic low back pain.
Thiophene‐Based Double Helices: Radical Cations with SOMO–HOMO Energy Level Inversion†
Authors: Rajca Andrzej , Shu Chan , Zhang Hui , Zhang Sheng , Wang Hua , Rajca Suchada
Published: June 2021

We report relatively persistent, open‐shell thiophene‐based double helices, radical cations 1•+‐TMS12 and 2•+‐TMS8. Closed‐shell neutral double helices, 1‐TMS12 and 2‐TMS8, have nearly identical first oxidation potentials, E
+/0 ≈ +1.33 V, corresponding to reversible oxidation to their radical cations. The radical cations are generated, using tungsten hexachloride in dichloromethane (DCM) as an oxidant, E
+/0 ≈ +1.56 V. EPR spectra consist of a relatively sharp singlet peak with an unusually low g‐value of 2.001–2.002, thus suggesting exclusive delocalization of spin density over π‐conjugated system consisting of carbon atoms only. DFT computations confirm these findings, as only negligible fraction of spin density is found on sulfur and silicon atoms and the spin density is delocalized over a single tetrathiophene moiety. For radical cation, 1•+‐TMS12, energy level of the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) lies below the four highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs), thus indicating the SOMO–HOMO inversion (SHI) and therefore, violating the Aufbau principle. 1•+‐TMS12 has a half‐life of the order of only 5 min at room temperature. EPR peak intensity of 2•+‐TMS8, which does not show SHI, is practically unchanged over at least 2 h.
Completely resonant collision of lumps and line solitons in the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili I equation
Authors: Rao Jiguang , Chow Kwok Wing , Mihalache Dumitru , He Jingsong
Published: June 2021

Resonant collisions among localized lumps and line solitons of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili I (KP‐I) equation are studied. The KP‐I equation describes the evolution of weakly nonlinear, weakly dispersive waves with slow transverse variations. Lumps can only exist for the KP equation when the signs of the transverse derivative and the weak dispersion in the propagation direction are different, that is, in the KP‐I regime. Collisions among lumps and solitons for “integrable” equations are normally elastic, that is, wave shapes are preserved except possibly for phase shifts. For resonant collisions, mathematically the phase shift will become indefinitely large. Physically a lump may be detached (or emitted) from a line soliton, survives for a brief transient period in time, and then merges with the next adjacent soliton. This special lump is thus localized in time as well as the two spatial dimensions, and can be termed a “rogue lump.” By employing a reduction method for the KP hierarchy in conjunction with the Hirota bilinear technique, a general ‐lump/‐line‐soliton solution is obtained for the KP‐I equation for an arbitrary positive integer . For , collisions among modes become increasingly complicated, with multiple lumps detaching from one single or different line solitons and then disappearing into the remaining solitons. In terms of applications, such “rogue lumps” represent a mode truly localized both in space and time, and will be valuable in modeling physical problems.
In vivo homopropargylglycine incorporation enables sampling, isolation and characterization of nascent proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Tivendale Nathan D. , Fenske Ricarda , Duncan Owen , Millar A. Harvey
Published: June 2021

Determining which proteins are actively synthesized at a given point in time and extracting a representative sample for analysis is important to understand plant responses. Here we show that the methionine (Met) analogue homopropargylglycine (HPG) enables Bio‐Orthogonal Non‐Canonical Amino acid Tagging (BONCAT) of a small sample of the proteins being synthesized in Arabidopsis plants or cell cultures, facilitating their click‐chemistry enrichment for analysis. The sites of HPG incorporation could be confirmed by peptide mass spectrometry at Met sites throughout protein amino acid sequences and correlation with independent studies of protein labelling with 15N verified the data. We provide evidence that HPG‐based BONCAT tags a better sample of nascent plant proteins than azidohomoalanine (AHA)‐based BONCAT in Arabidopsis and show that the AHA induction of Met metabolism and greater inhibition of cell growth rate than HPG probably limits AHA incorporation at Met sites in Arabidopsis. We show HPG‐based BONCAT provides a verifiable method for sampling, which plant proteins are being synthesized at a given time point and enriches a small portion of new protein molecules from the bulk protein pool for identification, quantitation and subsequent biochemical analysis. Enriched nascent polypeptides samples were found to contain significantly fewer common post‐translationally modified residues than the same proteins from whole plant extracts, providing evidence for age‐related accumulation of post‐translational modifications in plants.
Modelling the long‐term impact of harvest weed seed control for species like Bromus diandrus and Hordeum spp. that shed a portion of seed prior to harvest
Authors: Borger Catherine P. D. , Petersen Daniel , Gill Gurjeet S.
Published: June 2021

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) is an increasingly popular integrated weed management tactic to catch, destroy or remove weed seeds at crop harvest. However, most weed species shed some seed prior to crop harvest, and we have little data on the value of HWSC for those species with high or variable rates of seed shedding. In the current study, Bromus diandrus and Hordeum spp. were identified as problematic weeds with variable rates of seed shedding. Field data on B. diandrus and Hordeum spp. density, seed production and resulting crop yield were used to validate the output of a decision support tool: the Weed Seed Wizard. The tool was then used to generate a six‐year crop rotation scenario for each weed species. The level of annual HWSC in the scenario was set at 1%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% seed removal. The results indicated that B. diandrus in particular was difficult to control with herbicide alone and a conventional harvest (1% weed seed removed as a contaminant of the grain). By comparison, the total weed seed bank in the soil at the end of six years could be reduced by 46% using HWSC to annually destroy 20% of seed at crop harvest. Hordeum spp. were easier to control with herbicide, but HWSC still changed final seed density in the soil seed bank. Therefore, HWSC may be an effective management tactic for those weed species with early seed shedding, but this needs to be confirmed with field based research.
A New Cam-Follower Safety Joint Mechanism Design Based on Variable-Length Four-Bar Linkage for Robot Safety
Authors: Baek Seung Guk , Moon Hyungpil , Choi Hyouk Ryeol , Koo Ja Choon
Published: June 2021

Humans come into physical contact with various machines such as robots in daily life. This leads to the underlying issue of guaranteeing safety during such human-robot interactions. Thus, many devices and methods have been studied for impact damage reduction. A safety joint mechanism (SJM) using four-bar linkages has been highlighted as an impact cutoff device owing to its capabilities of nonlinear load transfer. This paper focuses on a new design and testing for a kinematic element of an SJM based on four-bar linkages to improve the impact cutoff performances. In the present work, a set of variable-length floating link designs is proposed, and the mechanism is implemented by mechanical contact surface profile shaping between the cams and followers. The performance of the cam-follower mechanism is evaluated depending on the variable length of the floating link, by using the equivalent stiffness method, which successfully quantifies the performance of the proposed mechanism. Based on this design and analysis, two SJMs having symmetrical arrangements for four numbers of cam-follower mechanisms are fabricated: one SJM has fixed-length floating links and the other has variable-length floating links. The effect of the new kinematic elements on the performance improvement is verified by comparing the absorbed impact rates of the two SJMs by impact hammer-like drop tests. Consequently, it is confirmed that the rapid length change of the floating link is the core element for improving the performance of the safety mechanism.
Research on Path Planning for Reducing Vibration Fatigue of Precision Equipment Transportation
Authors: Huang Ying , Xie Quanmin , Wang Xingjun
Published: June 2021

This paper analyzes the safety and reliability problems of large precision instruments and equipment in highway transportation, aiming at reducing the vibration fatigue damage of equipment to the greatest extent from the perspective of road planning. Based on the dynamic response model of the equipment, the relationship between the ground spectrum response and the cumulative fatigue damage of the equipment is analyzed. Based on the method of probability and statistics, an equipment fatigue prediction model is established. Based on the study of the relationship between the roughness of pavement grade and the reliability of equipment, the low-risk path planning is proposed. This paper adapts the Dijkstra shortest path algorithm. Not only the basic information such as the length of the highway is considered but also the road factors related to the reliability of the equipment and the environmental factors affecting the driving safety are considered. Try to avoid the adverse environment which has a great impact on the reliability of the equipment, reduce the vibration fatigue of the equipment in the process of transportation, and improve the quality of transportation. Using geographic information system secondary development, database, global positioning system positioning, and other technologies, this paper provides users with the shortest path and low-risk path planning for reference, which has a certain practical significance for highway transportation of high reliability products such as vulnerable products, precision instruments, and special equipment.
Multi-Point Substructure Coupling Method to Compensate Multi-Accelerometer Masses in Measuring Rotation-Related Frequency Response Functions
Authors: Ji Yulei , Chen Yanren , Zhang Shaokun , Bi Qingzhen , Wang Yuhan
Published: June 2021

Tool-tip frequency response functions (FRFs) are often required in milling vibration analysis. Receptance coupling substructures analysis (RCSA) affords an efficient analytical way for different tool-tip FRFs prediction with only one modal test. The coupling theory includes both translational and rotational degrees-of-freedom, so rotation-related FRFs are essential to know in the test. The finite-differential technique is generally used to measure these special FRFs due to the avoidance of specialist equipment. The technique uses several translational accelerometers spatially placed close to each other to approximate the rotational vibration. However, the added sensor masses lead to a frequency shift of the test structure, and the phenomenon would aggravate as the sensors increase. The polluted measurement data would subsequently decrease the tool-tip FRFs prediction accuracy. Addressing this problem, this paper introduces a multi-point substructure coupling method to simultaneously compensate the multi-accelerometer masses in a single experimental setup. The proposed method considers the installed accelerometers as multiple point masses and then uses inverse coupling calculation to isolate their effect. The compensation procedure is first effectively validated in simulation and experiment, and then, it is integrated into an RCSA-based application of predicting different tool-tip dynamics. Experimental results show that the compensated FRF data can improve prediction accuracy, especially when predicting tools shorter than the tested tool.
Rock and roll of an ellipse
Authors: Heppler G. R. , D'Eleuterio G. M. T.
Published: June 2021

An ellipse on a non-slip inclined plane can rock, roll, or jump. Below a threshold energy, it rocks about its static equilibrium configuration. Above this energy, it rolls, and, if it rolls, it will eventually jump off the incline after some number of rolls. It is shown that jumping can only occur in certain configurations of the ellipse.
Machine-learning of long-range sound propagation through simulated atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Hart Carl R. , Wilson D. Keith , Pettit Chris L. , Nykaza Edward T.
Published: June 2021

Conventional numerical methods can capture the inherent variability of long-range outdoor sound propagation. However, computational memory and time requirements are high. In contrast, machine-learning models provide very fast predictions. This comes by learning from experimental observations or surrogate data. Yet, it is unknown what type of surrogate data is most suitable for machine-learning. This study used a Crank-Nicholson parabolic equation (CNPE) for generating the surrogate data. The CNPE input data were sampled by the Latin hypercube technique. Two separate datasets comprised 5000 samples of model input. The first dataset consisted of transmission loss (TL) fields for single realizations of turbulence. The second dataset consisted of average TL fields for 64 realizations of turbulence. Three machine-learning algorithms were applied to each dataset, namely, ensemble decision trees, neural networks, and cluster-weighted models. Observational data come from a long-range (out to 8 km) sound propagation experiment. In comparison to the experimental observations, regression predictions have 5–7 dB in median absolute error. Surrogate data quality depends on an accurate characterization of refractive and scattering conditions. Predictions obtained through a single realization of turbulence agree better with the experimental observations.
Structure and dynamics of large ring polymers
Authors: Kruteva Margarita , Allgaier Jürgen , Monkenbusch Michael , Hoffmann Ingo , Richter Dieter
Published: June 2021

We report a comprehensive study on the molecular conformation and dynamics of very large poly(ethylene oxide) rings in the melt: (i) for all rings, independent of the ring size, by small angle neutron scattering we observe a crossover from a strong Q-dependence at intermediate Q to a Q−2 dependence at higher Q. Constructing a generic model including a crossover from Gaussian statistics at short distances to more compact structures at larger distances, we find the crossover at a distance along the ring of Ne,0=45±2.5 monomers close to the entanglement distance in the linear counterpart. This finding is clear evidence for the predicted elementary loops building the ring conformation. (ii) The radius of gyration Rg(N) follows quantitatively the result of numerous simulations. However, other than claimed, the crossover to mass fractal statistics does occur around N≅10Ne,0, but up to N≅44Ne,0, the relation Rg(N)∼N0.39 holds. The self-similar ring dynamics was accessed by pulsed field gradient-NMR and neutron spin echo spectroscopy: we find three dynamic regimes for center of mass diffusion starting (i) with a strong subdiffusive domain ⟨rcom2(t)⟩∼tα(0.4≤α≤0.65), (ii) a second subdiffusive region ⟨rcom2(t)⟩∼t0.75 that (iii) finally, crosses over to Fickian diffusion. The internal dynamics at scales below the elementary loop size is well described by the ring Rouse motion. At larger scales, the dynamics is self-similar and follows very well the predictions of scaling models with a preference for the fractal loopy globule model. Finally, we note that the key results were previously published in the form of two letters [Kruteva et al., ACS Macro Lett. 9, 507–511 (2020) and Kruteva et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 238004 (2020)].
Rheo-IR: A combined setup for correlating chemical changes via FTIR spectroscopy and rheological properties in a strain-controlled rheometer
Authors: Radebe Nonkululeko W. , Fengler Christian , Klein Christopher O. , Figuli Roxana , Wilhelm Manfred
Published: June 2021

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a common tool for determining, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the chemical composition of a material in the solid, liquid, or gas phase. It is additionally used as a technique to monitor the rate of chemical changes. These chemical changes can have rheological relevance, e.g., polymerization kinetics, rubber crosslinking, or epoxy curing, just to mention a few. We report the design of an IR transparent upper-plate rheological geometry used as an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sampling tool. Additionally, we describe the technical and methodological adaption of the ATR crystal into an ARES G2 rheometer for combined FTIR and rheological measurements. In this new setup, a strain-controlled rheometer is combined with an ATR crystal and the IR beam is guided through two off-axis parabolic mirrors to the quasi-static upper plate of the rheometer to gain maximum IR sensitivity. Thereby online and directly correlated real-time FTIR spectra can be acquired while simultaneously conducting rheological measurements. This allows for in situ correlation of macroscopic rheological properties with microscopic and molecular chemical changes. These experiments are conducted for a material under controlled conditions having exactly the same sample time evolution for both measurements. To demonstrate its potential, this newly developed method was applied to correlate the polymer network formation for a free-radical copolymerization of acrylic acid and methylenebis(acrylamide) as a crosslinking agent via IR spectroscopy and the respective mechanical time evolution, in a dilute water-based solution.
Assessment of Diet-Related Changes on Albendazole Absorption, Systemic Exposure, and Pattern of Urinary Excretion in Treated Human Volunteers
Authors: Ceballos L. , Nieves E. , Juárez M. , Aveldaño R. , Travacio M. , Martos J. , Cimino R. , Walson J. L. , Krolewiecki A. , Lanusse C. , Alvarez L.
Published: June 2021

Soil-transmitted-helminth (STH) infections are a persistent global public health problem. Control strategies for STH have been based on the use of mass drug administration (MDA) mainly targeting preschool- and school-aged-children, although there is increasing interest in expanding treatment to include adults and others through community-wide MDA. Coverage assessment is critical to understanding the real effectiveness of albendazole (ALB) treatment in those MDA programs.
Novel Nonnucleoside Inhibitors of Zika Virus Polymerase Identified through the Screening of an Open Library of Antikinetoplastid Compounds
Authors: Sáez-Álvarez Yanira , Jiménez de Oya Nereida , del Águila Carmen , Saiz Juan-Carlos , Arias Armando , Agudo Rubén , Martín-Acebes Miguel A.
Published: June 2021

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen responsible for neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and congenital malformations (microcephaly). Its ability to cause explosive epidemics, such as that of 2015 to 2016, urges the identification of effective antiviral drugs.
Migmatite and leucogranite in a continental-scale exhumed strike-slip shear zone: Implications for tectonic evolution and initiation of shearing
Authors: Li Junyu , Cao Shuyun , Cheng Xuemei , Neubauer Franz , Wang Haobo , Lv Meixia
Published: June 2021

Plutons within continental strike-slip shear zones bear important geological processes on late-stage plate transpression and continent-continent collision and associated lateral block extrusion. Where, when, and how intrusions and shearing along transpressional strike-slip shear zones respond to plate interactions, however, are often debated. In this study, we investigated migmatite associated leucogranite and pegmatite from the exhumed >1000-km-long Ailao Shan-Red River left-lateral strike-slip shear zone in Southeast Asia that was active during India-Eurasia plate convergence. Most zircons from the migmatites and leucogranitic intrusions present inherited core-rim structure. The depletion of rare earth element patterns and positive Eu anomalies suggest that leucosomes and leucogranites are the result of crustal anatexis. Zircon rims from the foliated migmatites and leucogranites record U-Pb ages of 41–28 Ma, revealing the timing of the Cenozoic crustal anatexis event along this strike-slip shear zone. Ages of the magmatic zircons from the unfoliated pegmatites provide the timing of the termination of a high-temperature tectono-thermal event and ductile left-lateral shearing at 26–23 Ma. The Cenozoic crustal anatexis along the Ailao Shan-Red River strike-slip shear zone indicates that thickened crust underneath the shear zone involved previously subducted crust. We propose that the Cenozoic thermal state has an important effect on the crustal anatexis and thus on the rheological behavior of the lithosphere by thermal weakening, which plays an essential role in localizing the initiation of the deep-seated lower-crustal shear zone.
Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis and coronary thrombectomy in a patient with metastatic small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Gray Kelsey Margaret , Nguyen Bao , Baker Larissa , Ahmad Masood
Published: June 2021

A 66-year-old Caucasian man was initially admitted with a metastatic small cell lung carcinoma, hyponatraemia and obstructive pneumonia. His transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was normal. Ten days after admission, he was diagnosed with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI). Both a repeated TTE and a transoesophageal echocardiogram identified thickened, myxomatous mitral valve leaflet tips with small, mobile masses identified as vegetations, and new, eccentric, severe mitral regurgitation. Subsequent cardiac catheterisation recorded thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery. Successful coronary thrombectomy was carried out, but the patient died. A diagnosis of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis leading to coronary embolisation and MI was made. The clinical course and treatment choices are discussed.
Robotic resection for hydatid disease of the liver
Authors: Yaghi Marita , Zorkot Maya , Kanso Mariam , Faraj Walid
Published: June 2021

Robotic-assisted surgery for the management of hepatic echinococcosis was introduced in 2016. The advantage it offers over laparoscopy is less rigidity with the use of the 360° rotation of the Endo-Wrist technology, thus allowing the preservation of the integrity of the liver tissue. Herein, we report the first successful robotic resection of the left lobe of the liver for hydatid disease in the Middle East. Our patient is a 71-year-old man found to have a large left hepatic lobe hydatid disease on CT scan. The hydatid liver disease was resected completely with an operation time of 130 min and minimal intraoperative blood loss. Patient did well postoperatively and was discharged home on day 2. Our experience shows that robotic surgery for hydatid disease of the liver can be safely performed, with an excellent outcome to the patient. It also provides unique technical advantages in the field of minimal-invasive surgery.
Infective endocarditis by a rare and fastidious agent:Abiotrophia defectiva
Authors: Mosca Ana Margarida , Mané Fenando , Marques Pires Carla , Medeiros Paulo
Published: June 2021

Abiotrophia defectivais a nutritional variant streptococcus, with affinity for endovascular structures that cannot be cultured on non-supplemented media, leading to a delay in diagnosis. This case describes a 36-year-old woman with a previously known bicuspid aortic valve that presented with asthenia, myalgias and anorexia with 2-month onset. On admission, we documented fever and a systolic murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an oscillating mass attached to the aortic valve. The patient was admitted with a possible diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Later, blood cultures were positive forA. defectiva. Due to severe aortic regurgitation and congestive heart failure, she underwent surgical aortic valve replacement. After 6 weeks of antimicrobial therapy, the patient experienced full recovery. Despite of its rarity,A. defectivaendocarditis is associated with significant morbidity with mortality and physicians must have a high level of suspicion to ensure a prompt diagnosis and provide the appropriate treatment.
Clinical implications of atrial natriuretic peptide amyloidosis
Authors: Hyer Chad , Campbell Courtney , Kahwash Rami
Published: June 2021

A 74-year-old woman with a history of diastolic heart failure and refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) presented with unstable angina for coronary artery bypass grafting. Routine pathological analysis of tissue specimens obtained from the left atrial appendage revealed subendocardial and interstitial fibrosis and patchy amyloid deposits with Congo red staining demonstrating filamentous deposits. Mass spectrometry was consistent with isolated atrial amyloidosis (IAA). IAA in this patient was found incidentally on routine postoperative pathology, but likely contributed to significant morbidity. The established relationship between IAA with AF and diastolic heart failure underscores the relevance. Further delineating the pathogenesis has potentially immense implications for the future management of associated conditions. To bridge the gaps in the understanding, a standardised approach to diagnosis is needed to open the door to a large-scale study and further work toward establishing evidence-based management pathways.
Dilemma in diagnosis and management of rare primary pleural Ewing’s sarcoma with synchronous limited metastatic disease
Authors: Bhaskaran Abhijith , Sethi Pooja , Toi Pampa Ch , Penumadu Prasanth
Published: June 2021

We present a case of a 34-year-old woman who presented with complaints of fever, cough and dyspnoea of 2 months’ duration. On evaluation, she was diagnosed with a rare entity primary pleural Ewing’s sarcoma with synchronous metastases to mediastinal, supraclavicular nodes and single vertebra. Due to the rarity of this entity and lack of treatment guidelines on extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma, the patient was managed with a combination of multiagent chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy as per standard guidelines for skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma. We present this case to discuss differential diagnoses and management dilemmas encountered on the use of local modalities such as surgery and radiotherapy for control of primary and metastatic sites.
Earlier initiation of palliative care in the disease trajectory of people living with dementia: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Gilissen Joni , Hunt Lauren , Van den Block Lieve , van der Steen Jenny , Tahir Peggy , Ritchie Christine
Published: June 2021

Introduction

While the need for palliative care for people living with dementia has widely been recognised, they continue to be a disadvantaged group when it comes to timely initiation, and controversies remain regarding appropriate timing, or what elements constitute high quality palliative care early in the disease trajectory. To date, no literature review has summarised this debate or offered insights. The aim of this scoping review is to provide a general overview of research regarding palliative care in mild or moderate dementia, to identify existing controversies, and to examine what are key components of palliative care in dementia, specifically when initiated earlier in the disease trajectory.

Methods and analysis

Consistent with recent guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews, we carried out a search for academic literature in PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science; on 5 November 2019 and an updated search on 2 February 2021. We will include studies with different study designs published in English over the last decade that focused on palliative care in early stages of dementia. We will include models targeting at least one outcome domain of palliative care (physical, psychological, social or spiritual) and advance care planning, and will exclude hospice models with limited prognosis similar to the requirements in the USA. We will report study characteristics and quality. We aim to apply narrative synthesis techniques to develop a theoretical model of how, for whom and why palliative care can be relevant in early stages of dementia, and what are facilitators and barriers. We anticipate to also describe if and how the concept of (early) palliative care in dementia changed across time and studies.

Ethics and dissemination

No ethical review required. Results will identify research gaps and lay out basic principles for conceptualising palliative care in early stages of dementia.
Policy implementation analysis on access to healthcare among undocumented immigrants in seven autonomous communities of Spain, 2012–2018
Authors: Gogishvili Megi , Costa Sergio A , Flórez Karen , Huang Terry T
Published: June 2021

Background

In 2012, the Government of Spain enacted Royal Decree-Law (RDL) 16/2012 and Royal Decree (RD) 1192/2012 excluding undocumented immigrants from publicly funded healthcare services. We conducted a policy implementation analysis to describe and evaluate the legal and regulatory actions taken at the autonomous community (AC) level after enactment of 2012 RDL and RD and their impact on access to general healthcare and HIV services among undocumented immigrants.

Methods

We reviewed documents published by the governments of seven ACs (Andalucía, Aragón, Euskadi (Basque Country), Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, Madrid, Valencia) from April 2012 to July 2018, describing circumstances under which undocumented immigrants would be able to access free healthcare services. We developed indicators according to the main systemic barriers presented in official documents to analyse access to free healthcare across the participating ACs. ACs were grouped under five access categories: high, medium-high, medium, medium-low and low.

Results

Andalucía provided the highest access to free healthcare for undocumented immigrants in both general care and HIV treatment. Medium-high access was provided by Euskadi and medium access by Aragón, Madrid and Valencia. Castilla-La Mancha provided medium-low access. Galicia had low access. Only Madrid and Galicia provided different and higher level of access to undocumented migrants in HIV care compared with general healthcare.

Conclusions

Implementation of 2012 RDL and RD across the ACs varied significantly, in part due to the decentralisation of the Spanish healthcare system. The challenge of healthcare access among undocumented immigrants included persistent systemic restrictions, frequent and unclear rule changes, and the need to navigate differences across ACs of Spain.
Getting Recovery Right After Neck Dissection (GRRAND-F): mixed-methods feasibility study to design a pragmatic randomised controlled trial protocol
Authors: Gallyer Victoria , Smith Toby O , Fordham Beth , Dutton Susan , Chester-Jones Mae , Lamb Sarah E , Winter Stuart C
Published: June 2021

Introduction

We will evaluate the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial to estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a rehabilitation intervention on pain, function and health-related quality of life following neck dissection (ND) after head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods and analysis

This is a pragmatic, multicentred, feasibility study. Participants are randomised to usual care (control) or usual care plus an individualised, rehabilitation programme (Getting Recovery Right After Neck Dissection, GRRAND intervention). Adults aged over 18 with HNC for whom ND is part of their care will be recruited from specialist clinics. Participants are randomised in 1:1 ratio using a web-based service. The target sample size is 60 participants. Usual care will be received by all participants during their postoperative inpatient stay consisting standard National Health Service care supplemented with a booklet advising on postoperative self-management strategies. The GRRAND intervention programme consists of usual care plus up to six individual physiotherapy sessions including neck and shoulder range of motion (ROM) and progressive resistance exercises, advice and education. Between sessions participants will be advised to complete a home exercise programme. The primary outcome is to determine recruitment and retention rates from study participants across sites. Outcomes will be measured at 6 and 12 months. Participants and physiotherapists will be invited to an optional qualitative interview at the completion of their involvement in the study. The target qualitative sample size is 15 participants and 12 physiotherapists. Interviews aim to further investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and to determine wider experiences of the study design and intervention from patient and physiotherapist perspectives.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was given on 29 October 2019 (National Research Ethics Committee Number: 19/SC/0457). Results will be reported at conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN11979997.

Status

Trial recruitment is ongoing and is expected to be completed by 30 August 2021.