bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Homogeneity and Trends of Hydroclimatic Variables in Upper Awash River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Daba Mekonnen H. , Ayele Gebiaw T. , You Songcai
Published: November 2020

Understanding long-term trends in hydroclimatic variables is important for future sustainable water resource management as it could show the possible regime shifts in hydrology. The main objective of this study was to analyze the homogeneity and trends of hydroclimatic data of Upper Awash Sab-Basin (UASB) in Oromia, Ethiopia, by employing homogeneity tests and Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slope tests. The data consist of 18 rainfall stations, 8 temperature stations, and 8 flow gauging stations across the UASB. Homogeneity and trends in streamflow, rainfall, and temperature variables were analyzed for the time period 1980 to 2017. In order to analyze homogeneity of hydroclimatic variables, we used four homogeneity tests (Pettitt’s test, Buishand’s test, standard normal homogeneity test, and von Neumann ratio test) at 5% significance level. Based on the outputs of four homogeneity tests, the results were classified into three categories, namely, “useful,” “doubtful,” and “suspect” to select the homogeneity stations. Mann-Kendall (Z) and Sen’s slope tests (Q) were applied for the selected homogeneous time series to detect the trend and magnitude of changes in hydroclimatic variables. The result showed that most of the stations in annual rainfall and streamflow data series were classified as useful. It is found that 58% of the rainfall stations were homogeneous. It is highlighted that 3 out of 8 discharge gauging stations have an inhomogeneity as they failed from one or a combination of the four tests. The MK revealed significant decreasing trends of annual rainfall in Addis Alem (Q = −19.81), Akaki (Q = −5.60), Hombole (Q = −9.49), and Ghinch (Q = −12.38) stations. The trend of annual temperature was a significant increasing trend in Addis Ababa Bole (Q = 0.05), Addis Ababa Tikur Ambessa (Q = 0.03), Tulu Bolo (Q = 0.07), and Addis Alem (Q = 0.06) stations. The results of discharge showed a significant increasing trend in Bega at Mojo (Q = 0.17) and Hombole (Q = 0.03) gauging stations. In general, the results obtained from discharge, rainfall, and temperature series indicated that most of the stations exhibited no trends in both annual and seasonal time series. It can be concluded that decreases in average annual rainfall totals and increases in mean annual temperature will probably drive sub-basin scale changes in discharge. We believe that the results obtained can fill information gaps on homogeneity and trends of hydroclimatic variables, which is very crucial for future water resource planning and management in the face of climate change.
Exploring Influencing Factors of Passenger Satisfaction toward Bus Transit in Small-Medium City in China
Authors: Li Xiaowei , Fan Jingkun , Wu Yao , Chen Jun , Deng Xuefeng
Published: November 2020

This paper aims to explore the factors influencing passengers’ satisfaction toward bus transit and develop the improvement strategy for the small-medium city. Data including individual attributes, travel activity attributes, and perceived service attributes were collected in the city of Weinan, China. The ordered logit (OL) model and ordered Probit (OP) model were employed to explore the significant factors associated with passengers’ satisfaction toward bus transit. The odds ratio (OR) was applied to quantitatively measure the effects of the significant factors. Improving strategies of bus transit service were proposed based on the model results using the three-factor theory. Results show that the OL model outperforms the OP model. The age, daily average waiting time, perceived waiting time, transferring convenience, the attitude of the driver, intelligent travel information service, hygienic environment inside the bus, ticket price, bus route setting, and bus stop setting significantly affect the passengers’ satisfaction. Among them, the ticket price, perceived waiting time, bus stop setting, intelligent travel information service, transferring convenience, and bus route setting were identified as exciting factors. It is recommended that optimization of bus route and bus stop setting, building bus dedicated lanes, optimizing dynamic charging system, and providing intelligent travel information service could be effective strategies to improve passengers’ satisfaction toward bus transit in Chinese small-medium cities.
A Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical Coupling Study of Heat Extraction from the Geothermal Reservoir with a Discrete Fracture Network
Authors: Ye Zhiwei , Wang J. G.
Published: November 2020

The complex thermal-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) coupling is the key issue to the energy extraction from a geothermal reservoir, where fractures are the main channels for fluid circulation and heat transfer. However, the effects of matrix deformation-induced aperture variation and fracture roughness on heat recovery efficiency are unclear. In this paper, a fully coupling THM model based on a discrete fracture network is proposed to explore these coupling effects. First, the fracture roughness and the fracture aperture variation with effective stress are introduced. Second, the water flow and heat transfer in the matrix and fractures as well as the deformation of the geothermal reservoir are individually formulated for a fractured geothermal reservoir. Third, the model is validated with analytical solution for its thermal-hydraulic (TH) coupling effect and literature data for its hydraulic-mechanical (HM) coupling effect. Finally, the features of heat transfer and fluid flow in the fractured geothermal reservoir are comparatively analyzed through four scenarios. The simulation results indicate that the discrete fracture network severely impacts the pressure distribution and temperature advance. The aperture variation induced by solid deformation can enhance heat transfer efficiency, and the fracture roughness can reduce the heat transfer efficiency.
Periostitis Ossificans: Report of Two Cases Resolved with Endodontic Treatment
Authors: Bougatef Hana , Moussaoui Eya , Kallel Ines , Smaoui Mahmoud , Oualha Lamia , Douki Nabiha
Published: November 2020

Periostitis ossificans is a chronic disease characterized by an ossifying periostitis, occurring in children and young adults, commonly as a reaction to a mild infection or irritation. It is also characterized by the presence of lamellae of newly formed periosteal bone outside the cortex, giving the characteristic radiographic appearance of “onion skin.” Aim. The aim of this paper was to present the clinical and radiographic findings, as well as the postoperative follow-up of two cases diagnosed with periostitis ossificans of dental origin, and to discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment modalities. Case Reports. In the first case, a 16-year-old adolescent was referred for a persistent mandibular swelling. Intraoral examination showed two sinus tracts in relation to the carious necrotic left mandibular first molar. The periapical radiograph showed a periapical lesion in relation to the two root canals of the left mandibular first molar. Occlusal radiographs revealed the “onion skin” bone formation aspect. In the second case, a 10-year-old girl presented to our department with a slightly painful mandibular swelling. The periapical radiograph showed a periapical lesion in relation to both the mesial and distal roots of the carious necrotic right mandibular first molar. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) showed a subperiosteal bone formation with an “onion skin” aspect. Diagnosis of periostitis ossificans in the two cases was confirmed and the lesion was resolved by simply an endodontic treatment. Conclusion. Specific attention should be given to clinical and radiographic exploration in case of children with mandibular swelling. As osteosarcoma can be misdiagnosed, additional examinations, such as computed tomography, can be useful in differential diagnosis and in searching malignancy signs.
Removal of 17β-Estradiol (E2) from Aqueous Solutions Using Potassium Permanganate Combined with Ultraviolet (KMnO4/UV)
Authors: Ataee Monirah , Fadaei Abdolmajid , Mardani Gashtasb , Sedehi Morteza
Published: November 2020

17β-Estradiol (E2) has a significant health risk to humans, even at the ng/L level, and is discharged to the aqueous environment through wastewater. Advanced oxidation processes were proposed as an efficient process for the removal of E2. In this study, a combination of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) and KMnO4 was applied for the removal of E2. Results have shown that the removal efficiency of E2 in pH 4 (acidic condition) was 93.80 ± 0.42%. But, removal efficiency in neutral (7) and alkaline (10) conditions was 78.3 ± 2.12% and 84 ± 0.71%, respectively. The effect of Fe+2, Ca+2, Mg+2, Mn+2, and Fe+3 ions (1 mg/L) was investigated in optimized pH (4). Mn+2, Fe+2, and Ca+2 ions enhanced the removal efficiency to 94.8 ± 0.84%, 95.55 ± 0.07%, and 94.7 ± 0.14%, respectively

p
>
0.05

, while Mg+2 and Fe+3 ions decreased the removal efficiency significantly to 76.15 ± 1% and 83.91 ± 0.3%

p
<
0.05

. The efficiency of E2 removal in the presence of 5 mg/L of PAC reduced significantly to 85 ± 4.24%

p
<
0.05

. Also, humic substances like humic acid, fulvic acid, and a combination of them could enhance the efficiency to 99.87 ± 0.01%, 99.9 ± 0.06%, and 99.93 ± 0.014%, respectively

p

>

0.05

. The result indicates that the rate of oxidation of E2 is related to the second exponent of the initial concentration of E2 for optimum pH and the presence of all ions. But, in the presence of humic substances, the first-order kinetic reaction was best applicable in describing oxidation of E2. Removal of chemical oxygen demand for E2 after 120 minutes’ of contact time at optimum pH (86 ± 4.2%) demonstrated mineralization of these compounds at acceptable levels. Results presented that the UV-C/KMnO4 process is efficient for the removal of hormones from the aqueous solution.
A Review on Oxidative Stress, Diabetic Complications, and the Roles of Honey Polyphenols
Authors: Pasupuleti Visweswara Rao , Arigela Chandra Sekhar , Gan Siew Hua , Salam Sirajudeen Kuttulebbai Nainamohamed , Krishnan Kumara Thevan , Rahman Nurhanan Abdul , Jeffree Mohammad Saffree
Published: November 2020

Despite the availability of various antidiabetic drugs, diabetes mellitus (DM) remains one of the world’s most prevalent chronic diseases and is a global burden. Hyperglycaemia, a characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), substantially leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), triggering oxidative stress as well as numerous cellular and molecular modifications such as mitochondrial dysfunction affecting normal physiological functions in the body. In mitochondrial-mediated processes, oxidative pathways play an important role, although the responsible molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The impaired mitochondrial function is evidenced by insulin insensitivity in various cell types. In addition, the roles of master antioxidant pathway nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/antioxidant response elements (ARE) are being deciphered to explain various molecular pathways involved in diabetes. Dietary factors are known to influence diabetes, and many natural dietary factors have been studied to improve diabetes. Honey is primarily rich in carbohydrates and is also abundant in flavonoids and phenolic acids; thus, it is a promising therapeutic antioxidant for various disorders. Various research has indicated that honey has strong wound-healing properties and has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral effects; thus, it is a promising antidiabetic agent. The potential antidiabetic mechanisms of honey were proposed based on its major constituents. This review focuses on the various prospects of using honey as an antidiabetic agent and the potential insights.
Experimental Study on Mesoscopic Shear Behavior of Calcareous Sand Material with Digital Imaging Approach
Authors: Shen Jianhua , Wang Xing , Liu Wenbai , Zhang Poyu , Zhu Changqi , Wang Xinzhi
Published: November 2020

The study of the mesostructure of soil under loading is the basis for understanding its macromechanical properties and for establishing its constitutive model. In this study, a series of shear tests was performed on dry calcareous sand under constant normal stress by a modified direct shear apparatus. Digital images of the sample at different shear stages are obtained. The mesostructural parameters of the sample are then extracted and analyzed using an image analysis technique. The results show that the shear‐band is located at the junction of the upper and lower shear boxes with a thickness of 0.79–1.59 mm. During shearing, the position of the maximum shear strain incremently shifted to the junctions between the two shear boxes. The azimuths of the particles prior to the test distribute symmetrically on both sides of 90°. After the test, the azimuths of the particles are mainly obtuse angles (150–180°) and the long axis of the particles generally points in the opposite direction from the shear‐band. The sand particles undergo four stages: random arrangement during initial sample preparation, compaction under normal stress, particle rotation during shearing, and ordered alignment after shearing. The test results help to reveal the movement mechanism of calcareous sand at the mesoscopic level during the direct shear process.
Microscopic Pore Structure Characteristics and Methane Adsorption of Vitrain and Durain
Authors: Yang Fu , Ma Dongmin , Duan Zhonghui , Ren Dazhong , Tian Tao , Liu Dengke
Published: November 2020

During reservoir evaluation, the microscopic pore structure of low-rank coal is mainly characterized in order to study the coalbed methane diffuse and migration mechanisms and control. The low-rank coals are very different in pore type and size, so it is necessary to use various techniques to describe their pore structure. For vitrain and durain of the Coal Member of the Yan’an Formation from Huanglong Coalfield, their chemical composition and microscopic pore structure characteristics were studied, and the factors of influencing the pore size distribution (PSD) were explored. Obviously, vitrain and durain are different in chemical composition. Vitrain has higher moisture content, volatile yield, and vitrinite group content than durain. Vitrain and durain mainly contain vitrinite and inertinite, respectively. The pore structure characteristics (e.g., pore types and PSD) of vitrain and durain were systematically by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption. The vitrain and durain samples with a micropore size of <2 nm were mainly tested on their specific surface area (SSA) and pore volume (PV). The results show that microporous vitrain has larger SSA and PV than microporous durain, while mesoporous and macroporous vitrain has smaller SSA and PV than mesoporous and macroporous durain. SSA is very positively correlated with PV. The ash content is negatively correlated with SSA and PV. The ash content influences microporous vitrain more greatly than microporous durain, but mesoporous and macroporous durain more greatly than mesoporous and macroporous vitrain. SSA is positively correlated with the vitrinite content of durain and negatively correlated with the inertinite and exinite contents of durain. However, SSA is negatively correlated with the vitrinite and exinite contents of vitrain and positively correlated with the inertinite content of vitrain. Vitrain has higher methane adsorption capacity, desorption rate, and recovery ratio than durain. There are parameters that are obviously affected by the micropore characteristics.
Exploiting Multiple Optimizers with Transfer Learning Techniques for the Identification of COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Fan Zeming , Jamil Mudasir , Sadiq Muhammad Tariq , Huang Xiwei , Yu Xiaojun
Published: November 2020

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and its induced death worldwide, it is imperative to develop a reliable tool for the early detection of this disease. Chest X-ray is currently accepted to be one of the reliable means for such a detection purpose. However, most of the available methods utilize large training data, and there is a need for improvement in the detection accuracy due to the limited boundary segment of the acquired images for symptom identifications. In this study, a robust and efficient method based on transfer learning techniques is proposed to identify normal and COVID-19 patients by employing small training data. Transfer learning builds accurate models in a timesaving way. First, data augmentation was performed to help the network for memorization of image details. Next, five state-of-the-art transfer learning models, AlexNet, MobileNetv2, ShuffleNet, SqueezeNet, and Xception, with three optimizers, Adam, SGDM, and RMSProp, were implemented at various learning rates, 1e-4, 2e-4, 3e-4, and 4e-4, to reduce the probability of overfitting. All the experiments were performed on publicly available datasets with several analytical measurements attained after execution with a 10-fold cross-validation method. The results suggest that MobileNetv2 with Adam optimizer at a learning rate of 3e-4 provides an average accuracy, recall, precision, and F-score of 97%, 96.5%, 97.5%, and 97%, respectively, which are higher than those of all other combinations. The proposed method is competitive with the available literature, demonstrating that it could be used for the early detection of COVID-19 patients.
Effect of Nonlinear Soil Model on Seismic Response of Slopes Composed of Granular Soil
Authors: Lee Yonghee , Kim Hak-Sung , Khalid Muhammad Irslan , Lee Yonggook , Park Duhee
Published: November 2020

A series of two‐dimensional finite element analyses are performed to simulate the seismic response of slope composed of granular soil. Four sets of input parameters for the nonlinear soil model are used to fit the reference the shear modulus reduction and damping curves, thereby to evaluate the influence of the nonlinear soil model. The first set is fitted to the shear modulus reduction curve. The second and third sets are fitted simultaneously to both shear modulus reduction and damping curves. The final set applied the shear strength adjustment to adequately capture the nonlinear soil response at large strains. The accuracy of each set of parameters are evaluated through comparison with centrifuge model test measurements. It is observed that the nonlinear soil model has a marginal influence on the acceleration response. On the contrary, the vertical settlement is highly influenced by the nonlinear soil model. The discrepancy is shown to increase with an increase in the intensity of the input ground motion. It is demonstrated that the adjustment for the shear strength is important in performing seismic analyses of slopes, which is most often ignored in practice. Based on the results, practical guidelines on how to select the parameters for the nonlinear soil model are provided.
Prevalence of Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Associated Factors in an Adult Chinese Population: Baseline of a Prediabetes Cohort Study
Authors: Yu Xinjie , Duan Fang , Lin Da , Li Hai , Zhang Jian , Wang Qiuyu , Wang Xianglong , Zhao Qian , Deng Jiayu , Song Guangwei , Ji Qingqing , Zheng Haihua , Chen Xiang , Zhou Guoyi
Published: November 2020

Purpose. To report baseline information of a prediabetes mellitus (PDM) cohort with the aim of exploring related factors for the progression of PDM and its complications. Methods. This study is an exploratory and cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from a cohort study. Residents aged 18 to 70 years from Houtang Village, Nanyue Town, Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province, China, were invited to participate between October 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. Blood samples were collected for analysis, and questionnaire interviews were conducted to assess behavioral characteristics. The study participants were divided into DM, PDM, and normal groups for comparisons based on their blood work, and multiple multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the risk factors for DM and PDM. Results. Data from 406 participants were used in the baseline analysis, with a mean age of 51.2 ± 11.0 years and 160 (33.0%) males. The number of participants in the DM, PDM, and normal group was 58 (14.3%), 166 (40.9%), and 182 (44.8%), respectively. The prevalence of DM was 14.3%, and the prevalence of PDM was 40.9%. The regression analysis showed that older age (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.11,

P
=
0.018

), higher systolic blood pressure (RRR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.004–1.08,

P
=
0.030

), higher BMI (RRR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.06–3.06,

P
=
0.004

), higher TG (RRR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.06–3.06,

P
=
0.029

), and higher WBC count (RRR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.07–1.64,

P
=
0.010

) were significantly associated with a higher risk of DM. Meanwhile, higher systolic blood pressure (RRR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.004–1.06,

P
=
0.025

) was the only factor significantly associated with a higher risk of PDM. Conclusion. The prevalence of DM and PDM is relatively high in this wealthy East China village population. Many modifiable risk factors exist for DM and PDM, which will be closely monitored during our longitudinal observation.
Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Intervertebral Disc Degeneration In Vivo and In Vitro: A Critical Review
Authors: Chang Yvang , Yang Ming , Ke Song , Zhang Yu , Xu Gang , Li Zhonghai
Published: November 2020

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a globally occurring disease that represents a significant cause of socioeconomic problems. Currently, the main method for treating IDD is surgery, including discectomy and vertebral fusion. Several in vitro experiments demonstrated that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could stimulate cell proliferation and extracellular matrix regeneration. Additionally, in vivo experiments have proven that PRP injection could restore intervertebral disc height. Clinical studies demonstrated that PRP injection could significantly relieve patient pain. However, further studies are still required to clarify the roles of PRP in IDD prevention and treatment. This review is aimed at summarizing and critically analyzing the current evidence regarding IDD treatment with PRP.
An Efficient Alternating Direction Explicit Method for Solving a Nonlinear Partial Differential Equation
Authors: Pourghanbar Somayeh , Manafian Jalil , Ranjbar Mojtaba , Aliyeva Aynura , Gasimov Yusif S.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, the Saul’yev finite difference scheme for a fully nonlinear partial differential equation with initial and boundary conditions is analyzed. The main advantage of this scheme is that it is unconditionally stable and explicit. Consistency and monotonicity of the scheme are discussed. Several finite difference schemes are used to compare the Saul’yev scheme with them. Numerical illustrations are given to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the scheme. In each case, it is found that the elapsed time for the Saul’yev scheme is shortest, and the solution by the Saul’yev scheme is nearest to the Crank–Nicolson method.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Admissions for COVID-19: Insights Using State-Level Data
Authors: Loomba Rohit S. , Villarreal Enrique G. , Farias Juan S. , Bronicki Ronald A. , Flores Saul
Published: November 2020

Introduction. Intensive care has played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic as many patients developed severe pulmonary complications. The availability of information in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) remains limited. The purpose of this study is to characterize COVID-19 positive admissions (CPAs) in the United States and to determine factors that may impact those admissions. Materials and Methods. This is a retrospective cohort study using data from the COVID-19 Virtual Pediatric System (VPS) dashboard containing information regarding respiratory support and comorbidities for all CPAs between March and April 2020. The state-level data contained 13 different factors from population density, comorbid conditions, and social distancing score. The absolute CPA count was converted to frequency using the state’s population. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the association between CPA frequency and admission endpoints. Results. A total of 205 CPAs were reported by 167 PICUs across 48 states. The estimated CPA frequency was 2.8 per million children in a one-month period. A total of 3,235 tests were conducted of which 6.3% were positive. Children above 11 years of age comprised 69.7% of the total cohort and 35.1% had moderated or severe comorbidities. The median duration of a CPA was 4.9 days (1.25–12.00 days). Out of the 1,132 total CPA days, 592 (52.2%) involved mechanical ventilation. The inpatient mortalities were 3 (1.4%). Multivariate analyses demonstrated an association between CPAs with greater population density (beta coefficient 0.01,

p
<
0.01

). Multivariate analyses also demonstrated an association between pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus with increased CPA duration requiring advanced respiratory support (beta coefficient 5.1,

p
<
0.01

) and intubation (beta coefficient 4.6,

p
<
0.01

). Conclusions. Inpatient mortality during PICU CPAs is relatively low at 1.4%. CPA frequency seems to be impacted by population density. Type 1 DM appears to be associated with increased duration of HFNC and intubation. These factors should be included in future studies using patient-level data.
Eradication of T-ALL Cells by CD7-targeted Universal CAR-T Cells and Initial Test of Ruxolitinib-based CRS Management
Authors: Li Shiqi , Wang Xinxin , Yuan Zhongtao , Liu Lin , Luo Le , Li Yu , Wu Kun , Liu Jia , Yang Chunhui , Li Zhimin , Wang Duanpeng , Shen Lianjun , Ye Xun , He Jiaping , Han Cong , Wang Youcheng , Zhang Dingsong , Dong Yancheng , Fang Lihua , Chen Yingnian , Sersch Martina , Cao Wei William , Wang Sanbin
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

Although chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy development for B-cell malignancies has made significant progress in the last decade, broadening the success to treating T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) has been limited. We conducted two clinical trials to verify the safety and efficacy of GC027, an “off-the-shelf” allogeneic CAR-T product targeting T-cell antigen, CD7. Here, we report 2 patients as case reports with relapsed/refractory T-ALL who were treated with GC027.

Patients and Methods:

Both the trials reported here were open-label and single-arm. A single infusion of GC027 was given to each patient after preconditioning therapy.

Result:

Robust expansion of CAR-T cells along with rapid eradication of CD7+ T lymphoblasts were observed in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and cerebrospinal fluid. Both patients achieved complete remission with no detectable minimal residual disease. At data cutoff, 30 September 2020, 1 of the 2 patients remains in ongoing remission for over 1 year after CAR T-cell infusion. Grade 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in both patients and was managed by a novel approach with a ruxolitinib-based CRS management. Ruxolitinib showed promising activity in a preclinical study conducted at our center. No graft-versus-host disease was observed.

Conclusions:

The two case reports demonstrate that a standalone therapy with this novel CD7-targeted “off-the-shelf” allogeneic CAR-T therapy may provide deep and durable responses in select patients with relapsed/refractory T-ALL. GC027 might have a potential to be a promising new approach for treating refractory/relapsed T-ALL. Further studies are warranted.
Early-Life Effects of Vitamin D: A Focus on Pregnancy and Lactation
Authors: Wagner Carol L. , Hollis Bruce W.
Published: November 2020

Vitamin D is an endocrine regulator of calcium and bone metabolism. Yet, its effects include other systems, such as innate and adaptive immunity. Unique to pregnancy, circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) increases early on to concentrations that are 2–3 times prepregnant values. At no other time during the lifecycle is the conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) to 1,25(OH)2D directly related and optimized at ≥100 nmol/L. Vitamin D deficiency appears to affect pregnancy outcomes, yet randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation achieve mixed results depending on when supplementation is initiated during pregnancy, the dose and dosing interval, and the degree of deficiency at the onset of pregnancy. Analysis of trials on an intention-to-treat basis as opposed to the use of 25(OH)D as the intermediary biomarker of vitamin D metabolism yields differing results, with treatment effects often noted only in the most deficient women. Immediately after delivery, maternal circulating 1,25(OH)2D concentrations return to prepregnancy baseline, at a time when a breastfeeding woman has increased demands of calcium, beyond what was needed during the last trimester of pregnancy, making one question why 1,25(OH)2D increases so significantly during pregnancy. Is it to serve as an immune modulator? The vitamin D content of mother’s milk is directly related to maternal vitamin D status, and if a woman was deficient during pregnancy, her milk will be deficient unless she is taking higher doses of vitamin D. Because of this relative “deficiency,” there is a recommendation that all breastfed infants receive 400 IU vitamin D3/day starting a few days after birth. The alternative – maternal supplementation with 6,400 IU vitamin D3/day, effective in safely raising maternal circulating vitamin D, that of her breast milk, and effective in achieving sufficiency in her recipient breastfeeding infant – remains a viable option. Additional research is needed to understand vitamin D’s influence on pregnancy health and the effect of maternal supplementation on breast milk’s immune signaling.
Choroid Metastasis in a Patient with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report
Authors: García Vásquez Ángel , Thomassiny Bautista Gabriela , Sardá Ramirez María José , Moheno Lozano Janet Amelia , Solorzano Enriquez Oscar , De la Rosa Jaime Erika
Published: November 2020

We present the case of a 43-year-old woman with unilateral loss of vision who had a history of cervical cancer, staged as FIGO IIIB, and who had undergone previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but was not a surgical candidate. An examination revealed serous retinal detachment with an underlying choroidal mass in the left eye. We reviewed all available published case reports of uterine cervix metastases to the eye and adnexa and compiled all information into a table to present clinical and epidemiological findings. Unilateral choroidal metastasis arising from cervical cancer is extremely rare. In most cases, a history of cervical carcinoma is confirmed in the advanced stage of the disease. Ocular metastasis may be the presenting feature of primary cervical malignancy; therefore, to rule out malignancy in every woman who develops these clinical features, a cervical examination should be included in the workup.
Akut suizidal-affektive Störung: Ein systematisches Review
Authors: Claus Carola , Teismann Tobias
Published: November 2020

Hintergrund: Die Arbeitsgruppe um Thomas Joiner postuliert ein als acute suicidal affective disturbance (ASAD) bezeichnetes Syndrom, welches durch vier Symptomgruppen (Suizidabsicht, Entfremdung, Hoffnungslosigkeit, Übererregung) definiert sein soll. Ziel des vorliegenden Artikels ist, die Literatur zum ASAD-Syndrom zusammenfassend darzustellen und eine Einschätzung vorzunehmen, inwieweit tatsächlich von einem einheitlichen Syndrom ausgegangen werden kann. Methoden: Im Rahmen einer Literaturrecherche konnten neun Artikel identifiziert werden, die im Zeitraum von 2016 bis 2020 zum Thema publiziert wurden. Ergebnisse und Schlussfolgerungen: Die Befundlage unterstützt den einheitlichen Störungscharakter und die Ab­grenzbarkeit der akut suizidal-affektiven Störung von anderen Störungsbildern. Die Aussagekraft der Befundlage ist dadurch eingeschränkt, dass bislang ausschließlich Querschnittsuntersuchungen durchgeführt wurden und keinerlei Befunde dazu vorliegen, ob ASAD tatsächlich suizidalem Verhalten vorausgeht.
Obesity as a Risk Factor for Radiographic Contrast-Induced Nephropathy
Authors: Kabeer Muhammad Asif , Cross Jennifer , Hamilton George , Rashid Sheikh Tawqeer
Published: November 2020

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is common. Risk factors include preexisting renal impairment, diabetes, elderly age, and dehydration. In a single-centre prospective study, we investigated which factors are implicated for CIN in patients with peripheral arterial disease due for angiography. Serum creatinine was measured before, 1, 2, and 7 days post-angiography. We also considered the chronic kidney disease stage of the patients at admission and 48 hours post-contrast. All patients received 500 mL normal saline pre- and post-angiography and a low-osmolality contrast medium. 6 of 94 patients developed CIN: 1 required dialysis and 1 died partly due to renal failure. Only 2 factors were associated with CIN: body mass index (BMI; P = .019) and kidney function ( P = .001); 4 of 6 patients with CIN were obese (BMI ≥30) and only 2 were nonobese ( P = .0092). Diabetes, contrast volume, and age were not significant risk factors. Our results confirm renal impairment raises the risk of CIN. To our knowledge, we report for the first time that obesity may be a risk factor for CIN. Pending confirmatory studies and given the rising prevalence of obesity, this finding could help identify at-risk patients and hence reduce the burden of CIN.
The mediating role of knowledge on the contact and stigma of mental illness in Hong Kong
Authors: Fang Qi , Zhang Tian-Ming , Wong Yin Ling Irene , Yau Yuen Yum , Li Xu-Hong , Li Jie , Chui Cheryl Hiu Kwan , Tse Samson , Chan Cecilia Lai-Wan , Chen Eric Yu Hai , Ran Mao-Sheng
Published: November 2020

Background:

Although knowledge is a crucial component in contact theory delineating how prejudice changes toward out-groups with stigmatized conditions, little is known about the mediating role of knowledge on contact, stigmatizing attitudes, and behaviors toward mental illness.

Aim:

This study aimed to examine the mechanism underlie contact and stigma change by knowledge.

Methods:

A total of 366 participants including family members (FM), mental health providers (MHP), and community residents (CR) recruited across communities in Hong Kong and completed measures of contact level, contact quantity, contact quality, mental health related knowledge, prejudice, and discriminatory behaviors. Structural equation modeling was adopted to test the association among the key variables.

Results:

Higher level of contact was significantly correlated with better knowledge, less prejudice, and less discriminatory behaviors. Knowledge was directly and negatively correlated with prejudicial attitudes but was not significantly related to discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, lower levels of prejudice were associated with less discriminatory behaviors.

Conclusion:

Enhancement of contact may increase understanding toward people with mental illness (PMI) and diminish stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors. Although prejudicial attitudes may be reduced by broadening mental health knowledge, increasing knowledge only might not ameliorate discriminatory behaviors. Future research should test mediators on contact and stigma by using longitudinal data.
Practice of Faith under COVID-19: Exceptional Cases
Authors: Singh David Emmanuel
Published: November 2020

Included here are some cases that highlight exceptional behaviour under the novel coronavirus (CV) pandemic that cuts across religious boundaries. The Christian cases were drawn from the United States and South Korea; Islamic cases were drawn both from India and Iran; and the Hindu and Sikh cases were highlighted from India. Of these, notably, Iran is a declared theocracy, whereas the United States and India are arguably contexts of rising Christian and Hindu theocracies. We are familiar with the evidence of the positive role of religions in society. This paper brings together exceptional cases where irrationality, control and selfishness trump wisdom and altruism. The evidence highlighted here shows that people are capable of suspending reason and behaving with a motive inspired by faith (often tarnished by the state’s intervention), even when it is clear there might be serious personal and social costs involved.
Internal Tandem Duplication of Exon 8 of c-kit Is Associated With Longer Total Survival in Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors
Authors: Brocks Bouvien A. W. , Bertram Christof A. , Bartel Alexander , Kirpensteijn Jolle , Collins-Webb Alexandra , Catlin Chuck , Thaiwong Tuddow , Kiupel Matti
Published: November 2020

Canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (ccMCTs) have a highly variable biological behavior and accurate prognostication is essential for therapeutic intervention. Internal tandem duplications (ITD) of exon 11 are the most commonly detected c-kit mutation in ccMCTs and are associated with poor prognosis and increased cellular proliferation. The prognostic value of detecting mutations in other exons of c-kit has not been systematically examined. In this study, we analyzed the prognostic value of ITD mutations of exon 8 in c-kit of ccMCTs in comparison to ccMCTs with ITD mutations of exon 11 and ccMCTs without mutations of exon 8 or 11. The mutational status, histological grade, KIT expression pattern, Ki67 index, AgNOR (argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region) score, and Ag67 score were determined in 221 ccMCTs, and outcome was available for 101 dogs. ITD mutations of exon 8 were found in 73/221 (33%), of exon 11 in 100/221 (45%), and none of these mutations in 50/221 (22%) of ccMCTs. None of the dogs with mutations of exon 8 died due to suspected ccMCT-related cause, but 23% dogs with ccMCTs with mutations of exon 11 died due to suspected ccMCT-related cause. Prognostic parameters in ccMCTs with exon 11 mutations were commonly associated with a high proliferative activity and poor prognosis, while prognostic markers in ccMCTs with mutations of exon 8 had lower values similar to those observed in ccMCTs without mutations in exons 8 or 11 of c-kit. This study indicates that screening for ITD mutations in exon 8 in ccMCTs may be helpful to identify less aggressive ccMCTs and may be recommended as a supplementary prognostic test.
Music and mindfulness meditation: Comparing four music stimuli composed under similar principles
Authors: Hernandez-Ruiz Eugenia , Dvorak Abbey L
Published: November 2020

Mindfulness meditation has frequently used sound and music as an important component. However, research on effective music stimuli is scarce. After a series of studies evaluating the most effective, useful, and preferred auditory stimuli, we were interested in exploring whether these effective musical features were transferred to new music. In this study, we evaluate our original music stimuli with three new stimuli composed under similar principles. Non-musician and musician participants ( N = 114) in a multisite study evaluated their mindfulness state after listening to four music stimuli, and rated their usefulness and preference. Results from a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) at each site indicated no significant difference in mindfulness effectiveness. Friedman’s ANOVAs for the usefulness of the music stimuli showed similar non-significant results in both sites. A mixed model among sites did not show significant differences among groups. Preference rankings were not significantly different for non-musicians, but musicians did show a statistically significant preference of the Original stimuli over Stimulus 2, probably due to sound quality. These results indicate the feasibility of transferring previously researched and effective musical features to new stimuli. Identifying the effective “active ingredients” of music interventions may be one way of supporting evidence-based practice in music therapy.
A Note on Relative Prices and Income Distribution over the US Business Cycle: 1857–2009
Authors: Puty Claudio Alberto Castelo Branco
Published: November 2020

This paper investigates the relation between relative prices and the income distribution by examining variations in output and prices occurred over thirty-three US business cycles from 1857 to 2009. Using a broad database, the author shows that average relative prices in twenty-seven industries of the US economy presented a remarkably smaller variation than the corresponding variation in output levels, profits and wages. These time-series results, although not conclusive, may provide additional empirical evidence of the Ricardian claim that even relative market prices in an industrial economy are strongly dominated by the correspondent integrated unit labor costs and that changes along a wage-profit schedule will play only a secondary role in their determination.

JEL classifications: E11, E32
Mothering in the Context of Violence: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Mothers’ Experiences in Regional Settings in Australia
Authors: Meyer Silke , Stambe Rose-Marie
Published: November 2020

Domestic and family violence (DFV) disproportionately affects women and children in Australia and globally. On average, one in three women experiences DFV during adulthood and the majority of these women identify as mothers. The prevalence of DFV is higher for Indigenous women and their experiences disproportionately range at the more severe end of physical abuse. For women affected by DFV, mothering during and post this type of victimization is complicated by strategic entrapment, undermining of the mother–child relationship, and threats of harm directed at children and mothers. While a substantial body of literature has examined the experiences of mothers affected by DFV more broadly, research on the experiences of Indigenous mothers affected by DFV remains scarce. Research evidence is further limited when trying to understand the specific constraints experienced by mothers affected by DFV in regional settings. This article examines the experiences of Indigenous and non-Indigenous mothers affected by DFV in regional Queensland, Australia. Data derived from 17 qualitative face-to-face interviews are used to explore the lived experiences of these mothers. Findings identify the immediate and long-term effects of DFV on mothers and children, including similarities and differences in women’s experiences of mothering in the context of DFV, experiences of entrapment in an abusive relationship, experiences of post-separation abuse, strategies used to mitigate its impact on children, and surviving as a female-headed single-parent household in regional settings. While mothers in this study shared a number of similar experiences, regionality, the risk of cultural disconnectedness, and socio-structural marginalization disproportionately affected Indigenous mothers in this study. Findings raise key implications for supporting mothers and children’s safety and recovery, access to safe and sustainable housing in regional towns, and the empowerment of Indigenous women to overcome the lasting effects of colonization and disproportionate experiences of disadvantage.
Are Positive Childhood Experiences Linked to Better Cognitive Functioning in Later Life?: Examining the Role of Life Course Pathways
Authors: Lee Haena , Schafer Markus
Published: November 2020

Objectives: We examine whether childhood family well-being is associated with cognitive functioning and to what extent the association between the family context and cognitive functioning is explained by adulthood resources. Methods: Data are drawn from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project Wave 3 (2015/2016; N = 3361). We measured cognitive functioning using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Childhood family factors included family-life happiness, family structure, and family socioeconomic status. Education, social connectedness, self-mastery, and self-rated health were assessed as adulthood resources. Results: Respondents who grew up in a happy family had significantly higher levels of cognitive functioning. The formal mediation test suggests that a happy family life during childhood has a positive association with later cognition, in part, by enhancing self-mastery in adulthood. Discussion: Our findings provide evidence that positive childhood experiences are linked to later life cognition. The sense of control people have over their life circumstances is one potential pathway explaining this association.
Super-twisting algorithm with fast super-twisting disturbance observer for steer-by-wire vehicles
Authors: Yang Yong , Yan Yunbing , Xu Xiaowei , Gong Bian
Published: November 2020

The control performance of a vehicle steer-by-wire (SBW) system can be seriously affected by vagaries of tyre-road conditions and external disturbance. Aiming at the problem of fast estimating and compensating the time-varying disturbance torque acting on the front wheels under different working conditions, this article presents a super-twisting algorithm (STA) combined with fast super-twisting disturbance observer (FSTDO) control scheme. At first the SBW system is modelled according to the experiment plant. Secondly, the FSTDO is designed according to SBW system model. A fast reaching law is adopted to accelerate the sliding variable convergence rate and enhance the response speed of the observer. The FSTDO-STA controller adopts STA control in closed-loop system. The control signal is continuous, so that, the chattering could be inhibited. The stability of FSTDO error dynamics and closed-loop dynamics is proved in the sense of Lyapunov. Finally, comparative verification experiments are carried out to demonstrate the validity of FSTDO-STA. The FSTDO-STA controller can quickly estimate and compensate disturbance torque under various operating conditions. Compared with other comparative algorithms, the proposed controller has some advantages in response speed, control accuracy and robustness. And it was corroborated by the experimental results.
Nursing, advocacy and public policy
Authors: Scott Shane Matthew , Scott P Anne
Published: November 2020

This article draws attention to the nature and importance of public policy. It argues that if nurses are to influence the quality of healthcare effectively, they must be engaged with policymakers to get nursing care issues on the policy agenda. There is an ethical imperative to do so, driven by the advocacy role of the nurse and rooted in the values base of nursing. In addition, it is argued that if one takes the role of patient advocacy seriously, as core to the nursing role, two things are required of nurses: We must (a) broaden the conceptualisation of patient advocacy beyond the individual patient to the system of healthcare resourcing and provision and (b) see systemic change as important as change at the bedside.
Teaching medical students remotely during a pandemic – what can psychiatry offer?
Authors: Khoo Taraneh , Warren Nicola , Jenkins Anna , Turner Jane
Published: November 2020

Objective:

The clinical teaching of psychiatry to medical students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has presented opportunities for support, engagement and learning above and beyond usual practice. Like other teaching faculties, we needed to quickly adapt the course material to an online platform. However, for psychiatric teaching, it was also essential to find alternatives to patient interviewing, and to provide support and containment in uncertain times. We aim to describe our philosophical stance and framework for the delivery of our online course.

Conclusions:

Key components in the delivery of our modified course were the transition to online learning and assessment, developing a suite of surrogate clinical learning experiences, using simulated patients for online interviewing, and attention to student well-being whilst providing a supportive and contained environment for student learning. Supportive leadership and good communication assisted the teaching staff to deliver the course during COVID-19.