bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategies to Identify Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Minimally Manipulated Human Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Lack Consensus
Authors: Ruoss Severin , Walker J. Todd , Nasamran Chanond A. , Fisch Kathleen M. , Paez Conner J. , Parekh Jesal N. , Ball Scott T. , Chen Jeffrey L. , Ahmed Sonya S. , Ward Samuel R.
Published: March 2021

Background:

There is a need to identify and quantify mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in human bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) source tissues, but current methods to do so were established in cultured cell populations. Given that surface marker and gene expression change in cultured cells, it is doubtful that these strategies are valid to quantify MSCs in fresh BMAC.

Purpose:

To establish the presence, quantity, and heterogeneity of BMAC-derived MSCs in minimally manipulated BMAC using currently available strategies.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

Five published strategies to identify MSCs were compared for suitability and efficiency to quantify clinical-grade BMAC-MSCs and cultured MSCs at the single cell transcriptome level on BMAC samples being used clinically from 15 orthopaedic patients and on 1 cultured MSC sample. Strategies included (1) the guidelines by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT), (2) CD271 expression, (3) the Ghazanfari et al transcriptional profile, (4) the Jia et al transcriptional profile, and (5) the Silva et al transcriptional profile.

Results:

ISCT guidelines did not identify any MSCs in BMAC at the transcriptional level and only 1 in 9 million cells at the protein level. Of 12,850 BMAC cells, 9 expressed the CD271 gene. Only 116 of 396 Ghazanfari genes were detected in BMAC, whereas no cells expressed all of them. No cells expressed all Jia genes, but 25 cells expressed at least 13 of 22. No cells expressed all Silva genes, but 19 cells expressed at least 8 of 23. Most importantly, the liberalized strategies tended to identify different cells and most of them clustered with immune cells.

Conclusion:

Currently available methods need to be liberalized to identify any MSCs in fresh human BMAC and lack consensus at the single cell transcriptome and protein expression levels. These different cells should be isolated and challenged to establish phenotypic differences.

Clinical Relevance:

This study demonstrated that improved strategies to quantify MSC concentrations in BMAC for clinical applications are urgently needed. Until then, injected minimally manipulated MSC doses should be reported as rough estimates or as unknown.
Which world, whose literature?
Authors: Chaudhuri Supriya
Published: March 2021

This essay argues that the ‘thought figure’ of world literature has been under incalculable strain from its inception, given the diversity of linguistic and cultural contexts within which it must be understood. After a brief introductory discussion of Rabindranath Tagore’s talk on world literature (1907), the essay goes on to connect world literature debates with those in global modernism, especially modernism in the colony. Looking at the networks of modernism, and the role of little magazines in India, particularly Bengal, in creating a sense of world literature through reviews and translations, it stresses the importance of location, language, and perspective in the wake of decolonization. However, in the present time of ecological and planetary crisis, with a global upsurge of xenophobia, insularity, and ethnic, racist, or communal violence, the notion of a world, or of a world literature, is hard to sustain.
Examination of the ‘5-2-1-0’ Recommendations in Racially Diverse Young Children Exposed to Tobacco Smoke
Authors: Mahabee-Gittens E. Melinda , Ding Lili , Merianos Ashley L. , Khoury Jane C. , Gordon Judith S.
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

The ‘5-2-1-0’ guidelines recommend that children: eat ≥5 servings of fruits/vegetables (‘5’), have ≤2 hours of screen-time (‘2’), have ≥1 hour of activity (‘1’), and drink 0 sugar-sweetened beverages (‘0’) daily. The pediatric emergency department (PED) treats children at risk for obesity and tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). We examined body mass index (BMI), overweight, obesity, TSE, and ‘5-2-1-0’ rates in children with TSE in the PED.

Design:

Cross-sectional study of PED children.

Setting:

The PED of a children’s hospital.

Sample:

Children with TSE >6 months-5 years old (N = 401).

Measures:

Sociodemographics, ‘5-2-1-0’ behaviors, BMI, and cotinine-confirmed TSE.

Analysis:

Associations between ‘5-2-1-0’ and sociodemographics were examined with logistic regression.

Results:

Mean (SD) age = 2.4 (1.6) years; 53.1% were Black; 65.8% had low-income; and 93.4% had TSE. Of 2-5-year-olds, mean (SD) BMI percentile was 66.2 (30.1), 16.1% were overweight and 20.6% were obese. In total, 10.5% attained ‘5’, 72.6% attained ‘2’, 57.8% of 2-5-year-olds attained ‘1’, and 9.8% attained ‘0’. Compared to White children, “other” race children were more likely to meet ‘5’ (aOR(95% CI):4.67(1.41, 5.45)); 2-5-years-olds (aOR(95%CI):0.60(0.38, 0.95)) and Black children (aOR(95%CI):0.36(0.21, 0.60)) were at decreased odds to meet ‘2’ compared to younger or White children, respectively. Compared to younger children, 2-5-year-olds were at decreased odds to meet ‘0’ (aOR(95%CI):0.08(0.02, 0.26)).

Conclusion:

Racially diverse, low-income children with TSE had low ‘5-2-1-0’ attainment. Interventions are needed to improve lifestyle habits in this population.
How Does Google Search Affect the Stock Market? Evidence from Indian Companies
Authors: Aziz Tariq , Ansari Valeed Ahmad
Published: March 2021

Google search data has received considerable attention for its predictive ability in various social and economic outcomes. In the arena of investments, a surge in online searches indicates an enhanced interest of investors, particularly retail, in that company. In this article, we have examined the association between Google search and stock prices in a sample of Indian companies. The results suggest that an increase in Google search is positively related to future excess stock returns, liquidity and volatility. The positive influence of Google search on stock prices, however, is temporary and reverses in the next week. We further show that the market sentiment moderates the interconnection between Google searches and future excess stock returns. The findings are in consonance with the ‘price pressure hypothesis’ of Barber and Odean (2008, Review of Financial Studies, 21(2), 785–818).
Effects of ICT Shared Mental Models on Team Processes and Outcomes
Authors: Müller Rebecca , Antoni Conny Herbert
Published: March 2021

Although existing studies have shown that shared mental models of information and communication technology (ICT shared mental models) are related to better computer-mediated teamwork, causal effects on team processes and outcomes remain unclear. This study analyzes the effects of ICT shared mental models on team effectiveness indicators via ICT use and team communication. Results based on 69 three-person teams show that manipulated ICT shared mental models significantly influence team performance, coordination effectiveness, and affective team commitment, partially mediated by consistent ICT use in a team and team communication. Study results extend findings on antecedents, mechanisms, and effects of ICT shared mental models.
Impact of alternative and fossil diesel fuels on internal flow of injection nozzle
Authors: Martos Francisco J , Soriano José A , Mata Carmen , Armas Octavio , Soto Felipe
Published: March 2021

This work presents a computational study about the effect of different fossil fuels (Diesel and GTL) and renewable (Farnesane and Biodiesel) on the characteristics of the nozzle fuel internal flow (speed flow, cavitation, mass flow rate and discharge coefficient). This investigation was focused on the pass of fuel from the volume around the tip of the injector needle to the nozzle holes. Several engine-operating conditions, characteristic of urban driving conditions, were tested. These conditions, characterized by their injection pressure and injection timing as well as the experimental rates of fuel injected, were simulated with all mentioned fuels. Solenoid operated seven holes injector, 0.15 mm orifice diameter was used. Results show the effect of fuel origin on the internal flow along the nozzle orifice of the injector. Among the results obtained are the following: at medium load the effect of the needle lift on the cavitation generation is more significant than the fluid circulation velocity and fuel origin impacts as follows: Biodiesel > GTL > Farnesane > Diesel; while, at medium or high engine speed, an increase of engine load causes a decrease of cavitation generation and fuel origin impacts as follows: Diesel >> Farnesane > GTL > Biodiesel.
The graded engagement model of admiration
Authors: Little Sabrina B.
Published: March 2021

Admiration is often described as having a singular motivational profile – the disposition to imitate. This article provides a developmental assessment of admiration’s action-potential, proposing a series of stages between (1) naïve imitation, a basic mimetic impulse, and (2) non-imitative virtuous actions. The process is marked by an increasing ability to represent the actions and desires of another, becoming the middle term between the learner and the exemplar. This developmental assessment is necessary because the leading accounts of moral development today lean on the idea of imitation as essential to the process of virtue acquisition without providing an explanation of how imitation works, psychologically speaking. Moreover, these accounts treat imitation as a static disposition, rather than one that matures over time. Insight regarding this developmental progression can provide us with a better sense of how to educate using exemplars in order to advance a learner from admiration to moral virtue. This article also fills in gaps in the admiration literature concerning how we regard inimitable excellences and contends that it may not be beneficial to emulate an exemplar’s motivations, in addition to her actions.
Prevalence of Hand Malformations in Patients With Moebius Syndrome and Their Management
Authors: Telich-Tarriba Jose E. , Navarro-Barquin David F. , Verdezoto-Gaibor Karol , Cardenas-Mejia Alexander
Published: March 2021

Background:

Moebius syndrome is a disorder characterized by facial and abducens nerve paralysis. Patients can present a wide range of upper extremity malformations. Literature focused on orthopedic manifestations of Moebius syndrome shows variability in the prevalence and clinical presentation of upper extremity anomalies. The aim of this work is to evaluate the prevalence of upper extremity malformations in patients with Moebius syndrome, clarify its various clinical presentations, and present treatment strategies for their management.

Methods:

This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study including patients with Moebius syndrome and upper extremity malformations between 2012 and 2019. Data include demographic characteristics, Moebius syndrome subtype, type of malformation, affected extremity, and surgical procedures underwent. Quantitative data were recorded as mean (standard deviation [SD]), and qualitative data were expressed in terms of totals and percentages. Statistical association between Moebius syndrome subtype and development of upper extremity anomalies was evaluated using binary logistic regression.

Results:

Twenty-five out of 153 patients (16.3%) presented upper extremity malformations (48% male). Mean age of presentation was 9.08 ± 9.43 years. Sixty-eight percent of the malformations were unilateral. The most common presentations included Poland syndrome and simple syndactyly with 8 cases each (32%), followed by 5 cases of brachysyndactyly (20%), 3 cases of amniotic band syndrome (12%), and 1 case of cleft hand (4%). No statistical association was found between Moebius syndrome subtype and odds ratio for development of upper extremity anomalies. Thirteen patients (52%) underwent reconstructive procedures.

Conclusion:

Poland syndrome and syndactyly are the most common anomalies in patients with Moebius syndrome. Patients may present with a wide range of hand malformations, each patient should be carefully evaluated in order to determine whether surgical treatment is needed and to optimize rehabilitation protocols.
From Genome-Wide to Environment-Wide: Capturing the Environome
Authors: von Stumm Sophie , d’Apice Katrina
Published: March 2021

Genome-wide association (GWA) studies have shown that genetic influences on individual differences in affect, behavior, and cognition are driven by thousands of DNA variants, each with very small effect sizes. Here, we propose taking inspiration from GWA studies for understanding and modeling the influence of the environment on complex phenotypes. We argue that the availability of DNA microarrays in genetic research is comparable with the advent of digital technologies in psychological science that enable collecting rich, naturalistic observations in real time of the environome, akin to the genome. These data can capture many thousand environmental elements, which we speculate each influence individual differences in affect, behavior, and cognition with very small effect sizes, akin to findings from GWA studies about DNA variants. We outline how the principles and mechanisms of genetic influences on psychological traits can be applied to improve the understanding and models of the environome.
Artbooks as witness of everyday resistance: Using art with displaced children living in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Clacherty Glynis
Published: March 2021

Artbooks, which are a combined form of picture and story book created using mixed media, can be a simple yet powerful way of supporting children affected by war and displacement to tell their stories. They allow children to work through the creative arts, which protects them from being overwhelmed by difficult memories. They also allow, even very young children, to show us how they cope with past violence and present injustice by recalling and representing the small everyday overcomings of their lives – a garden they planted in DRC, a mother who walks them across a busy Johannesburg street, a curtain blowing in the door of their new home – just as it did in their old home. The books allow them to witness to the injustice of xenophobic violence by neighbours and the immoveable bureaucracy attached to accessing documents, through representing the small details of their lives in crayons and paint. Making artbooks also allows for some measure of meaning-making in the chaos of the everyday in a hostile city where their parents struggle to maintain a normal life for them. Books are also a powerful way for children to safely share their stories and advocate for changed attitudes, laws and policies in the increasingly migrant-hostile South African society.

The article will tell the story of a book-making project run over a number of years at a community counselling centre that works with families on the move in Johannesburg South Africa. It will also describe how some of the children’s books have become a powerful advocacy tool through their inclusion in the digital library of the African Storybook project. The article will explore some of the practical details of the project and the theory around the power of the representation of the everyday which we are beginning to derive from the work.
Hesitant Realism: China–India Border Tensions and Delhi’s Deepening Strategic Ties with Tokyo and Canberra
Authors: Jain Purnendra
Published: March 2021

The deadly conflict on the Ladakh border in June 2020 will force India to re-evaluate its approach to foreign policy. This dangerous turn, despite decades of mutual restraint, border talks, agreements and recent bonhomie between the Indian and Chinese leaders, has intensified the strategically tense environment of the Indo-Pacific region. China’s assertiveness in the South China and East China seas and its technology and trade tensions with a number of neighbouring Asian and Western nations have already raised political temperatures in global politics. In that light, this article considers how the June 2020 border incident may influence India’s strategic rethink, especially in relation to two key nations of the Indo-Pacific, Japan and Australia. The article suggests that forcing a re-evaluation of the strategic challenge posed by China, the June 2020 border confrontation has inspired a more realist edge to India’s security thinking. India is continuing the strategic autonomy with a multi-alignment approach it has favoured, but with a keener sense of realpolitik it is pressing ahead to deepen its defence and strategic alignments with like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific region. This means that India is not abandoning its relations with traditional partners such as Russia to instead pursue a more formal alliance with one or a group of other powers. Rather, India is further developing strategic partnerships with the United States and its allies, while continuing strong relations with Russia and other long-standing partners to ‘balance’ its national security position. This article identifies India’s approach as ‘hesitant realism’, an explanatory term to explore India’s moves to balance its external relations through growing ties with Japan and Australia—two US allies that are key Indo-Pacific nations.
Correction to: Cardinium symbiosis as a potential confounder of mtDNA based phylogeographic inference in Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a vector of veterinary viruses
Authors: Pilgrim Jack , Siozios Stefanos , Baylis Matthew , Venter Gert , Garros Claire , Hurst Gregory D. D.
Published: March 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
A multi-objective optimization for resource allocation of emergent demands in cloud computing
Authors: Chen Jing , Du Tiantian , Xiao Gongyi
Published: March 2021

Cloud resource demands, especially some unclear and emergent resource demands, are growing rapidly with the development of cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence. The traditional cloud resource allocation methods do not support the emergent mode in guaranteeing the timeliness and optimization of resource allocation. This paper proposes a resource allocation algorithm for emergent demands in cloud computing. After building the priority of resource allocation and the matching distances of resource performance and resource proportion to respond to emergent resource demands, a multi-objective optimization model of cloud resource allocation is established based on the minimum number of the physical servers used and the minimum matching distances of resource performance and resource proportion. Then, an improved evolutionary algorithm, RAA-PI-NSGAII, is presented to solve the multi-objective optimization model, which not only improves the quality and distribution uniformity of the solution set but also accelerates the solving speed. The experimental results show that our algorithm can not only allocate resources quickly and optimally for emergent demands but also balance the utilization of all kinds of resources.
Reviews
Authors: Green William
Published: March 2021

Geomagnetism, Aeronomy and Space Weather: A Journey from the Earth's Core to the Sun, by Mioara Mandea, Monika Korte, Andrew Yau, and Eduard Petrovsky, ISBN 978-1-108-41848-5, 2020, Cambridge University Press and International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, 344 p.
Seismic Soundoff
Authors: Geary Andrew
Published: March 2021

In this episode, Andrew Geary speaks with Emer Caslin about the Geophysical Sustainability Atlas. The atlas was recently featured in the January 2021 issue of The Leading Edge (TLE). Caslin shares an overview of the atlas, how individuals and companies can utilize it to create meaningful impact, how professional societies can contribute to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how incorporating the SDGs into strategic planning could support the next generation of geophysicists. Hear the full episode at https://seg.org/podcast/post/11307 .
Mental disorders in Malaysia: an increase in lifetime prevalence
Authors: Raaj Shaeraine , Navanathan Sujesha , Tharmaselan Myelone , Lally John
Published: March 2021

There is an increasing prevalence of mental disorders in Malaysia, with a growing need to improve access to timely and efficient mental healthcare to address this burden. This review outlines the current legislative framework and the challenges of delivering mental healthcare and treating mental disorders in Malaysia.
HIV Prevention and Care of Transgender Women in an HIV and STI Clinic in the Paris Metropolitan Area
Authors: Azadi Bahar , Zélie Julia , Michard Florence , Yazdanpanah Yazdan
Published: March 2021

HIV infection burden is globally high among transgender women (TGW) and particularly in TGW migrant sex workers and TGW subpopulations with structural inequalities like racism and classism. In addition to stigma related to transphobia, migrant TGW face multiple forms of discrimination because of intersection with other experiences of stigma related to migration and working as sex workers in the host society. This study explores the experiences of TGW seeking care in an HIV and STI clinic in Paris, to evaluate medical adherence, namely, the degree to which a patient is regularly followed up in care and adequately takes the treatment, and trans individuals' social inclusion in this health institution. We examined the different forms of HIV-associated stigma among TGW. A qualitative study was conducted using semistructural in-depth interviews with TGW receiving HIV care and HIV preventive measures. A description is given of how a community-based participation policy and practice in this clinic integrate an intersectional approach among TGW. This results in a high rate of medical adherence in TGW migrants and could lead to social integration.
Use of the journal impact factor for assessing individual articles: Statistically flawed or not?
Authors: Waltman Ludo , Traag Vincent A.
Published: March 2021

Most scientometricians reject the use of the journal impact factor for assessing individual articles and their authors. The well-known San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment also strongly objects against this way of using the impact factor. Arguments against the use of the impact factor at the level of individual articles are often based on statistical considerations. The skewness of journal citation distributions typically plays a central role in these arguments. We present a theoretical analysis of statistical arguments against the use of the impact factor at the level of individual articles. Our analysis shows that these arguments do not support the conclusion that the impact factor should not be used for assessing individual articles. Using computer simulations, we demonstrate that under certain conditions the number of citations an article has received is a more accurate indicator of the value of the article than the impact factor. However, under other conditions, the impact factor is a more accurate indicator. It is important to critically discuss the dominant role of the impact factor in research evaluations, but the discussion should not be based on misplaced statistical arguments. Instead, the primary focus should be on the socio-technical implications of the use of the impact factor.
The importance of mentorship and collaboration for scientific capacity-building and capacity-sharing: perspectives of African scientists
Authors: Burgess Heather E. , Chataway Joanna
Published: March 2021

Long-term goals for capacity-building in Africa centres around building a self-sufficient scientific community, however there is a lack of research on the interactions that are needed to make up a thriving academic community or the steps needed to realise such a goal. Through interviews with researchers supported by a capacity-building initiative, we have characterised their interactions with other scientists and the impact that these have on capacity-building. This has revealed a wide range of interactions that have not been captured by traditional bibliometric studies of collaboration and shown that a substantial amount of intra-African collaboration is taking place. This collaboration allowed the researchers to share capacity with their colleagues and this could provide an alternative to, or supplement, traditional North-South capacity-building. We have shown that this capacity-sharing can enable capacity to spill over from capacity-building programmes to the broader scientific community. Furthermore, researchers are deliberately hastening this capacity-sharing through training or mentoring others outside of their capacity-building initiative, including those from more resource-poor groups. To understand how capacity-building initiatives can harness the power of these interactions, we investigated how interactions between researchers originated, and found that collaborations tended to be formed around pre-existing networks, with researchers collaborating with previous colleagues, or contacts formed through their mentors or consortium activities. Capacity-building organisations could capitalise on this through actions such as expanding mentorship schemes but should also ensure that researchers are not limited to pre-established networks but have exposure to a changing and growing pool of expertise. As interactions continue to move online since the appearance of COVID-19 this will present opportunities for new interaction patterns to develop. This study highlights the need to develop new metrics for collaboration that will take into account these new modes of interaction and the full range of interactions that make up a scientific community.
Characteristics and long-term outcomes of childhood glaucoma: a retrospective-cohort study
Authors: Surukrattanaskul Supawan , Suvannachart Pukkapol , Chansangpetch Sunee , Manassakorn Anita , Tantisevi Visanee , Rojanapongpun Prin
Published: March 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with childhood glaucoma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with childhood glaucoma who visited the glaucoma clinics at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health and the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between January 2008 and January 2018. The diagnosis was based on the Childhood Glaucoma Research Network classification. We recorded their clinical characteristics and requirement of any glaucoma interventions.

Results: A total of 691 eyes from 423 patients were included in this study. The patients predominantly comprised boys. The average follow-up duration was 71.3±63.8 months. The mean age at presentation was 3.9±4.4 years. Most patients presented with a high initial intraocular pressure (IOP) of 28.5±11.2 mmHg. Glaucoma associated with non-acquired ocular anomalies (22.9%) was the most common subtype, followed by primary congenital glaucoma (20.8%). We recorded a family history of glaucoma in 6.4% of patients. Most patients had bilateral glaucoma (63.4%) and required at least one intervention (51.5%). The average IOP at the latest follow-up visit was 19.1±10.8 mmHg. All glaucoma types had significantly lower IOP, compared to that at their baselines (all p<0.001). Moreover, most patients had an unfavourable visual acuity (49.5%) at their latest visit.

Conclusions: Secondary glaucoma associated with non-acquired ocular anomalies is the most common subtype of glaucoma. All subtypes, including primary glaucoma, were sporadic. The majority of patients had unfavourable visual outcomes. These real-world findings are fundamental to acquire a better understanding of childhood glaucoma.
Combined Porous Mesh Metals and Products Made fromThem
Authors: Devisilov Vladimir , Novikov Yu. , Bolshakov Vadim
Published: March 2021

In this paper are considered the essence and design-technological features of products made from new types of porous mesh metals (PMM) based on combination of various permeable and impermeable metallic materials interconnected by hot rolling in the vacuum. To create new materials, a combination of different types of metal grids is used. Therefore, these materials have received the name - combined porous mesh metals (CPMM). The technological problem is to create reliable products with predictable strength, filtration and structural characteristics. The technology of manufacturing products from CPMM is complex and includes a large number of technological operations divided into operations for material manufacture and operations for manufacturing from this material a finished product of required application. Material production includes several operations for preparing the initial metal grids (washing, degreasing, marking-out, grid packaging), and complex technological operations for material manufacturing, consisting in joint the grids and embedded materials between themselves (vacuuming, heating to a predetermined temperature, grid package rolling in vacuum and in hot condition, etc.). Each of technological operations for material manufacturing should be carried out in rigid mode ranges, such as temperature mode, package drafting degree mode, etc. A slight deviation from the mode leads to rejected material or significant deviation from the specified parameters. A difficult problem is the interconnection of metallic grids of various types (distinguishing by thickness, wire diameter, etc.), as well as interconnection of solid metallic embedded elements necessary for products formation from the obtained material. As a result of numerous experiments, it has been able to achieve success and develop the technology for CPMM material manufacturing. The developed material and products made from it have been imbedded at the enterprises of those industries, where highly reliable and efficient constructions, made from permeable materials and having specified functional parameters, are required. A new phase separator filter (PSF) for the fuel tank (FT) of a space item has been created and implemented. Currently, sets including 20 typical sizes of PSF of various modifications are delivered. Using of capillary intakes (CIs) with PSF made from CPMM provides reduction of residual rests of fuel liquid components in fuel tanks. CIs with PSF are almost 2 times lighter than CIs, carried out according to traditional frame-grid design.
Skin Cancer in the US Military
Authors: Gall Ryan , Bongiorno Michelle , Handfield Kent
Published: March 2021

There is an increased risk for melanomas and keratinocyte cancers in those who have served on active duty in the US Military. We believe that an increased exposure to UV radiation, minimal sun-protective strategies, and a paucity of education regarding the risks of UV exposure are primarily responsible for the increased prevalence of skin cancer in this population. Although mitigating these risks is important, it cannot come at the expense of combat effectiveness and military mission readiness. This review proposes education of individual military servicemembers regarding skin cancer prevention and identification, increasing the utilization of sun-protective clothing, and promoting the increased use of sunscreen as measures to decrease the overall risk of cutaneous malignancies in US Military servicemembers.
Judgement, capabilities and practice: how surgical supervisors make judgements about trainee readiness to practise
Authors: Bussey M
Published: March 2021

Introduction

In the UK, acting as clinical supervisors, consultant surgeons make judgements about trainee performance every day. Their professional judgements provide the primary mechanism for trainee progression through and completion of surgical training, and have a consequent impact on patient safety. The exact manner in which surgical supervisors make judgements, however, has long been unclear. Correspondingly, the aim of this study was to determine whether there were particular patterns of judgement used and how far these judgements were influenced by factors in the training environment.

Methods

This was a qualitative study, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six consultant clinical supervisors from different specialties, regions and backgrounds. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analysed, allowing theoretical concepts and ideas to emerge.

Results

From the analysis, a universal picture of judgement began to form. It became apparent that all the participants used a similar approach to making decisions about the amount of trust that could be granted to trainees carrying out clinical work. Their approach focused on four categories of trainee capability: competence, decision making, administration and relationships.

Conclusions

The identification of a latent pattern of supervisor judgement lends support to the notion that professional judgement in workplace assessment is based on the supervisor’s global sense of trainee capability and that it is a result of the trainee–trainer relationship. This study has resulted in the creation of an explicit framework that reflects this pattern of judgement, which could serve as a useful reflective tool for both supervisors and trainees.
Imaging of OAM-entangled photon pairs in the Bessel-Gauss basis with full index control
Authors: Ibarra-Borja Zeferino , Ramírez-Alarcón Roberto , Sevilla-Gutiérrez Carlos , Cruz-Ramírez Hector , U’Ren Alfred B.
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we directly image the orbital angular momentum (OAM) correlations, expressed in the Bessel-Gauss (BG) basis, present in quantum-entangled photon pairs produced by the process of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC). We use a spatial light modulator that displays an appropriate phase mask, followed by coupling into a single-mode fiber, so as to project the signal, or heralding, photon onto a BG mode, and verify that the idler, or heralded, photon is projected non-locally as expected. In contrast with similar experiments relying on Laguerre-Gauss (LG) modes, our current experiment permits, firstly, full index control (allowing the experimenter to define both the azimuthal index ℓ
s
and the continuous radial index k
rs
, also referred to as scaling parameter). Importantly, while not resolving the radial index leaves the heralded single photon in a statistical mixture of all available radial modes, the ability to determine both indices allows us to herald single photons in a particular BG mode, described by a quantum-mechanically pure state. Our use of BG modes permits, secondly, the spatially-resolved detection of the heralded single photon, both in the near and far fields, with a time-gated intensified CCD camera, making it possible to experimentally determine both the radial and azimuthal indices of the heralded single photon. Thirdly, the fact that for BG modes the radial index (scaling parameter) is continuous makes it possible to use the scaling parameter as a continuous adjustment in quantum state engineering, for precise mode matching, or for the selection of photon-pair properties such as the spiral bandwidth, as we experimentally demonstrate. We believe that our work opens up interesting new possibilities in the field of quantum communications based on the spatial degree of freedom of photon pairs.
Principles to tailor the saturable and reverse saturable absorption of epsilon-near-zero material
Authors: Ma Hao , Zhao Yuanan , Shao Yuchen , Lian Yafei , Zhang Weili , Hu Guohang , Leng Yuxin , Shao Jianda
Published: March 2021

Indium tin oxide (ITO) films have recently emerged as a new class of functional materials for nonlinear optical (NLO) devices due to their exotic properties around epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) wavelength. Here, we experimentally investigated and tailored the NLO absorption properties of ITO films. The NLO absorption response of ITO films is investigated by using the femtosecond Z-scan measurement technique at two different wavelengths of 1030 nm (out of ENZ region) and 1440 nm (within ENZ region). Interestingly, we observed conversion behavior from saturable absorption (SA) to reverse saturable absorption (RSA) at 1030 nm with the increasing incident laser intensity, whereas only SA behavior was observed at 1440 nm. We demonstrate that SA behavior was ascribed to ground-state free electrons bleaching in the conduction band, and RSA was attributed to three-photon absorption. Moreover, results reveal that ITO film shows more excellent SA performance at 1440 nm with a nonlinear absorption coefficient of

∼
−
23.2
  
cm
/
GW

and a figure of merit of

∼
1.2
2
×

10

−
1
6

  
esu
·
cm

. Furthermore, we tailored the SA and RSA behaviors of ITO films at 1030 and 1440 nm wavelengths via post-annealing treatment. The modulatable NLO absorption was ascribed to the changing of free-carrier concentration in ITO films via annealing treatment. The experimental findings offered an inroad for researchers to tailor its NLO absorption properties by changing the free-carrier concentration through chemical modification such as annealing, oxidation, or defect implantation. The superior and tunable nonlinear optical response suggests that ITO film might be employed as a new class material with potential applications in novel optical switches or optical limiters to realize the all-optical information process.
The impact of ivermectin on onchocerciasis in villages co-endemic for lymphatic filariasis in an area of onchocerciasis recrudescence in Burkina Faso
Authors: Nikièma Achille S. , Koala Lassane , Sondo Apoline K. , Post Rory J. , Paré Alain B. , Kafando Claude M. , Kambiré Roger S. , Sow Bazoumana , Bougouma Clarisse , Dabiré Roch K. , Traoré Soungalo
Published: March 2021

In Burkina Faso, onchocerciasis was no longer a public health problem when the WHO Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa closed at the end in 2002. However, epidemiological surveillance carried out from November 2010 to February of 2011, showed a recrudescence of infection in the Cascades Region. This finding was made at a time when ivermectin, a drug recommended for the treatment of both onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, had been distributed in this area since 2004 for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. It was surprising that ivermectin distributed for treating lymphatic filariasis had not prevented the recrudescence of onchocerciasis. Faced with this situation, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ivermectin on the onchocerciasis parasite. The percentage reduction in microfilarial load after treatment with ivermectin was used as a proxy measure for assessing possible resistance. A cohort study was carried out with 130 individuals who had tested positive for microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in 2010 using microscopic examination of skin-snip biopsies from five endemic villages. Subjects were followed from July 2011 to June 2012. The microfilarial load of each individual was enumerated by skin-snip biopsy in 2010, prior to the first ivermectin treatment against onchocerciasis under community guidelines. All individuals received two ivermectin treatments six months apart. In 2012, the microfilarial loads were determined again, six months after the second round of ivermectin and the reductions in parasite loads were calculated to measure the impact of the drug. The percentage reduction of the microfilarial loads ranged from 87% to 98% in the villages. In all villages, there was a statistically significant difference between the average microfilarial loads in 2010 and 2012. The level of reduction of microfilarial loads suggests that ivermectin is effective against the recrudescent population of O. volvulus in Cascades Region of Burkina Faso. Further investigations would be necessary to determine the causes of the recrudescence of onchocerciasis. (For French language abstract, see S1 Alternative Language Abstract—Translation of the Abstract into French by the authors.)
Self-management interventions for adults living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): The development of a Core Outcome Set for COMPAR-EU project
Authors: Camus-García Estela , González-González Ana Isabel , Heijmans Monique , Niño de Guzmán Ena , Valli Claudia , Beltran Jessica , Pardo-Hernández Hector , Ninov Lyudmil , Strammiello Valentina , Immonen Kaisa , Mavridis Dimitris , Ballester Marta , Suñol Rosa , Orrego Carola
Published: March 2021

Background

A large body of evidence suggests that self-management interventions (SMIs) may improve outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, accurate comparisons of the relative effectiveness of SMIs are challenging, partly due to heterogeneity of outcomes across trials and uncertainty about the importance of these outcomes for patients. We aimed to develop a core set of patient-relevant outcomes (COS) for SMIs trials to enhance comparability of interventions and ensure person-centred care.

Methods

We undertook an innovative approach consisting of four interlinked stages: i) Development of an initial catalogue of outcomes from previous EU-funded projects and/or published studies, ii) Scoping review of reviews on patients and caregivers’ perspectives to identify outcomes of interest, iii) Two-round Delphi online survey with patients and patient representatives to rate the importance of outcomes, and iv) Face-to-face consensus workshop with patients, patient representatives, health professionals and researchers to develop the COS.

Results

From an initial list of 79 potential outcomes, 16 were included in the COS plus one supplementary outcome relevant to all participants. These were related to patient and caregiver knowledge/competence, self-efficacy, patient activation, self-monitoring, adherence, smoking cessation, COPD symptoms, physical activity, sleep quality, caregiver quality of life, activities of daily living, coping with the disease, participation and decision-making, emergency room visits/admissions and cost effectiveness.

Conclusion

The development of the COPD COS for the evaluation of SMIs will increase consistency in the measurement and reporting of outcomes across trials. It will also contribute to more personalized health care and more informed health decisions in clinical practice as patients’ preferences regarding COPD outcomes are more systematically included.
Application potential of Agent Based Simulation and Discrete Event Simulation in Enterprise integration modelling concepts
Authors: Pawlewski Pawel , Golinska Paulina , Dossou Paul-Eric
Published: March 2021

This paper aims to present the dilemma of simulation tool selection. Authors discuss the examples of methodologies of enterprises architectures (CIMOSA and GRAI) where agent approach is used to solve planning and managing problems. Actually simulation is widely used and practically only one tool which can enable verification of complex systems. Many companies face the problem, which simulation tool is appropriate to use for verification. Selected tools based on ABS and DES are presented. Some tools combining DES and ABS approaches are described. Authors give some recommendation on selection process.
Picture information shared conversation agent: Pictgent
Authors: Ueno Miki , Mori Naoki , Matsumoto Keinosuke
Published: March 2021

Recently, the various dialogue systems have been proposed to make a natural conversation with users. In this paper, we propose a novel dialogue system called Pictgent which utilizes "pictures" with model of situation in order to share common knowledge between users and the system. We show the basic concept and system structure of proposed Pictgent. Statistical experiments are carried out in order to confirm the effectiveness of Pictgent..
Development of Sensor Based Applications for the Android Platform: an Approach Based on Realistic Simulation
Authors: Campillo-Sánchez Pablo , Botía Juan Antonio , Gómez-Sanza Jorge
Published: March 2021

Smart phones are equipped with a wide range of sensors (such as GPS, light, accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.) and allow users to be connected everywhere. These characteristics offer a rich information source for creating context-aware applications. However, testing these applications in the lab, before their deployment, could become a hard task or impossible because of sensors correlation, too wide testing area or an excessive number of people involved. This work aims to solve these problems carrying out the testing in a simulator, simulating the world in which the application user is immersed into. Tester controls her avatar and the avatar has a simulated smart phone that is connected with the user’s smart phone. Applications under test are installed on the real smart phone and are compiled with a library that replaces standard services of the sensors by others that offer data sensor from the simulator (depending on the simulated smart phone context) instead of real world.
Platform image processing to study the structural properties of retinal vessel
Authors: Verde Gabino , García-Ortiz Luis , Zato Carolina , De Paz Juan Francisco , Rodríguez Sara , Merchán Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a technological platform specialized in assessing retinal vessel caliber and describing the relationship of the results obtained to cardiovascular risk. Retinal circulation is an area of active research by numerous groups, and there is general experimental agreement on the analysis of the patterns of the retinal blood vessels in the normal human retina. The development of automated tools designed to improve performance and decrease interobserver variability, therefore, appears necessary.
Inference in Belief Network using Logic Sampling and Likelihood Weighing algorithms
Authors: Jasmine K. S. , Prathviraj S. Gavani , Rajashekar P Ijantakar , Sumithra Devi K. A.
Published: March 2021

Over the time in computational history, belief networks have become an increasingly popular mechanism for dealing with uncertainty in systems. It is known that identifying the probability values of belief network nodes given a set of evidence is not amenable in general. Many different simulation algorithms for approximating solution to this problem have been proposed and implemented. This paper details the implementation of such algorithms, in particular the two algorithms of the belief networks namely Logic sampling and the likelihood weighing are discussed. A detailed description of the algorithm is given with observed results. These algorithms play crucial roles in dynamic decision making in any situation of uncertainty.
Irrigation System through Intelligent Agents Implemented with Arduino Technology
Authors: Salazar Rodolfo , Rangel José Carlos , Pinzón Cristian , Rodríguez Abel
Published: March 2021

The water has become in recent years a valuable and increasingly scarce. Its proper use in agriculture has demanded incorporate new technologies, mainly in the area of ICT. In this paper we present a smart irrigation system based on multi-agent architecture using fuzzy logic. The architecture incorporates different types of intelligent agents that an autonomous way monitor and are responsible for deciding if required enable / disable the irrigation system. This project proposes a real and innovative solution to the problem of inadequate water use with current irrigation systems employed in agricultural projects. This article presents the different technologies used, their adaptation to the solution of the problem and briefly discusses the first results obtained.
Penfigóide Bolhoso Paraneoplásico: Relato de Caso / Paraneoplastic Bullous Pemphigoid: Case Report
Authors: Melo Maria Regina De Lima , Egypto Lívio , Nunes Milena
Published: March 2021

Resumo: É descrito um caso da rara patologia Penfigóide Bolhoso Paraneoplásico, uma síndrome paraneoplásica que pode surgir concomitantemente a um câncer ou precedê-lo. É uma patologia cutânea, de caráter autoimune, crônica e autolimitada, afetando região subepidérmica da pele, com formação de bolhas. Tal enfermidade afeta predominantemente a população idosa. Este presente trabalho descreve o manejo uma paciente previamente sequelada de AVC e que aos 75 anos de idade surgiu as primeiras manifestações cutâneas da doença. Na mesma época, também foi diagnosticado que a paciente estava com câncer de mama, confirmando a síndrome paraneoplásica. Foi instituído tratamento sistêmico com prednisona 40mg/dia via oral. Paciente evoluiu bem com a terapêutica, tendo períodos de remissão e exacerbação da enfermidade.