bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family health sheets: a vital instrument for village health workers providing comprehensive healthcare
Authors: Alizadeh Faraz , Addepalli Aravind , Chaudhuri Shombit R. , Budongo Annie Modesta , Owembabazi Immaculate , Chaw Gloria Fung , Musominali Sam , Paccione Gerald
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Community Health Worker (CHW) programs have long been used to provide acute care for children and women in healthcare shortage areas, but their provision of comprehensive longitudinal care for chronic problems is rare. The Village Health Worker (VHW) program, initiated in 2007, is an example of a long standing “horizontal” CHW program in rural Southwestern Uganda that has delivered village-level care for chronic disease based on a biannual village health census that identifies individual and family health risks. To facilitate continuity of care for problems identified, health census data were electronically transformed into family-specific Family Health Sheets (FHS) in 2016 which summarize the pertinent demographic and health data for each family, as well as health topics the family would like to learn more about. The FHS, evaluated and discussed here, serves as an epidemiologically-informed “bedside” tool to help VHWs provide longitudinal care in their villages.

Methods

48 VHWs in the program completed a survey on the utility of the FHS and 24 VHWs participated in small discussion groups. Responses were analyzed using both quantitative and standard conceptual content analysis models

Results

46 out of 48 VHWs reported that the FHS made them a “much better VHW.” In addition to helping target interventions in child health, women’s health, and sanitation, the FHS assisted follow-up of non-communicable diseases in the community. In discussion groups, VHWs reported that the FHS helped them understand risks for future disease, facilitated earning stipends, and increased credibility and trust in the community. Limitations cited were the infrequent updates of the FHS, only biannually with the census, and the lack of cross-reference capability by health problem.

Discussion

The FHS supports VHWs in providing longitudinal and comprehensive healthcare of chronic diseases in their villages. Limitations, potential solutions, and future directions are discussed.
Clinical insights into the three-dimensional anatomy of cheek teeth in alpacas based on micro-computed tomography. Part 1: mandibular cheek teeth
Authors: Proost Kirsten , Boone Matthieu N. , Josipovic Ivàn , Pardon Bart , Chiers Koen , Vlaminck Lieven
Published: October 2021

Background

Despite dental disease being a common health concern in alpacas, important dental pathology including apical infection, remains poorly understood. Treatment options are limited compared to veterinary dentistry techniques in other species. The primary goal of this study was to increase understanding of the external and internal anatomy of mandibular cheek teeth to enable the development of tooth sparing techniques in this species. Also, an objective evaluation of the sub-occlusal dentinal thickness in normal mandibular cheek teeth is warranted to understand the risks associated with reduction of overgrown teeth.

Results

Overall pulp anatomy was variably characterized by the presence of a common pulp chamber in younger teeth, and segmentation of pulp cavities into multiple separate pulp entities within the same tooth with increasing age. A common pulp chamber was identified in 55.3% (26/47) of teeth with a mean dental age of 1 year and 11 months (± 1 year and 8 months). Columnar segmentation was recorded in the remaining teeth with a mean dental age of 6 years and 5 months (± 3 years and 11 months). Age of segmentation of the common pulp chamber into multiple separate pulp entities shows wide variation and is dependent of the specific Triadan position. The present study illustrates the presence of disto-mesial root contacts between adjacent tooth roots, often leading to morphological adaptations, most frequently observed between Triadan 09–10s (80%) and 10–11s (67%). The measured sub-occlusal dentinal thickness was as low as 1.11 mm over some pulp horns. The sub-occlusal dentinal thickness was lower than 2, 3, and 4 mm in 13.1, 38.1 and 61.4% of performed measurements, respectively.

Conclusion

This study provides detailed information on age-dependent mandibular cheek teeth anatomy in alpacas, which may support the use and development of advanced dental treatments in this species such as endodontics and tooth sectioning techniques. Apical morphological adaptations caused by disto-mesial root contact between adjacent mandibular cheek teeth are clearly illustrated. The limited amount of sub-occlusal secondary dentin warrants a cautious approach with regards to dental floating in alpacas.
Head and neck melanoma: outcome and predictors in a population-based cohort study
Authors: Spoerl Steffen , Spanier Gerrit , Reiter Elena , Gerken Michael , Haferkamp Sebastian , Grosse Jirka , Drexler Konstantin , Ettl Tobias , Klinkhammer-Schalke Monika , Fischer René , Spoerl Silvia , Reichert Torsten E. , Klingelhöffer Christoph
Published: October 2021

Background

To evaluate predictive clinico-pathological characteristics on outcome in head and neck melanoma (HNM) in a population-based study with particular emphasis on the prognostic effect of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and distinct tumor localisations.

Methods

Here we primarily describe a retrospective multicenter population-based cohort study with 402 patients having undergone resection with curative intent of HNM between 2010 and 2017. SLNB was used in the diagnosis of 79 HNM patients. Outcome was analyzed, focusing on SLNB, CCI as well as tumor localisation. Overall survival (OAS) und recurrence free survival (RFS) was examined by uni- and multivariate analysis.

Results

Histopathologically verified lymph node metastasis according to SLNB was associated with impaired RFS in HNM patients (p = 0.004). Especially in higher tumor stages, the sole implementation of SLNB improved survival significantly in the present cohort (p = 0.042). With most of the HNM being located in the face, melanoma of the scalp and neck could be linked to deteriorated patient’s outcome in uni- as well as multivariate analysis (p = 0.021, p = 0.004).

Conclusions

SLNB is a useful tool in predicting development of distant metastasis after HNM resection with curative intent. Especially in higher tumor stages, performing a SLNB ameliorated survival of HNM patients. Additionally, CCI as well as a distinct tumor localisations in HNM were identified as important risk factors in our population-based cohort study.
MiR-425-5p accelerated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells via targeting AFF4
Authors: Wu Zhihui , Guo Jianlin , Zhang Ying , Liu Jianhua , Ma Hongping , Tang Yurong
Published: October 2021

Background

Accumulating data have established that microRNAs (miRNAs) play significant regulatory roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer (OC). MiR-425-5p was reported to function in various tumors. However, the roles and underlying mechanism of miR-425-5p involvement in OC development and progression are unclear.

Methods

A comprehensive strategy of data mining, computational biology, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify the involvement of miR-425-5p in OC progression. The effect of miR-425-5p on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8, wound-healing, and Matrigel invasion assays, respectively. Luciferase assay was performed to evaluate the interactions between miR-425-5p and MAGI2-AS3 or AFF4.

Results

miR-425-5p was significantly up-regulated in OC tissues and cells. The luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-425-5p was negatively regulated by MAGI2-AS3. Silencing miR-425-5p inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells in vitro. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay revealed that AFF4 was the target gene of miR-425-5p. Moreover, AFF4 expression was significantly decreased in OC and was closely related to the good prognosis of patients with OC. AFF4 overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells in vitro. By contrast, silencing AFF4 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells in vitro. Finally, AFF4 suppression rescued the inhibitory effect of silencing miR-425-5p on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells.

Conclusion

To the best our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that miR-425-5p overexpression in OC is negatively regulated by MAGI2-AS3. Moreover, miR-425-5p promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells by targeting AFF4, suggesting that miR-425-5p/AFF4 signaling pathway represented a novel therapeutic target for patients with OC.
Borderline ovarian tumor frozen section diagnoses with features suspicious of invasive cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: De Decker Koen , Jaroch Karina H. , Bart Joost , Kooreman Loes F. S. , Kruitwagen Roy F. P. M. , Nijman Hans W. , Kruse Arnold-Jan
Published: October 2021

Background

A frozen section diagnosis of a borderline ovarian tumor with suspicious features of invasive carcinoma (“at least borderline” or synonymous descriptions) presents us with the dilemma of whether or not to perform a full ovarian cancer staging procedure. Quantification of this dilemma may help us with the issue of this clinical decision. The present study assessed and compared both the prevalence of straightforward borderline and “at least borderline” frozen section diagnoses and the proportion of these women with a final histopathological diagnosis of invasive carcinoma, with a special interest in histologic subtypes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed in three hospitals in The Netherlands. All women that underwent ovarian surgery with perioperative frozen section evaluation in one of these hospitals between January 2007 and July 2018 were identified and included in case of a borderline or “at least borderline” frozen section diagnosis and a borderline ovarian tumor or invasive carcinoma as a final diagnosis.

Results

A total of 223 women were included, of which 41 women (18.4%) were diagnosed with “at least borderline” at frozen section. Thirteen of forty-one women (31.7%) following “at least borderline” frozen section diagnosis and 14 of 182 women (7.7%) following a straightforward borderline frozen section diagnosis were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma at paraffin section evaluation (p < 0.001). When compared to straightforward borderline frozen section diagnoses, the proportion of women diagnosed with invasive carcinoma increased from 3.1 to 35.7% for serous tumors (p = 0.001), 10.0 to 21.7% for mucinous tumors (p = 0.129) and 50.0 to 75.0% (p = 0.452) in case of other histologic subtypes following an “at least borderline” frozen section diagnosis.

Conclusions

Overall, when compared to women with a decisive borderline frozen section diagnosis, women diagnosed with “at least borderline” frozen section diagnoses were found to have a higher chance of carcinoma upon final diagnosis (7.7% vs 31.7%). Especially in the serous subtype, full staging during initial surgery might be considered after preoperative consent to prevent a second surgical procedure or chemotherapy in unstaged women. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether additional sampling in case of an “at least borderline” diagnosis may decrease the risk of surgical over-treatment.
MINTIE: identifying novel structural and splice variants in transcriptomes using RNA-seq data
Authors: Cmero Marek , Schmidt Breon , Majewski Ian J. , Ekert Paul G. , Oshlack Alicia , Davidson Nadia M.
Published: October 2021

Calling fusion genes from RNA-seq data is well established, but other transcriptional variants are difficult to detect using existing approaches. To identify all types of variants in transcriptomes we developed MINTIE, an integrated pipeline for RNA-seq data. We take a reference-free approach, combining de novo assembly of transcripts with differential expression analysis to identify up-regulated novel variants in a case sample. We compare MINTIE with eight other approaches, detecting > 85% of variants while no other method is able to achieve this. We posit that MINTIE will be able to identify new disease variants across a range of disease types.
Risk factors for occurrence and abundance of Aedes aegypti and Aedes bromeliae at hotel compounds in Zanzibar
Authors: Kampango Ayubo , Furu Peter , Sarath Divakara L. , Haji Khamis A. , Konradsen Flemming , Schiøler Karin L. , Alifrangis Michael , Saleh Fatma , Weldon Christopher W.
Published: October 2021

Background

A field survey was performed to investigate local environmental factors promoting occurrence and abundance ofAedes aegyptiandAe. bromeliaemosquitoes at hotel compounds in the south-east coastal region of Zanzibar Island.

Methods

The potential risk factors were determined using generalized linear mixed models.Aedes(Stegomyia) spp. indices such as container index (CI) and pupae per container (PPC) index were also estimated.

Results

Aedes aegyptiandAe. bromeliaewere the most abundant vector species, accounting for 70.8% of allAedesmosquitoes collected. The highest CI was observed for plastic containers irrespective of the season, whereas the highest PPC was observed for coconut shells and aluminium containers in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. The risk ofAedesmosquito occurrence and abundance were significantly associated with presence of plastic containers, coconut shells, used tyres and steel containers. These were discarded in shaded places, in the open and gardens, or found in plant nurseries.

Conclusion

This study shows thatAedesspecies of global health significance occur at hotel compounds on this part of Zanzibar Island. The occurrence and abundance are sustained by the presence of abundant and poorly managed solid wastes and containers used for gardening tasks. This highlights an urgent need for the adoption of area-wide environmentally sustainableAedesmosquito management interventions that also integrate solid waste management and ornamental plant production practices for reducing the risk of arboviral disease epidemics.

Graphical Abstract
Review of Land, Investment & Politics: Reconfiguring East Africa’s Pastoral Drylands. Edited by Jeremy Lind, Doris Okenwa & Ian Scoones. Woodbridge, Suffolk: James Currey, an imprint of Boydell and Brewer, 2020.
Authors: Galaty John G.
Published: October 2021

Book details

Edited by Jeremy Lind, Doris Okenwa & Ian Scoones

Land, Investment & Politics: Reconfiguring East Africa’s Pastoral Drylands.

Woodbridge, Suffolk: James Currey, an imprint of Boydell and Brewer, 2020.

224 pages, ISBN 978-1-84701-252-4 (James Currey hardback) and ISBN 978-1-84701-249-4 (James Currey paper)

Jeremy Lind, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Co-editor of “Pastoralism and Development in Africa” (2013)

Doris Okenwa, Ph.D student in Anthropology, London School of Economics. Ph.D research on oil discoveries in Turkana County, Kenya.

Ian Scoones, Professorial Fellow, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Co-Director of ESRC STEPS (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) Centre, and leader of the European Research council project PASTRES (Pastoralism, Uncertainty and Resilience). Author of “Africa’s Land Rush: Rural Livelihoods and Agrarian Change”.
Electrochemical investigations and theoretical studies of biocompatible niacin-modified carbon paste electrode interface for electrochemical sensing of folic acid
Authors: Ganesh Pattan-Siddappa , Kim Sang-Youn , Choi Dong-Soo , Kaya Savas , Serdaroğlu Goncagül , Shimoga Ganesh , Shin Eun-Jae , Lee Seok-Han
Published: October 2021

The modified electrode–analyte interaction is critical in establishing the sensing mechanism and in developing an electrochemical sensor. Here, the niacin-modified carbon paste electrode (NC/CPE) was fabricated for electrochemical sensing applications. The two stable structures of the niacin were optimized and confirmed by the absence of negative vibrational frequency, at B3LYP and B3LYP-GD3BJ level and 6–311 g** basis set. The physical and quantum chemical quantities were used to explain the molecular stability and electronic structure-related properties of the niacin. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was performed to disclose the donor–acceptor interactions that were a critical role in explaining the modifier–analyte interaction. The fabricated NC/CPE was used for the determination of folic acid (FA) in physiological pH by cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. The limit of detection (LOD) for FA at NC/CPE was calculated to be 0.09 µM in the linear concentration range of 5.0 µM to 45.0 µM (0.2 M PBS, pH 7.4) by CV technique. The analytical applicability of the NC/CPE was evaluated in real samples, such as fruit juice and pharmaceutical sample, and the obtained results were acceptable. The HOMO and LUMO densities are used to identify the nucleophilic and electrophilic regions of niacin. The use of density functional theory-based quantum chemical simulations to understand the sensory performance of the modifier has laid a new foundation for fabricating electrochemical sensing platforms.
Effectiveness of fungal, bacterial and yeast antagonists for management of mango anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
Authors: Sharma Adikshita , Sharma Inder Mohan , Sharma Monica , Sharma Kishor , Sharma Amit
Published: October 2021

Background

Mango anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is one of the most important diseases of mango crop. It mainly attacks leaves, flowers, young fruits and twigs and also appears as a post-harvest disease of ripened fruits. Application of bio-control agents has huge potential in plant disease management. The goal of the present research was to establish the potential of individual and combined bio-control agents for the management of mango anthracnose under in vitro and under field conditions.

Results

The antagonistic reaction of six fungi, six bacteria and nine yeasts against C. gloeosporioides on potato dextrose agar medium and malt extract agar medium was observed among which Trichoderma harzianum was found to be the most efficient with 89.26% mycelial growth inhibition. Evaluation of bio-control agents against anthracnose disease development on mango fruit revealed that dip treatment of mango fruits in spore suspension (1.2 × 104 cfu/ml) of T. harzianum for 5 min was the most effective and provided disease control to the tune of 81.67%. Combined application of effective bio-control agents as a post-harvest fruit dip treatment was also evaluated against the mango anthracnose on mango fruits, where the treatment of T. harzianum + Pichia anomala was very effective with 93.39% disease control. Under field conditions, three consecutive sprays of T. harzianum, starting with the initiation of disease on leaves, followed by other two sprays at an interval of 15 days during 2015 and 2016 were found the best for the management of mango anthracnose disease both on leaves and on fruits at two locations.

Conclusions

The combined and individual applications of bio-control agents, viz.T. harzianum, Bacillus subtilis and P. anomala, through foliar spray or by fruit dip had the potential to control mango anthracnose. The bio-formulations of these bio-control agents had the potential to replace chemical fungicides and also protect the natural environment, thus playing a significant role in integrated disease management.
Predictors of aortic clamp time duration and intensive care unit length of stay in elective adult cardiac surgery
Authors: Moh’d Ashraf Fadel , Al-Odwan Hayel Talal , Altarabsheh Salah , Makahleh Zeid Mohammad , Khasawneh Mohammad Abdallah
Published: October 2021

Background

Aortic cross-clamp utilized during cardiac surgery facilitates motionless and bloodless surgical field. However, the duration of clamp time has an inverse effect on early post-operative recovery period. In this study, we sought to examine the predictors of aortic clamp duration and intensive care unit length of stay.

Results

Six hundred and nine adult patients presented for elective cardiac surgery between December 2019 and December 2020 were enrolled. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 82 years (mean 55.62 years, SD ± 12.3 years). Male/female ratio is 4.6:1. Most patients (87.2%) were planned for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and 78 patients (12.8%) for single heart valve procedure. Operative time (OT) ranged from 120 to 402 min and averaged 259.4 min (SD ± 45.9 min). ACC time ranged from 15 to 159 min and averaged 50.56 min (SD ± 19.4 min). Factors associated with significantly longer ACCT were: smoking (OR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.3–2.74), p value = 0.01), respiratory disease (OR = 0.48 (95% CI 0.24–0.96), p value = 0.039), obesity (OR = 1.76 (95% CI 1.18–2.63), p value = 0.005) and AVR (OR = 2.11 (95% CI 1.17–3.83), p value = 0.013). Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) was observed in 19.2% of patients. Longer than average ACCT was associated with increased use of inotropes (p value < 0.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (p value < 0.001) and first 24 h post-operative blood loss (p value < 0.001). The average intensive care unit length of stay (ICULOS) was 1.64 days (SD ± 1.1 days). Patients' ACCT converged positively and significantly on ICULOS (Beta coefficient = 1.013 (95% CI 1.01–1.015), p value < 0.001).

Conclusion

Aortic cross-clamping is a crucial method in cardiac surgery to achieve motionless field; however, prolongation of this method had an incremental risks for the development of low cardiac output syndrome, increased first 24 h post-operative blood loss and longer stay in the intensive care unit.
Cooperation in hydrogeophysics: Enhancing practitioners and institutions’ groundwater assessment capacity, Vientiane Plain, Lao PDR
Authors: Banks Eddie W. , Hatch Michael , Douangsavanh Somphasith , Pavelic Paul , Singsoupho Sounthone , Xayavong Viengthong , Xayviliya Ounakone , Vongphachanh Sinxay , Viossanges Mathieu , Batelaan Okke
Published: October 2021

The lowland floodplains of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) experience prolonged dry seasons characterized by pronounced and common water scarcity, with water supplies increasingly offset with groundwater. Groundwater assessment is still at a very rudimentary stage in Laos, making it difficult to ensure that new water supplies are developed successfully and managed sustainably. The goal of this study is to apply a variety of field hydrogeophysical techniques to this problem and in the process help build and strengthen human and institutional capacity with various stakeholder groups from the government, the university, and the community. The study area focuses on a cross section of the Vientiane Plain (VP) in the Lower Mekong Basin in central Lao PDR to identify and characterize the hydrogeology and groundwater quality. The research collaboration has built and strengthened stakeholder capacity by developing and progressing the hydrogeologic field mapping of the VP. It has provided local undergraduate and postgraduate training opportunities using several different near-surface geophysical and hydrogeologic techniques, some previously untested in Lao PDR. At one of the survey sites, the geophysics has indicated the spatial extent of the shallow aquifer and in the process identified an extensive conductive zone, interpreted as more saline groundwater. Any groundwater development within this or similar zones is likely to be unsuitable as sources for drinking and irrigation water. Engagement with the local village authorities has supported local community members and government to expand groundwater development for rural water supplies. Access to groundwater as a reliable, safe, and secure resource provides an opportunity for strengthening the resilience of farmers to changing climatic conditions. Participatory research collaboration of this kind can positively enhance data and build capacity, which is a required precursor for improving knowledge and management of poorly understood groundwater resources.
On the role of Barrow's fractal entropy in the loop quantum gravity Barbero-Immirzi parameter
Authors: Abreu Everton M. C. , Neto Jorge Ananias
Published: October 2021

It is claimed that, using the Boltzmann-Gibbs statistical mechanics together with the Bekenstein-Hawking area entropy law, it is possible to determine a value for the Barbero-Immirzi parameter,

. In this letter, we have shown that if we use Barrow's entropy rather than Bekenstein-Hawking's area entropy law then the Barbero-Immirzi parameter will depend on the Δ parameter. As a consequence, the loop quantum gravity area element will also depend on the Δ parameter.
Body Mass Index and Leptin Are Related to Cognitive Performance Over 10 Years in Women With and Without HIV Infection
Authors: Macaluso Francesca , Weber Kathleen M , Rubin Leah H , Dellinger Elaine , Holman Susan , Minkoff Howard , Keating Sheila , Merlin Lisa R , Gustafson Deborah R
Published: October 2021

Context

It is not yet understood whether people living with HIV infection have an increased risk of Alzheimers Disease and Related Dementias due to enhanced survivorship with highly effective antiretroviral therapies and/or increasing adiposity with aging.

Objective

This work aimed to determine whether body mass index (BMI) and leptin were longitudinally associated over 10 years with neuropsychological performance (NP) among middle-aged women with HIV (WWH) vs without HIV.

Methods

Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) participants (301 WWH, 113 women without HIV from Brooklyn, New York City, and Chicago had baseline and 10-year BMI and fasting plasma leptin levels using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ng/mL); and demographically adjusted NP T scores (attention/working memory, executive function [EF], processing speed, memory, learning, verbal fluency, motor function, global) at 10-year follow-up. Multivariable linear regression analyses, stratified by HIV serostatus, examined associations between BMI, leptin, and NP.

Results

Over 10 years, women (baseline age 39.8 ± 9.2 years, 73% Black, 73% WWH) transitioned from average overweight (29.1 ± 7.9) to obese (30.5 ± 7.9) BMI. Leptin increased 11.4 ± 26.4 ng/mL (P < .001). Higher baseline BMI and leptin predicted poorer 10-year EF among all women (BMI β = –6.97, 95% CI (–11.5 to –2.45) P = .003; leptin β = –1.90, 95% CI (–3.03 to –0.76), P = .001); higher baseline BMI predicted better memory performance (β = 6.35, 95% CI (1.96-10.7), P = .005). Greater 10-year leptin increase predicted poorer EF (P = .004), speed (P = .03), and verbal (P = .02) and global (P = 0.005) performance among all women, and WWH. Greater 10-year BMI increase predicted slower processing speed (P = .043) among all women; and among WWH, poorer EF (P = .01) and global (P = .04) performance.

Conclusion

In middle-aged WIHS participants, 10-year increases in BMI and leptin were associated with poorer performance across multiple NP domains among all women and WWH. Trajectories of adiposity measures over time may provide insight into the role of adipose tissue in brain health with aging.
A Modern Approach to Dyslipidemia
Authors: Berberich Amanda J , Hegele Robert A
Published: October 2021

Lipid disorders involving derangements in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, or both are commonly encountered in clinical practice and often have implications for cardiovascular risk and overall health. Recent advances in knowledge, recommendations, and treatment options have necessitated an updated approach to these disorders. Older classification schemes have outlived their usefulness, yielding to an approach based on the primary lipid disturbance identified on a routine lipid panel as a practical starting point. Although monogenic dyslipidemias exist and are important to identify, most individuals with lipid disorders have polygenic predisposition, often in the context of secondary factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. With regard to cardiovascular disease, elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is essentially causal, and clinical practice guidelines worldwide have recommended treatment thresholds and targets for this variable. Furthermore, recent studies have established elevated triglycerides as a cardiovascular risk factor, whereas depressed high-density lipoprotein cholesterol now appears less contributory than was previously believed. An updated approach to diagnosis and risk assessment may include measurement of secondary lipid variables such as apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a), together with selective use of genetic testing to diagnose rare monogenic dyslipidemias such as familial hypercholesterolemia or familial chylomicronemia syndrome. The ongoing development of new agents—especially antisense RNA and monoclonal antibodies—targeting dyslipidemias will provide additional management options, which in turn motivates discussion on how best to incorporate them into current treatment algorithms.
Popol Wujs: Culture, Complexity, and the Encoding of MayaCosmovisión
Authors: Alvarado Rafael C. , Barriente Aldo Ismael , Bigelow Allison Margaret
Published: October 2021

The Popol Wuj is one of the most important, commonly studied, and widely circulated Indigenous literary works from colonial Mesoamerica. By some accounts, there are 1,200 editions of the work published in thirty world languages, all of which trace back to a single manuscript—itself a copy of an earlier Mayan work. To protect their work from being destroyed by colonial officials or Inquisitional authorities, the original K’iche’ authors of the Popol Wuj had to embed their ways of knowing in a language and narrative structure that could not be detected by Spanish readers. Each edition of the Popol Wuj therefore helps to uncover different elements of the cosmovisión that is embedded in the text. This article draws from recent collaborative efforts to prepare a digital critical edition of the Popol Wuj based on the editorial standards and scholarly conventions of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI). By comparing and contrasting the advantages and drawbacks of this edition relative to printed works and digital editions, we suggest how methods from the digital humanities can shed new light on texts like the Popol Wuj.
Unfolding is the driving force for mitochondrial import and degradation of the Parkinson's disease-related protein DJ-1
Authors: Queliconi Bruno Barros , Kojima Waka , Kimura Mayumi , Imai Kenichiro , Udagawa Chisato , Motono Chie , Hirokawa Takatsugu , Tashiro Shinya , Caaveiro Jose M. M. , Tsumoto Kouhei , Yamano Koji , Tanaka Keiji , Matsuda Noriyuki
Published: October 2021

Diverse genes associated with familial Parkinson's disease (familial Parkinsonism) have been implicated in mitochondrial quality control. One such gene, PARK7 encodes the protein DJ-1, pathogenic mutations of which trigger its translocation from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix. The translocation of steady-state cytosolic proteins like DJ-1 to the mitochondrial matrix upon missense mutations is rare, and the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that the protein unfolding associated with various DJ-1 mutations drives its import into the mitochondrial matrix. Increasing the structural stability of these DJ-1 mutants restores cytosolic localization. Mechanistically, we show that a reduction in the structural stability of DJ-1 exposes a cryptic N-terminal mitochondrial-targeting signal (MTS), including Leu10, which promotes DJ-1 import into the mitochondrial matrix for subsequent degradation. Our work describes a novel cellular mechanism for targeting a destabilized cytosolic protein to the mitochondria for degradation.
Simple models highlight differences in the walking biomechanics of young children and adults
Authors: Rose Vivian L. , Arellano Christopher J.
Published: October 2021

Adults conserve metabolic energy during walking by minimizing the step-to-step transition work performed by the legs during double support and by utilizing spring-like mechanisms in their legs, but little is known as to whether children utilize these same mechanisms. To gain a better understanding, we studied how children (5–6 years) and adults modulate the mechanical and metabolic demands of walking at their preferred speed, across slow (75%), preferred (100%) and fast (125%) step frequencies. We quantified (1) the positive mass-specific work done by the trailing leg during step-to-step transitions and (2) the leg's spring-like behavior during single support. On average, children walked with a 36% greater net cost of transport (COT; J kg−1 m−1) than adults (P=0.03), yet both groups increased their net COT at varying step frequencies. After scaling for speed, children generated ∼2-fold less trailing limb positive scaled mechanical work during the step-to-step transition (P=0.02). Unlike adults, children did not modulate their trailing limb positive work to meet the demands of walking at 75% and 125% of their preferred step frequency. In single support, young children operated their stance limb with much greater compliance than adults ( versus 11.35; P=0.023). Our observations suggest that the mechanics of walking in children aged 5–6 years are fundamentally distinct from the mechanics of walking in adults and may help to explain a child's higher net COT. These insights have implications for the design of assistive devices for children and suggest that children cannot be simply treated as scaled-down versions of adults.
Tratamento cirúrgico de sialolito intraglandular: relato de caso
Authors: Santana Daiana Cristina Pereira , Garcia Juliana Jorge , Silva Juliana Maria Araújo , Barboza Alana Del’Arco , De Azevedo Roberto Almeida
Published: October 2021

Introdução: O sialolito é a patologia mais frequente nas glândulas salivares maiores, ocorrendo em maior prevalência na glândula submandibular. Os sinais e sintomas clínicos incluem edema e dor na região da glândula acometida pelo sialolito e em caso de obstrução do ducto, os sintomas são mais pronunciados. Existem diversas alternativas de tratamento para a sialolitíase, com indicações específicas de acordo com cada caso. Desse modo, o objetivo desse artigo é relatar a técnica cirúrgica utilizada para remover um grande sialolito localizado no parênquima de glândula salivar maior. Relato de Caso: Paciente do sexo feminino, 49 anos, melanoderma, com queixas álgicas à palpação da região submandibular direita, há aproximadamente oito meses, apresentando discreto aumento de volume enrijecido no local. Ao exame de imagem foi observada imagem radiopaca na região, sugerindo a presença de sialollito no interior da glândula submandibular direita. Conclusão: Diversas modalidades de tratamento são descritas para sialolitíase. O tratamento conservador e/ou minimamente invasivo está indicado para cálculos de pequena dimensão ou extraglandulares e inclui a ordenha da glândula afetada. Cálculos maiores, localizados no interior da glândula, requerem tratamentos mais radicais, e na maioria das vezes, a excisão cirúrgica da glândula é o tratamento de escolha.
Cichociemny kpt. Władysław Kochański „Bomba”/„Wujek” i jego żołnierze w obronie ludności polskiej Wołynia w 2. połowie 1943 roku
Authors: Dudek Tomasz
Published: October 2021

“CICHOCIEMNY” CAPTAIN WŁADYSŁAW KOCHAŃSKI “BOMBA”/”WUJEK” AND HIS SOLDIERS IN DEFENSE OF THE POLISH PEOPLE OF VOLHYNIA IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1943 The article presents activities of a partisan unit of the Home Army commanded by Capt. Władysław Kochański. Its origins date back to the first half of 1943, when a self-defense unit was established in Huta Stepańska. After the fall of Huta, Kochański formed a partisan unit out of his subordinates – a unit of nearly 700 soldiers. From July 1943, the unit was involved in one-sided fights with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in defense of Polish villages. It was especially visible in the so-called Zasłucze region, where several thousand people took refuge in Stara Huta and its vicinity. In December 1943, the unit joined the 27th Volhynian Infantry Division and became part of the I/45 infantry regiment. The further combat spread through Volhynia, Polesie to the Lublin region, where the division was disarmed in July 1944.
Operations Research in Underground Mine Planning: A Review
Authors: Chowdu Akshay , Nesbitt Peter , Brickey Andrea , Newman Alexandra M.
Published: October 2021

At the time of this writing, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the average American-born human will need millions of pounds of fuels, minerals, and other extracted resources in his or her lifetime. Mining is a critical global industry, spanning all but one continent (Antarctica), with the highest-producing countries being China, the United States, Russia, Australia, and India. Increasingly, this demand is driving mining companies to explore and pursue deeper mineral deposits as near-surface deposits deplete. Correspondingly, there has been a significant rise in industry interest in applying operations research techniques to improve underground mine planning. Newman et al. [Newman AM, Rubio E, Caro R, Weintraub A, Eurek K (2010) A review of operations research in mine planning. Interfaces 40(3):222–245] present a review of such techniques, applied to both open pit and underground mining operations. We focus here on the advancements since that publication and concentrate on underground applications in metalliferous deposits, such as copper, iron, and gold.
Dynamic shape measurement for objects with patterns by Fourier fringe projection profilometry based on variational decomposition and multi-scale Retinex
Authors: Zhao Qi , Tang Chen , Min Xu , Lei Zhenkun
Published: October 2021

In practical measurement, we often need to measure the shape of objects with patterns or letters. As far as we know, no paper has ever reported the shape measurement for objects with patterns or letters by Fourier fringe projection profilometry (FPP). In this paper, we propose a method based on the variational decomposition

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model and multi-scale Retinex (MSR) to measure the shape of objects with patterns and letters by Fourier FPP. In this method, we first use the

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model to obtain the fringe part, then perform MSR enhancement on the fringe part, and finally decompose the enhanced fringe part with

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again. We evaluate the performance of this method via application to one computer-simulated noisy fringe projection pattern and two experimental fringe projection patterns with different types of patterns or letters, and comparison with the Fourier transform method, the variational image decomposition

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model. Furthermore, we apply the proposed method to the dynamic three-dimensional shape measurement of hand posture with pattern. The experimental results show that our method can effectively measure the dynamic shape of objects with patterns or letters from a single-frame fringe projection pattern.
Nanophotonic manipulation of optical angular momentum for high-dimensional information optics
Authors: Fang Xinyuan , Ren Haoran , Li Keyao , Luan Haitao , Hua Yilin , Zhang Qiming , Chen Xi , Gu Min
Published: October 2021

Light has played a crucial role in the age of information technology and has facilitated the soaring development of information optics. The ever-increasing demand for high-capacity optical devices has prompted the use of physically orthogonal dimensions of light for optical multiplexing. Recent advances in nanotechnology, mainly stemming from functionalized nanomaterials and powerful nanofabrication tools, have propelled the fusion of optical multiplexing and nanophotonics (the study of light at nanoscale and of its interactions with nanostructures) by enabling ultrahigh-capacity information technology. This review aims to introduce the emerging concept of angular momentum (AM)-involved information optics and its implementation in nanophotonic devices. First, previous researches on the manipulation of spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM) by nanostructures will be reviewed. We then summarize the SAM multiplexing technology on the platform of metasurfaces. Particularly, we elaborately summarize our recent progress in the area of information optics, including OAM holography and on-chip AM multiplexing technology. Finally, a perspective in the combination of this emerging field with optical artificial intelligence (AI) will be given.
Enhanced external quantum efficiencies of AlGaN-based deep-UV LEDs using reflective passivation layer
Authors: Lin Su-Hui , Tseng Ming-Chun , Peng Kang-Wei , Lai Shouqiang , Shen Meng-Chun , Horng Ray-Hua , Lien Shui-Yang , Wuu Dong-Sing , Kuo Hao-Chung , Wu Tingzhu , Chen Zhong
Published: October 2021

In this study, deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV-LEDs) with a reflective passivation layer (RPL) were investigated. The RPL consists of HfO2/SiO2 stacks as distributed Bragg reflectors, which are deposited on two DUV-LEDs with different p-GaN thicknesses. The RPL structure improved the external quantum efficiency droops of the DUV-LEDs with thick and thin p-GaN, thereby increasing their light output power by 18.4% and 39.4% under injection current of 500 mA and by 17.9% and 37.9% under injection current of 1000 mA, respectively. The efficiency droops of the DUV-LEDs with and without the RPL with thick p-GaN were 20.1% and 19.1% and with thin p-GaN were 18.0% and 15.6%, respectively. The DUV-LEDs with the RPL presented improved performance. The above results demonstrate the potential for development of the RPLs for DUV-LED applications.
Identification and predictability of soil quality indicators from conventional soil and vegetation classifications
Authors: Simfukwe Paul , Hill Paul W. , Emmett Bridget A. , Jones Davey L.
Published: October 2021

The physical, chemical and biological attributes of a soil combined with abiotic factors (e.g. climate and topography) drive pedogenesis and some of these attributes have been used as proxies to soil quality. Thus, we investigated: (1) whether appropriate soil quality indicators (SQIs) could be identified in soils of Great Britain, (2) whether conventional soil classification or aggregate vegetation classes (AVCs) could predict SQIs and (3) to what extent do soil types and/ or AVCs act as major regulators of SQIs. Factor analysis was used to group 20 soil attributes into six SQI which were named as; soil organic matter (SOM), dissolved organic matter (DOM), soluble N, reduced N, microbial biomass, DOM humification (DOMH). SOM was identified as the most important SQI in the discrimination of both soil types and AVCs. Soil attributes constituting highly to the SOM factor were, microbial quotient and bulk density. The SOM indicator discriminated three soil type groupings and four aggregate vegetation class groupings. Among the soil types, only the peat soils were discriminated from other groups while among the AVCs only the heath and bog classes were isolated from others. However, the peat soil and heath and bog AVC were the only groups that were distinctly discriminated from other groups. All other groups heavily overlapped with one another, making it practically impossible to define reference values for each soil type or AVC. The two-way ANOVA showed that the AVCs were a better regulator of the SQIs than the soil types. We conclude that conventionally classified soil types cannot predict the SQIs defined from large areas with differing climatic and edaphic factors. Localised areas with similar climatic and topoedaphic factors may hold promise for the definition of SQI that may predict the soil types or AVCs.
Infection…what else? The usefulness of procalcitonin in children after cardiac surgery
Authors: Bobillo-Perez Sara , Girona-Alarcon Monica , Sole-Ribalta Anna , Guitart Carmina , Felipe Aida , Hernandez Lluisa , Balaguer Monica , Cambra Francisco Jose , Jordan Iolanda
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Procalcitonin is a useful biomarker for predicting bacterial infection after cardiac surgery. However, sometimes procalcitonin rises following cardiac surgery without a confirmation of bacterial infection. The aim was to analyse procalcitonin levels in children without a bacterial infection after cardiac surgery.

Study design

This is a prospective, observational study of children <18 years old admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after cardiac surgery.

Results

1,042 children were included, 996 (95.6%) without a bacterial infection. From them, severe complications occurred in 132 patients (13.3%). Procalcitonin increased differentially depending on the type of complication. Patients who presented a poor outcome (n = 26, 2.6%) had higher procalcitonin values in the postoperative period than the rest of patients (<24 hours: 5.8 ng/mL vs. 0.6 ng/mL; 24–48 hours, 5.1 ng/mL vs. 0.8 ng/mL, and 48–72 hours, 5.3 ng/mL vs. 1.2 ng/mL), but these values remained stable over time (p = 0.732; p = 0.110). The AUC for procalcitonin for predicting poor outcome was 0.876 in the first 24 hours. The cut-off point to predict poor outcome was 2 ng/mL in the first 24 hours (sensitivity 86.9%, specificity 77.3%). Patients with bacterial infection (n = 46) presented higher values of procalcitonin initially, but they decreased in the 48–72 hours period (<24 hours: 4.9 ng/mL; 24–48 hours, 5.8 ng/mL, and 48–72 hours, 4.5 ng/mL).

Conclusions

A procalcitonin value<2 ng/mL may indicate the absence of infection and poor outcome after cardiac surgery. The evolution of the values of this biomarker might help to discern between infection (where procalcitonin will decrease) and poor outcome (where procalcitonin will not decrease).
Impact of image averaging on vessel detection using optical coherence tomography angiography in eyes with macular oedema and in healthy eyes
Authors: Le Boité Hugo , Chetrit Mardoche , Erginay Ali , Bonnin Sophie , Lavia Carlo , Tadayoni Ramin , Couturier Aude
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To assess the repeatability of multiple automatic vessel density (VD) measurements and the effect of image averaging on vessel detection by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

An observational study was conducted in a series of healthy volunteers and patients with macular oedema. Five sequential OCTA images were acquired for each eye using the OptoVue HD device. The effect of the averaging of the 5 acquisitions on vessel detection was analysed quantitatively using a pixel-by-pixel automated analysis. In addition, two independent retina experts qualitatively assessed the change in vessel detection in averaged images segmented in 9 boxes and compared to the first non-averaged image.

Results

The automatic VD measurement in OCTA images showed a good repeatability with an overall mean intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.924. The mean ICC was higher in healthy eyes compared to eyes with macular oedema (0.877 versus 0.960; p < 0.001) and in the superficial vascular plexus versus the deep vascular complex (0.967 versus 0.888; p = 0.001). The quantitative analysis of the effect of the averaging showed that averaged images had a mean gain of 790.4 pixels/box, located around or completing interruptions in the vessel walls, and a mean loss of 727.2 pixels/box. The qualitative analysis of the averaged images showed that 99.6% of boxes in the averaged images had a gain in vessel detection (i.e., vessels detected in the averaged image but not in the non-averaged image). The loss of pixels was due to a reduction in background noise and motion artifacts in all cases and no case of loss of vessel detection was observed.

Conclusion

The automatic VD measurement using the OptoVue HD device showed a good repeatability in 5 acquisitions in a row setting. Averaging images increased vessel detection, and in about a third of boxes, decreased the background noise, both in healthy eyes and, in a greater proportion, in eyes with macular oedema.