bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of chronic non-specific cough on children and their families: A narrative literature review
Authors: Waring Gill , Kirk Susan , Fallon Debbie
Published: January 2019

The aim of this article is to critically appraise and synthesize research that examines the impact chronic non-specific cough has on children and their families and to highlight gaps within the research. Chronic non-specific cough refers to a persistent cough without a specific diagnosis. While studies have begun to examine the impact on children and their families, this research has not been synthesized and appraised. A narrative literature review was undertaken. A comprehensive and systematic search was undertaken, using CINAHL, MEDLINE, British Nursing Index, PsycINFO, Cochrane Wiley Library and ASSIA databases. Studies were critically appraised for quality using the Hawker et al.’s appraisal tool. A narrative review of the findings was undertaken. Nine quantitative studies were included in the review. The article suggests that chronic non-specific cough affects the quality of life of both families and children, affecting quality of sleep, impacting upon participation in activities, causing emotional distress and creating substantial demand on the health service. Furthermore, the research highlighted the worries experienced by parents in relation to the cause of their child’s cough. The review did not identify any qualitative research in this area and only one study collected data directly from children.
Performance of videogrammetric displacement monitoring technique under varying ambient temperature
Authors: Zhou HF , Lu LJ , Li ZY , Ni YQ
Published: January 2019

There has been an increasing number of attempts to apply videogrammetric technique to displacement measurement of civil engineering structures. Its potentials in structural health monitoring have also gained more attention. This study carried out an investigation on the effect of temperature variation on the measurement accuracy of videogrammetric technique in an effort to examine its feasibility for structural health monitoring. Long-term indoor videogrammetric measurement tests have been conducted, and the performance of the videogrammetric displacement monitoring technique under ambient temperature conditions has been examined. The results show that temperature variations cause non-negligible errors in measured displacements. In line with the temperature variation, the displacement measurement error also contains not only daily fluctuation pattern but also overall trend. In terms of daily fluctuation pattern, the horizontal measurement error and temperatures of vision measurement system are in satisfactory consistency, while the vertical measurement error does not coincide well with temperatures of vision measurement system. In terms of overall trend, the vertical measurement error is highly correlated with temperatures of vision measurement system, while the horizontal one is almost uncorrelated with temperatures of vision measurement system. As an outcome of the dominance of overall trend in the temperature variation over a long time period, the vertical measurement error and temperatures of vision measurement system conform to a favorable linear relationship, while the horizontal measurement error tends to be constrained in a small range when the temperatures of vision measurement system exceed a certain value.
An improved homotopy perturbation method for solving local fractional nonlinear oscillators
Authors: Yang Yong-Ju , Wang Shun-Qin
Published: January 2019

Local fractional nonlinear oscillators are studied by a modification of the homotopy perturbation method coupled with the variational iteration method. In the solution process, the fractional variational iteration method is adopted to transform the nonlinear oscillator equation into an integral equation, which is then decomposed into a series of equations, which are solved by the homotopy perturbation method. Two examples are given to show that the proposed method is simpler and more flexible than the classical homotopy perturbation method. It is also shown that the key to use this method is to select the appropriate decomposition of the initial value series.
Toward a clearer conceptualization and operationalization of solutions journalism
Authors: McIntyre Karen Elizabeth , Lough Kyser
Published: January 2019

Solutions journalism is rigorous news reporting about how people are responding to social problems – a definition used by scholars but formulated by the Solutions Journalism Network, an independent organization that promotes the practice. The approach has a growing appeal in the professional world, but what little exists in academic research fails to offer thorough theoretical and conceptual definitions or a concrete operationalization of the practice. Through in-depth interviews, journalists familiar with solutions journalism offered insights about how to define and measure the practice. Specifically, journalists said solution-oriented news stories contribute to more accurate and balanced news coverage, they are sophisticated and rigorous, and they intend to motivate readers to contribute to societal change. Further findings help distinguish the Solutions Journalism Network’s conceptualization of the concept from how working journalists practice it, particularly in regard to the extent that solutions journalism overlaps with advocacy journalism. Finally, this study offers guidelines for measuring a solutions news story in an effort to spur consistent future research on the effects of the solutions journalism approach.
‘Um, er’: how meaning varies between speech and its typed transcript
Authors: Collins Harry , Leonard-Clarke Willow , O’Mahoney Hannah
Published: January 2019

We report a small empirical study on the way the transcription used to represent speech affects its meaning. We show that ‘disfluencies’ in speech indicate far more uncertainty in the speaker when transmitted in text than when transmitted in recorded sound. This has important implications for how transcribed interviews should be edited when they are being used to convey meaning rather than the organization of phonemes. We propose the implications of different ways of representing speech in text could be a new subject for investigation. Presented here is one possible empirical approach to such studies.
Youth Justice Pathways to Change: Drivers, Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Case Stephen , Hampson Kathy
Published: January 2019

How and why does youth justice change? This article examines the nature and foci of change in youth justice by analysing this change as situated within processes that occur along pathways, rather than as triggered by measurable causes acting in linear ways. Our analytical framework is constituted by a series of identified potential pathways to change that are distinct, yet mutually reciprocal: political, paradigmatic, research-led and cognisant. The intention is to test key assumptions and to open up debate about the nature of youth justice change and how it can be constructed, understood and influenced.
Keeping up with the kladdkaka: Kindness and coercion in Swedish immigration detention centres
Authors: Canning Victoria
Published: January 2019

Unlike many of its neighbouring North European countries, Sweden has historically been reluctant to expand its use of immigration detention. Likewise, and similar to its use of prisons, it is a state that often favours architectural ‘softness’ in the structure and regime of detention. However, as this article contends, its reputation for hospitality and welfare is in contrast with the very existence of such spaces. Reflecting on interviews with detention custody officers and governors in two such centres, I demonstrate how ‘hard’ approaches to control are instead supplemented with dualistically ‘kind’ and coercive measures to obtain their ultimate agenda: the deportation of the unwanted immigrant Other. Considering the harms inherent to imprisonment, I argue that – although preferable to harsher conditions enacted by various other states – the negative impacts of confinement cannot be eradicated by ‘soft’ approaches, but rather require the eradication of border confinement itself.
Fabrication and mechanical properties of flaxseed fiber bundle-reinforced polybutylene succinate composites
Authors: Azhar Sayed Waqar , Xu Fujun , Zhang Yinnan , Qiu Yiping
Published: January 2019

Flaxseed plants are widely grown globally due to the beneficial seed oil derivatives for human and animal consumption and other industrial uses. However, plentiful flaxseed straws are annually burnt after the harvesting of seeds, lacking utilization of the abundant flaxseed fibers, resulting in wastage of a valuable fiber resource and drastic increase in environmental pollution. In this study, initially the chemical composition and mechanical property of flaxseed fiber bundle were investigated, which resulted as 40.11% cellulose, 28.27% hemi-cellulose, 15.08% lignin, 6.3% pectin, 3.1% wax, and the tensile strength of 1.14 cN/dTex. The surface modification treatment was carried out with concentrations of 10 g/L and 20 g/L sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Later, flaxseed fiber bundles reinforced Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) resin composites were fabricated by thermal compression method. The tensile strength of untreated flaxseed fiber bundle/PBS composites was 78.2 MPa, while the flexural strength of 20 g/L NaOH treated flaxseed fiber bundle/PBS composites showed 84% increment from 26.70 MPa to 49.16 MPa. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed significantly rougher surface morphology and stronger interfacial bonding of the alkali treated fiber bundles with matrix. The good mechanical properties observed demonstrated the absolute potential of resultant composites reinforced by flaxseed fiber bundles for utilization in the civil and industrial applications.
Can Smartphones Be Used to Perform Video-Assisted Microanastomosis? An Experimental Study
Authors: Teixeira Renan Kleber Costa , Feijó Daniel Haber , Valente André Lopes , de Carvalho Luan Teles Ferreira , Brito Marcus Vinicius Henriques , de Barros Rui Sergio Monteiro
Published: January 2019

Background. Smartphone cameras are continuously improving. The present study aimed to evaluate the possibility of using smartphones’ magnification system to perform microanastomosis in rats. Methods. Fifteen rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, according to the magnification system used: Microscope, iPhone 7 smartphone, and Galaxy S7 smartphone. In the microscope group, a DFVasconcelos microsurgery microscope was used. In both smartphone groups, the magnifications systems were connected to a 55-inch television through the mirror function. Animals in both groups underwent femoral artery anastomosis in the right forepaw and femoral nerve neurorrhaphy in the left hindleg. The body weight, arterial and nerve caliber, and anastomosis time and patency were immediately analyzed. Results. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding body weight, arterial, or nerve caliber. The smartphones did not provide a sufficient quality of image for an adequate identification of the arterial walls. Therefore, neither arterial anastomosis nor neurorrhaphy could be completed, even after 3 hours of surgery. The first steps toward anastomosis or raffia were performed with difficulty. Conclusion. The current video resolution and lack of stereoscopic image of available smartphones is not sufficient to perform video-assisted anastomosis of femoral arteries or nerves.
Cooperative simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm based on distributed particle filter
Authors: Wen Shuhuan , Chen Jian , Lv Xiaohan , Tong Yongzheng
Published: January 2019

In this article, cooperative simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm based on distributed particle filter is proposed for multi-robot cooperative simultaneous localization and mapping system. First, a multi-robot cooperative simultaneous localization and mapping system model is established based on Rao-Blackwellised particle filter and simultaneous localization and mapping (FastSLAM 2.0) algorithm, and an median of the local posterior probability (MP)-cooperative simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm combined with the M-posterior distributed estimation algorithm is proposed. Then, according to the accuracy advantage of the early landmarks comparing to the later landmarks in the simultaneous localization and mapping task, an improved time-median of the local posterior probability (MP)-cooperative simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm based on time difference optimization is proposed, which optimizes the weights of the local estimation and improves the accuracy of the global estimation. The simulation results show that the algorithm is practical and effective.
Practical guidance for the management of inflammatory bowel disease in patients with cancer. Which treatment?
Authors: Sebastian Shaji , Neilaj Steven
Published: January 2019

Clinicians involved in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increasingly come across patients with current or previous history of malignancies. With increasing and earlier use of immunosuppression and biologics in IBD patients, the question arises whether these treatments further increase the risk of new or recurrent cancers. A number of population-based observational studies have now reported the odds of development of new or recurrent cancers with thiopurines and antitumour necrosis factors (anti-TNFs). These data combined with data arising from treatment registries from other immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis are providing evidence of relative risks and safety profiles of these agents in the setting of active or prior cancer. Data from transplant literature give an indication for providing a drug-holiday period in patients with treated cancers. The risks of the treatment should be considered alongside the risk associated with withholding these effective treatments in patients with active IBD. In this review, we aim to summarize the current evidence in this area and provide a practical guidance.
Does the Use of Locking Screws Decrease the Rate of Hardware Removal in Ankle Fractures?
Authors: Walley Kempland C. , Gonzalez Tyler A. , Nandyala Sreeharsha V. , Macauley Alec , Elnabawi Youssef , Rodriguez Edward K. , Appleton Paul T.
Published: January 2019

Background. While biomechanical characteristics of locking screw fixation versus traditional plating has been studied extensively in orthopaedic literature, clinical outcome studies are lacking. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications rate of locking versus traditional nonlocking screws in complex ankle fractures employing distal fibula internal fixation with 1/3 semitubular small fragment plates. Methods. A retrospective review was performed between January 2010 and June 2013 of all patients in whom internal fixation of the fibula in an ankle fracture (open or closed) was performed using only 1/3 semitubular small fragment fibular plates. Patient characteristics, fracture patterns, specific screw choice that were placed in the most distal 2 fibular plate holes (either locking or nonlocking), infectious wound complications, and concomitant syndesmotic injury and the need and corresponding purpose for hardware removal were recorded. Results. A total of 135 patients were found to meet inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this study. Of the patients with locking screws, 25 of 98 (25%) elected to have hardware removed, while 13 of 37 (35%) of those with nonlocking screws elected hardware removal. This did not reach statistical significance (P = .30). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regards to age, smoking status, body mass index, diabetes, or use of syndesmotic screw fixation. There was no significant difference in loss of fixation, infection, or other surgical complications in between the groups. Conclusions. There was no significant decrease in the rate of hardware removal with the use of 1/3 tubular locking versus nonlocking plates in the treatment of distal fibula fractures. Despite these screws locking flush to the plate, the hardware is equally symptomatic in both groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of complications between the 2 groups and our data suggest that the added expense of using locking screws routinely when fixing lateral malleolar fractures should be carefully considered, especially if the fracture pattern does not warrant locking technology.

Levels of Evidence: Prognostic, Level III
The Origin of the Anterior Lateral Malleolar Artery From the Anterior Tibial Artery: A Fresh Cadaveric Study
Authors: Tonogai Ichiro , Hayashi Fumio , Tsuruo Yoshihiro , Sairyo Koichi
Published: January 2019

The anterior lateral malleolar artery (ALMA), which usually originates from the anterior tibial artery (ATA), courses transversely and laterally, passing under the extensor digitorum longus and peroneus tertius tendons. Variations in the origin of the ALMA from the ATA can occur. Branches of the ATA, such as the ALMA, are prone to pseudoaneurysm. This study reviewed the origin of the ALMA from the ATA and aimed to identify problems in anterior ankle arthroscopy that might cause injury to the ALMA. Enhanced computed tomography scans of 24 feet of 24 fresh cadavers (13 males, 11 females; average age 78.1 years) were assessed. The limb was injected with barium sulfate suspension through the external iliac artery; the origin of the ALMA from the ATA on the sagittal plane was recorded. The origin was at the ankle joint level in 4 specimens and below the ankle joint in 17 specimens. The distance from the ankle joint to the branching point of the ALMA on the sagittal plane was 5.2 mm distal to the joint. The level of origin of the ALMA from the ATA was established. Instruments should not be inserted from the distal direction when placing anterolateral portals.

Levels of Evidence: Level IV, cadaveric study
Grounded theory in journalism and communication studies in the Chinese mainland (2004–2017): Status quo and problems
Authors: Jinghong Xu , Xinyang You , Shiming Hu , Wenbing Chen
Published: January 2019

Grounded theory is a qualitative research method widely used in social sciences. Using content analysis and CiteSpace visualization software and taking journal articles of China National Knowledge Infrastructure database from 2004 to 2017 as the analysis objects, this paper comprehensively explores the studies using grounded theory in the field of journalism and communication in the Chinese mainland. It shows that the application of grounded theory in the field of journalism and communication had a relatively late start in the Chinese mainland. However, interdisciplinary research obviously prevailed. Researches using grounded theory are not widespread, while the theory has not been fully localized. Financial support from the government has been a great help to researchers, but the researchers outside the academic circles hardly get involved in academic activities.
Assessing Integrative Psychiatry Curriculum Needs
Authors: Ranjbar Noshene , Villagomez Amelia , Brooks Audrey J , Ricker Mari , Lebensohn Patricia , Maizes Victoria
Published: January 2019

Background

Research on incorporating integrative medicine (IM) into medical training is increasing. Programs and organizations around IM have been established, but there has not previously been a needs assessment focused on integrating IM into psychiatry training.

Objectives

The results of a needs assessment of training directors and faculty, focused on interest and priorities for developing an IM curriculum for psychiatry training programs, are described.

Methods

Psychiatry Training Directors and faculty were invited to participate in a detailed electronic survey. Areas of inquiry included (a) IM content areas to include in training; (b) IM approaches to specific medical conditions; (c) existing IM content; (d) importance, interest, and strategies for IM training; and (e) availability of wellness programs for trainees.

Results

Thirty-six respondents from psychiatry training programs completed the survey. Of the training programs represented by the respondents, 50% indicated that they currently had IM content in their curriculum; only 11.8% of them rated their programs’ existing IM content as sufficient. Content areas rated most highly for inclusion in a psychiatry IM curriculum included sleep health, motivational interviewing, and self-care. Respondents indicated incorporating IM into the psychiatry training curriculum (47%) or as an elective (44%) as the desired implementation strategy, with experiential onsite activities demonstrating IM topics (67%) and online modules supplemented by local faculty (58%) as the 2 most desirable learning formats. Significant barriers identified were time constraints, lack of faculty expertise in IM, current lack of curricular requirements for IM competencies, and budgetary limitations.

Conclusion

Responses to the survey suggest that faculty need support and additional education in implementing IM training. A standardized, online curriculum could help meet that need. Our results also indicate that wellness programs for residents are currently inadequate; bolstering them could help address burnout and increase the knowledge psychiatrists have of IM modalities. The types of institutions represented by faculty interested in further developing IM offerings vary considerably, as do their current efforts to integrate IM into training programs.
Neighborhood Residence and Assessments of Racial Profiling Using Census Data
Authors: Hannon Lance
Published: January 2019

People frequently compare the racial composition of stopped individuals with the racial composition of the local residential population to assess unequal policing. This type of evaluation rests on the assumption that the census-derived population accurately reflects the population at risk to be stopped. For vehicle stops, existing research indicates that this assumption is very problematic, resulting in highly unreliable assessments of black-white policing disparities. However, there is little research on the significance of this assumption for stopped urban pedestrians. Analyzing more than 100,000 investigatory stops in Chicago, the present study finds that similar to vehicle stops, most pedestrian investigations do not involve neighborhood residents, and estimates of racial disproportionality are inflated when this issue is ignored. Still, the degree to which estimates are inflated appears less than that previously reported for vehicle stops, and sizable racial disparities remain unexplained after the issue is taken into account. Implications for future research are discussed.
Bilateral calcinosis cutis of orbital walls in CREST syndrome
Authors: Ghadimi Hadi , Nikdel Mojgan , Eshraghi Bahram
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To describe a patient with systemic sclerosis who presented with subcutaneous yellow–white nodules on her lateral orbital rims.

Methods:

Case report.

Results:

A 53-year-old female was referred for management of subcutaneous firm nodules on her lateral orbital rims. She was known to have CREST (calcification, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia) syndrome, a limited variant of systemic sclerosis. Her drug history included diltiazem, captopril, aspirin, and prednisolone. There were bilateral multiple immobile yellow–white subcutaneous nodules with firm consistency, a few of which were in close proximity of periorbital skin. She was scheduled for surgical resection of the lesions and following tissue dissection, the calcified foci were removed. The incisions healed with some delay but the final postoperative follow-up at third month showed satisfactory appearance.

Conclusion:

Dystrophic calcinosis cutis occurs in approximately one-fourth of patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), particularly in those with the limited variant or CREST syndrome. The most frequently involved sites are the extremities. Occasionally, calcinosis involves the trunk or head, but involvement of bony orbital walls is extremely rare. Surgical excision can be considered for treatment of discrete foci of calcinosis cutis.
Noise and the city: Leveraging crowdsourced big data to examine the spatio-temporal relationship between urban development and noise annoyance
Authors: Hong Andy , Kim Byoungjun , Widener Michael
Published: January 2019

Noise is one of the most frequent complaints and represents a public health hazard. While traffic-related noise has been studied extensively, research on construction noise has been lacking. In this study, we examined the relationship between construction activities and noise annoyance and tested whether this relationship is stronger after working hours. Data were drawn from a historical inventory of major development projects and crowdsourced citizen complaints data (311 calls) in Vancouver, Canada from 2011 to 2016. Mixed effects models were developed with an interaction between construction activities and after-hours report. Results show that neighborhood noise complaints were significantly associated with major constructions (IRR = 1.062, 95% CI = 1.024–1.097). A significant interaction effect was also found between construction activities and after-hours reporting (IRR = 1.050 CI = 1.012–1.087). To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to empirically show the adverse effects of urban development on noise annoyance. The results imply that existing noise bylaws may not be effective in restricting construction activities at night and during sleeping hours, which may cause adverse health effects.
Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Rural Northwest Cameroon
Authors: Rettig Eleni M. , Gooi Zhen , Bardin Richard , Bogale Mesele , Rooper Lisa , Acha Everistus , Koch Wayne M.
Published: January 2019

Objective

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the precursor for a growing subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) in the developed world. This study was designed to characterize oral HPV infection and OPSCC in a region with high rates of HPV‐driven cervical cancer.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional cohort study, retrospective case series.

Setting

Northwest Cameroon referral hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus attending an outpatient clinic were evaluated for oral HPV infection with oral swabs or rinses that were tested for 51 HPV types. HNSCCs diagnosed and/or treated at the same hospital from 2011 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed to ascertain demographic and tumor characteristics, and available OPSCCs were tested for HPV.

Results

The oral HPV infection study population comprised 101 participants. Most (69%) were female and never‐smokers (84%). Participants had median 4 lifetime sexual partners (interquartile range, 3‐7; range, 1‐100). Five participants (5%) had oral HPV infection; one had 2 HPV types. HPV types detected were HPV68 (n = 2), HPV82 (n = 2), HPV32 (n = 1), and unknown (n = 1). No significant demographic or behavioral differences were detected among individuals with vs without oral HPV infection. OPSCCs comprised just 8% (n = 11) of 131 HNSCCs in the retrospective study population. Two of 7 OPSCCs were HPV positive.

Conclusion

The low prevalence of OPSCC observed in northwest Cameroon together with the rarity of oral HPV infection suggests low rates of HPV‐driven oropharyngeal carcinogenesis in the region. Future research should examine how geographic differences in oral HPV infection are influenced by cultural norms and affect HPV‐OPSCC epidemiology.
Emerging Technology: Enhanced B-mode Tissue Characterization
Authors: Baun Jim
Published: January 2019

Ultrasound imaging continues to break through scientific and engineering ceilings that have formerly restricted the type and quality of information available. Limited by the temporal, data acquisition, and processing constraints inherent in traditional beamforming technology, ultrasound systems did not have the capacity to acquire and process large amounts of raw acoustic data fast enough to move beyond standard imaging modalities. While traditional beamforming capabilities can provide high-quality and high-resolution images, sensitive Doppler modes, and other advanced imaging applications, there have been limitations to creating new applications that use the information contained within the received acoustic data set. This has all changed with the introduction of ultrasound imaging systems that acquire and process significantly more acoustic data quickly. Upgraded, state-of-the-art digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities have made new imaging possibilities, including enhanced B-mode tissue characterization. This modality helps to differentiate areas within a region of interest based on the unique acoustic characteristics of the tissues insonated.
Genomic landscape and clonal evolution of acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21): an international study on 331 patients
Authors: Christen Friederike , Hoyer Kaja , Yoshida Kenichi , Hou Hsin-An , Waldhueter Nils , Heuser Michael , Hills Robert K. , Chan Willy , Hablesreiter Raphael , Blau Olga , Ochi Yotaro , Klement Piroska , Chou Wen-Chien , Blau Igor-Wolfgang , Tang Jih-Luh , Zemojtel Tomasz , Shiraishi Yuichi , Shiozawa Yusuke , Thol Felicitas , Ganser Arnold , Löwenberg Bob , Linch David C. , Bullinger Lars , Valk Peter J. M. , Tien Hwei-Fang , Gale Rosemary E. , Ogawa Seishi , Damm Frederik
Published: January 2019

Acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22) is characterized by considerable clinical and biological heterogeneity leading to relapse in up to 40% of patients. We sequenced coding regions or hotspot areas of 66 recurrently mutated genes in a cohort of 331 t(8;21) patients. At least 1 mutation, in addition to t(8;21), was identified in 95%, with a mean of 2.2 driver mutations per patient. Recurrent mutations occurred in genes related to RAS/RTK signaling (63.4%), epigenetic regulators (45%), cohesin complex (13.6%), MYC signaling (10.3%), and the spliceosome (7.9%). Our study identified mutations in previously unappreciated genes: GIGYF2, DHX15, and G2E3. Based on high mutant levels, pairwise precedence, and stability at relapse, epigenetic regulator mutations were likely to occur before signaling mutations. In 34% of RAS/RTKmutated patients, we identified multiple mutations in the same pathway. Deep sequencing (∼42 000×) of 126 mutations in 62 complete remission samples from 56 patients identified 16 persisting mutations in 12 patients, of whom 5 lacked RUNX1-RUNX1T1 in quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. KIThigh mutations defined by a mutant level ≥25% were associated with inferior relapse-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.15; P = .005). Together with age and white blood cell counts, JAK2, FLT3-internal tandem duplicationhigh, and KIThigh mutations were identified as significant prognostic factors for overall survival in multivariate analysis. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 19 paired diagnosis, remission, and relapse trios. Exome-wide analysis showed an average of 16 mutations with signs of substantial clonal evolution. Based on the resemblance of diagnosis and relapse pairs, genetically stable (n = 13) and unstable (n = 6) subgroups could be identified.
Evaluation of multiple risk factors involved in the development of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Anwar Syeda Birjees , Asif Naveed , Naqvi Syed Abid Hassan , Malik Sidra
Published: January 2019

Objective: To determine the role of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking and positive family history of diabetes and hypertension in the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Chemical Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi over 2 years period from June 2014 to June 2016. One hundred consecutive diabetic patients with no signs of diabetic retinopathy and good glycemic control (HbA1c<6.5%) were registered by non-probability convenient sampling after taking written informed consent. They were evaluated for hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking status. These patients were then followed 6 monthly for 2 years to look for the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.72±9.29 years and there were 57 (57%) male and 43 (43%) female patients. Majority (82%) of the patients had NIDDM. The mean duration of diabetes was 8.31±6.83 years. 11% of the patients were smoker, 37% were hypertensive, 6% had hyperlipidaemia, 62% had family history of diabetes and 30% had family history of hypertension. At the end of follow-up, 9 (9.0%) patients had diabetic retinopathy. The frequency of diabetic retinopathy increased with increasing age of the patient; however, the difference was statistically insignificant. A comparatively higher frequency of diabetic retinopathy was also seen in patients with IDDM and those with positive family history of diabetes and hypertension yet again, the difference was statistically insignificant. Also, no significant difference was noted among male and female genders and smokers vs. non-smoker. However, the frequency of diabetic retinopathy increased significantly with increasing duration of diabetes. It was also higher among those with hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Conclusion: Higher patient age (≥50 years), increasing duration of diabetes (≥20 years), insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and positive family history of diabetes and hypertension were found to be associated with increased frequency of diabetic retinopathy.

How to cite this:Anwar SB, Asif N, Naqvi SAH, Malik S. Evaluation of multiple risk factors involved in the development of Diabetic Retinopathy. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):156-160. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.279

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Marginal accuracy of provisional crowns using three material systems and two techniques: A scanning electron microscope study
Authors: Naqash Talib Amin , Alfarsi Mohammed , Hussain Muhammad Waqar
Published: January 2019

Objective: The most important desideratum of a provisional crown is an adequate marginal fit that is essential for maintaining optimal periodontal health, reducing the sensitivity of freshly prepared dentin and protection of the pulp. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the vertical marginal accuracy of provisional crown materials using three different material systems (chemically activated PMMA powder-liquid system, light activated UDMA single paste system, and chemically activated Bis-GMA two paste auto mix system) and two different techniques (direct and indirect).
Methods: Two customized stainless steel dies, simulating prepared and unprepared tooth were used to fabricate 40 provisional crowns. Additional silicone elastomeric impression and a vacuum-formed polypropylene sheet were used as a matrix. Ten crowns, each of the three material systems used in the study (n = 10 × 3) were fabricated using the direct technique and ten crowns from chemically activated PMMA powder-liquid system (n = 10 × 1) using an indirect technique. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to measure vertical marginal discrepancies at x100 magnification. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons between various groups were made using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) after checking the normality of data using Shapiro Wilk’s Test. Post Hoc Tukey HSD Test was used to determine the statistical difference between the means of independent group pairs.
Results: The mean marginal discrepancies of Bis-GMA composite resin, UDMA composite resin, and PMMA acrylic resin using direct technique were 67.15 µm, 71.01 µm, and 84.56 µm respectively. PMMA acrylic resin showed a mean marginal discrepancy of 103.03 µm using the indirect technique.
Conclusion: This study has shown that provisional crowns fabricated with Bis-GMA composite resin material (two paste auto mix system) registered the best marginal accuracy. Provisional crowns fabricated with indirect technique recorded less marginal opening than with direct technique.
How to cite this:Naqash TA, Alfarsi M, Hussain MW. Marginal accuracy of provisional crowns using three material systems and two techniques: A scanning electron microscope study. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):55-60. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.5
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
HIV treatment and monitoring patterns in routine practice: a multi-country retrospective chart review of patient care
Authors: Musa Baba M , Ibekwe Everistus , Mwale Stanley , Eurien Daniel , Oldenburg Catherine , Chung Gary , Heller Richard F
Published: January 2019

Background: A study of patient records in four HIV clinics in three sub-Saharan African countries examined routine clinical care patterns and variations.

Methods: Clinic characteristics were described, and patient data extracted from a sample of medical records. Data on treatment, CD4 count and viral load (VL) were obtained for the last visit in the records, dates mainly between 2015 and 2017, patient demographic data were obtained from the first clinic visit.

Results: Four clinics, two in Nigeria, one in Zambia and one in Uganda, all public facilities, using national HIV treatment guidelines were included. Numbers of patients and health professionals varied, with some variation in stated frequency of testing for CD4 count and VL. Clinical guidelines were available in each clinic, and most drugs were available free to patients. The proportion of patients with a CD4 count in the records varied from 84 to 100 percent, the latest median count varied from 269 to 593 between clinics. 35% had a record of a VL test, varying from 1% to 63% of patients. Lamivudine (3TC) was recorded for more than 90% of patients in each clinic, and although there was variation between clinics in the choice of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the majority were on first line drugs consistent with guidelines.  Only about 2% of the patients were on second-line ARTs. In two clinics, 100% and 99% of patients were prescribed co-trimoxazole, compared with 7% and no patients in the two other clinics.

Conclusions: The wide variation in available clinic health work force, levels and frequency of CD4 counts, and VL assessment and treatment indicate sub-optimal adherence to current guidelines in routine clinical care. There is room for further work to understand the reasons for this variation, and to standardise record keeping and routine care of HIV positive patients.
Sociodemographic, obstetric and psychological determinants of obesity among women in early to mid-pregnancy in South India
Authors: Venkatesh Shubhashree , Nath Anita , Balan Sheeba , J Vindhya , Metgud Chandra S. , Murthy Gudlavalleti Venkata Satyanarayana
Published: January 2019

Background: Worldwide, the occurrence of obesity has markedly increased over the past decades with serious public health consequences. Obese pregnant women are more likely to develop hypertension, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, resulting in obstetric complications which in turn may contribute to an increase in adverse child outcomes and maternal mortality. The present study was done to determine the prevalence of obesity and its association with socio-demographic variables, obstetric history and mental health.

Methods: This study was nested within an ongoing cohort study, CASCADE, in a public hospital in Bangalore. The study participants comprised of 280 pregnant women who were 18 years of age and above, with a gestational age of less than 24 weeks, enrolled between a period of August 1st, 2017 until April 30th, 2018. Weight and height were measured using calibrated devices to calculate the body mass index.

Results: The prevalence of obesity was observed to be 33.9% among the pregnant mothers. Obesity was found to be significantly associated with age, history of abortion, gravidity on multivariate logistic regression. No association was found with depression and anxiety.

Conclusions: Obesity is an important health concern among urban pregnant women in the region of South India. The prevalence is much higher than that reported in other studies. Increasing age, multigravidity and past history of abortion were significantly associated with maternal obesity.
A Feasibility Pump and Local Search Based Heuristic for Bi-Objective Pure Integer Linear Programming
Authors: Pal Aritra , Charkhgard Hadi
Published: January 2019

We present a new heuristic algorithm to approximately generate the nondominated frontier of bi-objective pure integer linear programs. The proposed algorithm employs a customized version of several existing algorithms in the literature of both single-objective and bi-objective optimization. Our proposed method has two desirable characteristics: (1) there is no parameter to be tuned by users other than the time limit; (2) it can naturally exploit parallelism. An extensive computational study shows the efficacy of the proposed method on some existing standard test instances in which the true frontier is known, and also some large randomly generated instances. We show that even a basic version of our algorithm can significantly outperform the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (Deb et al. 2002), and the sophisticated version of our algorithm is competitive with Multidirectional Local Search (Tricoire 2012). We also show the value of parallelization on the proposed approach.
What is Academic Advising? An Application of Analytic Induction
Authors: Larson Joshua , Johnson Anna , Aiken-Wisniewski Sharon A. , Barkemeyer Jason
Published: January 2019

Nearly 40 years after the creation of NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising and at least as many years after academic advising was recognized as a unique role in higher education, the term academic advising as applied to individuals who work in higher education has been only colloquially defined. Using the analytic induction research method, we arrived at a definition of academic advising created from the words of academic advisors. In this paper, we address the way each word or phrase has been used to create the definition and present implications for policy, research, and practice.
Nontraditional Women Students' Experiences of Identity Recognition and Marginalization During Advising
Authors: Auguste Elizabeth , Packard Becky Wai-Ling , Keep Alexandra
Published: January 2019

Nontraditional women students, defined as older than 24 years, parents, or veterans, compose a fast-growing higher education population. Many face identity-related challenges when interacting with advisors. From 2 northeastern U.S. women's colleges, 42 nontraditional women students participated in phenomenological interviews focused on their advising experiences, including the way advisors engaged with their identities. We classified 6 themes, 3 positive (guidance, identity recognition, advocacy) and 3 negative (indifference, identity marginalization, gatekeeping), that underscored the centrality of advisor engagement with identity for advisee-defined experiences. Advisors encouraged nontraditional women when recognizing intersectional identities as assets but also marginalized students through stereotyping or communicating low expectations. We highlight implications for future research and practice in this domain.
Altitude and Canopy Cover Effects on Air Temperature in a Mountainous Region of Ionian Islands, Greece
Authors: KAMOUTSIS ATHANASIOS , CHRONOPOULOS KOSTAS , MATSOUKIS ARISTIDIS
Published: January 2019

Topography and canopy play a decisive role on air temperature (T) conditions in forested areas. Air temperature is a crucial factor in decision making process for the development of these areas. To our knowledge, there is no information regarding the effect of topography along with canopy cover (Pc) on thermal conditions of a vulnerable mountainous forested region of Greece, Mount (Mt) Aenos in the island of Cephalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Therefore, the purpose of our work is the investigation of the aforementioned parameters, especially the effect of altitude (alt) and Pc on T of Mt Aenos. Mean values for maximum air temperature (Tx) and Pc were estimated for twelve sites at various alts in Mt Aenos during the period May-October of three consecutive years (2011-2013). The analysis of the results showed that Tx was related to alt and Pc. Altitude has a greater effect on T in relation to Pc. When examining same or similar alts, an increase of Pc up to 51% resulted in a significant decrease of Tx (p<0.05) up to 3.6 °C. Our findings could be taken into account in planning the construction of hiking trails for recreational activities in Mt Aenos, and, in general, in mountainous forest areas of special importance.
Assessment of Heavy Metals in Relation to Soil Pollution at Mewat, Haryana, India
Authors: KRISHAN GOPAL , CHANDNIHA S.K. , LOHANI A.K. , KUMAR YADAV BRIJESH , KUMAR ARORA NARESH , SINGH SURJEET , KUMAR C.P. , MOHAN SHARMA LALIT , BHARDWAJ A.K.
Published: January 2019

Assessment of heavy metals in soils is important in context of human health as these may either pollute the agricultural crops or may move deeper into the groundwater. There has been no such work been carried out in the soils of Mewat district. In the present study, to investigate the soil heavy metal pollution characteristics 15 samples and 3 typical soil profiles were collected from 2 blocks of Mewat district, Haryana and were analyzed for contents of Arsenic (As), copper(Cu), cadmium (Cd), zinc(Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and nickel(Ni). Concentrations of As, Cd and Ni in soils are less than their toxicity levels while concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu are found exceeding the toxicity levels. Based on the results, soil in the study area are polluted by heavy metals viz. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. According to principal component analysis, distinct groups of heavy metals were discriminated between natural or anthropogenic sources.
Land-Use and Land Cover Changes on the Slopes of Mount Meru-Tanzania
Authors: J. KITALIKA ALDO. , L. MACHUNDA REVOCATUS. , C. KOMAKECH HANS. , N. NJAU KAROLI.
Published: January 2019

The study of spatial land use and land change is inevitable for sustainable development of land use plans. Environmental transitions analysis was done in part of the land on the slopes of the foothills of Mount Meru in thirty (30) years’ time from 1986 to 2016 using satellite-derived land use/cover maps and a Cellular Automata (CA) spatial filter under IDRISI software environment and assessed the important land use changes. Also, the future land use for 2026 which is the next ten (10) years was simulated based on Cellular-Automata Markov model. The results showed significant land use transitions whereby there is a huge land use change of bush land (BL) and agriculture land (AG) into human settlement (ST) which resulted into conversion of Arusha town into a City. In addition, the changes have caused slight changes in water bodies into mixed forest. Moreover, the future land use/land cover (LULC) simulations indicated that there will be unsustainable LULC changes in the next ten years since most of bush land and part of agriculture land will be used for building different structures thus interfering with fresh water and food availability in the City. These changes call upon the relevant planning authorities to put in place the best strategies for good urban development.