bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accurately estimating the length distributions of genomic micro-satellites by tumor purity deconvolution
Authors: Wang Yixuan , Zhang Xuanping , Xiao Xiao , Zhang Fei-Ran , Yan Xinxing , Feng Xuan , Zhao Zhongmeng , Guan Yanfang , Wang Jiayin
Published: March 2020

Background

Genomic micro-satellites are the genomic regions that consist of short and repetitive DNA motifs. Estimating the length distribution and state of a micro-satellite region is an important computational step in cancer sequencing data pipelines, which is suggested to facilitate the downstream analysis and clinical decision supporting. Although several state-of-the-art approaches have been proposed to identify micro-satellite instability (MSI) events, they are limited in dealing with regions longer than one read length. Moreover, based on our best knowledge, all of these approaches imply a hypothesis that the tumor purity of the sequenced samples is sufficiently high, which is inconsistent with the reality, leading the inferred length distribution to dilute the data signal and introducing the false positive errors.

Results

In this article, we proposed a computational approach, named ELMSI, which detected MSI events based on the next generation sequencing technology. ELMSI can estimate the specific length distributions and states of micro-satellite regions from a mixed tumor sample paired with a control one. It first estimated the purity of the tumor sample based on the read counts of the filtered SNVs loci. Then, the algorithm identified the length distributions and the states of short micro-satellites by adding the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) step to the existing algorithm. After that, ELMSI continued to infer the length distributions of long micro-satellites by incorporating a simplified Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm with central limit theorem, and then used statistical tests to output the states of these micro-satellites. Based on our experimental results, ELMSI was able to handle micro-satellites with lengths ranging from shorter than one read length to 10kbps.

Conclusions

To verify the reliability of our algorithm, we first compared the ability of classifying the shorter micro-satellites from the mixed samples with the existing algorithm MSIsensor. Meanwhile, we varied the number of micro-satellite regions, the read length and the sequencing coverage to separately test the performance of ELMSI on estimating the longer ones from the mixed samples. ELMSI performed well on mixed samples, and thus ELMSI was of great value for improving the recognition effect of micro-satellite regions and supporting clinical decision supporting. The source codes have been uploaded and maintained at https://github.com/YixuanWang1120/ELMSI
for academic use only.
Conversion from electrocardiosignals to equivalent electrical sources on heart surface
Authors: Zhikhareva G. V. , Kramm Mikhail N. , Bodin O. N. , Seepold Ralf , Madrid Natividad Martinez , Chernikov A. I. , Kupriyanova Y. A. , Zhuravleva N. A.
Published: March 2020

Background

The actual task of electrocardiographic examinations is to increase the reliability of diagnosing the condition of the heart. Within the framework of this task, an important direction is the solution of the inverse problem of electrocardiography, based on the processing of electrocardiographic signals of multichannel cardio leads at known electrode coordinates in these leads (Titomir et al. Noninvasiv electrocardiotopography, 2003), (Macfarlane et al. Comprehensive Electrocardiology, 2nd ed. (Chapter 9), 2011).

Results

In order to obtain more detailed information about the electrical activity of the heart, we carry out a reconstruction of the distribution of equivalent electrical sources on the heart surface. In this area, we hold reconstruction of the equivalent sources during the cardiac cycle at relatively low hardware cost. ECG maps of electrical potentials on the surface of the torso (TSPM) and electrical sources on the surface of the heart (HSSM) were studied for different times of the cardiac cycle. We carried out a visual and quantitative comparison of these maps in the presence of pathological regions of different localization. For this purpose we used the model of the heart electrical activity, based on cellular automata.

Conclusions

The model of cellular automata allows us to consider the processes of heart excitation in the presence of pathological regions of various sizes and localization. It is shown, that changes in the distribution of electrical sources on the surface of the epicardium in the presence of pathological areas with disturbances in the conduction of heart excitation are much more noticeable than changes in ECG maps on the torso surface.
Visually guided classification trees for analyzing chronic patients
Authors: Soguero-Ruiz Cristina , Mora-Jiménez Inmaculada , Mohedano-Munoz Miguel A. , Rubio-Sanchez Manuel , Miguel-Bohoyo Pablo de , Sanchez Alberto
Published: March 2020

Background

Chronic diseases are becoming more widespread each year in developed countries, mainly due to increasing life expectancy. Among them, diabetes mellitus (DM) and essential hypertension (EH) are two of the most prevalent ones. Furthermore, they can be the onset of other chronic conditions such as kidney or obstructive pulmonary diseases. The need to comprehend the factors related to such complex diseases motivates the development of interpretative and visual analysis methods, such as classification trees, which not only provide predictive models for diagnosing patients, but can also help to discover new clinical insights.

Results

In this paper, we analyzed healthy and chronic (diabetic, hypertensive) patients associated with the University Hospital of Fuenlabrada in Spain. Each patient was classified into a single health status according to clinical risk groups (CRGs). The CRGs characterize a patient through features such as age, gender, diagnosis codes, and drug codes. Based on these features and the CRGs, we have designed classification trees to determine the most discriminative decision features among different health statuses. In particular, we propose to make use of statistical data visualizations to guide the selection of features in each node when constructing a tree. We created several classification trees to distinguish among patients with different health statuses. We analyzed their performance in terms of classification accuracy, and drew clinical conclusions regarding the decision features considered in each tree. As expected, healthy patients and patients with a single chronic condition were better classified than patients with comorbidities. The constructed classification trees also show that the use of antipsychotics and the diagnosis of chronic airway obstruction are relevant for classifying patients with more than one chronic condition, in conjunction with the usual DM and/or EH diagnoses.

Conclusions

We propose a methodology for constructing classification trees in a visually guided manner. The approach allows clinicians to progressively select the decision features at each of the tree nodes. The process is guided by exploratory data analysis visualizations, which may provide new insights and unexpected clinical information.
The development of a return to work intervention programme for stroke survivor (SReTWIP): a Delphi survey
Authors: Olaoye Olumide Ayoola , Soeker Shaheed Moghammad , Rhoda Anthea
Published: March 2020

Background

Even though clearly defined pathways for vocational re-entry are well recognized for conditions such as mental health, musculoskeletal dysfunction (MSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), none has been identified for stroke. There has been a lack of consensus regarding such clear pathways to vocational re-entry and the essential contents of return to work (RTW) interventions for stroke survivors. As part of a larger study aimed to design a RTW programme for stroke survivors, this study describes the concluding process through which Stroke Return to Work Intervention Programme (SReTWIP) was developed.

Methods

Experts in the field of neurorehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation (VR) from 6 countries participated in this 3-round Delphi survey via e-mail. Concept mapping was used to triangulate findings from the Delphi with previous phases of the larger study. Content thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data while descriptive statistic was used to analyze quantitative data.

Results

Fifteen experts with a mean age and mean duration of practice of 44.73 ± 9.48 years and 18.26 ± 8.71 years respectively participated in this study. The developed RTW programme (SReTWIP) is a 12 week programme that consisted of four interconnected phases of intervention viz.: an assessment phase, clinic-based work and non-work specific intervention phase, a work test placement phase and a client full participation in worker role phase. The experts agreed on a set of implementation strategies that included the use of interdisciplinary team, the tailoring of intervention to meet stroke survivor’s need, as well as the use of case management approach.

Conclusion

The SReTWIP is the first step in developing a VR pathway that can ultimately enhance the RTW rates and quick resumption of the worker role of stroke survivors. The stroke survivor can move along the different phases of the SReTWIP after achieving competency in a preceding phase. Future work will include a feasibility study with other key stakeholders involved in RTW such as employers, informal caregivers and stroke survivors before its implementation.
Online mindfulness-based intervention for women with pregnancy distress: design of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hulsbosch Lianne P. , Nyklíček Ivan , Potharst Eva S. , Meems Margreet , Boekhorst Myrthe G. B. M. , Pop Victor J. M.
Published: March 2020

Background

Psychological distress during pregnancy is common: up to 20% of the childbearing women experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Apart from the adverse effects on the woman herself, pregnancy distress can negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, infant health, postpartum mother-child interaction and child development. Therefore, the development of interventions that reduce pregnancy distress is very important. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promising positive effects on pregnancy distress, but there is a need for randomized controlled trials with sufficient power. Trials on online MBIs, which are readily accessible and not expensive, also show positive effects on stress reduction in non-pregnant populations. Moreover, specific working mechanisms of MBIs remain unclear. The aim of the current study is to test the effectiveness of an online MBI in pregnant women with pregnancy distress, as well as exploring potential working mechanisms.

Methods

The current study is a randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. Consenting women with elevated levels of pregnancy distress will be randomized into an intervention group (MBI) or control group (care as usual) around 12 weeks of pregnancy, with an intended sample size of 103 women in each group. The primary outcome, pregnancy distress, will be assessed via questionnaires at baseline, halfway through the intervention and post intervention in both intervention and control group, and after 8 weeks follow-up in the intervention group. Secondary outcomes are mindfulness skills, rumination and self-compassion, which are also seen as potential working mechanisms, and will be assessed via questionnaires before intervention, halfway through the intervention, post intervention and after 8 weeks follow-up in the intervention group. Tertiary outcome variables are obstetric data and will be collected from the obstetric records for both intervention and control group. Analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat principle. Multilevel regression models for repeated measures (mixed models) will be used to evaluate changes in primary and secondary outcome variables. Tertiary outcomes will be compared between groups using independent t-tests and Chi Square analyses.

Discussion

The trial is expected to increase knowledge about the effectiveness of online MBIs during pregnancy in women with pregnancy distress and to evaluate potential working mechanisms.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03917745, registered on 4 March 2019. Protocol Version 3.0., 20 February 2020.
Development and biological activity of long-acting recombinant human interferon-α2b
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Chao , Ma Fenlian , Yao Lihong , Gao Hanchun , Zhu Luyan , Zheng Lishu
Published: March 2020

Background

The type I human interferon (IFN) family consists of a group of cytokines with a multiplicity of biological activities, including antiviral, antitumor, and immunomodulatory effects. However, because the half-life of IFN is short, its clinical application is limited. Increasing the yield and biological activity of IFN while extending its half-life is currently the focus of IFN research.

Results

Two novel long-acting recombinant human IFN-α2b (rhIFN-α2b) proteins were designed in which the carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of the human chorionic gonadotropin β su bunit and N-linked glycosylation sequences were linked to rhIFN-α2b. They were designated IFN-1CTPON (fused at the C-terminus of rhIFN-α2b) and IFN-2CTPON (fused at both the C-terminus and N-terminus of rhIFN-α2b). Monoclonal CHO cell strains stably and efficiently expressing the IFNs were successfully selected with methotrexate (MTX), and the highest expression levels were 1468 mg/l and 1196 mg/l for IFN-1CTPON and IFN-2CTPON, respectively. The proteins were purified with affinity chromatography and molecular sieve chromatography. IFN-1CTPON and IFN-2CTPON showed antiviral and antiproliferative activities in vitro. Notably, the half-life of IFN-1CTPON and IFN-2CTPON in vivo were three-fold and two-fold longer than that of commercially available rhIFN-α2b.

Conclusions

CHO cell strains stably expressing long-acting rhIFN-α2b were screened. The purified IFN-CTPON protein has biological activity and an extended half-life, and therefore potential applications.
Maternal phthalate exposure and asthma, rhinitis and eczema in 552 children aged 5 years; a prospective cohort study
Authors: Jøhnk Camilla , Høst Arne , Husby Steffen , Schoeters Greet , Timmermann Clara Amalie Gade , Kyhl Henriette Boye , Beck Iben Have , Andersson Anna-Maria , Frederiksen Hanne , Jensen Tina Kold
Published: March 2020

Background

Prenatal phthalate exposure has been suggested to alter immune responses and increase the risk of asthma, eczema and rhinitis. However, few studies have examined the effects in prospective cohorts and only one examined rhinitis. We therefore studied associations between maternal urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and asthma, eczema and rhinitis in offspring aged 5 years.

Methods

From 552 pregnant women in the Odense Child Cohort, we quantified urinary concentrations of 12 phthalate metabolites in third trimester. We assessed asthma, rhinitis and eczema in their offspring at age 5 years with a questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), and conducted logistic regression adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results

7.4% of the children had asthma, 11.7% eczema and 9.2% rhinitis. Phthalate exposure was low compared to previous cohorts. No significant associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and asthma were found. Odds ratios (ORs) of child rhinitis with a doubling in ΣDiNPm and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolite (ΣDEHPm) concentrations were, respectively, 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97,1.36) and 1.21 (CI 0.93,1.58). The OR of eczema when doubling ΣDiNPm was 1.24 (CI 1.00,1.55), whereas the OR of using medicine against eczema when doubling a di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) metabolite was 0.81 (CI 0.68,0.96).

Conclusion

The lack of association between maternal phthalate exposure and asthma in the offspring may be due to low exposure and difficulties in determining asthma in 5-year-olds. The higher odds of rhinitis may raise public concern but further research in larger cohorts of older children is warranted.
Dlgap1 negatively regulates browning of white fat cells through effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis
Authors: Zhang Ju , Yang Jie , Yang Nan , Ma Jianfei , Lu Datong , Dong Yanhua , Liang Hao , Liu Dongjun , Cang Ming
Published: March 2020

Background

Obesity is a metabolic imbalance characterized by excessive deposition of white fat. The browning of white fat can effectively treat obesity and related diseases. Although Dlgap1 (Discs, Large (Drosophila) Homolog-Associated Protein 1) is suspected to have an effect on this process, no empirical evidence is available.

Methods

To understand the role of Dlgap1, we cultured white and brown fat cells, then performed overexpression and knockout experiments.

Results

We found that Dlgap1 overexpression in brown adipocytes inhibits brown-fat-related gene expression, promotes white-fat-related genes, while also increasing brown-adipocyte proliferation and apoptosis. However, the gene overexpression has no effect on brown adipocyte maturation. Knocking out Dlgap1 in white fat cells promotes the expression and inhibition of brown-fat-related and white-fat-related genes, respectively. Additionally, the knockout inhibits white fat cell proliferation and apoptosis, while also promoting their maturation.

Conclusions

Dlgap1 negatively regulates the browning of white adipocytes by influencing cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Alginate-based hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles in cancer treatment and their applications in wound dressing and 3D bioprinting
Authors: Abasalizadeh Farhad , Moghaddam Sevil Vaghefi , Alizadeh Effat , akbari Elahe , Kashani Elmira , Fazljou Seyyed Mohammad Bagher , Torbati Mohammadali , Akbarzadeh Abolfazl
Published: March 2020

Hydrogels are a three-dimensional and crosslinked network of hydrophilic polymers. They can absorb a large amount of water or biological fluids, which leads to their swelling while maintaining their 3D structure without dissolving (Zhu and Marchant, Expert Rev Med Devices 8:607–626, 2011). Among the numerous polymers which have been utilized for the preparation of the hydrogels, polysaccharides have gained more attention in the area of pharmaceutics; Sodium alginate is a non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polysaccharide with several unique physicochemical properties for which has used as delivery vehicles for drugs (Kumar Giri et al., Curr Drug Deliv 9:539–555, 2012). Owing to their high-water content and resembling the natural soft tissue, hydrogels were studied a lot as a scaffold. The formation of hydrogels can occur by interactions of the anionic alginates with multivalent inorganic cations through a typical ionotropic gelation method. However, those applications require the control of some properties such as mechanical stiffness, swelling, degradation, cell attachment, and binding or release of bioactive molecules by using the chemical or physical modifications of the alginate hydrogel. In the current review, an overview of alginate hydrogels and their properties will be presented as well as the methods of producing alginate hydrogels. In the next section of the present review paper, the application of the alginate hydrogels will be defined as drug delivery vehicles for chemotherapeutic agents. The recent advances in the application of the alginate-based hydrogels will be describe later as a wound dressing and bioink in 3D bioprinting.
Optical monitoring of glutamate release at multiple synapses in situ detects changes following LTP induction
Authors: Kopach Olga , Zheng Kaiyu , Rusakov Dmitri A.
Published: March 2020

Information processing and memory formation in the brain relies on release of the main excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate from presynaptic axonal specialisations. The classical Hebbian paradigm of synaptic memory, long-term potentiation (LTP) of transmission, has been widely associated with an increase in the postsynaptic receptor current. Whether and to what degree LTP induction also enhances presynaptic glutamate release has been the subject of debate. Here, we took advantage of the recently developed genetically encoded optical sensors of glutamate (iGluSnFR) to monitor its release at CA3-CA1 synapses in acute hippocampal slices, before and after the induction of LTP. We attempted to trace release events at multiple synapses simultaneously, by using two-photon excitation imaging in fast frame-scanning mode. We thus detected a significant increase in the average iGluSnFR signal during potentiation, which lasted for up to 90 min. This increase may reflect an increased amount of released glutamate or, alternatively, reduced glutamate binding to high-affinity glutamate transporters that compete with iGluSnFR.
Isopod holobionts as promising models for lignocellulose degradation
Authors: Bredon Marius , Herran Benjamin , Bertaux Joanne , Grève Pierre , Moumen Bouziane , Bouchon Didier
Published: March 2020

Background

Isopods have colonized all environments, partly thanks to their ability to decompose the organic matter. Their enzymatic repertoire, as well as the one of their associated microbiota, has contributed to their colonization success. Together, these holobionts have evolved several interesting life history traits to degrade the plant cell walls, mainly composed of lignocellulose. It has been shown that terrestrial isopods achieve lignocellulose degradation thanks to numerous and diverse CAZymes provided by both the host and its microbiota. Nevertheless, the strategies for lignocellulose degradation seem more diversified in isopods, in particular in aquatic species which are the least studied. Isopods could be an interesting source of valuable enzymes for biotechnological industries of biomass conversion.

Results

To provide new features on the lignocellulose degradation in isopod holobionts, shotgun sequencing of 36 metagenomes of digestive and non-digestive tissues was performed from several populations of four aquatic and terrestrial isopod species. Combined to the 15 metagenomes of an additional species from our previous study, as well as the host transcriptomes, this large dataset allowed us to identify the CAZymes in both the host and the associated microbial communities. Analyses revealed the dominance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in the five species, covering 36% and 56% of the total bacterial community, respectively. The identification of CAZymes and new enzymatic systems for lignocellulose degradation, such as PULs, cellulosomes and LPMOs, highlights the richness of the strategies used by the isopods and their associated microbiota.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results show that the isopod holobionts are promising models to study lignocellulose degradation. These models can provide new enzymes and relevant lignocellulose-degrading bacteria strains for the biotechnological industries of biomass conversion.
Review of health and non-health sector indicators for monitoring service provision along the continuum of care for maternal health
Authors: Mothupi Mamothena Carol , Knight Lucia , Tabana Hanani
Published: March 2020

Objective

This study uses health and non-health sector data sources to select and assess available indicators for service provision along the continuum of care for maternal health at subnational levels in South Africa. It applies the adequacy approach established in another study to assess the multi-dimensionality of available indicators. Using adequacy and the process of assessment in the study, the comprehensiveness of the continuum of care for improving maternal health outcomes can be assessed.

Results

We found 27 indicators of care utilization and access, linkages of care, and quality of care from the routine district health information system. The General Household Survey contained 11 indicators for the social determinants of health on the continuum of care framework. Indicator gaps include health promotion during and after pregnancy, maternal nutrition, empowerment and quality of care. At present, the available indicators measure about 74% of the interventions on the continuum of care framework. We make recommendations regarding improvements needed to better measure and monitor the continuum of care for maternal health. These involve actions within the health system and include integration of non-health system indicators.
A multicenter experience using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for cats with chronic, non-responsive gingivostomatitis
Authors: Arzi Boaz , Peralta Santiago , Fiani Nadine , Vapniarsky Natalia , Taechangam Nopmanee , Delatorre Ubaldo , Clark Kaitlin C. , Walker Naomi J. , Loscar Megan R. , Lommer Milinda J. , Fulton Amy , Battig Jean , Borjesson Dori L.
Published: March 2020

Background

The ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to modulate immune responses inspired a series of clinical trials addressing oral mucosal inflammation. We previously reported on the safety and efficacy of fresh, allogeneic and autologous, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) to treat feline gingivostomatitis (FCGS), an oral mucosal inflammatory disease that shares similarities with human oral lichen planus.

Methods

To meet clinical demand and goals for future commercialization, we determined the feasibility of shipping fresh ASCs to distant clinics and extended our pilot studies to expand safety and efficacy data for shipped and non-shipped ASCs in a cohort of 18 FCGS cats enrolled locally and at a few different locations within the USA.

Results

We found that ASCs retained their viability, phenotype, and function after shipment. ASCs administered systemically resulted in a 72% positive response rate, identical to that noted in our previous studies. Cats that responded to ASC therapy had a significant decrease in circulating globulin concentration and histological evidence of decreased CD3+ T cells and CD20+ B cells in the oral mucosa. Responder cats also had significantly decreased percentages of CD8lo cells in blood prior to and at 3 months post-ASC therapy. CD8lo cells may serve as a potential “predictor” for response to systemic ASC therapy.

Conclusion

Fresh feline ASCs can be successfully shipped and administered to cats with FCGS. ASCs modulate the immune response and demonstrate efficacy for chronic oral mucosal inflammatory lesions that are characterized by CD8+ T cell inflammation and T cell activation. FCGS is a potentially useful naturally occurring large animal model of human oral inflammatory diseases.
The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak – an update on the status
Authors: Guo Yan-Rong , Cao Qing-Dong , Hong Zhong-Si , Tan Yuan-Yang , Chen Shou-Deng , Jin Hong-Jun , Tan Kai-Sen , Wang De-Yun , Yan Yan
Published: March 2020

An acute respiratory disease, caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, previously known as 2019-nCoV), the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread throughout China and received worldwide attention. On 30 January 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the COVID-19 epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, marked the third introduction of a highly pathogenic and large-scale epidemic coronavirus into the human population in the twenty-first century. As of 1 March 2020, a total of 87,137 confirmed cases globally, 79,968 confirmed in China and 7169 outside of China, with 2977 deaths (3.4%) had been reported by WHO. Meanwhile, several independent research groups have identified that SARS-CoV-2 belongs to β-coronavirus, with highly identical genome to bat coronavirus, pointing to bat as the natural host. The novel coronavirus uses the same receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as that for SARS-CoV, and mainly spreads through the respiratory tract. Importantly, increasingly evidence showed sustained human-to-human transmission, along with many exported cases across the globe. The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients include fever, cough, fatigue and a small population of patients appeared gastrointestinal infection symptoms. The elderly and people with underlying diseases are susceptible to infection and prone to serious outcomes, which may be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and cytokine storm. Currently, there are few specific antiviral strategies, but several potent candidates of antivirals and repurposed drugs are under urgent investigation. In this review, we summarized the latest research progress of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19, and discussed the current treatment and scientific advancements to combat the epidemic novel coronavirus.
Using parity decomposition for interpreting magnetic anomalies from dikes having arbitrary dip angles, induced and remanent magnetization
Authors: de Souza Jeferson , Pomponet Oliveira Saulo , Ferreira Francisco José Fonseca
Published: March 2020

We have developed a technique to reconstruct the magnetic anomaly due to a dike in a way that the effect of magnetization direction is removed, resulting in a new totally symmetric anomaly. The reconstruction algorithm is easy to implement and could avoid the need of reduction to the pole at a low computational cost. The method is based on the decomposition of the function representing magnetic anomalies due to dikes in its even and odd parts. After applying a Hilbert transform to the odd components, we reconstruct the signal by a weighted average of the even part and the Hilbert-transformed odd part of the signal. The method requires knowing the dike’s center position, which is accomplished by locating the center of symmetry of the analytic signal amplitude as well as the effective dip angle obtained by evaluating the anomaly’s tilt angle. Our approach is tested for synthetic and field data. As an illustration of the method’s potential applications, we use it to estimate the width and depth of magnetic dikes.
Strain microseismics: Radiation patterns, synthetics, and moment tensor resolvability with distributed acoustic sensing in isotropic media
Authors: Vera Rodriguez Ismael , Wuestefeld Andreas
Published: March 2020

We have derived analytical formulations for the strain field produced by a moment tensor source in homogeneous isotropic media. Such formulations are important for microseismic projects that increasingly are monitored with fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems. We find that the spatial derivative of displacement produces new terms in strain proportional to [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. In viscoelastic media, the derivative also produces an additional far-field term that is scaled by a frequency-dependent factor. When comparing with full wavefield synthetic data, we observe that the new terms proportional to [Formula: see text] can be considered part of a near-field in strain, similar to the practice with the displacement formulation. Analyses of moment tensor resolvability show that full moment tensors are resolvable with P-wave information from two or more noncoplanar vertical DAS cable geometries if intermediate- and far-field terms are considered and that S-wave information alone cannot constrain full moment tensors using only vertical wells. These results mirror previous observations made with displacement measurements. Furthermore, the addition of the new terms proportional to [Formula: see text] in strain improves the moment tensor resolvability but only in the case of a single vertical array. In the case of a single deviated/horizontal well, we can, in theory, resolve a full moment tensor but a case-by-case analysis is necessary to identify regions of full constraint around the well and the necessary noise conditions to guarantee reliable solutions. Real DAS measurements also are affected by the gauge length and interrogator details. In the case of the gauge length, we observe that this operator does not change the resolvability of the problem but it does affect inversion stability. The results derived here represent theoretical limits or in some cases specific examples. Practical implementations require analyses of conditioning, noise, coupling, and the effect of gauge length on a case-by-case basis.
Prognostic Value of Tumor Deposits for Disease-Free Survival in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer: A Post Hoc Analysis of the IDEA France Phase III Trial (PRODIGE-GERCOR)
Authors: Delattre Jean-François , Cohen Romain , Henriques Julie , Falcoz Antoine , Emile Jean-François , Fratte Serge , Chibaudel Benoist , Dauba Jérôme , Dupuis Olivier , Bécouarn Yves , Bibeau Frédéric , Taieb Julien , Louvet Christophe , Vernerey Dewi , André Thierry , Svrcek Magali
Published: March 2020

PURPOSE

Tumor deposits (TDs) seem to affect the prognosis of patients with colon cancer (CC). In the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system for CC, the presence of TDs is only considered in the absence of lymph node metastases (LNMs). In the era of personalized duration of histopathologic criteria-based adjuvant therapy, this could potentially lead to a decrease in the prognostic prediction accuracy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A post hoc analysis of all pathologic reports from patients with stage III CC included in the IDEA France phase III study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00958737 ) investigating the duration of adjuvant fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin or capecitabine and oxaliplatin therapy (3 v 6 months) was performed. The primary objective was to determine the prognostic impact of TD on disease-free survival (DFS). The effect of the addition of TD to LNM count on pN restaging was also evaluated. A multivariable analysis was performed to establish the association between TD and DFS.

RESULTS

Of 1,942 patients, 184 (9.5%) had TDs. The pN1a/b and pN1c populations showed similar DFS. TD-positive patients had worse prognosis compared with TD-negative patients, with 3-year DFS rates of 65.6% (95% CI, 58.0% to 72.1%) and 74.7% (95% CI, 72.6% to 76.7%; P = .0079), respectively. On multivariable analysis, TDs were associated with a higher risk of recurrence or death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36; P = .0201). Other adverse factors included pT4 and/or pN2 disease (HR, 2.21; P < .001), the 3 months of adjuvant treatment (HR, 1.29; P = .0029), tumor obstruction (HR, 1.28; P = .0233), and male sex (HR, 1.24; P = .0151). Patients restaged as having pN2 disease (n = 35, 2.3%) had similar DFS as patients initially classified as pN2.

CONCLUSION

The presence of TDs is an independent prognostic factor for DFS in patients with stage III CC. The addition of TD to LNM may help to better define the duration of adjuvant therapy.
Perioperative Anemia: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management Throughout the Spectrum of Perioperative Care
Authors: Warner Matthew A. , Shore-Lesserson Linda , Shander Aryeh , Patel Sephalie Y. , Perelman Seth I. , Guinn Nicole R.
Published: March 2020

Anemia is common in the perioperative period and is associated with poor patient outcomes. Remarkably, anemia is frequently ignored until hemoglobin levels drop low enough to warrant a red blood cell transfusion. This simplified transfusion-based approach has unfortunately shifted clinical focus away from strategies to adequately prevent, diagnose, and treat anemia through direct management of the underlying cause(s). While recommendations have been published for the treatment of anemia before elective surgery, information regarding the design and implementation of evidence-based anemia management strategies is sparse. Moreover, anemia is not solely a concern of the preoperative encounter. Rather, anemia must be actively addressed throughout the perioperative spectrum of patient care. This article provides practical information regarding the implementation of anemia management strategies in surgical patients throughout the perioperative period. This includes evidence-based recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of anemia, including the utility of iron supplementation and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
Effects of Inhaled Iloprost on Lung Mechanics and Myocardial Function During One-Lung Ventilation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Combined With Poor Lung Oxygenation
Authors: Kim Namo , Lee Su Hyun , Joe Youngeun , Kim Taelim , Shin Heesoo , Oh Young Jun
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND:

The ventilation/perfusion mismatch in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients can exacerbate cardiac function as well as pulmonary oxygenation. We hypothesized that inhaled iloprost can ameliorate pulmonary oxygenation with lung mechanics and myocardial function during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in COPD patients combined with poor lung oxygenation.

METHODS:

A total of 40 patients with moderate to severe COPD, who exhibited the ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen (Pao
2/Fio
2) <150 mm Hg 30 minutes after initiating OLV, were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly allocated into either ILO group (n = 20) or Control group (n = 20), in which iloprost (20 μg) and saline were inhaled, respectively. The Pao
2/Fio
2 ratio, dead space, dynamic compliance, and tissue Doppler imaging with myocardial performance index (MPI) were assessed 30 minutes after initiating OLV (pre-Tx) and 30 minutes after completion of drug inhalation (post-Tx). Repeated variables were analyzed using a linear mixed-model between the groups.

RESULTS:

At pre-Tx, no differences were observed in measured parameters between the groups. At post-Tx, Pao
2/Fio
2 ratio (P < .001) and dynamic compliance (P = .023) were significantly higher and dead space ventilation was significantly lower (P = .001) in iloprost group (ILO group) compared to Control group. Left (P = .003) and right ventricular MPIs (P < .001) significantly decreased in ILO group compared to Control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Inhaled iloprost improved pulmonary oxygenation, lung mechanics, and cardiac function simultaneously during OLV in COPD patients with poor lung oxygenation.
Coordination Behaviors of Diphenylketene Adsorbed in the Nanocages of Zeolite NaY and AgY
Authors: Shibata Shintaro , Masui Yoichi , Onaka Makoto
Published: March 2020

We investigated in detail how polar cumulene molecules like diphenylketene were accommodated in faujasite zeolite pores based on 13C CP/MAS and DD/MAS NMR analyses as well as quantum chemical calculations after adsorbing the molecule into the zeolite NaY or AgY having “hard” sodium ions or “soft” silver ions. Since the diphenylketene has such a specific structure that a carbonyl group (a hard base) is accumulated by a carbon-carbon double bond (a soft π base), which is conjugated with two benzene rings (soft π bases), it is possible for the diphenylketene to adopt multicoordination modes to different metal ions in the zeolite. Compared with the coordination modes of benzophenone and 1,1-diphenylethene adsorbed in the NaY and AgY, those of diphenylketene were identified, and specific coordination behaviors in the zeolite’s supercages were classified depending on the hard or soft metal characters: The C=O and phenyl coordination modes to Na+ in NaY prevail, while the C=C and phenyl coordination to Ag+ in AgY is favored. We also unveiled the difference in the molecular mobility depending on the types of cations in the zeolite by comparing the 13C CP/MAS and DD/MAS NMR spectra.
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of out-of-hours palliative care: a systematic review
Authors: Johnston Bridget M. , McCauley Rachel , McQuillan Regina , Rabbitte Mary , Honohan Caitriona , Mockler David , Thomas Steve , May Peter
Published: March 2020

Background: Out-of-hours palliative care is a priority for patients, caregivers and policymakers. Approximately three quarters of the week occurs outside of typical working hours, and the need for support in care of serious and terminal illness during these times is commonplace. Evidence on relevant interventions is unclear.

Aim: To review systematically the evidence on the effect of out-of-hours specialist or generalist palliative care for adults on patient and caregiver outcomes, and costs and cost-effectiveness.

Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted. We searched Embase, MEDLINE [Ovid], Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine [Ovid], PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, EconLit (Ovid), and grey literature published between 1 January 2000 and 12th November 2019. Studies that comparatively evaluated the effect of out-of-hours specialist or generalist palliative care for adults on patient and caregiver outcomes, and on costs and cost-effectiveness were eligible, irrespective of design. Only English-language studies were eligible. Two reviewers independently examined the returned studies at each stage (title and abstract review, full-text review, and quality assessment).

Results: We identified one eligible peer-reviewed study, judged as insufficient quality. Other sources returned no eligible material. The systematic review therefore included no studies.

Conclusions: The importance of integrated, 24-hour care for people in line with a palliative care approach is not reflected in the literature, which lacks evidence on the effects of interventions provided outside typical working hours.

Registration: PROSPERO CRD42018111041.
Personal and social influences on the use of humour in the interactions of student nurses in UK clinical settings
Authors: Flynn Deborah
Published: March 2020

Humour is a centuries-old phenomenon studied by many disciplines. Social and personal identity play a role in the creation, recognition, understanding, appreciation and use of humour. This study, which used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore preregistration nursing students' experiences of the use of humour in the UK clinical setting, highlights what affects the students' use of humour. The influence of sex, age, and culture and ethnicity on the participants' use of humour with patients and healthcare staff is evidenced and explored; the influence of sex did not strictly follow traditional expectations.
Considering the ‘ostrich syndrome’ and patient safety
Authors: Tingle John
Published: March 2020

John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, discusses two patient safety reports, which stress the importance of taking proper action when patient safety incidents occur
Making friends and influencing your GPs
Authors: Hancock Dave
Published: March 2020

Forget murderous desires – there are less drastic ways of gaining the co-operation of your partners and staff. Dave Hancock explains
Digital First Primary Care: Medicolegal issues
Authors: Mounsey Heidi
Published: March 2020

Mounting pressures on NHS services have made digital solutions inevitable, and NHS England expects all primary care patients to have the right to online consultations by April 2020 – but with new technology comes new risks, says Heidi Mounsey
A public health concern: Sugar reduction
Authors: Noakes Amy
Published: March 2020

Health professionals have a key role to play in helping families to reduce sugar in their diets, leading to long-term health benefits, says Amy Noakes
Health inequality: A lost decade
Authors: Moffat Polly
Published: March 2020

A report to mark 10 years since the landmark study, Fair Society, Healthy Lives, has revealed that for the first time in over a century life expectancy in England has flat-lined
The Effect of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Learning Model and Learning Style towards Social Skills
Authors: Syarifuddin Syarifuddin , Setyosari Punaji , Sulton Sulton , Kuswandi Dedi , Sartika Dewi
Published: March 2020

This study aims to examine and describe the effect of the community of inquiry (CoI) learning model and learning styles on students' social skills. The sample used was a student of the faculty of education IAIM Bima Indonesian totaling 114 people, consisting of two experimental groups with 56 students and two control groups were 58 students. The community of inquiry (CoI) learning model was applied in the experimental group whereas the control group applied a cooperative learning model (comparison). This research is a quasi-experiment in which the analysis of prerequisites is applied; normality used the normality QQ plot and homogeneity of variance test used Levene’s test. Research data were analyzed by applying the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results of show that there are significant differences in the social skills of students who use the community of inquiry (CoI) learning model with cooperative learning model, there are differences in social skills of students in terms of the dimensions of learning styles of visual, auditory and kinesthetic, there is also an interaction between community of inquiry (CoI) learning model and learning styles on students' social skills.
On the Critical Ideals of Complete Multipartite Graphs
Authors: Gao Yibo
Published: March 2020

The notions of critical ideals and characteristic ideals of graphs are introduced by Corrales and Valencia to study properties of graphs, including clique number, zero forcing number, minimum rank and critical group. In this paper, we provide methods to compute critical ideals of complete multipartite graphs and obtain complete answers for the characteristic ideals of complete multipartite graphs.
The triangle graph $T_6$ is not SPN
Authors: Drury Stephen
Published: March 2020

A real symmetric matrix $A$ is copositive if $x'Ax \geq 0$ for every nonnegative vector $x$. A matrix is SPN if it is a sum of a real positive semidefinite matrix and a nonnegative matrix. Every SPN matrix is copositive, but the converse does not hold for matrices of order greater than $4$. A graph $G$ is an SPN graph if every copositive matrix whose graph is $G$ is SPN. We show that the triangle graph $T_6$ is not SPN.
Effects of deterministic disorder at deeply subwavelength scales in multilayered dielectric metamaterials
Authors: Coppolaro Marino , Castaldi Giuseppe , Galdi Vincenzo
Published: March 2020

It is common understanding that multilayered dielectric metamaterials, in the regime of deeply subwavelength layers, are accurately described by simple effective-medium models based on mixing formulas that do not depend on the spatial arrangement. In the wake of recent studies that have shown counterintuitive examples of periodic and aperiodic (orderly or random) scenarios in which this premise breaks down, we study here the effects of deterministic disorder. With specific reference to a model based on Golay-Rudin-Shapiro sequences, we illustrate certain peculiar boundary effects that can occur in finite-size dielectric multilayers, leading to anomalous light-transport properties that are in stark contrast with the predictions from conventional effective-medium theory. Via parametric and comparative studies, we elucidate the underlying physical mechanisms, also highlighting similarities and differences with respect to previously studied geometries. Our outcomes may inspire potential applications to optical sensing, switching and lasing.