bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between tax on sugar sweetened beverages and soft drink consumption in adults in Mexico: open cohort longitudinal analysis of Health Workers Cohort Study
Authors: Sánchez-Romero Luz María , Canto-Osorio Francisco , González-Morales Romina , Colchero M Arantxa , Ng Shu-Wen , Ramírez-Palacios Paula , Salmerón Jorge , Barrientos-Gutiérrez Tonatiuh
Published: May 2020

Objective

To examine changes in categories of soft drink consumption in a cohort of Mexican adults, three years after the implementation of the sugar sweetened beverage tax.

Design

Open cohort longitudinal analysis.

Setting

Three waves of the Health Workers Cohort Study, Mexico, spanning 2004 to 2018.

Participants

1770 people aged 19 years or older with information on drinks consumption available in at least one of the three cohort waves.

Main outcome measure

Change in probability of belonging to one of four categories of soft drinks consumption (non, low, medium, high) after the tax was implemented. Heterogeneity of associations by income and education was also assessed.

Results

Before the implementation of the tax, more than 50% of the participants were medium and high consumers of soft drinks and less than 10% were in the non-consumer category. After the tax was implemented, 43% of the population was categorised as medium or high consumers and the prevalence of non-consumers increased to 14%. Three years after implementation of the tax on 1 January 2014, the probability of being a non-consumer of soft drinks increased by 4.7 (95% confidence interval 0.3 to 9.1) percentage points and that of being a low consumer increased by 8.3 (0.6 to 16.0) percentage points compared with the pre-tax period. Conversely, the probability of being in the medium and high levels of soft drinks consumption decreased by 6.8 (0.5 to 13.2) percentage points and 6.1 (0.4 to 11.9) percentage points, respectively. No significant heterogeneity of the tax across income levels was observed, but stronger effects of the tax were seen in participants with secondary school education or higher, compared with those with elementary school or less.

Conclusions

The Mexican sugar sweetened beverage tax was associated with a reduction in the probability of consuming soft drinks in this cohort of employees from a healthcare provider. The results cannot be extrapolated to the Mexican population, but they suggest that three years after implementation, the tax had helped to increase the proportion of people who do not consume soft drinks while decreasing the proportion of high and medium consumers.
Impact of short-term reconstructive surgical missions: a systematic review
Authors: Hendriks Thom C.C. , Botman Matthijs , Rahmee Charissa N.S. , Ket Johannes C.F. , Mullender Margriet G. , Gerretsen Barend , Nuwass Emanuel Q. , Marck Klaas W. , Winters Henri A.H.
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Short-term missions providing patients in low-income countries with reconstructive surgery are often criticised because evidence of their value is lacking. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of short-term reconstructive surgical missions in low-income and middle-income countries.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched five medical databases from inception up to 2 July 2018. Original studies of short-term reconstructive surgical missions were included, which reported data on patient safety measurements, health gains of individual patients and sustainability. Data were combined to generate overall outcomes, including overall complication rates.

Results

Of 1662 identified studies, 41 met full inclusion criteria, which included 48 546 patients. The overall study quality according to Oxford CEBM and GRADE was low. Ten studies reported a minimum of 6 months’ follow-up, showing a follow-up rate of 56.0% and a complication rate of 22.3%. Twelve studies that did not report on duration or follow-up rate reported a complication rate of 1.2%. Fifteen out of 20 studies (75%) that reported on follow-up also reported on sustainable characteristics.

Conclusions

Evidence on the patient outcomes of reconstructive surgical missions is scarce and of limited quality. Higher complication rates were reported in studies which explicitly mentioned the duration and rate of follow-up. Studies with a low follow-up quality might be under-reporting complication rates and overestimating the positive impact of missions. This review indicates that missions should develop towards sustainable partnerships. These partnerships should provide quality aftercare, perform outcome research and build the surgical capacity of local healthcare systems.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018099285.
The frequency and clinical presentation of Zika virus coinfections: a systematic review
Authors: Lobkowicz Ludmila , Ramond Anna , Sanchez Clemente Nuria , Ximenes Ricardo Arraes de Alencar , Miranda-Filho Demócrito de Barros , Montarroyos Ulisses Ramos , Martelli Celina Maria Turchi , de Araújo Thalia Velho Barreto , Brickley Elizabeth B
Published: May 2020

Background

There is limited knowledge on the influence of concurrent coinfections on the clinical presentation of Zika virus (ZIKV) disease.

Methods

To better understand the types, frequencies and clinical manifestations of ZIKV coinfections, we did a systematic review of four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS) without restrictions for studies on ZIKV coinfections confirmed by nucleic acid (quantitative real-time-PCR) testing of ZIKV and coinfecting pathogens. The review aimed to identify cohort, cross-sectional, case series and case report studies that described frequencies and/or clinical signs and symptoms of ZIKV coinfections. Conference abstracts, reviews, commentaries and studies with imprecise pathogen diagnoses and/or no clinical evaluations were excluded.

Results

The search identified 34 articles from 10 countries, comprising 2 cohort, 10 cross-sectional, 8 case series and 14 case report studies. Coinfections were most frequently reported to have occurred with other arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses); out of the 213 coinfections described, ZIKV infections co-occurred with chikungunya in 115 cases, with dengue in 68 cases and with both viruses in 19 cases. Other coinfecting agents included human immunodeficiency, Epstein-Barr, human herpes and Mayaro viruses,Leptospiraspp,Toxoplasma gondiiandSchistosoma mansoni. ZIKV-coinfected cases primarily presented with mild clinical features, typical of ZIKV monoinfection; however, 9% of cases in cohort and cross-sectional studies were reported to experience complications.

Conclusion

Based on the evidence collated in this review, coinfections do not appear to strongly influence the clinical manifestations of uncomplicated ZIKV infections. Further research is needed to confirm whether risk of severe complications is altered when ZIKV infection co-occurs with other infections.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018111023.
Hospital postdischarge intervention trialled with family caregivers of older people in Western Australia: potential translation into practice
Authors: Aoun Samar M , Stegmann Roswitha , Slatyer Susan , Hill Keith D , Parsons Richard , Moorin Rachael , Bronson Mary , Walsh Debbie , Toye Christine
Published: May 2020

There is lack of a suitable assessment tool that can be used routinely and systematically by hospital staff to address family caregivers’ (FCs’) support needs. This paper describes a novel approach to identifying and addressing FCs’ needs following hospital discharge of the older person receiving care.

Setting and participants

FC recruitment occurred on the patient’s discharge from a tertiary hospital in Western Australia; 64 completed the study; 80% were female; mean age 63.2 years.

Intervention

The Further Enabling Care at Home (FECH) programme was delivered over the telephone by a specially trained nurse and included: support to facilitate understanding of the patient’s discharge letter; caregiver support needs assessment and prioritisation of urgent needs; and collaborative guidance, from the nurse, regarding accessing supports.

Results

Sixty-four FCs completed the FECH programme. The top three support needs identified by the FCs were: knowing what to expect in the future (52%), knowing who to contact if they were concerned (52%) and practical help in the home (36%). The telephone-based outreach service worked well and was convenient for the nurse and the FCs, and saved on transport, time and money. Most of the FCs appreciated the systematic approach to identify and articulate their needs and were satisfied with the support they received, mainly navigation through the systems, problem solving, self-care strategies, explanation of illness, symptoms and medication and access to after-hours services.

Conclusions

In order to guide services which may consider adopting this systematic approach to supporting FCs and integrating it into their routine practice, this evaluation of the FECH programme has described the processes implemented and highlighted the factors that hindered or facilitated these processes to engage caregivers with appropriate services in a timely manner. Positive feedback indicated that the programme was a useful addition to hospital discharge planning.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12614001174673; Results.
Safe handovers for every patient: an interrupted time series analysis to test the effect of a structured discharge bundle in Dutch hospitals
Authors: van Seben Rosanne , Geerlings Suzanne E , Maaskant Jolanda M , Buurman Bianca M
Published: May 2020

Objective

Patient handovers are often delayed, patients are hardly involved in their discharge process and hospital-wide standardised discharge procedures are lacking. The aim of this study was to implement a structured discharge bundle and to test the effect on timeliness of medical and nursing handovers, length of hospital stay (LOS) and unplanned readmissions.

Design

Interrupted time series with six preintervention and six postintervention data collection points (September 2015 to June 2017).

Setting

Internal medicine and surgical wards

Participants

Patients (≥18 years) admitted for more than 48 hours to surgical or internal medicine wards.

Intervention

The Transfer Intervention Procedure (TIP), containing four elements: planning the discharge date within 48 hours postadmission; arrangements for postdischarge care; preparing handovers and personalised patient discharge letter; and a discharge conversation 12–24 hours before discharge.

Outcome measures

The number of medical and nursing handovers sent within 24 hours. Secondary outcomes were median time between discharge and medical handovers, LOS and unplanned readmissions.

Results

Preintervention 1039 and postintervention 1052 patient records were reviewed. No significant change was observed in the number of medical and nursing handovers sent within 24 hours. The median (IQR) time between discharge and medical handovers decreased from 6.15 (0.96–15.96) to 4.08 (0.33–13.67) days, but no significant difference was found. No intervention effect was observed for LOS and readmission. In subgroup analyses, a reduction of 5.6 days in the median time between discharge and medical handovers was observed in hospitals with high protocol adherence and much attention for implementation.

Conclusion

Implementation of a structured discharge bundle did not lead to improved timeliness of patient handovers. However, large interhospital variation was observed and an intervention effect on the median time between discharge and medical handovers was seen in hospitals with high protocol adherence. Future interventions should continue to create awareness of the importance of timely handovers.

Trial registration number

NTR5951; Results.
Adapting the ToyBox obesity prevention intervention for use in Scottish preschools: protocol for a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Malden Stephen , Hughes Adrienne R , Gibson Ann-Marie , Bardid Farid , Androutsos Odysseas , De Craemer Marieke , Manios Yannis , Summerbell Carolyn , Cardon Greet , Reilly John J
Published: May 2020

Introduction

There is an increasing need for the adoption of effective preschool obesity prevention interventions to combat the high levels of early-childhood obesity in the UK. This study will examine the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted version of the ToyBox intervention—a preschool obesity prevention programme—for use in Scotland (ToyBox-Scotland). This will inform the design of a full-scale cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods and analysis

The ToyBox-Scotland intervention will be evaluated using a feasibility cluster RCT, which involves children aged 3–5 years at six preschools in Glasgow, three randomly assigned to the intervention group and three to the usual-care control group. The original ToyBox intervention was adapted for the Scottish context using a coproduction approach. Within the 18-week intervention, physical activity and sedentary behaviour will be targeted in the preschool through environmental changes to the classroom, physical activity sessions and movement breaks. Parents will receive home activity packs every 3 weeks containing sticker incentives and interactive parent–child games that target sedentary behaviour, physical activity, eating/snacking and water consumption. As this is a feasibility study, parameters such as recruitment rates, attrition rates and SDs of outcome measures will be obtained which will inform a power calculation for a future RCT. Additional variables to be assessed include accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep, body mass index, home screen time, eating/snacking and water consumption. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 14–17 weeks later. Intervention fidelity will be assessed using questionnaires and interviews with parents and practitioners, observation and session delivery records.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was granted ethical approval by the University of Strathclyde’s School of Psychological Sciences and Health Ethics Committee. Results will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentation at conferences and in lay summaries provided to participants.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN12831555.
High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy alone or with non-invasive ventilation during the weaning period after extubation in ICU: the prospective randomised controlled HIGH-WEAN protocol
Authors: Thille Arnaud W , Muller Grégoire , Gacouin Arnaud , Coudroy Rémi , Demoule Alexandre , Sonneville Romain , Beloncle François , Girault Christophe , Dangers Laurence , Lautrette Alexandre , Cabasson Séverin , Rouzé Anahita , Vivier Emmanuel , Le Meur Anthony , Ricard Jean-Damien , Razazi Keyvan , Barberet Guillaume , Lebert Christine , Ehrmann Stephan , Picard Walter , Bourenne Jeremy , Pradel Gael , Bailly Pierre , Terzi Nicolas , Buscot Matthieu , Lacave Guillaume , Danin Pierre-Eric , Nanadoumgar Hodanou , Gibelin Aude , Zanre Lassane , Deye Nicolas , Ragot Stéphanie , Frat Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Recent practice guidelines suggest applying non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to prevent postextubation respiratory failure in patients at high risk of extubation failure in intensive care unit (ICU). However, such prophylactic NIV has been only a conditional recommendation given the low certainty of evidence. Likewise, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy has been shown to reduce reintubation rates as compared with standard oxygen and to be as efficient as NIV in patients at high risk. Whereas HFNC may be considered as an optimal therapy during the postextubation period, HFNC associated with NIV could be an additional means of preventing postextubation respiratory failure. We are hypothesising that treatment associating NIV with HFNC between NIV sessions may be more effective than HFNC alone and may reduce the reintubation rate in patients at high risk.

Methods and analysis

This study is an investigator-initiated, multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing HFNC alone or with NIV sessions during the postextubation period in patients at high risk of extubation failure in the ICU. Six hundred patients will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio in two groups according to the strategy of oxygenation after extubation. The primary outcome is the reintubation rate within the 7 days following planned extubation. Secondary outcomes include the number of patients who meet the criteria for moderate/severe respiratory failure, ICU length of stay and mortality up to day 90.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the ethics committee and patients will be included after informed consent. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT03121482.
Rationale and design of a prospective, multicentre, randomised, conventional treatment-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ulinastatin in preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome in high-risk patients
Authors: Wang Zongyu , Tao Liyuan , Yan Yingying , Zhu Xi
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is challenging in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although pharmacotherapy for ARDS has gained increasing attention, most trials have yielded negative results. Patients with ARDS have usually been recruited as subjects; the inflammatory reaction has already expanded into a cascade at this point, and its severity is sufficient to damage the lung parenchyma. This raises the question of whether early treatment can prevent ARDS and the associated lung injury. We hypothesise that ARDS is preventable in high-risk patients by administration of ulinastatin as an anti-inflammatory drug before ARDS onset, and we are performing a study to test ulinastatin, a protease inhibitor, versus treatment-as-usual in a group of patients at increased risk for ARDS.

Methods and analysis

This report presents the protocol for a multicentre, randomised, conventional treatment-controlled, parallel group study to prevent the development of ARDS using ulinastatin in high-risk patients. The study population will comprise patients at risk of ARDS in the ICU (≥18 years of age and Lung Injury Prediction Score of >4); patients with confirmed ARDS and some other conditions (immunodeficiency, use of some drugs, etc.) will be excluded. The enrolled patients will be randomly allocated to an ulinastatin group (ulinastatin will be intravenously administered every 8 hours for a total of 600 000 U/day for five consecutive days) or control group. The efficacy of ulinastatin in preventing ARDS development will be evaluated by the incidence rate of ARDS as the primary outcome; the secondary outcomes include the severity of ARDS, clinical outcome, extrapulmonary organ function and adverse events incurred by ulinastatin. Based on the results of preliminary studies and presuming the incidence of ARDS will decrease by 9% in high-risk patients, 880 patients are needed to obtain statistical power of 80%.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Peking University Third Hospital Medical Science Research Ethics Committee. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT03089957; Pre-results.
British OsteoNEcrosis Study (BONES) protocol: a prospective cohort study to examine the natural history of osteonecrosis in older children, teenagers and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma
Authors: Amin Nadia , Kinsey Sally , Feltbower Richard , Kraft Jeannette , Whitehead Elizabeth , Velangi Mark , James Beki
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Osteonecrosis is a well-recognised treatment-related morbidity risk in patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL), with a high rate of affected patients requiring surgical intervention. Patients may have asymptomatic changes on imaging studies that spontaneously regress, and little is known about the natural history of osteonecrotic changes seen. The main aim of the British OsteoNEcrosis Study (BONES) is to determine the incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic osteonecrosis in the lower extremities of survivors of ALL or LBL diagnosed aged 10–24 years in the UK at different time points in their treatment. This study also aims to identify risk factors for progression and the development of symptomatic osteonecrosis in this population, as well as specific radiological features that predict for progression or regression in those with asymptomatic osteonecrosis

Methods and analysis

BONES is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study based at principal treatment centres around the UK. Participants are patients aged 10–24 years diagnosed with ALL or LBL under standard criteria. Assessment for osteonecrosis will be within 4 weeks of diagnosis, at the end of delayed intensification and 1, 2 and 3 years after the start of maintenance therapy. Assessment will consist of MRI scans of the lower limbs and physiotherapy assessment. Clinical and biochemical data will be collected at each of the time points. Bone mineral density data and vertebral fracture assessment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry will be collected at diagnosis and annually for 3 years after diagnosis of malignancy.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained through the Yorkshire and Humber Sheffield Research Ethics Committee (reference number: 16/YH/0206). Study results will be published on the study website, in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant conferences and via social media.

Trial registration number

NCT02598401; Pre-results.
Reducing caesarean rates in a public maternity hospital by implementing a plan of action: a quality improvement report
Authors: Negrini Romulo , Ferreira Raquel Domingues da Silva , Albino Renata Silva , Daltro Carol Amaral Tavares
Published: May 2020

Background

Caesarean rates increased in different parts of the world, rising from 20% to 33% in the USA and from 40% to 55% in Brazil between 1996 and 2011; however, there was no reduction in morbimortality rates. Several factors have been suggested as responsible for this increase, such as health judicialisation, fear of the painful process on the patients’ part and reduction of medical training in vaginal delivery and labour complications. It is urgent to reverse this process and, therefore, a model of actions was created with the intention of engaging the team in order to reduce caesarean rates in a Brazilian hospital.

Methodology

The model was based on the following actions: encouragement of labour analgesia; execution of written reports of any cardiotocographic examination; plan-do-study-act cycles for nursing orientations about the positions that favour pregnant women during labour; creation of a birth induction form; monthly feedback with physicians and nurses on caesarean rates achieved; verification of the caesarean rate by medical staff with individual feedback; daily round of medical coordination for case discussions; disclosure of caesarean rates on hospital posters; and constant dissemination of literature with strategies to reduce caesarean delivery. This plan of action started in January 2016. The mean caesarean section rate in the 31 months preceding the interventions (period A) was then compared with the 31 subsequent months (period B).

Results

Both periods presented caesarean rates with normal distribution. The mean caesarean rate was 29.24% (range: 38.69%–23.89%, SD 3.24%) vs 25.84% (range: 17.96%–34.97%, SD 3.92%, p<0.05), respectively, for periods A and B.

Conclusion

After the implementation of the plan of action, there was a reduction in caesarean rates in this hospital.
Long noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 is correlated with human breast cancer cell development through inverse regulation of hsa-miR-107
Authors: Wu Yanyan , Bi Qing-Jun , Han Rui , Zhang Yajie
Published: May 2020

In this work, we investigated the expression pattern and regulatory function of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) in breast cancer. We found that KCNQ1OT1 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer cell lines. In lentiviral-transduced BT-549 and HCC1599 cells, KCNQ1OT1 knockdown impaired cancer cell functions, including in vitro proliferation and migration, and in vivo transplant growth. The possible sponging target of KCNQ1OT1, human microRNA-107 (hsa-miR-107), was confirmed to be bound by KCNQ1OT1, and was upregulated in breast cancer cells with KCNQ1OT1 downregulation. Further, hsa-miR-107 knockdown in KCNQ1OT1-downregulated cancer cells reversed its impairing effects on cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Thus, loss of KCNQ1OT1 is associated with functional impairment in breast cancer cells, likely through inverse regulation of its sponging target, hsa-miR-107.
Geochronology, geochemistry, and Hf isotopic compositions of early Permian syenogranite and diabase from the northern Great Xing’an Range, northeastern China: petrogenesis and tectonic implications
Authors: Sun Yong-gang , Li Bi-le , Sun Feng-yue , Ding Qing-feng , Qian Ye , Li Liang , Xu Qing-lin , Li Yu-jin
Published: May 2020

Geodynamic evolution in the late Paleozoic is significant for understanding the final amalgamation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). No consensus has yet been reached regarding the late Paleozoic geodynamic evolution of the northern Great Xing’an Range (GXR) in northeastern China, the eastern CAOB. Furthermore, late Paleozoic syenogranite–diabase dyke association is present in the Xiaokele area in northern GXR. It provides an important opportunity to understand the nature of magmatism and the geodynamic evolution during this period. This paper presents new zircon U–Pb ages, zircon Hf isotopic compositions, and geochemical data of whole rocks for Xiaokele syenogranite and diabase. Zircon U–Pb dating suggests that the Xiaokele syenogranite (292.5 ± 0.9 Ma) and diabase (298.3 ± 1.5 Ma) were emplaced during the early Permian. The Xiaokele syenogranites have high SiO2 contents, low MgO contents, and enriched zircon εHf(t) values, suggesting that their primary magma was generated by the partial melting of the juvenile crustal material. The Xiaokele diabases have low SiO2 contents, high MgO contents, are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements, depleted in high-field-strength elements, and exhibit enriched zircon εHf(t) values. They derived from a lithospheric mantle source that had previously been metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. Combined with previous research results, we believe that the continent–continent collision between the Xing’an and Songliao blocks occurred during the late early Carboniferous – early late Carboniferous (330–310 Ma), and the two blocks were transformed into a post-collisional extensional setting during the latest Carboniferous – early Permian.
New limits on the resonant absorption of solar axions obtained with a $$^\mathbf {169}$$Tm-containing cryogenic detector
Authors: Abdelhameed A. H. , Bakhlanov S. V. , Bauer P. , Bento A. , Bertoldo E. , Canonica L. , Derbin A. V. , Drachnev I. S. , Iachellini N. Ferreiro , Fuchs D. , Hauff D. , Laubenstein M. , Lis D. A. , Lomskaya I. S. , Mancuso M. , Muratova V. N. , Nagorny S. , Nisi S. , Petricca F. , Proebst F. , Rothe J. , Ryabchenkov V. V. , Sarkisov S. E. , Semenov D. A. , Subbotin K. A. , Trushin M. V. , Unzhakov E. V. , Zharikov E. V.
Published: May 2020

A search for resonant absorption of solar axions by $$^{169}\mathrm {Tm}$$169Tm nuclei was carried out. A newly developed approach involving low-background cryogenic bolometer based on $$\mathrm {Tm}_{3} \mathrm {Al}_{5} \mathrm {O}_{12}$$Tm3Al5O12 crystal was used that allowed for significant improvement of sensitivity in comparison with previous $$^{169}\mathrm {Tm}$$169Tm based experiments. The measurements performed with 8.18 g crystal during 6.6 days exposure yielded the following limits on axion couplings: $$|g_{A\gamma } (g_{AN}^0 + g_{AN}^3) \le 1.44 \times 10^{-14}\,{{\mathrm{GeV}}^{-1}}$$|gAγ(gAN0+gAN3)≤1.44×10-14GeV-1 and $$|g_{Ae} (g_{AN}^0 + g_{AN}^3) \le 2.81 \times 10^{-16}$$|gAe(gAN0+gAN3)≤2.81×10-16.
A toy model for a baby universe inside a black hole
Authors: Chakrabarty Hrishikesh , Abdujabbarov Ahmadjon , Malafarina Daniele , Bambi Cosimo
Published: May 2020

We present a dynamical toy model for an expanding universe inside a black hole. The model is built by matching a spherically symmetric collapsing matter cloud to an expanding Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe through a phase transition that occurs in the quantum-gravity dominated region, here modeled with semi-classical corrections at high density. The matching is performed on a space-like hyper-surface identified by the co-moving time at which quantum–gravity induced effects halt collapse. The purpose of the model is to suggest a possible reconciliation between the observation that black holes are well described by the classical solutions and the fact that the theoretical resolution of space–time singularities leads to a bounce for the collapsing matter.
Interfacial Chemical and Mechanical Reactions between Tungsten-Film and Nano-Scale Colloidal Zirconia Abrasives for Chemical-Mechanical-Planarization
Authors: Seo Eun-Bin , Bae Jae-Young , Kim Sung-In , Choi Han-Eol , Son Young-Hye , Yun Sang-Su , Park Jin-Hyung , Park Jea-Gun
Published: May 2020

In tungsten (W) film chemical-mechanical-planarization (CMP), the chemical and mechanical reaction behaviors of the W film surface play a critical role in the CMP performance, as determined by oxidation (i.e.,WO3), corrosion (i.e., WO4
2−), and the electrostatic force at the interface between abrasives and the surface. Unlike a conventional catalyst (i.e., Fe(NO3)3) for a Fenton reaction in a CMP slurry, a new catalyst ((i.e., potassium ferric oxalate: K3Fe(C2O4)3)) and a new nano-scale (i.e., 23 nm in diameter) abrasives (i.e., Zirconia:ZrO2) provides specific CMP performance behavior: the maximum W-film polishing rate and a corrosion-free surface are achieved at a specific catalyst concentration (0.03 wt%), and the number of remaining abrasives adsorbed on the W film surface after CMP decreases with increasing concentration of the K3Fe(C2O4)3. These CMP performance characteristics are associated with the following results: (i) The degrees of two different CMP mechanisms (oxidation-dominant or corrosion-dominant) determine the corrosion-free surface of W film. (ii) The dependency of the electrostatic force at the interface between abrasives and the film on the K3Fe(C2O4)3 concentration determines the polishing rate. Finally, (iii) the zeta potential distribution at the interface between the abrasives and the film directly affects the number of remaining abrasives on the surface after CMP.
Virulence‐Associated Genes and Antimicrobial Resistance of Aeromonas hydrophila Isolates from Animal, Food, and Human Sources in Brazil
Authors: Roges Emily Moraes , Gonçalves Verônica Dias , Cardoso Maira Duarte , Festivo Marcia Lima , Siciliano Salvatore , Berto Lucia Helena , Pereira Virginia Leo de Almeida , Rodrigues Dalia dos Prazeres , Aquino Maria Helena Cosendey de
Published: May 2020

Aeromonads are natural inhabitants of aquatic environments and may be associated with various human or animal diseases. Its pathogenicity is complex and multifactorial and is associated with many virulence factors. In this study, 110 selected Aeromonas hydrophila isolates isolated from food, animals, and human clinical material from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method, and polymerase chain reaction was conducted to investigate the virulence genes hemolysin (hlyA), cytotoxic enterotoxin (act), heat‐labile cytotonic enterotoxin (alt), aerolysin (aerA), and DNase‐nuclease (exu). At least 92.7% of the isolates had one of the investigated virulence genes. Twenty different virulence profiles among the isolates were recognized, and the five investigated virulence genes were observed in four isolates. Human source isolates showed greater diversity than food and animal sources. Antimicrobial resistance was observed in 46.4% of the isolates, and multidrug resistance was detected in 3.6% of the isolates. Among the 120 isolates, 45% were resistant to cefoxitin; 23.5% to nalidixic acid; 16.6% to tetracycline; 13.7% to cefotaxime and imipenem; 11.8% to ceftazidime; 5.9% to amikacin, gentamicin, and sulfamethoxazole‐trimethoprim; and 3.9% to ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin. Overall, the findings of our study indicated the presence of virulence genes and that antimicrobial resistance in A. hydrophila isolates in this study is compatible with potentially pathogenic bacteria. This information will allow us to recognize the potential risk through circulating isolates in animal health and public health and the spread through the food chain offering subsidies for appropriate sanitary actions.
In Search of Risk Factors for Recurrent Erysipelas and Cellulitis of the Lower Limb: A Cross-Sectional Study of Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized due to Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections
Authors: Sapuła Mariusz , Krankowska Dagny , Wiercińska-Drapało Alicja
Published: May 2020

Background. Erysipelas and cellulitis are common, acute, bacterial infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The incidence of these infections is growing, and the recurrence rate is high. Effective antibiotic prophylaxis is available, but insufficient data exist on the risks factors for recurrent infection. Purpose. To compare comorbidities and laboratory findings in patients with single-episode and recurrent erysipelas/cellulitis in order to identify risk factors for recurrent erysipelas/cellulitis. Methods. A cross-sectional study, which included patients hospitalized in the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Hepatology of the Medical University of Warsaw due to erysipelas and cellulitis during 3 consecutive years (July 2016–June 2019). Results. The study included 163 patients, of which 98 had a first episode of erysipelas/cellulitis and 65 had a recurrence. The recurrent infection was significantly associated with a history of lymphedema (12.3% in the recurrent group vs. 2.0% in the first-episode group, p=0.015), a higher BMI (35.4 vs. 31.2, respectively, p=0.002), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (10.8% vs. 2.0%, p=0.030), and a shorter history of symptoms prior to hospitalization (6.0 days vs. 11.8 days, p=0.004). Patients with the first episode of infection were more likely to have had minor local trauma directly preceding the symptoms of infection (20.4% in the first-episode group vs. 1.5% in the recurrent group, p=0.001). Conclusions. Patients with lymphedema and obesity should be viewed at high risk of developing recurrence of erysipelas and thus should be considered as candidates for antibiotic prophylaxis and other prevention methods. Minor local trauma directly preceding the skin infection does not by itself confer a higher risk for erysipelas recurrence. More research is needed to assess the association of recurrent skin and soft-tissue infection to preceding minor local trauma, individual components of the metabolic syndrome, and COPD.
Capillary Water Absorption Characteristics of Recycled Concrete in Freeze‐Thaw Environment
Authors: Xiao Qianhui , Liu Xiaolin , Qiu Jisheng , Li Yangyang
Published: May 2020

In order to study the capillary water absorption characteristics of recycled concrete (RAC) with different replacement rates of recycled coarse aggregate (0, 20%, 40%, and 60%) in freeze‐thaw environment, the standard test method of measuring the water absorption of hydraulic cement concrete (ASTM C1585‐13) was adopted, and the influence mechanism of freeze‐thaw cycle and replacement rate of recycled coarse aggregate on the capillary water absorption of RAC was analyzed, and a prediction model of initial capillary water absorption of RAC in freeze‐thaw environment was established. The results show that when the freeze‐thaw environment is the same, the greater the replacement rate of recycled coarse aggregate, the greater the cumulative water absorption of RAC, the faster the initial capillary water absorption, and the stronger the capillary water absorption; when the freeze‐thaw environment is different, the more the freeze‐thaw cycles, the greater the cumulative water absorption of RAC with the same replacement rate of recycled coarse aggregate, the faster the initial capillary water absorption, and the stronger the capillary water absorption. The prediction model of RAC initial capillary water absorption established by regression analysis has high accuracy, which can be used to predict RAC capillary water absorption performance and provide theoretical basis for the research of RAC frost resistance durability.
Biomechanical Behavior of Bioactive Material in Dental Implant: A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Patil Vathsala , Naik Nithesh , Gadicherla Srikanth , Smriti Komal , Raju Adithya , Rathee Udit
Published: May 2020

Dental implants are widely accepted for the rehabilitation of missing teeth due to their aesthetic compliance, functional ability, and great survival rate. The various components in implant design like thread design, thread angle, pitch, and material used for manufacturing play a critical role in its success. Understanding these influencing factors and implementing them properly in implant design can reduce cases of potential implant failure. Recently, finite element analysis (FEA) is being widely used in the field of health sciences to solve problems in designing medical devices. It provides valid and accurate assessment in the clinical and in vitro analysis. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of thread design of the implant and 3 different bioactive materials, titanium alloy, graphene, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on stress, strain, and deformation in the implant system using FEA. In this study, the FEA model of the bones and the tissues are modeled as homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic material with a titanium implant system with an assumption of it 100% osseointegrated into the bone. The titanium was functionalized with graphene and graphene oxide. A modeling software tool Catia® and Ansys Workbench® is used to perform the analysis and evaluate the von Mises stress distribution, strain, and deformation at the implant and implant-cortical bone interface. The results showed that the titanium implant with a surface coating of graphene oxide exhibited better mechanical behavior than graphene, with mean von Mises stress of 39.64 MPa in pitch 1, 23.65 MPa in pitch 2, and 37.23 MPa in pitch 3. It also revealed that functionalizing the titanium implant will help in reducing the stress at the implant system. Overall, the study emphasizes the use of FEA analysis methods in solving various biomechanical issues about medical and dental devices, which can further open up for invivo study and their practical uses.
Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 2 and Extracellular Volume Fraction in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Yang Shaomin , Chen Haixiong , Tan Kuan , Cai Fusheng , Du Yongxing , Lv Weibiao , Hu Qiugen , Hu Yunzhao , Huang Yuli
Published: May 2020

Background. Quantification of extracellular volume (ECV) fraction by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as a noninvasive diagnostic tool to assess myocardial fibrosis. Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) appears to play an important role in cardiac fibrosis. We aimed to evaluate the association between SFRP2 and myocardial fibrosis and the prognostic value of ECV fraction in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods. In this prospective cohort study, 72 hospitalized adult patients (age≥18 years) with severe decompensated HF were included. CMR measurements and T1 mapping were performed to calculate ECV fraction. Serum SFRP2 level was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. All patients were followed up, and the primary outcomes were composite events including all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization. Results. During the median follow-up of 12 months, 27 (37.5%) patients experienced primary outcome events and had higher levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), SFRP2, and ECV fraction compared with those without events. In Pearson correlation analysis, levels of SFRP2 (r=0.33), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r=0.31), and hemoglobin A1c (r=0.29) were associated with ECV fraction (all P<0.05); however, in multivariate linear regression analysis, SFRP2 was the only significant factor determined for ECV fraction (rpartial=0.33, P=0.02). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, age (each 10 years, hazard ratio (HR) 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.22), ECV fraction (per doubling, HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.03–2.74), and NT-proBNP (per doubling, HR 2.46, 95% CI 1.05–5.76) were independent risk factors for primary outcomes. Conclusions. Higher ECV fraction is associated with worsened prognosis in HF. SFRP2 is an independent biomarker for myocardial fibrosis. Further studies are needed to explore the potential therapeutic value of SFRP2 in myocardial fibrosis.
Research on the Impact of Carbon Tax on CO2Emissions of China’s Power Industry
Authors: Yu Yue , Jin Zhi-xin , Li Ji-zu , Jia Li
Published: May 2020

Based on the TIMES model, a system for CO2emission reduction in China’s power industry is built in this paper. Four scenarios including different carbon tax levels are set up, simulating the CO2emissions of China’s power industry in 2020–2050 by using scenario analysis method. The power consumption demand, primary energy consumption structure, CO2emission characteristics, emission reduction potential, and cost of different carbon tax levels are quantitatively studied. In combination with the impact on China’s macroeconomy, the carbon tax level corresponding to the best CO2emission reduction effect of China’s power industry is obtained, aiming to provide key data and a theoretical basis for China’s low-carbon development as well as the optimization and adjustment of global power production system. The results show that with the development of economy and society in the future, China’s power consumption demand will increase year by year, while the primary energy consumption of the power industry will maintain a rapid growth. The power industry still relies heavily on fossil energy, which will cause great pressure on China’s economic development and ecological environment. Carbon tax will have an important impact on the primary energy supply structure of China’s power industry, and renewable energy can be developed in different degrees. CO2emissions will be significantly reduced, reaching the peak value during 2030–2040 in China’s power industry. The medium carbon tax level (TAX-2) set in this paper can meet the requirements of both CO2emission reduction effect and cost in the power industry, with the most elastic impact on the national economy and the smallest GDP loss, which can be used as an effective environmental economic policy tool.
SAR Observation Error Estimation Based on Maximum Relative Projection Matching
Authors: Zhang Y. , Wang B. P. , Fang Y. , Song Z. X.
Published: May 2020

The existing sparse imaging observation error estimation methods are to usually estimate the error of each observation position by substituting the error parameters into the iterative reconstruction process, which has a huge calculation cost. In this paper, by analysing the relationship between imaging results of single-observation sampling data and error parameters, a SAR observation error estimation method based on maximum relative projection matching is proposed. First, the method estimates the precise position parameters of the reference position by the sparse reconstruction method of joint error parameters. Second, a relative error estimation model is constructed based on the maximum correlation of base-space projection. Finally, the accurate error parameters are estimated by the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno method. Simulation and measured data of microwave anechoic chambers show that, compared to the existing methods, the proposed method has higher estimation accuracy, lower noise sensitivity, and higher computational efficiency.
Elderly Care: A Study on Community Care Services in Sleman, DIY, Indonesia
Authors: Sumini  , Sukamdi  , Pangaribowo Evita Hanie , Keban Yeremias T. , Darwin Muhadjir
Published: May 2020

Elderly care services are important to provide in response to the rapid growth of the elderly population. In developing countries like Indonesia, the speed of growth of the elderly population does not simultaneously occur, so the needs for care services vary. This study discusses the emergence of home care services in response to the increase in elderly population. By taking the case of community home care services in Sleman, this study found the pattern and process of the emergence of local initiatives in home care services. This study also revealed an important factor affecting the implementation of community home care services, that is, leadership.
The Proosteogenic and Proangiogenic Effects of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Attenuated in Steroid‐Induced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Authors: Li Jia , Ge Zhaogang , Ji Wenchen , Yuan Na , Wang Kunzheng
Published: May 2020

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) from individuals with steroid‐induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) have not been studied. The objective of the present study was to compare the proosteogenic and proangiogenic effects of sEVs derived from BMMSCs from rats with steroid‐induced ONFH (oBMMSCs‐sEVs) and sEVs derived from BMMSCs from normal rats (nBMMSCs‐sEVs). BMMSCs were isolated from steroid‐induced ONFH rats and healthy rats. sEVs were isolated and characterized by Western blotting analysis of exosomal surface biomarkers and by transmission electron microscopy. The impacts of nBMMSCs‐sEVs and oBMMSCs‐sEVs on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs were determined via cell proliferation assay, alizarin red staining, and alkaline phosphatase activity assay. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and tube formation assay were conducted to investigate the effect of nBMMSCs‐sEVs and oBMMSCs‐sEVs on the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The expression of relevant genes was detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the expression of β‐catenin was detected by immunofluorescence. Both nBMMSCs‐sEVs and oBMMSCs‐sEVs promoted proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and β‐catenin expression of BMMSCs and enhanced angiogenesis of HUVECs. However, compared with nBMMSCs‐sEVs, oBMMSCs‐sEVs exhibited attenuated effects. Our findings indicated that the proosteogenic and proangiogenic effects of sEVs were partially attenuated in steroid‐induced ONFH. Therefore, this study might offer guidance for the selection of source cells for sEV therapy in the future.
The Bühlmann–Straub Estimation of Claim Means in Random B-F Reserve Model
Authors: Yi Zhang , Limin Wen , Zhilong Li
Published: May 2020

In the B-F reserve model, it is a very critical step to estimate the claim means of the accident year. However, the traditional method uses the prior estimators of the claim means based on the personal experience of actuaries or historical data. This method inevitably carries the subjectivity of the actuary himself. In this paper, a stochastic B-F model is established, and a prior distribution is constructed for the claim means in the accident year. The idea of the credibility theory is used to derive the linear Bayesian estimators of claim means. Finally, the empirical Bayesian method is used to estimate the first two moments of the prior distribution, and the empirical Bayesian estimators of the claim means and the corresponding reserves are derived. The estimators obtained in this paper do not depend on the specific forms of the sample distribution and the prior distribution and can be used directly in practice. In the numerical simulation, our estimates are compared with the traditional B-F estimates and the chain ladder estimates. It is verified that the estimates given in this paper have small mean square error.