bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Floral biology and pollination strategy of seven Tacca species (Taccaceae)
Authors: Chua Kek Shen , Borkent Art , Wong Sin Yeng
Published: February 2020

We investigated the floral characteristics, floral biology and floral visitors of the six Bornean Tacca species: T. bibracteata (only floral characteristics), T. borneensis, T. havilandii, T. leontopetaloides, T. palmata and T. reducta, and T. cristata from Peninsular Malaysia. All species are protogynous with pollen strings extruded post flower opening. Blooming of all species started from dawn except for T. leontopetaloides which flowered from dusk. While T. borneensis, T. cristata, T. havilandii, T. leontopetaloides and T. reducta are facultatively autogamic as the pollen/ovule ratios (P/O ratios) were low, T. bibracteata is facultatively xenogamic as its P/O ratio was higher. Four species (T. borneensis, T. cristata, T. havilandii and T. reducta) were tested for autonomous self‐pollination but all failed to set fruit. Manual self‐ and cross‐pollination treatments of T. borneensis, T. cristata and T. havilandii showed reduced fruit set and seed set. In contrast, T. reducta was highly self‐compatible. The showy bracts and bracteoles of T. borneensis are needed to guarantee pollination success but is not so in the other species investigated. Tacca are pollinated by two pollination guilds of female midges: two species of Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) and Culicoides hinnoi. The floral biology and mating system of Tacca species indicate that most fruits and seeds were produced in samples resulting from natural pollination.
The relationship between nurses’ empathic tendencies, empathic skills, and individualized care perceptions
Authors: Guven Ozdemir Nur , Sendir Merdiye
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The study aims to determine the relationship between nurses’ empathic tendencies, empathic skills, and individualized care perceptions.

Design and Methods

This study employed a descriptive and correlational design. Data were collected from nurses in eight training and research hospitals in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 472 nurses who were both volunteered to participate and randomly selected.

Findings

A definite high‐level relation was determined between nurses’ empathic tendencies and individualized care perceptions, but no relation was determined between nurses’ empathic skills and individualized care perceptions.

Practice Implications

This study can underline practices accounting for empathy and individualized care in nursing research and training programs.
Strategies for severe drought survival and recovery in a Pyrenean relict species
Authors: Cotado Alba , Munné‐Bosch Sergi , Pintó‐Marijuan Marta
Published: February 2020

In the context of future climate change new habitats will be threatened and unique species will be forced to develop different strategies to survive. Saxifraga longifolia Lapeyr. is an endemic species from the Pyrenees with a very particular habitat. We explored the capacity and strategies of S. longifolia plants to face different severities of drought stress under both natural conditions and controlled water stress followed by a re‐watering period of 20 days. Our results showed a role for abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA) and cytokinins (CKs) in plant survival from drought stress, and as the stress increased, ABA lost significance and SA appeared to be more associated with the response mechanisms. Moreover, photo‐oxidative stress markers revealed that both xanthophyll cycles played a photoprotection role with a stronger participation of the lutein epoxide cycle as the stress was more intense. Severe drought decreased the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) below 0.45, being this the limit to survive upon rewatering. Overall, our results proved different strategies of S. longifolia plants to cope with drought stress and suggested a Fv/Fm threshold to predict plant survival in high‐mountain environments.
Metabolomics analysis and metabolite‐agronomic trait associations using kernels of wheat (Triticum aestivum) recombinant inbred lines
Authors: Shi Taotao , Zhu Anting , Jia Jingqi , Hu Xin , Chen Jie , Liu Wei , Ren Xifeng , Sun Dongfa , Fernie Alisdair R. , Cui Fa , Chen Wei
Published: February 2020

Plants produce numerous metabolites that are important for their development and growth. However, the genetic architecture of the wheat metabolome has not been well studied. Here, utilizing a high‐density genetic map, we conducted a comprehensive metabolome study via widely targeted LC‐MS/MS to analyze the wheat kernel metabolism. We further combined agronomic traits and dissected the genetic relationship between metabolites and agronomic traits. In total, 1260 metabolic features were detected. Using linkage analysis, 1005 metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) were found distributed unevenly across the genome. Twenty‐four candidate genes were found to modulate the levels of different metabolites, of which two were functionally annotated by in vitro analysis to be involved in the synthesis and modification of flavonoids. Combining the correlation analysis of metabolite‐agronomic traits with the co‐localization of methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL) and phenotypic QTL (pQTL), genetic relationships between the metabolites and agronomic traits were uncovered. For example, a candidate was identified using correlation and co‐localization analysis that may manage auxin accumulation, thereby affecting number of grains per spike (NGPS). Furthermore, metabolomics data were used to predict the performance of wheat agronomic traits, with metabolites being found that provide strong predictive power for NGPS and plant height. This study used metabolomics and association analysis to better understand the genetic basis of the wheat metabolism which will ultimately assist in wheat breeding.
Concentrated Solar Powered Novel Multi-Generation System: A Energy, Exergy, and Environmental Analysis
Authors: Bamisile Olusola , Huang Qi , Dagbasi Mustafa , Abid Muhammad , Okafor Emmanuel C. , Ratlamwala Tahir A. H.
Published: February 2020

A novel multi-generation system (MGS) that comprises two absorption cycles, two Rankine cycles (RCs), and a hot water (HW) production chamber is studied in this research. It is designed to utilize the waste heat from the first Rankine cycle as a thermal energy input for the second Rankine cycle and a double-effect absorption cycle (DEAC). The waste heat from the second Rankine cycle serves as heat input to a single-effect Rankine cycle. Regeneration and reheat principles are also applied to the Rankine cycles. The objective of the study is to develop an MGS without a gas cycle that can achieve higher energy and exergy efficiencies. Two concentrated solar technologies, namely, parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) and heliostats are used to power the designed system. The environmental benefit of the system is also analyzed. The energy and exergy efficiencies of the novel MGS presented in this study are 73.11% and 50.72%, respectively. The application of solar thermal technologies to power the system reduces the overall energy and exergy efficiencies, respectively, to 56.12% and 38.39% for the solar PTC and 41.89% and 29.06% for heliostats. The energy and exergy coefficient of performances (COPs) are 0.754 and 0.349 for the single-effect absorption cycle (SEAC), respectively. As much as 752.7 kg/h of CO2, 2.13 kg/h of NOx, and 4.21 kg/h of SOx will be saved from being emitted to the atmosphere.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Oil Behavior in a Scoop, and Factors Affecting Scoop Capture Efficiency
Authors: Korsukova Evgenia , Morvan Hervé
Published: February 2020

Due to the continuous reduction of engine sizes, efficient under-race lubrication becomes ever more crucial in order to provide sufficient amount of oil to various engine components. An oil scoop is a rotating component that captures oil from a jet, and axially redirects it to the bearing, providing under-race lubrication. Given the importance of lubrication in high-speed engine components, the efficiency study of under-race lubrication appliances receives rapidly growing demands from manufacturers and therefore is of great interest. This work provides description of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods that were found to be most accurate and efficient for a large parameter analysis of the scoop capture efficiencies. One of the main purposes of this paper is to demonstrate an optimal and validated computational approach to modeling under-race lubrication with a focus on oil capture efficiency. Second, to show which factors most influence the scoop capture efficiency. Additionally, simulations allow for the fluid behavior inside the scoop to be observed that cannot be visualized experimentally due to high speeds. An improved method of efficiency calculation is also presented and compared to existing methods (Cageao, P. P., Simmons, K., Prabhakar, A., and Chandra, B., 2019, “Assessment of the Oil Scoop Capture Efficiency in High Speed Rotors,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 141(1), p. 012401; Korsukova, E., Kruisbrink, A., Morvan, H., Paleo Cageao, P., and Simmons, K., 2016, “Oil Scoop Simulation and Analysis Using CFD and SPH,” ASME Paper No. GT2016-57554.). Results of both two-dimensional (2D) and semi-three-dimensional (3D) simulations are provided. Both qualitative comparison of 2D with semi-3D simulations and quantitative comparison of 2D simulations with experiments (Cageao, P. P., Simmons, K., Prabhakar, A., and Chandra, B., 2019, “Assessment of the Oil Scoop Capture Efficiency in High Speed Rotors,” ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, 141(1), p. 012401) show consistency. Parameter study using 2D simulations is shown with variation of rotational scoop speed, jet angles, velocity ratio. Key results show that changes of the jet angle and velocity ratio can improve the scoop efficiency.
Atomic layer deposition of cobalt phosphate from cobaltocene, trimethylphosphate, and O2 plasma
Authors: Di Palma Valerio , Knoops Harm C. M. , Kessels Wilhelmus M. M. (Erwin) , Creatore Mariadriana
Published: February 2020

Electrodeposited cobalt phosphate has been reported in the literature as a robust alternative to noble metal-based electrocatalysts for the O2 evolution reaction. In parallel, atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been acknowledged as a key technology for the preparation of thin films for energy applications. With the present work, the authors have addressed the preparation of cobalt phosphate thin films by a plasma-assisted ALD process. The process developed consists of cobaltocene (step A) and trimethyl phosphate (step C) exposures alternated by O2 plasma (steps B and D) in an ABCD fashion. The process shows a linear growth with a growth per cycle of 1.12 ± 0.05 Å at 300 °C and no nucleation delay. The ALD saturation behavior has been demonstrated for each dosing step, and the process shows minimal inhomogeneity on 100 mm diameter wafers in terms of film thickness (<1.0%) and refractive index (<0.5%). The chemical characterization of the layers deposited shows that the composition is close to the stoichiometric (Co3.1P2O8.3 for a deposition temperature of 200 °C) and the oxidation states of cobalt and phosphorus and agrees with those reported in the literature. The cobalt-to-phosphorous ratio has been found to correlate with the values of absorption coefficient (k) and refractive index (n) of the layers. Furthermore, the authors have gained insights into the surface reactions occurring during each ALD step by quadrupole mass spectrometry investigation. The results suggest that cobaltocene undergoes associative adsorption and the cyclopentadienyl ligands are removed during subsequent O2 plasma exposure. Moreover, the authors have indirectly identified cyclopentadienone as an intermediate of the oxidation and removal of cyclopentadienyl ligand. On the other hand, the trimethyl phosphate dosing is characterized by chemisorption via the elimination of methanol.
Breathtaking Physics: Human Respiration as a Heat Engine
Authors: Lipscombe Trevor C. , Mungan Carl E.
Published: February 2020

Breathing is something we all do, usually without thinking about it. But when viewed through the lens of physics, respiration becomes an example of elementary thermodynamics. As shown here, the lungs can be modeled as a two-stroke heat engine. Breathing thereby provides a novel physics application for life science students, demonstrating the basics of the first law of thermodynamics, coefficient of performance, and hysteresis.
Rainbows: A Graphical Approach
Authors: Ford Kenneth W.
Published: February 2020

It’s not surprising that rainbows have received a great deal of attention: in textbooks, in magazines, and on the web. They are, after all, beautiful, fascinating, occasionally awe-inspiring, even a little mysterious. They are an almost perfect blend of natural beauty and simple physics. Has everything that can be said about rainbows already been said? Possibly. But, pedagogically, there may be gaps.
Speed Eleusis: Variation on an Old Educational Card Game
Authors: Walkup John R. , Key Roger
Published: February 2020

In this article, we describe a fun and engaging card game called Speed Eleusis that teaches the process of scientific discovery and publication, including such practices as replication and retraction. Much like the traditional game of Eleusis and its variant Eleusis Express, this game involves students competing to model a pattern displayed in a sequence of ordinary playing cards. Speed Eleusis, however, features a quicker pace and is easier to manage. Although developed for introductory physics and physical science labs at a four-year university and two-year college, Speed Eleusis should prove ideal across a wide range of science subjects and age groups, especially during the first week of instruction.
Rearview Mirror Rainbow: An Optics Investigation
Authors: Birriel Jennifer , Birriel Ignacio
Published: February 2020

When driving on a sunny day, one can sometimes observe a small solar spectrum in the rearview mirror of a vehicle. The formation of this “rainbow” results from the prism-like structure of the rearview mirror. Our investigation of this phenomenon reveals that the resulting spectrum is formed in a manner similar to the way a rainbow is formed by a water droplet. We suggest a demonstration that you can perform so that your students can observe this phenomenon. All that is required is a sunny day, a ring stand, a clamp holder, and rearview mirror.
Duhdohnium: A Dice Game to Introduce Middle and High School Students to Non-elementary Systems
Authors: Bussani Andrea
Published: February 2020

In this paper a “non-elementary system” is defined as a system consisting of elementary (i.e., indivisible) constituents. Such systems are a common feature of the standard model of particle physics: for example, according to the standard model, a proton (non-elementary particle) consists of two up quarks and one down quark (elementary particles). However, the definition of elementary constituent may be loosened, depending on the phenomenon that is investigated and on the model used to represent it: in an α-decay process, a proton can be considered as an elementary constituent of an α-particle; in much the same way, in elemental analysis an atom can be considered as an elementary constituent of a molecule, even if the atom is made up of nucleons.
Linear Quadrupole Magnetic Field Measured with a Smartphone
Authors: Arribas Enrique , Escobar Isabel , Ramirez-Vazquez Raquel , del Pilar Suarez Rodriguez Carmen , Gonzalez-Rubio Jesus , Belendez Augusto
Published: February 2020

We believe that a natural focus of the physics education research community is on understanding and improving students’ learning in our physics courses. Due to the increase in technology, we can bring laboratory experiments closer to our students. It is necessary to update our laboratories technologically to get closer to the world in which our students live. With this in mind, we have considered the magnetic field created by a linear quadrupole and we have studied its dependence on distance, n being the exponent of distance. The main objective of this exercise is for our students to discover that the exponent n is very close to –4. The purpose of this work is to show that a laboratory is a powerful tool that increases significant learning under three conditions: 1) the practice must not be too sophisticated; 2) students must handle objects in the lab; and 3) the practice must be scientifically accurate, including the fitting using the least-squares approximation, and the following and necessary error calculation. We provide this practice so that all interested physics teachers can use it and adapt it to their specific laboratory.
A Slinky’s Elastic Potential Energy
Authors: Gash Philip
Published: February 2020

Aprevious journal article established that a hanging Slinky’s restoring force is due only to the coils between the support and the Slinky’s center of mass (hereafter COM). Correspondingly, it is expected the Slinky’s elastic potential energy (hereafter EPE) is associated with only those coils; however, there is no confirming experimental evidence. The experimental setup, the discussion, and the analysis here provide the confirming experimental evidence. The experimental setup is simple and the analysis is straightforward. Both may be understood by physics and engineering majors who have some familiarity of the COM concept, the EPE of springs, and the ability to calculate the work done by gravitational forces.
Teaching Doppler Ultrasound in an Introductory Laboratory for Pre-health Students
Authors: Stenmark Theodore , Allen Thomas , Widenhorn Ralf
Published: February 2020

We present a novel activity to demonstrate the Doppler shift of a sound wave, incident at an angle, upon a moving reflector. This activity is intended for use in an introductory physics laboratory focused on preparing students for the health and medical fields. The activity is designed to simulate Doppler velocity measurements from ultrasound imaging. While there have been previous qualitative discussions of blood flow measurements in the physics education literature, they were without associated laboratory activities. The lab can be part of a life science physics curriculum that has been identified in need of reforms to meet the needs of students and the medical and biology community.
Draft Genome Sequences of 13 Isolates of Adlercreutzia equolifaciens, Eggerthella lenta, and Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens, Isolated from Human Fecal Samples in Karlsruhe, Germany
Authors: Danylec Nicolas , Stoll Dominic A. , Göbl Andrea , Huch Melanie
Published: February 2020

Here, we report the annotated draft genome sequences of 13
Eggerthellaceae
strains isolated from fecal samples from two healthy human volunteers in Karlsruhe, Germany, i.e.,
Adlercreutzia equolifaciens
ResAG-91,
Eggerthella lenta
MRI-F 36, MRI-F 37, MRI-F 40, ResAG-49, ResAG-88, ResAG-121, and ResAG-145, and
Gordonibacter urolithinfaciens
ResAG-5, ResAG-26, ResAG-43, ResAG-50, and ResAG-59.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus velezensis Strain AL7, a Biocontrol Agent for Suppression of Cotton
Verticillium
Wilt
Authors: Liu Haiyang , Zeng Qingchao , Wang Wei , Zhang Renfu , Yao Ju
Published: February 2020

Bacillus velezensis
AL7, isolated from cotton soil, had strong antagonistic activity to
Verticillium dahlia
Kleb. The AL7 genome consisted of one chromosome with 3,894,709 bp (46.64% G+C content). Genome annotation predicted 3,706 protein-coding genes, 86 tRNAs, and 27 rRNAs. We sequenced and annotated the complete AL7 genome to help us better understand use of this strain.
First-in-human continuous 24-hour measurement of intraocular pressure and ocular pulsation using a novel contact lens sensor
Authors: Wasilewicz Robert , Varidel Thierry , Simon-Zoula Sonja , Schlund Mario , Cerboni Sacha , Mansouri Kaweh
Published: February 2020

Background/Aims

This study assessed the feasibility of a novel contact lens device for intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) continuous measurements over 24 hours.

Methods

This prospective, open-label, single-centre, non-randomised study included glaucoma and healthy subjects. IOP and OPA values acquired by the pressure-measuring contact lens (PMCL) device in one patient’s eye at the beginning of the measurement were compared with tonometry values (Goldman applanation tonometry (GAT) and dynamic contour tonometry (DCT)) in the same eye just before PMCL placement. Furthermore, IOP and OPA values measured with PMCL on the study eye during a water drinking test (WDT) were compared with DCT values in the fellow eye. Comparisons were performed using t-tests with 95% Confidence Intervals.

Results

Twenty-four-hour IOP and OPA curves were obtained for eight subjects. The mean IOP difference between PMCL and tonometry on the same eye was within ±5 mm Hg in 75% (GAT) and 87.5% (DCT) of subjects. IOP variations due to WDT were detected by PMCL and DCT, showing an average increase of 2.43 and 1.85 mm Hg, respectively. Differences between PMCL and DCT for IOP variations in fellow eyes were within ±5 mm Hg for 97.2% of time points. The difference between OPA in fellow eyes was within ±5 mm Hg for 85.5% of the time points.

Conclusions

This first-in-human study is a proof-of-concept for 24-hour continuous measurements of IOP and OPA with the PMCL. This device is non-invasive and has good comparability with standard tonometry.
Predicting value of white cell count and total bilirubin on clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction following percutaneous coronary intervention: a cohort study
Authors: Tuxun Munire , Zhao Qian , Xiang Yang , Liu Fen , Shan Chun-Fang , Zhou Xin-Rong , Song Ning , Waisiding Ajiguli , Zhang Xue-He , Aihemaiti Gulandanmu , Yang Yi-Ning , Li Xiao-Mei
Published: February 2020

Objectives

A combined equation based on white cell count (WCC) and total bilirubin (TB) was assessed for its ability to predict adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Design

A single-centre, prospective cohort study.

Setting

The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University.

Method

A total of 615 patients with STEMI postprimary PCI were enrolled. WCC and TB were collected at admission. Logistic regression was used to determine the combined equation. The primary endpoints were in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which composed of cardiac death, cardiac shock, malignant arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation), severe cardiac insufficiency, non-fatal myocardial infarction, angina pectoris readmission, severe cardiac insufficiency (cardiac III–IV level), stent restenosis and target vessels revascularisation during the hospitalisation and 36 months follow-up period.

Result

77 patients occurred in MACE during the hospitalisation (17 in-hospital mortality). WCC and TB were taken as an independent variables to make a category of logistic regression analysis of in-hospital MACE, the logistic regression model was: logit (P)=−8.00+0.265 WCC+0.077 TB, the combination of WCC and TB was more valuable on evaluating the in-hospital mortality (area under the curve 0.804, 95% CI 0.678 to 0.929, p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that combined detection was an independent risk factor for in-hospital MACE (OR 5.85, 95% CI 3.425 to 9.990, p=0.032). During the follow-up period, 172 patients (29.5%) developed MACE. But the combined detection did not predict the long-term clinical outcome.

Conclusion

The combination of WCC and TB is an independent predictor for in-hospital outcomes in patients with STEMI than single detection.
Placebos in primary care? a nominal group study explicating UK GP and patient views of six theoretically plausible models of placebo practice
Authors: Ratnapalan Mohana , Coghlan Beverly , Tan Mengxin , Everitt Hazel , Geraghty Adam W A , Little Paul , Lewith George , Bishop Felicity L
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To better understand which theoretically plausible placebogenic techniques might be acceptable in UK primary care.

Design

A qualitative study using nominal group technique and thematic analysis. Participants took part in audio-recorded face-to-face nominal groups in which the researcher presented six scenarios describing the application in primary care of theoretically plausible placebogenic techniques: (1) Withholding side effects information, (2) Monitoring, (3) General practitioner (GP) endorsement, (4) Idealised consultation, (5) Deceptive placebo pills and (6) Open-label placebo pills. Participants voted on whether they thought each scenario was acceptable in practice and discussed their reasoning. Votes were tallied and discussions transcribed verbatim.

Setting

Primary care in England.

Participants

21 GPs in four nominal groups and 20 ‘expert patients’ in five nominal groups.

Results

Participants found it hard to decide which practices were acceptable and spoke about needing to weigh potential symptomatic benefits against the potential harms of lost trust eroding the therapeutic relationship. Primary care patients and doctors felt it was acceptable to harness placebo effects in practice by patient self-monitoring (scenario 2), by the GP expressing a strongly positive belief in a therapy (scenario 3) and by conducting patient-centred, empathic consultations (scenario 4). Deceptive placebogenic practices (scenarios 1 and 5) were unacceptable to most groups. Patient and GP groups expressed a diverse range of opinions about open-label placebo pills.

Conclusions

Attempts to harness placebo effects in UK primary care are more likely to be accepted and implemented if they focus on enhancing positive patient-centred communication and empathic relationships. Using placebos deceptively is likely to be unacceptable to both GPs and patients. Open-label placebos also do not have clear support; they might be acceptable to some doctors and patients in very limited circumstances—but further evidence, clear information and guidance would be needed.
Experiences of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review of qualitative evidence protocol
Authors: He Jing , Wang Yuchen , Liu Yanqun , Chen Xiaoli , Bai Jinbing
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing and an issue of global concern. GDM can cause severe adverse effects for pregnant women and their fetuses. This systematic review is proposed to explore women’s experiences during the pregnancy with GDM. This review will provide insights into the physical, psychological and social adaptation experiences of women with GDM that can help to identify challenges of glycaemic control and provide targeted care and interventions to improve maternal and child health.

Methods and analysis

The databases we will search include English databases (ie, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, OpenGrey and Deep Blue) and Chinese databases (ie, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals). Published qualitative evidence of life changes or experiences of the women with GDM will be searched. There will be no limits on publication year. Two reviewers will independently use the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research for methodological validity prior to inclusion in this review. Any disagreements regarding article evaluation will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. Data will be extracted using the standardised data extraction tool from JBI System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information. Synthesis will include in-depth reading of the original text and the discovery of the results, and then summarising similar categories for more advanced synthesised findings. The final synthesised findings will be graded according to the ConQual approach for establishing confidence.

Ethics and dissemination

This study does not require ethical approval as primary data will not be collected. Results of this systematic review will be submitted to peer-reviewed international journals for publication and be presented in relevant international conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019132065.
Global incidence of surgical site infection after appendectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Danwang Celestin , Bigna Jean Joel , Tochie Joel Noutakdie , Mbonda Aimé , Mbanga Clarence Mvalo , Nzalie Rolf Nyah Tuku , Guifo Marc Leroy , Essomba Arthur
Published: February 2020

Background

Although surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most studied healthcare-associated infections, the global burden of SSI after appendectomy remains unknown.

Objective

We estimated the incidence of SSI after appendectomy at global and regional levels.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Participants

Appendectomy patients.

Data sources

EMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science were searched, with no language restrictions, to identify observational studies and clinical trials published between 1 January 2000 and 30 December 2018 and reporting on the incidence of SSI after appendectomy. A random-effect model meta-analysis served to obtain the pooled incidence of SSI after appendectomy.

Results

In total, 226 studies (729 434 participants from 49 countries) were included in the meta-analysis. With regard to methodological quality, 59 (26.1%) studies had low risk of bias, 147 (65.0%) had moderate risk of bias and 20 (8.8%) had high risk of bias. We found an overall incidence of SSI of 7.0 per 100 appendectomies (95% prediction interval: 1.0–17.6), varying from 0 to 37.4 per 100 appendectomies. A subgroup analysis to identify sources of heterogeneity showed that the incidence varied from 5.8 in Europe to 12.6 per 100 appendectomies in Africa (p<0.0001). The incidence of SSI after appendectomy increased when the level of income decreased, from 6.2 in high-income countries to 11.1 per 100 appendectomies in low-income countries (p=0.015). Open appendectomy (11.0 per 100 surgical procedures) was found to have a higher incidence of SSI compared with laparoscopy (4.6 per 100 appendectomies) (p=0.0002).

Conclusion

This study suggests a high burden of SSI after appendectomy in some regions (especially Africa) and in low-income countries. Strategies are needed to implement and disseminate the WHO guidelines to decrease the burden of SSI after appendectomy in these regions.

Prospero registration number

CRD42017075257.
Evaluating follow-up and complexity in cancer clinical trials (EFACCT): an eDelphi study of research professionals’ perspectives
Authors: Jones Helene Markham , Curtis Ffion , Law Graham , Bridle Christopher , Boyle Dorothy , Ahmed Tanweer
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To evaluate patient follow-up and complexity in cancer clinical trial delivery, using consensus methods to: (1) identify research professionals’ priorities, (2) understand localised challenges, (3) define study complexity and workloads supporting the development of a trial rating and complexity assessment tool (TRACAT).

Design

A classic eDelphi completed in three rounds, conducted as the launch study to a multiphase national project (evaluating follow-up and complexity in cancer clinical trials).

Setting

Multicentre online survey involving professionals at National Health Service secondary care hospital sites in Scotland and England varied in scale, geographical location and patient populations.

Participants

Principal investigators at 13 hospitals across nine clinical research networks recruited 33 participants using pre-defined eligibility criteria to form a multidisciplinary panel.

Main outcome measures

Statements achieving a consensus level of 70% on a 7-point Likert-type scale and ranked trial rating indicators (TRIs) developed by research professionals.

Results

The panel developed 75 consensus statements illustrating factors contributing to complexity, follow-up intensity and operational performance in trial delivery, and specified 14 ranked TRIs. Seven open questions in the first qualitative round generated 531 individual statements. Iterative survey rounds returned rates of 82%, 82% and 93%.

Conclusions

Clinical trials operate within a dynamic, complex healthcare and innovation system where rapid scientific advances present opportunities and challenges for delivery organisations and professionals. Panellists highlighted cultural and organisational factors limiting the profession’s potential to support growing trial complexity and patient follow-up. Enhanced communication, interoperability, funding and capacity have emerged as key priorities. Future operational models should test dialectic Singerian-based approaches respecting open dialogue and shared values. Research capacity building should prioritise innovative, collaborative approaches embedding validated review and evaluation models to understand changing operational needs and challenges. TRACAT provides a mechanism for continual knowledge assimilation to improve decision-making.
Local and systemic morbidities of de novo metastatic prostate cancer in Singapore: insight from 685 consecutive patients from a large prospective Uro-oncology registry
Authors: Tan Yu Guang , Pang Leonard , Khalid Farhan , Poon Randy , Huang Hong Hong , Chen Kenneth , Tay Kae Jack , Lau Weber , Cheng Christopher , Ho Henry , Yuen John
Published: February 2020

Objective

To evaluate the incidence and management of local and systemic complications afflicting patients with de novo metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) in Singapore.

Design

Retrospective analysis of a large prospective Uro-oncology registry of mPCa.

Setting

This study is carried out in a tertiary hospital in Singapore.

Participants

We reviewed our institution’s prospectively maintained database of 685 patients with mPCa over a 20-year period (1995–2014). Patients with non-mPCa or those progressed to metastatic disease after previous curative local treatments were excluded.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The primary outcome was to evaluate the systemic and local morbidity rates associated with mPCa. Local complication was defined as the need for palliative procedures to relieve urinary obstruction, worsening renal function or refractory haematuria, while systemic complication was related to radiographic evidence of skeletal-related pathological fractures. Secondary outcomes analysed were the management and overall survival patterns over 20 years.

Results

237 (34.6%) patients required local palliative treatments. 88 (12.8%) patients presented with acute urinary retention, 23 patients (9.7%) required repetitive local palliative treatments. On multivariate analyses, prostate-specific antigen >100 (p=0.02) and prostate volume >50 g (p=0.03) were independent prognostic factors for significant obstruction requiring palliative procedures. 118 (17.2%) patients developed skeletal fractures, with poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance (ECOG) status (p=0.01) and high volume bone metastasis (p<0.01) independently predictive of skeletal fractures. Altogether, 653 (95.3%) patients received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), with the median time to castrate resistance of 21.4 months (IQR 7–27). The median overall survival was 45 months (IQR 20–63), with prostate cancer mortality of 81.4%. Improved overall survival was observed from 41.6 months (1995–1999) to 47.8 months (2010–2014) (p<0.01).

Conclusion

Morbidities and complications arising from mPCa are more common and debilitating than we thought, often requiring immediate palliative treatments, while many necessitate repeated interventions with progression.
Physical activity trails in an urban setting and cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: a study protocol for a natural experiment
Authors: Hobin Erin , Swanson Anders , Booth Gillian , Russell Kelly , Rosella Laura C , Smith Brendan T , Manley Ed , Isaranuwatchai Wanrudee , Whitehouse Stephanie , Brunton Nicole , McGavock Jonathan
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Aspects of the built environment that support physical activity are associated with better population health outcomes. Few experimental data exist to support these observations. This protocol describes the study of the creation of urban trials on cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related morbidity and mortality in a large urban centre.

Methods and analysis

Between 2008 and 2010, the city of Winnipeg, Canada, built four, paved, multiuse (eg, cycling, walking and running), two-lane trails that are 5–8 km long and span ~60 neighbourhoods. Linking a population-based health data with census and environmental data, we will perform an interrupted time series analysis to assess the impact of this natural experiment on CVD-related morbidity and mortality among individuals 30–65 years of age residing within 400–1200 m of the trail. The primary outcome of interest is a composite measure of incident major adverse CVD events (ie, CVD-related mortality, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and congestive heart failure). The secondary outcome of interest is a composite measure of incident CVD-related risk factors (ie, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia). Outcomes will be assessed quarterly in the 10 years before the intervention and 5 years following the intervention, with a 4-year interruption. We will adjust analyses for differences in age, sex, ethnicity, immigration status, income, gentrification and other aspects of the built environment (ie, greenspace, fitness/recreation centres and walkability). We will also assess trail use and trail user profiles using field data collection methods.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approvals for the study have been granted by the Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba and the Health Information Privacy Committee within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. We have adopted an integrated knowledge translation approach. Information will be disseminated with public and government partners.

Trial registration number

NCT04057417.
Professional values and behaviours of younger and older general practitioners in Scotland: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Foster Trudy Lynn , Bowie Paul
Published: February 2020

Aim

Professionalism has been linked with improved patient care and reduced complaints. Our goal was to define what, if any, differences exist in the professional values and behaviours of younger general practitioners (GPs), those aged 34 years and under, compared with their older colleagues, those being aged 55 years and over.

Method

An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey of GPs in Scotland was undertaken during 2018 using a modified version of the Nijmegen Professionalism Scale, which comprises 4 domains: professionalism towards patients, towards colleagues, towards society and towards oneself. Descriptive and inferential data analysis was undertaken between responses from both GP groups.

Results

273 responses were obtained. Of these, 106 respondents were classed as either younger GPs (n=55; 51.9%) or older (n=51; 48.1%). The greatest number of differences were found in the Professional Distance subsection of professionalism towards patients. The greatest single disparity in responses was to distinguish between personal and professional interests in negotiations (p<0.0001). Younger GPs also reported they were less likely to bear the consequences of their own actions (p<0.02) and to be more likely to give others the blame or responsibility (p<0.006). Younger GPs report being less skilled in quality management, being less able to signal suboptimal care (p<0.006) and justify indications for making home visits (p<0.001).

Conclusion

While there were areas of similarity in relation to collaborating with colleagues, reflection on learning and dealing with emotions, differences were identified in relation to the 5 other subsections. Some differences may be explained by lack of exposure and experience, but this may not account for all the differences reported.
Prediction of prognosis and renal outcome in lupus nephritis
Authors: Parodis Ioannis , Tamirou Farah , Houssiau Frédéric A
Published: February 2020

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe manifestation of SLE, characterised by subendothelial and/or subepithelial immune complex depositions in the afflicted kidney, resulting in extensive injury and nephron loss during the acute phase and eventually chronic irreversible damage and renal function impairment if not treated effectively. The therapeutic management of LN has improved during the last decades, but the imperative need for consensual outcome measures remains. In order to design trials with success potentiality, it is important to define clinically important short-term and long-term targets of therapeutic and non-therapeutic intervention. While it is known that early response to treatment is coupled with favourable renal outcomes, early predictors of renal function impairment are lacking. The information gleaned from kidney biopsies may provide important insights in this direction. Alas, baseline clinical and histopathological information has not been shown to be informative. By contrast, accumulating evidence of pronounced discrepancies between clinical and histopathological outcomes after the initial phase of immunosuppression has prompted investigations of the potential usefulness of per-protocol repeat kidney biopsies as an integral part of treatment evaluation, including patients showing adequate clinical response. This approach appears to have merit. Hopefully, clinical, molecular or genetic markers that reliably reflect kidney histopathology and portend the long-term prognosis will be identified. Novel non-invasive imaging methods and employment of the evolving artificial intelligence in pattern recognition may also be helpful towards these goals. The molecular and cellular characterisation of SLE and LN will hopefully result in novel therapeutic modalities, maybe new taxonomy perspectives, and ultimately personalised management.
The interaction of W-shaped rational solitons with kink wave for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with anti-cubic nonlinearity
Authors: Ahmed Iftikhar , Seadawy A. R. , Lu Dianchen
Published: February 2020

By utilizing the logarithmic transformation and symbolic computation with ansatz functions technique, W-shaped rational solitons are obtained for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with anti-cubic nonlinearity. Meanwhile, the interaction between rational solitons and the kink wave is also investigated.
On the interplay between the Frobenius functor and its dual
Authors: Dibaei Mohammad T. , Eghbali Mohammad , Khalatpour Yaser
Published: February 2020

For a commutative Noetherian ring [Formula: see text] of prime characteristic, denote by [Formula: see text] the ring [Formula: see text] with the left structure given by the Frobenius map. We develop Thomas Marley’s work on the property of the Frobenius functor [Formula: see text] and show some interplays between [Formula: see text] and its dual [Formula: see text], which is introduced by Jürgen Herzog.
Annihilator of local cohomology of homogeneous parts of a graded module
Authors: Chau Tran Do Minh , Nga Nguyen Thi Kieu , Nhan Le Thanh
Published: February 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a homogeneous graded ring, where [Formula: see text] is a Noetherian local ring. Let [Formula: see text] be a finitely generated graded [Formula: see text]-module. For [Formula: see text] set [Formula: see text]. Denote by [Formula: see text] the set of all prime ideals of [Formula: see text] containing [Formula: see text]. For [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be the set of all [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] In this paper, we prove that the sets [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] do not depend on [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. We show that the annihilators [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are eventually stable, where [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text]. As an application, we prove the asymptotic stability of some loci contained in the non-Cohen–Macaulay locus of [Formula: see text].
EFFECTIVENESS OF FLOOR MARKINGS FOR CONTROLLING CUT WIDTH DURING SIDE CUTTING TASKS IN LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
Authors: PAN JING WEN , STERZING THORSTEN , PANG JUN WEI , CHUA YAOHUI KELVIN , KONG PUI WAH
Published: February 2020

This study examined the effectiveness of floor markings for controlling cut width during the analysis of side cutting maneuvers. Eleven male basketball players performed two side cutting maneuvers of narrow (30[Formula: see text]cm) and wide (45[Formula: see text]cm) cut widths and were guided by floor markings. Ground reaction forces, together with ankle, knee, and hip joint ranges of motion (ROM), and respective joint moments were determined. Cut widths were verified by two approaches by calculating the actual foot-to-foot and foot-to-pelvis distances from motion data. Biomechanical lower extremity loading showed no significant differences in most kinetic and kinematic variables between narrow and wide cuts. The difference in foot-to-foot distance (15.1 [11.6, 18.7] cm, [Formula: see text] between conditions corresponded well with floor markings, however, the difference in foot-to-pelvis distance was much smaller (2.3 [0.3, 4.4] cm, [Formula: see text]. It is concluded that floor markings are not sufficient for controlling the actual anatomical cut width in laboratory experiments. Participants may adjust their body postures to maintain similar lower extremity loading when performing side cuts differing in foot placement width. Cut width should be represented by foot-to-pelvis distance and not foot-to-foot distance.
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF MUSCLE REMOVAL ON ESTIMATED MUSCLE FORCES DURING WALKING IN PATIENTS AFTER RESECTION OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA IN THE THIGH
Authors: OKITA YUSUKE , TATEMATSU NORIATSU , NAGAI KOUTATSU , TSUKAGOSHI RUI , TATEUCHI HIROSHIGE , NAKAMATA TAKEHARU , OKAMOTO TAKESHI , TOGUCHIDA JUNYA , ICHIHASHI NORIAKI , SHUICHI MATSUDA , TSUBOYAMA TADAO
Published: February 2020

Patients with lower extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) need to recover their walking ability while coping with lower-limb muscle loss due to tumor removal. However, the lack of information on walking after tumor removal hinders the development of gait rehabilitation strategies for such patients. The present study explored how patients walked after STS resection from the viewpoint of muscle forces. The effect of muscle removal and muscle strength asymmetry on estimated muscle forces was also investigated by iterating gait simulations for each patient using three different musculoskeletal models. These models differed based on whether or not the resected muscles were reflected in the model and whether or not residual muscle strength was scaled according to muscle strength measurements. Muscle forces during walking were estimated in six patients after thigh STS removal. Our results suggested that patients could walk using not only residual muscles that function similar to the resected muscles but also those that function differently (e.g., ankle plantarflexors). Gait simulations of patients with considerable muscle loss and those without a rectus femoris muscle were relatively sensitive to muscle removal.
Wavelet regression estimation over Lp risk based on negatively associated sample
Authors: Guo Huijun , Kou Junke
Published: February 2020

This paper considers wavelet estimations of a regression function based on negatively associated sample. We provide upper bound estimations over [Formula: see text] risk of linear and nonlinear wavelet estimators in Besov space, respectively. When the random sample reduces to the independent case, our convergence rates coincide with the optimal convergence rates of classical nonparametric regression estimation.