bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recycling of waste to secondary raw materials as a way to increase environmental safety of production
Authors: Sakharova A A , Sidyakin P A , Shchitov D M , Nesterchuk A V
Published: September 2020

Complex influence of the ground of waste of the oil refinery including three sections of a pond store, a pond evaporator, a pond - the store of synthetic fatty acids, a dump of solid industrial wastes, the card of viscous waste of production of additives on the environment is investigated. It is revealed that the main pollutant are oil products (oil hydrocarbons), the steady trend of their accumulation in the environment is noted.

It is established that extent of utilization of the petrowaste which is valuable secondary raw materials is small that leads to their accumulation on the grounds and sludge collectors which are sources of environmental pollution. Extent of recycling of production of additives is especially low that is explained by their complex structure causing the low productivity and high cost of technological process of their processing.

The scheme of the organization of monitoring of a condition of the environment around placement of the ground of waste including control of a condition of the atmosphere, underground waters and soils is offered.

Reduction of environmental pollution by waste of oil processing due to their greatest possible secondary use and consequently, and economy of scarce and expensive natural raw materials, it is possible only in the presence at the enterprise of the comprehensive program of waste management.

The theoretical and pilot researches directed to decrease in negative impact of the ground of waste of oil refineries on the environment are conducted, the method of liquidation of the map of viscous production wastes of additives with use of production wastes of the additive DF-11 (KEK) is developed.
Receiving sorption material from production waste
Authors: Katerinin K V , Sidyakin P A , Shchitov D M , Chernov P S
Published: September 2020

The method of liquidation of the map of viscous production wastes of additives is developed. The special collector of waste is developed for selection of waste from the card. Complex influence of the ground of waste of the oil refinery including three sections, a pond evaporator, a pond store of synthetic fatty acids, a dump of solid industrial wastes, the map of viscous production wastes of additives on the environment is investigated. It is revealed that the main pollutant are oil products (oil hydrocarbons), a steady trend of their accumulation in the environment is noted.

The main fields of purpose of production wastes of additives are defined. They are applied as special additives at production of concrete and concrete goods and designs with increased requirements on water permeability, frost resistance, in quality of the plasticizing additives in concrete mixes, as the additive increasing elasticity and extensibility of bituminous coverings. Production wastes of additives in production of paints water and composite the general and special purpose are introduced.

Production wastes of additives are used for recultivation of the lands polluted by oil and also purification of oil-containing sewage.
Ecologically safe construction of monolithic concrete structures
Authors: Nikolenko S D , Manohin V Ya , Mihnevich I V , Manohin M V
Published: September 2020

The construction of monolithic concrete vaulted structures technology is proposed. The technology involves in the factory conditions to produce a design based on pneumatic formwork. That allows all processes associated with environmental pollution to be transferred to factory conditions. At the construction site, environmental and human impacts are minimized.
Research into various modeling methods including the artificial neural networks in studying solar radiation for different regions in the Russian Federation
Authors: Haritonova Larisa
Published: September 2020

The comparison of results obtained using the artificial neural networks (ANN) has been carried out in researching solar radiation for various regions of the Russian Federation with data modeling applying a spline interpolation preserving an interpolant shape or a polynomial (up to tenth degree) in the MATLAB environment obtained when using the MATLAB Basic Fitting-a graphical user interface (GUI). The neural network has been trained by the feed-forward backprop algorithm. The following functions were used: the Bayesian Regularization, the function of gradient descent with regard for moments, the hyperbolic tangent functions. The Mean Square Error (MSE) was chosen as a loss function which was minimized. The 15 input parameters were taken. As a result, the obtained model had high values of correlation coefficients and low values of the Mean Square Error among the target and the output values. The polynomial (up to tenth degree inclusive) coefficients and the norm of the residuals were obtained which were decreasing with the increasing of the polynomial degree. It was shown that the better results are received using the artificial neural networks (ANN), somewhat worse ones employing a spline interpolant and shape-preserving interpolant. At the same time, the proposed models and methods can be used in calculation of solar radiation for various regions in the Russian Federation and other countries.
Investigation of the Prognostic Significance of Neuroendocrine Differentiation in Gleason Score 7 to 10 Prostate Adenocarcinoma in Patients With Distant Metastasis After Definitive Radiotherapy
Authors: Mankuzhy Nikhil P , Almahariq Muayad F , Ye Hong , Amin Mitual , Stone Brandon , Krauss Daniel J
Published: September 2020

Objectives

We investigated the prognostic implications of neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in prostate adenocarcinoma detected by chromogranin A (CgA) in patients who developed distant metastasis (DM) after radiotherapy.

Methods

Patients with Gleason score 7 to 10 conventional acinar prostate adenocarcinoma treated with definitive radiotherapy and with core biopsy CgA staining completed were reviewed. Patients who developed DM, defined as disease beyond the primary tumor or pelvic lymph nodes, underwent detailed chart review. Statistical analysis included Kaplan-Meier estimates and descriptive statistics to compare based on quantification of CgA staining.

Results

Thirty-five patients had confirmed DM. Twenty-five patients had less than 1% of cells staining positive for CgA, and 10 patients had more than 1%. Median overall survival (OS) time was 3.26 and 1.04 years, respectively (P = .52). Median cause-specific survival (CSS) was 6.15 and 1.04 years, respectively (P = .21). Fifty-six percent of patients with CgA less than 1% died of prostate cancer compared with 90% of those with CgA more than 1% (P = .059). There were no significant differences in sites of metastatic disease or administration of systemic therapies.

Conclusions

No significant differences in OS and CSS were observed based on NED detected by CgA. Reduced median survival time and increased cancer-related death in cases with focal NED generates the hypothesis of inferior outcomes among patients with documented DM.
Neurotoxic alkaloid in pollen and nectar excludes generalist bees from foraging at death-camas,Toxicoscordion paniculatum(Melanthiaceae)
Authors: Cane James H , Gardner Dale R , Weber Melissa
Published: September 2020

Many plants produce broadly active toxins to which specialist herbivores—typically insects—have evolved counter-adaptations, sometimes spawning co-evolutionary arms races. Many non-social bee species are likewise taxonomic host specialists, but the specialists’ pollen hosts frequently attract diverse floral generalists as well, even to flowers of plants that are otherwise chemically defended. In this study of foothills death-camas, Toxicoscordion paniculatum (Nutt.) Rydberg (formerly Zigadenus), we show that its pollen and nectar both contain zygacine, the steroidal alkaloid responsible for this plant’s notorious mammalian toxicity. Hungry naïve adults of a generalist solitary bee, Osmia lignaria Say (Megachilidae), would briefly drink death-camas nectar or biologically relevant doses of zygacine in syrup, followed by prolonged bouts of irritable tongue grooming; many became paralyzed and some even died. Larvae fed dosed provision masses likewise often ceased feeding and sometimes died. Prolonged irritation and subsequent deterrence of foraging O. lignaria likely illustrates why it and 50+ other vernal bee species were absent from death-camas flowers in a five-state survey. The sole visiting bee, Andrena astragali, foraged exclusively at death-camas flowers for pollen and nectar. Thus, a toxic alkaloid found in death-camas pollen and nectar deters generalist bees from flowers of this pollinator-dependent monocot, restricting visitation to a single specialist bee that tolerates death-camas toxins and is its likely pollinator.
How opposite may differ from opposite: a lesson from the peristome development in the moss Discelium
Authors: Ignatov Michael S , Spirina Ulyana N , Kolesnikova Maria A , Ignatova Elena A
Published: September 2020

Previous morphological studies and molecular phylogenetic reconstructions resolved Discelium in the diplolepideous-opposite peristome group of mosses among the early-diverging mosses with arthrodontous peristomes. However, sporophyte development in Discelium differs from that of the other ‘diplolepideous-opposite’ families, Funariaceae and Encalyptaceae, in that the transverse sections of the peristome in the early stages of sporophyte differentiation exhibit diplolepideous-opposite, diplolepideous-alternate and haplolepideous patterns. Although the proportion of diplolepideous-opposite vs. haplolepideous patterns increases as the capsules mature, a haplolepideous peristomial formula persists in about one-third of the peristome sectors, reducing in frequency only in the lower parts of the teeth. This is the first evidence of the presence of the haplolepideous pattern in the ‘diplolepideous-opposite’ lineage; although appearing in the course of development it does not end in a really haplolepideous peristome, as its endostome and exostome elements remain opposite due to adhesion throughout their length. In contrast to Discelium, the peristome in Encalyptaceae maintains a typical diplolepideous-opposite pattern of cell divisions from the earliest stages of development, as determined by the unusually thick cells of the inner peristomial layer. The presence of the haplolepideous pattern in Discelium fills an enigmatic gap between the earliest-diverging arthrodontous lineage Diphysciaceae and the terminal lineages Dicranidae, in which the haplolepideous pattern prevails, and Bryideae, in which it appears only as a transitional stage towards the more complex structure. The diplolepideous-opposite peristome may not represent a synapomorphy for the ‘diplolepideous-opposite’ group of mosses as a whole (including Discelium), thus supporting treating Discelium in its own order.
UBE3C promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis by activating the β-catenin signaling via degradation of AXIN1 in gastric cancer
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xu Jiapeng , Fu Hongbing , Wei Ziran , Yang Dejun , Yan Ronglin
Published: September 2020

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. Previous studies have shown that E3 ubiquitin ligase E3C (UBE3C) promotes the progression of multiple types of cancer. However, little is known about the expression and molecular mechanism of UBE3C in GC. In this study, UBE3C is upregulated in clinical GC samples and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and the UBE3C upregulation is correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with GC. In vitro, knockdown of UBE3C suppresses proliferation and enhances apoptosis in GC cells by inhibiting β-catenin signaling pathway. In contrast, in vitro overexpression of UBE3C promotes GC cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis through the upregulation of β-catenin signaling by promoting ubiquitination of AXIN1. In vivo, knockdown of UBE3C inhibits tumor growth in a nude mouse model. Concurrently, the UBE3C knockdown resulted in an increase of AXIN1 and a reduction of β-catenin in the nucleus and cytoplasm in the xenograft tumor tissues. Our results demonstrate that UBE3C promotes GC progression through activating the β-catenin signaling via degradation of AXIN1. Our data suggest that UBE3C exerts oncogenic effects in GC and thus provides a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for GC therapy.
‘Stateless’ Rohingyas: persecution, displacement and complex community development
Authors: Jha Manish K
Published: September 2020

With complex sociopolitical contours around the idea of ethnicity, identity and citizenship, communities are experiencing unprecedented violence and vulnerabilities. The life and circumstances of one of such contentious community, Rohingya, is a telling example of an assault on their identity, culture, and history. The state sponsored violence and persecution had forced them to flee Myanmar. Denied recognition, as refugee or asylum seeker anywhere in the world, more than a million people from the community has become ‘stateless’ and living in a precarious condition in the camps in Bangladesh. This article explains the process whereby a community’s identity and citizenship were undermined, forcing them to become a stateless community. The article explores: what role identity, ethnicity, and politics play vis-a-vis minority communities at the ‘margin’? What complex challenges does it pose for community work and how community work attempts to take on that challenge? The article explains how sociocultural specificity poses a challenge for community workers to rely on their received wisdom. Therefore, approaches, strategies, and skills require substantive modification and alignment. Drawing upon personal interviews with key informants (coordinators of humanitarian response, community leaders, camp residents, and host community) and analysis of the documentary sources, the article brings forth the nature and character of community work undertaken by people coming from the varied disciplinary background.
Brain Connectivity, and Hormonal and Behavioral Correlates of Sustained Weight Loss in Obese Patients after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Hu Yang , Ji Gang , Li Guanya , Manza Peter , Zhang Wenchao , Wang Jia , Lv Ganggang , He Yang , Zhang Zhida , Yuan Kai , von Deneen Karen M , Chen Antao , Cui Guangbin , Wang Huaning , Wiers Corinde E , Volkow Nora D , Nie Yongzhan , Zhang Yi , Wang Gene-Jack
Published: September 2020

The biological mediators that support cognitive-control and long-term weight-loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) remain unclear. We measured peripheral appetitive hormones and brain functional-connectivity (FC) using magnetic-resonance-imaging with food cue-reactivity task in 25 obese participants at pre, 1 month, and 6 month after LSG, and compared with 30 normal weight controls. We also used diffusion-tensor-imaging to explore whether LSG increases brain structural-connectivity (SC) of regions involved in food cue-reactivity. LSG significantly decreased BMI, craving for high-calorie food cues, ghrelin, insulin, and leptin levels, and increased self-reported cognitive-control of eating behavior. LSG increased FC between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and increased SC between DLPFC and ACC at 1 month and 6 month after LSG. Reduction in BMI correlated negatively with increased FC of right DLPFC-pgACC at 1 month and with increased SC of DLPFC-ACC at 1 month and 6 month after LSG. Reduction in craving for high-calorie food cues correlated negatively with increased FC of DLPFC-pgACC at 6 month after LSG. Additionally, SC of DLPFC-ACC mediated the relationship between lower ghrelin levels and greater cognitive control. These findings provide evidence that LSG improved functional and structural connectivity in prefrontal regions, which contribute to enhanced cognitive-control and sustained weight-loss following surgery.
MDER: Multi-Dimensional Event Recommendation in Social Media Context
Authors: Troudi Abir , Ghorbel Leila , Amel Zayani Corinne , Jamoussi Salma , Amous Ikram
Published: September 2020

Events represent a tipping point that affects users’ opinions and vary depending upon their popularity from local to international. Indeed, social media offer users platforms to express their opinions and commitments to events that attract them. However, owing to the volume of data, users are encountering a difficulty to accede to the preferred events according to their features that are stored in their social network profiles. To surmount this limitation, multiple event recommendation systems appeared. Nevertheless, these systems use a limited number of event dimensions and user’s features. Besides, they consider users’ features stored in a single user’s profile and disregard the semantic concept. In this research, an approach for multi-dimensional event recommendation is set forward to recommend events to users resting on several event dimensions (engagement, location, topic, time and popularity) and some user’s features (demographic data, position and user’s/friend’s interests) stored in multi-user’s profiles by considering the semantic relationships between user’s features, specifically user’s interests. The performance of our approach was assessed using error rate measurements (mean absolute error, root mean squared error and cross-validation). Experiment that results on real-world event data sets confirmed that our approach recommends events that fit the user more than the previous approaches with the lowest error rate values.
Important longitudinal and circumferential pulsatile changes in zone 0 of the aorta during the cardiac cycle
Authors: Belvroy Viony M , Zubair M Mujeeb , van Herwaarden Joost A , Trimarchi Santi , Moll Frans L , Bismuth Jean
Published: September 2020

OBJECTIVES

Correct stent-graft sizing is important when planning for thoracic endovascular repair in zone 0. As the movements of the aorta are constantly evolving in longitudinal and circumferential directions during the cardiac cycle, the diameter may not be the only important measurement. The aim of this study is to measure the circumferential and longitudinal pulsatile changes throughout the cardiac cycle.

METHODS

Ninety-two patients, who were evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, were selected for this retrospective study. Their electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography was analysed. We identified the area, perimeter and diameter of the thoracic aorta in zone 0 and calculated the differences between these parameters at 3 locations in zone 0. The measurements were made in multiplanar views perpendicular to the semi-automatically created centreline in both systolic and diastolic phases.

RESULTS

The mean age of our study cohort was 77 ± 11 years. The mean change between systole and diastole of the area (mm2), perimeter (mm) and diameter (mm) were compared at 3 different locations in the ascending aorta: at the sinotubular junction (0.78 mm2 vs 0.89 mm vs 1.41 mm), mid-ascending (0.72 mm2 vs 0.68 vs 0.81 mm) and proximal edge of the brachiocephalic artery (0.76 mm2 vs 0.73 mm vs 0.73 mm). The change in percentage is the smallest in the area at the sinotubular junction compared to the perimeter and diameter (2.6% vs 3.1% vs 4.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in measurement of ascending aortic diameter with cardiac cycle are larger than measurement change in the area. This is especially more pronounced in zone 0A. For more accurate information on the morphometric changes, it may be necessary to measure the area when planning for thoracic endovascular repair to maximize results. A prospective study comparing these different measurements regarding the outcomes is advised by the authors to understand the clinical implications.
Correlation between clinical outcome and tissue inflammatory response in kidney transplant recipients with cryptococcosis
Authors: Nishikaku Angela S , Soldá Marcel V , Ricci Giannina , Ponzio Vinicius , Pagliari Carla , Medina-Pestana José O , de Franco Marcello F , Colombo Arnaldo Lopes
Published: September 2020

Cryptococcosis is the second most common invasive fungal infection reported in renal transplant recipients. Tissue granulomatous inflammation is necessary to contain Cryptococcus infection. This study aims to analyze the granuloma patterns and in situ expression of regulatory T (Treg) immune response in tissue samples from 12 renal transplant recipients with cryptococcosis. Fungal isolates were molecularly identified as Cryptococcus neoformans species complex. A detailed characterization of granulomas in tissue samples from 12 kidney transplant recipients with cryptococcosis was described by checking six lung and six skin biopsies by conventional histology and for immunohistochemical detection of CD4 and Treg markers: forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming-growth factor (TGF)-β. Granulomas were classified as compact, loose or mixed. Patients with mixed (n = 4) and compact (n = 3) granulomatous inflammation patterns were associated with a better prognosis and presented a higher number of CD4+FoxP3+T cells compared to the group of patients with loose granulomas. In counterpart, three out of five patients with loose granulomas died with cryptococcosis. We suggest that Treg may have a protective role in the tissue response to Cryptococcus infection given its association with compact and mixed granulomas in patients with better clinical outcomes.
A single-gene approach for the subspecies classification of Mycobacteroides abscessus
Authors: Ng Hien Fuh , Ngeow Yun Fong
Published: September 2020

The subspecies classification of Mycobacteroides abscessus complex into M. abscessus, M. massiliense and M. bolletii requires the amplification and sequencing of multiple genes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of subspecies classification using a single PCR target. An in silico study was performed to classify 1613 strains deposited in a public database using 9 genes (partial gene sequences of hsp65, rpoB, sodA, argH, cya, glpK, gnd, and murC, and the full gene sequence of MAB_3542c). We found the housekeeping gene gnd to be able to classify the M. abscessus subspecies with high accuracy (99.94%). A single-gene PCR approach based on gnd would be a suitable replacement for the more expensive, labor-intensive and time-consuming multi-gene PCR analysis currently in use for the subspecies identification of M. abscessus.
Application of electronic nose and GC–MS for detection of strawberries with vibrational damage
Authors: Rao Jingshan , Zhang Yuchen , Yang Zhichao , Li Shaojia , Wu Di , Sun Chongde , Chen Kunsong
Published: September 2020

Objectives

This study evaluated the potential of using electronic nose (e-nose) technology to non-destructively detect strawberry fruits with vibrational damage based on their volatile substances (VOCs).

Materials and methods

Four groups of strawberries with different durations of vibrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 h) were prepared, and their e-nose signals were collected at 0, 1, 2, and 3 days after vibration treatment.

Results

The results showed that when the samples from all four sampling days during storage were used for modelling, both the levels of vibrational damage and the day after the damage happened were accurately predicted. The best models had residual prediction deviation values of 2.984 and 5.478. The discrimination models for damaged strawberries also obtained good classification results, with an average correct answer rate of calibration and prediction of 99.24%. When the samples from each sampling day or vibration time were used for modelling, better results were obtained, but these models were not suitable for an actual situation. The gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry results showed that the VOCs of the strawberries varied after experiencing vibrations, which was the basis for e-nose detection.

Limitations

The changes in VOCs released by other forces should be studied in the future.

Conclusions

The above results showed the potential use of e-nose technology to detect strawberries that have suffered vibrational damage.
Group Lifestyle Phone Maintenance for Weight, Health, and Physical Function in Adults Aged 65–80 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Venditti Elizabeth M , Marcus Marsha D , Miller Rachel G , Arena Vincent C , Greenspan Susan L , Rockette-Wagner Bonny
Published: September 2020

Background

Group lifestyle sessions with phone maintenance could improve weight, health, and function in vulnerable older adults.

Methods

Community-dwelling adults (N = 322) with body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) ≥27 and additional risk factors received 12 one-hour in-person behavioral weight management group sessions then were randomized to 8 half-hour telephone sessions (n = 162) or newsletter control (n = 160) from 4 to 12 months with no treatment contact thereafter. Primary outcome was 0- to 12-month weight change. Cardiometabolic, short physical performance battery (SPPB), and self-reported activity changes were assessed at 12 and 24 months.

Results

At baseline, the mean (SD) age was 71.2 (4.3) and BMI was 33.8 (5.1). Participants were 77% women, 13% Black, 85% retired, averaging 4 medical conditions, and taking blood pressure (67.4%) and lipid-lowering (51.6%) medications. At 12 months, a greater proportion of the phone group (66.0%) achieved ≥5% weight loss compared with newsletter control (53.2%; p = .02). Mean (95% CI) weight loss was greater for phone (−6.6 kg [−7.5, −5.8]) than newsletter (−5.1 kg [−7.2, −3.0]); p = .01. Modest lipid, glucose, and blood pressure improvements were found, but did not differ significantly between groups. Small SPPB and activity improvements were maintained at 12 and 24 months in both groups.

Conclusions

Brief phone contacts compared to newsletters enhanced weight loss maintenance among older high-risk adults at 1 year, but not cardiometabolic outcomes. Modest functional improvements were observed in both. Lower-intensity maintenance contacts (phone or newsletter) for weight, health, and physical function in older adults warrant further study.

Clinical Trials Registration Number

NCT03192475
Association Between Long-Term Aspirin Use and Frailty in Men: The Physicians’ Health Study
Authors: Orkaby Ariela R , Yang Laiji , Dufour Alyssa B , Travison Thomas G , Sesso Howard D , Driver Jane A , Djousse Luc , Gaziano J Michael
Published: September 2020

Background

Chronic inflammation may lead to frailty, however the potential for anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin to prevent frailty is unknown. We sought to examine the association between long-term aspirin use and prevalent frailty.

Methods

We included 12 101 men ≥60 years who participated in the Physicians’ Health Study I, a completed aspirin randomized controlled trial (1982–1989). Annual questionnaires collected self-reported data on daily aspirin use, lifestyle, and clinical variables. Average aspirin use was summed into 2 categories: ≤60 days/year and >60 days/year. Frailty was assessed using a 33-item index 11 years after trial completion. A score of ≥0.21 was considered frail. Propensity score inverse probability of treatment weighting was used for statistical control of confounding. Logistic regression models estimated odds of frailty as a function of categories of average aspirin use.

Results

Mean age was 70.5 years (range 60–101). Following an average of 11 ± 0.6 years of follow-up, aspirin use was reported as ≤60 days/year for 15%; 2413 participants (20%) were frail. Frequency of aspirin use was associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, but negatively associated with bleeding and Coumadin use. The odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for frailty was 0.85 (0.76–0.96) for average aspirin use >60 days/year versus aspirin use ≤60 days/year. Results were similar using an alternate definition of frailty.

Conclusions

Long-term regular aspirin use is inversely associated with frailty among older men, even after consideration of multimorbidity and health behaviors. Work is needed to understand the role of medications with anti-inflammatory properties on aging.
Caring for Older Adults With Vision Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Varadaraj Varshini , Chung Shang-En , Swiatek Kayla S , Sheehan Orla C , Deemer Ashley , Ehrlich Joshua R , Wolff Jennifer L , Assi Lama , Roth David L , Swenor Bonnielin K
Published: September 2020

Background and Objectives

Dementia and vision impairment (VI) are common among older adults but little is known about caregiving in this context.

Research Design and Methods

We used data from the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries, linked to their family/unpaid helpers from the National Study of Caregiving. Vision impairment was defined as self-reported blindness or difficulty with distance/near vision. Probable dementia was based on survey report, interviews, and cognitive tests. Our outcomes included hours of care provided, and number of valued activities (scored 0–4) affected by caregiving, per month.

Results

Among 1,776 caregivers, 898 (55.1%, weighted) assisted older adults without dementia or VI, 450 (21.9%) with dementia only, 224 (13.0%) with VI only, and 204 (10.0%) with dementia and VI. In fully adjusted negative binomial regression analyses, caregivers of individuals with dementia and VI spent 1.7 times as many hours (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4–2.2) providing care than caregivers of those without either impairment; however, caregivers of individuals with dementia only (95% CI = 1.1–1.6) and VI only (95% CI = 1.1–1.6) spent 1.3 times more hours. Additionally, caregivers of individuals with dementia and VI had 3.2 times as many valued activities affected (95% CI = 2.2–4.6), while caregivers of dementia only and VI only reported 1.9 times (95% CI = 1.4–2.6) and 1.3 times (95% CI = 0.9–1.8) more activities affected, respectively.

Discussion and Implications

Our results suggest that caring for older adults with VI involves similar time demands as caring for older adults with dementia, but that participation impacts are greater when caring for older adults with both dementia and VI.
The Aging Experiences of LGBTQ Ethnic Minority Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chen Jinwen , McLaren Helen , Jones Michelle , Shams Lida
Published: September 2020

Background and Objectives

In gerontological research and practice, an increasing amount of attention is being paid to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) older people and how their experiences differ from their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. However, LGBTQ older adults themselves are not a homogenous group. Moreover, as the immigrant populations in industrialized nations age, the number of LGBTQ older adults from ethnic minority backgrounds will only grow. This systematic review hence investigates the experiences of LGBTQ ethnic minority older adults.

Research Design and Methods

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, we conducted a systematic search in 5 databases for English peer-reviewed studies. The retrieved articles were coded and analyzed inductively using an intersectional framework to tease out the varying influences of ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual identity on the LGBTQ ethnic minority older adults’ experiences.

Results

A total of 30 articles across 21 studies (13 qualitative, 7 quantitative, and 1 mixed-methods) were identified. Six key themes emerged from the studies: stigma and discrimination; isolation, support and belonging; interactions with services and institutions; self-acceptance, resilience, and agency; mental health and well-being; and uncertain futures.

Discussion and Implications

The experiences of LGBTQ ethnic minority older adults echo those of LGBTQ ethnic majority older adults when they are shaped by gender and sexual identity factors. Nevertheless, significant differences in experiences—both positive and negative—emerge when cultural and ethnicity-related factors come to the fore. These findings emphasize the need for intersectional aging policies and services that go beyond catering for LGBTQ older adults to include the diversity within this subpopulation.
Acute aortic dissection with entry tear at the aortic arch: long-term outcome
Authors: Koechlin Luca , Schuerpf Julia , Bremerich Jens , Sommer Gregor , Gahl Brigitta , Reuthebuch Oliver , Gurke Lorenz , Mujagic Edin , Eckstein Friedrich , Berdajs Denis A
Published: September 2020

OBJECTIVES

The goal was to evaluate outcomes after conservative or surgical treatment of acute aortic arch dissections.

METHODS

Between January 2009 and December 2018, patients with a diagnosis of acute aortic dissection were analysed. Aortic arch aortic dissection was defined as a dissection with an isolated entry tear at the aortic arch with no involvement of the ascending aorta.

RESULTS

Aortic arch dissection was diagnosed in 31 patients (age 59 ± 11 years). Surgical intervention was performed in 13 (41.9%) cases. Overall in-hospital mortality was 3% (n = 1), and all deaths occurred in the conservative group (n = 1; 6%), whereas the overall stroke rate was 3% (n = 1), and all strokes occurred in the group treated surgically (n = 1; 8%). Surgical repair was necessary for the following conditions: end-organ malperfusion (n = 9; 69%), impending rupture (n = 3; 23%) and dilatation of the aorta with ongoing pain refractory to medical treatment (n = 1; 8%). Overall survival at the end of the follow-up period was 71%, with 77% in the surgical group and 63% in the conservative group (P = 0.91). Freedom from surgical intervention was 71%, with 82% in the surgical and 63% in the conservative group (P = 0.21), and freedom from a neurological event was 88%, with 89% versus 89% (P = 0.68) in the surgical and conservative groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic arch dissection is a rare pathological condition that is one of the most challenging decision-making entities. Patients manifesting an uneventful course not requiring a surgical intervention during a hospital stay were at a higher risk for aorta-related intervention during the follow-up period. The treatment modality had no impact on survival or on the incidence of a neurological event.
Location Matters: Geographic Disparities and Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Tan Tina Q , Kullar Ravina , Swartz Talia H , Mathew Trini A , Piggott Damani A , Berthaud Vladimir
Published: September 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States has revealed major disparities in the access to testing and messaging about the pandemic based on the geographic location of individuals, particularly in communities of color, rural areas, and areas of low income. This geographic disparity, in addition to deeply rooted structural inequities, have posed additional challenges to adequately diagnose and provide care for individuals of all ages living in these settings. We describe the impact that COVID-19 has had on geographically disparate populations in the United States and share our recommendations on what might be done to ameliorate the current situation.
The case for open science: rare diseases
Authors: Rubinstein Yaffa R , Robinson Peter N , Gahl William A , Avillach Paul , Baynam Gareth , Cederroth Helene , Goodwin Rebecca M , Groft Stephen C , Hansson Mats G , Harris Nomi L , Huser Vojtech , Mascalzoni Deborah , McMurry Julie A , Might Matthew , Nellaker Christoffer , Mons Barend , Paltoo Dina N , Pevsner Jonathan , Posada Manuel , Rockett-Frase Alison P , Roos Marco , Rubinstein Tamar B , Taruscio Domenica , van Enckevort Esther , Haendel Melissa A
Published: September 2020

The premise of Open Science is that research and medical management will progress faster if data and knowledge are openly shared. The value of Open Science is nowhere more important and appreciated than in the rare disease (RD) community. Research into RDs has been limited by insufficient patient data and resources, a paucity of trained disease experts, and lack of therapeutics, leading to long delays in diagnosis and treatment. These issues can be ameliorated by following the principles and practices of sharing that are intrinsic to Open Science. Here, we describe how the RD community has adopted the core pillars of Open Science, adding new initiatives to promote care and research for RD patients and, ultimately, for all of medicine. We also present recommendations that can advance Open Science more globally.
Response Surface Methodology for Spectrophotometric Determination of Two β-Adrenergic Agonists-Terbium Chemosensors in Urine and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
Authors: Sakr Marwa , Fouad Marwa , Hanafi Rasha , Al-Easa Hala , El-Moghazy Samir
Published: September 2020

Background

According to literature reports, none of the previous methods of analysis had touched the multivariate approach for the quantification of significant factors affecting the interaction of dobutamine or hexoprenaline with Terbium.

Objective

Two novel β-adrenergic agonists-lanthanide chemosensors were prepared for the determination of dobutamine and hexoprenaline in their pure and pharmaceutical dosage forms and in urine samples. Fabrication of the two chemosensors was based on their ligand-metal interaction with the lanthanide Terbium.

Methods

A Plackett–Burman Design (PBD) was selected for the screening of four main variables (reaction time, metal volume, pH, and temperature). Applying Response Surface Methodology (RSM), a Central Composite Design (CCD) was executed for the optimization of the significant factors with narrower upper and lower limits. Spectrophotometric technique was exploited for the analysis of the two chemosensors.

Results

Maximum absorption was obtained at 299 and 298 nm for dobutamine-terbium and hexoprenaline-terbium complexes, respectively. Only factors that were found to bear significant effects on the formed complexes were promoted to the optimization level. Model verification was carried out, where target results coincided with those at the predicted levels, indicating the efficiency of the two proposed models. Validation of the proposed was implemented and linear ranges were found to be 3.30–13.50 and 1.90–10.00 µg/mL, for dobutamine and hexoprenaline, respectively.

Conclusions

Recovery and relative standard deviation values by application in pure powder, pharmaceutical dosage forms and spiked urine samples indicated high accuracy and reproducibility. Wide-ranging linear values and comparatively low detection limits inferred the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Highlights

RSM for optimization of spectrophotometric determination of dobutamine and hexoprenaline β-adrenergic agonists-lanthanide chemosensors; PBD was used for screening and CCD for optimization of variables affecting the spectrophotometric method; Determination of dobutamine and hexoprenaline in pure powder, pharmaceutical dosage form, and spiked urine samples was accomplished after method validation.
Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbial composition of weaned pigs fed multi-enzyme supplemented diets
Authors: Park Sangwoo , Li Wenting , St-Pierre Benoit , Wang Qiong , Woyengo Tofuko Awori
Published: September 2020

A study determined the effects of supplementing corn-based diets for weaned pigs with multi-enzymes on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, fecal score, and fecal microbial composition. A total of 132 pigs (initial body weight = 7.23 kg) that had been weaned at 21 d of age and fed a drug-free nursery diet for 7 d were housed in 33 pens of 4 barrows or gilts, blocked by body weight and gender, and fed 3 experimental diets at 11 pens per diet. The diets were corn-based diet without or with multi-enzyme A or B. Multi-enzyme A supplied 4,000 U of xylanase, 150 U of β-glucanase, 3,500 U of protease, and 1,500 U of amylase per kilogram of diet. Multi-enzyme B was the same as multi-enzyme A except that it supplied amylase at 150 U/kg, and that its source of amylase was different from that of multi-enzyme A. All diets contained phytase at 1,000 U/kg. The diets were fed for 35 d in 2 phases; phase 1 for the first 14 d and phase 2 for the last 21 d of the trial. Fecal score was determined daily during the first 7 d of the trial. Fecal samples were collected from rectum of 1 pig per pen on days 2, 7, 14, and 35 of the trial for determining bacterial composition. Also, fresh fecal samples were collected from each pen on days 41 and 42 to determine ATTD of nutrients. Multi-enzyme B increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) for phases 1 and 2. For the overall study period, multi-enzyme B increased (P < 0.05) ADG from 262 to 313 g, and average daily feed intake (ADFI) from 419 to 504 g. Multi-enzyme A increased (P < 0.05) overall ADG from 262 to 290 g, but did not affect ADFI. Multi-enzyme A or B did not affect ATTD of gross energy, but increased (P < 0.05) the ATTD of ether extract from 30% to 36% or 37%, respectively. Multi-enzyme A did not affect fecal score; however, multi-enzyme B tended to decrease (P = 0.09) fecal score, implying that it tended to decrease diarrhea. Firmicutes were the most abundant phylum of fecal bacteria (its relative abundance ranged from 58% to 72%). Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the 2nd and 3rd most abundant phyla of fecal bacteria. Neither multi-enzyme affected fecal bacterial composition. In conclusion, the addition of multi-enzyme A or B to phytase-supplemented corn-based diet for weaned pigs can improve their growth performance and fat digestibility. However, multi-enzyme B was more effective than multi-enzyme A in terms of improving the growth performance of weaned pigs fed corn-based diet.
Effect of torula yeast on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, and blood characteristics in weanling pigs
Authors: Espinosa Charmaine D , Lagos L Vanessa , Stein Hans H
Published: September 2020

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that torula yeast may replace animal and plant proteins in diets for weanling pigs without negatively impacting growth performance or blood characteristics. In exp. 1, 128 weanling pigs (6.71 ± 0.76 kg) were allotted to four treatments with four pigs per pen and eight replicate pens per diet. Pigs were fed one of four diets from day 1 to 14 post-weaning (phase 1), whereas all pigs were fed a common diet in phase 2 (day 15 to 28). The four dietary treatments included a control diet with 5% fish meal, 2.5% plasma protein, and no torula yeast. The second diet contained 5% fish meal, 4.75% torula yeast, and no plasma protein. The third diet contained 2.5% plasma protein, 6% torula yeast, and no fish meal, and the last diet contained 10.75% torula yeast, no fish meal, and no plasma protein. The inclusion of torula yeast was calculated to replace the amount of digestible Lys provided by fish meal, plasma protein, or both fish meal and plasma protein in the control diet. During the initial 14 d, fecal scores were visually assessed. At the end of phase 1, blood samples were collected and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), peptide YY, immunoglobulin G, total protein, and albumin were analyzed. Results indicated that torula yeast could replace fish meal and plasma protein without affecting growth performance, fecal scores, or blood characteristics of pigs. In exp. 2, 160 weanling pigs (6.11 ± 0.62 kg) were allotted to one of four diets with five pigs per pen and eight replicate pens per diet. Phase 1 diets contained 0%, 10%, 18%, or 26% torula yeast, whereas phase 2 diets contained 0%, 8%, 14%, or 20% torula yeast. Torula yeast was included in diets at the expense of animal proteins and soybean meal. On days 14 and 28, blood samples were collected and concentrations of cytokines, BUN, total protein, and albumin were analyzed. Phase 2 gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) linearly increased (P < 0.01) as the concentration of torula yeast increased in the diets. The concentration of albumin on day 14 linearly increased (P < 0.05) and the concentration of TNF-α was linearly reduced (P < 0.01) as the concentration of torula yeast increased in the diets. In conclusion, under the conditions of this research, torula yeast could replace fish meal and plasma protein without affecting the growth performance of pigs, but inclusion of increasing levels of torula yeast improved G:F of pigs, which may be because of greater nutrient utilization.
Extubation Failure in a Burn Intensive Care Unit: Examination of Contributing Factors
Authors: Rizzo Julie A , Haq Mahdi , McMahon Ryan A , Aden James K , Brillhart Daniel B , Cancio Leopoldo C
Published: September 2020

Extubation failure is associated with negative outcomes making the identification of risk factors for failure paramount. Burn patients experience a high incidence of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. There is no consensus on the acceptable rate of extubation failure and many conventional indices do not accurately predict extubation outcomes in burn patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the rate of extubation failure in the burned population and to examine the impact of factors on extubation outcomes. Burn patients from a single center over 9 years were examined and included if they were intubated prior to arrival or within 48 hours of admission and underwent a planned extubation. From this cohort, a matched case–control analysis based on age, TBSA, and sex was performed of patients who succeeded after extubation, defined as not requiring reintubation within 72 hours, to those who failed. Characteristics and clinical parameters were compared to determine whether any factors could predict extubation failure. There was a 12.3% incidence of extubation failure. In the matched case–control analysis, the presence of inhalation injury was associated with extubation success. Higher heart rate and lower serum pH were associated with extubation failure. ANCOVA analysis demonstrated that a sodium trending higher before extubation was associated with more successes, possibly indicative of a lower volume status. Classic extubation criteria do not accurately predict extubation outcomes in burn patients; analysis of other parameters may be able to provide better predictions. A constellation of these parameters needs to be studied prospectively.
Combating Impunity in Sri Lanka
Authors: Kalanadan Supanki
Published: September 2020

Often referred to as a ‘war without witness’, over a decade has passed since the Sri Lankan armed conflict ended, with no significant progress towards fostering accountability for the alleged international crimes committed in the last phases of the war. Traditionally available legal mechanisms have served to be a barrier to address impunity as Sri Lanka is not a party to the International Criminal Court, and the United Nations Security Council has not taken any action for accountability. However, the last decade has witnessed a growing number of innovative approaches under ‘universal jurisdiction’, which can be applied to prosecute the alleged international crimes committed in Sri Lanka. This article examines the current options available under universal jurisdiction that can be applied in the Sri Lankan context, including Germany’s structural investigations model, the growing participation of regional organizations in international criminal justice, and the role of the International Court of Justice in addressing state violations of international human rights.