bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Over‐use of thyroid testing in Canadian and UK primary care in frequent attenders: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Crampton Noah , Kalia Sumeet , Del Giudice Maria Elisabeth , Wintemute Kimberly , Sullivan Frank , Aliarzadeh Babak , Meaney Christopher , Moineddin Rahim , Singer Alexander , Hinton William , Sherlock Julian , Williams John , de Lusignan Simon , Greiver Michelle
Published: March 2021

Background

Thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) is a common test used to detect and monitor clinically significant hypo‐ and hyperthyroidism. Population‐based screening of asymptomatic adults for thyroid disorders is not recommended.

Objective

The research objectives were to determine patterns of TSH testing in Canadian and English primary care practices, as well as patient and physician practice characteristics associated with testing TSH for primary care patients with no identifiable indication.

Methods

In this 2‐year cross‐sectional observational study, Canadian and English electronic medical record databases were used to identify patients and physician practices. Cohorts of patients aged 18 years or older, without identifiable indications for TSH testing, were generated from these databases. Analyses were performed using a random‐effects logistic regression to determine patient and physician practice characteristics associated with increased testing. We determined the proportion of TSH tests performed concurrently with at least one common screening blood test (lipid profile or hemoglobin A1c). Standardised proportions of TSH test per family practice were used to examine the heterogeneity in the populations.

Results

At least one TSH test was performed in 35.97% (N = 489 663) of Canadian patients and 29.36% (N = 1 030 489) of English patients. Almost all TSH tests in Canada and England (95.69% and 99.23% respectively) were within the normal range (0.40‐5.00 mU/L). A greater number of patient‐physician encounters was the strongest predictor of TSH testing. It was determined that 51.40% of TSH tests in Canada and 76.55% in England were performed on the same day as at least one other screening blood test. There was no association between the practice size and proportion of asymptomatic patients tested.

Conclusions

This comparative binational study found TSH patterns suggestive of over‐testing and potentially thyroid disorder screening in both countries. There may be significant opportunities to improve the appropriateness of TSH ordering in Canada and England and therefore improve the allocation of limited system resources.
Characteristics of achieving clinically important weight loss in two paediatric weight management interventions
Authors: Fiechtner Lauren , Castro Ines , Cheng Erika R. , Sharifi Mona , Gerber Monica W. , Luo Man , Goldmann Don , Sandel Megan , Block Jason , Orav E. John , Taveras Elsie M.
Published: March 2021

Objective

To examine characteristics and lifestyle behaviours associated with achieving clinically important weight loss (CIWL) in two paediatric weight management interventions (PWMIs).

Methods

We examined 1010 children enrolled in the STAR and Connect for Health trials. We defined achieving CIWL as any participant who had decreased their BMI z‐score by ≥0.2 units over 1 year. Using log‐binomial regression we examined associations of child and household characteristics and lifestyle behaviours with achieving CIWL.

Results

In multivariable analyses, children with severe obesity had a lower likelihood of achieving CIWL compared to children without severe obesity (RR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.49, 0.95]). Children who were ≥10 years were less likely to achieve CIWL (RR: 0.56 [95% CI: 0.42, 0.74]) vs those 2‐6 years of age. Children who consumed <1 sugary beverage per day at the end of the intervention were more likely to achieve CIWL vs those who did not meet the goal (RR: 1.36 [95% CI 1.09–1.70]).

Conclusion

In this analysis of children enrolled in PWMIs, achieving CIWL was associated with younger age, not having severe obesity and consuming fewer sugary beverages at the end of the intervention. Focusing on intervening earlier in life, when a child is at a lower BMI, and reducing sugary beverages could allow for more effective PWMI's.
Emotion work and resilience of nurses and physicians towards Palestinian Authority patients
Authors: Furman Gal , Bluvstein I. , Itzhaki M.
Published: March 2021

Aim

The purpose of this study was to explore the emotion work and resilience of Israeli healthcare personnel who treat paediatric patients from the Palestinian Authority in Israel.

Background

Healthcare personnel deal with internalized emotional conflict deriving from the ethos of health care and the ethos of conflict. Emotion work may be used to overcome emotional conflict, while resilience serves as a protective process against emotional conflict.

Methods

A mixed methods study among 101 healthcare workers: 84 nurses and 17 physicians. Quantitative data were analysed using IBM SPSS 24.0, and qualitative data were analysed using the constant comparative analysis method.

Findings

Empathy was the highest ranking emotion and contempt was the lowest, for experienced and expected emotions. Positive correlations were found between identification with the ethos of health care and resilience, emotional gap and emotion work, and between the level of Arabic language and emotion work. A negative correlation was found between emotional gap and resilience. The qualitative data yielded three themes: Knowledge of the Arabic language, familiarity with the Arab culture and equitable treatment.

Discussion

The language proficiency of patients belonging to a minority group increases nurses' and physicians' emotion work. Identification with the ethos of health care increases resilience, as both are linked to a sense of vocation and an intrinsic willingness to care for paediatric patients.

Conclusion

The study supports the theory of emotion work and refines the role of the ethos of health care in building resilience. Language and cultural capability have a significant role in providing healthcare personnel with methods to treat minorities equitably.

Implications for health policy

Hospital managements may supply tailor‐made interventions to enhance healthcare personnel's transcultural communication skills, build resilience and cultivate emotion work capabilities. Nursing practice could encourage the use of nursing care plans specific to the individual paediatric patient that can be used by nursing staff to keep care current and applicable.
The global prevalence of early childhood caries: A systematic review with meta‐analysis using the WHO diagnostic criteria
Authors: Uribe Sergio E. , Innes Nicola , Maldupa Ilze
Published: March 2021

Aim

To estimate the global prevalence of early childhood caries using the WHO criteria.

Design

Systematic review of studies published from 1960 to 2019. Data sources: PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO, and LILACS. Eligibility criteria were articles using: dmft‐WHO diagnostic criteria with calibrated examiners, probability sampling, and sample sizes. Study selection: Two reviewers searched, screened, and extracted information from the selected articles. All pooled analyses were based on random‐effects models. The protocol is available on PROSPERO 2014 registration code CRD42014009578.

Results

From 472 reports, 214 used WHO criteria and 125 fit the inclusion criteria. Sixty‐four reports of 67 countries (published 1992‐2019) had adequate data to be summarised in the meta‐analysis. They covered 29 countries/59018 children. Global random‐effects pooled prevalence was (percentage[95% CI]) 48[43, 53]. The prevalence by continent was Africa: 30[19, 45]; Americas: 48 [42, 54]; Asia: 52[43, 61]; Europe: 43[24, 66]; and Oceania: 82[73, 89]. Differences across countries explain 21.2% of the observed variance.

Conclusions

Early childhood caries is a global health problem, affecting almost half of preschool children. Results are reported from 29 of 195 countries. ECC prevalence varied widely, and there was more variance attributable to between‐country differences rather than continent or change over time.
Working toward eradicating weight stigma by combating pathologization: A qualitative pilot study using direct contact and narrative medicine
Authors: Fox Rachel , Park Kelly , Hildebrand‐Chupp Rowan , Vo Anne T.
Published: March 2021

Stigma against fat people permeates every level of healthcare, yet most attempts to reduce weight stigma among healthcare providers have shown only marginal results. Fat studies, a field that rigorously interrogates negative assumptions about fatness, can help social psychologists understand weight stigma by centering the pathologization of fatness as a major contributor to weight stigma at the structural and interpersonal level. A fat studies approach also reorients the normative goal of weight stigma interventions from reducing stigma to eradicating stigma and calls for methods that reject weight stigma’s roots in medicine and medical discourse. Even nuanced and sympathetic models of “obesity” cannot combat stigma that is structurally based in medical authority. We applied these principles to develop a new method of weight stigma intervention: direct contact structured through narrative medicine. In a qualitative pilot study, four medical students and two fat activist community members met for five 2‐hours narrative medicine workshops over 5 weeks. All participants completed focus group interviews about the experience. Interview transcript analysis revealed that these workshops provided a space for depathologizing, humanizing, empathy‐inducing, and power‐leveling interactions between medical students and fat people, where members of both groups reported benefiting from the experience. We conclude that non‐pathologizing approaches to eradicating weight stigma are not only feasible, but both ethically and methodologically necessary.
A UK survey of nutritional care pathways for patients with COVID‐19 prior to and post‐hospital stay
Authors: Lawrence Victoria , Hickson Mary , Weekes C. Elizabeth , Julian Anna , Frost Gary , Murphy Jane
Published: March 2021

Background

During the global COVID‐19 pandemic, UK dietitians have delivered the best care to help patients recover from the infection. The present study examined the development and evaluation of care pathways to manage nutritional care of patients following COVID‐19 infection prior to and after discharge.

Methods

Registered UK dietitians completed an online questionnaire comprising 26 questions about the development of a pathway, its use, evaluation and training needs.

Results

Of 57 responses from organisations, 37 (65%) were involved in the planning/management of nutritional care. Only 19 responses had a new or adapted COVID‐19 pathway. Of these, 74% reported involvement of dietetic services, 47% reported > 1 eligibility criteria for pathway inclusion and 53% accepted all positive or suspected cases. All respondents used nutritional screening, first‐line dietary advice (food first) and referral for further advice and monitoring. Weight and food intake were the most used outcome measure. All pathways addressed symptoms related to nutrition, with the most common being weight loss with poor appetite, not being hungry and skipping meals in 84% of pathways. Over half of respondents (54%) planned to evaluate their pathway and 83% reported that they were ‘very or reasonably confident’ in their team's nutritional management of COVID‐19. Less than half (42%) reported on training needs.

Conclusions

Despite challenges encountered, pathways were developed and implemented. Dietitians had adapted to new ways of working to manage nutritional care in patients prior to and after discharge from hospital following COVID‐19 infection. Further work is needed to develop strategies for evaluation of their impact.
Days in milk alters the milk fatty acid profile of grazing donkeys: A preliminary study
Authors: Johel Galo Salgado Madian , Rocha Silva Aline , Oliveira de Souza Carolina , Vitor França Lemos Paulo , Lopes Oliveira Ronaldo , Albano de Araújo Oliveira Chiara , Vaz Di Mambro Ribeiro Claudio
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to characterize and determine how days in milk (DIM) affect the milk fatty acid (FA) profile of grazing donkeys. Donkey milk is very similar to human milk, containing bioactive molecules such as FA and proteins. However, there is a lack of scientific and technical information on the changes in the FA profile of asinine milk in pasture‐feeding systems. Seven multiparous Pega donkeys, maintained in an exclusively extensive system, were used. Milking was undertaken twice a day, once a week for 16 weeks. Milk samples were composed according to the average lactating days as follows: 55, 110, 165, 220 and 275 DIM. A descriptive analysis of the milk fat composition was performed, and the linear and quadratic effects of DIM on the milk FA profile were tested. The milk FA profile of grazing donkeys is influenced by lactation days and is characterized by high concentrations of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) with a low n−6 to n−3 ratio (0.66 g/100 g), mainly due to the high level of linolenic acid (16.8 g/100 g). Most of the individual FAs did not change during lactation, but stearic and oleic acid linearly decreased (p < .05), and total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and n−3 FA increased (p < .05) with DIM. The milk profile of grazing donkeys is influenced by the day of lactation and is characterized by a high concentration of n−3 PUFA (mainly α‐linolenic acid) and a lower n−6 to n−3 ratio. As the number of days of lactation increased, the concentration of n−3 PUFA also increased. Therefore, higher milk quality may be associated with higher days in milk.
Low‐tannin sorghum grain could be used as an alternative to corn in diet for nursery pigs
Authors: Pan Long , An Dong , Zhu Weiyun
Published: March 2021

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that low‐tannin sorghum grain produced in China as a potential substitute for corn in diets could not impair the performance of nursery pigs. A total of 60 pigs (7.2 ± 1.2 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 diets with 5 replicate pens per treatment. Corn‐based diet (CBD) included 60% corn grain during the overall experimental period, and sorghum‐based diet (SBD) consisted of 30% (d 1 to 14) or 60.55% (d 15 to 28) sorghum grain in partial or total replacement of corn grain. Both diets were formulated to contain the same amount of digestible energy and indispensable amino acids. The results demonstrated no differences in growth performance or apparent digestibility of gross energy between treatments over the whole period. However, the substitution of corn by sorghum reduced (p < 0.05) or tended to reduce (p = 0.09) apparent digestibility of crude protein associated with an increased faecal nitrogen excretion per weight gain (p < 0.05). Pigs fed SBD had higher contents of urea nitrogen, total triglyceride and insulin in serum than those fed CBD (p < 0.05). Visceral organ weights or antioxidant enzyme activities in serum or liver were not different between treatments. Compared with CBD, SBD increased or tended to increase amylase activity in jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05) or trypsin activity in duodenal mucosa (p = 0.08). Replacement of corn by the low‐tannin sorghum in diets did not influence the microbiota community based on alpha and beta diversity in caecal and colonal digesta. Overall, the home‐grown low‐tannin sorghum could be an alternative energy source in diets for pigs without adverse effects on growth performance.
Tracking the geographic distribution and growth of clinicians with a DEA waiver to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder
Authors: Andrilla C. Holly A. , Patterson Davis G.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Buprenorphine is an effective medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) but access is difficult for patients, especially in rural locations. To improve access, legislation, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (2016) and the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act (2018), extended the ability to get a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) waiver to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) to numerous types of clinicians. This study updates the distribution of waivered clinicians as of July 2020 and notes regional and geographic differences.

Methods

Using the July 2020 Drug Enforcement Administration list of providers with a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine to treat OUD, we assigned waivered clinicians to counties in one of four geographic categories. We calculated the number of counties in each category that did not have a waivered clinician, available treatment slots, and the county provider to population ratios.

Findings

The number of DEA‐waivered clinicians more than doubled between December 2017 and July 2020 from 37,869 to 98,344. The availability of a clinician with a DEA waiver to provide MOUD has increased across all geographic categories. Nearly two‐thirds of all rural counties (63.1%) had at least one clinician with a DEA waiver but more than half of small and remote rural counties lacked one. There were also significant differences in access by the US Census Division.

Conclusions

Overall, MOUD access has improved, but small rural communities still experience treatment disparities and there is significant regional variation.
Biofeedback stimulation in the visually impaired: a systematic review of literature
Authors: Silvestri Valeria , Turco Simona , Piscopo Paola , Guidobaldi Margherita , Perna Fabiana , Sulfaro Marco , Amore Filippo
Published: March 2021

Background

It is estimated that approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of distance or near visual impairment. Numerous studies have been carried out to evaluate the effects of biofeedback (BF) and establish if it could be a useful tool in vision rehabilitation for various eye diseases.

Objective

This systematic review aimed: 1) to examine the current evidence of BF efficacy for the rehabilitation of the visually impaired and 2) to describe methodological variations used in previous BF studies to provide recommendations for vision rehabilitation interventions.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted in the Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases to collect documents published between January 2000 and May 2020. Of the 1,960 studies identified, 43 met the criteria for inclusion. The following information was collected from each study: sample size, control group, any eye disease, apparatus used, frequency and number of sessions of BF, main outcomes of training and whether a follow‐up was conducted. The first group included studies published as scientific articles in peer‐reviewed journals. The second group included abstracts of studies presented at peer‐reviewed conferences. Publications were also grouped according to the eye disease treated.

Results

25 articles and 18 peer‐reviewed conference abstracts (PRCAs) were included in this review. BF stimulation is a commonly used technique for the treatment of visual impairment caused by macular disease. Most BF studies evaluate the effect of training on the preferred retinal locus (PRL), particularly with regard to fixation location and stability. Across these studies, participants who received BF intervention improved fixation stability and reading speed. High variability in the number of sessions and the duration of BF training was found. Most studies did not use a control group.

Conclusions

The findings of this review present evidence for biofeedback treatment in vision rehabilitation, with improved oculomotor abilities. Currently, it is not possible to formulate evidence‐based recommendations for a standard training procedure due to the poor quality of existing randomised controlled trials. High‐quality studies are needed to develop standard protocols for a range of eye diseases.
Low psoas muscle index as an unfavorable factor in children with end‐stage liver disease undergoing liver transplantation
Authors: Jitwongwai Settapong , Lertudomphonwanit Chatmanee , Junhasavasdikul Thitiporn , Fuangfa Praman , Tanpowpong Pornthep , Gesprasert Goragoch , Treepongkaruna Suporn
Published: March 2021

Sarcopenia is common in cirrhotic adults and associated with waitlist mortality and worse outcome after liver transplantation. Psoas muscle mass has been used to define sarcopenia. Therefore, we aimed to determine the association between psoas muscle mass and waitlist mortality as well as post‐transplant outcome in children with end‐stage liver disease. Medical records and abdominal imaging of pediatric liver transplant candidates during 2010–2019 were reviewed. A subset of images was measured by two radiologists to determine inter‐rater reliability. Psoas muscle surface area was determined at intervertebral lumbar disk 3–4 (L3‐4) and 4–5 (L4‐5) levels. PMI was calculated by psoas muscle surface area divided by height squared. We included 105 children, most with biliary atresia (84%). Patients with waitlist mortality had lower PMI compared to the ones who survived to transplantation (PMI at L3‐4 levels 352.8 ± 162.5 vs. 416.8 ± 136.2 mm2/m2 and at L4‐5 levels 497.3 ± 167.8 vs. 571.4 ± 163.4 mm2/m2, both p = .04), but not in the multivariate analyses. For transplanted patients (n = 75), a higher rate of re‐operation (39% vs. 15%, p = .03) and longer hospital stay (53 vs. 45 days, p = .02) were found in patients with lower PMI. Lower PMI is associated with higher re‐operation rate and longer hospital stay following transplantation, but not waitlist mortality. PMI may be taken into consideration with other biomarkers to predict post‐transplant complications.
Debunking the argument from queerness
Authors: Kassenberg Erik
Published: March 2021

According to moral error theory, there are no ethical facts. Error theorists often defend this view with the metaphysical argument from queerness. This argument purports to show that it is most reasonable to believe that ethical facts do not exist, because such facts are metaphysically queer and explanatorily redundant. This paper argues that even if we assume that ethical facts are metaphysically queer and explanatorily redundant, the argument from queerness does not warrant the rejection of ethical facts. It only shows that it is most reasonable to refrain from believing that ethical facts exist. The argument from queerness therefore merely supports metaethical scepticism: that is, it merely supports agnosticism about the existence of ethical facts. This is cause for optimism, because metaethical scepticism is less of a threat to our moral practice than moral error theory.
Four Islands EcoHealth Network: an Australasian initiative building synergies between the restoration of ecosystems and human health
Authors: Bradby Keith , Wallace Kiri J. , Cross Adam T. , Flies Emily J. , Witehira Celia , Keesing Amanda , Dudley Todd , Breed Martin F. , Howling Gary , Weinstein Philip , Aronson James
Published: March 2021

Reversing the spiraling trajectory of ecological degradation requires a profound paradigm shift that more explicitly links human and ecosystem health. Human health, as used here, includes well‐being and livelihoods, which are largely determined by socio‐cultural, economic, and environmental drivers. Ecological restoration and related restorative activities can contribute substantially to human health. However, restoration projects differ widely and health impacts can be difficult to quantify. Interdisciplinary restoration networks are important for investigating the complex socio‐cultural, economic, and environmental dynamics that characterize restoration practice and related health outcomes. We present the Four Islands EcoHealth Network (FIEN) as an exemplar for establishing interdisciplinary project connectivity to clarify intersections between ecosystem restoration and human health. FIEN is a cooperative regional restoration network within Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand which aims to research and devise strategies for restoration to simultaneously improve human health and repair native ecosystems. FIEN will operate collaboratively at local and regional scales to expand interdisciplinary research and outreach by linking research with experience‐based and Traditional Ecological Knowledge‐based restoration activities. The group's primary focus is value‐adding to the efforts of its constituent organizations by sharing expertise and methodologies to enable large‐scale analysis and comparison across adjacent regions, ultimately disseminating collective results through impactful science communication. We consider explicitly linking human and ecosystem health the best way forward to reverse the current downward trajectory of ecological degradation and declining human health, and propose FIEN as an approach which other restoration‐minded groups and coalitions might follow.
Beetle assemblage dynamics after invasive ice plant (Carpobrotus) removal on a small Mediterranean island
Authors: Braschi Julie , Torres Aurélie , Fadda Sylvain , Buisson Elise , Ponel Philippe
Published: March 2021

Invasive plant species, such asCarpobrotusspecies, threaten the biodiversity of Mediterranean islands. Ecological restoration can include the control of invasive plants, but the effect ofCarpobrotusremoval on arthropods is understudied. Here, we evaluated the influence ofCarpobrotusremoval on beetle assemblages, on a Mediterranean island. Between November 2011 and February 2012, we manually removedCarpobrotusand its litter. A site composed of native shrubland vegetation located in the vicinity was studied to estimate the beetle assemblage natural variations. Two years before removal (2010–2011), and every 2 years following removal (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019), we sampled beetles with pitfall traps. Vegetation did not change at the shrubland site and beetle assemblages stayed relatively stable. After the removal ofCarpobrotusat theCarpobrotussite, a diverse halophilic grassland vegetation colonized as well as some chamaephytes. The taxonomic and functional richness of beetle species increased significantly following removal. Assemblage composition changed significantly between pre‐ and post‐removal years with a high taxonomic turnover rate. Predators (e.g. Staphylinidae, Carabidae) and detritivores (Tenebrionidae) most likely benefited from the vegetation opening, while the diversification of microhabitats led to the availability of a wider variety of prey. Large floricolous beetles (Scarabaeidae) were the most reduced byCarpobrotusremoval along with small non‐flying beetles. This rapid change in beetle assemblages occurred within 7 years. Future studies should be carried out in areas where reference ecosystems are available to meet the requirements of a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact approach.
Tidal restoration of a managed wetland in California favors non‐native fishes
Authors: Williamshen Brian O. , O'Rear Teejay A. , Riley Melissa K. , Moyle Peter B. , Durand John R.
Published: March 2021

Tidal wetland restoration is commonly used to recover ecosystem functions and services that were lost when wetlands were diked for reclamation or management. Less research has been conducted on the response of invertebrate and fish assemblages to tidal restoration than on plants and physical attributes. Blacklock Marsh, a wetland in Suisun Marsh, USA, was once managed for waterfowl hunting and cattle grazing until its dike was breached, restoring full tidal action. We sampled water quality, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fishes in Blacklock Marsh, and compared these metrics to adjacent naturalistic waterways and to a managed wetland focused on waterfowl. Our goal was to compare food production and community assemblage on a restoring marsh to other types of nearby waterways. Blacklock Marsh had less chlorophyll‐a and dissolved organic carbon than nearby dead‐end sloughs and the managed wetland, less zooplankton biomass than the managed wetland, and lower fish diversity—with a fish assemblage dominated by non‐native species—compared to all other waterways. The most abundant fish species in the restoring site, Mississippi silverside (Menidia audens), is a non‐native fish and known predator of Delta smelt larvae (Hypomesus transpacificus), for which the restoration was targeted. Our research suggests that restoring tidal action to managed wetlands alone may worsen rather than improve conditions for at‐risk and native fishes.
Studying race in the field of South Asian religions
Authors: Thomas Sonja
Published: March 2021

In this commentary, I discuss scholarship on race in study of religion in South Asia. Using my experiences in the field, I look at how and why studies on race are marginalized, dismissed, and/or misread. I argue that without a feminist analysis informed by women of color feminisms and queer of color critique, race scholarship will only continue to be marginalized and/or misread even as the field of South Asian religions tries to center race as an object of analysis. I foreground race and caste power as a way to critique how threads of power run through much of the field of South Asian religions and structures the ways in which scholarship on race is approached (or not). As Asian studies broadly and South Asian Studies specifically creates new avenues for scholarship on race, the study of religion in South Asia must examine how racism is institutionalized within the field.
Evaluation of the Impact of Skewness, Clustering, and Probe Sampling Plan on Aflatoxin Detection in Corn
Authors: Cheng Xianbin , Stasiewicz Matthew J.
Published: March 2021

Probe sampling plans for aflatoxin in corn attempt to reliably estimate concentrations in bulk corn given complications like skewed contamination distribution and hotspots. To evaluate and improve sampling plans, three sampling strategies (simple random sampling, stratified random sampling, systematic sampling with U.S. GIPSA sampling schemes), three numbers of probes (5, 10, 100, the last a proxy for autosampling), four clustering levels (1, 10, 100, 1,000 kernels/cluster source), and six aflatoxin concentrations (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 100 ppb) were assessed by Monte‐Carlo simulation. Aflatoxin distribution was approximated by PERT and Gamma distributions of experimental aflatoxin data for uncontaminated and naturally contaminated single kernels. The model was validated against published data repeatedly sampling 18 grain lots contaminated with 5.8–680 ppb aflatoxin. All empirical acceptance probabilities fell within the range of simulated acceptance probabilities. Sensitivity analysis with partial rank correlation coefficients found acceptance probability more sensitive to aflatoxin concentration (−0.87) and clustering level (0.28) than number of probes (−0.09) and sampling strategy (0.04). Comparison of operating characteristic curves indicate all sampling strategies have similar average performance at the 20 ppb threshold (0.8–3.5% absolute marginal change), but systematic sampling has larger variability at clustering levels above 100. Taking extra probes improves detection (1.8% increase in absolute marginal change) when aflatoxin is spatially clustered at 1,000 kernels/cluster, but not when contaminated grains are homogenously distributed. Therefore, taking many small samples, for example, autosampling, may increase sampling plan reliability. The simulation is provided as an R Shiny web app for stakeholder use evaluating grain sampling plans.
Conditional distribution regression for functional responses
Authors: Fan Jianing , Müller Hans‐Georg
Published: March 2021

Modeling conditional distributions for functional data extends the concept of a mean response in functional regression settings, where vector predictors are paired with functional responses. This extension is challenging because of the nonexistence of well‐defined densities, cumulative distributions, or quantile functions in the Hilbert space where the response functions are located. To address this challenge, we simplify the problem by assuming that the response functions are Gaussian processes, which means that the conditional distribution of the responses is determined by conditional mean and conditional covariance. We demonstrate that these quantities can be obtained by applying global and local Fréchet regression, where the local version is more flexible and applicable when the covariate dimension is low and covariates are continuous, while the global version is not subject to these restrictions but is based on the assumption of a more restrictive regression relation. Convergence rates for the proposed estimates are obtained under the framework of M‐estimation. The corresponding estimation of conditional distributions is illustrated with simulations and an application to bike‐sharing data, where predictors include weather characteristics and responses are bike rental profiles. We also show that our methods are applicable to the challenging problem to study functional fragments. Such data are observed in accelerated longitudinal studies and correspond to functional data observed over short domain segments. We demonstrate the utility of conditional distributions in this context by using the time (age) at which a subject enters the domain of a fragment in addition to other covariates as predictor and the function observed over the domain of the fragment as response.
A tectonic model for the Transcontinental Arch: Progressive migration of a Laurentian drainage divide during the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Sauk Transgression
Authors: Brennan Daniel T. , Mitchell Ross N. , Spencer Christopher J. , Murphy J. Brendan , Li Zheng‐Xiang
Published: March 2021

A widespread provenance shift recorded by passive margin strata of western Laurentia, from predominant Stenian (1.2–1.0 Ga) detrital zircon age components to their absence, occurred during the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Sauk transgression and is commonly used as a ca. 540 Ma chronostratigraphic marker throughout the west/south‐western United States. However, in Neoproterozoic–Cambrian strata of this region, we identify a probable shift from distal to more proximal Stenian‐age zircon sources before a diachronous loss of Stenian detrital zircon age components. We suggest these provenance patterns reflect progressive subsidence of the passive margins surrounding Laurentia and concomitant relative uplift of the Transcontinental Arch, a broad and segmented northeast–southwest trending topographic high across the Laurentian midcontinent possibly due to lithospheric flexure. The Transcontinental Arch segments align with transverse rift structures of the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Iapetan margin and the Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent Rift, perhaps reflecting rejuvenation of midcontinent lithospheric weaknesses during the Sauk transgression and final Rodinia breakup.
Insecticide susceptibility of Phlebotomus argentipes sandflies, vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in India
Authors: Dinesh Diwakar S. , Hassan Faizan , Kumar Vijay , Kesari Shreekant , Topno Roshan K. , Yadav Rajpal S.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides is the main vector control intervention for the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in India. After a change in IRS policy in 2015 due to widespread resistance of Phlebotomus argentipes to DDT, IRS with DDT was replaced with alpha‐cypermethrin IRS in 2016. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the susceptibility of P. argentipes to DDT and its alternatives, namely malathion and pirimiphos‐methyl (organophosphates); alpha‐cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambda‐cyhalothrin and permethrin (pyrethroids), and bendiocarb and propoxur (carbamates), in support of visceral leishmaniasis elimination in India.

Methods

Phlebotomus argentipes sandflies were collected from the visceral‐leishmaniasis endemic states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In the WHO tube tests, the phenotypic susceptibility of F1, 2‐day old, non‐blood fed females were determined against filter papers impregnated with DDT 4%, malathion 5%, pirimiphos‐methyl 0.25%, alpha‐cypermethrin 0.05%, deltamethrin 0.05%, lambda‐cyhalothrin 0.05%, permethrin 0.75%, bendiocarb 0.1% and propoxur 0.1%, which were sourced from Universiti Sains Malaysia. The knockdown of sandflies after 1‐h exposure and mortality at 24 h after the 1‐h exposure period were scored.

Results

Mean mortality of P. argentipes 24 h after exposure in tube tests was 22.6% for DDT and ≥ 98% for other insecticide‐impregnated papers tested.

Conclusion

Phlebotomus argentipes continues to be highly resistant to DDT with no reversal of resistance after DDT's withdrawal from IRS. P. argentipes was fully susceptible to pyrethroid, organophosphate and carbamate insecticides tested. Regular monitoring is warranted for insecticide resistance management in sandfly vectors.
Characterization of CD177‐reactive iso‐ and auto‐antibodies
Authors: Traum Annalena , Hofmann Christine , Haas Sabine , Schmidt Silke , Bein Gregor , Sachs Ulrich J. , Bayat Behnaz
Published: March 2021

Background

CD177 is a surface protein on neutrophils and a main mediator for the surface expression of proteinase 3 (PR3). Its functions are largely unknown. At least three types of antibodies have been described to target CD177: isoantibodies, which are formed in CD177‐null individuals as a result of an immune reaction following transfusion or pregnancy; autoantibodies present in sera from patients with autoimmune neutropenia; and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in sera from patients with glomerulonephritis with polyangiitis. In this study, we aimed to compare the binding characteristics of auto‐ and iso‐antibodies to optimize their detectability in the neutrophil serology laboratory.

Study Design and Methods

The reactivity of iso‐ and auto‐antibodies against CD177 was studied using granulocytes, “native” CD177/PR3 complex, and recombinant CD177 or PR3.

Results

All iso‐ and auto‐antibodies were reactive with CD177/PR3 when immobilized with monoclonal antibody (moab) 7D8. Seventy‐five percent of autoantibodies, but none of the isoantibodies, did not react with CD177/PR3 immobilized with moab MEM166. The majority of autoantibodies did not react with recombinant CD177, whereas most isoantibodies tested positive.

Discussion

Our results suggest that iso‐ and auto‐antibodies against CD177 target different epitopes. Isoantibodies mainly target CD177 alone, while the majority of autoantibodies target a native epitope present on the neutrophil surface, but absent from recombinant CD177 which lacks PR3. Moab MEM166 binds to the native epitope and hinders the binding of CD177 autoantibodies. The results may help to design diagnostic strategies, especially for the identification of autoantibodies.
China's ‘Sponge Cities’: The role of constructed wetlands in alleviating urban pluvial flooding
Authors: Zhou Tiantao , Penning‐Rowsell Edmund
Published: March 2021

Research examined constructed wetlands (CWs) in piloting the ‘Sponge City’, a Chinese initiative designed, in part, to curtail extensive urban pluvial flooding. In Yangzhou a small number of exploratory qualitative interviews with relevant professionals elucidated key issues. The interviewees supported the concept of CWs but were uniformly sceptical about their viability. A possible CW in the city was also modelled, quantifying its effects and limitations. Results show that CWs can help attenuate urban flooding but there are important caveats concerning their implementation. These concern their size and capacity, sufficiency of urban space, and their economic sustainability. The political dimension of the Sponge City concept, including support from President Xi Jinping, suggests that CWs may be a distraction from more widespread urban flooding, which CWs may well not alleviate. Piloting is continuing and results will need to be more positive if Sponge Cities can be a strategically important flood attenuation measure.
To Teach Legal Design — Change Design By Design
Authors: Wszołek M. , Płuchowska D.
Published: March 2021

This article is about using human orientated methods of design (e.g. design thinking) in the context of teaching design, while the role of design is changing. Design should be described as a modus operandi for every social activity that leads through solving problem. General role of design is to animate and moderate social change. In that perspective we are all designers, whether we like it or not. This specific change of design mindset shows great challenge in the new education model, where design is just a small part of study program — in this article it is explained in the context of legal study program.
Economic, Exergy, and Environmental Analyses of the Energy Assessments for U.S. Industries
Authors: Hasan Alaa , Selim Osama M. , Abousabae Mohamed , Amano Ryoichi S. , Otieno Wilkistar
Published: March 2021

This paper highlights the expected versus actual outcomes of 152 energy assessments that were performed between 2011 and 2020. The 1317 energy-assessment recommendations (ARs) are grouped into eight categories. This study adopted four measures per each category of recommendations: annual electricity savings, annual gas savings, annual cost savings, and annual CO2 emission reduction. The first part of the analysis compares the expected to the actually implemented values of the measures applied to each recommendation’s category. It was found that the percentages of the actual to the expected electricity, gas, and cost savings are 26.6%, 11.4%, and 17.1%, respectively, while the percentage of the actual to the expected CO2 reduction is 22%. Moreover, the second part of the analysis presents each category's implementation rate and the reasons for rejecting the unimplemented ARs. Cash flow and expensive initial investment resulted in rejecting 25% of ARs. Furthermore, the study proposes techniques and strategies to increase ARs’ implementation rate and improve private energy services companies’ implementation rate. Finally, exergy analysis is added to show the improvement that energy assessment achieves regarding exergy and exergy efficiencies of different industrial applications.
Computational and Experimental Study of the Unsteady Convection of Entropy Waves Within a High-Pressure Turbine Stage
Authors: Pinelli Lorenzo , Marconcini Michele , Pacciani Roberto , Gaetani Paolo , Persico Giacomo
Published: March 2021

This article describes the transport and the interaction of pulsating entropy waves generated by combustor burners within a high-pressure turbine stage for aeronautical application. Experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out in the context of the European Research Project RECORD. Experimental campaigns considering burner-representative temperature fluctuations (in terms of spot shape, fluctuation frequency, and total temperature variation percentage) injected upstream of an un-cooled high-pressure gas turbine stage have been performed in the high-speed closed-loop test rig of the Fluid Machine Laboratory (LFM) of the Politecnico di Milano (Italy). The pulsating entropy waves are injected at the stage inlet in streamwise direction at four different azimuthal positions featuring a 7% overtemperature with respect to the main flow with a frequency of 90 Hz. Detailed time-resolved temperature measurements (in the range of 0–200 Hz) upstream and downstream of the stage, as well as in the stator–rotor axial gap, were performed. Time-accurate CFD simulations with and without entropy fluctuations imposed at the stage inlet were performed with the TRAF code, developed by the Università degli Studi di Firenze (Italy). A numerical postprocessing procedure, based on the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of the conservative variables, has been implemented to extract the low-frequency content connected to the entropy fluctuations. Measurements highlighted a significant attenuation of the entropy wave spot throughout their transport within the stator channel and their interaction with the rotor blade rows, highly depending on their injection azimuthal position. Simulations show an overall good agreement with the experiments on the measurement traverses, especially at the stage outlet. By exploiting the combination of experiments and simulations, the aerodynamic and thermal implications of the temperature fluctuation injected upstream of the stage were properly assessed, thus allowing suggest useful information to the designer. The comparison with the experiments confirms the accuracy of the CFD method to solve the periodic, but characterized by a low-frequency content event, associated with the entropy wave fluctuation.
Integration Methodology for Feature-Based Modeling and Recognition
Authors: Ko Heedong , Park Myon-woong , Kang Hojin , Sohn Youngtae , Kim Hyun Suk
Published: March 2021

This paper presents an integration method that constructs a feature model either by inserting new features or by recognizing features from existing geometric model. The integration is made possible by keeping the feature model data structure that is identical whether constructed by the feature insertion or the recognition. This overcomes the representational mismatch between the procedural feature-based modeling framework and the feature recognition framework. The integrated framework has been implemented as a CADCAM system for mould die manufacturing, which can interactively modify the geometric model by deleting recognized features.
Mass Transport and Particle Transport in an LPCVD Process
Authors: MacGibbon Bruce S. , Busnaina Ahmed A.
Published: March 2021

Low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) processes are used in the microelectronic manufacturing industry. As circuit dimensions decrease, it becomes ever more critical to control the particulate contamination of the wafer during fabrication. To accurately predict the particle motion, and thus minimize contamination, the flow field must be known. This paper outlines the procedure to numerically simulate the velocity, temperature, and concentration fields in a low pressure application. From these solutions, accurate particle trajectories are predicted using a Lagrangian formulation that includes effects of temperature, drag, gravity, and Brownian motion.
Spline Based Design of Cam Contours for Improved Dynamic Performance
Authors: Ault Holly K. , Wilkinson James C.
Published: March 2021

A method for the integrated design and manufacture of radial plate cams is discussed. Currently, a cam-follower system is designed by specifying constraints on the motion of the follower. The physical cam contour or cam pitch curve are not mathematically defined. The cam is manufactured from the discretized follower motion program. A new method for cam design is proposed which will produce a smooth, mathematically defined cam pitch curve while maintaining the proper constraints on the follower motion. Piecewise polynomial functions in the form of rational and/or non-rational splines may be used. Cams will be manufactured using smoothed profiles and tested for improved dynamic performance. The results of initial investigations of cam profile design for this research are presented.
Unbreakable Finite Element Programs
Authors: Roth Peter N.
Published: March 2021

Contemporary finite element (FE) programs are constructed using the procedural paradigm and the tightly coupled architecture, and can be very large. Mutation of this software is difficult, expensive, and tedious. Smaller programs with equivalent capability can be constructed with the object-oriented paradigm (OOP) and the application framework architecture. These programs are easier and cheaper to modify and maintain.

The paper opens with a discussion of the characteristics of FE programs. Then, using the example of error processing, the OOP concepts of data encapsulation and inheritance are approximated in Fortran. This provides a bridge from the procedural to the object-oriented paradigm.

The OOP concept of polymorphism is illustrated with a four-step approach:

- TProteus, the PC-based object-oriented Application Framework for Finite Elements is presented. This software, and its comprehensive engineering library, was developed to explore OOP.

- the efforts necessary to add an element to a procedural program, and to TProteus, are compared.

- the inner workings of TProteus are revealed to show that polymorphism produces unbreakable software.

- the simultaneous openness and security of the TProteus system is demonstrated by changing the equation solver without accessing the source code.