bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joy‐of‐life in cognitively intact nursing home residents: the impact of the nurse–patient interaction
Authors: Haugan Gørill , Eide Wenche Mjanger , André Beate , Wu Vivien Xi , Rinnan Eva , Taasen Siv Eriksen , Kuven Britt Moene , Drageset Jorunn
Published: March 2020

Background

The nursing‐home population is at a high risk of declined well‐being and quality of life. Finding approaches to increase well‐being among older adults in nursing‐homes is highly warranted. Responding to this need, the approach framed ‘Joy‐of‐Life‐Nursing‐Homes’ (JoLNH) was developed in Norway.

Aim

To investigate the association between nurse–patient interaction and joy‐of‐life in the nursing‐home population.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data were collected in 2017 and 2018 using the Nurse–Patient Interaction Scale and the Joy‐of‐Life Scale. A total of 204 cognitively intact nursing‐home residents met the inclusion criteria and 188 (92%) participated. A structural equation model (SEM) of the relationship between nurse–patient interaction and joy‐of‐life was tested by means of STATA/MP 15.1. Ethical approval was given and each participant provided voluntarily written informed consent.

Results

The SEM‐model yielded a good fit with the data (χ2 = 162.418, p = 0.004, df = 118, χ2/df = 1.38, RMSEA = 0.046, p‐close 0.652, CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, and SRMR = 0.054). As hypothesised, nurse–patient interaction related significantly with joy‐of‐life (γ1,1 = 0.61, t = 7.07**).

Limitations

The cross‐sectional design does not allow for conclusions on causality. The fact that the researchers visited the participants to help fill in the questionnaire might have introduced some bias into the respondents’ reporting.

Conclusion

Relational qualities of the nurse–patient interaction should be essential integral aspects of nursing‐home care. Consequently, such qualities should be emphasised in clinical practice, and research and education should pay more attention to nurse–patient interaction as an important, integral part of the caring process promoting joy‐of‐life and thereby well‐being.
Depression, everyday technology use and life satisfaction in older adults with cognitive impairments: a cross‐sectional exploratory study
Authors: Köttl Hanna , Fallahpour Mandana , Hedman Annicka , Nygård Louise , Kottorp Anders
Published: March 2020

Rational

Life satisfaction is strongly associated with participation in everyday life activities. Yet, older adults with cognitive impairments have been found to experience difficulties in accessing and engaging in more complex everyday activities, especially, if these involve everyday technology. Considering the rapidly advancing technological landscape, this may substantially affect individuals’ life satisfaction and their participation in meaningful community‐based and home‐based activities.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the associations between life satisfaction, ability to use everyday technology and number of relevant everyday technologies used in older adults (n = 117) with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It also aimed to understand the role of depression, activity involvement and diagnosis regarding life satisfaction in this sample.

Method

Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U tests and t‐tests were applied to compare those satisfied and those dissatisfied with life regarding ability to use everyday technology and number of relevant everyday technologies used.

Findings

The number of relevant community‐based everyday technologies currently not used was significantly associated with being dissatisfied with life (p < 0.05). Further, depression and withdrawal from activities and interests significantly differed across life satisfaction groups, while no group differences were found regarding overall number of everyday technologies in use and ability to use everyday technology.

Conclusion

Attention from healthcare professionals and researchers to early withdrawal from activities that rely on community‐based everyday technologies is called for, especially in older adults with depression. Preventing everyday technology‐related barriers in community life may increase life satisfaction.
Translation, adaptation and psychometric properties of the Icelandic stroke and aphasia quality of life scale‐39g
Authors: Kristinsson Sigfus , Halldorsdottir Thorunn H.
Published: March 2020

Background

The overarching aim of aphasia rehabilitation is to improve people’s quality of life. The most commonly used quality of life measure developed for use with individuals with aphasia is the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale‐39 (SAQOL‐39g).

Aims

We aimed to translate and adapt the SAQOL‐39g into Icelandic, and examine its psychometric properties. Furthermore, this study aimed to gather preliminary information on the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of stroke patients in Iceland.

Method

A traditional back‐translation approach was applied to translate the SAQOL‐39g into Icelandic. We recruited 20 poststroke patients, thereof ten with aphasia, for evaluation of the psychometric properties of the translated instrument. Acceptability was based on missing data, and floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency was measured by Cronbach’s α and correlation between test items and overall score, and test–retest reliability was measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for overall and domain scores.

Results

The back‐translation led to reviewing of eight test items for the final translation. No test items required cultural adaptation. The acceptability of the translation met criteria for both proportion of missing data (0%) and floor and ceiling effects for test items and domains (<80%). Internal consistency also met criteria, both for overall score (α = 0.94) and domains: physical domain (α = 0.93), psychosocial domain (α = 0.93) and communication domain (α = 0.89). Correlation between test items and overall score ranged from 0.30 to 0.82. Test–retest reliability met criteria both for overall score (0.95) and domains: physical domain (0.94), psychosocial domain (0.95), and communication domain (0.95). The mean total score was significantly lower for participants with aphasia compared to participants without aphasia (3.73 vs. 4.20; p < 05).

Conclusions

The Icelandic SAQOL‐39g demonstrated good psychometric properties. Preliminary evidence suggests that the HRQOL of people with aphasia is significantly worse than of people without aphasia after stroke.
Droughts in the desert: Medieval Warm Period associated with coarse sediment layers in the Gulf of Aqaba‐Eilat, Red Sea
Authors: Kalman Akos , Katz Timor , Hill Paul , Goodman‐Tchernov Beverly
Published: March 2020

Prolonged droughts can cause environmental stress, even in ecosystems that are already adapted to dry conditions. In these areas life greatly depends on rare, sporadic rainfall events that can produce flash floods. Today, urban expansion, population growth and development are occurring worldwide, including along hyperarid coastlines, an ecological zone on the extreme of habitability. In such places, the absence of the already limited precipitation can lead to long‐lasting damage, and recognizing drought conditions in the past is useful for planning. Recognizing droughts, however, is challenging because they are not known as depositional events, and therefore may be under‐recognized in the sedimentological record. Floods in these hyperarid deserts carry eroded sediments and deposit them in either terrestrial or marine terminal basins. In the hyperarid (ca 30 mm rain per year) desert surrounding the northern Gulf of Aqaba‐Eilat some flash floods reach the sea and deposit alluvial sediments (mostly silt and clay) on the shelf. Following a recent 17 year drought period (1995 to 2012) a coarser surface layer was recognized offshore the outlet of an ephemeral river, despite the lack of incoming flood material. This coarsened layer resulted from a prolonged period wherein mixing and winnowing of fine particles at the surface was not interrupted by recurrent flash floods. In the bottom of two sediment cores collected from the same shelf, a similarly coarsened layer was observed. The terminal level of this deep coarse layer was dated to ca 660 yr bp, corresponding with the end of the Medieval Warm Period (ca 1350 ad). These findings suggest that the medieval anomaly resulted in a prolonged drought period in this already arid region. These results present a new interpretation of grain‐size distribution records that provides a means to reconstruct drought histories in hyperarid regions globally.
Dating of young (<1 Ma) tephras: Using U‐Pb (zircon) and (U‐Th[‐Sm])/He (zircon, apatite, magnetite) chronometers to unravel the eruption age of a tephra in the Woodlark Rift of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Österle Jürgen E. , Stockli Daniel F. , Seward Diane , Little Timothy A.
Published: March 2020

The dating of volcanic tephras forms a critical cornerstone of chronostratigraphy and is paramount for the resolution of the geological timescale. (U‐Th[‐Sm])/He dating is an emerging tool in Quaternary tephrochronology and ideally suited to date tephras <1 Ma. We present zircon, magnetite and apatite (U‐Th[‐Sm])/He combined with zircon U‐Pb data for a Pleistocene tephra in syn‐rift strata of the Woodlark Rift in Papua New Guinea. The results reveal a young He age mode (~0.5 to 0.8 Ma), consistent with an autocrystic zircon U‐Pb crystallisation age of 0.8 ± 0.1 Ma, as well as a broad range of older (U‐Th[‐Sm])/He (~1.6 to 10.2 Ma) and U‐Pb (~4.4 to 107 Ma) ages. These data demonstrate the potential of integrated U‐Pb and (U‐Th[‐Sm])/He multi‐method chronometry for dating the youngest coherent age mode, detecting contaminant grains and evaluating the isotopic systematics of these techniques.
Environmental characterization of microhabitats used by amphibians in the Tensift region of Morocco: An explanatory assessment using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Ait El Cadi Radouane , Slimani Tahar , Aitbabram Mohamed , El Mouden El Hassan
Published: March 2020

An adequate understanding of the relationship between amphibians and their habitat has been among the main challenges in herpetology in recent decades, particularly given the role of global change in the rapid declines of this group worldwide. Using the Artificial Neural Networks approach (ANN), we examined the environmental factors determining the occurrence of amphibians in the aquatic ecosystems in Tensift region of Morocco. We applied this modeling technique to 14 environmental factors and the presence of amphibian species collected from 40 sites. The results showed that the ANN is a useful approach to evaluate the effects of habitat factors on species occurrence. The model correctly classified all species with high performance. The best result was obtained for Bufo spinosus data, with a recognition percentage of 93.6% and a prediction performance of 99.4%. Of all factors studied, altitude was key in explaining the species distribution and richness, followed by hydroperiod and conductivity, for almost all species. The importance of other factors varied according to species. Principal Component Analysis differentiated a community composed by three species of Bufonidae (Bufotes boulengeri, Sclerophrys mauritanica and Barbarophryne brongersmai) that are close to Hyla meridionalis, while Bufo spinosus, Discoglossus scovazzi and Pelophylax saharicus were influenced by other environmental factors. The results provide important new information that will support conservation decision making for the protection of amphibian populations and their habitats in the studied region
Four-year outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) to correct high myopic astigmatism
Authors: Zhong Yuanyuan , Li Meng , Han Tian , Fu Dan , Zhou Xingtao
Published: March 2020

Aims

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in subjects with myopic astigmatism of ≥2.00 dioptres (D).

Methods

Patients who underwent SMILE 4 years prior with astigmatism ≥2.00 D and ≤1.00 D were assigned to the high astigmatic group (HA group) or the low astigmatic group (LA group), respectively. The visual and refractive results as well as corneal wavefront aberrations were measured.

Results

The preoperative cylinder was −2.47±0.54 D in 43 eyes in the HA group and −0.55±0.28 D in 31 eyes in the LA group. At 4 years, the residual cylinder was −0.31±0.29 D in the HA group and −0.20±0.28 D in the LA group (p=0.088). An uncorrected
distance visual acuity of 20/20 was achieved in 88.4% of eyes in the HA group and 93.5% of eyes in the LA group. The efficacy index was 0.99±0.14 and 1.10±0.21 (p=0.025), and the safety index was 1.11±0.20 and 1.22±0.21 in the HA and LA groups, respectively (p=0.012). Eighty-six per cent and 90.3% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of the attempted cylindrical correction in the HA and LA groups, respectively. Vector analysis showed that the magnitude of error was −0.14±0.28 D and −0.05±0.16 D (p=0.085), the angle of error was −0.13±4.48 degrees and −2.57±29.42 degrees (p=0.592), the correction index was 0.94±0.13 and 0.94±0.35 (p=0.959), the index of success was 0.15±0.14 and 0.46±0.62 (p=0.517), and the flattening index was 0.93±0.13 and 0.71±0.59 (p=0.450) in the HA and LA groups, respectively.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that SMILE is effective and safe for correcting high astigmatism. Vector analysis shows a tendency for the undercorrection of astigmatism in subjects with high astigmatism.
Big data registries in spine surgery research: the lurking dangers
Authors: Claus Chad F , Lytle Evan , Carr Daniel A , Tong Doris
Published: March 2020

Spine surgery research has improved considerably over the last few decades. Its’ most recent growth is in large part due to the mounting increase in studies conducted using national databases and registries. With easy access to a large number of patients, the benefit of these registries has become evident. However, as with any research, this type of data must be used responsibly with the appropriate strengths and limitations kept in mind. Inappropriate use of these registries continues to be a growing concern as potentially false or inaccurate conclusions can adversely impact clinical practice. It is, therefore, the author and the readers’ responsibility to acknowledge and understand the limitations of this type of data. Knowledge of methodological requirements in the use and analyses of registry data is essential to ensuring quality evidence with proper interpretation.
Assessing the quality of CPR performed by a single lifeguard, two lifeguards and a lifeguard with a bystander after water rescue: a quasi-experimental trial
Authors: Li Shuang , Kan Ting , Guo Zijian , Chen Chulin , Gui Li
Published: March 2020

Background

High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could improve survival of drowning victims. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of fatigue caused by water rescue on subsequent CPR quality and the influence of a bystander’s participation on CPR quality in a lifeguard rescue.

Methods

This was a simulated quasi-experimental study with a sample of 14 lifeguards and 13 laypersons. Each lifeguard performed 2 min single-rescuer CPR as baseline measurement. In three separate trials, a single lifeguard swam 50 m to perform a water rescue in a pool and returned with the manikin another 50 m. After each rescue, 10 min of CPR was performed by a single lifeguard, two lifeguards or a lifeguard with a layperson with no CPR training. Paired t-test and repeated analysis of variance were used to analyse CPR quality variables.

Results

Baseline CPR quality was adequate for most measures except compression depth and re-expansion. After water rescue, the single lifeguard trial showed no significant differences compared with baseline. CPR score and ventilation score of the single-lifeguard trial was higher than that of the lifeguard-bystander trial (p=0.027, p<0.001). Both the two-lifeguard trial (p=0.025), and lifeguard-bystander trial (p=0.010) had a lower percentage of breaths with correct ventilation volume and higher percentage of breaths with excessive ventilation volume (p=0.007, p=0.011, respectively) than the single-lifeguard trial. No-flow time of the lifeguard-bystander trial was longer than other trials (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Although CPR given by the lifeguard was not optimal, fatigue generated by a water rescue has no impact on the quality of subsequent CPR performed by a trained lifeguard for 10 min. Untrained bystanders assisting in CPR in a drowning event is unlikely to be helpful.
Aortic stenosis in women
Authors: Shan Ying , Pellikka Patricia A
Published: March 2020

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common valve disorder in an ageing population in western countries, and women, with longer life expectancy, comprise a substantial percentage of elderly patients with AS. Compared with men, women exhibit distinctive characteristics at the level of stenotic valve leaflets and subsequent compensatory responses of the left ventricle to chronic pressure overload, and in clinical presentation, consequences and response to intervention. Randomised controlled trials of transcatheter aortic valve implantation have yielded new evidence of sex differences in both short-term and long-term outcomes after intervention. A comprehensive knowledge of the existing evidence may inform our understanding of gender differences during assessment and treatment of patients with AS. In this paper, we review the available evidence regarding sex differences in AS in terms of symptoms, clinical presentation, anatomical differences and pathophysiological progression, management and outcomes after aortic valve replacement. Implications for further research are suggested.
Average pixel intensity method for prediction of outcome in secondary mitral regurgitation
Authors: Kamoen Victor , De Buyzere Marc , El Haddad Milad , de Backer Tine L M , Timmermans Frank
Published: March 2020

Background

Echocardiographic grading of secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) severity is challenging and involves multiple guideline-recommended parameters. We previously introduced the average pixel intensity (API) method for grading SMR. In this study, the clinical outcome in SMR based on the API method for grading MR was compared with conventional grading methods.

Methods

231 patients with systolic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (ischaemic/non-ischaemic) and SMR were prospectively enrolled. MR was graded using all guideline-recommended parameters and the API method, which is based on the pixel intensity of the continuous wave Doppler signal. The primary outcome was MACE (major adverse cardiac event).

Results

The API method was applicable in 98% of patients with SMR (n=227). During a median follow-up of 24 months, 98 patients (43%) had a MACE (cardiovascular mortality (n=50, 22%), heart failure hospitalisation (n=44, 19%), mitral valve surgery (n=11, 5%), percutaneous mitral intervention (n=12, 5%), heart transplantation (n=5, 2%)). On log-rank test, the API method was highly significant in predicting clinical outcome. On multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, SMR grading with the API method was an independent predictor of clinical outcome (along with NYHA class and right ventricular systolic pressure; p<0.001), increasing the event risk by 9% per 10 au API rise (p=0.001). In the same multivariable analysis, proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA)-effective regurgitant orifice area or PISA-regurgitant volume were not independent predictors of events (p=0.18 and 0.26, respectively).

Conclusion

SMR grading with the API method is an independent predictor of clinical outcome and provides prognostic information in addition to clinical and other echocardiographic variables.
Chronic renal disease among lead-exposed workers
Authors: Steenland Kyle , Barry Vaughn
Published: March 2020

Background

Very high exposure to inorganic lead causes serious kidney damage. We have studied workers with occupational exposure and data on blood lead.

Methods

We extended follow-up for 7 more years, for a previously studied cohort of 58 307 male workers who were part of a surveillance programme in 11 different states. Mortality was assessed using the National Death Index, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) incidence was assessed using the US Renal Data System. We conducted internal analyses via Cox regression adjusting for age, calendar time and race.

Results

The cohort was followed for a median of 18 years and had 524 cases of ESRD and 6527 deaths. Average maximum blood lead was 26 µg/dL; the mean year of first blood lead test was 1997. No trends by lead level were seen overall or when restricting to those with 15+ years follow-up. Among non-Caucasians with >15 years of follow-up, there was a positive but inconsistent trend (Rate ratios (RRs) 1.00, 2.10, 1.33, 2.20 and 2.76 for maximum blood lead categories of <20 µg/dL, 20–29 µg/dL, 30 to <40 µg/dL, 40 to ≤50 µg/dL and >50 µg/dL, respectively (p for linear trend 0.26). Those with >15 years of follow-up and birth year <1941 showed a positive trend with increased blood lead (RRs 1.00, 1.14, 1.18, 1.46, 1.66, p trend=0.26).

Conclusions

We found no association between higher lead exposure and ESRD. There were positive but not statistically significant trends of increased risk for non-Caucasians with >15 years of follow-up and for older men with >15 years of follow-up.
Identification of eight-protein biosignature for diagnosis of tuberculosis
Authors: Yang Qianting , Chen Qi , Zhang Mingxia , Cai Yi , Yang Fan , Zhang Jieyun , Deng Guofang , Ye Taosheng , Deng Qunyi , Li Guobao , Zhang Huihua , Yi Yuhua , Huang Ruo-Pan , Chen Xinchun
Published: March 2020

Background

Biomarker-based tests for diagnosing TB currently rely on detectingMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) antigen-specific cellular responses. While this approach can detect Mtb infection, it is not efficient in diagnosing TB, especially for patients who lack aetiological evidence of the disease.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled three cohorts for our study for a total of 630 subjects, including 160 individuals to screen protein biomarkers of TB, 368 individuals to establish and test the predictive model and 102 individuals for biomarker validation. Whole blood cultures were stimulated with pooled Mtb-peptides or mitogen, and 640 proteins within the culture supernatant were analysed simultaneously using an antibody-based array. Sixteen candidate biomarkers of TB identified during screening were then developed into a custom multiplexed antibody array for biomarker validation.

Results

A two-round screening strategy identified eight-protein biomarkers of TB: I-TAC, I-309, MIG, Granulysin, FAP, MEP1B, Furin and LYVE-1. The sensitivity and specificity of the eight-protein biosignature in diagnosing TB were determined for the training (n=276), test (n=92) and prediction (n=102) cohorts. The training cohort had a 100% specificity (95% CI 98% to 100%) and 100% sensitivity (95% CI 96% to 100%) using a random forest algorithm approach by cross-validation. In the test cohort, the specificity and sensitivity were 83% (95% CI 71% to 91%) and 76% (95% CI 56% to 90%), respectively. In the prediction cohort, the specificity was 84% (95% CI 74% to 92%) and the sensitivity was 75% (95% CI 57% to 89%).

Conclusions

An eight-protein biosignature to diagnose TB in a high-burden TB clinical setting was identified.
Do state regulations on e-cigarettes have impacts on the e-cigarette prevalence?
Authors: Jun Jungmi , Kim Joon Kyoung
Published: March 2020

Background

We examine the association among five types of state regulations on electronic cigarettes (defining e-cigarettes, special tax, packaging, youth access and licensure) and initiation and current usage of e-cigarettes in 50 US states and the District of Columbia.

Methods

Data came from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the US e-cigarette regulations—50 state review by the Public Health Law Center. Logistic regressions were used to determine the odds of initiation and current use of e-cigarettes among individuals aged 18–24, 25–34 and the whole sample, adjusting for socio-demographic covariates.

Results

Despite the short history of state laws on e-cigarettes, each of the five state laws was associated with lower odds of initiation and use of e-cigarettes in the whole sample. In the 18–24 age group, only the licensure was associated with lower initiation. In the 25–34 age group, the licensure and taxation were related to lower initiation and current usage. There were significant differences of e-cigarette initiation and usage based on the number of state laws regulating e-cigarettes.

Conclusions

Our analysis indicates the potential of states’ policy efforts to regulate e-cigarettes comprehensively in leading significant changes to e-cigarette prevalence in their populations.
Mortality, clinical findings, predisposing factors and treatment ofClostridioides difficilecolitis in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses
Authors: Nomura Motoi , Kuroda Taisuke , Tamura Norihisa , Muranaka Masanori , Niwa Hidekazu
Published: March 2020

Background

AlthoughClostridioides difficile‐associated diseases (CDAD) is considered to be associated with colitis in horses, few studies have been performed with a focus on the characteristics of CDAD in thoroughbred racehorses.

Methods

Between 2010 and 2018, a test forC. difficilewas performed using faecal samples from 137 thoroughbred racehorses with colitis presenting with diarrhoea and fever. The mortality rate, clinical findings, predisposing factors and the selected treatments were investigated in a retrospective manner.

Results

Twenty‐four cases were diagnosed as CDAD and 113 as non‐CDAD. The mortality rate was significantly higher in the CDAD group (83 per cent) than that in the non‐CDAD group (34 per cent). The levels of serum amyloid A, blood urea nitrogen and packed cell volume at initial presentation were also significantly higher, and those of total protein and albumin were significantly lower in the CDAD group. The development of CDAD was associated with the administration of antimicrobials, surgery and hospitalisation. No significant improvement in mortality was observed for any of the selected treatment in both groups.

Conclusion

CDAD in thoroughbred racehorses was identified as a high mortality disease with rapid progression of systemic inflammation and deterioration of the circulatory state. Further investigation is required to improve the treatment.
Standardisation of electrocardiographic examination in corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus)
Authors: Lewis Martyn , Bouvard Jonathan , Eatwell Kevin , Culshaw Geoff
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Corn snakes are a very common pet reptile species, yet there is an absence of evidence‐based literature standardising collection of ECG or detailing ECG deflection morphology in the normal animal. The authors describe a well‐tolerated, reproducible technique and detail the cardiac cycle in terms of lead 2 equivalent waveforms and intervals.

Animals

29 adult corn snakes.

Materials and methods

This prospective study evaluated, under species‐appropriate, standardised conditions, a technique for producing standard six‐lead ECG tracings. Lead 2 equivalent cardiac cycles were described in detail and statistically analysed for sex, weight, length, heart rate and mean electrical axis.

Results

High‐quality tracings demonstrated common ECG characteristics for this species, including no Q, S or SV waves, prolonged PR and RT intervals, rhythmic oscillation of the baseline, short TP segments, and a right displaced mean electrical axis. An influence of sex, weight or length on heart rate and mean electrical axis was not identified.

Conclusions

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to describe a standardised technique for recording ECG in significant numbers of normal corn snakes. Ranges have been provided that may be of diagnostic value or form the basis for future development of reference intervals for this species.
Neutrino elastic scattering on polarized electrons as a tool for probing the neutrino nature
Authors: Błaut A. , Sobków W.
Published: March 2020

Possibility of using the polarized electron target (PET) for testing the neutrino nature is considered. It is assumed that the incoming $$\nu _e$$νe beam is the superposition of left chiral (LC) states with right chiral (RC) ones. Consequently the non-vanishing transversal components of $$\nu _e$$νe spin polarization may appear, both T-even and T-odd. $$\nu _e$$νes are produced by the low energy monochromatic (un)polarized emitter located at a near distance from the hypothetical detector which is able to measure both the azimuthal angle and the polar angle of the recoil electrons, and/or also the energy of the outgoing electrons with a high resolution. A detection process is the elastic scattering of $$\nu _e$$νes (Dirac or Majorana) on the polarized electrons. LC $$\nu _e$$νes interact mainly by the standard $$V - A$$V-A interaction, while RC ones participate only in the non-standard $$V + A$$V+A, scalar $$S_R$$SR, pseudoscalar $$P_R$$PR and tensor $$T_R$$TR interactions. All the interactions are of flavour-conserving type (FC). We show that a distinction between the Dirac and the Majorana $$\nu _e$$νes is possible both for the longitudinal and the transversal $$\nu _e$$νe polarizations. In the first case a departure from the standard prediction of the azimuthal asymmetry of recoil electrons is caused by the interferences between the non-standard complex S and T couplings, proportional to the angular correlations (T-even and T-odd) among the polarization of the electron target, the incoming neutrino momentum and the outgoing electron momentum. It is shown that such a deviation would indicate the Dirac $$\nu _e$$νe nature and the presence of time reversal symmetry violation interactions. It is remarkable that the result is conclusive for all Majorana non-standard couplings. In the second case the azimuthal asymmetries, polar distribution and energy spectrum of scattered electrons are sensitive to the interference terms between the standard and exotic interactions, proportional to the various angular correlations among the transversal $$\nu _e$$νe spin polarization, the electron target polarization, the incoming $$\nu _e$$νe momentum and the outgoing electron momentum. In the particular case of the V–A and S couplings the precise measurement of some observables, e.g. the spectrum, can distinguish between the Dirac and the Majorana $$\nu _e$$νes as long as the incoming $$\nu _e$$νe beam has non-vanishing transversal polarization. Our model-independent study is carried out for the flavour $$\nu _e$$νe eigenstates in the relativistic $$\nu _e$$νe limit.
The Square Root Rule for Adaptive Importance Sampling
Authors: Owen Art B. , Zhou Yi
Published: March 2020

In adaptive importance sampling and other contexts, we haveK> 1 unbiased and uncorrelated estimates μ^kof a common quantity μ. The optimal unbiased linear combination weights them inversely to their variances, but those weights are unknown and hard to estimate. A simple deterministic square root rule based on a working model that Var(μ^k) ∝k−1/2gives an unbiased estimate of μ that is nearly optimal under a wide range of alternative variance patterns. We show that if Var(μ^k)∝k−yfor an unknown rate parametery∈[0,1], then the square root rule yields the optimal variance rate with a constant that is too large by at most 9/8 for any 0 ⩽y⩽ 1 and any numberKof estimates. Numerical work shows that rule is similarly robust to some other patterns with mildly decreasing variance askincreases.
Simulation Study to Identify the Characteristics of Markov Chain Properties
Authors: Rahman Atiqur , Kemper Peter
Published: March 2020

Markov models have a long tradition in modeling and simulation of dynamic systems. In this article, we look at certain properties of a discrete-time Markov chain, including entropy, trace, and second-largest eigenvalue to better understand their role for time-series analysis. We simulate a number of possible input signals, fit a discrete-time Markov chain, and explore properties with the help of Sobol indices, partial correlation coefficients, and the Morris elementary effect screening method. Our analysis suggests that the presence of a trend, periodicity, and autocorrelation impact entropy, trace, and second-largest eigenvalue to varying degrees but not independently of each other and with Markov chain parameter settings as other influencing factors. The properties of interest are promising to distinguish time-series data, as evidenced for the entropy measure by recent results in the analysis of cell development for
Xenopus laevis
in cell biology.
An Adaptive Persistence and Work-stealing Combined Algorithm for Load Balancing on Parallel Discrete Event Simulation
Authors: Wenjie Tang , Yiping Yao , Tianlin Li , Xiao Song , Feng Zhu
Published: March 2020

Load imbalance has always been a crucial challenge in Parallel Discrete Event Simulation (PDES). In the past few years, we have witnessed an increased interest in using multithreading PDES on multi/many-core platforms. In multithreading PDES, migrating logical processes and coordinating threads are more convenient and cause lower overhead, which provides a better circumstance for load balancing. However, current algorithms, including the persistence-based scheme and work-stealing-based scheme, have their drawbacks. On one hand, persistence-based load balancers, which use the historical data to predict the future, will inevitably make some error. On the other hand, the work-stealing scheme ignores the application-related characteristic, which may limit the potential performance improvement. In this article, we propose an adaptive persistence and work-stealing combined dynamic load balancing algorithm (APWS). The algorithm detects load imbalance, adaptively rebalances the distribution of logical processes, and uses a greedy lock-free work-stealing scheme to eliminate bias at runtime. We assess the performance of the APWS algorithm by a series of experiments. Results demonstrate that our APWS algorithm achieves better performance in different scenarios.
Burnout among Healthcare Professionals in Ghana: A Critical Assessment
Authors: Odonkor Stephen T. , Frimpong Kwasi
Published: March 2020

Health workers are prone to burnout, which can have an adverse effect on their person and the patients to whom care is offered. The goal of this paper was to assess the levels of burnout experienced by healthcare workers in Accra, Ghana. The study was conducted using the cross‐sectional study design. Questionnaires were used to obtain data from 365 respondents who worked in 12 major healthcare facilities. Data obtained were analyzed with SPSS version 23. Majority of the respondents were females (56.7%) as against males (43.3%). The total score for all burnout variables among health worker groups ranged from good (71.50%), alarming (12.60%), acute crisis (6.02%), and burnout (9.90%). Among the health worker groups, nurses had the highest percentage score values for all burnout variables. There was an association between burnout and these sociodemographic characteristics: age (p < 0.001), gender (p = 0.003), educational qualification (p < 0.001), occupation (p < 0.001), years of work experience (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), and parenthood (having children) (p < 0.001). It is recommended that measures should be put in place in Ghanaian hospitals to assess stress and burnout levels to ensure people who are going through such situations are properly cared and supported.
Application of the Cobas 4800 System for the Detection of High‐Risk Human Papillomavirus in 5650 Asymptomatic Women
Authors: Wang Shanyun , He Xijun , Meng Fansu , Pan Qianyi , Zhang Lin , Zeng Jianfeng
Published: March 2020

High‐risk papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) testing combined with cytology improves the detection of cervical lesions and increases length of screening intervals. For a population‐based HR‐HPV survey, testing automation is in great need. The Cobas 4800 HPV Test System is a fully automated assay that can simultaneously detect HPV16, HPV18, and other 12 pooled HR‐HPV genotypes. This system has been employed for HR‐HPV screening in a number of countries; however, such application in a large population in China has not been documented. In this study, we employed the Cobas 4800 HPV Test System to detect HR‐HPV in cervical cytology specimens collected from a total of 5650 asymptomatic women from a region of South China. We reported the following: (1) the prevalence of the 14 genotypes of HR‐HPV was 12.96%; (2) for those with HR‐HPV infection, 2.25% were positive for HPV16, 0.50% for HPV18, 9.15% for pooled 12 HPV types, and 1.06% for multiple HPV infection; and (3) there was no significant difference in the HR‐HPV prevalence among different age groups. HPV16 and HPV18 have been shown to be the predominant HPV types found in cervical cancer patients in some regions in China, indicating that a fully automated assay like the Cobas 4800 HPV Test System is especially valuable for population‐based HR‐HPV screening in these regions as this assay can concurrently detect HPV16 and HPV18.
Relationship between the AB0 Blood System and Proximal Femoral Fracture Patterns in the Turkish Population
Authors: Kuru Tolgahan , Olcar Haci Ali
Published: March 2020

Objective. AB0 blood groups have shown to be associated with increased risk of several orthopedic disorders such as Achilles tendon rupture and hip osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to investigate relationships between the AB0 blood system and hip fracture patterns, duration of hospitalization, and amount of blood transfusion. Methods. Data of 308 patients treated due to hip fractures in our hospital between 2017 and 2019 were evaluated. Epicrisis reports and X‐rays of the patients included in this study were retrospectively screened, and hip fractures were classified as intracapsular and extracapsular fractures. Patients were divided into A, B, 0, and AB groups according to blood groups. Results. The mean age of the patients was 75.54 ± 13.5 years. Of all patients, 103 had an intracapsular fracture and 205 had an extracapsular fracture. No statistically significant correlation was found between blood groups and fracture patterns. No statistically significant difference was found between the amounts of transfusion according to the blood groups, and no significant difference between the durations of hospitalizations according to the blood groups. Conclusion. In our study population, we could not find a significant relationship between the AB0 blood system and fracture patterns. We think that these potential relationships could be explained with further comprehensive studies with larger populations.
Distribution Network Reconfiguration for Power Loss Reduction and Voltage Profile Improvement Using Chaotic Stochastic Fractal Search Algorithm
Authors: Tran The Tung , Vo Ngoc Dieu , Tran Anh Nguyen
Published: March 2020

This paper proposes a chaotic stochastic fractal search algorithm (CSFSA) method to solve the reconfiguration problem for minimizing the power loss and improving the voltage profile in distribution systems. The proposed method is a metaheuristic method developed for overcoming the weaknesses of the conventional SFSA with two processes of diffuse and update. In the first process, new points will be created from the initial points by the Gaussian walk. For the second one, SFSA will update better positions for the particles obtained in the diffusion process. In addition, this study has also integrated the chaos theory to improve the SFSA diffusion process as well as increase the rate of convergence and the ability to find the optimal solution. The effectiveness of the proposed CSFSA has been verified on the 33-bus, 84-bus, 119-bus, and 136-bus distribution systems. The obtained results from the test cases by CSFSA have been verified to those from other natural methods in the literature. The result comparison has indicated that the proposed method is more effective than many other methods for the test systems in terms of power loss reduction and voltage profile improvement. Therefore, the proposed CSFSA can be a very promising potential method for solving the reconfiguration problem in distribution systems.
Physiological Acclimatization of the Liver to 180‐Day Isolation and the Mars Solar Day
Authors: Chen Hailong , Lv Ke , Ji Guohua , Yuan Yanhong , Lu Liang , Liang Fengji , Li Kai , Xu Zi , Xiong Jianghui , Qu Lina , Li Yinghui
Published: March 2020

Physiological changes in humans are evident under environmental conditions similar to those on a Mars mission involving both a space factor (long‐term isolation) and a time factor (the Mars solar day). However, very few studies have investigated the response of the liver to those conditions. Serum protein levels, bilirubin levels, aminotransferase activities, blood alkaline phosphatase, gamma‐glutamyltransferase, lipid levels, and serum cytokines interleukin‐6 and interferon‐γ levels were analyzed 30 days before the mock mission; on days 2, 30, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 150, and 175 of the mission; and 30 days after the mission, in four subjects in 4‐person 180‐day Controlled Ecological Life Support System Experiment. Serum protein levels (total protein and globulin) decreased and bilirubin increased under the isolation environment from day 2 and exhibited chronic acclimatization from days 30 to 175. Effects of the Mars solar day were evident on day 75. Blood lipid levels were somewhat affected. No obvious peak in any enzyme level was detected during the mission. The change tendency of these results indicated that future studies should explore whether protein parameters especially globulin could serve as indicators of immunological function exposure to the stress of a Mars mission.
Canonical Transient Receptor Potential (TRPC) Channels in Nociception and Pathological Pain
Authors: Sun Zhi-Chuan , Ma Sui-Bin , Chu Wen-Guang , Jia Dong , Luo Ceng
Published: March 2020

Chronic pathological pain is one of the most intractable clinical problems faced by clinicians and can be devastating for patients. Despite much progress we have made in understanding chronic pain in the last decades, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. It is assumed that abnormal increase of calcium levels in the cells is a key determinant in the transition from acute to chronic pain. Exploring molecular players mediating Ca2+ entry into cells and molecular mechanisms underlying activity-dependent changes in Ca2+ signaling in the somatosensory pain pathway is therefore helpful towards understanding the development of chronic, pathological pain. Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels form a subfamily of nonselective cation channels, which permit the permeability of Ca2+ and Na+ into the cells. Initiation of Ca2+ entry pathways by these channels triggers the development of many physiological and pathological functions. In this review, we will focus on the functional implication of TRPC channels in nociception with the elucidation of their role in the detection of external stimuli and nociceptive hypersensitivity.
Heat Shock Protein 70 Protects the Heart from Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Inhibition of p38 MAPK Signaling
Authors: Song Nan , Ma Jiao , Meng Xiao-wen , Liu Hong , Wang Hui , Song Shao-yong , Chen Qing-cai , Liu Hua-yue , Zhang Juan , Peng Ke , Ji Fu-hai
Published: March 2020

Background. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) has been shown to exert cardioprotection. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) overload induced by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activation contributes to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, whether Hsp70 interacts with p38 MAPK signaling is unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the regulation of p38 MAPK by Hsp70 in I/R-induced cardiac injury. Methods. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation for 6 h followed by 2 h reoxygenation (OGD/R), and rats underwent left anterior artery ligation for 30 min followed by 30 min of reperfusion. The p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), Hsp70 inhibitor (Quercetin), and Hsp70 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were used prior to OGD/R or I/R. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), [Ca2+]i levels, cell apoptosis, myocardial infarct size, mRNA level of IL-1β and IL-6, and protein expression of Hsp70, phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase2 (SERCA2), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (p-STAT3), and cleaved caspase3 were assessed. Results. Pretreatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580, significantly attenuated OGD/R-induced cell injury or I/R-induced myocardial injury, as evidenced by improved cell viability and lower LDH release, resulted in lower serum cTnI and myocardial infarct size, alleviation of [Ca2+]i overload and cell apoptosis, inhibition of IL-1β and IL-6, and modulation of protein expressions of p-p38 MAPK, SERCA2, p-STAT3, and cleaved-caspase3. Knockdown of Hsp70 by shRNA exacerbated OGD/R-induced cell injury, which was effectively abolished by SB203580. Moreover, inhibition of Hsp70 by quercetin enhanced I/R-induced myocardial injury, while SB203580 pretreatment reversed the harmful effects caused by quercetin. Conclusions. Inhibition of Hsp70 aggravates [Ca2+]i overload, inflammation, and apoptosis through regulating p38 MAPK signaling during cardiac I/R injury, which may help provide novel insight into cardioprotective strategies.
Croton campestris A. St.-Hill Methanolic Fraction in a Chlorpyrifos-Induced Toxicity Model in Drosophila melanogaster: Protective Role of Gallic Acid
Authors: Gomes Karen Kich , Macedo Giulianna Echeverria , Rodrigues Nathane Rosa , Ziech Cynthia Camila , Martins Illana Kemmerich , Rodrigues Jéssica Ferreira , de Brum Vieira Patrícia , Boligon Aline Augusti , de Brito Junior Francisco Elizaudo , de Menezes Irwin R. A. , Franco Jeferson Luis , Posser Thaís
Published: March 2020

Croton campestris A. St-Hill popularly known as “velame do campo” is a native species of the savannah from northeastern Brazil, being used in folk medicine due to its beneficial effects in the treatment of many diseases, inflammation, detoxification, gastritis, and syphilis; however, its potential use as an antidote against organophosphorus compound poisoning has not yet been shown. Here, the protective effect of the methanolic fraction of C. campestris A. St.-Hill (MFCC) in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to chlorpyrifos (CP) was investigated. Flies were exposed to CP and MFCC during 48 h through the diet. Following the treatments, parameters such as mortality, locomotor behavior, and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. Exposure of flies to CP induced significant impairments in survival and locomotor performance. In parallel, increased reactive oxygen species and lipoperoxidation occurred. In addition, the activity of acetylcholinesterase was inhibited by CP, and superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activity was induced. Treatment with MFCC resulted in a blockage of all CP-induced effects, with the exception of glutathione S-transferase. Among the major compounds found in MFCC, only gallic acid (GA) showed a protective role against CP while quercetin and caffeic acid alone were ineffective. When in combination, these compounds avoided the toxicity of CP at the same level as GA. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting the protective effect of MFCC against organophosphate toxicity in vivo and highlights the biotechnological potential of this fraction attributing a major role in mediating the observed effects to GA. Therefore, MFCC may be considered a promising source for the development of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of organophosphate intoxications.
Unicity of Meromorphic Solutions of the Pielou Logistic Equation
Authors: Li Sheng , Chen Baoqin
Published: March 2020

This paper mainly considers the unicity of meromorphic solutions of the Pielou logistic equation yz+1=Rzyz/Qz+Pzyz, where Pz,Qz, and Rz are nonzero polynomials. It shows that the finite order transcendental meromorphic solution of the Pielou logistic equation is mainly determined by its poles and 1-value points. Examples are given for the sharpness of our result.