bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
СТАН КІСТКОВОЇ ТКАНИНИ ТА ВІТАМІН D-СТАТУС У ДІТЕЙ В ПЕРІОД ДРУГОГО РОСТОВОГО СПУРТУ
Authors: Frolova T. V. , Osman N. S. , Stenkova N. F.
Published: November 2020

Мета дослідження – визначення структурно-функціонального стану кісткової тканини та статусу вітаміну D3 у школярів у період другого ростового спурту.

Матеріали та методи. Обстежено 205 умовно здорових дітей віком 9–17 років, які були розподілені на групи залежно від наявності ростового спурту (РС) та його інтенсивності. I група – 50 дітей, які за поточний рік прибавили у рості 8–12 см;  II група – 46 дітей, які за поточний рік прибавили у рості більше 12 см, III група – 109 дітей, які не мали РС. Обстеження включало аналіз даних анамнезу, оцінку рівня фізичного та статевого розвитку, ультразвукову та рентгенівську денситометрію, визначення рівня 25-(ОН)-D3.

Результати дослідження та їх обговорення. При проведенні ультразвукової денситометрії (УД) дітям зниження мінеральної щільності кісткової тканини (МЩКТ) діагностовано: I група – 24 дитини (48,0 %), середній показник Z-score складав 1,8±0,56; II група – 28 дітей (60,87 %), середній показник Z-score – 1,96±0,27; III група – 43 дитини (39,45 %), середній показник Z-score – 1,68±0,72.

За допомогою DXA було обстежено 32 дитини, у яких при проведенні УД виявлено зниження МЩКТ; у 18 з них (56,25 %) було діагностовано зниження МЩКТ. Відсоток дітей зі зниженням МЩКТ у період ростового спурту (І група) та інтенсивного ростового спурту (ІІ група) складав, відповідно, 38,9 та 50,0 %. Середній рівень вітаміну 25-(ОН)-D3 у дітей I групи зі зниженою МЩКТ становив (39,04±11,84) нмоль/л; у дітей із нормальною МЩКТ – (42,43±6,3) нмоль/л; у дітей II групи зі зниженою МЩКТ його середній рівень становив (45,68±5,48) нмоль/л, при нормальній МЩКТ – (45,47±4,69) нмоль/л; у дітей III групи зі зниженою МЩКТ його середній рівень склав (36,73±8,94) нмоль/л, що вірогідно відрізняється від його значень у дітей з нормальною МЩКТ – (42,91±9,1) нмоль/л (р˂0,05).

Висновки. Зниження мінеральної щільності кісткової тканини у дітей шкільного віку в період ростового спурту відбувається на тлі недостатності або дефіциту вітаміну D3, проте найбільш суттєвим чинником зниження МЩКТ є саме відставання процесів накопичення кісткової маси на тлі інтенсивного лінійного росту скелета.
TUBAL FACTOR AS ONE OF THE LEADING FACTORS OF FEMALE INFERTILITY
Authors: Khmil S. V. , Terletska N. Yu.
Published: November 2020

Infertility is one of the most urgent problems of today, as this condition makes it impossible for a mature organism to produce offspring. The issue of restoring and maintaining reproductive health is one of the priority issues of modern gynecology and reproductive medicine. The article adduces the main etiological and pathogenetic links of tubal-peritoneal infertility, as well as briefly presents modern views on the diagnosis and treatment of women in this group.

Conclusion. The analysis of current data on the treatment of tubal obstruction will provide an opportunity to more rationally address the issue of choosing to restore their patency.
Відеоторакоскопія в мініінвазивному хірургічному лікуванні туберкульозної емпієми плеври
Authors: Коshak Yu. F.
Published: November 2020

Мета роботи: підвищити можливості відеоторакоскопічної діагностики у хворих на туберкульозну емпієму плеври: уточнення етіології, локалізації, стадійності, поширення емпієми плеври із ефективним застосуванням мініінвазивного торако-хірургічного (VTS, VATS) лікування.

Матеріали і методи. Проведено ретроспективний аналіз 685 випадків лікування хворих із туберкульозною емпіємою плеври, які проходили за останні 10 років лікування у фтизіохірургічному відділенні обласного протитуберкульозного диспансеру.

Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. Проаналізовано діагностичні можливості відеоторакоскопії у верифікації морфологічної форми туберкульозної емпієми плеври в групах порівняння, які досліджували ретроспективно. Показано провідний вплив туберкульозу на патогенез, клініку, перебіг нагноєння, морфологічні прояви, патогістологічні особливості туберкульозної інфекції в групах порівняння. Встановлено збільшення трирічного виживання на 15,6 % у пацієнтів основної групи, що свідчить на користь активного мініінвазивного торако-хірургічного (VTS, VATS) лікування.
ДОСВІД ПРОВЕДЕННЯ ДИСТАНЦІЙНИХ ОНЛАЙН-СЕМІНАРІВ ПІД ЧАС КАРАНТИНУ НА КАФЕДРІ ХІРУРГІЇ № 1 З УРОЛОГІЄЮ, МАЛОІНВАЗИВНОЮ ХІРУРГІЄЮ ТА НЕЙРОХІРУРГІЄЮ ІМЕНІ Л. Я. КОВАЛЬЧУКА
Authors: Grytsenko S. Y. , Bedeniuk A. D. , Dobrorodniy V. B. , Burak A. Ye.
Published: November 2020

У статті розглянуто первинний досвід проведення дистанційних онлайн-семінарів на кафедрі хірургії № 1 з урологією, малоінвазивною хірургією та нейрохірургією ім. Л. Я. Ковальчука. Аналіз проведеної роботи показав ряд суттєвих переваг та деяких недоліків такої форми навчання. Найбільшою перевагою є можливість персонального мультимедійного доступу до пропонованих матеріалів під час семінарського онлайн-обговорення теми заняття. Використання чату програм дозволяє студентам інтерактивно брати участь у дискусії, ставити питання, а також викладачеві робить можливим надавати доступ до файлів, протоколів лікування та поширювати посилання на інтернет-ресурси, актуальні для заняття. Явним суттєвим недоліком проведення онлайн-семінару залишається відсутність можливості виконувати практичні та комунікативні навички роботи біля ліжка хворого. Проведення дистанційних онлайн-семінарів може бути окремим  пунктом у забезпеченні якості надання освітніх послуг в умовах пандемії для вищих медичних шкіл України.
Status of Nahan’s Partridge Ptilopachus nahani (Dubois, 1905) (Aves: Galliformes: Odontophoridae) in Uganda
Authors: Sande Eric , Akoth Sisiria , Rutazaana Ubaldo , Olupot William
Published: November 2020

We carried out a survey of Nahan’s Partridge Ptilopachus nahani in the Ugandan forests of Mabira, Bugoma, and Budongo from December 2016 to December 2017, using a point count method employing a call playback technique.  The aim was to establish the population status of this globally threatened species, which was last surveyed in 2003.  Separate analyses of the number of groups per point and those involving use of the Distance Program yielded the same density estimates, indicating that either method reliably estimates the density of the species.  The density estimates for the three reserves were 31.6, 25.2, and 13.3 groups per km2 for Bugoma, Budongo, and Mabira forest reserves, respectively.  In the last 14 years, it appears that the density of the species for Uganda has increased from 16.3 to 23.4 groups per km2, which when extrapolated translates to 16,000 and 23,000 groups, respectively.  This represents a 44% increase in density, or a group growth rate of 450 per year.  The lowest density and population increment was registered in Mabira and we attribute this to the apparently high incidence of disturbance and degradation of this forest compared to the other two.  Since Mabira, Bugoma, and Budongo are the only remaining large tropical rainforest reserves in Uganda, strengthening their conservation or upgrading their conservation status to national parks is required to save the species.
Examining Hospital Variation on Multiple Indicators of Stroke Quality of Care
Authors: Austin Peter C. , Fang Jiming , Yu Bing , Kapral Moira K.
Published: November 2020

Background:

Provider profiling involves comparing the performance of hospitals on indicators of quality of care. Typically, provider profiling examines the performance of hospitals on each quality indicator in isolation. Consequently, one cannot formally examine whether hospitals that have poor performance on one indicator also have poor performance on a second indicator.

Methods:

We used Bayesian multivariate response random effects logistic regression model to simultaneously examine variation and covariation in multiple binary indicators across hospitals. We considered 7 binary patient-level indicators of quality of care for patients presenting to hospital with a diagnosis of acute stroke. We examined between-hospital variation in these 7 indicators across 86 hospitals in Ontario, Canada.

Results:

The number of patients eligible for each indicator ranged from 1321 to 14 079. There were 7 pairs of indicators for which there was a strong correlation between a hospital’s performance on each of the 2 indicators. Twenty-nine of the 86 hospitals had a probability higher than 0.90 of having worse performance than average on at least 4 of the 7 indicators. Seven of the 86 of hospitals had a probability higher than 0.90 of having worse performance than average on at least 5 indicators. Fourteen of the 86 of hospitals had a probability higher than 0.50 of having worse performance than average on at least 6 indicators. No hospitals had a probability higher than 0.50 of having worse performance than average on all 7 indicators.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that there are a small number of hospitals that perform poorly on at least half of the quality indicators, and that certain indicators tend to cluster together. The described methods allow for targeting quality improvement initiatives at these hospitals.
Aḥmad Yasavī and the Ismāʿīlīs of Badakhshān: Towards a New Social History of Sufi-Shīʿī Relations in Central Asia
Authors: Beben Daniel
Published: November 2020

This article examines how a text attributed to the renowned Central Asian Sufi figure Aḥmad Yasavī came to be found within a manuscript produced within the Ismāʿīlī Shīʿī community of the Shughnān district of the Badakhshān region of Central Asia. The adoption of this text into an Ismāʿīlī codex suggests an exchange between two disparate Islamic religious traditions in Central Asia between which there has hitherto been little evidence of contact. Previous scholarship on Ismāʿīlī-Sufi relations has focused predominately on the literary and intellectual engagement between these traditions, while the history of persecution experienced by the Ismāʿīlīs at the hands of Sunnī Muslims has largely overshadowed discussions of the social relationship between the Ismāʿīlīs and other Muslim communities in Central Asia. I demonstrate that this textual exchange provides evidence for a previously unstudied social engagement between Ismāʿīlī and Sunnī communities in Central Asia that was facilitated by the rise of the Khanate of Khoqand in the 18th century. The mountainous territory of Shughnān, where the manuscript under consideration originated, has been typically represented in scholarship as isolated prior to the onset of colonial interest in the region in the late 19th century. Building upon recent research on the impact of early modern globalization on Central Asia, I demonstrate that even this remote region was significantly affected by the intensification of globalizing processes in the century preceding the Russian conquest. Accordingly, I take this textual exchange as a starting point for a broader re-evaluation of the Ismāʿīlī-Sufi relationship in Central Asia and of the social ‘connectivity’ of the Ismāʿīlīs and the Badakhshān region within early modern Eurasia.
Challenges of Migrant Entrepreneurship in Selected Regions of Central Europe
Authors: Golob Tea , Kleindienst Petra , Makarovič Matej , Kildi Janja Mikulan
Published: November 2020

This article addresses the migrant entrepreneurship in selected Central European regions by focusing on a general social and legislative framework, as well as migrants’ own perceptions of their challenges, needs, advantages and future prospects. It is based on the combination of secondary data and fieldwork material referring to the interviews and focus groups. The study shows that entrepreneurship is a successful strategy for effective integration into the host society. Migrant entrepreneurs are facing specific challenges in terms of understanding the legislation and the specifics of the local business environment. They often engage in niche services and production. However, they typically see themselves not as migrants but as entrepreneurs and claim to share the needs with entrepreneurs in general.
Study on array antennas combined with nanoparticles for enhanced microwave hyperthermia of breast cancer
Authors: Guo Wenna , Du Yongxing , Wang Yanyang , Qin Ling , Tan Longfei , Zheng Yingjuan , Yang Daoke , Meng Xianwei
Published: November 2020

Tumor hyperthermia is to heat tumor tissue with biological thermal effect that can kill cancer cells when achieved effective treatment temperature. However, the temperature distribution of hyperthermia is uneven and it can not be accurately oriented to the tumor region. In this paper,
an array antenna which can realize large-scale heating was designed for tumor microwave hyperthermia. ZrMOF-Cys nanoparticles (ZMC NPs) were prepared as the sensitizer of microwave hyperthermia. In the experiment of hyperthermia, array antenna and ZMC NPs are combined to achieve the goal of
conformal hyperthermia and enhance the effect of hyperthermia. ZMC NPs have excellent heating effect, biodegradability and low cytotoxicity. ZMC NPs were injected into tumorbearing BALB/c mice by tail vein. Due to enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR), ZMC NPs can enrich tumor sites
to the greatest extent at 6 h. After 6 h of injection, the mice were treated with array antenna. The experimental results indicate that the combination of array antenna and ZMC NPs makes the temperature of tumor site higher than that of surrounding normal tissue, which has an excellent therapeutic
effect, and the tumor inhibition rate reaches 87.52%. Phantom models experiments are also proved that the combination of array antenna and ZMC NPs can achieve the effect of conformal thermotherapy. This work provides a new direction for the development of conformal hyperthermia.
Comparison of two nanocarriers for quercetin in morphology, loading behavior, release kinetics and cell inhibitory activity
Authors: Wang Tao , Wu Caie , Li Tingting , Fan Gongjian , Gong Hao , Liu Peng , Yang Yunxiao , Sun Lingling
Published: November 2020

Recently, nanocarrier loading drugs have caused widespread concern. However, there are few reports about comparison of drug loading behavior of different nanoparticles. In this study, we prepared two nanocarriers (starch nanoparticles and F127 nanoparticles) for oral and intravenous
injections, respectively. We used dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy to study the morphology of the nanocarriers. Moreover, the loading behavior of nanoparticles on quercetin (QC) and the release behavior of nanoparticles at different pH levels were studied. In artificial
gastric (pH 2.0) and intestinal (pH 6.8) juices, QC showed a sustained release in two nanoparticles. Meanwhile starch nanoparticle-QC and F127-QC nanosystems both showed relatively higher inhibitory activities than free QC on five kinds of cells, especially for cell A549, the cell inhibition
ratio achieved to 55.16% and 64.06%, respectively. This study provided a reference for oral and injection of drug-loaded nanoparticles.
Google Trends as a Predictor of Presidential Elections: The United States Versus Canada
Authors: Prado-Román Camilo , Gómez-Martínez Raúl , Orden-Cruz Carmen
Published: November 2020

The media and election campaign managers conduct several polls in the days leading up to the presidential elections. These preelection polls have a different predictive capacity, despite the fact that under a Big Data approach, sources that indicate voting intention can be found. In this article, we propose a free method to anticipate the winner of the presidential election based on this approach. To demonstrate the predictive capacity of this method, we conducted the study for two countries: the United States of America and Canada. To this end, we analysed which candidate had the most Google searches in the months leading up to the polling day. In this article, we have taken into account the past four elections in the United States and the past five in Canada, since Google first published its search statistics in 2004. The results show that this method has predicted the real winner in all the elections held since 2004 and highlights that it is necessary to monitor the next elections for the presidency of the United States in November 2020 and to have more accurate information on the future results.
Are NSAIDs Safe? Assessing the Risk-Benefit Profile of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use in Postoperative Pain Management
Authors: Chang Ray W. , Tompkins Danielle M. , Cohn Stephen M.
Published: November 2020

In this article, we review controversies in assessing the risk of serious adverse effects caused by administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Our focus is upon NSAIDs used in short courses for the management of acute postoperative pain. In our review of the literature, we found that the risks of short-term NSAID use may be overemphasized. Specifically, that the likelihood of renal dysfunction, bleeding, nonunion of bone, gastric complications, and finally, cardiac dysfunction do not appear to be significantly increased when NSAIDs are used appropriately after surgery. The importance of this finding is that in light of the opioid epidemic, it is crucial to be aware of alternative analgesic options that are safe for postoperative pain control.
How Social Ventures Grow: Understanding the Role of Philanthropic Grants in Scaling Social Entrepreneurship
Authors: Lall Saurabh A. , Park Jacob
Published: November 2020

Although early-stage finance is critical to the growth of most ventures, it is even more important for social ventures as they face the challenges of balancing their social and commercial objectives. Drawing on institutional logics and signaling theory, this study uses a panel data set of 3,401 nascent social ventures to investigate the important role philanthropic grant funding plays in the organizational and financial development of social ventures. We find mixed results, with positive effects on employment and subsequent access to debt finance, but no effects on revenues and access to equity. Our findings connect these theories by suggesting philanthropic grants provide social ventures with flexibility to invest in human capital without pushing them to pursue short-term financial objectives, and that receiving a philanthropic grant provides a signal that is interpreted differently by debt and equity financiers. These findings are especially relevant as funders increasingly use grants to support social entrepreneurship.
Investigating information seeking in physical and online environments with escape room and web search
Authors: Choi Dongho , Shah Chirag , Singh Vivek
Published: November 2020

Searching and interacting with information is one of the most fundamental behaviours of human beings – something that takes place in both online and physical environments. Yet, most studies of information interaction have focused on only one of these sides. This work aims to connect them by investigating one’s information interaction behaviours in different physical and online contexts as well as different types of tasks. During Web search (online searching) and Escape Room (physical searching), 31 participants’ behavioural data during web search (online searching) and escape room (physical searching) were collected through eye-tracker, web browser logs, and wearable video recorder. Analysis of the behavioural data suggests that individuals have a preferred search strategy that they adopt across different tasks and environments. The behavioural pattern, however, was found to be affected by the task type (e.g. problem searching vs exploratory search) and the way information is structured within the environments.
Sophia’s choice: Debt, social welfare, and racial finance capitalism
Authors: Torkelson Erin
Published: November 2020

In this article, I examine normative assumptions about cash transfers as public goods and the lived experience of cash transfers as private debts. Policy makers and social scientists often assume cash transfers are apolitical, value-neutral monetary instruments, which improve upon inappropriate, top-down, universalizing development projects. Instead, I show how cash transfers introduce their own universals, by imagining liberal sovereign subjects, who use credit and financial markets to manage their own financial and developmental needs. I argue that this narrative elides the deep historical and geographical production of racial difference through credit and debt in South Africa’s Western Cape farmlands. I call this phenomenon racial finance capitalism. First, I trace how coloured people have been racialized as debtors for the benefit of capital accumulation across generations. Then, I explore how the contemporary spatial and temporal realities of cash transfer distribution continue to racialize grantees as debtors and dispossess them of their social entitlements. Finally, I demonstrate how grantees draw upon transgenerational experiences of debt to challenge the continued social reproduction of themselves as debtors. Some South African social grantees demand recognition that they are, and have been, net creditors to the nation.
Invariance of edit-distance to tempo in rhythm similarity
Authors: Moritz Matthew , Heard Matthew , Kim Hyun-Woong , Lee Yune S
Published: November 2020

Despite the long history of music psychology, rhythm similarity perception remains largely unexplored. Several studies suggest that edit-distance—the minimum number of notational changes required to transform one rhythm into another—predicts similarity judgments. However, the ecological validity of edit-distance remains elusive. We investigated whether the edit-distance model can predict perceptual similarity between rhythms that also differed in a fundamental characteristic of music—tempo. Eighteen participants rated the similarity between a series of rhythms presented in a pairwise fashion. The edit-distance of these rhythms varied from 1 to 4, and tempo was set at either 90 or 150 beats per minute (BPM). A test of congruence among distance matrices (CADM) indicated significant inter-participant reliability of ratings, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) visualized that the ratings were clustered based upon both tempo and whether rhythms shared an identical onset pattern, a novel effect we termed rhythm primacy. Finally, Mantel tests revealed significant correlations of edit-distance with similarity ratings on both within- and between-tempo rhythms. Our findings corroborated that the edit-distance predicts rhythm similarity and demonstrated that the edit-distance accounts for similarity of rhythms that are markedly different in tempo. This suggests that rhythmic gestalt is invariant to differences in tempo.
Numerical analysis of the effect of the mutual interaction between closely separated variable pitch vertical axis wind turbines
Authors: Shaheen Mohammed
Published: November 2020

Recent researches have proven that mutual interaction between vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) results in enhancement in the average power coefficient. Efficient VAWT clusters have been created to provide wind farms having higher power densities compared to conventional horizontal vertical axis wind turbine farms. The created clusters adopted fixed pitch VAWTs in studying the mutual interaction in close vicinity. This paper extends the investigation of the mutual effect between variable pitch VAWTs in closely oriented turbine clusters. A numerical study is performed using commercial Fluent ANSYS code in order to study the effect of gap distances, phase shifts, and oblique angles for co-rotating and counter-rotating arrangements of two variable pitch VAWTs. The results showed improvement in the performance of two turbine clusters up to 26% compared to isolated turbines. Three turbine clusters are also tested numerically based on the results of the two turbine clusters. The created three turbine cluster represents a basic unit to construct a more efficient wind farm. The results of the developed three turbine cluster showed an increase in the average power coefficient by 38% higher than that of isolated turbines.
Anaerobic co-digestion of spent coconut copra with cow urine for enhanced biogas production
Authors: Ndubuisi-Nnaji Uduak U , Ofon Utibe A , Offiong Nnanake-Abasi O
Published: November 2020

Laboratory-scale bioreactors were used to co-digest spent coconut copra (SCC) and cow urine (CU) as a co-substrate (SCC + CU) in a batch mode under thermophilic condition (45 ± 2°C) in order to enhance biogas production. The effect of CU pretreatment on the performance indicators (biogas and biomethane yields, total solids (TS), and volatile solids (VS) reduction, pH and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations) were also examined. This was compared with mono-digestion of SCC. The experiment was performed with different mixing ratios in reactors labelled as follows: A = 75 g SCC + 5 ml CU; B = 70 g SCC + 10 ml CU; C = 65 g SCC + 15 ml CU; and D (control) = 80 g SCC at a hydraulic retention time of 42 days. Co-digestion (SCC + CU) significantly improved anaerobic digestion (AD) performance resulting in a threefold and fivefold increase in biogas and biomethane production, respectively, with concomitant TS (44.9–57.7%) and VS (55.4–60.3%) removal efficiencies. But for mono-digestion (control experiment), all CU treated and co-digestion assays showed pH stability ranging between 6.6 and 7.4 and VFAs’ concentrations ranging from 15–330 mgL-1. By acting as a buffer, CU effectively enhanced the AD performance of SCC as demonstrated in this study.
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link: Weathering resistance of water-based intumescent coatings for steel applications
Authors: Daus Lars-Hendrik , Schartel Bernhard , Wachtendorf Volker , Mangelsdorf Rolf , Korzen Manfred
Published: November 2020

A systematic approach was used to investigate the weathering-induced degradation of a common water–based intumescent coating. In this study, the coatings are intended for humid indoor applications on steel substrates. The coating contains ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, melamine, and polyvinyl acetate. By replacing each ingredient with a less water-soluble substance, the most vulnerable substances, polyvinyl acetate and pentaerythritol, were identified. Furthermore, the weathering resistance of the system was improved by exchanging the ingredients. The coatings were stressed by artificial weathering tests and evaluated by fire tests. Thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to study the thermal decomposition. This study lays the foundation for the development of a new generation of water-based intumescent coatings.
Intelligent machining methods for Ti6Al4V: A review
Authors: Ribeiro-Carvalho Sílvia , Pereira RBD , Horovistiz Ana , Davim J. Paulo
Published: November 2020

Digital manufacturing is a necessity to establishing a roadmap for the future manufacturing systems projected for the fourth industrial revolution. Intelligent features such as behavior prediction, decision-making abilities, and failure detection can be integrated into machining systems with computational methods and intelligent algorithms. This review reports on techniques for Ti6Al4V machining process modeling, among them numerical modeling with finite element method (FEM) and artificial intelligence-based models using artificial neural networks (ANN) and fuzzy logic (FL). These methods are intrinsically intelligent due to their ability to predict machining response variables. In the context of this review, digital image processing (DIP) emerges as a technique to analyze and quantify the machining response (digitization) in the real machining process, often used to validate and (or) introduce data in the modeling techniques enumerated above. The widespread use of these techniques in the future will be crucial for the development of the forthcoming machining systems as they provide data about the machining process, allow its interpretation and quantification in terms of useful information for process modelling and optimization, which will create machining systems less dependent on direct human intervention.
Comparison of Survival Between Autologous and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Jianhong , Duan Xiaohui , Yang Lijie , Liu Xiangxiang , Hao Caixia , Dong Hongjuan , Gu Hongtao , Tang Hailong , Dong Baoxia , Zhang Tao , Gao Guangxun , Liang Rong
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) versus autologous SCT (auto-SCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Medline, CENTRAL, and EMBASE databases through December 31, 2019 were searched. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates. The secondary outcomes include transplant-related mortality (TRM), event-free survival, relapse/or progression, and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). The 18 retrospective studies enrolled 8,058 B-NHL patients (allo-SCT = 1,204; auto-SCT = 6,854). The OS was significantly higher in patients receiving auto-SCT than allo-SCT (pooled odds ratio [OR]: 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29 to 2.22, P < 0.001), but no significant difference was found in PFS (pooled OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.38, P = 0.891). Auto-SCT patients also had lower TRM and NRM (TRM: OR = 0.23, P < 0.001; NRM: OR = 0.16, P < 0.001), but higher relapse or progression rate (OR = 2.37, P < 0.001) than allo-SCT patients. Subgroup analysis performed for different grades and subtypes of B-NHL showed higher OS in auto-SCT patients with high-grade B-NHL and diffused large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). There was, nevertheless, higher PFS in allo-SCT patients with low-grade B-NHL and follicular lymphoma (FL), and lower PFS in allo-SCT patients with DLBCL than their auto-SCT counterparts. In conclusion, the meta-analysis demonstrated that relapsed or refractory B-NHL patients who received auto-SCT have improved OS than those treated with allo-SCT, especially among those with DLBCL, but lower PFS among those with FL. However, the study is limited by a lack of randomized trials, patients’ heterogeneity, and possible selection bias.
Impact of Corporate Governance on Credit Ratings: An Empirical Study in the Indian Context
Authors: Arora Taruntej Singh
Published: November 2020

Credit rating is the judgement of a credit rating firm of the creditworthiness of an entity as well as its ability to repay outstanding debt. Prior literature on credit ratings has majorly identified firm-specific characteristics as well as the characteristics of the debt issued as the primary factors affecting credit ratings. However, effective governance mechanisms can affect the credit ratings of a firm by way of their influence on a firm’s default risk. The present article is an attempt to discern the relationship between corporate governance and credit ratings by studying the Bombay Stock Exchange listed Indian firms that received a credit rating from CRISIL for their long-term debt during any of the 5 years from 2013–2014 to 2017–2018. It would add to the existing literature by assessing the association between corporate governance mechanisms and credit ratings in the Indian context since all other studies relate majorly to the Western parts of the world.
Institutional Ownership and Corporate Social Performance in Emerging Economies Multinationals: Evidence from India
Authors: Yadav Sandeep
Published: November 2020

This study fills the gap in the literature by considering the heterogeneous impact of institutional ownership on various dimensions of corporate social performance (CSP). Using the behavioural risk agency perspective, we argue that the risk behaviour of various institutional owners is not the same towards the CSP. We have taken a balanced panel sample of 61 Indian multinational firms for the span of 2013–2018 to test the proposed hypotheses. Results show a negative association of pressure-sensitive institutional investors’ ownership with social and governance dimensions of CSP. Mutual funds ownership is positively associated with the social and governance dimensions of CSP. Foreign institutional investors ownership has no significant impact on CSP. We found that the environmental dimension of CSP is ignored by institutional owners. The moderating effect of firm internationalisation on the relationship between institutional ownership and CSP is also examined.
Cures with B-Raf inhibitors as single agents in metastatic B-Raf mutated melanoma: Curb your enthusiasm?
Authors: Dasanu Constantin A
Published: November 2020

Development of brain metastases during treatment with B-raf/MEK inhibitors for malignant melanoma tends to be more frequent than during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Long-term responders to B-Raf inhibitors with or without MEK inhibition should be monitored very closely clinico-radiologically for a potential relapse. In addition to surgery and/or radiation therapy, single or dual immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy should be started without delay in this setting to ensure a favorable clinical outcome.
Delayed presentation of doxorubicin extravasation into pleural space: Case report and review of literature
Authors: Kazakova Vera , Vanegas Yenny A Moreno , Torres Tyion A , Kozyreva Olga
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Intrathoracic extravasation of anthracyclines is a dangerous and very rare complication of chemotherapy administration. While management of extravasation into soft tissues has been established, the data on treatment of mediastinal and intrapleural anthracycline extravasation is limited.

Case Report

We present a case of a 52-year-old woman with intrapleural doxorubicin extravasation who presented to the hospital 24-hrs after chemotherapy infusion with chest pain and shortness of breath.

Management & Outcome

The patient underwent urgent surgical intervention and received IV dexrazoxane 36-hrs after the event. Her pain improved, but she continued to have chest soreness and pleural effusion at the site of extravasation even 3 months later.

Discussion

We conducted review of literature using Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar databases and identified 7 cases of intrapleural and mediastinal anthracycline extravasation. No data is currently available regarding the outcome of delayed management of intrapleural anthracycline extravasation with dexrazoxane. Prevention and confirmation of adequate port catheter placement is the most important step to avoid such cases. Catheter misplacement should be suspected in any patient presenting with post procedural chest pain and should trigger a thorough evaluation prior to any chemotherapy administration.
Impact of the Menu Labeling Act Upon the Market Value of Foodservice Firms
Authors: Kim Eojina , Nicolau Juan Luis
Published: November 2020

The Menu Labeling Act (MLA), which requires restaurants to provide customers with nutritional information, has encountered implementation difficulties for more than 8 years, owing to the imposition of administrative costs on restaurant firms. By investigating the market value of 46 restaurant firms that publicly trade in the United States, this research analyzes the impact of MLA-related announcements on the market value of foodservice firms. Announcements associated with restrictions tend to reduce restaurant market value by 0.29% per day (market value is defined as the number of shares times the share price), whereas announcements related to flexibility increase such market value by 0.80%. The final guideline and compliance date announced by the Food and Drug Administration has provoked significant negative effects on restaurant market value. Meanwhile, the congress’ proposed opposition act has elicited great positive effects. This study provides important implications for policy makers and practitioners in the food service industry.
Systemic evaluation of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy: A case-control study
Authors: Kumawat Devesh , Ravi Alok Kumar , Sahay Pranita , Alam Tanveer , Desai Arjun , Kumar Atul
Published: November 2020

Objective:

To investigate the systemic associations of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) with help of clinical and biochemical investigations.

Design:

Case-control study.

Participants:

Eighty seven CSCR patients (case) and 82 Asian-Indian patients with primary non-traumatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (control) were recruited between July 2017 and December 2018 at a tertiary eye-care center in North India.

Methods:

The patients underwent ophthalmological examination and systemic evaluation based on history and biochemical investigations. Logistic regression was performed to identify the associations of CSCR.

Results:

The age was similar between cases and controls (36.9 ± 7.8 years vs 35.7 ± 10.8 years, p = 0.38). On univariate analysis, the significant factors with higher odds of CSCR were alcohol use (odds ratio, OR: 3.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.36–8.53), sleep disturbance (OR: 5.44; 1.76–16.8), gastroesophageal reflux (OR: 9.34; 1.15–75.50), psychological disorder (OR: 5.78; 1.24–26.97), tuberculosis history (OR: 8.2; 1.0–67.10), serum albumin: globulin ratio (AGR) > 2 (OR: 10.43; 2.33–46.57), and serum hemoglobin (per unit increase; OR: 1.35; 1.14–1.61). Although the mean blood pressure was significantly higher in cases, the distribution among various hypertension categories was not significantly different. Exogenous steroid use and morning 8 am serum cortisol levels were not significantly different between the groups. On multivariable analysis, alcohol use (OR: 4.72; 1.33–16.76), sleep disturbances (OR: 5.04; 1.36–18.70), dysthyroid state (OR: 3.02; 1.04–8.74), serum AGR > 2 (OR: 14.28; 2.33–87.28), and serum hemoglobin (per unit increase; OR: 1.43; 1.13–1.81) were significant independent associations.

Conclusion:

Other than the previously described associations of CSCR like alcohol use and sleep disturbances, this study reports possible association with deranged serum protein and thyroid hormone profile. Further large-scale prospective studies need to validate these results.
Combination of Mustardè cheek advancement flap and paramedian forehead flap as a reconstructive option in orbital exenteration
Authors: Battista Rosa Alessia , Giordano Leone , Giordano Resti Antonio , Bordato Alessandro , Trimarchi Matteo , Familiari Marco , Ferraro Milena , Bandello Francesco Maria , Bussi Mario
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To describe a combinatory technique made of Mustardè cheek advancement flap and paramedian forehead flap as a reconstructive option after orbital exenteration.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent orbital exenteration and subsequent reconstruction with this technique at our Head and Neck Department, Divisions of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, at San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

Results:

Three patients were treated with the aforementioned technique, following orbital exenteration due to malignancies. All of them were affected by recurrent diseases arising from the ocular components or periorbital structures: one basal cell carcinoma and two squamous cell carcinomas. Excellent result was achieved considering skin texture and colour match, aesthetic results and intra and post-operative complications (only minor, surgically controlled haemorrhage and minimal dehiscence subsequent to defective healing occurred).

Conclusion:

The proposed technique can be considered by the head and neck reconstructive surgeon as a good option in extended orbital exenteration.
Journalism Education in India: The Widening Gap Between Research and Practice
Authors: Sinha Aditya , Basu Debabrata
Published: November 2020

This article is based on reviews of studies in the field of journalism education in India after the proliferation of the Internet, particularly after the year 2010. The journalism practices have undergone a significant change in the past two decades, with the enabling of new information technologies, resulting in increased feedback from the audiences as well as globalized education opportunities for the content creators. The article is based on the content analysis, using grounded theory as the qualitative research method, to identify various themes in journalism researches, from Indian universities during the same period. The implications of the results suggest that there is a wide gap between the research conducted in the educational institutions and the prevailing pattern in the journalism industry in the country.
The posthumous privacy paradox: Privacy preferences and behavior regarding digital remains
Authors: Morse Tal , Birnhack Michael
Published: November 2020

Scholars have observed a gap between users’ stated preferences to protect their privacy and their actual behavior. This is the privacy paradox. This article queries the persistence of the privacy paradox after death. A survey of a representative sample of Israeli Internet users inquired of perceptions, preferences, and actions taken by users regarding their digital remains. The analysis yielded three distinct groups: (1) users interested in preserving privacy posthumously but do not act accordingly; for these users, the privacy paradox persists posthumously; (2) users who match their behavior to their preferences; for these users, the privacy paradox is resolved; and (3) users interested in sharing their personal data posthumously but do not make the appropriate provisions. This scenario is the inverted privacy paradox. This new category has yet to be addressed in the literature. We present some explanations for the persistence of the posthumous privacy paradox and for the inverted privacy paradox.
The concept of futility in health: A scoping review
Authors: da Silva Vieira João Vítor , Deodato Sérgio , Mendes Felismina
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Due to the constant scientific and technological development, health professionals are regularly confronted with situations in which there are always therapeutic options, regardless of the severity of the patient’s condition. However, regarding these therapeutic options as feasible in all situations can be harmful, since it is universally accepted that, despite all advances in health, there are inevitable limits and the promotion of some interventions may be useless or futile.

Objective

To characterize the use of the concept of futility in the health literature.

Method

Review of the literature following the Scoping Review protocol of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The research was performed in CINAHL, Cochrane, Pubmed, Scopus e Web of Science to identify studies published prior to 2020. Nineteen studies were selected.

Results

There is no universally accepted definition for the concept of futility. In the literature there are different conceptions for the concept of futility that point to qualitative and quantitative roots and that are associated with ethical dilemmas that make it difficult to conceptualize this concept and make it operational in clinical practice.

Conclusion

The central elements of the concept of futility include: the diagnosis of futility is closely related to clinical judgment; futility has both quantitative and qualitative roots; futility is always appreciated posteriori; futility is related to the lack of benefit. It is essential to promote a discussion that enables the definition of the concept and that makes it possible to promote ethical principles in care, especially when the inevitable limits of treatments are reached.
Smart polyester fabric with comfort regulation by temperature and moisture responsive shape memory nanocomposite treatment
Authors: Korkmaz Memiş Nazife , Kaplan Sibel
Published: November 2020

Recently, clothing comfort and ease of use have become an indispensable expectation especially in sports and functional clothing which have led researchers to focus on development of smart textiles including new functionalities such as active thermoregulation. Therefore, a novel nanocomposite finishing treatment consisting of temperature responsive shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) and cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) was developed and applied to polyester fabric to produce smart fabric having dual responsive performance to moisture besides temperature. Water vapour, air permeability and sweat absorption properties were investigated under different temperature and relative humidity conditions to test thermoregulation performance of the treated fabrics. Physical, mechanical properties (weight, thickness and bursting strength) and durability of treated fabrics were also tested. Morphology, chemical compositions and thermal characterization of treated fabrics were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Thermogravimetric (TG) analyses, respectively. It was found out that polyester fabric exhibited dynamic breathability and sweat absorption with temperature and relative humidity of body or environmental conditions thanks to the obtained dual responsive shape memory function. Also, mechanical and end use performances such as bursting strength and washing fastness of polyester were enhanced with this treatment. Summing up, SMPU-CNW nanocomposite treatment can be a good alternative for smart sports clothing having thermoregulation function for enhanced comfort besides desired mechanical and end use performances.
Inhibition to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastatic Potential In Colorectal Cancer Cell By Combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulation Jiedu Sangen Decoction and PD-L1 Inhibitor
Authors: Shan Feiyu , Sun Leitao , Zhang Leyin , Guo Kaibo , Yan Qingying , Feng Guan , Zhu Ying , Shen Minhe , Ruan Shanming
Published: November 2020

Background:

Jiedu Sangen Decoction (JSD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been widely applied in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, especially in colorectal cancer. Our study mainly aimed to assess the combined efficacy of Jiedu Sangen aqueous extract (JSAE) and a PD-L1 inhibitor (PI) in colon cancer cells migration and invasion, along with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and then provide deep insights into the potential mechanism.

Methods:

We explored the inhibitory effects on invasion and metastasis and the reverse effect on EMT process in CT-26 colon cancer cell via Transwell migration assay, Matrigel invasion assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, regulation in expression of EMT-related proteins and molecular biomarkers and underlying signal pathway proteins were detected through Western blotting and IHC.

Results:

The combination of JSD and PD-L1 inhibitor could inhibit migration, invasive ability and EMT of CT-26 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, JSD combined with PD-L1 inhibitor could also remarkably reverse EMT and metastasis in vivo. In addition, the protein expression of N-cadherin, Slug, Snail, Vimentin was down-regulated along with E-cadherin s up-regulation with the combination of JSD and PD-L1 inhibitor, while that of PI3K/AKT was notably down-regulated.

Conclusions:

These findings indicated that JSAE and a PD-L1 inhibitor could drastically inhibit the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer by reversing EMT through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.