bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcatheter radiofrequency pulmonary valve perforation in newborns with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum: Echocardiographic predictors of biventricular circulation
Authors: Yoldaş Tamer , Örün Utku Arman , Doğan Vehbi , Özgür Senem , Kutsal Ali , Tak Sercan , Dilli Dilek
Published: August 2020

Objective

We report a single‐institute experience of neonatal transvenous radiofrequency pulmonary valve perforation for pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum, with echocardiographic predictors of biventricular circulation.

Methods

Data were reviewed retrospectively for all neonates who underwent primary transvenous pulmonary valve perforation for pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum between January 2008 and November 2018 at our institution. We compared patients who need systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt or ductal stenting with patients who did not need.

Results

During the study period, 31 patients with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum underwent successful radiofrequency pulmonary valve perforation and balloon dilation of the pulmonary valve. There was no procedure‐related mortality. Sixteen patients (52%) needed systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt or ductal stenting after initial procedure. Among the survivors (follow‐up time of 1 to 11.5 years), 15 patients had a biventricular circulation and 6 patients had 1 and 1⁄2 ventricular circulation. Two patients are awaiting for Fontan operation. Both the TV/MV annulus ratio (>0.85) and tricuspid valve z‐score (>−1) were found to be a good predictor of a biventricular outcome in our cohort.

Conclusions

Percutaneous radiofrequency pulmonary valve perforation and balloon valvotomy is an effective and safe primary treatment strategy for neonates with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum. Ductal stenting or systemic‐to‐pulmonary shunt may be required in the majority of patients who had smaller right heart components. Preselection of patients according to tricuspid valve z‐score and TV/MV annulus ratio allows predicting biventricular circulation.
Perceptions of behavioural guidance techniques for paediatric patients amongst students in a Malaysian dental school
Authors: Ali Nurhanna Mohd , Husin Intan Nadia , Ahmad Mas Suryalis , Hamzah Siti Hajar
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Behavioural guidance (BG) training is an important component of preparing future dentists to manage paediatric patients, who often exhibit cooperation issues during treatment. This study investigated the acceptance of various BG techniques amongst dental students in a Malaysian institution.

Methodology

A paper‐based survey was conducted, classroom‐style, on all dental students (Year 1 to Year 5, n = 336, response rate = 84.5%) using a validated questionnaire, developed from previous literature. For each BG technique, students used a visual analogue scale to mark their acceptability score; this figure was later categorised into different acceptance levels. Students’ mean acceptability scores and acceptance of each BG technique were consecutively analysed via independent t test and chi‐square test (significance level, P < 0.01) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software.

Results

Across the academic year, most students cited acceptance of reinforcement techniques (eg positive reinforcement, encouraging child “not to be a coward”, promising a toy) and desensitisation methods (eg tell‐show‐do, music/video distraction, stimulating the child's imagination, using euphemism), but not for aversive interventions (eg hand over mouth, using Papoose Board, active immobilisation) and showing needles (P > 0.01). Percentages of those who accepted communicative techniques involving parents demonstrated significant differences across subjects of different academic years, between pre‐clinical and clinical groups of respondents and amongst clinical students. Other techniques with such significant differences, along with low acceptance, included modelling, voice control and disallowing the child to speak.

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide useful information for curricular enhancement aimed at equipping dental students with the ability to apply appropriate and effective BG techniques during patient care.
Clinical magnetic resonance image quality of the equine foot is significantly influenced by acquisition system
Authors: Byrne Christian A. , Marshall John F. , Voute Lance C.
Published: August 2020

Background

Investigation of image quality in clinical equine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may optimise diagnostic value.

Objectives

To assess the influence of field strength and anaesthesia on image quality in MR imaging of the equine foot in a clinical context.

Study design

Analytical clinical study.

Methods

Fifteen equine foot studies (five studies per system) were randomly selected from the clinical databases of three MR imaging systems: low‐field standing (LF St), low‐field anaesthetised (LF GA) and high‐field anaesthetised (HF GA). Ten experienced observers graded image quality for entire studies and seven clinically important anatomical structures within the foot (briefly, grade 1: textbook quality, grade 2: high diagnostic quality, grade 3: satisfactory diagnostic quality, grade 4: non‐diagnostic). Statistical analysis assessed the effect of anaesthesia and field strength using a combination of the Pearson chi‐square test or Fisher’s exact test and Mann‐Whitney test.

Results

There was no difference in the proportion of entire studies of diagnostic quality between LF St (90%, 95% CI 78%‐97%) and LF GA (88%, 76‐95%, P = .7). No differences were evident in the proportion of diagnostic studies or median image quality gradings between LF St and LF GA when assessing individual anatomical structures (both groups all median grades = 3). There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of entire studies of diagnostic quality between LF GA and HF GA (100%, 95% CI lower bound 94%, P = .03). There were statistically significant differences in median image quality gradings between LF GA (all median grades = 3) and HF GA (median grades = 1 (5/7 structures) or 2 (2/7 structures) for all individual anatomical structures (all P < .001). The reasons reported for reduced image quality differed between systems.

Main limitations

Randomised selection of cases from clinical databases. Individual observer preferences may influence image quality assessment.

Conclusions

Field strength is a more important influencer of image quality than anaesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging of the equine foot in clinical patients.
A dog food recommendation system based on nutrient suitability
Authors: Song Hee Seok , Kim Young Ae
Published: August 2020

The demand for a food recommendation service for dogs has rapidly increased with the increasing number of pet owners, because it is generally difficult for dog owners to find food that is perfectly suitable for their dogs' health condition. The purpose of this study is to develop an algorithm for recommending dog food that contains appropriate nutrients based on the physical and health conditions of the dogs. This study proposes a nutrient profiling‐based recommendation algorithm (NRA) for dog food. The proposed algorithm tries to recommend appropriate or inappropriate dog food by using collective intelligence based on user experience and the prior knowledge of experts. Based on the physical and health status of dogs, this study extracts which nutrients are necessary for the dogs and recommends the most suitable dog food containing these nutrients. A performance evaluation was implemented in terms of recall, precision, F1 and AUC. As a result of the performance evaluation, the AUC performance of this NRA is 20% higher than k‐NN and 9.7% higher than the SVD model. In addition, the NRA proved to be an evolving system in which the performance of recommendations improves as users' feedback accumulates.
Climatic oscillations effect on the yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) Spanish captures in the Indian Ocean
Authors: Báez José Carlos , Czerwinski Ivone A. , Ramos María Lourdes
Published: August 2020

The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) (YFT) is among the eight marine species with the highest catches globally. The Spanish purse seine freezer fleet operating in the Indian Ocean is one of the most important YFT fishing fleets in the world. The South Oscillation Index (SOI), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are interrelated, and have combined effects in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) is the dominant component of intraseasonal variability in the tropical Indian and Pacific oceans where the sea surface is warm. The main aim of present study is to understand the effect of these four climatic oscillations on Spanish purse seine YFT catches in the Indian Ocean. The ultimate goal is to estimate the specific time lag of the effect of each climatic oscillation on the YFT catches for management purposes. To estimate this, we adjusted different General Additive Models between the response variable (corrected YFT catches per unit of effort per year), compared to a combination of SOI, PDO, IOD, and MJO lagged up to 8 years. Our results suggest that there is a lagged effect modulated mainly by PDO‐SOI, which could be related to a good recruitment, larval survival, or improved spawning. Thus, negative PDO phase (or positive SOI phase) lagged between 3 and 6 years could favor future stock abundance, while positive PDO phase (or negative SOI phase) lagged 3 or 6 years could negatively affect future stock abundance.
Effects of whole‐tree harvesting at thinning and subsequent compensatory nutrient additions on carbon sequestration and soil acidification in a boreal forest
Authors: Lim Hyungwoo , Olsson Bengt A. , Lundmark Tomas , Dahl Jenny , Nordin Annika
Published: August 2020

Residues from forest harvesting operations may be utilized as a renewable energy source. However, the sustainability of this practice has been questioned due to the losses of nutrients and exchangeable base cations, which may impair the forest's carbon sequestration capacity and lead to soil acidification. We report the 18 year response of biomass growth, soil carbon stock and soil chemistry to whole‐tree harvest at thinning and associated compensatory measures in a Pinus sylvestris forest in northern Sweden. The whole‐tree harvest at thinning was combined with nutrient additions to compensate for the nutrient loss caused by extracting the residues. Four main treatments, stem‐only thinning, whole‐tree thinning, whole‐tree thinning with one‐time nitrogen fertilization and whole‐tree thinning with repeated nitrogen fertilization every third year were applied, with plots split for wood‐ash treatment. Eighteen years after the treatments, whole‐tree thinning that had removed 3.0 ± 0.2 Mg C/ha in residues had no effect on forest growth, soil carbon and nitrogen stocks or soil chemistry. Both nitrogen fertilization regimes increased biomass growth, but neither one resulted in a significant increase in soil carbon stock. Wood‐ash addition increased soil pH and exchangeable base cations, but did not affect carbon stock in biomass or soil. Our long‐term data suggest that utilizing harvesting residues for biofuel feedstocks is appropriate in this type of forest. Hence, any nitrogen and wood‐ash additions appear unnecessary as compensatory measures for the removal of harvesting residues, but nitrogen can be applied to increase forest growth following thinning.
Corruption fights back: Localizing transparency and EITI in the Nigerian “penkelemes”
Authors: Ejiogu Amanze , Ejiogu Chibuzo , Ambituuni Ambisisi
Published: August 2020

This study explores how the global transparency norm is localized in the Nigerian extractive industry. Transparency is theorized as a process which can be analyzed in terms of rules, interactions, power games, and context. Nigeria is conceptualized as a “penkelemes”—a concept which denotes how traditions, norms, and practices are intertwined with a system of corruption, kinship, and patronage networks. Three main insights emerge. First, the complex motives and ability of local actors to balance demands for transparency from the international community with participation in the corrupt local political system determines which international norms they adopt. Second, the struggle for power over the transparency process determines the local understanding of transparency. Third, the link between transparency and corruption is paradoxical. Corruption conditions the enactment of transparency but even this corrupted transparency is useful in fighting corruption. Thus, transparency becomes part of the problem as well as part of the solution.
Manipulating interfacial behaviour and emulsifying properties of myofibrillar proteins by L‐Arginine at low and high salt concentration
Authors: Guo Xiuyun , Zhang Yawei , Jamali Muneer Ahmed , Peng Zengqi
Published: August 2020

The present work examined the impact of L‐Arginine (Arg) on the emulsifying properties, interfacial behaviour and conformational characteristics of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) at high (0.6 m) and low (0.15 m) salt concentration to maintain good emulsifying properties of MPs at low salt concentration. The data indicated that Arg increased the emulsifying activity index/emulsion stability index (EAI/ESI) and decreased the CI and droplet size of emulsions regardless of salt concentration. Raman spectra revealed that the α‐helix content decreased from 60.30% to 51.26% at high salt concentration, and from 60.20% to 54.82% at low salt concentration in the presence of Arg. In addition, MPs treated with Arg exhibited a higher interfacial pressure and more rapidly diffusion to the oil surface. Meanwhile, Arg increased the interfacial protein loading. The results demonstrated that Arg caused the unfolding of MPs, promoting the adsorption of proteins and decreasing the interfacial tension, ultimately improving the stability of emulsions at low salt concentration.
Association of killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor genes with acute myelogenous leukaemia
Authors: Alavianmehr Ali , Mansouri Marzieh , Ramzi Mani , Faghih Masoumeh , Monabati Ahmad , Arandi Nargess , Faghih Zahra , Farjadian Shirin
Published: August 2020

Killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) are important because of their key roles in NK cell development and function. Some KIR genes have been associated with the incidence of haematological malignancies. This study was designed to determine whether the inheritance of specific KIR genes is associated with susceptibility to acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) in Persians living in south‐western Iran. KIR genes and KIR2DS4 variants were typed by polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific primer (PCR‐SSP) in 167 patients with AML and 169 healthy controls. Our results showed 10% of patients—mostly females—were classified as M3. Flt3 mutations were detected in 26% of patients, most of whom had internal tandem duplication (ITD). The frequency of activating KIRs (aKIRs)—mainly KIR3DS1—was higher in patients, whereas inhibitory KIRs (iKIRs)—particularly KIR3DL1 and KIR2DL1—were more common among controls. The incidence of the KIR2DS4fl allele was higher among patients with non‐M3 AML than controls. We also found a higher frequency of 4 or more iKIR genes in the controls and a higher frequency of 4 or more aKIR genes in the patients. Individuals with more iKIR than aKIR belonged predominantly to the control group. Individuals with the telomeric AA genotype who had inherited the KIR2DS4fl allele were more frequent in the patient group. According to our results, increased frequency of aKIRs in patients with AML may lead to the hyperactivation of NK cells against malignant cells with reduced or lack of HLA class I molecules followed by NK cell exhaustion which allow malignant cells to progress.
COVID‐19 in the pre‐pandemic period: a survey of the time commitment and perceptions of infectious diseases physicians in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Foley David A. , Chew Rusheng , Raby Edward , Tong Steven Y. C. , Davis Joshua S. ,   Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network
Published: August 2020

Background

Infectious diseases (ID) physicians perform a pivotal role in directing the response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2).

Aim

To assess the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 on workload and the perceptions of ID physicians regarding the national response in Australia and New Zealand in the pre‐pandemic.

Methods

A survey of ID physicians in Australia and New Zealand was undertaken from 3 to 10 March 2020. Respondents were asked to estimate time spent on SARS‐CoV‐2‐related activities in February and report their agreement with statements on a 5‐point Likert scale ranging from ‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’. We also asked about the intended use of investigational agents.

Results

There were 214 respondents (36% of 600 eligible participants). The median workload due to SARS‐CoV‐2‐related activities was 34% of one full‐time equivalent (interquartile range 18–68%). Less than a quarter (50, 23%) of respondents had experience managing cases, while 33% (70) had experience preparing during similar pandemics. Nevertheless, 88% (188/213) believed they were well informed when giving testing and management advice, and 45% (95/212) believed their national response was well coordinated. Additionally, 41% (88/214) were worried about becoming infected through occupational exposure. Over half (116, 54%) the respondents intended to use lopinavir/ritonavir in confirmed cases of COVID‐19 with severe disease.

Conclusions

ID physicians spent a large proportion of time on SARS‐CoV‐2‐related activities. Increased staffing is required to avoid burnout. Importantly, ID physicians feel well informed when giving advice. A national body should be established to co‐ordinate response. Treatment efficacy trials are needed to clarify the utility of unproven treatments.
A meta‐analysis of support variables and well‐being in ethnic minority populations
Authors: Vera Elizabeth , Yoon Eunju , Chander Natasha , Kim Daewon , Liu Huabing , Kolas Deanna , Norgord Rebecca , Gomez Maribeth , Daniels Rebeca , Matthews Katherine , Ahmad Mustaffa Ezza
Published: August 2020

Aims: The importance of social support as a predictor of well‐being has been documented in the literature for decades. The extent to which social support may be uniquely relevant to the well‐being of ethnic minority populations has not yet been empirically supported with meta‐analytic techniques. The current meta‐analytic study attempted to clarify the nuances of the relationship between support and well‐being in ethnic minority populations and to identify what moderators may be relevant to understanding such relationships. Method: Data from 111 articles were included in the analyses that examined both the main effects and moderators of the relationship between social support and well‐being. Results: Overall findings revealed a greater effect size (ES) between support and positive well‐being (r = .38) than between support and negative well‐being (r = −.27). Significant moderators included the proportion of females in the sample, age of the participants, and nature of support. Several ES differences were found in support type and ethnic group interactions as well. Conclusions: Implications of these data include the importance of social support enhancement in efforts to increase the positive well‐being and attending to gender and other cultural modifiers in future studies of social support with racial and ethnic minorities.
Disclosure tone management and labor unions
Authors: Arslan‐Ayaydin Özgür , Thewissen James , Torsin Wouter
Published: August 2020

By analyzing the influence of labor unions on the narrative content of corporate disclosures, we provide empirical evidence that managers deflate the tone of earnings press releases in order to convey to unions a less optimistic image of firm financial performance. We find that the tone of the qualitative information in earnings press releases is significantly less optimistic as the degree of unionization increases, and particularly when financial performance is strong. The results of quasi‐natural experiments suggest that labor unions causally affect the use of tone deflation, and the deflation is stronger during labor negotiations. Our findings also indicate that labor unions lead to a significant weakening of the signaling value of the tone of earnings press releases in predicting future performance.
Relationship between dietary sodium and sugar intake: A cross‐sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001‐2016
Authors: Gress Todd W. , Mansoor Kanaan , Rayyan Yaser M. , Khthir Rodhan A. , Tayyem Reema F. , Tzamaloukas Antonios H. , Abraham Nader G. , Shapiro Joseph I. , Khitan Zeid J.
Published: August 2020

Dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular outcomes have a reported J‐shaped curve relationship. This study analyzes the relationship between dietary sodium and sugar intake as a potential mechanism to explain this association. The authors examined cross‐sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001‐2016 where dietary sodium, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol, and sugar intakes were assessed by 24‐hour dietary recall and were standardized to a total daily intake of 2000 calories. Sodium intake was categorized into sodium quintiles (SQ) as follows: SQ1(0.06‐2.6 g/d); SQ2(2.6‐3.0 g/d); SQ3(3.0‐3.4 g/d); SQ4(3.4‐4.0 g/d); and SQ5(4.0‐29.3 g/d). Simple and multivariate linear regression using SQ3 as reference were used to assess associations between daily sodium intake and the other nutrients. Our results showed that among 38 722 participants that met our study criteria, the mean age was 43.6 years (SD 16.8 years) and sex was equally distributed (48.8% male vs 51.2% female). Sugar intake went down across increasing SQs and was significantly higher in SQ1 (141.2 g/d) and SQ2 (118.6 g/d) and significantly lower in SQ4 (97.9 g/d) and SQ5 (85.6 g/d) compared to SQ3 (108.6 g/d; all P < .01). These same trends remained unchanged and significant in the fully adjusted multivariate model. In conclusion, NHANES study participants reporting low sodium intake on 24‐hour dietary recall have a higher consumption of sugar. The negative impact of low sodium diet on cardiovascular health may be explained at least partially by the associated high sugar intake.
SLC6 transporter oligomerization
Authors: Jayaraman Kumaresan , Das Anand K. , Luethi Dino , Szöllősi Dániel , Schütz Gerhard J. , Reith Maarten E. A. , Sitte Harald H. , Stockner Thomas
Published: August 2020

Transporters of the solute carrier 6 (SLC6) family mediate the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA, and glycine. SLC6 family members are 12 transmembrane helix‐spanning proteins that operate using the transmembrane sodium gradient for transport. These transporters assume various quaternary arrangements ranging from monomers to complex stoichiometries with multiple subunits. Dopamine and serotonin transporter oligomerization has been implicated in trafficking of newly formed proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane with a pre‐fixed assembly. Once at the plasma membrane, oligomers are kept fixed in their quaternary assembly by interaction with phosphoinositides. While it remains unclear how oligomer formation precisely affects physiological transporter function, it has been shown that oligomerization supports the activity of release‐type psychostimulants. Most recently, single molecule microscopy experiments unveiled that the stoichiometry differs between individual members of the SLC6 family. The present overview summarizes our understanding of the influence of plasma membrane constituents on transporter oligomerization, describes the known interfaces between protomers and discusses open questions.

image
“Good Mothers Work”: How Maternal Employment Shapes Women's Expectation of Work and Family in Contemporary Urban China
Authors: Zhou Yun
Published: August 2020

Drawing on 70 in‐depth interviews, I investigated how maternal employment shapes urban young Chinese women's work–family expectation in a context of rapid social change. These interviews indicated that respondents attached strong moral meaning to mothers’ wage work, regarding it as integral to a “good” mother and an “ideal” woman. This moralization of maternal employment, in turn, led contemporary young Chinese women to view wage work as a taken‐for‐granted choice. Yet different from their own mothers, these young women were confronted with profound transformation across various domains of the postreform Chinese society. The normative expectation of women's wage work, coupled with slow‐to‐change expectations about women's roles at home and in a changing labor market, intensified young women's burden of “doing it all.” This research highlights the importance of bringing the macro‐level context back into the mother–daughter dyad to understand the intergenerational transmission of gender beliefs and behavior.
Bacterial composition in brassica‐cultivated soils with low and high severity of clubroot
Authors: Saraiva Ana Luiza da R. F. , Bhering Aline da S. , do Carmo Margarida G. F. , Andreote Fernando D. , Dias Armando C.F. , Coelho Irene da S.
Published: August 2020

The natural bacterial communities of the soil–plant system are relevant in the process of suppressing diseases caused by soilborne plant pathogens. However, little is known regarding the structure of these communities in soils cultivated with brassica vegetables and their relationship with clubroot severity, a disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae. In the present study, the composition of bacterial communities in soils cultivated with cauliflower with distinct levels of disease severity was compared. The bacterial composition in soils with lower and higher clubroot severity differs in phylum and genera levels. Soils associated with plants with lower disease severity showed predominance of Kaistobacter, Flavisolibacter, Sphingobacterium, Koribacter, Nitrospira, Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus. Our study reinforces the importance of management strategies that promote improving the physical–chemical characteristics of soil, which are essential to modulate bacterial populations correlated with plant disease suppression.
Health Care Quality Improvement and the Ambiguous Commodity of Care
Authors: Manelin Ethan Balgley
Published: August 2020

Quality of care has become a major concern of the U.S.’s health care system in recent decades thanks to an energetic social movement and, more recently, interest from health insurers. Ethnographic research at a primary care clinic engaged in an array of quality improvement efforts revealed that physicians navigate two incommensurable views of quality: one aligned with the metric‐oriented quality movement, and the other based on a humanistic vision of their professional role. Against the backdrop of a financialized health care system, these two views represent “differentiated ties” with respect to health care as a commodity. Furthermore, they are used to justify a broad division of labor where support staff and clinic leaders relieve physicians of responsibility for managing, implementing, and reporting quality efforts. These differentiated ties reveal the fundamental ambiguity of health care as a commodity, the resolution of which is a central—albeit implicit—motive of the quality movement.
Outcome of improved care bundle in acute respiratory failure patients
Authors: Chen Chin‐Ming , Cheng Ai‐Chin , Chou Willy , Selvam Padhmavathi , Cheng Chih Mei
Published: August 2020

Background

Prolonged physical immobilization has negative effects on patients on mechanical ventilation (MV).

Aims

To introduce a quality improvement programme with early mobilization on the outcomes of patients on MV in the intensive care unit (ICU). We particularly studied the impact of the ABCDE (daily Awakening, Breathing trial, drug Co‐ordination, Delirium survey and treatment, and Early mobilization) bundle on the outcome of MV patients with acute respiratory failure in the ICU.

Design

This is a retrospective, observational, before‐and‐after outcome study.

Method

Adult patients on MV (N = 173) admitted to a medical centre ICU with 19 beds in southern Taiwan were enrolled. A multidisciplinary team (critical care nurse, nursing assistant, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, patient's family) performed ABCDE with early mobilization within 72 hours of MV when patients became haemodynamically stable (twice daily [30 minutes each time], 5 days/week during family visits and in co‐operation with family members).

Main outcome measures

The main outcome measures were differences of MV duration, ICU and hospital length of stay, medical costs, and intra‐hospital mortality before (phase 1) and after (phase 2) bundle care.

Results

Phases 1 and 2 revealed several differences, including Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. The patients in phase 2 had a significantly lower mean ICU length of stay (8.0 vs 12.0 days) but a similar MV duration (170.2 vs 188.1 hours), hospital stays (21.1 vs 23.3 days) with reduced costs (22.1 vs 31.7 × 104 NT$), and intra‐hospital mortality (8.3 vs. 36.6%).

Conclusions

The ABCDE care bundle improved the outcome of acute renal failure patients with MV, especially shortening ICU stays and lowering medical costs and hospital mortality.

Relevance to clinical practice

An ABCDE care bundle with an inter‐professional, evidence‐based, multicomponent ICU early mobilization management strategy can reduce ICU stays, hospital expenditure, and mortality among acute respiratory failure patients with MV.
Increasing rates of long‐term nitrogen deposition consistently increased litter decomposition in a semi‐arid grassland
Authors: Hou Shuang‐Li , Hättenschwiler Stephan , Yang Jun‐Jie , Sistla Seeta , Wei Hai‐Wei , Zhang Zhi‐Wei , Hu Yan‐Yu , Wang Ru‐Zhen , Cui Shu‐Yan , Lü Xiao‐Tao , Han Xing‐Guo
Published: August 2020

The continuing nitrogen (N) deposition observed worldwide alters ecosystem nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning. Litter decomposition is a key process contributing to these changes, but the numerous mechanisms for altered decomposition remain poorly identified.

We assessed these different mechanisms with a decomposition experiment using litter from four abundant species (Achnatherum sibiricum,Agropyron cristatum,Leymus chinensisandStipa grandis) and litter mixtures representing treatment‐specific community composition in a semi‐arid grassland under long‐term simulation of six different rates of N deposition.

Decomposition increased consistently with increasing rates of N addition in all litter types. Higher soil manganese (Mn) availability, which apparently was a consequence of N addition‐induced lower soil pH, was the most important factor for faster decomposition. Soil C : N ratios were lower with N addition that subsequently led to markedly higher bacterial to fungal ratios, which also stimulated litter decomposition.

Several factors contributed jointly to higher rates of litter decomposition in response to N deposition. Shifts in plant species composition and litter quality played a minor role compared to N‐driven reductions in soil pH and C : N, which increased soil Mn availability and altered microbial community structure. The soil‐driven effect on decomposition reported here may have long‐lasting impacts on nutrient cycling, soil organic matter dynamics and ecosystem functioning.
Getting by: The ethnomethods of everyday cycling navigation
Authors: Lloyd Michael
Published: August 2020

Cycling is often carried out in public places, meaning that it is easy to both observe and video‐record cycling in action. Within sociology, ethnomethodology focuses on practical activities, often by collecting and analysing video data. Geographers have also used video data in researching cycling, but the two perspectives have little crossover. This article showcases an ethnomethodological analysis of video data on everyday cycling navigation, presenting three empirical examples. We see that cycling, accomplished by real interacting people, needs analysing in fine detail. Further knowledge of the mundane aspects of cycling mobility can usefully build upon such a videographic approach.
Antifungal agents in preventing oral candidiasis in clinical oncology: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Shen Loo Yee , Yee Wong Tse , Veettil Sajesh K. , Se Wong Pei , Gopinath Divya , Mooi Ching Siew , Kunnath Menon Rohit
Published: August 2020

Objective

This review examined the comparative efficacy and safety of antifungal agents in preventing oral candidiasis among patients on cancer treatment.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and network meta‐analysis based on randomised controlled trials that compared antifungal agents to placebo or other antifungal agents used in patients undergoing cancer treatment. Relative ranking of antifungal agents was evaluated with surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) probability score. A total of 20 randomised controlled trials (3,215 participants) comparing 11 interventions were included.

Results

Compared with placebo, clotrimazole was ranked the best agent for preventing the incidence of oral candidiasis (risk ratio (RR), 0.21 [95% CI 0.08 to 0.55]; SUCRA = 0.89). Fluconazole was ranked the safest among other antifungal agents (SUCRA = 0.80), whereas clotrimazole (SUCRA = 0.36) and amphotericin B (SUCRA = 0.18) were ranked low for safety. Amphotericin B was associated with highest risk of adverse events (RR, 3.52 [95% CI 1.27 to 9.75]).

Conclusion

Clotrimazole is the most effective in preventing oral candidiasis, whereas fluconazole has the most favourable risk‐benefit profile in patients undergoing cancer treatment. However, we are unable to recommend clotrimazole as the best choice to prevent oral candidiasis due to unavailability of studies comparing clotrimazole with other antifungal agents.
Finding distinctions between oral cancer and periodontitis using saliva metabolites and machine learning
Authors: Kouznetsova Valentina L. , Li Jeremy , Romm Eden , Tsigelny Igor F.
Published: August 2020

Objective

The aim of this research is the study of metabolic pathways related to oral cancer and periodontitis along with development of machine‐learning model for elucidation of these diseases based on saliva metabolites of patients.

Methods

Data mining, metabolomic pathways analysis, study of metabolite–gene networks related to these diseases. Machine‐learning and deep‐learning methods for development of the model for recognition of oral cancer versus periodontitis, using patients' saliva.

Results

The most accurate classifications between oral cancer and periodontitis were performed using neural networks, logistic regression and stochastic gradient descent confirmed by the separate 10‐fold cross‐validations. The best results were achieved by the deep‐learning neural network with the TensorFlow program. Accuracy of the resulting model was 79.54%. The other methods, which did not rely on deep learning, were able to achieve comparable, although slightly worse results with respect to accuracy.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate a possibility to distinguish oral cancer from periodontal disease by analysis the saliva metabolites of a patient, using machine‐learning methods. These findings may be useful in the development of a non‐invasive method to aid care providers in determining between oral cancer and periodontitis quickly and effectively.
Optimization of Fixed Photovoltaic Panel “Tilt” Angles for Maximal Energy Harvest Considering Year-Around Sky Coverage Conditions
Authors: Gwesha Ammar Omar , Li Peiwen , Alfulayyih Yasir Mohammed
Published: August 2020

The fixed setup angles of photovoltaic (PV) panels are typically optimized properly in order to maximize the electrical energy harvest. In the present work, the sunlight availability or sky coverage conditions of sufficiently small time intervals for everyday around the year are counted in the modeling for computation of solar energy on the PV panel in order to optimize the panel tilt angles. Maximal energy harvest in a year is the objective of choosing the optimal tilt angles. The analysis calculates vectors of instantaneous sunray and solar panel normal direction to consider the ‘cosine’ effect. The energy harvested in every 6 min by a PV panel of per square meter is summated for day-long period from sunrise to sunset when the sun elevation angle is above 5 deg. The general model is applied to the authors’ local city, Tucson, Arizona, USA. The results show that the annual solar energy received by a solar panel tilted with a fixed angle of equal to the local latitude could reach to 2297 kWh/m2 with the 10-year averaged sky coverage conditions of every 6 min considered. However, if a PV panel is inclined using the discovered optimal angles with two times, four-seasonal, and monthly adjustments, the gain in the yearly solar energy harvest can be 7.59%, 7.60%, and 9.19%, respectively, greater than that with the fixed angle equal to local latitude.
Development and Verification of Multiphysical Coupling Calculation Code for Typical Pressured Water Reactor Core
Authors: Li Zhigang , An Ping , Pan Junjie , Liu Wei , Lu Wei , Qiang Shenglong
Published: August 2020

Strong feedback phenomenon between the reactor physical and thermal-hydraulic has an important impact on the design and safety analysis of pressured water reactor (PWR). In order to accurately simulate the strong coupling effect of hydraulic in PWR, a reactor multiphysical coupling calculation code is developed, in which the three-dimensional (3D) space–time neutron dynamic equation is solved by the nodal expansion method (NEM) and nodal green's function method (NGFM); the coolant temperature and fuel temperature are solved by single channel model and the cylinder heat conduction model, respectively. The 3D light water reactor (LWR) benchmark and the Nuclear Energy Agency Committee on Reactor Physics (NEACRP) PWR rod ejection benchmark are used to verify the neutronics model and coupling calculation solution ability, respectively. The results show that: (1) the NEM and NGFM have high accuracy in solving the 3D space–time neutron dynamics equation; (2) the results of neutronics and thermal-hydraulic coupling steady/transient calculation such as core normalized power and fuel Doppler temperature are in good agreement with those of the NEACRP PWR benchmark, and the calculation accuracy is equivalent to similar software. Four coupled reactor physics and thermal hydraulic calculation modes are used to analyze the influence of different reactor physics calculation methods and thermal hydraulic calculation methods on the key parameters of PWR transient process in this paper. The results show that the mode of NGFM + finite volume method (FVM) can more accurately simulate the reactor core normalized power peak and fuel Doppler temperature.
Induced Knockdown of Decorin, Alone and in Tandem With Biglycan Knockdown, Directly Increases Aged Murine Patellar Tendon Viscoelastic Properties
Authors: Leiphart Ryan J. , Shetye Snehal S. , Weiss Stephanie N. , Dyment Nathaniel A. , Soslowsky Louis J.
Published: August 2020

Tendon injuries increase with age, yet the age-associated changes in tendon properties remain unexplained. Decorin and biglycan are two matrix proteoglycans that play complex roles in regulating tendon formation, maturation, and aging, most notably in extracellular matrix assembly and maintenance. However, the roles of decorin and biglycan have not been temporally isolated in a homeostatic aged context. The goal of this work was to temporally isolate and define the roles of decorin and biglycan in regulating aged murine patellar tendon mechanical properties. We hypothesized that decorin would have a larger influence than biglycan on aged tendon mechanical properties and that biglycan would have an additive role in this regulation. When decorin and biglycan were knocked down in aged tendons, minimal changes in gene expression were observed, implying that these models directly define the roles of decorin and biglycan in regulating tendon mechanical properties. Knockdown of decorin or biglycan led to minimal changes in quasi-static mechanical properties. However, decorin deficiency led to increases in stress relaxation and phase shift that were exacerbated when coupled with biglycan deficiency. This study highlights an important role for decorin, alone and in tandem with biglycan, in regulating aged tendon viscoelastic properties.
Self-Tuning Extended Kalman Filter Parameters to Identify Ankle's Third-Order Mechanics
Authors: Coronado E. , González A. , Cárdenas A. , Maya M. , Chiovetto E. , Piovesan D.
Published: August 2020

The estimation of human ankle's mechanical impedance is an important tool for modeling human balance. This work presents the implementation of a parameter-estimation approach based on a state-augmented extended Kalman filter (AEKF) to infer the ankle's mechanical impedance during quiet standing. However, the AEKF filter is sensitive to the initialization of the noise covariance matrices. In order to avoid a time-consuming trial-and-error method and to obtain a better estimation performance, a genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to best tune the measurement noise (Rk) and process noise covariances (Q) of the extended Kalman filter (EKF). Results using simulated data show the efficacy of the proposed algorithm for parameter-estimation of a third-order biomechanical model. Experimental validation of these results is also presented. They suggest that age is an influencing factor in the human balance.
Supplemental Material: Gulf of Nuna: Astrochronologic correlation of a Mesoproterozoic oceanic euxinic event
Authors: Mitchell Ross , al. et
Published: August 2020

Materials and methods, four supplemental figures, two supplemental tables, and references.
Automatic incorporation of riverbank failures in two-dimensional flood modeling
Authors: Ouchebri Ismail , Mahdi Tew-Fik
Published: August 2020

Riverbanks undergo changes caused not only by river hydraulics, mainly sediment erosion and deposition processes, but also by the possible landslides that eventually change the channel bank profiles. Those failures are an important form of alluvial channel adjustments but are usually difficult to include during morphodynamic modeling. This paper proposes a novel approach combining a 2D depth-averaged hydrodynamic, sediment transport and mobile-bed model, SRH-2D, a limit equilibrium slope-stability model, BISHOP, and a bank failure sediment redistribution submodel, REDISSED, into a fully automatic and continuous dynamic simulation to predict vertical bed and lateral bank changes for a river reach undergoing exceptional flooding. The in-stream vertical fluvial changes predicted with the SRH-2D model will be automatically used to update the riverbank geometry profile by profile and assess their geotechnical stability to rotational slip failures with a developed slope-stability model based on Bishop’s simplified method. A cone-shaped sliding area is defined in case the driving forces exceed the stabilizing forces. All mesh nodes located within the mass wasting zone will be automatically updated, allowing a new bank face form. The failed materials will be redistributed in the transect according to the geometry of the landslides observed at the study site. The Outaouais River at Notre-Dame-Du Nord, Quebec, is used to test the coupling procedure. Up to 100 m of bank retreat was predicted, and more than 20 cross-sections were reshaped. Typical results showing the effectiveness of the developed framework are presented and discussed.
Doubleverse entanglement in third quantized non-minimally coupled varying constants cosmologies
Authors: Balcerzak Adam , Marosek Konrad
Published: August 2020

In this paper we consider a third quantized cosmological model with varying speed of light c and varying gravitational constant G both represented by non-minimally coupled scalar fields. The third quantization of such a model leads to a scenario of the doubleverse with the two components being quantum mechanically entangled. We calculate the two parameters describing the entanglement, namely: the energy and the entropy of entanglement where the latter appears to be a proper measure of the entanglement. We consider a possibility that the entanglement can manifests itself as an effective perfect fluid characterized by the time dependent barotropic index $$w_{eff}$$weff, which for some specific case corresponds to the fluid of cosmic strings. It seems that such an entanglement induced effective perfect fluid may generate significant backreaction effect at early times.
Exact Reliability for a Multi-State Consecutive Linear (Circular) k-out-of-r-from-n:F System
Authors: Amirian Y. , Khodadadi A.
Published: August 2020

The multi-state consecutive linear (circular) [Formula: see text]-out-of-[Formula: see text]-from-[Formula: see text] system consists of [Formula: see text] linear (circular) ordered multi-state components. Both the system and its components can have [Formula: see text] different states: from complete failure (zero state) up to perfect functioning (([Formula: see text]1) state). In this paper we suggest, for the first time, exact reliability for these models. The system is at state below [Formula: see text] if and only if at least [Formula: see text] components out of any [Formula: see text] consecutive are in state below [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. Recent efforts in these branches have focused on simple situations or approximation bands for their reliability in two-state or multi-state models but closed form and exact amount not gained. In the continuation, there are the matlab programs of linear (circular) reliability system and [Formula: see text] state probability for [Formula: see text] in system. In the following, we applied comparative and numerical results and calculated the exact reliability of this strategic systems. Finally, we calculated the exact reliability for two real-world practical examples.
Development of Negative Electrode for Calcium Ion Battery Using Marimo Nano Carbon
Authors: Nishimura Yuichiro , Nakagawa Kiyoharu
Published: August 2020

The problem of calcium-ion batteries (CIBs) using graphite electrodes is that the charge/discharge capacity cannot be sufficiently obtained due to the poor reactivity of Ca2+. In this study, we investigated Marimo Nano Carbon (MNC) as a new negative electrode material for CIBs. MNC was an aggregate of carbon nanofilaments (CNFs) and it was synthesized by decomposition of ethylene using oxidized diamond-supported Pd catalyst. When the charge and discharge capacity using MNC as negative electrode was larger than that of the natural graphite. In addition, the intercalation of Ca2+ between the graphene layers was confirmed by XRD measurement.
Effect of Gradient of Soil Aeration on Corrosion Rate at Different Depths from Ground Surface
Authors: Fujihashi Kenta , Oshikawa Wataru
Published: August 2020

Soil corrosion around a ground surface was experimentally examined by measuring macrocell current, spontaneous potential, and corrosion weight loss at different depths in soil. An experiment was carried out by placing small electrodes and small test pieces in the depth direction. The results showed that mainly anodic current flowed in the electrode around the ground surface. In addition, the corrosion rate estimated based on weight loss was the highest. Therefore, it is considered that macrocell current influences soil corrosion around the ground surface. However, it appears that the spontaneous potential difference and macrocell current due to the gradient of soil aeration do not contribute significantly to soil corrosion around the ground surface.
PRiME2020_B01-1102
Authors: KIM SOYEUN
Published: August 2020

We propose a technology for preparations of novel Si-NPs/carbon(Si/C) composites on the basis of thermal shock of the carbon materials such as natural and artificial graphites. We developed a facile, one-step carbothermal shock method for transformations from micro-Si to Si-NPs less than 150 nm size and well dispersed on carbon matrix (Figure 1.). The particle size distribution of the Si-NPs was narrow and the dispersion was uniform. The Si/C composite anode exhibited a high specific capacity (>1,000 mAh/g) and predominant fast charging behavior.