bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Microbial Bioenzymes in Soil Stabilization
Authors: Mekonnen Eshetu , Kebede Ameha , Tafesse Tekle , Tafesse Mesfin
Published: July 2020

Soil stabilization is a mechanical or chemical alteration of one or more soil properties to create an improved soil material possessing the desired engineering properties. The aim of this article was to review bioenzyme-based soil stabilization techniques with an emphasis on bioenzymes production, mechanism of soil stabilization and future challenges, and opportunities of the sector. Soils are stabilized to increase strength and durability or to prevent erosion and dust generation. Cost-effective soil stabilization technology has been a fundamental part of any construction and is very important for economic growth in any country. In some cases, construction has been challenged due to the high cost of soil stabilization processes. Besides, methods of stabilizations using common stabilizing agents are getting costly. Currently, there is a growing interest to identify new and green technology to improve construction techniques and to expand the road network. Therefore, the search for new materials and improved techniques to process the local materials has received an increased focus. For developing countries, bioenzymes are now creating an opportunity to improve soil stability with tremendous effectiveness in the overall process of soil stabilization. In the world, bioenzymes have been used in different projects for several years and are generally proprietary products, often of patented formulation that needs intensive field tests. Currently, the use and production of bioenzymes is becoming the most promising key for the advancement of a country by saving time, energy, and finance. It also reduces environmental pollution due to carbon emission by the conventional stabilizers. Thus, a better understanding of this emerging technology is of utmost importance to exploit any improvement it can offer to soil stability. With little research and practice, it is possible to produce soil stabilizing bioenzymes using local raw materials. Due to this, production of low cost, easily and widely applicable, and environmentally friendly enzymatic formulations from locally available raw materials should be the interest of research and academic institutes of any country.
Impaired Geotaxis as a Novel Phenotype of Nora Virus Infection of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Rogers Abigail , Towery Lesley , McCown Amanda , Carlson Kimberly A.
Published: July 2020

Nora virus (NV) is a picorna-like virus that contains a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome. The virus infects Drosophila melanogaster with no known characterized phenotype. In this study, geotaxis assays and longevity analyses were used to determine if Nora virus infection affects D. melanogaster’s locomotor ability. In addition, Drosophila C virus (DCV), a well-characterized D. melanogaster virus, was used as a positive control, as it has previously shown a locomotor defect in infected flies. Stocks infected with NV (NV+) and DCV (DCV+) and virus-free (NV-/DCV-) stocks were established. Over a 3-year period, approximately 2,500 virgin female flies were tested for geotaxis and longevity using Kaplan–Meier analyses, as well as the Cox Proportional Hazards regression for survivorship. There was a significant decrease in the geotaxis when the D. melanogaster flies were infected with Nora virus compared to uninfected controls, but no difference was found between DCV+ and NV+ trials. There were not significant differences in longevity between the three groups. This is the first time that a phenotype has been recorded in association with Nora virus infection. Overall, the data demonstrate that geotaxis dysfunction may be a phenotypic hallmark of Nora virus infection.
Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in Anal High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL): Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grades 2 (AIN2) and 3 (AIN3) Are Different
Authors: Roberts Jennifer M. , Poynten Isobel M. , Molano Monica , Machalek Dorothy A. , Hillman Richard J. , Guzman Patricia , Jin Fengyi , Templeton David J. , Fairley Christopher K. , Law Carmella , Garland Suzanne M. , Grulich Andrew E. , Cornall Alyssa M.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) can be histomorphologically categorized into anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) grade 2 (AIN2) and grade 3 (AIN3). Different risk factors for these two categories have been described. We investigated whether there were also differences in lesion-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes.

Methods:

The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC) recruited 617 gay and bisexual men (GBM); 36% of participants were HIV positive. At baseline, 196 men (31.8%) had histologic HSIL lesions. Tissue was available for genotyping in 171, with a total of 239 HSIL lesions (183 AIN3 and 56 AIN2). Using laser capture microdissection, each lesion revealed a maximum of one genotype.

Results:

High-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes were found in 220 (92.1%) HSIL lesions, with no significant difference between AIN3 (93.4%) and AIN2 (87.5%). AIN3 lesions had significantly more HPV16 (42.1%) than AIN2 lesions (12.5%; P < 0.001) and AIN2 lesions had significantly more non-16 HR-HPV types (75.0%) than AIN3 lesions (51.4%; P = 0.002). These associations were similar for HIV-negative men with HPV16 in 51.1% AIN3 and 18.2% AIN2 (P = 0.001) and non-16 HR-HPV in 40.0% AIN3 and 75.8% AIN2 (P < 0.001). For HIV-positive men, HPV16 remained more frequently detected in AIN3 (33.3% vs. 4.4% for AIN2; P = 0.004), but there was no difference between AIN3 and AIN2 for non-16 HR-HPV (62.4% vs. 73.9%; P = 0.300).

Conclusions:

As HPV16 has the strongest link with anal cancer, the subcategorization of HSIL may enable stratification of lesions for anal cancer risk and guide anal HSIL management.

Impact:

Stratification of anal cancer risk by histologic HSIL grade.
Change in Ophthalmology Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic: Egyptian Perspective
Authors: Abdullatif Abdussalam Mohsen , Makled Hebatalla Samir , Hamza Mostafa M. , Macky Tamer A. , El-Saied Heba Magdy Ahmed
Published: July 2020

Purpose: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology practice in the Cairo metropolitan area. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational analytic study among ophthalmologists practicing in different hospitals in the Cairo metropolitan area. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire covering general measures taken during practice. Results: The questionnaire was sent to 250 ophthalmologists, with an 82% response rate. Most of the participants were concerned about the economic impact of the pandemic, as there is a 60–80% reduction in the flow of patients with a consequent 80–100% reduction in surgical cases. Most of the participants have access to personal protective equipment, and the safety protocols are followed, especially by the older ophthalmologists. Thus, the surgeons are willing to perform elective surgeries, adhering to strict safety protocols (70.8, 42.6, and 18.8% of the refractive surgeons, corneal surgeons, and retinal surgeons, respectively; p = 0.00). Furthermore, 63.9% of the participants, especially the young ophthalmologists, are willing to see COVID-19 patients and operate on them if needed. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic could go on for months or even years with a significant impact on ophthalmology practice. Trying to keep a balance between safety and economic burden, the majority of ophthalmologists are willing to see elective patients and urgently operate on a COVID-19 patient, under adherence to the safety protocols.
Psychological sequelae within different populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid review of extant evidence
Authors: Tng XJJ , Chew QH , Sim K
Published: July 2020

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has a potentially significant impact on not only physical health but also psychological well-being. To the best of our knowledge, no review thus far has consolidated the psychological impact of COVID-19 across different subpopulations. A systematic search of the literature until 15 June 2020 found 150 empirical papers pertinent to the mental health consequences of the pandemic. The majority (87.3%) were from China (45.3%), the rest of Asia (22.0%) and Europe (20.0%), and mostly examined the general population (37.3%), healthcare workers (31.3%) and those with pre-existing mental and physical illnesses (14.7%). The most common psychological responses across these subpopulations were anxiety (overall range 24.8%–49.5%), depression (overall range 18.6%–42.6%) and traumatic stress symptoms (overall range 12.7%–31.6%). Healthcare workers and those with pre-existing physical and mental illnesses were more severely affected. Future studies are needed on underexamined subgroups such as the elderly and patients who recovered from COVID-19.
Transmission modes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and implications for infection control: a review
Authors: Ong SWX , Coleman KK , Chia PY , Thoon KC , Pada S , Venkatachalam I , Fisher D , Tan YK , Tan BH , Ng OT , Ang BSP , Leo YS , Wong MSY , Marimuthu K
Published: July 2020

The complete picture regarding transmission modes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. This review summarises the available evidence on its transmission modes, our preliminary research findings and implications for infection control policy, and outlines future research directions. Environmental contamination has been reported in hospital settings occupied by infected patients, and is higher in the first week of illness. Transmission via environmental surfaces or fomites is likely, but decontamination protocols are effective in minimising this risk. The extent of airborne transmission is also unclear. While several studies have detected SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid in air samples, none has isolated viable virus in culture. Transmission likely lies on a spectrum between droplet and airborne transmission, depending on the patient, disease and environmental factors. Singapore’s current personal protective equipment and isolation protocols are sufficient to manage this risk.
Taxonomy of the Oriental leafhopper genus Parabolopona (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Drabescini) with a new species from China
Authors: XU DELIANG , ZHANG YALIN
Published: July 2020

The Oriental leafhopper genus Parabolopona Matsumura (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Drabescini: Paraboloponina) is reviewed with description of a new species, Parabolopona yunnanensis sp. nov., from China. An updated checklist with distributions and a key to males of this genus are also provided.
Effects of Virtual Reality Therapy on Neuro-Cognitive and Behavioral Skills in Alcohol-Dependent Patients: A Quantitative Electroencephalography Imaging Investigation
Authors: Ryu Chang Hyun
Published: July 2020

An immersive virtual reality based cognitive-behavioral therapy (VR-CBT) has been clinically used to improve the neuro-cognitive and behavioral skills in alcohol-dependent patients with destructive impulse-control disorders, but the therapeutic effects are unknown. The purpose of the
investigation was to determine the effectiveness of an impulse-anger management VR-CBT program (IAM-VR-CBTP) on cortical activation, neuro-cognitive and behavioral skills as well as drinking, impulse-anger control, anxiety, and depression. A convenience sample of 11 patients diagnosed with
DICD participated and underwent the IAM-VR-CBTP intervention, a 90-minute session, two times/week for 3 weeks. The intervention related physiological and neuro-psychiatric behavioral changes were measured with a quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) brain mapping and standardized neurocognitive
and behavioral tests including the alcohol dependence scale, the obsessive compulsive drinking scale, the readiness to change questionnaire, the Barratt impulsiveness scale II, the Beck anxiety, the Beck depression inventory II, and the state trait anger expression inventory-2. The non-parametric
Wilcoxon statistic was used at P < 0.05. There were no statistically significant differences between the pretest and the posttest scores induced by the IAM-VR-CBTP. QEEG data analyses showed that the post-QEEG maps were characterized by mildly diminished (z -score < –
1.5) relative powers in theta (Fz and Cz), fast alpha (Cz), and slow beta (Cz) bands after the IAM-VR-CBTP intervention. The results suggest that the IAM-VR-CBTP had promising effects on abnormal brain activity underlying compulsive drinking behaviors, motivation to change, and anger experience
and unfair treatment by others and provide the first clinical evidence of IAM-VR-CBT on non-invasive neuromodulation and associated neuro-cognitive and behavioral outcomes in alcohol-dependent patients.
Inhomogeneous Brain Magnetic Resonance Images Segmentation Using a Novel Double Level Set Method
Authors: Song Jianhua , Li Shuqin
Published: July 2020

Magnetic resonance (MR) image segmentation plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis and pathological analysis of brain diseases, and has become a focus in the field of medical image processing. However, MR image segmentation is also a complex task because it is easily corrupted
by inhomogeneous intensity and noise during the process of imaging. In this paper, we use double level set function to replace single level set of the data energy fitting model and propose a model based on Legendre polynomial and Heaviside function, which is used to segment brain magnetic
resonance images. The double level set method (DLSM) can extract simultaneously the white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) of brain tissue and ensure the robustness of level set initialization. Moreover, the bias field caused by intensity inhomogeneity is represented by a set of smooth basis
functions, which can satisfy its property of slow variety. Finally, compared with the local intensity clustering model and multiplicative intrinsic component optimization model, both visual and objective results can prove the superior of the proposed DLSM model, and the computational speed
is faster.
The Impact of Anticoagulation on Trauma Outcomes
Authors: Nguyen Rosalynn K. , Rizor James H. , Damiani Michael P. , Powers Andrew J. , Fagnani Jacob T. , Monie Daphne L. , Cooper Shelby S. , Griffiths Andrew D. , Hellenthal Nicholas J.
Published: July 2020

Background

Increased prevalence of patients on anticoagulants and the advent of new therapies raise concern over how these patients fare if they sustain a traumatic injury. We investigated the role of prehospitalization anticoagulation therapy in trauma-related mortality and postacute disposition.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who sustained traumatic injury identified in the 2017 National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). Patients with and without anticoagulation therapy were analyzed to identify differences in demographics, injury type, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and trauma outcomes including hospital length of stay, ER, final hospital disposition, and mortality. Logistic regression was used to correlate anticoagulation to mortality and facility discharge.

Results

Of the 1 000 596 patients included, 73 602 (7%) patients were on anticoagulants at the time of their trauma. Increased age was the strongest predictor for anticoagulation therapy (odds ratio 5.54, 95% CI 5.44-5.63), but being female and white were also independent predictors of anticoagulation ( P < .001). Patients on anticoagulants had a significantly longer length of stay (5.11 days; 95% CI 5.06-5.15) than those who were not (4.37 days, 95% CI 4.36-4.39), were 2.20 times more likely to die (95% CI 2.12-2.28, P < .001), and were 2.77 times more likely to be discharged to a facility (95% CI 2.73-2.81, P < .001). Anticoagulation remained a significant predictor of worse trauma outcomes even when accounting for age and ISS in multivariate analysis.

Discussion

Anticoagulation preceding trauma-related admission is associated with higher mortality and an increased likelihood of the need for a posthospital care facility.
Experimental and numerical investigation of interface damage in composite L-angle sections under four-point bending
Authors: Zou Xi , Yan Shibo , Matveev Mikhail , Rouse James P , Jones I Arthur
Published: July 2020

Curved laminates in aero-structures, such as the L-angle sections where webs and flanges meet, are prone to delamination due to high interlaminar stresses in these regions. Some efforts to investigate delamination in these structures can be found in the literature but commonly structures are limited to unidirectional layups or modelling approaches are constrained to the cohesive element based methods. In this work, multi-directional L-angle laminates were manufactured using unidirectional prepregs and tested under four-point bending load conditions to examine the interface damage. Acoustic emission technique was used to assist the capture of damage initiation and propagation. Three interface modelling strategies for predicting delamination, namely cohesive element, cohesive surface and perfectly bonded interface were used in the numerical study. The interface damage behaviour was successfully predicted by the simulation methods and differences among the strategies were compared.
The Polarity of Online Reviews: Prevalence, Drivers and Implications
Authors: Schoenmueller Verena , Netzer Oded , Stahl Florian
Published: July 2020

In this research, the authors investigate the prevalence, robustness, and possible reasons underlying the polarity of online review distributions, with the majority of the reviews at the positive end of the rating scale, a few reviews in the midrange, and some reviews at the negative end of the scale. Compiling a large data set of online reviews—over 280 million reviews from 25 major online platforms—the authors find that most reviews on most platforms exhibit a high degree of polarity, but the platforms vary in the degree of polarity on the basis of how selective customers are in reviewing products on the platform. Using cross-platform and multimethod analyses, including secondary data, experiments, and survey data, the authors empirically confirm polarity self-selection, described as the higher tendency of consumers with extreme evaluations to provide a review as an important driver of the polarity of review distributions. In addition, they describe and demonstrate that polarity self-selection and the polarity of the review distribution reduce the informativeness of online reviews.
Comparison of partial least square algorithms in hierarchical latent variable model with missing data
Authors: Cheng Hao
Published: July 2020

Missing data is almost inevitable for various reasons in many applications. For hierarchical latent variable models, there usually exist two kinds of missing data problems. One is manifest variables with incomplete observations, the other is latent variables which cannot be observed directly. Missing data in manifest variables can be handled by different methods. For latent variables, there exist several kinds of partial least square (PLS) algorithms which have been widely used to estimate the value of latent variables. In this paper, we not only combine traditional linear regression type PLS algorithms with missing data handling methods, but also introduce quantile regression to improve the performances of PLS algorithms when the relationships among manifest and latent variables are not fixed according to the explored quantile of interest. Thus, we can get the overall view of variables’ relationships at different levels. The main challenges lie in how to introduce quantile regression in PLS algorithms correctly and how well the PLS algorithms perform when missing manifest variables occur. By simulation studies, we compare all the PLS algorithms with missing data handling methods in different settings, and finally build a business sophistication hierarchical latent variable model based on real data.
Incremental residential densification and urban spatial justice: The case of England between 2001 and 2011
Authors: Bibby Peter , Henneberry John , Halleux Jean-Marie
Published: July 2020

Study of the relation between urban density and social equity has been based mostly upon comparative analysis at the city level. It therefore fails to address variations in intra-urban experience and sheds no light on the process of urban densification. Incremental residential development is particularly poorly recorded and under-researched, yet cumulatively it makes a substantial contribution to the supply of dwellings. The article presents a detailed examination of this form of development in England between 2001 and 2011, and considers its impact on urban spatial justice. We find that the incidence of soft residential densification was very uneven. It had disproportionately large effects on neighbourhoods that were already densely developed and that were characterised by lower income households with access to relatively little residential space. It thus contributed to an increase in the level of inequality in the distribution of residential space, increasing socio-spatial injustice.
Use of N-acetyl cysteine to retrieve entrapped Malecot catheter in liver: an old agent for a novel application
Authors: Rajput Deepak , Kumar Navin , Sharma Pankaj , Roshan Ravi , Puliyath Nisanth , Gupta Amit
Published: July 2020

Percutaneous catheter drainage is one way of treating large liver abscesses that are partially liquefied or have thick pus. Apart from discomfort, severe pain, inflammation or frank cellulitis at the insertion site, and sometimes catheter dislodgement, failure to retrieve a catheter is unusual. This may occur either due to fibrous tissue securing the catheter or when inspissated secretions prevent the catheter tip from straightening. N-acetyl cysteine is a mucolytic and exerts action in many parts of the body such as the mouth, throat and lungs. We report successful removal of a catheter stuck in the liver using this substance.
Identification of rumour stances by considering network topology and social media comments
Authors: Luo Yongcong , Ma Jing , Yeo Chai Kiat
Published: July 2020

Online social media (OSM) has become a hotbed for the rapid dissemination of disinformation or faked news. In order to track and limit the spread of faked news, we study stance identification of comments posted on OSM, where the stance can denote the comment’s semantics. In this article, we propose a framework for identification of rumour stances, combining network topology and OSM comments. We construct a vector matrix of comments and words via OTI (optimisation term frequency–inverse document frequency). To better identify the stances, we introduce another vector matrix with novel or special attribute, that is, network topology among the users. Variant autoencoder (VAE) is then applied for dimensionality reduction and optimisation of these vector matrices which are then combined into an integrated matrix [Formula: see text], tempered by two parameters [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Finally, the matrix is fed into a neural network for final rumour stance identification. Experimental evaluations show that our proposed approach outperforms some state-of-the-art methods and achieves a high precision of 90.26% and F1-score of 88.58%.
Voicing the environment: Latour, Peirce and an expanded politics
Authors: Revill George
Published: July 2020

This paper takes work by Bruno Latour as the starting point from which to critically examine conceptual moves needed to develop a formulation of voice appropriate for an expanded environmental politics which expresses the interests of human and nonhumans alike. Adopting human language and the rational speaking subject as the benchmark for entry into political debate and decision making is a central problem for theorising an expanded politics. Strong arguments suggest that an expanded politics cannot be founded in a model for the right to speak which reproduces and divide between human and nonhuman worlds. The paper draws on this critique to suggest a conception of voice as ‘voicing’. It argues that voicing as an agental socio-material assemblage is sympathetic both to Latour’s more recent AIME project and Dobson’s understanding of political voice grounded in agency.
End-of-life care for homeless people in shelter-based nursing care settings: A retrospective record study
Authors: van Dongen Sophie I , Klop Hanna T , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje D , de Veer Anke JE , Slockers Marcel T , van Laere Igor R , van der Heide Agnes , Rietjens Judith AC
Published: July 2020

Background:

Homeless people experience multiple health problems and early mortality. In the Netherlands, they can get shelter-based end-of-life care, but shelters are predominantly focused on temporary accommodation and recovery.

Aim:

To examine the characteristics of homeless people who reside at the end-of-life in shelter-based nursing care settings and the challenges in the end-of-life care provided to them.

Design:

A retrospective record study using both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods.

Setting/participants:

Two Dutch shelter-based nursing care settings. We included 61 homeless patients who died between 2009 and 2016.

Results:

Most patients had somatic (98%), psychiatric (84%) and addiction problems (90%). For 75% of the patients, the end of life was recognised and documented; this occurred 0–1253 days before death. For 26%, a palliative care team was consulted in the year before death. In the three months before death, 45% had at least three transitions, mainly to hospitals. Sixty-five percent of the patients died in the shelter, 27% in a hospital and 3% in a hospice. A quarter of all patients were known to have died alone. Documented care difficulties concerned continuity of care, social and environmental safety, patient–professional communication and medical-pharmacological alleviation of suffering.

Conclusions:

End-of-life care for homeless persons residing in shelter-based nursing care settings is characterised and challenged by comorbidities, uncertain prognoses, complicated social circumstances and many transitions to other settings. Multilevel end-of-life care improvements, including increased interdisciplinary collaboration, are needed to reduce transitions and suffering of this vulnerable population at the end of life.
A Prehistory of Liberty*
Authors: Schmidtz David , Brennan Jason
Published: July 2020

Human beings are social animals, which means that we have to cooperate to survive. Human beings are also political animals, which means that before we can cooperate, we have to be able to negotiate the terms of cooperation. Humanity’s distinctive survival tool is not a matter of wings or gills or being capable of photosynthesis. Rather, our distinctively human survival tool is about ability to make deals, our ability to market a product.
The value of the apparent diffusion coefficient in differentiating type II from type I endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Chen Jingya , Fan Weimin , Gu Hailei , Wang Yaohui , Liu Yuting , Chen Xiao , Ren Shuai , Wang Zhongqiu
Published: July 2020

Background

Diagnostic type II endometrial carcinoma (EC) is considered more aggressive and has a poorer prognosis than type I EC; differentiation between them is helpful for preoperative clinical decision-making. However, the diagnostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in differentiating them remains unclear.

Purpose

To investigate the value of ADC in differentiating type II EC from type I EC.

Material and Methods

Ninety-four patients with EC who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were retrospectively included and divided into type I and type II subgroups, based on the postoperative pathologic results. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, conventional magnetic resonance imaging manifestations, and ADC mean values (ADCmean), ADC minimum values (ADCmin), and ADC max values (ADCmax). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was further used to assess the predictive performance.

Results

The ADCmean, ADCmin, and tumor size differed significantly between the two subtypes. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for ADCmean and ADCmin was 0.787 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.692–0.88) and 0.835 (95% CI = 0.751–0.919) for predicting type II EC, respectively. The optimal cut-off value of ADCmean for prediction was 0.757 × 10–3 mm2/s with a sensitivity of 91%, a specificity of 58%, and an accuracy of 74%, while for ADCmin was 0.637 × 10–3 mm2/s with a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 73%, and an accuracy of 75%.

Conclusion

EC with lower ADCmean and ADCmin values derived from DWI, and a larger size, are indicative of type II EC.
Predictors of ISUP score upgrade in patients with low-risk prostate cancer
Authors: Haberal Hakan Bahadir , Artykov Meylis , Hazir Berk , Citamak Burak , Altan Mesut , Yazici Sertac , Akdogan Bulent , Ozen Haluk
Published: July 2020

Introduction:

The literature contains few studies that focus on the relationship between International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) score upgrade and complete blood count (CBC) parameters for patients with low-risk prostate cancer and studies achieved inconclusive results.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed our institutional database for patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) between 1994 and 2017. In total, we included 633 patients with low-risk prostate cancer in the study. We investigated the effects of clinicopathologic factors on ISUP score upgrade. Moreover, we compared RP pathologic outcomes between the patients with and without ISUP score upgrade.

Results:

The mean age and follow-up periods were 61.09±6.61 years and 41.9±1.8 months, respectively. ISUP score upgrade was observed in 207 patients (32.7%). In multivariate analysis, high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and percentage of positive cores were found to be significantly associated with ISUP score upgrade ( p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, platelet–lymphocyte ratio, monocyte–lymphocyte ratio, and eosinophil–lymphocyte ratio were found to have no effect on ISUP score upgrade ( p = 0.856, p = 0.353, p = 0.128, and p = 0.074, respectively). The percentage of tumors, surgical margin positivity, seminal vesicle invasion rate, and extraprostatic extension rate in RP pathology were higher in patients with ISUP score upgrade ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions:

Approximately one-third of the patients in our series had ISUP score upgrade in RP pathology. PSA density and the percentage of positive cores were found to be the factors significantly associated with ISUP score upgrade. CBC-related factors had no effect on ISUP score upgrade.
Is transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus sorafenib better than chemoembolization plus placebo in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma?
Authors: Xie Yong , Tian Huan , Xiang Hua
Published: July 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus sorafenib compared with TACE plus placebo for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using meta-analytical techniques.

Methods:

A search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were done from inception to December 27, 2019. Published trials including a treatment group receiving TACE + sorafenib and a control group receiving TACE + placebo with data for at least 1-year survival or tumor response or time to progression were included.

Results:

Our study suggested that there was no evidence that TACE plus sorafenib was associated with a lower risk of disease progression compared with TACE plus placebo for treatment of HCC (hazard ratio 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84–1.05]), and no significant difference for treatment of HCC compared with TACE plus placebo in terms of 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, and 2-year survival rates (risk ratio [RR] 1.01 [95% CI, 0.97–1.05]; RR 1.00 [95% CI, 0.92–1.08], RR 1.04 [95% CI, 0.89–1.23], RR 0.98 [95% CI, 0.72–1.34], respectively). The meta-analysis also showed that TACE + sorafenib seemed to have no significant difference for treatment of HCC compared with TACE + placebo in terms of complete response, partial response, stable disease, progressive disease, overall response rate, and disease control rate. There was an increased incidence of fatigue of grade 3/4 and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase of grade 3/4 in patients receiving TACE plus sorafenib compared with those receiving TACE plus placebo.

Conclusions:

There is no additive benefit of TACE plus sorafenib compared to TACE plus placebo for HCC.
Unique personality profiles predict when and why sad music is enjoyed
Authors: Sachs Matthew E. , Damasio Antonio , Habibi Assal
Published: July 2020

The experience of sadness is largely unpleasant, but when expressed through music, it can be pleasurable. Previous research has shown that an attraction to sad music is correlated with personality traits like empathy, Absorption, and rumination. However, the intricacies of the relationship between personality, situational factors, and reasons for engaging with sad music have yet to be fully explored. To address this, participants ( N = 431) reported the situations in which they would listen to sad music and their motivations for doing so. Regularized regression models were employed to assess correlations between personality, situational, and motivational factors. Mediation models were used to determine if emotional responses mediated these associations. People who scored higher on Absorption, the Fantasy component of empathy, and rumination reported enjoying sad music. Absorption and Fantasy were associated with liking sad music because of its ability to regulate/enhance positive emotions. Rumination was associated with liking sad music in tense situations because it both strengthens positive and releases negative emotions. Our results further our understanding of reward responses to negative stimuli by highlighting the role of personality and situational factors. Such findings have implications for the development of interventions for mood disorders, in which music could be used as a tool to regulate emotions and re-engage the reward system.
A survey of neuraxial analgesic preferences in open and laparoscopic major abdominal surgery amongst anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Pirie Katrina , Myles Paul S , Riedel Bernhard
Published: July 2020

Practising anaesthetists who are Fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists were surveyed with the objective of gaining insight into current analgesic preferences, with particular regard to neuraxial techniques, when managing patients having major open and laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Major abdominal surgery is common and effective analgesia is fundamental to optimal postoperative recovery. A multitude of analgesic options exist, with epidurals recommended in recent Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols. We believe the place of epidurals is increasingly questioned in the setting of continuous improvement in surgical technique, with increasing laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. Evidence for various techniques is mixed and benefit-risk profiles exist for all alternatives. An opioid epidemic and abuse crisis has directed attention towards opioid minimisation strategies. The survey was completed by 28% (275) of the 975 Fellows who received it, with good representation across the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ general membership. Respondents manage laparoscopic major abdominal surgery more frequently than open procedures, with approximately one-third of respondents each providing anaesthesia for two open laparotomies versus four to eight laparoscopic cases per month. Respondents reported a high perceived benefit of neuraxial analgesia, which was discordant with their clinical practice. Less than half of the respondents used epidural or spinal analgesia in open surgery (48% versus 49% of respondents, respectively). A minority (16%) of respondents use a neuraxial technique in major laparoscopic surgery, with a strong preference for intrathecal morphine (74%) when they choose to do so. Further investigation of the role of intrathecal analgesia is warranted given the shift towards laparoscopic major abdominal surgery, the perceived benefits of neuraxial techniques and the need for opioid-sparing analgesic strategies.
Neurofilament light chain as biomarker in idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Beier Dagmar , Korsbæk Johanne Juhl , Madsen Jonna Skov , Olsen Dorte Aalund , Molander Laleh Dehghani , Hagen Snorre M , Teunissen Charlotte , Beier Christoph P , Jensen Rigmor Højland
Published: July 2020

Background

Damage of the optic nerve is the major complication of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. A biomarker indicative for optic nerve damage would help identifying high-risk patients requiring surgical procedures. Here, we studied the potential of cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament to predict idiopathic intracranial hypertension-induced optic nerve damage.

Methods

In two centers, serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 61 patients with clinically suspected idiopathic intracranial hypertension were prospectively collected. Neurofilament concentrations were measured and related to ophthalmological assessment.

Results

The average cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament concentration in patients with moderate and severe papilledema was increased compared to patients with minor and no papilledema (1755 ± 3507 pg/ml vs. 244 ± 102 pg/ml; p < 0.001). Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament concentrations correlated with the maximal lumbar puncture opening pressure (r = 0.67, p < 0.001). In patients fulfilling the Friedman criteria for idiopathic intracranial hypertension with or without papilledema (n = 35), development of bilateral visual field defects and bilateral atrophy of the optic nerve were associated with increased average age-adjusted cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament concentrations. At last follow-up (n = 30), 8/13 of patients with increased, but only 3/17 with normal, cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament had developed bilateral visual field defects and/or bilateral optic nerve atrophy resulting in a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 73.7% of cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament to detect permanent optic nerve damage.

Conclusions

Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament is a putative biomarker for optical nerve damage in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Headache and neck
Authors: Antonaci Fabio , Inan Levent Ertuğrul
Published: July 2020

Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is currently identified with different diagnostic criteria. The latest one is the International classification of headache disorders (ICHD), 3rd edition (2018). At the present time, there are not enough published articles with reliable sensitivity and specificity that may support a classification for clinical and research purposes. Current literature suggests improvement to the classification(s). The ICHD criteria should be modified to reach an optimal sensitive and specific level to identify CEH as a secondary headache. The B, C1, and C2 criteria should be implemented with proposed suggestions. The C3 criterion should be upgraded. Criteria such as mechanical precipitation of pain by digital pressure on neck trigger points and specific movements, strictly unilateral pain without side-shift, diffuse unilateral shoulder and arm pain, pain starting posteriorly and spreading anteriorly should be integral part of the classification.
Use of Coarse Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Ternary Blended Portland Cement Concrete
Authors: Wagner Seth , Wickizer Gabrielle , Cleary Douglas , Lomboy Gilson R. , Kennedy Danielle , Watts Benjamin , Bly Peter
Published: July 2020

The purposes of this study were to (a) investigate concrete pavement mixtures with recycled concrete aggregates using ternary blended cementitious binders, (b) measure the fresh and hardened properties of the concrete mixtures, and (c) assess the durability of concrete implementing the use of recycled coarse aggregates with ternary binders. Mixtures had recycled concrete aggregates at varying replacement rates. The binders were combinations of Portland cement, Class C and F fly ashes, and ground granulated blast furnace slag. At 50% replacement of virgin aggregates, some specimens showed comparable mechanical performance to the control mix. Performance is heavily tied to quality of recycled aggregates. The combined use of fly ash and blast furnace slag showed improvements in results for drying shrinkage, freeze–thaw durability, resistivity, and alkali–silica reaction mitigation.
Proposed Framework for Identifying and Predicting Operator Errors When using Advanced Vehicle Technologies
Authors: Pradhan Anuj K. , Pai Ganesh , Radadiya Jaydeep , Knodler Michael A. , Fitzpatrick Cole , Horrey William J.
Published: July 2020

Advanced vehicle technologies include systems that are defined by the Society for Automotive Engineers as automated driving features or driver support features. The latter are increasingly available in late model vehicles in the form of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). ADAS features remove some responsibilities from drivers, but still depend on the drivers for safe operation. This can result in drivers committing errors while using ADAS, especially if their understanding of these systems, that is, their mental model, is incorrect. To understand how these systems could be used incorrectly it is necessary to have an insight into these mental models. One approach is to characterize users’ mental representations of systems based on the errors that they commit during system use. Such an approach necessitates a classification of potential errors that may be committed, and the underlying cognitive and behavioral reasons for such errors. To that end, a framework is proposed that can, among other goals, help predict user errors while using ADAS based on human factors and task analysis techniques. A methodology is detailed for mapping operator-system interactions using state diagrams, error identification techniques using task analysis are proposed, and a categorization scheme based on classic error taxonomies is described. This proposed framework can subsequently be expanded for error identification for a wider range and versions of ADAS, as well as for future automated driving systems (ADS). Moreover, the framework provides a systematic approach that can be used toward operationalizing mental models, forming the basis for structured user training, and for human-centered design of advanced vehicle technologies.
Social Participation Among Older Adults Receiving Community Care Services
Authors: Siette Joyce , Berry Helen , Jorgensen Mikaela , Brett Lindsey , Georgiou Andrew , McClean Tom , Westbrook Johanna
Published: July 2020

Aged care services have the potential to support social participation for the growing number of adults aging at home, but little is known about the types of social activities older adults in community care are engaged in. We used cluster analysis to examine the current profiles of social participation across seven domains in 1,114 older Australians, and chi-square analyses to explore between-group differences in social participation and sociodemographic and community care service use. Two distinct participation profiles were identified: (a) connected, capable, older rural women and (b) isolated, high-needs, urban-dwelling men. The first group had higher levels of engagement across six social participation domains compared with the second group. Social participation among older adults receiving community care services varies by gender, age, individual care needs, and geographical location. More targeted service provision at both the individual and community levels may assist older adults to access social participation opportunities.
Potential role of CFTR in bisphenol A-induced malignant transformation of prostate cells via mitochondrial apoptosis
Authors: Liu Jia , Ou Chaoyan , Zhu Xiaonian , Tan Chao , Xiang Xuebao , He Yonghua
Published: July 2020

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental endocrine disruptor and a risk factor for prostate cancer. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is proposed to be a prostate cancer suppressor in some recent researches. However, the potential role and mechanism of CFTR in BPA-induced prostate cancer cells has not been well identified. In this study, BPA decreased the viability of human normal prostate RWPE-1 cells detected with a CCK-8 kit. The capacity of the cell line on soft agar colony formation, wound healing, and transwell invasion indicated malignant transformation induced by BPA. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the levels of CFTR and Bcl-2 decreased, whereas Bax level increased, and ELISA detection showed a decreased ATP level in BPA-exposed cells. Cell apoptosis was analyzed with Annexin V-FITC Detection Kit by flow cytometry. However, no significant difference was observed in cell viability and apoptosis rates compared to normal RWPE-1 cells. Our research revealed a potential role of CFTR in BPA-induced malignant transformation via mitochondrial apoptosis of normal prostate cells.
The Team Assessment of Self-Management Support (TASMS): A new approach to uncovering how teams support people with chronic conditions
Authors: Keddy America Cristina , Packer Tanya Leigh , Audulv Åsa , Sutherland Lindsay , Sampalli Tara , Edwards Lynn , Kephart George
Published: July 2020

Canadian and other healthcare systems are adopting primary care models founded on multidisciplinary, team-based care. This paper describes the development and use of a new tool, the Team Assessment of Self-Management Support (TASMS), designed to understand and improve the self-management support teams provide to patients with chronic conditions. Team Assessment of Self-Management Support captures the time providers spend supporting seven different types of self-management support (process strategies, resources strategies, disease controlling strategies, activities strategies, internal strategies, social interactions strategies, and healthy behaviours strategies), their referral patterns and perceived gaps in care. Four unique features make TASMS user-friendly: it is patient-centred, it uses provider-level data to create a team profile, it has the ability to be tailored to needs (diagnosis and visit type), and visual presentation of results are quickly and intuitively understood by both providers and planners. Currently being used by providers and planners in Nova Scotia, scaling up will allow more widespread use.
Embracing the Quadruple Aim: One hospital’s experience
Authors: Lapaine Mike
Published: July 2020

Healthcare institutions have for some time pursued the Triple Aim: improve patient health outcomes, improve patient experience, and reduce costs. More recently, it has been recognized that the “missing piece” of success is to improve the experience of their clinicians in order to improve the three aims. The leadership of Bluewater Health has been using the Quadruple Aim since 2016 and, by working to improve employee engagement, has succeeded in also delivering exemplary care that has improved patient outcomes and experience and reduced costs.