bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intentional vocabulary learning via WhatsApp: Does the type of input matter?
Authors: Rashtchi Mojgan , Yazdani Parisa
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, vocabulary as an influential domain in mastering second/foreign languages has encouraged researchers to put forth conceptualizations that can substantiate the successful learning of words. This study used WhatsApp to investigate the different impacts of two input modalities (voice messages vs. written texts) on EFL learners' intentional learning and retention of words. To this end, 50 female EFL learners in two intact classes (n1=n2=25) were selected from a language institute in Khorramabad, Iran. The groups were randomly assigned to two treatment conditions. The results of a general English proficiency test verified their homogeneity at the outset. A standardized teacher-made vocabulary test assured the researchers that the words were unfamiliar to the learners. After the twelve-session treatment, which was integrated with conventional English teaching classes, another standardized vocabulary test was administered once immediately after the intervention and the second time after a two-week interval. The Friedman repeated measures analysis showed a significant difference between the pretest and posttests. However, the results of the statistical analyses showed no statistically significant differences between the participants' performances on the immediate and delayed posttests. Thus, the researchers concluded that the participants had not forgotten the words from the first to the second posttest indicating the efficacy of intentional vocabulary learning. Additionally, no significant differences were found between the two groups showing the similar impacts of the input modality. The study has implications for EFL teachers and educators whose focus is on TEFL.
Study of Growth and Sublimation of Germanium Nitride Using the Concept of Tedmon's Kinetic Model
Authors: Nakhutsrishvili Irakli
Published: November 2020

The paper gives a mathematical model of a thermogravimetric curve for the growth of scale on a metal surface with its simultaneous sublimation is presented and considers the case of the growth-sublimation of scale being preceded by the process of gas etching of the monocrystal surface. The obtained equations are used to describe the kinetic curve of the mass change of a germanium sample when a nitride layer is formed on it in a medium of hydrazine vapors.
Vocational Training for Rural Populations: A Demand-Driven Approach and its Implications in India
Authors: Ramasamy Muthuveeran , Pilz Matthias
Published: November 2020

Context: Vocational training is viewed as a significant tool that increases employment outcomes and provides potential career advancement opportunities for individuals. Many countries are witnessing a shift from supply-driven to demand-driven approaches. The demand-driven approach in vocational training is often explored at the macro level and is associated with the perspectives of employers and labour markets. In contrast, this article explores the demand-driven approach at the micro level by focusing on the perspectives of individual learners within the context of their localities in order to position them at the centre of the skill development process.Methods: This study used a qualitative exploratory research method and a mixture of focus group and face-to-face semi-structured interviews to obtain data to identify the practical problems that arise in real life contexts when attempts are made to prioritise vocational training demands in line with the needs of all the stakeholders. Based on the demand from the targeted learners, a competency-based vocational training course especially for women was designed, tested and evaluated in selected villages.Findings: The results show clearly that the demands of the rural population varied, and their participation in the training course was highly influenced by access to a training centre, the duration of the training, economic returns and socio-cultural factors. The demand-driven approach works best in vocational training when it involves the relevant stakeholders and the target groups in the planning and designing process.Conclusion: The findings illustrate that demand-driven approach should be context specific, responsive to individuals’/learners’ demands, relevant and flexible.
The silver bullet reversed: the impact of evidence on policymaker attention
Authors: García Leire Rincón
Published: November 2020

Background:

Despite the growing attention given to the political process of evidence-based policymaking (EBPM), we still know little about how evidence is processed at the early stages of the policymaking process, especially at the agenda-setting stage. Whether and when political elites pay attention to evidence-based information is crucial to the study of EBPM but also essential to the well-functioning of democracy.

Aims and objectives:

The aim of this paper is to cover this gap, by asking whether evidence increases policymaker attention to policy proposals. The working hypothesis is that everything else being constant, evidence should increase policy-maker attention.

Methods:

To test this hypothesis, this paper relies on a field experiment embedded in a real-life fundraising campaign of an advocacy organisation targeted at the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The field experiment is embedded in a real-life fundraising campaign of an advocacy organisation targeted at the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Findings:

Results show that information type matters to policy-maker attention, but evidence is not effective in this respect. Findings also suggest that there are no important differences between political groups and, crucially, that previous policy support does not have an impact on policy-maker attention. This paper shows that that while evidence is essential to the policy process, ideas are key to attract policymakers’ attention at the individual level in the absence of prior demand.

Discussion and conclusion:

Overall, findings suggest that empirical information is not a quick pass for policy-maker attention. In this context, other types of information and framing are likely to make a difference. Future studies should analyse how framing may alter political elites’ predisposition to attend empirical evidence.
Las tejedoras mayas de Guatemala: un proceso activo para la salvaguardia de su patrimonio cultural inmaterial
Authors: Salvador i Almela Marta , Abellan Calvet Núria
Published: November 2020

Currently, many are the phenomena that occur around intangible cultural heritage (ICH), related to its politics and legacy. With a critical analysis perspective, this article aims to describe the processes of patrimonialisation, commodification, and touristification of ICH, especially of the Guatemalan Mayan fabrics. The ongoing movement of Guatemalan weavers to protect and vindicate the cultural value of this art brings to light the role of different actors that intervene in intangible cultural heritage and, of greater relevance, indigenous communities. The following analysis framework on the diverse conceptualisations of heritage, authenticity, commodification and touristification allows for a deeper understanding of the Mayan weavers’ situation. The methodology used in this article consists on a case study, through which the following main conclusions arise: the lack of protection of ICH of this case study given the complex definitions and categorisations; the need to identify the consequences of commodification and touristification of ancestral tapestries, highlighting the importance of tourism management from the communities; and, finally, the key role of women as transmitters and protectors of ICH, who have headed a process of movement and empowerment.
Enhanced detection and sizing algorithm to improve LOAC optical particle counter performances
Authors: Verdier Nicolas , Papy Jean Michel , Renard Jean Baptiste , Lefevre Maximilien , Agrapart Clémence
Published: November 2020

The light optical aerosols counter (LOAC) instrument is an optical aerosol counter that allows atmospheric particles from 0.2 to 50 µm to be individually counted and classified by size. The scattered light due to the interaction between a particle and a laser beam is captured by photodiodes and produces an electric pulse. Detecting these pulses and measuring their amplitude is a key process to measure the particle size. This paper first details the current method to achieve such estimation and proposes a correlation algorithm to improve the detection and the assessment of particle sizes. In the last section, some test results are presented to demonstrate the performance of this new algorithm.
Polarization hole burning and self-rotation of the polarization ellipse in an acetylene-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Casillas Nayeli , Stepanov Serguei , Ocegueda Manuel , Hernández Eliseo
Published: November 2020

We report on the first experimental observation of the polarization ellipse self-rotation (PSR) and the polarization hole burning (PHB) nonlinear optical effects for the acetylene (

C

2

H

2

) vibrational–rotational transitions in the 1520–1530 nm spectral range. The experiments were performed using a 1-m-long acetylene-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber cell at room temperature and gas pressure of 0.4–4 Torr. The PHB effect was experimentally observed as a photo-induced input polarization ellipticity change in the output light. Among all the investigated acetylene transitions P9, P7, P5, and P3, the maximum ellipticity change of

∼

35

%

was observed at zero detuning from the center of the P5 absorption line with the initial optical absorbance about 6. The obtained results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of a classical analysis based on the model of the acetylene molecules as gyrators (circular oscillators) with random orientations. For the inhomogeneously broadened acetylene absorption P5 line (

∼

500

M
H
z

), the PSR effect observed for tuning at the sides of the P5 line, as expected, proved to be by factor

Δ

ω

i
h

/

Δ

ω
h

(inhomogeneous-to-homogeneous broadening ratio) lower than the maximum PHB. The PSR constant for these conditions proved to be about

0.1

m

−
1

, which is about 2 orders of magnitude lower than that reported earlier for the alkali metal (K, Rb) vapors.
Mode locking of a coherent random fiber laser with selectable repetition rates
Authors: Hu Bo , Cui Han , Zhang Yan Li , Ma Rui , Xiao Yong Chuan , Qu Peng Fei , Zhang Wei Li
Published: November 2020

Controlling emission of light in random structures/disordered systems, e.g., implementing mode-locked pulses in a laser system with a random structures/disordered systems, is a complex task. Usually, the generation of laser pulse by mode locking needs a stable fixed-length cavity that determines a specific repetition rate of the mode-locked pulses. Here, mode-locking laser pulses with selectable repetition rates are achieved in a typical one-dimensional disordered laser by passive mode locking. The laser includes disordered reflectors to provide multiple resonant modes associated with different cavity length. The regular pulses with adjustable repetition rates can be generated and selected by a nonlinear polarization rotator and a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. The proposed work utilizing the advantages of multiple resonances in random lasers could pave a new way for regulating emission of light in the random structures/disordered system. And it displays an effective and realistic technical route to study ultrafast pulses generation and optical soliton dynamics in random structures/disordered systems.
Generalizing the Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm for retrieving complex optical transmission matrices
Authors: Huang Guoqiang , Wu Daixuan , Luo Jiawei , Lu Liang , Li Fan , Shen Yuecheng , Li Zhaohui
Published: November 2020

The Gerchberg–Saxton (GS) algorithm, which retrieves phase information from the measured intensities on two related planes (the source plane and the target plane), has been widely adopted in a variety of applications when holographic methods are challenging to be implemented. In this work, we showed that the GS algorithm can be generalized to retrieve the unknown propagating function that connects these two planes. As a proof-of-concept, we employed the generalized GS (GGS) algorithm to retrieve the optical transmission matrix (TM) of a complex medium through the measured intensity distributions on the target plane. Numerical studies indicate that the GGS algorithm can efficiently retrieve the optical TM while maintaining accuracy. With the same training data set, the computational time cost by the GGS algorithm is orders of magnitude less than that consumed by other non-holographic methods reported in the literature. Besides numerical investigations, we also experimentally demonstrated retrieving the optical TMs of a stack of ground glasses and a 1-m-long multimode fiber using the GGS algorithm. The accuracy of the retrieved TM was evaluated by synthesizing high-quality single foci and multiple foci on the target plane through these complex media. These results indicate that the GGS algorithm can handle a large TM with high efficiency, showing great promise in a variety of applications in optics.
Quantitative comparison between sub-millisecond time resolution single-molecule FRET measurements and 10-second molecular simulations of a biosensor protein
Authors: Girodat Dylan , Pati Avik K. , Terry Daniel S. , Blanchard Scott C. , Sanbonmatsu Karissa Y.
Published: November 2020

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations seek to provide atomic-level insights into conformationally dynamic biological systems at experimentally relevant time resolutions, such as those afforded by single-molecule fluorescence measurements. However, limitations in the time scales of MD simulations and the time resolution of single-molecule measurements have challenged efforts to obtain overlapping temporal regimes required for close quantitative comparisons. Achieving such overlap has the potential to provide novel theories, hypotheses, and interpretations that can inform idealized experimental designs that maximize the detection of the desired reaction coordinate. Here, we report MD simulations at time scales overlapping with in vitro single-molecule Förster (fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (smFRET) measurements of the amino acid binding protein LIV-BPSS at sub-millisecond resolution. Computationally efficient all-atom structure-based simulations, calibrated against explicit solvent simulations, were employed for sampling multiple cycles of LIV-BPSS clamshell-like conformational changes on the time scale of seconds, examining the relationship between these events and those observed by smFRET. The MD simulations agree with the smFRET measurements and provide valuable information on local dynamics of fluorophores at their sites of attachment on LIV-BPSS and the correlations between fluorophore motions and large-scale conformational changes between LIV-BPSS domains. We further utilize the MD simulations to inform the interpretation of smFRET data, including Förster radius (R0) and fluorophore orientation factor (κ2) determinations. The approach we describe can be readily extended to distinct biochemical systems, allowing for the interpretation of any FRET system conjugated to protein or ribonucleoprotein complexes, including those with more conformational processes, as well as those implementing multi-color smFRET.
Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of lateral flow devices as a tool to diagnose rabies in post-mortem animals
Authors: Kimitsuki Kazunori , Saito Nobuo , Yamada Kentaro , Park Chun-Ho , Inoue Satoshi , Suzuki Motoi , Saito-Obata Mariko , Kamiya Yasuhiko , Manalo Daria L. , Demetria Catalino S. , Mananggit Milagros R. , Quiambao Beatriz P. , Nishizono Akira
Published: November 2020

Implementation of lateral flow devices (LFDs) for rabies antigen detection is expected to improve surveillance through the efficient detection of rabid animals in resource-limited settings; however, the use of LFDs for diagnosis remains controversial because some commercially available kits show low sensitivity. Therefore, we compared the diagnostic efficacy of three LFDs (ADTEC, Bionote, and Elabscience kits) paralleled with the direct fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) using fresh samples and investigated the diagnostic accuracies. To do so, we evaluated rabies-suspected samples submitted to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory III, Philippines. Furthermore, we conducted real-time RT-PCR and sequencing to measure the accuracy of field laboratory diagnosis. The total number of animals submitted during this study period was 184 cases, including negative control samples. Of these, 53.9% (84 cases) were positive in the dFAT. Dogs were the most common rabies-suspected animal (n = 135). The sensitivities of the ADTEC and Bionote kits were 0.88 (74 cases) and 0.95 (80 cases), respectively. The specificity of both kits was 1.00 (100 cases). Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity of the ADTEC kit after directly homogenizing the samples in assay buffer without dilution in phosphate-buffered saline (ADTEC kit DM) were 0.94 (79 cases) and 1.00 (100 cases), respectively. By contrast, there were no positive results using the Elabscience kit among all dFAT-positive samples. The sensitivity and specificity of LFDs make these tests highly feasible if properly used. Therefore, LFD tests can be used to strengthen the surveillance of rabies-infected animals in endemic and resource-limited settings.
Identifying priority landscapes for conservation of snow leopards in Pakistan
Authors: Hameed Shoaib , Din Jaffar ud , Ali Hussain , Kabir Muhammad , Younas Muhammad , ur Rehman Ejaz , Bari Fathul , Hao Wang , Bischof Richard , Nawaz Muhammad Ali
Published: November 2020

Pakistan’s total estimated snow leopard habitat is about 80,000 km2 of which about half is considered prime habitat. However, this preliminary demarcation was not always in close agreement with the actual distribution—the discrepancy may be huge at the local and regional level. Recent technological developments like camera trapping and molecular genetics allow for collecting reliable presence records that could be used to construct realistic species distribution based on empirical data and advanced mathematical approaches like MaxEnt. The current study followed this approach to construct an accurate distribution of the species in Pakistan. Moreover, movement corridors, among different landscapes, were also identified through circuit theory. The probability of habitat suitability, generated from 98 presence points and 11 environmental variables, scored the snow leopard’s assumed range in Pakistan, from 0 to 0.97. A large portion of the known range represented low-quality habitat, including areas in lower Chitral, Swat, Astore, and Kashmir. Conversely, Khunjerab, Misgar, Chapursan, Qurumber, Broghil, and Central Karakoram represented high-quality habitats. Variables with higher contributions in the MaxEnt model were precipitation during the driest month (34%), annual mean temperature (19.5%), mean diurnal range of temperature (9.8%), annual precipitation (9.4%), and river density (9.2). The model was validated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots and defined thresholds. The average test AUC in Maxent for the replicate runs was 0.933 while the value of AUC by ROC curve calculated at 0.15 threshold was 1.00. These validation tests suggested a good model fit and strong predictive power. The connectivity analysis revealed that the population in the Hindukush landscape appears to be more connected with the population in Afghanistan as compared to other populations in Pakistan. Similarly, the Pamir-Karakoram population is better connected with China and Tajikistan, while the Himalayan population was connected with the population in India. Based on our findings we propose three model landscapes to be considered under the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP) agenda as regional priority areas, to safeguard the future of the snow leopard in Pakistan and the region. These landscapes fall within mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Hindu Kush and Karakoram-Pamir, respectively. We also identified gaps in the existing protected areas network and suggest new protected areas in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan to protect critical habitats of snow leopard in Pakistan.
Algorithmic assessment of missense mutation severity in the Von-Hippel Lindau protein
Authors: Fields Francisco R. , Suresh Niraja , Hiller Morgan , Freed Stefan D. , Haldar Kasturi , Lee Shaun W.
Published: November 2020

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is an autosomal dominant rare disease that causes the formation of angiogenic tumors. When functional, pVHL acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that negatively regulates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). Genetic mutations that perturb the structure of pVHL result in dysregulation of HIF, causing a wide array of tumor pathologies including retinal angioma, pheochromocytoma, central nervous system hemangioblastoma, and clear cell renal carcinoma. These VHL-related cancers occur throughout the lifetime of the patient, requiring frequent intervention procedures, such as surgery, to remove the tumors. Although VHL is classified as a rare disease (1 in 39,000 to 1 in 91,000 affected) there is a large heterogeneity in genetic mutations listed for observed pathologies. Understanding how these specific mutations correlate with the myriad of observed pathologies for VHL could provide clinicians insight into the potential severity and onset of disease. Using a select set of 285 ClinVar mutations in VHL, we developed a multiparametric scoring algorithm to evaluate the overall clinical severity of missense mutations in pVHL. The mutations were assessed according to eight weighted parameters as a comprehensive evaluation of protein misfolding and malfunction. Higher mutation scores were strongly associated with pathogenicity. Our approach establishes a novelin silicomethod by which VHL-specific mutations can be assessed for their severity and effect on the biophysical functions of the VHL protein.
Re-analysing Ebola spread in Sierra Leone: The importance of local social dynamics
Authors: Richards Paul , Mokuwa Gelejimah Alfred , Vandi Ahmed , Mayhew Susannah Harding ,   Ebola Gbalo Research Team
Published: November 2020

Background

The 2013–15 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was the largest so far recorded, and mainly affected three adjacent countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The worst affected country (in terms of confirmed cases) was Sierra Leone. The present paper looks at the epidemic in Sierra Leone. The epidemic in this country was a concatenation of local outbreaks. These local outbreaks are not well characterized through analysis using standard numerical techniques. In part, this reflects difficulties in record collection at the height of the epidemic. This paper offers a different approach, based on application of field-based techniques of social investigation that provide a richer understanding of the epidemic.

Methods

In a post-epidemic study (2016–18) of two districts (Bo and Moyamba) we use ethnographic data to reconstruct local infection pathways from evidence provided by affected communities, cross-referenced to records of the epidemic retained by the National Ebola Response Commission, now lodged in the Ebola Museum and Archive at Njala University. Our study documents and discusses local social and contextual factors largely missing from previously published studies.

Results

Our major finding is that the epidemic in Sierra Leone was a series of local outbreaks, some of which were better contained than others. In those that were not well contained, a number of contingent factors helps explain loss of control. Several numerical studies have drawn attention to the importance of local heterogeneities in the Sierra Leone Ebola epidemic. Our qualitative study throws specific light on a number of elements that explain these heterogeneities: the role of externalities, health system deficiencies, cultural considerations and local coping capacities.

Conclusions

Social issues and local contingencies explain the spread of Ebola in Sierra Leone and are key to understanding heterogeneities in epidemiological data. Integrating ethnographic research into epidemic-response is critical to properly understand the patterns of spread and the opportunities to intervene. This conclusion has significant implications for future interdisciplinary research and interpretation of standard numerical data, and consequently for control of epidemic outbreaks.
Weighting power by preference eliminates gender differences
Authors: Sikström Sverker , Stoinski Laura Mai , Karlsson Kristina , Stille Lotta , Willander Johan
Published: November 2020

Power can be applied in different domains (e.g., politics, work, romantic relationships, family etc.), however, we do not always reflect on which domains we have power in and how important power in these domains is. A dominant idea is that men have more power than women. This notion may be biased because the concept of power is associated with public life. We introduce the concept of preference-weighted power (PWP), a measure of power that includes different domains in life, weighted by the domains’ subjective importance. Two studies investigated power from this perspective. In Study 1, participants generated words related to power, which were quantified/categorized by latent semantic analysis to develop a semantic measure of the power construct. In Study 2, we computed a PWP index by weighting the participants' self-rated power in different power domains with the importance of having power in that domain. Together the studies suggest that men have more perceived power in the public domain, however, this domain has a lower preference weighting than the private domain where women have more power than men. Finally, when preferences for power in different domains were considered, no gender differences were observed. These results emphasize gender difference in different domains and may change how we perceive men’s and women’s power in our society.
Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with severe necroinflammatory activity and inflammatory cytokine production in type I autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Abe Kazumichi , Fujita Masashi , Hayashi Manabu , Takahashi Atsushi , Ohira Hiromasa
Published: November 2020

25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has been reported to be associated with several chronic liver diseases. The relationship between 25(OH)D and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) pathogenesis is incompletely understood. We investigated the association of serum total and free 25(OH)D levels with necroinflammatory activity and cytokine levels in 66 patients with AIH diagnosed in our hospital. The median age at AIH diagnosis was 57 years, and the male:female ratio was 7:59. The median serum total 25(OH)D level in therapy-naïve patients with AIH was 14.2 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR], 11.4–17.9 ng/mL). Of the 66 patients with AIH, 36 had serum total 25(OH)D levels of < 15 ng/mL and were considered to have vitamin D deficiency, and 30 had serum total 25(OH)D levels of ≥ 15 ng/mL. Patients with acute-onset AIH had significantly lower serum total 25(OH)D levels than those with chronic-onset AIH. In particular, serum total 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in patients with severe forms of AIH. Furthermore, the serum total 25(OH)D level was positively correlated with the serum albumin level and prothrombin time and negatively correlated with the serum total bilirubin level and necroinflammatory activity in AIH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the serum total 25(OH)D level was an independent factor for severe necroinflammatory activity. Interestingly, AIH patients with serum total 25(OH)D levels of < 15 ng/mL had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ and interleukin-33. Free 25(OH)D levels were correlated with total 25(OH)D levels, and the percentage of free 25(OH)D was significantly associated with necroinflammatory activity. In conclusion, 25(OH)D deficiency may play an important role in predicting AIH severity via inflammatory cytokine production.
Comparison between long and short-term venous patencies after pancreatoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy with portal/superior mesenteric vein resection stratified by reconstruction type
Authors: Chan Kai Siang , Srinivasan Nandhini , Koh Ye Xin , Tan Ek Khoon , Teo Jin Yao , Lee Ser Yee , Cheow Peng Chung , Jeyaraj Prema Raj , Chow Pierce Kah Hoe , Ooi London Lucien Peng Jin , Chan Chung Yip , Chung Alexander Yaw Fui , Goh Brian Kim Poh
Published: November 2020

Background

Venous reconstruction has been recently demonstrated to be safe for tumours with invasion into portal vein and/or superior mesenteric vein. This study aims to compare the patency between various venous reconstructions.

Methods

This is retrospective study of 76 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy with venous reconstruction from 2006 to 2018. Patient demographics, tumour histopathology, morbidity, mortality and patency were studied. Kaplan-Meier estimates were performed for primary venous patency.

Results

Sixty-two patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and 14 underwent total pancreatectomy. Forty-seven, 19 and 10 patients underwent primary repair, end-to-end anastomosis and interposition graft respectively. Major morbidity (Clavien-Dindo >grade 2) and 30-day mortality were 14/76(18.4%) and 1/76(1.3%) respectively. There were 12(15.8%) venous occlusion including 4(5.3%) acute occlusions. Overall 6-month, 1-year and 2-year primary patency was 89.1%, 92.5% and 92.3% respectively. 1-year primary patency of primary repair was superior to end-to-end anastomosis and interposition graft (primary repair 100%, end-to-end anastomosis 81.8%, interposition graft 66.7%, p = 0.045). Pairwise comparison also demonstrated superior 1-year patency of primary repair (adjusted p = 0.037). There was no significant difference between the cumulative venous patency for each venous reconstruction method: primary repair 84±6%, end-to-end anastomosis 75±11% and interposition graft 76±15% (p = 0.561).

Conclusion

1-year primary venous patency of primary repair is superior to end-to-end anastomosis and interposition graft.
Current status of proton pump inhibitor use in Japanese elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: A subanalysis of the ANAFIE Registry
Authors: Mizokami Yuji , Yamamoto Takatsugu , Atarashi Hirotsugu , Yamashita Takeshi , Akao Masaharu , Ikeda Takanori , Koretsune Yukihiro , Okumura Ken , Shimizu Wataru , Tsutsui Hiroyuki , Toyoda Kazunori , Hirayama Atsushi , Yasaka Masahiro , Yamaguchi Takenori , Teramukai Satoshi , Kimura Tetsuya , Kaburagi Jumpei , Takita Atsushi , Inoue Hiroshi
Published: November 2020

The real-world status of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving antithrombotic treatment is largely unknown. The All Nippon AF In the Elderly (ANAFIE) Registry, a prospective, multicenter, observational study, aimed to determine treatment patterns, risk factors, and outcomes among elderly (aged ≥75 years) Japanese non-valvular AF (NVAF) patients in the real-world clinical setting. The present subanalysis of the ANAFIE Registry determined the PPI prescription status of 32,490 elderly Japanese NVAF patients. Patients were stratified by PPI use (PPI+) or no PPI use (PPI−). Risk scores for stroke (CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc) and bleeding (HAS-BLED), anticoagulant use, time in therapeutic range (TTR) for warfarin, and anticoagulant/antiplatelet combination use were evaluated. PPIs were used in 11,981 (36.9%) patients. Compared with the PPI− group, the PPI+ group included a greater proportion of female patients (45.2% vs 41.3%; P <0.0001) and had significantly higher CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores (P <0.0001 for each) as well as higher prevalences of several comorbidities. In the PPI+ group, 54.6% of patients did not have gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and were likely prescribed a PPI to prevent GI bleeding events. Most of the patients with a GI disorder in the PPI+ group had reflux esophagitis. Compared with patients not receiving anticoagulants, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving anticoagulants received PPIs. For patients receiving anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, and both drugs, rates of PPI use were 34.1%, 44.1%, and 53.5%, respectively (P <0.01). Although the rate of PPI use was the highest for NVAF patients receiving both antiplatelet and anticoagulants, no clear differences were observed in the anticoagulants used. These data suggest that PPIs were actively prescribed in high-risk cases and may have been used to prevent GI bleeding among elderly NVAF patients receiving antithrombotic drugs.

Trial registration: UMIN000024006
More to diverse: Generating diversified responses in a task oriented multimodal dialog system
Authors: Firdaus Mauajama , Pratap Shandeelya Arunav , Ekbal Asif
Published: November 2020

Multimodal dialogue system, due to its many-fold applications, has gained much attention to the researchers and developers in recent times. With the release of large-scale multimodal dialog dataset Saha et al. 2018 on the fashion domain, it has been possible to investigate the dialogue systems having both textual and visual modalities. Response generation is an essential aspect of every dialogue system, and making the responses diverse is an important problem. For any goal-oriented conversational agent, the system’s responses must be informative, diverse and polite, that may lead to better user experiences. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end neural framework for generating varied responses in a multimodal dialogue setup capturing information from both the text and image. Multimodal encoder with co-attention between the text and image is used for focusing on the different modalities to obtain better contextual information. For effective information sharing across the modalities, we combine the information of text and images using the BLOCK fusion technique that helps in learning an improved multimodal representation. We employ stochastic beam search with Gumble Top K-tricks to achieve diversified responses while preserving the content and politeness in the responses. Experimental results show that our proposed approach performs significantly better compared to the existing and baseline methods in terms of distinct metrics, and thereby generates more diverse responses that are informative, interesting and polite without any loss of information. Empirical evaluation also reveals that images, while used along with the text, improve the efficiency of the model in generating diversified responses.
Ion release and recharge from a fissure sealant containing amorphous calcium phosphate
Authors: Memarpour Mahtab , Afzali Baghdadabadi Neda , Rafiee Azade , Vossoughi Mehrdad
Published: November 2020

To assess- the release of calcium and phosphate ions from a fissure sealant containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), and to determine the re-release capacity of these ions when charged with a solution containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP). Nine blocks of ACP resin-based sealant were prepared and immersed in three solutions at different pH (4.0, 5.5, 7.0), and calcium and phosphate ion release was measured with ion chromatography at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after immersion. Sixty days after immersion, each block was charged with CPP-ACP solution in three 7-day cycles to investigate the re-release of these ions, which was measured on days 1, 3, and 7. No difference was observed in initial calcium ion release at pH 4.0 and pH 5.5. At both values, ion release was significantly higher than at pH 7.0 (p<0.001). Initial phosphate release was significantly different among the three pH values (p<0.001). After re-charging the specimens, calcium ion re-release was greater than phosphate ion release. Initial ion release from ACP resin-based sealant was greatest at the lowest pH. Ion release decreased with time. As the number of recharge cycles increased, ion re-release also improved. Phosphate ion re-release required more recharge cycles than calcium ion re-release.
A model mimicking catabolic inflammatory disease; a controlled randomized study in humans
Authors: Mose Maike , Rittig Nikolaj , Mikkelsen Ulla Ramer , Jessen Niels , Bengtsen Mads Bisgaard , Christensen Brit , Jørgensen Jens Otto Lunde , Møller Niels
Published: November 2020

Objective

Inflammatory disease is catabolic and associated with insulin resistance, increased energy expenditure, lipolysis and muscle protein loss. The main contributors to these metabolic adaptations are inflammation, malnutrition and immobilisation. Controlled experimental models incorporating these central elements of hospitalisation are lacking. The aim of this study was to validate such a human experimental model.

Methods

In a randomized crossover design, six healthy young men underwent; (i) overnight fast (CTR), or (ii) exposure to systemic lipopolysaccharide (1 ng/kg) combined with 36-hour fast and bed rest (CAT). The difference in insulin sensitivity between CAT and CTR was the main outcome, determined by a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic glucose clamp. Palmitate, glucose, urea, phenylalanine and tyrosine tracers were infused to estimate metabolic shifts during interventions. Indirect calorimetry was used to estimate energy expenditure and substrate oxidation.

Results

Insulin sensitivity was 41% lower in CAT than in CTR (M-value, mg/kg/min): 4.3 ± 0.2 vs 7.3 ± 1.3, p<0.05. The median (min max) palmitate flux (μmol/min) was higher during CAT than in CTR (257.0 (161.7 365.4) vs 131.6 (92.3 189.4), p = 0.004), and protein kinetics did not differ between interventions. C-reactive peptide (mg/L) was elevated in CAT compared with CTR (30.57 ± 4.08 vs 1.03 ± 0.19, p<0.001). Energy expenditure increased by 6% during CAT compared with CTR (1869 ± 94 vs 1756 ± 58, p = 0.04), CAT having higher lipid oxidation rates (p = 0.01) and lower glucose oxidation rates (p = 0.03). Lipopolysaccharide caused varying abdominal discomfort 2 hours post-injection, which had disappeared the following day.

Conclusion

We found that combined systemic inflammation, fasting and bed rest induced marked insulin resistance and increased energy expenditure and lipolysis, rendering this controlled experimental model suitable for anti-catabolic intervention studies, mimicking clinical conditions.
Efficacy and safety of short-term therapy with indigo naturalis for ulcerative colitis: An investigator-initiated multicenter double-blind clinical trial
Authors: Uchiyama Kan , Takami Shinichiro , Suzuki Hideo , Umeki Kiyotaka , Mochizuki Satoshi , Kakinoki Nobushige , Iwamoto Junichi , Hoshino Yoko , Omori Jun , Fujimori Shunji , Yanaka Akinori , Mizokami Yuji , Ohkusa Toshifumi
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Indigo naturalis (IN) is a blue pigment extracted from Assam indigo and other plants and has been confirmed to be highly effective for ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment in several clinical studies.

Objective

We conducted a multicenter double-blind study to confirm the efficacy and safety of short-term IN administration.

Methods

A multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted between December 2015 and October 2018 in our facilities. Forty-six patients with mild to moderate active UC (Lichtiger index: 5–10) were randomly assigned to the IN group or the placebo group and received 5 capsules (500 mg) twice a day for 2 weeks. We investigated the efficacy according to blood tests and the Lichtiger index before and after administration, and we also examined adverse events.

Results

The analysis included 42 patients (20 males, 22 females) with an average age of 45 years. Nineteen patients were assigned to the placebo group, and 23 were assigned to the IN group. After treatment administration, in the placebo group, no change in the Lichtiger index was observed (7.47 to 6.95, p = 0.359), and hemoglobin was significantly reduced (12.7 to 12.4, p = 0.031), while in the IN group, the Lichtiger index (9.04 to 4.48, p = 0.001) and albumin (4.0 to 4.12, p = 0.022) improved significantly. Mild headaches were observed in 5 patients and 1 patient in the IN and placebo groups, respectively.

Conclusions

Short-term administration of IN is highly effective without serious adverse events such as pulmonary hypertension or intussusception and may prevent the occurrence of serious adverse events.
PrEP discontinuation among Latino/a and Black MSM and transgender women: A need for PrEP support services
Authors: Nieto Omar , Brooks Ronald A. , Landrian Amanda , Cabral Alejandra , Fehrenbacher Anne E.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Disparities persist in HIV infection among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (BLMSM) and Black and Latina transgender women (BLTW). Increasing uptake and subsequent consistent use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an effective biomedical strategy for preventing HIV acquisition, can dramatically reduce HIV incidence in these populations. The purpose of this study was to explore reasons for PrEP discontinuation among BLMSM and BLTW living in Los Angeles County to inform the development of support services for these populations to remain persistent with their PrEP regimen.

Methods

In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 BLMSM and 7 BLTW who reported either temporary or indefinite PrEP discontinuation. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative data.

Results

Four themes emerged related to reasons for PrEP discontinuation, including: (1) lower perceived HIV risk related to changes in sexual behavior; (2) structural or logistical barriers (e.g., lapse or loss of health insurance, cost, difficulty navigating complex medical systems); (3) anticipated and experienced medication side effects, with a sub-theme of interactions between PrEP and feminizing hormone medications; and (4) challenges with medication adherence.

Conclusions

PrEP is an important prevention tool for BLMSM and BLTW, particularly during periods of heightened HIV risk. However, both individual (e.g., inability to adhere to medication, changes in HIV sexual risk behaviors) and structural/logistical (e.g., loss of insurance, navigating complex medical systems) factors can cause temporary or indefinite PrEP discontinuation. Additional support services, beyond those offered by medical providers, are needed to help BLMSM and BLTW PrEP users overcome barriers to discontinuation and assist them to remain persistent with their PrEP regimen. We describe potential options for support services such as PrEP case management, expanded PrEP navigation services, or text messaging services.
In vitro assessment of triterpenoids NVX-207 and betulinyl-bis-sulfamate as a topical treatment for equine skin cancer
Authors: Weber Lisa Annabel , Funtan Anne , Paschke Reinhard , Delarocque Julien , Kalbitz Jutta , Meißner Jessica , Feige Karsten , Kietzmann Manfred , Cavalleri Jessika-Maximiliane V.
Published: November 2020

Equine sarcoid (ES) is the most prevalent skin tumor in equids worldwide. Additionally, aging grey horses frequently suffer from equine malignant melanoma (EMM). Current local therapies targeting these skin tumors remain challenging. Therefore, more feasible topical treatment options should be considered. In order to develop a topical therapy against ES and EMM, betulinyl-bis-sulfamate and NVX-207, derivatives of the naturally occurring betulin and betulinic acid, respectively, were evaluated for their antiproliferative (crystal violet staining assay), cytotoxic (MTS assay) and apoptotic (AnnexinV staining, cell cycle investigations) effects on primary ES cells, EMM cells and equine dermal fibroblastsin vitro. The more potent derivative was assessed for itsin vitro penetration and permeation on isolated equine skin within 30 min and 24 h using Franz-type diffusion cells and HPLC analysis. Betulinyl-bis-sulfamate and NVX-207 inhibited the proliferation and metabolism in ES cells, EMM cells and fibroblasts significantly (p < 0.001) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. NVX-207 had superior anticancer effects compared to betulinyl-bis-sulfamate. Both compounds led to the externalization of phosphatidylserines on the cell membrane and DNA fragmentation, demonstrating that the effective mode of action was apoptosis. After 48 h of treatment with NVX-207, the number of necrotic cells was less than 2% in all cell types. Detected amounts of NVX-207 in the different skin layers exceeded the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations calculated by far. Even though data obtainedin vitroare auspicious, the results are not unconditionally applicable to the clinical situation. Consequently,in vivostudies are required to address the antitumoral effects of topically applied NVX-207 in ES and EMM patients.
High expression of Tie-2 predicts poor prognosis in primary high grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Sopo Minna , Sallinen Hanna , Hämäläinen Kirsi , Kivelä Annukka , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Kosma Veli-Matti , Keski-Nisula Leea , Anttila Maarit
Published: November 2020

Background

Antiangiogenic therapy, although part of standard treatment in ovarian cancer, has variable efficacy. Furthermore, little is known about the prognostic biomarkers and factors influencing angiogenesis in cancer tissue. We evaluated the expression of angiopoietin-2 and two endothelial tyrosine kinase receptors, Tie-1 and Tie-2, and assessed their value in the prediction of survival in patients with malignant epithelial ovarian cancer. We also compared the expression of these factors between primary high grade serous tumors and their distant metastasis.

Materials and methods

We evaluated 86 women with primary epithelial ovarian cancer. Matched distal omental metastasis were investigated in 18.6% cases (N = 16). The expression levels of angiogenic factors were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 306 specimens and by qRT-PCR in 111 samples.

Results

A high epithelial expression level of Tie-2 is a significant prognostic factor in primary high grade serous ovarian cancer. It predicted significantly shorter overall survival both in univariate (p<0.001) and multivariate survival analyses (p = 0.022). Low angiopoietin-2 expression levels in primary ovarian tumors were significantly associated with shorter overall survival (p = 0.015) in the univariate survival analysis. A low expression of angiopoietin-2 was also significantly related to high grade tumors, size of residual tumor after primary surgery and the recurrence of cancer (p = 0.008; p = 0.012; p = 0.018) in the whole study population. The expression of angiopoietin-2 and Tie-2 was stronger in distal omental metastasis than in primary high grade serous tumors in matched-pair analysis (p = 0.001; p = 0.002).

Conclusions

The angiogenic factor, angiopoietin-2, and its receptor Tie-2 seem to be significant prognostic factors in primary epithelial ovarian cancer. Their expression levels are also increased in metastatic lesions in comparison with primary tumors.
Variant analysis of 1,040 SARS-CoV-2 genomes
Authors: Rouchka Eric C. , Chariker Julia H. , Chung Donghoon
Published: November 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral genome is an RNA virus consisting of approximately 30,000 bases. As part of testing efforts, whole genome sequencing of human isolates has resulted in over 1,600 complete genomes publicly available from GenBank. We have performed a comparative analysis of the sequences, in order to detect common mutations within the population. Analysis of variants occurring within the assembled genomes yields 417 variants occurring in at least 1% of the completed genomes, including 229 within the 5’ untranslated region (UTR), 152 within the 3’UTR, 2 within intergenic regions and 34 within coding sequences.