bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANÁLISE DA PLURALIDADE NA COBERTURA DE PROBLEMAS AMBIENTAIS NO JORNAL ONLINE DIÁRIO DO NORDESTE
Authors: Silva Natália Serrão da , Rodrigues Allan Soljenítsin Barreto
Published: January 2021

Este artigo verificou a qualidade das reportagens sobre problemas ambientais no jornal online Diário do Nordeste (Fortaleza/CE) analisando-as de acordo com a frequência da publicação e critérios do jornalismo científico e ambiental com o objetivo de certificar se a imprensa informa eficientemente o público acerca desse assunto. O jornalismo, em seu papel informativo e esclarecedor, requer um discurso qualificado para que a população tenha condições de questionar ações e decisões políticas e sociais. O presente estudo aponta dificuldades encontradas na apuração da categoria de análise da pluralidade, expondo orientações para a qualificação do conteúdo publicado no jornal acerca da temática ambiental.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: meio ambiente; pesquisa; jornalismo; Diário do Nordeste.

 

ABSTRACT

This report verified the quality of the reports about the environmental problems in the newspaper Diário do Nordeste (Fortaleza / CE) analyzing the press performance and the scientific journal much of this subject. Journalism, in its informative and enlightening role, requires a qualified discourse to receive the actions of questioning political and social decisions. The present study was developed to obtain the classification of the policy exemption analysis for the publication of contents published in the journal on the environmental theme.

KEWORDS:  environment, research, journalism, Diário do Nordeste.

 

RESUMEN

Este artículo verificó la calidad de los informes sobre problemas  ambientales en el periódico en línea Diário do Nordeste (Fortaleza / CE) analizándolos de acuerdo con la frecuencia de publicación y los criterios del periodismo científico y ambiental para asegurarse de que la prensa informa eficientemente al público. sobre ese tema. El periodismo, en su papel informativo y esclarecedor, requiere un discurso calificado para que la población pueda cuestionar las acciones y decisiones políticas y sociales. Este estudio señala dificultades encontradas para determinar la categoría de análisis de pluralidad, exponiendo pautas para la calificación del contenido publicado en el periódico sobre el tema ambiental.

PALABRAS CLAVE: medio ambiente; investigación; periodismo Northeast Daily.
Real-Time 3D Surface Measurement in Additive Manufacturing Using Deep Learning
Authors: Chenang Liu , Rongxuan Wang , Kong Zhenyu , Suresh Babu , Chase Joslin , James Ferguson
Published: January 2021

Layer-wise 3D surface morphology information is critical for the quality monitoring and control of additive manufacturing (AM) processes. However, most of the existing 3D scan technologies are either contact or time consuming, which are not capable of obtaining the 3D surface morphology data in a real-time manner during the process. Therefore, the objective of this study is to achieve real-time 3D surface data acquisition in AM, which is achieved by a supervised deep learning-based image analysis approach. The key idea of this proposed method is to capture the correlation between 2D image and 3D point cloud, and then quantify this relationship by using a deep learning algorithm, namely, convolutional neural network (CNN). To validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method, both simulation and real-world case studies were performed. The results demonstrate that this method has strong potential to be applied for real-time surface morphology measurement in AM, as well as other advanced manufacturing processes.
Economic Complexity and Poverty in Developing Countries
Authors: Gnangnon Sena Kimm
Published: January 2021

This paper has examined the effect of economic complexity on poverty in developing countries. The analysis has used a sample of 84 countries over the period 1980-2017. Results indicate that greater economic complexity results in lower poverty headcount rates. This is particularly the case for countries that enjoy higher economic growth rates, lower levels of income inequality and lower degrees of economic growth volatility, including due to lower sizes of export demand and financial flows shocks. These findings have important policy implications for developing countries that are exploring ways and means to recover from the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and prepare for future crises.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Supply Chain: A Discussion on Decentralization of the Supply Chain and Ensuring Interoperability
Authors: Ino Eri , Watanabe Kenji ,   Advanced Disaster Prevention Engineering Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan,   Graduate School of Social Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Aichi, Japan
Published: January 2021

Focusing on reconstruction of the Global Supply Chain (GSC), which has been accelerated by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study considers how COVID-19 has impacted the GSC and the appropriate approach to Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) in the future. Due to the spread of COVID-19, manufacturing industries across the world, including those in Japan, have faced difficulties in procurement and continuation of production. Under these circumstances, the Japanese Government has implemented measures to support the supply chain. This study reviews the decentralization and complication of the GSC triggered by the changing environment around it and the support measures undertaken. Considering a more decentralized and complicated GSC in future and its SCRM, the authors will continue to examine the effectiveness of the introduction of a management system based on standardized rules in the region concerned.
Akses Pelayanan Kesehatan Keluarga Berstatus Ekonomi Rendah di Era JKN
Authors: Soewondo Prastuti , Johar Meliyanni , Pujisubekti Retno
Published: January 2021

Economically disadvantaged families often cannot pay for healthcare. Since Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) was launched in 2014, the government expands subsidies for these families, identified based on consumption. However, this criterion would misclassify families with low purchasing power as economically advantaged because they have large consumption, financed through social assistance. This paper uses the income from the main job instead to determine families’ economic rank. Based on 35 percent of families with the lowest income, utilisation increases with insurance availability. Predictions using consumption as the gauge for economic rank are underestimated, up to 71 percent for inpatient services. .................................................... Masyarakat dengan status ekonomi rendah sering kali tidak mampu memenuhi kebutuhan kesehatannya. Sejak Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) diluncurkan pada tahun 2014, Pemerintah memperluas subsidi iuran bagi keluarga tidak mampu yang diidentifikasi menurut nilai konsumsi. Masalahnya, kriteria ini akan mengategorikan keluarga tidak mampu sebagai mampu karena nilai konsumsi yang besar dibiayai oleh pihak lain. Sebagai alternatif, kajian ini menggolongkan keluarga berdasarkan besaran penghasilan yang didapatkan dari pekerjaan. Untuk 35 persen keluarga berpenghasilan terendah, probabilitas utilisasi ditemukan meningkat dengan ketersediaan jaminan kesehatan. Penggunaan besaran konsumsi sebagai acuan peringkat ekonomi terlalu kecil menafsir pengaruh kepesertaan jaminan kesehatan pada utilisasi, sampai sebanyak 71 persen pada pelayanan rawat inap.
Interpreting pre-vegetation landscape dynamics: The Cambrian Lower Mount Simon Sandstone, Illinois, U.S.A.
Authors: Reesink Arnold Jan H. , Best Jim , Freiburg Jared T. , Webb Nathan D. , Monson Charles C. , Ritzi Robert W.
Published: January 2021

The Cambrian Mount Simon Sandstone has been the subject of extensive study and multiple industrial-scale carbon storage demonstrations at Decatur, Illinois, USA. The development of a reliable paleoenvironmental model is critical to successful large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, but is complicated by the need to interpret pre-vegetation sedimentation processes. The present study presents a paleoenvironmental model of the Lower Mount Simon Sandstone, based on analysis of primary sedimentary structures in two cores and four complete high-resolution resistivity logs (FMI).

The Lower Mount Simon Sandstone represents a vertical “drying-up” sequence composed of three associated depositional units: a north–south oriented coastal system at the base, an eastward-directed fluvial unit in the middle, and a westward-directed eolian system at the top that recycled medium- and fine-grained sand in the basin. Quantitative analysis of fluvial cross-strata indicates that the perennial river system was shallow (c. 1 m deep) with relatively narrow channel belts (c. 1 km). Adjacent sandy eolian-floodplain deposits contain abundant thin, crinkly planar laminae that are enriched in fines and are interpreted as cementation surfaces, likely of biological origin. Deflation lags and wind-ripple strata are commonly interbedded with the crinkly strata, suggesting that the recurrence of erosion and deposition that controlled sedimentary preservation on the floodplain were dominated by eolian transport, re-wetting, and (bio-) cementation. Such a prominent role of exposure to the wind, basin-scale sediment recycling, and eolian removal of fine-grained sediment would have ceased to exist for most climates after the development of vegetation on land, yet, may well be key to understanding the environmental context for early life on Earth.
The influence of benthic diatoms on the textures of carbonate-coated grains from a fluvial tufa spring in northern California
Authors: Boelts Hannah P. , Ibarra Yadira , Hayzelden Clive
Published: January 2021

Diatoms are common in terrestrial freshwater carbonate environments, but their influence on the resulting carbonate texture and porosity remains unquantified. This study investigates the effect of diatoms on the textural variability and syndepositional porosity of spring-associated carbonate coated grains from a freshwater spring in Henry Cowell State Park, northern California, USA. Carbonate coated grains (n = 60) were collected from the distal-most pool of the spring (∼ 300 m from the spring source) and the porosity of the 1 cm diameter fraction (n = 20) was determined using the ImageJ software by adjusting the threshold size for pores > 1000 μm2. Results reveal a strong positive correlation between the number of pores and the number of diatoms examined in each coated grain (r = 0.77). There is a moderate positive relationship between the length of the largest diatom and the minor-axis diameter of a best-fit ellipse of its corresponding pore (r = 0.60). The total pore area for pores associated with at least one diatom was significantly greater than the total pore area of pores that did not enclose diatom frustules (t = 1.80, p < 0.05). Textural observations show that fine-grained laminated textures contain fewer diatoms than the porous textures, suggesting that diatoms disrupt lamination continuity by introducing pore space. These findings have implications for the influence of diatoms on the syndepositional porosity of carbonate rocks from the Cretaceous to Recent and may help explain textural differences between modern marine carbonate microbialites and their Precambrian counterparts.
Enactment and publication of laws in the kingdom of navarre
Authors: de Arvizu y Galarraga Fernando
Published: January 2021

The development process of a law in Navarre brings to light some particularly interesting features, one of which has still not been studied by the historians of our country: Parliament’s power to prevent a law approved by the King from ever coming into force. This was done by not including this approved petition in the documents required so that the Viceroy could sign the General Patent, by which the laws, once published in ‘las cabezas de Merindad’ (districts) of the Kingdom, would become effective.
“The impact of coronavirus outbreak on breastfeeding guidelines among Brazilian hospitals and maternity services: a cross-sectional study”
Authors: Gonçalves-Ferri Walusa Assad , Pereira-Cellini Fábia Martins , Coca Kelly Pereira , Aragon Davi Casale , Nader Paulo de Jesus Hartmann , Lyra João Cesar , Vale Maryneia Silva do , Marba Sérgio Tadeu Martins , Araujo Katiaci Janice Chaves , Dias Laura de Fátima Afonso , Ferreira Daniela Marques de Lima Mota , Nieto Gislayne Souza , Anchieta Lêni Marcia , Silveira Rita de Cássia , de Moura Marta David Rocha , Calil Valdenise Martins L. Tuma , Moraes Viviane Christina Cortez , de Almeida João Henrique Carvalho Leme , Magalhães Maurício , Soncini Thaise Cristina Brancher , Javorsky Juliane Barleta , Ribeiro Érica Lobato Acaui , Ferreira Rodrigo , de Almeida Louise Dantas Cavalcante , Garbers Rosângela , Faria Gabriella Maset da Silva , Roosch Anelise , de Mesquita Ana Ruth Antunes , Pinto Rebecca Meirelles de Oliveira
Published: January 2021

Background: Recommended by the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding is a safe source of nutrition available for children in most humanitarian emergencies, as in the current pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Despite the Brazilian national Guideline protecting breastfeeding practice, there are many concerns about protecting babies from their infected mothers. This study aimed to analyze how the Brazilian hospitals and maternity services promote and support mothers suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional and multicenter study collecting data from 24 Brazilian hospitals and maternity services from March to July 2020. Representatives of the institutions completed a questionnaire based on acts to promote and support breastfeeding, Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and Brazil’s federal law recommendations.Results: The results showed that in delivery rooms, 98.5% of the services prohibited immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and companions for the mother and did not support mothers to initiate breastfeeding in the first hour. In rooming-in, 98.5% of the services allowed breastfeeding and recommend care for babies following the respiratory hygiene practices to prevent transmission of COVID-19 and whether companions are forbidden (83.3%). Hospital discharge was mostly early (79.1%); the guidelines were not individualized. Additionally, a lack of support was noticed from the health community network in the home environment (83.3%). Hospital and home breast pumping were allowed (87.5%), but breast milk donation was not accepted (95.8%). Conclusions: In Brazil, the hospitals are not able to approach recommendations to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding properly during the COVID-19 outbreak. The scientific community needs to discuss how to improve maternal and baby care services to protect breastfeeding in the current pandemic.
Research on Cluster Overlap and Non-overlap Region for 5G-IoV Networks with NOMA
Authors: Gu Jinyuan , Zhang Guoan , Lv Haibin , Duan Wei
Published: January 2021

As a multi hop self-organizing network, wireless sensor network (WSN) has the ability to cooperatively sense, collect and process the information of the sensed objects. The applications of WCN in 5G-based Internet of Vehicles (5G-IoV), using information fusion and intelligent information processing technologies, can obtain more reliable and accurate detection parameters, which has been widely concerned. However, the massive connectivity and information exchange in 5G-IoV pose great challenges to the bandwidth efficiency. In order to overcome these issues in 5G-IoV networks, a performance enhanced scheme based on non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is proposed. In the proposed scheme, different vehicle locations are respectively discussed, i.e., whether in the overlap region of cluster head vehicles (CHVs). In particular, different to conventional works, each receiving node only decodes the desired signal to avoid performance loss provided from the poor channel quality limitation. On the other hand, all CHVs decode-and-forward (DF) new superposition coded signals with new power allocation factors, while that the maximum ratio combining (MRC) is utilized at receivers to further improve the ergodic sum-rate (SR) and probability of conflict. The closed-form expressions of ergodic SR for our proposed scheme are analyzed under the independent Rayleigh fading channels. Numerical results corroborating our theoretical analysis show that the superposition coded signal transmission scheme applied to the proposed NOMA-IoV improves the ergodic SR performance significantly compared with the existing works, especially for the high signal-to-noise (SNR) region.
Independent association of atherogenic dyslipidaemia with all-cause mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes and modifying effect of gender: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Orsi Emanuela , Penno Giuseppe , Solini Anna , Bonora Enzo , Fondelli Cecilia , Trevisan Roberto , Vedovato Monica , Cavalot Franco , Morano Susanna , Baroni Marco Giorgio , Nicolucci Antonio , Pugliese Giuseppe
Published: January 2021

Background. Atherogenic dyslipidaemia has been implicated in the residual risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, which remains despite attainment of LDL cholesterol goals especially in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, its relationship with all-cause death has not been sufficiently explored. This analysis evaluated the independent association of increased triglycerides and triglyceride:HDL cholesterol ratio (TG:HDL) and decreased HDL cholesterol with total mortality and the possible modifying effect of gender in a large cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods. This observational, prospective study enrolled 15,773 patients in 19 Diabetes Clinics throughout Italy in the years 2006-2008. Triglycerides and total and HDL cholesterol were measured by colorimetric enzymatic methods. Vital status was retrieved on 31 October 2015 for 15,656 patients (99.3%). Participants were stratified by quartiles of triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and TG:HDL.Results. There were 3,602 deaths over a follow-up 7.42±2.05 years (31.0 x 1,000 person-years). In the unadjusted analyses, the highest TG:HDL (but not triglyceride) and the lowest HDL cholesterol quartile were associated with increased death rate and mortality risk. When sequentially adjusting for confounders, including total, LDL, or non-HDL cholesterol and lipid-lowering treatment, mortality risk was significantly higher in the highest triglyceride (hazard ratio 1.167 [95% confidence interval 1.055-1.291], p=0.003) and TG:HDL (1.192 [1.082-1.314], p<0.0001) and the lowest HDL cholesterol (1.232 [1.117-1.360], p<0.0001) quartile, though the association of triglycerides and HDL cholesterol disappeared after further adjustment for each other. Interaction with gender was significant only for HDL cholesterol (p=0.0009). The relationship with death was stronger for triglycerides in males and HDL cholesterol in females, with these associations remaining significant even after adjustment for HDL cholesterol (1.161 [1.019-1.324], p=0.025, for the highest vs the lowest triglyceride quartile) and triglycerides (1.366 [1.176-1.587], p<0.0001, for the lowest vs the highest HDL cholesterol quartile).Conclusions. In patients with type 2 diabetes, higher triglycerides and TG:HDL and lower HDL cholesterol were independently associated with increased all-cause mortality, with a modifying effect of gender for triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. These data suggest that atherogenic dyslipidaemia, especially TG:HDL, may serve as predictor of all-cause death in these individuals.
Observation of fractional spin textures and bulk-boundary correspondence
Authors: Parkin Stuart , Jena Jagannath , Göbel Börge , Hirosawa Tomoki , Díaz Sebastián , Hinokihara Taichi , Kumar Vivek , Mertig Ingrid , Felser Claudia , Loss Daniel
Published: January 2021

Recently a zoology of non-collinear chiral spin textures has been discovered, most of which, such as skyrmions and antiskyrmions, have integer topological charges that provides them with enhanced stability. Here we report the experimental real-space observation of the formation and stability of fractional antiskyrmions and fractional elliptical skyrmions in a Heusler material. These fractional objects appear, over a wide range of temperature and magnetic field, at the edges of a sample, whose interior is occupied by an array of nano-objects with integer topological charges, in agreement with our simulations. We explore the evolution of these objects in the presence of magnetic fields and show their interconversion to objects with integer topological charges. This means the topological charge can be varied continuously. These fractional spin textures are not just another type of skyrmion, but are essentially a new state of matter that emerges and lives only at the boundary of a magnetic system. Moreover, they form the basis for topological quantum effects arising from the magnonic excitations around a skyrmion lattice. The coexistence of both integer and fractionally charged spin textures in the same material makes the Heusler family of compounds unique for the manipulation of the real-space topology of spin textures and thus an exciting platform especially for the future exploration of the magnonic bulk-boundary correspondence.
Pulmonary Function and Chest CT in Patients Recovering From COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Zhang Jiaying , Yang Xinmiao , Wu Xiuzhi , Gao Lijuan , Meng Fankun , Sun Bing
Published: January 2021

Background: COVID-19 is a new and highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, there is a paucity of data regarding long-term CT findings and pulmonary function in COVID-19 survivors. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of COVID-19 pneumonia on pulmonary function and chest high-resolution computed tomography (CT) in convalescent patients. Methods: A retrospective study of COVID-19 pneumonia patients in the Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, was conducted. Serial assessments, including pulmonary volumes (TLC), spirometry (VC, FVC, FEV1), pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO, DLCO/VA), and chest high-resolution CT were collected 3 months after discharge. Results: Forty-six patients completed the serial assessments. There were 38 non-severe and 8 severe cases. Abnormalities were detected in pulmonary function tests in 17 patients (37.8%). One (2.2%), 2 (4.3%), and 17 (37.8%) patients had FEV1/FVC ratio, TLC, and DLCO values less than 80% of predicted values, respectively. Twenty-eight patients (60.9%) had abnormal CT findings. Compared with patients with non-severe disease, those with severe disease had higher chest CT scores but a similar incidence of DLCO impairment. Similarly, patients who received glucocorticoids had higher chest CT scores but a similar incidence of DLCO impairment than those in the nonglucocorticoid group. Conclusions: Three months after discharge from the hospital, impaired diffusing capacity and CT abnormalities were detected in more than one third of COVID-19 patients. Compared with patients with non-severe disease, those with severe illness had a higher incidence of lung imaging abnormalities and similar lung function impairment.
Consultations With Health Care Providers and Use of Self-management Strategies for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Related Symptoms. A Population Based Cross-sectional Study in Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands
Authors: Kristoffersen Agnete , Werf Esther van der , Stub Trine , Musial Frauke , Wider Barbara , Jong Miek , Wode Kathrin , Danell Jenny-Ann , Busch Martine , Hoenders H.J. Rogier , Nordberg Johanna
Published: January 2021

BackgroundThe present study was initiated to determine consultations with health care providers and use of self-management strategies such as herbal remedies, dietary supplements and self-help techniques for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 related symptoms in countries with a full lockdown (Norway), a partial (’intelligent’) lockdown (the Netherlands) and no lockdown (Sweden) during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and if such use correlates with worries of being infected by COVID-19 disease. MethodsData were collected in collaboration with the global marketing company Ipsos A/S in April-June 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. An adapted version of the I-CAM-Q was used and the categories “for prevention of COVID-19” and “to treat COVID-19-related symptoms” added to the original “reasons for use” options. Data were collected among a representative sample in Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands using data assisted telephone interviews (Norway, n=990 and Sweden, n=500), and an online survey (the Netherlands, n=1004). Total response rate was 30%. ResultsOnly a very small number of people in any of the three countries consulted a health care provider with the intention to treat or prevent COVID-19 (1.2% and 1.0% respectively) with medical doctors mostly visited (1.0% and 0.9%). Similarly, the use of self-management strategies to prevent or treat COVID-19 was low (3.4% and 0.2% respectively); most commonly used were vitamins and minerals (2.8%) for prevention of COVID-19, primarily vitamin C (1.7%), vitamin D (0.9%), and multivitamins (0.5%). Consultations with health care providers and use of self-management strategies for prevention of COVID-19 were positively associated with worries of being infected with COVID-19. No such associations were found for worries about loved ones or the perception that COVID-19 is more dangerous than ordinary influenza. ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to have evoked a large-scale difference in behaviour related to consultations with health care providers or the use of self-management strategies such as dietary supplements and self-help techniques in any of the three countries, despite different containment and mitigation measures.
Simulated Ventilation of two Patients with a Single Ventilator in a Pandemic Setting
Authors: Schepat Pascal , Kober Benjamin , Eble Martin , Wenzel Volker , Herff Holger
Published: January 2021

Background: Simultaneous ventilation of two patients, e.g. due to a shortage of ventilators in a pandemic, may result in hypoventilation in one patient and hyperinflation in the other patient. Methods: In a simulation of double patient ventilation using artificial lungs with equal compliances (70mL∙mbar-1), we tried to voluntarily direct gas flow to one patient by using 3D-printed y-adapters and stenosis adapters during volume-, and pressure-controlled ventilation. Subsequently, we modified the model using a special one-way valve on the limited flow side and measured in pressure-controlled ventilation with the flow sensor adjusted to either side in a second and third setup. In the last setup, we also measured with different lung compliances.Results: Volume- or pressure-controlled ventilation using standard connection tubes with the same compliance in each lung resulted in comparable minute volumes in both lungs, even if one side was obstructed to 3mm (6.6±0.2vs.6.5±0.1L for volume-controlled ventilation, p=.25 continuous severe alarm and 7.4±0.1vs.6.1±0.1L for pressure-controlled ventilation, p=.02 no alarm). In the second setup, pressure-controlled ventilation resulted at 3mm flow limitation in minute ventilation of 9.4±0.3vs3.5±0.1L∙min-1, p=.001. In a third setup using the special one-way valve and the flow sensor on the unobstructed side, pressure-controlled ventilation resulted at 3mm flow limitation in minute ventilation of 7.4±0.2vs3±0L∙min-1, at the compliance of 70mL∙mbar-1 for both lungs, 7.2±0vs4.1±0L∙ min-1, at the compliances of 50 vs. 70mL∙mbar-1, and 7.2±0.2vs5.7±0L∙ min-1, at the compliance of 30 vs. 70mL∙mbar-1 (all p=.001).Conclusions: Overriding a modern intensive care ventilator's safety features are possible, thereby ventilating two lungs with one ventilator simultaneously in a laboratory simulation using 3D-printed y-adapters. Directing tidal volumes in different pulmonary conditions towards one lung using 3D-printed flow limiters with diameters <6mm was also possible. While this ventilation setting was technically feasible in a bench model, it would be volatile, if not dangerous in a clinical situation.
‘Colorful’ Polyline Grain Boundaries in Two-dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Yu Maolin , Zhu Chao , He Yongmin , Zhou Jiadong , Xu Ying , Liu Zheng , Guo Wanlin , Zhang Zhuhua
Published: January 2021

Grain boundaries (GBs) are vital to crystal materials and their applications. Although the GBs in bulk and two-dimensional materials have been extensively studied, the polyline GBs prevalently forming in transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers by a sequence of folded segments remain a mystery. We visualize the large-area distribution of the polyline GBs in MoSe2 monolayers by means of a strain mapping method and unravel their structural origin using ab initio calculations combined with high-resolution atomic characterizations. Unlike normal GBs in two-dimensional materials with one type of dislocation cores, the polyline GBs consist of two basic elements—4|8 and 4|4|8 cores, whose alloying results in structural diversity and distinctly high stability due to relieved stress fields nearby. The defective polygons can uniquely migrate along the polyline GBs via the movement of single molybdenum atoms, unobtrusively giving the GBs their chameleon-like ‘colorful’ appearances. Furthermore, the polyline GBs can achieve useful functionalities such as intrinsic magnetism and highly active electrocatalysis.
Prevalence and Correlates of Vision Impairment and Its Association With Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults in India: An Epidemiological Study
Authors: T Muhammad , Drishti Drishti , Srivast Shobhit
Published: January 2021

BackgroundLike other major chronic diseases, vision impairment is an independently associated risk factor of cognitive decline among older individuals. We in this study, aim to investigate what are the predictors of vision impairment in old age and how impaired vision is associated with cognitive impairment among the aging population.MethodsThe present research used data from Building a Knowledge Base on Population Aging in India. The effective sample size for the present study was 9541 older adults. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis was used to find the preliminary results. Further, binary logistic regression analysis was been done to fulfil the objective of the study.ResultsAbout 6 in every 10 older adults had a problem of vision impairment. Further, nearly 60% of older adults had cognitive impairment in India. Diabetes [OR: 1.55, CI: 1.32-1.81], hypertension [OR: 1.60, CI: 1.42-1.80], heart disease [OR: 1.43, CI: 1.16-1.76] and cataract [OR: 5.97, CI: 4.83-7.38] were the risk factors for vision impairment among older adults. It was revealed that the older adults who had vision impairment were 11% significantly more likely to have cognitive impairment when compared with the older adults who do not suffer from vision impairment [OR: 1.11, CI: 1.01-1.23]. Low psychological health [OR: 1.55; CI: 1.36, 1.77], low ADL [OR: 1.80; CI: 1.43, 2.27], low IADL [OR: 1.26; CI: 1.14, 1.40], poor self-rated health [OR: 1.28; CI: 1.15-1.41] and chronic morbidity [OR: 1.27; CI: 1.14, 1.41] were the significant factors for cognitive impairment among older adults in IndiaConclusionsAdditional efforts in terms of advocacy, availability, affordability, and accessibility especially in a country with a greater illiteracy rate are mandatory to increase the reach of eye-care services and reduce the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment and vision losses that lead to cognitive deficits among the older population.
Using Multiple Imputation and Inverse Probability Weighting to Adjust for Missing Data in HIV Prevalence Estimates: A Cross-Sectional Study in Mwanza, North Western Tanzania.
Authors: MHIKE TINASHE , Todd Jim , Urassa Mark , Mosha Neema
Published: January 2021

Background Population surveys and demographic studies are the gold standard for estimating HIV prevalence. However, non-response in these surveys is of major concern especially if it is not random and complete case analysis becomes an inappropriate method to analyse the data. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis that will account for the missing data must be used to obtain unbiased HIV prevalence estimates. MethodsSerological samples were collected from participants who were resident in a Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) in Kisesa, Tanzania. HIV prevalence was estimated using three methods. Firstly, using the Complete case analysis (CCA), assuming data were Missing Completely at Random (MCAR). The other two methods, multiple imputations (MI) and inverse probability weighting (IPW), assumed that non-response was missing at random (MAR). For MI, a logistic regression model adjusting for age, sex, residence, and marital status was used to impute 20 datasets to re-estimate the HIV prevalence. Propensity for participating in the sero-survey and being tested for HIV given age, sex, residence, and marital status were generated using logistic regression models. Using the propensity scores, inverse probability weights were derived for participants who were tested for HIV.ResultsThe overall CCA HIV prevalence estimate was 6.6% (95% CI: 6.0-7.2), with 5.4% (95% CI: 4.6-6.3) in males and 7.3% (95% CI: 6.6-8.1) in females. Using MI, the overall HIV prevalence was 6.8% (95% CI: 6.2-7.5), 6.2% (95% CI: 5.1-7.3) in males and 7.4% (95% CI: 6.6-8.2) in females. Using IPW the overall HIV prevalence was 6.7% (95% CI: 6.1-7.4), with 5.5% (95% CI: 4.7-6.5) in males and 7.7% (95% CI: 7.0 - 8.6) in females. HIV prevalence differed significantly between age groups (p<0.001), with the highest estimate in males aged 35-39 and females aged 40-44, and lowest in both males and females aged 15-19 years.DiscussionThe results showed that both MI and IPW are reliable methods for estimating HIV prevalence in the presence of missing data. MI is superior to CCA and the IPW approaches as it had smaller standard errors and narrower 95% confidence intervals. Therefore, we recommend use of MI in estimating HIV prevalence to address the problem of varied types of missing data. However, further research is needed to determine the bias in estimates from MI and IPW.ConclusionsComplete case analysis underestimates HIV prevalence compared to methods that adjust for missing data. The best method to adjust for missing data in population surveys is through the use of multiple imputations.
Comparison Analysis of Childhood Body Mass Index Cut-offs in Predicting Adulthood Carotid Intima Media Thickness: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study
Authors: Hosseinpanah Farhad , Seyedhoseinpour Amirhosein , Barzin Maryam , Mahdavi Maryam , Tasdighi Erfan , Dehghan Pooneh , Moghaddam Amin Momeni , Azizi Fereidoun , Valizadeh Majid
Published: January 2021

Background: The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescences have been increased, which can consequently increase the prevalence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases later in life. The objective of this study is to compare the ability of different childhood body mass index cut-offs in prediction of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods: Participants were categorized into normal weight, overweight and obesity group, based on world health organization (WHO), center for disease control and prevention (CDC), international obesity task force (IOTF) and local IOTF cut-offs. After 18 years of follow up CIMT was measured. Akaike’s information criterion and relative efficiency were measured in order to compare regression models on the role of obesity on CIMT.Results: In this prospective cohort study, 1295 subjects aged 3 to 18 years old were enrolled. The overall prevalence of overweight was 15.4, 11.5, 16.3 and 14.1 along with obesity prevalence of 6.6, 8.5, 7.7 and 5.0 percent based on WHO, CDC, local IOTF and international IOTF criteria, respectively. CIMT was higher in obese compare to normal groups across all classification criteria. After regression analysis, international IOTF was the best to predict adulthood CIMT, followed by local IOTF and WHO. CDC had the least discriminatory ability. Conclusion: Due to the results of this study, IOTF could be a better tool in national and international surveillances of children in order to define overweight and obesity, which can help us to intervene more effectively in reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases.
Facile Preparation and Highly Efficient Sorption of Magnetic Composite Graphene Oxide/Fe3O4/GC for Uranium Removal
Authors: Yang Aili , Wang Zhijun , Zhu Yukuan
Published: January 2021

In this work, we reported for the first time a novel magnetic composite graphene oxide/Fe3O4/glucose-COOH (GO/Fe3O4/GC) that was facilely prepared from glucose through the hydrothermal carbonization and further combination with graphene oxide (GO). The chemical and structural properties of the samples were investigated. By the batch uranium adsorption experiments, the magnetic composite GO/Fe3O4/GC exhibits an excellent adsorption performance and fast solid-liquid separation for uranium from aqueous solution. GO/Fe3O4/GC (the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) was 390.70 mg g-1) exhibited excellent adsorption capacity and higher removal rate (> 99%) for U(VI) than those of glucose-COOH (GC) and magnetic GC (MGC). The effect of the coexisting ions, such as Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Al3+, on the U(VI) removal efficiency of GO/Fe3O4/GC was examined. The equilibrium sorption and sorption rate for the as-prepared adsorbents well fit the Langmuir model and pseudo second-order kinetic model, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔH0 = 11.57 kJ mol-1 and ΔG0 < 0) for GO/Fe3O4/GC indicate that the sorption process of U(VI) was exothermic and spontaneous. Thus, this research provides a facile strategy for the preparation of the magnetic composite with low cost, high efficiency and fast separation for the U(VI) removal from aqueous solution.
Cost-utility Analysis of a Consensus and Evidence-based Medication Review to Optimize and Potentially Reduce Psychotropic Drug Prescription in Institutionalized Dementia Patients
Authors: Mesquida Mireia Massot , Folkvord Frans , Seda Gemma , Lupiáñez-Villanueva Francisco , Toran-Monserrat Pere
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence shows the effects of psychotropic drugs on the evolution of dementia. Until now, only a few studies have evaluated the cost‑effectiveness of psychotropic drugs in institutionalized dementia patients. This study aims to assess the cost‑utility of intervention based on consensus between specialized caregivers involved in the management of dementia patients for optimizing and potentially reducing the prescription of inappropriate psychotropic drugs in this population. This analysis was conducted using the Monitoring and Assessment Framework for the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (MAFEIP) tool.METHODS: The MAFEIP tool builds up from a variety of surrogate endpoints commonly used across different studies in order to estimate health and economic outcomes in terms of incremental changes in quality adjusted life years (QALYs), as well as health and social care utilization. Cost estimates are based on scientific literature and expert opinion; they are direct costs and include medical visits, hospital care, medical tests and exams and drugs administered, among other concepts. The healthcare costs of patients using the intervention were calculated by means of a medication review that compared patients' drug‑related costs before, during and after the use of the intervention. The cost‑utility analysis was performed from the perspective of a health care system with a time horizon of 12 months.RESULTS: The tool calculated the incremental cost‑effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the intervention, revealing it to be dominant, or rather, better (more effective) and cheaper than the current (standard) care. The ICER of the intervention was in the lower right quadrant, making it an intervention that is always accepted even with the lowest given Willingness to Pay (WTP) threshold value (€15,000). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that the intervention was dominant, or rather, better (more effective) and cheaper than the current (standard) care. This dominant intervention is therefore recommended to interested investors for systematic application.
Intradialytic Arrhythmias Among Patients with End Stage Renal Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis at Muhimbili National Hospital
Authors: Adam Wailesy , Nagu Tumaini , Mutagaywa Reuben , Kisanga Onesmo
Published: January 2021

BackgroundArrhythmias are responsible for almost 2 out of 3 cardiac deaths among patients on hemodialysis. We report the prevalence and risk factors for clinically significant arrhythmias among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance dialysis at a tertiary dialysis facility in Tanzania. MethodsCross-sectional study, involving consenting adults with ESRD was conducted September 2019 to February 2020. Arrhythmias were assessed using standard 5-leads Holter electrocardiography placed 15 minutes before dialysis and connected throughout dialysis. Clinically Significant Arrhythmias (CSA) was defined as ectopic beats in excess of 10 per hour or any of the ventricular tachycardia or Pause lasting for at least 2.5 seconds or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia or atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation. ResultsA total of 71 (44.4%) participants had CSA. Factors associated with increased risk for CSA were: age older than 60 years (OR 34; 95% CI: 5.15-236; P< 0.001), intradialytic blood pressure change of ≥ 10mmHg (OR 3.85; 95% CI: 1.27-11.7; P=0.017) and the presence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (OR 5.84; 95% CI: 1.85-18.4; P< 0.01). On the contrary, three dialysis sessions per week (OR 0.14; 95% CI: 0.03-0.67; P=0.013) and use of beta-blockers (OR 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05-0.68; P=0.011) were significantly associated with a decreased risk of CSA. ConclusionClinically significant arrhythmias are not uncommon in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. We recommend increasing vigilance for CSA among older patients (>60 years) as well as those with left ventricular hypertrophy. Beta blockers among hypertensive ESRD patients with ventricular hypertrophy could be helpful.
LUAD And LUSC Cancer Classification, Biomarker Identification, and Pathway Analysis Using Overlapping Feature Selection Methods
Authors: Dhahbi Joseph M. , Chen joe w.
Published: January 2021

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. Two of the most common subtypes, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), have drastically different biological signatures, yet they are often treated similarly and classified together as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). LUAD and LUSC biomarkers are scarce and their distinct biological mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Many studies have attempted to improve traditional machine learning algorithms or develop novel algorithms to identify biomarkers, but few have used overlapping machine learning or feature selection methods for cancer classification, biomarker identification, or pathway analysis. This study proposes selecting overlapping features as a way to differentiate between cancer subtypes, especially between LUAD and LUSC. Overall, this method achieved classification results comparable to, if not better than, the traditional algorithms. It also identified multiple known biomarkers, and five potentially novel biomarkers with high discriminating values between the two subtypes. Many of the biomarkers also exhibit significant prognostic potential, particularly in LUAD. Our study also unraveled distinct biological pathways between LUAD and LUSC.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Health and Well-Being: Are Children “Slipping through the Net”? A Qualitative Study of Frontline Emergency Care Staff
Authors: Conlon Ciara , McDonnell Thérèse , Barrett Michael , Cummins Fergal , Deasy Conor , Hensey Conor , McAuliffe Eilish , Nicholson Emma
Published: January 2021

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health guidance to reduce the spread of the disease have wide-reaching implications for children’s health and wellbeing. Furthermore, paediatric emergency departments (EDs) have rapidly adapted provision of care in response to the pandemic. This qualitative study utilized insight from multidisciplinary frontline staff to understand 1) the changes in paediatric emergency healthcare utilization during COVID-19 2) the experiences of working within the restructured health system. MethodsFifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with frontline staff working in two paediatric EDs and two mixed adult and children EDs. Participants included emergency medicine clinicians (n = 5), nursing managerial staff (n=6), social workers (n=2) and nursing staff (n = 2). Thematic Analysis (TA) was applied to the data to identify key themes. ResultsThe pandemic and public health restrictions have had an adverse impact on children’s health and psychosocial wellbeing, compounded by difficulty in accessing primary and community services. The impact may have been more acute for children with disabilities and chronic health conditions and has raised child protection issues for vulnerable children. EDs have shown innovation and agility in the structural and operational changes they have implemented to continue to deliver care to children, however resource limitations and other challenges must be addressed to ensure high quality care delivery and protect the wellbeing of those tasked with delivering this care.Conclusions The spread of COVID-19 and subsequent polices to address the pandemic has had wide-reaching implications for children’s health and wellbeing. The interruption to health and social care services is manifesting in myriad ways in the ED, such as a rise in psychosocial presentations. As the pandemic continues to progress, policy makers and service providers must ensure the continued provision of essential health and social services, including targeted responses for those with existing conditions.
Amplifying the heat shock response ameliorates pathology in mouse and human models of ALS and FTD.
Authors: Ahmed Mhoriam , Spicer Charlotte , Harley Jasmine , Petersen Nikolaj , Taylor Paul , Jensen Thomas , Hanna Michael , Patani Rickie , Greensmith Linda
Published: January 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are now widely considered to be part of a disease spectrum with the identification of common pathological features and genetic causes. However, despite these advances, there remains no effective therapy for these conditions. In this study we demonstrate that mice expressing mutant valosin containing protein (VCP) develop an ALS/FTD-like phenotype in the spinal cord and brain, and treatment with arimoclomol, a pharmacological amplifier of the cytoprotective heat shock response ameliorates this phenotype. Moreover, the beneficial effects of arimoclomol are seen in both fibroblasts and iPSC-derived motor neurons from patients. Importantly, we show the pathological changes targeted by arimoclomol in our experimental models are present in post-mortem FTD patient tissue. Together with previous data demonstrating the efficacy of arimoclomol in SOD1-ALS models, our findings suggest that arimoclomol may have therapeutic potential not only in non-SOD1 ALS but also for the treatment of FTD.