bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Psychosexual Disorders Equally Important in India
Authors: Solanki R. K. , Agarwal Rishika
Published: April 2020

Human sexuality is a complex with multidimensional aspects such as biological, psychological, social, and cultural. Cultural factors influence their development as prevalence rates of these disorders vary in different communities. The nature of problems and their psychological consequences make it difficult to assess the exact prevalence of these dysfunctions, even more difficult in developing countries like India. In India, care for people is not proper as large number of patients suffering from psychosexual problems visit unauthorized “sex clinics” rather than an authorized hospital setting. Specialists like dermatologists are often consulted for these problems in their routine practice as common belief shared by them is that these problems are caused by dysfunctions in their sex organs. So they are hesitant to go to sexual clinics and psychiatrists for the same in the first place. The question that arises is where does sexual medicine stand, as asked by many in the past too but remains unanswered in terms of general medicine and psychiatry. Thus, the need of the hour is to identify these cases in early stages, which can prevent a lot of other disorders occurring due to them such as homicide, suicide, domestic violence, battered wife syndrome, etc. in society. The advance in psychosexual medicine is much needed. Despite the importance of these disorders and sensitivity, in India, there is scarcity of data about the burden of sexual health disorders from community-based studies, unlike Western countries.
Clinical value of event-free survival in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Maiti Abhishek , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Popat Vinita , Borthakur Gautam , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Konopleva Marina Y. , DiNardo Courtney D. , Verstovsek Srdan , Andreeff Michael , Kadia Tapan M. , Ajufo Helen O. , Goswamy Rohit V. , Blanco Carlos , Velasquez Miguel , Daver Naval G. , Pemmaraju Naveen , Pierce Sherry R. , Wierda William G. , Kornblau Steven M. , Ravandi Farhad , Cortes Jorge E.
Published: April 2020

The value of event-free survival (EFS) as an end point in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) trials has been questioned. We hypothesized that rather than a surrogate for overall survival (OS), improvement in EFS may decrease the use of health care. In this retrospective study, we identified 400 patients with AML who were treated on first-line therapy trials and had OS between 2 and 36 months. We captured health care use from diagnosis until death or until the patient was censored at stem cell transplantation (SCT). We used correlation and regression analysis to determine the relation between health care use and EFS. Among patients with newly diagnosed AML, 35% had adverse-risk AML, 48% received intensive chemotherapy, and 28% received hypomethylating agents. The median EFS censored at SCT was 9.7 months. Longer EFS led to a significant decline in health care use regardless of OS. This held true for all observations, including overall health care use (r = −0.45), sum of clinic visits, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, consultations (r = −0.44), sum of invasive procedures, laboratory and imaging studies (r = −0.51), and blood product transfusions (r = −0.19). These correlations were stronger for patients who achieved a complete remission and held true across age, treatment, and disease risk subgroups. In patients with newly diagnosed AML, improvement in EFS correlates with a decrease in all health care use irrespective of OS duration.
Correlation between benign joint hypermobility syndrome and primary focal hyperhidrosis in children: a novel concept
Authors: Parvaneh Vadood Javadi , Shahvaladi Hoda , Rahmani Khosro , Yekta Sara Javdani , Gorji Fatemeh Abdollah , Shiari Reza , Abdollahimajd Fahimeh
Published: April 2020

Background

Benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) is one of the most common hereditary connective tissue disorders in children in which autonomic nervous system involvement has been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of primary focal hyperhidrosis in children with BJHS.

Methods

This observational-analytical study was conducted in a case-control setting on children aged 3 to 15 years in 2018 at Mofid Children’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Benign joint hypermobility syndrome was diagnosed according to the Brighton criteria; then, the patients referred to a dermatologist for evaluation of hyperhidrosis.

Results

In total, 130 eligible patients with confirmed BJHS and 160 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH) was seen in 56.2 and 16.3% of the cases and controls, respectively, indicating a significant difference (P < 0.05). The severity of hyperhidrosis did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusion

Although the results of the study showed a significant correlation between BJHS and PFH, more comprehensive studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Differences in well-being and fear of death among female hospice employees and volunteers in Hungary
Authors: Zana Ágnes , Kegye Adrienne , Czeglédi Edit , Hegedűs Katalin
Published: April 2020

Background

Voluntary work plays a significant role in hospice care, but international research has mainly been conducted on the mental health and fear of death of paid hospice staff. The aim of the present study was to compare the Hungarian hospice volunteers with paid employees with regard to attitudes and fear of death, as well as mental health in order to see their role in hospice work and their psychological well-being more clearly.

Methods

The target population of the cross-sectional questionnaire study was hospice care providers in Hungary (N = 1255). The response rate was 15.5% (N = 195); 91.8% (N = 179) of them were women. The mean age of female hospice workers was 45.8 years (SD = 10.46 years, range: 23–73 years). One-quarter (27.9%, N = 50) of the female respondents were volunteers. The instruments were: the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and a shortened versions of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire.

Results

Volunteers scored significantly lower on 5 dimensions of fear of death than paid employees, and showed significantly lower levels of vital exhaustion and significantly higher levels of psychological well-being than paid employees. Fear of the dying process was associated with an increased perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and vital exhaustion in both groups. Psychological well-being showed a significant negative, moderate correlation with four aspects of fear of death among paid staff; this pattern did not appear in the volunteer group. In addition, the association between fear of premature death and perceived stress, vital exhaustion, and depressive symptoms was more pronounced is case of paid workers.

Conclusion

Higher levels of psychological well-being and lower levels of fear of death among hospice volunteers suggest that they are less exhausted than paid employees. Increasing the recruitment of volunteers in hospices may help reduce the overload and exhaustion of paid employees.
Successful recovery of COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient from Colombia after receiving chloroquine and clarithromycin
Authors: Millán-Oñate José , Millan William , Mendoza Luis Alfonso , Sánchez Carlos Guillermo , Fernandez-Suarez Hugo , Bonilla-Aldana D. Katterine , Rodríguez-Morales Alfonso J.
Published: April 2020

Background

COVID-19 pandemics is a challenge for public health and infectious diseases clinicians, especially for the therapeutical approach that is not yet adequately defined. Amid this situation, investigational agents are being used, including chloroquine. We report here the clinical features and therapeutic course of the first reported patient with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia that recovered in Colombia, after the use of chloroquine and clarithromycin.

Case presentation

A 34-year-old male, returning from Spain, presented with complaints of fever, and cough, and class-II obesity, being hospitalized. The respiratory viruses and bacteria tested by FilmArray® PCR were negative. Two days later, clarithromycin was started because the patient was suspected as community-acquired pneumonia. At the third day, the rRT-PCR confirmed the SARS-CoV-2 infection. A day later, chloroquine was started because of that. His chest computed tomography was performed and showed bilateral multifocal ground-glass opacities with consolidation, which suggested viral pneumonia as a differential diagnosis. Progressively his clinical condition improved and at day 9, patient rRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 became negative. The patient was discharged and isolated at home per 14 days.

Conclusions

Our patient improved significantly. This and other COVID-19 cases are urgently demanding results from clinical trials that support evidence-based therapeutical approaches to this pandemic and the clinical management of patients, especially those at critical care.
Clinical impact of splicing in neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Sanders Stephan J. , Schwartz Grace B. , Farh Kyle Kai-How
Published: April 2020

Clinical exome sequencing is frequently used to identify gene-disrupting variants in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. While splice-disrupting variants are known to contribute to these disorders, clinical interpretation of cryptic splice variants outside of the canonical splice site has been challenging. Here, we discuss papers that improve such detection.
Therapeutic effect of GLP-1 engineered strain on mice model of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Fang Xin , Zhou Xiaoting , Miao Yuqing , Han Yiwen , Wei Jing , Chen Tingtao
Published: April 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) characterized by progressive degeneration of the central nervous system, and few medications are available to halt the progression of AD and PD. In the present study, an engineered strain MG136-pMG36e-GLP-1 was used to evaluate its neuroprotective effect on AD and PD mice, via the probiotics effects of Lactococcus lactis MG1363 and the constantly produced Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) by the engineered strain. Our results indicated that oral administration of MG136-pMG36e-GLP-1 significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced memory impairment and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced motor dysfunction through the toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) and protein kinase B (AKT)/Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) signaling pathway. High-throughput sequencing results showed that MG1363-pMG36e-GLP-1 reduced the abundance of the pathogens Enterococcus, Proteus, and increased the abundance of the probiotics Akkermansia muciniphila. These results suggest that the engineered strain may be a new intervention for treating AD and PD by reducing the occurrence of neuroinflammation.
Glutathione-capped Syzygium cumini carbon dot-amalgamated agarose hydrogel film for naked-eye detection of heavy metal ions
Authors: Bhamore Jigna R. , Park Tae Jung , Kailasa Suresh Kumar
Published: April 2020

Development of a facile and sensitive analytical tool for the detection of heavy metal ions is still a challenging task because of interference from other chemical species. In this work, glutathione (GSH)-cappedSyzygium cuminicarbon dots (CDs) have been integrated with agarose hydrogel film and used as an amalgamated solid probe for sensing of different metal ions (Pb2+, Fe3+, and Mn2+). The synthesis of a solid sensing platform is based on the electrostatic interactions between GSH-cappedSyzygium cuminiCDs and agarose hydrogel. The developed hydrogel-based solid probe exhibited good linearities with the concentration ranges of metal ions from 0.005 to 0.075, 0.0075 to 0.1, and 0.0075 to 0.1 mM with detection limits of 1.3, 2.5, and 2.1 μM for Pb2+, Fe3+, and Mn2+ions, respectively.
Correlations between modes of student cognitive engagement and instructional practices in undergraduate STEM courses
Authors: Barlow Allyson , Brown Shane
Published: April 2020

Background

Within STEM education, research on instructional practices has focused on ways to increase student engagement and thereby reap the associated benefits of increased learning, persistence, and academic success. These meaningful-learning goals have been tied most specifically to cognitive engagement, a construct that is often difficult for instructors to assess on their own. While it has been shown that certain instructional practices are tied to higher cognitive engagement in students, tools to measure instructional practices and student engagement have remained largely isolated in their development and use.

Results

This research uses previously developed instruments to simultaneously assess modes of cognitive engagement in students (Student Course Cognitive Engagement Instrument [SCCEI]) and instructional practices (Postsecondary Instructional Practices Survey [PIPS]) within a course. A sample of 19 STEM courses was recruited to participate in this study, with instructors and students each self-reporting data. Results from the instructor and students in each course were scored, and ANOVA and partial correlation analysis were conducted on the sample. ANOVA indicated the significance of and classroom structure on student engagement. From the correlation analysis, a significant relationship was found between four student-reported modes of cognitive engagement and instructor-reported teaching practices.

Conclusions

With an understanding of student engagement response to classroom structure, instructors may consider their teaching environment when implementing instructional practices. Moreover, Interactivity with Peers, the deepest mode of cognitive engagement suggested by previous research, was correlated with instructional practices in our study, suggesting that instructors may be able to shape their students’ learning by encouraging collaboration in the classroom. We also found that assessment played a role in students’ cognitive engagement; this indicates that instructors may wish to thoughtfully consider their methods of assessment to facilitate modes of cognitive engagement associated with deeper learning of course material. By understanding factor correlations, the PIPS and SCCEI can be used in tandem to understand impacts of instructional practices on student cognitive engagement within a course. We conclude that there is a need for ongoing research to study the interplay of instructional practices and student cognitive engagement as instruments are developed to measure such phenomena.
Engineering a diaphorase via directed evolution for enzymatic biofuel cell application
Authors: Ma Chunling , Liu Meixia , You Chun , Zhu Zhiguang
Published: April 2020

Background

Diaphorase (DI) has received wide attention as the key anodic enzyme mediating the electron transfer and electric energy generation in enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs). Lowering the anodic pH may be a useful strategy for constructing high-performance in EBFCs. However, most DI suffered from the poor activity at low pHs. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the activity and its acidic tolerance to further improve the performance of the EBFC.

Results

This paper attempts to improve the enzyme activity of DI originated from Geobacillus stearothermophilus under acidic conditions through directed evolution. Three rounds of random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR of the GsDI gene followed by high-throughput screening allowed the identification of the mutant 3–8 (H37Q, S73T, F105L, S68T, G61S, D74V) exhibiting a 4- or 7-fold increase in the catalytic activity at pH 5.4 or 4.5 compared to that of the wild type. And the pH stability of mutant 3–8 was significantly better than that of wild type and showed a 1.3 times higher in the stability at pH 5.4. The EBFC anode equipped with 0.5 mg of mutant 3–8 achieved a maximum current of 40 μA at pH 5.4, much higher than that with the same loading of the wild type enzyme.

Conclusion

The GsDI has been improved in the specific activity and pH stability by directed evolution which leads to the improvement of the EBFC performance. Also, the enlarged catalytic channel of mutant and decreased B-factor may be beneficial for the activity and stability. These results suggest that this engineered DI will be a useful candidate for the construction of enhanced EBFCs.
Does walking the day of total hip arthroplasty speed up functional independence? A non-randomized controlled study
Authors: Temporiti Federico , Draghici Isabella , Fusi Stefano , Traverso Francesco , Ruggeri Riccardo , Grappiolo Guido , Gatti Roberto
Published: April 2020

Background

Few data address modalities for speeding up functional independence in subjects included in a fast-track approach after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The study aim was to assess short-term effects of mobilization and walking the day of THA (WDS) on independence, pain, function and quality of life.

Methods

Seventy-one patients were allocated in a study (SG: n = 36) or control (CG: n = 35) groups according to time of surgery and recovery from anesthesia. Patients who recovered lower limbs sensitivity (disappearance of sensation deficits) and motility (MRC scale ≥3 at knee, ankle and great toe extension) by 7.00 p.m. made up the SG, whereas patients who underwent surgery later and recovered from anesthesia after 7.00 p.m. made up the CG. SG underwent WDS, whereas CG performed mobilization and walking the day after surgery starting the same physiotherapy program 1 day later. Patients were evaluated for independence (Functional Independence Measure - FIM), pain (Numeric Rating Scale - NRS), hip function (Harris Hip Score - HHS) and quality of life (EuroQoL-5Dimension - EQ. 5D and EQ. 5D-VAS)the day before surgery, at 3 and 7 days in a hospital setting. Analysis of Covariance with age (SG: mean 60.9, SD 9.0; CG: mean 65.5, SD 8.9) and BMI (SG: mean 27.4, SD 2.8; CG: mean 26.7, SD 2.4) as covariates was used to assess between-group differences over time.

Results

Between-groups differences were observed for FIM total and motor scores (p = 0.002, mean difference: 2.1, CI95: 0.64, 3.7) and FIM self-care (p = 0.01, mean difference: 1.7, CI95: 0.41, 3) in favor of SG at 3 days. Between-group differences were found for FIM self-care (p = 0.021, mean difference: 1.2, CI95: 0.18, 2.1) in favor of SG at 7 days. FIM total and motor scores (p <  0.001), FIM self-care (p = 0.027) and transfer-locomotion (p <  0.001) and HHS (p = 0.032) decreased after surgery followed by improvements in postoperative days (p ≤ 0.001). No differences were found for NRS, EQ. 5D and EQ. 5D-VAS.

Conclusions

WDS produces additional benefits in patients’ independence in the first week after THA. Absence of pain aggravation or adverse effects on hip function and quality of life may allow clinicians to recommend WDS to promote discharge with functional independence.
Increasing trends in admissions due to non-communicable diseases over 2012 to 2017: findings from three large cities in Myanmar
Authors: Swe Ei Ei , Htet Kyaw Ko Ko , Thekkur Pruthu , Aung Lwin Lwin , Aye Lwin Lwin , Myint Thazin
Published: April 2020

Background

Globally, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes are the four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributing to more than 80% of mortality and morbidity due to NCDs. In Myanmar, the proportional mortality rate due to NCDs increased from 46.9% in 2000 to 68% in 2017. However, the trends and patterns of four major NCDs or their hospital admissions are not known. In this regard, we aimed to assess the trends and profile of admissions with four major NCDs using final diagnosis coded in International Classification of Diseases-2010 version (ICD-10) from medical record data of the large tertiary hospitals in different regions of Myanmar.

Results

Of the 774,970 total admissions in the study hospitals, the median and interquartile range (IQR) age was 39 (25–55) years and 51.6% were males. Over a 6-year period, there was not only 2.2-fold increase in the number of admissions due to any of four major NCDs but also their proportion increased significantly from 18.8% in 2012 to 25.4% in 2017 (chi-square for trend,pvalue < 0.001). The number of admissions due to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory diseases also showed linear increasing trends at the rate of 1741 (95% CI 766 to 2715), 1797 (95% CI 345 to 3249), and 597 (95% CI 530 to 612) per year, respectively. Though the admissions with diabetes increased over the years, the rate of increase of 284 (95% CI − 60 to 628) per year was not statistically significant. Among cancer admissions, colorectal (13.1%), breast (13.0%), and lung (11.0%) cancers were the commonest. Stroke (30.6%) and ischemic heart disease (21.9%) admissions were the highest among the cardiovascular diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (35.5%) and type 2 diabetes (53.9%) were commonest among chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, respectively.

Conclusion

There was a disproportionate increase in NCD admissions which requires tertiary health facilities to increase their infrastructure and trained workforce to cater to such admissions. The primary health care facilities have to be strengthened for prevention, early detection, and efficient management of NCDs to prevent life-threatening complications requiring hospitalization.
Accuracy of implantable loop recorders for detecting atrial tachyarrhythmias after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation
Authors: Cho Hyun Jun , Lee Cheol Hyun , Hwang Jongmin , Park Hyoung-Seob , Choi Sang-Woong , Kim In-Cheol , Cho Yun-Kyeong , Yoon Hyuck-Jun , Kim Hyungseop , Nam Chang-Wook , Hur Seung-Ho , Jung Byung Chun , Kim Yoon Nyun , Han Seongwook
Published: April 2020

Background

Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) can provide an enhanced possibility to detect atrial fibrillation (AF), but the accuracy, especially the positive predictive value (PPV), is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ILRs for detecting AF through a comparison with Holter.

Method and results

Thirteen patients who underwent AF ablation were enrolled. ILRs were implanted in all patients, who were scheduled to have Holter monitorings after the procedure. The incidence of AF was compared between the two modalities and analyzed for any correlations. A total of 51 Holters (67,985.5 min) and concomitant ILRs were available for the comparison. The judgment of the presence of AF did not perfectly correlate between the ILR and Holter (Kappa = 0.866, P < 0.001). In the ILR data, the sensitivity of detecting AF on the Holter was 81.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.812–0.820; P < 0.001). The specificity was 99.9% (95% CI 0.998–0.999; P < 0.001). When the ILR detected AF, the PPV was 99.5% (95% CI 0.994–0.995), but the ILR did not detect AF, and the negative predictive value was 94.2% (95% CI 0.941–0.944). A separate analysis of AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) showed that the AT detection rate of the ILR was 2.3%.

Conclusion

The ILR had a low false positive value and high PPV for AF events. However, it was limited in identifying AT.
Role of shear wave sono-elastography (SWE) in characterization of hepatic focal lesions
Authors: Abdel-Latif Mahmoud , Fouda Nehad , Shiha Osama Abdel-Gawad , Rizk Amira Ali
Published: April 2020

Background

Focal liver lesions are considered a major problem during abdominal examinations. Shear wave sono-elastography (SWE) has been demonstrated to be helpful in assessment of liver fibrosis degree.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of SWE in characterization of benign and malignant hepatic focal lesions.

Results

Seventy-five (75) patients with variable focal liver lesions (52 malignant and 23 benign) were analyzed by SWE. The stiffness values of surrounding hepatic parenchyma were also measured as a reference for readings of the focal lesion stiffness values. Final diagnosis was achieved by core needle biopsy (in 1 benign and 38 malignant cases) and contrast enhanced CT and MRI (in all cases).

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) was the stiffest malignant lesion with median stiffness value (35.9 kPa). Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) was the stiffest benign lesion (26.7 kPa).

The median stiffness value of malignant focal lesions (20.22 kPa) was significantly higher than that of benign focal lesions (10.68 kPa) (P value < 0.001).

ROC curve of SWE median stiffness values for differentiation of benign from malignant hepatic focal lesions had AUC = 0.834, and using cut of value 14.165 kPa, yielding 98.1% sensitivity, 78.3% specificity, and 92% accuracy.

Conclusion

SWE has high accuracy in differentiating benign form malignant liver focal lesions with promising results in individual characterization of some malignant (HCC and CCC) and benign hepatic focal lesion (FNH from other benign lesions).
A model for specific goals for in-patient treatment linked to resources and limitations in out-patient treatment
Authors: Davies Virginia
Published: April 2020

The author reflects on the Norwegian inpatient service descriptions contained in Wilkinson's article, considering the challenges laid out in his piece from the perspective of a child and adolescent psychiatrist working in a hospital crisis setting, as well as within the context of child and adolescent mental healthcare staffing across the UK.
Surf Writers of the Resolution and Discovery: Texts, Waves, Politics, and Death at Kealakekua Bay
Authors: Bertelsen Lance
Published: April 2020

The first descriptions of Hawaiian surfing were written by David Samwell, surgeon of HMS Discovery, and James King, second lieutenant of HMS Resolution, in the months bracketing Captain James Cook’s death at Kealakekua Bay on 14 February 1779. In his journal entry for 22 January, Samwell described Hawaiians surfing six- to seven-foot “alaias” on the “great swell rolling into the Bay,” and in March 1779, King recorded his version of the same event, but neither text was published until 1967. In 1784, King published a significantly revised and expanded version of the scene in the third volume of the oﬃcial history, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. This skewed chronology has led to some disorientation among historians of surfing, while historians of Cook’s voyages, for the most part, have neglected the surfing episodes altogether. In this essay, I address the descriptions in four interrelated contexts: (1) the history of the texts themselves; (2) their importance to the history of surfing; (3) the significance of the swell occurring during the Makahiki festival; and (4) the emotional and metaphorical impact of the scene on Western observers/writers schooled in the politics of the sublime. In the final two contexts, I suggest the metaphorical and material relationship of the scenes to King’s famous description of Cook’s death in A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean and to Samwell’s equally famous response in A Narrative of the Death of Captain Cook (1786).
Effect of Cavity Size of Mesoporous Silica on Type 1 Copper Site Geometry in Pseudoazurin
Authors: Yamaguchi Akira , Edanami Yurie , Yamaguchi Takahide , Shibuya Yuuta , Fukaya Norihisa , Kohzuma Takamitsu
Published: April 2020

We studied copper coordination geometry in Type I copper protein pseudoazurin (PAz) within silica mesopores with a series of pore diameters. The adsorption of PAz into the silica mesopores was evaluated by measuring the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting peak of pore water. The DSC results indicated that almost all the PAz molecules were located inside silica mesopores with pore diameters of 2.3, 3.7, and 6.7 nm. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for PAz inside the silica mesopores confirmed that the copper coordination sphere in PAz was slightly altered toward a more axial geometry as a result of adsorption of PAz to the large mesoporous silica pores (pore diameter: 3.7 and 6.7 nm). The change in rhombic to axial geometry was further continued by confinement inside narrow pores (2.3 nm), whose dimensions matched the diameter of PAz with a cylindrical column structure (2.4 nm in diameter and 3.0 nm in height). These results indicate that tight confinement of PAz influences the copper coordination geometry.
Effects of polyisoprenoids from Avicennia lanata and Avicennia alba leaves on the gene expression of PI3K, Akt1, mTOR, P53, and EGFR in human colorectal adenocarcinoma WiDr cells
Authors: Qurrohman Taufiq , Hasibuan Poppy Anjelisa Zaitun , Nuryawan Arif , Sumaiyah Sumaiyah , Siregar Etti Sartina , Basyuni Mohammad
Published: April 2020

Background:Mangrove plants produce polyisoprenoid compounds. Polyisoprenoids have been proven to have anticancer properties. This study investigated the inhibitory activity of polyisoprenoids derived from the leaves of mangrove plantsAvicennia albaandAvicennia lanataregarding the expression of PI3K, Akt1, mTOR, P53, and EGFR genes against human colorectal adenocarcinoma WiDr cells.

Methods:Anticancer activity was tested through the MTT assay method performed on WiDr cells. The cell cycle and apoptosis were analysed by flow cytometry and double staining. Gene expression of PI3K, Akt1, mTOR, P53, and EGFR was observed using the RT-PCR method.

Results:Cytotoxic activity against WiDr cells showed that the IC50 forA. albaandA. lanatawas 258.14 ug/mL and 243.32 ug/mL, respectively. This observation indicated the possibility to develop moderate anticancer agents. The cell cycle showed that inhibition ofA. albaandA. lanataoccurred in the late phase of apoptosis S (10.60 and 10.51%) and G2-M1 (22.05 and 23.84%), which was higher than negative and positive control cells. Furthermore, the polyisoprenoids derived fromA. albaandA. lanataleaves exhibited anticancer activity in WiDr cells through the downregulated gene expression of PI3K, Akt1, mTOR, and EGFR as well as the upregulated gene expression of P53.

Conclusion:This study demonstrated that polyisoprenoids obtained fromA. albaandA. lanataleaves are promising chemopreventive agents for colon cancer.
Anti-retroviral therapy after “Treat All” in Harare, Zimbabwe: What are the changes in uptake, time to initiation and retention?
Authors: Matare Takura , Shewade Hemant Deepak , Ncube Ronald T. , Masunda Kudzai , Mukeredzi Innocent , Takarinda Kudakwashe C. , Dzangare Janet , Gonese Gloria , Khabo Bekezela B. , Choto Regis C. , Apollo Tsitsi
Published: April 2020

Background: In Zimbabwe, Harare was the first province to implement “Treat All” for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). Since its roll out in July 2016, no study has been conducted to assess the changes in key programme indicators. We compared antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake, time to ART initiation from diagnosis, and retention before and during “Treat All”.

Methods: We conducted an ecological study to assess ART uptake among all PLHIV newly diagnosed before and during “Treat All”. We conducted a cohort study to assess time to ART initiation and retention in care among all PLHIV newly initiated on ART from all electronic patient management system-supported sites (n=50) before and during “Treat All”.

Results: ART uptake increased from 65% (n=4619) by the end of quarter one, 2014 to 85% (n=5152) by the end of quarter four, 2018.  A cohort of 2289 PLHIV were newly initiated on ART before (April-June 2015) and 1682 during “Treat all” (April-June 2017). Their age and gender distribution was similar. The proportion of PLHIV in early stages of disease was significantly higher during “Treat all” (73.2% vs. 55.6%, p<0.001). The median time to ART initiation was significantly lower during “Treat All” (31 vs. 88 days, p<0.001). Cummulative retention at three, six and 12 months was consistently lower during “Treat all” and was significant at six months (74.9% vs.78.1% p=0.022).

Conclusion: Although there were benefits of early ART initiation during “Treat All”, the programme should consider strategies to improve retention.
Value-based tiered pricing for universal health coverage: an idea worth revisiting
Authors: Chalkidou Kalipso , Claxton Karl , Silverman Rachel , Yadav Prashant
Published: April 2020

The pricing of medicines and health products ranks among the most hotly debated topics in health policy, generating controversy in richer and poorer markets alike. Creating the right pricing structure for pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products is particularly important for low- and middle-income countries, where pharmaceuticals account for a significant portion of total health expenditure; high medicine prices therefore threaten the feasibility and sustainability of nascent schemes for universal health coverage (UHC). We argue that a strategic system of value-based tiered pricing (VBTP), wherein each country would pay a price for each health product commensurate with the local value it provides, could improve access, enhance efficiency, and empower countries to negotiate with product manufacturers. This paper attempts to further understanding on the potential value of tiered pricing, barriers to its implementation, and potential strategies to overcome those.
History of economic thought
Authors: Yadgarov Yakov
Published: April 2020

The textbook presents the course of history of economic doctrines in accordance with the General plan of previous editions. Discusses the economic doctrine of the era of pre-market economy (including the economic thought of the Ancient world and middle Ages), mercantilism, classical political economy, socio-economic reform projects of economic romanticism, utopian socialism, German historical school, marginalism. To the era of regulated market relations are covered in the textbook socio-institutional direction, the theory of market with imperfect competition, Keynesian Economics, neoliberalism, the concept of the neoclassical synthesis, neo-institutionalism, the phenomenon of the Russian school of economic thought. Special attention is given to synthesis as the basis of modern theories of value.
Meets the requirements of Federal state educational standards of higher education of the last generation.
For students enrolled in the specialty 38.03.01 "Economics", graduate students, researchers and anyone interested in the history of world and domestic economic thought.
The economy and material management on a railway transport
Authors: Cevelev Aleksandr
Published: April 2020

In the textbook in an accessible form presented and discussed the development of the economy and the inventory management of railway transport in the new economic environment. For the first time in Russian literature, made a theoretical attempt at a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of, and satisfaction of needs in material resources structural divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates of JSC "RZD". According to the results of theoretical research, innovative and production potential of the supply system of railway transport the main directions and methods of transformation of the restructuring process under the corporate changes of JSC "RZD", positioned value system of logistics of rail transport, a comprehensive approach to the development of systems of balanced indicators of supply and prompt handling of material resources. Recommendations for the implementation of the developed algorithms and models are long term in nature and are based on the concept of logistics management improve business processes, system logistics.
For students and teachers, workers of enterprises of railway transport, and others interested in questions of transport Economics.
Anthropological elitology
Authors: Karabuschenko Pavel
Published: April 2020

This book deals with fundamental issues one of the main sections of elitology in charge of elitism of the subject of the elite strata. This paper analyzes elite kind of individual and social consciousness. It covers litologicheskogo aspects related to the theory of elite identity, culture, education and history.
Designed a wide range of readers.
Designing and Implementing a Bilingual Early-Literacy Program in Indigenous Mexico Villages: Family, Child, and Classroom Outcomes
Authors: Justice Laura M. , Dynia Jaclyn M. , Hijlkema Maria J. , Sánchez Chan Alejandra
Published: April 2020

Globally, there is great interest in enhancing young children’s literacy development as a route to improving worldwide literacy. To contribute to this area of interest, this paper reports findings from a multi-pronged early-literacy program designed to improve the print-knowledge of young children in Yucatec Mayan villages. The school-based Club de Lectura Solyluna provided 16 culturally relevant bilingual (Spanish/Maya) children’s books to caregivers during four workshops. The sample of 567 mothers and their preschool-aged children (n = 567) were enrolled in 28 preschool classrooms, which also received teacher trainings, children’s books, and establishment of a school-based library. Outcomes were examined with respect to overall parent participation and uptake of workshop materials, features of the home-literacy environment, and children’s gains in print knowledge in both Mayan and Spanish. The study findings show positive outcomes across all outcomes evaluated with the exception of growth in children’s Mayan print-concepts skills. The program description and findings should be of relevance to efforts to implement early-literacy programming with indigenous villages in lower- and middle-income countries.
The testing deficit at the heart of the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Nazarko Linda
Published: April 2020

Linda Nazarko Takes stock of what we know of COVID-19 so far, and what we could be doing better
Questioning the Scope of AI Standardization in Learning, Education, and Training
Authors: Mason Jon , Peoples Bruce E. , Lee Jaeho
Published: April 2020

Well-defined terminology and scope are essential in formal standardization work. In the broad domain of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) the necessity is even more so due to proliferation and appropriation of terms from other fields and public discourse – the term ‘smart’ is a classic example; as is ‘deep learning’. In reviewing the emerging impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the field of Information Technology for Learning, Education, and Training (ITLET), this paper highlights several questions that might assist in developing scope statements of new work items.While learners and teachers are very much foregrounded in past and present standardization efforts in ITLET, little attention has been placed until recently on whether these learners and teachers are necessarily human. Now that AI is a hot spot of innovation it is receiving considerable attention from standardization bodies such as ISO/IEC, IEEE and pan-European initiatives such as the Next Generation Internet. Thus, terminology such as ‘blended learning’ necessarily now spans not just humans in a mix of online and offline learning, but also mixed reality and AI paradigms, developed to assist human learners in environments such as Adaptive Instructional Systems (AIS) that extend the scope and design of a learning experience where a symbiosis is formed between humans and AI. Although the fields of LET and AI may utilize similar terms, the language of AI is mathematics and terms can mean different things in each field. Nonetheless, in ‘symbiotic learning’ contexts where an AIS at times replaces a human teacher, a symbiosis between the human learner and the AIS occurs in such a way where both can exist as teacher and learner. While human ethics and values are preeminent in this new symbiosis, a shift towards a new ‘intelligence nexus’ is signalled where ethics and values can also apply to AI in learning, education, and training (LET) contexts. In making sense of the scope of standardization efforts in the context of LET based AI, issues for the human-computer interface become more complex than simply appropriating terminology such as ‘smart’ in the next era of standardization. Framed by ITLET perspectives, this paper focuses on detailing the implications for standardization and key questions arising from developments in Artificial Intelligence. At a high level, we need to ask: do the scopes of current LET related Standards Committees still apply and if not, what scope changes are needed?
Global Challenges in the Standardization of Ethics for Trustworthy AI
Authors: Lewis Dave , Hogan Linda , Filip David , Wall P. J.
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we examine the challenges of developing international standards for Trustworthy AI that aim both to be global applicable and to address the ethical questions key to building trust at a commercial and societal level. We begin by examining the validity of grounding standards that aim for international reach on human right agreements, and the need to accommodate variations in prioritization and tradeoffs in implementing rights in different societal and cultural settings. We then examine the major recent proposals from the OECD, the EU and the IEEE on ethical governance of Trustworthy AI systems in terms of their scope and use of normative language. From this analysis, we propose a preliminary minimal model for the functional roles relevant to Trustworthy AI as a framing for further standards development in this area. We also identify the different types of interoperability reference points that may exist between these functional roles and remark on the potential role they could play in future standardization. Finally we examine a current AI standardization effort under ISO/IEC JTC1 to consider how future Trustworthy AI standards may be able to build on existing standards in developing ethical guidelines and in particular on the ISO standard on Social Responsibility.We conclude by proposing some future directions for research and development of Trustworthy AI standards.
A Landscape Analysis of Standardisation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Ziegler Wolfgang
Published: April 2020

While projects, developments and applications addressing and using artificial intelligence (AI) are rather multifaceted and their number is constantly increasing, the standardisation activities in the field of artificial intelligence are limited, their number is significantly lower and does not increase at the same pace.

The European funded project StandICT.eu aims at supporting European experts’ presence in and contributions to international standardisation activities in ICT. The focus of the project is on the 5 priority domains identified by the European Commission (Cloud Computing, IoT, Big Data, Cyber Security, 5G) and on Artificial Intelligence while being open for other relevant topics defined in the annual European Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation. The project has two main outcomes: (i) increased contribution of European experts in international standardisation through support by providing grants for planned contributions of successful applications of experts, and (ii) an online observatory of published standards and ongoing standardisation activities in the areas mentioned before. This observatory (called Standards Watch) is accessible through the project’s web site and open for contributions and comments from registered users. As part of the effort for the Standards Watch the projects has prepared a comprehensive analysis of the international standardisation landscape in the AI field, that comprises a description of the ICT standards and ongoing work at international level in the field of AI across the standardisation organisations already active in the field.

In this article we will present results of our work where we have analysed the work of the 5 international and European Standards Development Organisations (SDOs) IEEE,1 ISO/IEC,2 ITU-T,3 ETSI4 and CEN-CENELEC5 developing standards in the field of AI. The first 4 bodies have already been active several years in AI standardisation at the time of writing this article. CEN-CENELEC has launched a focus group in 2019 which aims at producing a roadmap for AI standardisation. For these 4 SDOs information on their active groups, details of their work and the respective state/outcome is provided in the main part of this article. Followed by the same exercise for the two identified Standards Settings Organisations (SSOs): W3C6 and IRTF,7 their active groups and the respective state/outcome.

With this information an initial analysis of the AI standardisation landscape as Q3 2019 is performed with the main outcomes that (i) the number of working groups chaired by Europeans is significant and (ii) that there is room for European experts contributing to ongoing and future standardisation work.

The article is concluded by considerations on future priorities.
Analysis of risk factors of stage IV gastric cancer from the SEER database
Authors: Ge X-Y , Ge F , Wang Z , Wang YL , Lei LW , Liu QR , Sun XY , Jiang X
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world. By the time the patients are diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer, many patients already have distant metastases. There is no unified systemic treatment plan in existence. The use of gastrectomy is ambiguous in patients with stage IV gastric cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial outcome of gastrectomy in patients with stage IV gastric cancer.

Methods

Clinical information of patients with gastric cancer from 2000 to 2010 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were extracted and analysed. The risk factors for stage IV gastric cancer were also analysed.

Results

We observed that the median survival time for patients after surgery was greater than that for patients not treated surgically. The five-year survival rate for chemotherapy patients was higher than that of non-chemotherapeutic patients. Patients who receive both chemotherapy and surgery could achieve a more significant survival benefit. The risks following gastrectomy (partial, subtotal, hemi-) were lower than those of other surgical procedures, which provided guidance on the choice of surgical method. The numbers of regional lymph node metastasis were found to be related to prognosis.

Conclusions

In patients with stage IV gastric cancer, gastrectomy (partial, subtotal or hemi) should be selected when surgery is necessary. The number of regional lymph node metastasis could be considered as a prognostic factor for patients with stage IV gastric cancer and lymph node dissection could reduce the risk of patients undergoing surgery.
Recurrent acromioclavicular joint dislocation with an associated coracoid fracture following acromioclavicular joint reconstruction
Authors: Karia M , Al-Hadithy N , Tytherleigh-Strong G
Published: April 2020

Acromioclavicular joint injuries are common and account for up to 12% of all shoulder girdle injuries and have been reported as being as high as 50% in sports-related shoulder injuries. While the majority of acromioclavicular joint dislocations can be treated non-operatively, there are certain injury configurations, which can include high-grade dislocations in overhead athletes, where surgery may be indicated.

The surgical management of acromioclavicular joint instability has moved towards recreating the action of the coracoclavicular ligaments by resuspending the clavicle on to the coracoid. Multiple techniques using high-strength sutures, synthetic ligaments, tendon allografts or autografts passed either around or through the coracoid process have been described. However, an unusual, but significant, complication associated with these techniques is an iatrogenic fracture of the coracoid process.

We report the case of a patient with an iatrogenic coracoid fracture following two failed acromioclavicular joint resuspensory reconstructions using a synthetic ligament. This injury was successfully treated with an autologous hamstring graft reconstruction, initially protected with a hook plate.
Deep venous thrombosis manifestation of common femoral vein leiomyoma
Authors: Reddy A , Savlania A , Naik A , Rastogi P , Gorsi U
Published: April 2020

Deep vein thrombosis is a common clinical condition, with well-known risk factors. An unusual case of venous leiomyoma manifesting as a deep vein thrombosis in the left femoral vein of a 55-year-old man was managed successfully at our institution with anticoagulation, en-bloc excision and reconstruction of the femoral vein with spiral vein graft.