bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dental implant status in elderly individuals requiring domiciliary dental care in Japan
Authors: Hagiwara Yoshiyuki , Ohyama Tetsuo , Yasuda Hiroyasu , Seki Keisuke , Ikeda Takayuki
Published: April 2021

Background

The presence of implants is a significant burden not only for dentists but also for caregivers and families of elderly individuals requiring nursing and domiciliary dental care. However, few reports have assessed the status of domiciliary dental care or measures employed to deal with related issues. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the dental implant status in elderly patients requiring nursing and domiciliary dental care and to determine the suitable measures for overcoming the associated limitations. A questionnaire was mailed to 1000 dentists who provided domiciliary dental care in the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan. The questions were classified into three categories: basic information of the dentists, actual implant status of patients requiring domiciliary dental care, and implants in an aging society.

Results

The response rate was 36.5%. Approximately 2% of patients requiring domiciliary dental care were implant patients. Many implant-related problems were associated with insufficiency or difficulty in cleaning around the implant, resulting in peri-implantitis. Prosthetic and more serious complications such as implant body fracture or loss were reported and frequently managed by routine follow-ups, cleaning the area around the implant, scaling and polishing, and/or pharmacological modalities. Oral care mainly involved simple toothbrushing instructions, which was not adequate.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the necessity of simplifying the oral environment and making oral care a simple task before aging individuals require nursing and domiciliary dental care.
Optimising psychological treatment for Anxiety DisordErs in Pregnancy (ADEPT): study protocol for a feasibility trial of time-intensive CBT versus weekly CBT
Authors: Challacombe Fiona L. , Potts Laura , Carter Ben , Lawrence Vanessa , Husbands Alaina , Howard Louise M.
Published: April 2021

Background

Moderate to severe anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia and panic disorder are common, and affect approximately 11–16% of women in pregnancy. Psychological treatments for anxiety disorders, primarily cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), have a substantial evidence base and recently time-intensive versions have been found as effective as weekly treatments. However, this has not been trialled in women who are pregnant, where a shorter intervention may be desirable.

Methods

The ADEPT study is a feasibility randomised controlled trial with two parallel intervention groups. Time-intensive one-to-one CBT and standard weekly one-to-one CBT delivered during pregnancy will be compared. Feasibility outcomes including participation and follow-up rates will be assessed, alongside the acceptability of the interventions using qualitative methods.

Discussion

The study will provide preliminary data to inform the design of a full-scale randomised controlled trial of a time-intensive intervention for anxiety during pregnancy. This will include information on the acceptability of time-intensive interventions for pregnant women with anxiety disorders.

Trial registration

10.1186/ISRCTN81203286 prospectively registered 27/6/2019.
Attenuation of glycation and biochemical aberrations in fructose‐loaded rats by polyphenol‐rich ethyl acetate fraction of Parkia biglobosa (jacq.) Benth. (Mimosaceae) leaves
Authors: Chibuogwu Christian Chiazor , Asomadu Rita Onyekachukwu , Okagu Innocent Uzochukwu , Nkwocha Chinelo C , Amadi Ben Chibuzo
Published: April 2021

Background

Different parts of the Parkia biglobosa plant are employed in traditional medicine in different African communities. However, information ratifying its use and biochemical influence on health is still scanty in literature. Thus, the present study assessed the influence of the ethyl acetate fraction of Parkia biglobosa leaves (EAFPB) on some biochemical parameters of sub-chronic fructose-loaded rats.

Methodology

Twenty-five Wistar rats were randomized into five groups (n = 5). The normal control group was maintained on normal diet only while the high fructose solution (HFS) control (placebo), reference and treatment groups received high fructose solution (3 g/kg/d b.w of fructose) for 30 days before treatment. Based on pilot study, two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg/d b.w) of EAFPB were selected and were administered to two groups of test animals while the reference group received 300 mg/kg/d b.w. of metformin for 14 days. Thereafter, blood was collected from fasted animals for biochemical analyses for the examination of level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), liver status (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and bilirubin level), lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low- and high-density lipoproteins levels) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde – MDA level).

Results

EAFPB was shown to have a good DPPH radical scavenging activity (EC50 = 0.395 mg/ml). Chromatographic analysis of EAFPB revealed 28 known flavonoids (mainly kaempferol (21.31 mg/100 g), quercetin (12.84 mg/100 g), and luteolin (6.75 mg/100 g)), four hydrocinnamic acids derivatives (mainly P-coumaric acid (6.73 mg/100 g)), and 11 phenolic acids derivatives (mainly chlorogenic acid (48.18 mg/100 g) and protocatechuic acid (21.58 mg/100 g)). Relative to normal control, it was observed that fructose overload significantly increased serum activities of ALP, ALT, and AST, and levels of MDA, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and triglyceride in placebo. However, EAFPB significantly tapered the elevated serum activities of ALP, ALT, and AST. In addition, relative to placebo, the increased levels of HbA1c, MDA, and lipid health markers were also rebated by EAFPB.

Conclusions

Ethyl acetate fraction of Parkia biglobosa leaves attenuates biochemical aberrations in fructose-loaded rats, an effect attributable to the rich store of polyphenolic compounds in the fraction.

Graphical abstract
Reframing ‘integration’: acknowledging and addressing five core critiques
Authors: Spencer Sarah , Charsley Katharine
Published: April 2021

Empirical and theoretical insights from the rich body of research on ‘integration’ in migration studies have led to increasing recognition of its complexity. Among European scholars, however, there remains no consensus on how integration should be defined nor what the processes entail. Integration has, moreover, been the subject of powerful academic critiques, some decrying any further use of the concept. In this paper we argue that it is both necessary and possible to address each of the five core critiques on which recent criticism has focused: normativity; negative objectification of migrants as ‘other’; outdated imaginary of society; methodological nationalism; and a narrow focus on migrants in the factors shaping integration processes. We provide a definition of integration, and a revised heuristic model of integration processes and the ‘effectors’ that have been shown to shape them, as a contribution to a constructive debate on the ways in which these challenges for empirical research can be overcome.
Rapid molecular identification of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitizing the eggs of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Serbia
Authors: Ivezić Aleksandar , Rugman-Jones Paul F. , Trudić Branislav
Published: April 2021

Background

The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner, 1796) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is the major pest of maize (Zea mays Linnaeus, 1753) in Serbia. One potential method for managing this pest is the augmentative release of naturally occuring egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma. The first step in this process is accurately identifying the naturally occuring species and estimating their natural distribution and abundance. Molecular identification, based on differences in DNA sequences, has commonly been employed for the identification of Trichogramma species. A simple, quick, and accurate molecular assay is urgently required for the identification of two common Trichogramma species, associated with ECB in Serbia: T. brassicae Bezdenko, 1968 and Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, 1833. Such an assay will facilitate an expansive survey of resident populations of Trichogramma associated with ECB across agricultural growing regions of Vojvodina province.

Results

A species-specific multiplex PCR assay for the 2 species was developed and validated that assay using a sample of 79 parasitoid wasps reared from ECB egg masses collected from sample sites across Vojvodina province. Trichogramma brassicae was confirmed as the dominant egg parasitoid of ECB in this region, accounting for 77 of the 79 wasps (97.47%). The remaining 2 were confirmed as T. evanescens. Trichogramma brassicae was detected at all 12 sample sites, while T. evanescens was detected at only 2 plots, Mokrin and Nakovo.

Conclusions

The species-specific multiplex PCR assay presented herein can provide the basis of a quick, cheap, and reliable means for identifying the species of Trichogramma that parasitize ECB egg masses in Serbia. Two currently documented species, T. brassicae and T. evanescens, are readily diagnosed by the size of the PCR product they produce in the assay. Any additional species are expected to not produce a band of a diagnostic size. Such species would subsequently be identified by sequencing, which may also allow them to be promptly incorporated into a revised assay.
Fiber laser technologies for photoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Jin Long , Liang Yizhi
Published: April 2021

Fiber laser technology has experienced a rapid growth over the past decade owing to increased applications in precision measurement and optical testing, medical care, and industrial applications, including laser welding, cleaning, and manufacturing. A fiber laser can output laser pulses with high energy, a high repetition rate, a controllable wavelength, low noise, and good beam quality, making it applicable in photoacoustic imaging. Herein, recent developments in fiber-laser-based photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) are reviewed. Multispectral PAM can be used to image oxygen saturation or lipid-rich biological tissues by applying a Q-switched fiber laser, a stimulated Raman scattering-based laser source, or a fiber-based supercontinuum source for photoacoustic excitation. PAM can also incorporate a single-mode fiber laser cavity as a high-sensitivity ultrasound sensor by measuring the acoustically induced lasing-frequency shift. Because of their small size and high flexibility, compact head-mounted, wearable, or hand-held imaging modalities and better photoacoustic endoscopes can be enabled using fiber-laser-based PAM.
Occurrence of drug target residues within decantation tank sediments: a good clue to assess their historical excretion?
Authors: Thiebault Thomas , Fougère Laëtitia , Simonneau Anaëlle , Destandau Emilie , Le Milbeau Claude , Jacob Jérémy
Published: April 2021

This study investigated the potential of sediments accumulated in sewer systems to record human activities through the occurrence of drug target residues (DTR). The installation studied is 17 m deep underground decantation tank that traps the coarse fractions of a unitary sewer system (northern part of Orléans, France), collecting both stormwater and wastewater. The sediments deposited in this tank could constitute a nonesuch opportunity to study the historical evolution of illicit and licit drug consumption in the catchment, however, the deposition processes and the record of DTRs remain largely unknown at present. Five cores were acquired from 2015 to 2017. One hundred fifty-two sediment samples were extracted using a mixture of ultra-pure water:methanol (1:1) prior to analysis of the extracts by high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Several classical sedimentological analyses such as total organic carbon, facies description and granulometry were also performed on these samples, in order to understand the most important factors (e.g., physico-chemical properties of the DTRs, solid type, assumed load in wastewater) impacting their deposition.

The key role of the speciation of DTRs was highlighted by the higher contents in neutral and anionic DTRs in organic layers, whereas only cationic DTRs were found in mineral layers. The considerable modifications in the sediments’ properties, generated by distinct origins (i.e., stormwater or wastewater), are therefore the most important drivers that must be taken into account when back-calculating the historical patterns of drug consumption from their DTR concentrations in decantation tank sediments. Further research remains necessary to fully understand the deposition process, but this study provides new clues explaining these temporal evolutions.
Can sonographic features of microcalcification predict thyroid nodule malignancy? a prospective observational study
Authors: Nabahati Mehrdad , Mehraeen Rahele , Moazezi Zoleika , Ghaemian Naser
Published: April 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of microcalcification, as well as its associated sonographic features, for prediction of thyroid nodule malignancy.

We prospectively assessed the patients with thyroid nodule, who underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration during 2017–2020 in Babol, northern Iran. The ultrasonographic characteristics of the nodules, as well as their cytological results, were recorded. We used regression analysis to evaluate the relation between sonographic findings and nodule malignancy. A receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis was also used to estimate the ability of ultrasound to predict the characteristic features of malignancy, as estimated by the area under the curve (AUC).

Results

Overall, 1129 thyroid nodules were finally included in the study, of which 452 (40%) had microcalcification. A significant positive association was found between nodule malignancy and microcalcification in both univariate (OR=3.626, 95% CI 2.258–5.822) and multivariable regression analyses (OR=1.878, 95% CI 1.095–3.219). In the nodules with microcalcification, significant positive relations were seen between malignancy and hypoechogenicity (OR=3.833, 95% CI 1.032–14.238), >5 microcalcification number (OR=3.045, 95% CI 1.328–6.982), irregular margin (OR=3.341, 95% CI 1.078–10.352), and lobulated margin (OR=5.727, 95% CI 1.934–16.959). The ROC analysis indicated that AUC for hypoechogenicity, >5 microcalcification number, irregular margin, and lobulated margin were 60%, 62%, 55%, and 60%, respectively, in predicting malignant thyroid nodules.

Conclusion

The findings indicated that microcalcification can be a potential predictor of thyroid nodule malignancy. Also, the presence of irregular or lobulated margins, multiple intranodular microcalcification (>5 microcalcifications), and/or hypoechogenicity can improve the ability of microcalcification in distinguishing malignant from benign nodules.
Development and Use of Natural Language Processing for Identification of Distant Cancer Recurrence and Sites of Distant Recurrence Using Unstructured Electronic Health Record Data
Authors: Karimi Yasmin H. , Blayney Douglas W. , Kurian Allison W. , Shen Jeanne , Yamashita Rikiya , Rubin Daniel , Banerjee Imon
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE

Large-scale analysis of real-world evidence is often limited to structured data fields that do not contain reliable information on recurrence status and disease sites. In this report, we describe a natural language processing (NLP) framework that uses data from free-text, unstructured reports to classify recurrence status and sites of recurrence for patients with breast and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).

METHODS

Using two cohorts of breast cancer and HCC cases, we validated the ability of a previously developed NLP model to distinguish between no recurrence, local recurrence, and distant recurrence, based on clinician notes, radiology reports, and pathology reports compared with manual curation. A second NLP model was trained and validated to identify sites of recurrence. We compared the ability of each NLP model to identify the presence, timing, and site of recurrence, when compared against manual chart review and International Classification of Diseases coding.

RESULTS

A total of 1,273 patients were included in the development and validation of the two models. The NLP model for recurrence detects distant recurrence with an area under the curve of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.96 to 0.99) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.88 to 0.98) in breast and HCC cohorts, respectively. The mean accuracy of the NLP model for detecting any site of distant recurrence was 0.9 for breast cancer and 0.83 for HCC. The NLP model for recurrence identified a larger proportion of patients with distant recurrence in a breast cancer database (11.1%) compared with International Classification of Diseases coding (2.31%).

CONCLUSION

We developed two NLP models to identify distant cancer recurrence, timing of recurrence, and sites of recurrence based on unstructured electronic health record data. These models can be used to perform large-scale retrospective studies in oncology.
BloodPAC Data Commons for Liquid Biopsy Data
Authors: Grossman Robert L. , Dry Jonathan R. , Hanlon Sean E. , Johann Donald J. , Kolatkar Anand , Lee Jerry S. H. , Meyer Christopher , Salvatore Lea , Wells Walt , Leiman Lauren
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE

The Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC) Data Commons (BPDC) is being developed and is operated by the public-private BloodPAC Consortium to support the liquid biopsy community. It is an interoperable data commons with the ultimate aim of serving as a recognized source of valid scientific evidence for liquid biopsy assays for industry, academia, and standards and regulatory stakeholders.

METHODS

The BPDC is implemented using the open source Gen3 data commons platform ( https://gen3.org ). In particular, the BPDC Data Exploration Portal, BPDC Data Submission Portal, the BPDC Workspace Hub, and the BloodPAC application programming interface (API) were all automatically generated from the BloodPAC Data Model using the Gen3 data commons platform. BPDC uses Gen3's implementation of the data commons framework services so that it can interoperate through secure, compliant APIs with other data commons using data commons framework service, such as National Cancer Institute's Cancer Research Data Commons.

RESULTS

The BPDC contains 57 studies and projects spanning more than 4,100 cases. This amounts to 5,700 aliquots (blood plasma, serum, or a contrived sample) that have been subjected to a liquid biopsy assay, quantified, and then contributed by members of the BloodPAC Consortium. In all, there are more than 31,000 files in the commons as of December 2020. We describe the BPDC, the data it manages, the process that the BloodPAC Consortium used to develop it, and some of the applications that have been developed using its API.

CONCLUSION

The BPDC has been the data platform used by BloodPAC during the past 4 years to manage the data for the consortium and to provide workspaces for its working groups.
High Specialization among Female Youth Soccer Players Is Associated with an Increased Likelihood of Serious Injury
Authors: XIAO MICHELLE , LEMOS JACIE L. , HWANG CALVIN E. , SHERMAN SETH L. , SAFRAN MARC R. , ABRAMS GEOFFREY D.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the associations between serious injury (≥3-month time loss) and level of specialization among high-level female soccer players and to compare the specialization and college commitment ages of female youth soccer players to Division I college and professional soccer athletes.

Methods

Youth, college, and professional female soccer players in the United States playing in the top league at each level were recruited to complete an anonymous online survey. The survey collected information about player demographics, soccer specialization and training patterns, history of serious injuries from soccer, and perceptions surrounding soccer specialization. Comparisons between groups were performed using two-sample t-tests, χ2 analyses, and multiple logistic regression models controlling for differences in age. A P value of less than 0.05 was set as significant.

Results

A total of 1,018 (767 youth, 251 college/professional) athletes completed the survey. Serious injuries affected 23.6% of youth and 51.4% of college/professional athletes. Anterior cruciate ligament tears were more prevalent in college/professional players compared with youth athletes (18.3% vs 4.0%; P < 0.001). Highly specialized youth athletes (66.5%) were more likely to have sustained a serious injury from soccer compared with athletes with low specialization (odds ratio, 2.28 (1.38–3.92); P = 0.008) but not moderate specialization (odds ratio, 1.37 (0.83–2.27); P = 0.43). A higher proportion of youth athletes specialized at a young age (≤10 yr) compared with college/professional players (44.2% vs 25.9%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

High specialization in female youth soccer players is associated with an increased likelihood of sustaining a serious injury. Current youth soccer players are specializing earlier and committing to play college soccer at a younger age compared with when current college and professional players did.
Thy Neighbor’s Misfortune: Peer Effect on Consumption
Authors: Agarwal Sumit , Qian Wenlan , Zou Xin
Published: April 2021

Using a large, representative sample of credit and debit card transactions in Singapore, this paper studies the consumption response of individuals whose same-building neighbors experienced personal bankruptcy. The unique bankruptcy rules in Singapore suggest liquidity shocks drive personal bankruptcy decisions, leading to a substantial drop in consumption for the bankrupt. Peers’ monthly card consumption decreases by 3.4 percent over the 1-year postbankruptcy period. There exists no consumption decrease among individuals in immediately adjacent buildings nor for consumers with diminished postevent social ties with the bankrupt. The findings imply a significant social multiplier effect of 2.8 times the original consumption shock. (JEL E21, G51, K35)
Long-Term Contextual Effects in Education: Schools and Neighborhoods
Authors: Laliberté Jean-William
Published: April 2021

This paper estimates the long-term impact of growing up in better neighborhoods and attending better schools on educational attainment. First, I use a spatial regression-discontinuity design to estimate school effects. Second, I study students who move across neighborhoods in Montreal during childhood to estimate the causal effect of growing up in a better area (total exposure effects). I find large effects for both dimensions. Combining both research designs in a decomposition framework, and under key assumptions, I estimate that 50–70 percent of the benefits of moving to a better area on educational attainment are due to access to better schools. (JEL H75, I21, R23)
PLUS SIZE EXISTE? UMA ANÁLISE DA EXPERIÊNCIA DE CONSUMO DE INDIVÍDUOS DESCONSIDERADOS PELO MERCADO DE MODA
Authors: Duarte Natasha Migon , Conceição Elvisnei Camargo
Published: April 2021

Considerando o aumento da população brasileira acima do peso em contraste com um mercado de moda plus size ainda em desenvolvimento, este artigo investiga o conceito de experiência de consumo de roupas sob a ótica de consumidores plus size. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, realizada por meio de 10 entrevistas em profundidade com consumidores desse segmento. Os resultados obtidos mediante uma análise de conteúdo identificaram três categorias temáticas: Experiência com o Produto, Experiência de Compra e Aspectos Emocionais relacionados à Compra. Esses resultados revelaram a insatisfação desses consumidores com diversos aspectos da experiência de consumo, principalmente no que se refere à dificuldade de achar roupas, o alto preço, a falta de identificação e os impactos na autoestima. Este estudo contribuiu para um maior entendimento do contexto de consumo e do comportamento do consumidor neste segmento. Também traz importantes considerações para a tomada de decisão de marketing no varejo de moda.
FATORES DA QUALIDADE PERCEBIDA RELACIONADOS AO VALOR PERCEBIDO DO PREÇO EM SUPERMERCADOS COMPACTOS
Authors: Lemos Anderson Queiroz , Silva Weslany Rose Assis Pereira da , Nascimento Carlos Alberto Xavier do
Published: April 2021

O setor supermercadista brasileiro possui baixas barreiras de entrada, forçando os micros e pequenos supermercados a se modernizarem para oferecer qualidade superior nos serviços. O objetivo deste artigo foi identificar a influência da qualidade percebida sobre o valor percebido do preço do produto no processo de desenvolvimento da vantagem competitiva em supermercados compactos. Dados foram coletados com 160 clientes, distribuídos em quatro supermercados compactos na Cidade de Goiás (GO). Por meio da técnica de análise de regressão linear múltipla, verificou-se que os fatores da qualidade percebida, significativamente, relacionados ao valor percebido do preço do produto, foram aspectos tangíveis, responsividade, empatia e localização. As evidências apontam um nível de qualidade percebida semelhante aos supermercados pesquisados, levando a concluir que os aspectos analisados não podem ser considerados diferenciais estratégicos que conduzam a vantagem competitiva. Esta pesquisa contribui ao demonstrar que as atuais estratégias para geração de valor no setor precisam ser revisadas.
Modelo lógico do “Programa Cidade Ativa, Cidade Saudável” de São José dos Pinhais, Paraná
Authors: Silva Alice Tatiane da , Santos Letícia Pechnicki dos , Rodriguez-Añez Ciro Romelio , Fermino Rogério César
Published: April 2021

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver o modelo lógico do “Programa Cidade Ativa, Cidade Saudável” da cidade de São José dos Pinhais, Paraná. Trinta e seis gestores forneceram parte das informações e o modelo lógico foi elaborado conforme as diretrizes do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Foram identificadas 163 pessoas responsáveis por elaborar, gerenciar, coordenar, apoiar e ministrar diversas ações de atividades físicas, esportivas e lúdicas para a população, sob responsabilidade das divisões de “lazer e eventos populares”, “esportes populares” e “esportes de rendimento”. O modelo lógico possibilitou a identificação ordenada dos recursos, atividades, produtos e metas do programa. Estes dados poderão auxiliar a reestruturação do Programa frente a possíveis demandas de gestão. Futuros estudos podem utilizar estas informações para avaliar a efetividade e a eficácia do Programa nos indicadores de saúde da população.
A-Review on Nanorods-An Overview from Synthesis to Emerging, Device Applications and Toxicity (A-Review)
Authors: Obeas Laith K. , ghalib Alwaleed khalid , kareem-Alsultan G. Abdul , Mijan N. Asikin- , Yunus Robiah
Published: April 2021

Nanorod technology has gone a long way in the field of science and to a great extent, it has been a dictator of the past, present, and future of technology work. This article shows a detailed explanation of the course of nanorod production and the application from start to finish. Various kinds of nanorods have been found to exist and they have been maximally put to good use in different fields of life. These nanorods, however, did not just come into existence, some of them were formed from some nanorod compounds while some other ones came into being as a result of the combination of two or more compounds. These particles in their raw form can be generally useful, but its specific functions cannot be gotten without proper optimization. Various researchers have, dedicated their time to proper optimization of the numerous nanorods that are available in order to find an optimum result science. This course scans through the birth, processing as well as the highly valued application of nanorods.
Availability and readability of online patient information on clubfoot: Assessment of paediatric hospital clubfoot web pages
Authors: Xie Michael , Young Jason , May Collin
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To determine the availability and readability of online patient information (OPI) provided by paediatric hospitals in the United States using clubfoot as a model condition

Methods

The websites of the top 95 paediatric hospitals identified using US News & World Report were included. The names of paediatric hospitals and the terms “clubfoot”, “clubfeet” and “talipes equinovarus” were entered into the Google search engine. Readability was assessed using five validated metrics and the composite grade level (CGL). The number of unpaid monthly visits was calculated with the Ahrefs Organic Traffic Score (OTS) tool. Data for paediatric hospitals were compared with the same metrics for the top ten Google search results.

Results

Of 95 paediatric hospitals, 29 (30.5%) did not have at least one web page dedicated to clubfoot. The 128 web pages representing 66 paediatric hospitals had an average CGL of 9.4, representing a readability level requiring some high school education. The mean OTS for all paediatric hospitals was 116 estimated visits per month, which was significantly less than that for the top ten Google clubfoot search results (3035.1; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Paediatric hospital web pages on clubfoot were visited much less frequently than those from the top ten Google search results. Only two web pages (1.6%) from paediatric hospitals offered OPI on clubfoot that met the American Medical Association recommended reading level (sixth-grade level). Paediatric hospitals should create OPI on clubfoot with appropriate readability and accessibility for patient families.

Level of Evidence

N/A
Dilemmas in the management of rhinophyma in pigmented individuals
Authors: Johnson M , Khoury A , Dheansa B
Published: April 2021

Rhinophyma affects predominantly the Caucasian population and is rare in those with Fitzpatrick skin type IV–VI. Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation. Prominent features include abnormal coloration and texture of skin, impaired vascularity, irregular nodular exophytic growth and telangiectasia. Management can be surgical or dermatological. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment but achieving an acceptable aesthetic result can be challenging, particularly in those with pigmented skin. Postsurgical hyper- and hypopigmentation make for unpredictable outcomes requiring appropriate preoperative counselling. We present a case that exemplifies this issue and discuss our recommended approach to counselling, consenting and managing such dilemmas in these patients, and a proposal for further investigation into the role of autologous melanocyte transplantation in reducing the effect particularly of hypopigmentation on aesthetic outcomes in this group.
Flora da Bahia: Leguminosae – Enterolobium (Clado Mimosoide: Ingeae)
Authors: Luz Anne Ranielly Monteiro , Rocha Lamarck , De Queiroz Luciano Paganucci , De Souza Élvia Rodrigues
Published: April 2021

We present the taxonomic treatment of the genus Enterolobium for the state of Bahia, Brazil. Five species were recorded, for which we provide an identification key, descriptions, comments, data on the period of fruiting and flowering, as well as illustrations and maps of geographical distribution in Bahia.
Macro-mechnical charakteristics and their control on the strenght of sandstones of western Indo-Burmese Rangers, NE India
Authors: Rakshit Raghupratim
Published: April 2021

Mechanically strong sandstones consider as a potential construction material which can withstand modest load and not associated with any geologic fractures. This work is about understanding the macro-mechanical properties of sandstones by studying several petrographic parameters, which could provide evidence of their influence on mechanical strength. Here the authors were considered the Bhuban sandstones of western Indo-Burmese Ranges (IBR) of north-eastern India to investigate the above criteria. The result shows that sandstones have a mean grain size between 108 to 208 μm. Moderate to poorly sorted (phi scale ranges 0.56–1.5) grains show greater content of rounded constituents (43–68 %) with sphericity between 0.65–0.85; along with moderate packing properties (packing density 54–77 %; packing proximity 32–70 %). The grains join by mostly straight (20–54 %) and concavo-convex (13–45 %) contacts; with lesser point (5–13 %) and sutured contacts (8-44 %). Schmidt Hammer rebound values (R-values) were used to calculate and analyse the uniaxial confined stress (UCS); which again validated with UCS testing of core samples. The comparison between macro-mechanical parameters and the UCS shows interrelationship among rock constituents which hold the key to the mechanical strength of the rock. The presence of angular grains and semi-angular spherical grains diminish the macro-mechanical strength to some extent. Moreover, FETEM-EDX analysis confirms the micro-weathering of the angular grains, which have a deformed lattice setting. These findings show that macro-mechanical and micro-nano scale properties of sandstones influence the rock strength.
Sobre els codis de l'entonació emocional convencional de les preguntes periodístiques a les entrevistes radiofòniques
Authors: Planas-Morales Sílvia
Published: April 2021

En l'entrevista radiofònica, el periodista ha de ser hàbil en la utilització dels codis d'entonació emocional convencional perquè l'entrevistat se senti còmode amb les preguntes i pugui obtenir-ne la informació que considera d'interès per a la seva audiència. En aquest article, presentem els primers resultats de l'anàlisi de les preguntes periodístiques en el context discursiu de les entrevistes radiofòniques, tenint en compte els patrons entonatius associats a situacions comunicatives concretes i els elements discursius típics d'aquestes interrogatives periodístiques, perquè aquests dos aspectes ens permetran observar els codis culturals de l'entonació emocional convencional en aquesta transacció informativa.
Three-component flow velocity measurements with stereoscopic picosecond laser electronic excitation tagging
Authors: Russell Colter , Jiang Naibo , Danehy Paul , Zhang Zhili , Roy Sukesh
Published: April 2021

Nonintrusive three-component (3C) velocity measurements of free jet flows were
conducted by stereoscopic picosecond laser electronic excitation
tagging (S-PLEET) at 100 kHz. The fundamental frequency of the
burst-mode laser at 1064 nm was focused to generate the PLEET signal
in a free jet flow. A stereoscopic imaging system was used to capture
the PLEET signals. The 3C centroids of the PLEET signal were
determined by utilizing simultaneous images from two cameras placed at
an angle. The temporal evolutions of the centroids were obtained and
used to determine the instantaneous, time-resolved 3C velocities of
the flows. The free jets with various inlet pressures of 10–40 bars
exhausting into atmospheric pressure air (i.e., underexpanded free jet
with large pressure ratios; Reynolds numbers from the jet ranged from
39,000 to 145,000) were measured by S-PLEET. Key 3C turbulent
properties of the free jets, including instantaneous and mean
velocities, were obtained with an instantaneous measurement
uncertainty of about

±
10

m

/

s

, which is about 2% of the highest
velocities measured. Computation of higher-order statistics including
covariances related to turbulent kinetic energy and the Reynolds
stress component was demonstrated. The 3C nonintrusive and unseeded
velocimetry technique could provide a new tool for flow property
measurements in ground test facilities; the measured high-frequency
turbulence properties of free jet flows could be useful for turbulence
modeling and validations.
High-speed computational ghost imaging based on an auto-encoder network under low sampling rate
Authors: Feng Wei , Sun Xingyu , Li Xiuhua , Gao Junhui , Zhao Xiaodong , Zhao Daxing
Published: April 2021

Computational ghost imaging is difficult to apply under low sampling rate. We propose high-speed computational ghost imaging based on an auto-encoder network to reconstruct images with high quality under low sampling rate. The auto-encoder convolutional neural network is designed, and the object images can be reconstructed accurately without labeled images. Experimental results show that our method can greatly improve the peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity of the test samples, which are up to 18 and 0.7, respectively, under low sampling rate. Our method only needs 1/10 of traditional deep learning samples to achieve fast and high-quality image reconstruction, and the network also has a certain generalization to the gray-scale images.
On-axis sample viewer with flexible working distance for an X-ray spectroscopy beamline
Authors: van Silfhout Roelof
Published: April 2021

Conducting research using micrometer-sized X-ray beams with small samples is common at modern synchrotron X-ray sources. Often, the relative alignment between the X-ray beam and sample is time consuming. An on-axis or coaxial camera system with a view of the sample in a direction along the path of the X-ray beam with its depth of field set to coincide with the location of the focal spot of the X-ray beam is preferred. Besides the use of a drilled mirror, I propose the use of a Pellicle mirror to create an on-axis viewer that allows various sample environments and X-ray beam sizes.
Possibility of intracavity terahertz difference frequency generation in a two-frequency GaAsP/AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well laser
Authors: Dubinov A. A. , Utochkin V. V. , Razova A. A.
Published: April 2021

We consider the GaAsP/AlGaAs/GaAs laser design with two different quantum wells for simultaneous generation of

T
E

0

and

T
M

0

modes having different frequencies in near-IR range. We theoretically investigate the possibility of effective difference frequency generation in the 7.5–8 and 10.5–11 THz regions in the laser design proposed. Resonant increase of second-order susceptibility in AlGaAs in these ranges provides sufficient generation efficiency. We demonstrate an output power-conversion factor for the difference frequencies in the 7.5–8 THz range to be up to

4

−

8

M
W

−
1

at room temperature in such a laser.
Optimal optical path difference of an asymmetric common-path coherent-dispersion spectrometer
Authors: Chen Shasha , Wei Ruyi , Xie Zhengmao , Wu Yinhua , Di Lamei , Wang Feicheng , Zhai Yang
Published: April 2021

Optical path difference (OPD) is a very significant parameter in the asymmetric common-path coherent-dispersion spectrometer (CODES), which directly determines the performance of the CODES. In order to improve the performance of the instrument as much as possible, a temperature-compensated optimal optical path difference (TOOPD) method is proposed. The method does not only consider the influence of temperature change on the OPD but also effectively solves the problem that the optimal OPD cannot be obtained simultaneously at different wavelengths. Taking the spectral line with a Gaussian-type power spectral density distribution as a representative, the relational expression between the OPD and the visibility of interference fringes formed by the CODES is derived for the stellar absorption/emission line. Further, the optimal OPD is deduced according to the efficiency function, and the relationship between the optimal OPD and wavelength is analyzed. Then, based on the materials’ dispersion characteristics, different optical materials are combined and added to the interferometer’s reflected and transmitted optical path to implement the optimal OPD at different wavelengths, thereby improving the detection precision. Meanwhile, the materials whose refractive index negatively changes with temperature are selected to reduce or even offset the temperature impact on OPD, and hence the system’s stability is improved and further improves the detection precision. Under certain input conditions, the material combination that approximates the optimal OPD is performed within the range of 0.66–0.9 µm. The simulation results show that the maximal difference between the optimal OPD obtained by the efficiency function and the OPD produced by the material combination is 0.733 mm for the absorption line and 1.122 mm for the emission line, which is reduced by 1 time compared with only one material. The influence of temperature on the OPD can be reduced by 2–3 orders of magnitude by material combination, which greatly ameliorates the stability of the whole spectrometer. Hence, the TOOPD method provides a new idea for further improving the high-precision radial velocity detection of the asymmetric common-path CODES.
Indoor location technology based on LED visible light and QR code
Authors: Wu Qian , He Yanxiao
Published: April 2021

For the current problems of extremely complex visible light indoor positioning algorithms and devices and low positioning accuracy, this paper proposes an improved indoor positioning method combining light-emitting diode (LED) visible light and quick response (QR) codes. First, initial positioning is achieved by loading a QR code image containing LED position information on the LED light, which is recognized and decoded by the receiver. Then the position of the receiver is precisely located by proposing an improved indoor positioning method. The experiment shows the smallest average error of 4.0326 cm in positioning, which greatly improves the indoor positioning accuracy.
Plasmon-induced 0.13 T optomagnetic field in a gold coaxial nanoaperture
Authors: Karakhanyan Vage , Eustache Clément , Lefier Yannick , Grosjean Thierry
Published: April 2021

We theoretically investigate a resonant inverse Faraday effect within individual coaxial nanoapertures. Upon illumination with circularly polarized light, resonant gold coaxes are shown to develop an optomagnetic field that is controllable by the helicity of the light. This magnetic field is found to reach 0.13 T upon excitation at an intensity of 0.5 · 1011W.cm−2 that is typical from sub-ps light pulses. At an intensity of 2.4 · 108W.cm−2 (consistent with the CW regime), we obtain a static magnetic field of about 1 mT, leading to a helicity-dependent magnetic force of 4.5 · 106 N onto a point-like magnetic dipole of unit moment. Given their submicron footprint, individual coaxial nanoapertures open new prospects towards ultrafast and polarization-controlled tunable magnetism on the nanoscale, thus potentially impacting a large panel of application and techniques including all optical magnetization switching, spin-wave excitation and optomagnetic tweezing of nano-objects.
Potential for online crowdsourced biological recording data to complement surveillance for arthropod vectors
Authors: Cull Benjamin
Published: April 2021

Voluntary contributions by citizen scientists can gather large datasets covering wide geographical areas, and are increasingly utilized by researchers for multiple applications, including arthropod vector surveillance. Online platforms such as iNaturalist accumulate crowdsourced biological observations from around the world and these data could also be useful for monitoring vectors. The aim of this study was to explore the availability of observations of important vector taxa on the iNaturalist platform and examine the utility of these data to complement existing vector surveillance activities. Of ten vector taxa investigated, records were most numerous for mosquitoes (Culicidae; 23,018 records, 222 species) and ticks (Ixodida; 16,214 records, 87 species), with most data from 2019–2020. Case studies were performed to assess whether images associated with records were of sufficient quality to identify species and compare iNaturalist observations of vector species to the known situation at the state, national and regional level based on existing published data. Firstly, tick data collected at the national (United Kingdom) or state (Minnesota, USA) level were sufficient to determine seasonal occurrence and distribution patterns of important tick species, and were able to corroborate and complement known trends in tick distribution. Importantly, tick species with expanding distributions (Haemaphysalis punctata in the UK, and Amblyomma americanum in Minnesota) were also detected. Secondly, using iNaturalist data to monitor expanding tick species in Europe (Hyalomma spp.) and the USA (Haemaphysalis longicornis), and invasive Aedes mosquitoes in Europe, showed potential for tracking these species within their known range as well as identifying possible areas of expansion. Despite known limitations associated with crowdsourced data, this study shows that iNaturalist can be a valuable source of information on vector distribution and seasonality that could be used to supplement existing vector surveillance data, especially at a time when many surveillance programs may have been interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions.
Shale oil production and groundwater: What can we learn from produced water data?
Authors: Wang Haoying
Published: April 2021

As oil production in the Permian Basin surges, the impact of shale production on groundwater resources has become a growing concern. Most existing studies focus on the impact of shale production on shallow freshwater aquifers. There is little understanding of the shale development’s impact on other groundwater resources (e.g., deep carbonate aquifers and deep basin meteoric aquifers). The possible natural hydraulic connections between shallow aquifers and formation water suggest such an impact can be consequential. This study explores the relationship between shale production and groundwater using produced water (PW) samples from active unconventional oil wells. Focusing on the most productive portion of the Permian Basin—the four-county region in Southeast New Mexico between 2007 and 2016, a large produced water dataset allows us to analyze the conditional correlations between shale oil production and PW constituents. The results suggest that (1) expanding from primarily conventional wells to unconventional wells during the recent shale boom has led to dramatic increases of the TDS, chloride, sodium, and calcium levels in groundwater (i.e., producing formation). (2) Nearby oil well density positively correlates with the TDS, chloride, and sodium levels in the PW samples.
Statistically optimized pentazocine loaded microsphere for the sustained delivery application: Formulation and characterization
Authors: Jabar Abdul , Madni Asadullah , Bashir Sajid , Tahir Nayab , Usman Faisal , Rahim Muhammad Abdur , Jan Nasrullah , Shah Hassan , Khan Arshad , Khan Safiullah
Published: April 2021

Pentazocine (PTZ) is a narcotic analgesic used to manage moderate to severe, acute and chronic pains. In this study, PTZ loaded Ethyl cellulose microsphere has been formulated for sustained release and improved bioavailability of PTZ. These microspheres were fabricated by oil in water emulsion solvent evaporation technique. A three factorial, three levels Box-Behnken design was applied to investigate the influence of different formulation components and process variables on the formulation response using the numeric approach through the design expert® software. All the formulations were characterized for the morphology, different physicochemical properties and the results were supported with the ANOVA analysis, three dimensional contour graphs and regression equations. The maximum percentage yield was 98.67% with 98% entrapment of PTZ. The mean particle size of the formulations ranges from 50–148μm, which directly relates to the concentration of polymer and inversely proportional to the stirring speed. SEM revealed the spherical shape of PTZ microspheres with porous structures. These are physically, chemically and thermally stable as confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis respectively. The microspheres provided a sustained release of the PTZ for more than 12 hours, following zero order with fickian and non fickian diffusion. The results indicate that prepared microspheres can be a potential drug delivery system (DDS) for the delivery of PTZ in the management of pains.