bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-parametric treatment time-lag effect estimation
Authors: Gierz Kristine , Park Kayoung , Qiu Peihua
Published: November 2021

In general, the change point problem considers inference of a change in distribution for a set of time-ordered observations. This has applications in a large variety of fields, and can also apply to survival data. In survival analysis, most existing methods compare two treatment groups for the entirety of the study period. Some treatments may take a length of time to show effects in subjects. This has been called the time-lag effect in the literature, and in cases where time-lag effect is considerable, such methods may not be appropriate to detect significant differences between two groups. In this paper, we propose a novel non-parametric approach for estimating the point of treatment time-lag effect by using an empirical divergence measure. Theoretical properties of the estimator are studied. The results from the simulated data and the applications to real data examples support our proposed method.
Rare and Multiple Hypodontia in Van der Woude Syndrome: Case Report
Authors: Trevizan Aline Cristina da Silva , Gonçales Andréa Guedes Barreto , Centurion Pagin Bruna Stuchi , Pagin Otávio , Neves Lucimara Teixeira das
Published: November 2021

Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is a rare syndrome of genetic etiology, commonly occasioned by mutations in the IRF6 gene and that causes disorders in craniofacial development. VWS is characterized by the presence of paramedian fistulas in the lower lip and cleft lip and / or cleft palate. Although some dental phenotypes have been reported in this syndrome, multiple and rare hypodontias were not described. Through this case report, we present a case of Van der Woude Syndrome (VWS) with rare and multiple hypodontia in which clinical data and radiographic exams were evaluated. The patient presented hypodontia of eight permanent teeth (lateral incisors, second premolars and second molars). So, when the dentist recognizes multiple and/or rare hypodontias, for an accurate diagnosis, detailed examination of the lower lip is indicated, as well as a survey of the family history and referral for genetic counseling, since the syndrome presents high penetrance. The patient is expected to be rehabilitated to have a good quality of life. Rehabilitation in these cases requires alveolar bone graft, orthodontics and prosthesis to replace missing teeth.
Effects of melatonin on the Bisphenol-A- induced cytotoxicity and genetic toxicity in colon cancer cell lines, normal gingival cell lines, and bone marrow stem cell lines
Authors: Ebrahimi Rouya , Shokrzadeh Mohammad , Ghassemi Barghi Nasrin
Published: November 2021

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical that has widely been used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins in the manufacture of consumer products. The most common path of human exposure to BPA is by oral intake that involves genotoxicity, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity in both in vitro and in vivo models. Melatonin is known as a free-radical scavenger and a powerful antioxidant agent. This study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin on viability and genetic disorders of normal Human Gingival Fibroblasts (HGF), colon cancer (MKN45), and bone marrow stem cell (MSC) lines exposed to BPA. For this purpose, MTT and Comet assays were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity properties of BPA and the role of melatonin. The results showed that BPA exposure resulted in increased oxidative stress parameters including MDA and ROS, and decreased GSH content. The current study demonstrated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of BPA and the protective role of melatonin in preventing cytotoxicity and DNA damage are induced by BPA.
A baseline model including quantitative anti-HBc to predict response of peginterferon in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Fang Yu-Qing , Xu Xiao-Yan , Hou Feng-Qin , Jia Wei
Published: November 2021

Background

Few models to predict antiviral response of peginterferon were used in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients and the prediction efficacy was unsatisfied. Quantitative antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is a new predictor of treatment response. We aimed to develop a new model to identify HBeAg-positive Chinese patients who were more likely to respond to peginterferon.

Methods

Data from 140 peginterferon recipients with HBeAg-positive were applied with generalized additive models and multiple logistic regression analysis to develop a baseline scoring system to predict serological response (SR: HBeAg loss and HBeAg seroconversion 24 weeks post-treatment) and combined response (CR: SR plus serum HBV DNA levels <2000 IU/mL 24 weeks post-treatment).

Results

Anti-HBc levels, alanine aminotransferase ratio, and HBeAg were retained in the final model. The new model scored from 0 to 3. Among patients with scores of 0, 1, or ≥2, SR was achieved in 6.45% (2/31), 13.21% (7/51), and 55.36% (31/56), respectively, and CR in 3.23% (1/31), 9.43% (5/53), and 25.00% (14/56), respectively. Our model has a higher AUROC for SR comparing to Chan’s (Z = 2.77 > 1.96, p < 0.05) and Lampertico’s (Z = 2.06 > 1.96, p < 0.05) model. The negative predictive value for SR and CR were both 100% in patients with score 0 and hepatitis B surface antigen ≥20,000 IU/mL at week 12.

Conclusions

Patients with higher scores at baseline were more likely to respond to peginterferon. This new model may predict the treatment response.
Property Rights Freedom and Innovation: Eponymous Skills in Women's Gymnastics
Authors: Mixon Franklin G. , Cebula Richard J.
Published: November 2021

Prior research uses the collapse of Soviet-style communism in 1991 as a de facto experimental framework within which to examine the impact of prospective benefits on the motivation of athletes to succeed in the Olympic Games. Prior to the collapse, successful Soviet Bloc Olympians were provided extraordinary living conditions and lifestyles. These rewards evaporated with the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, subsequently resulting in relatively poorer Olympic performances of Soviet Bloc athletes. The current study extends earlier work by investigating the impact of appropriability on the supply of innovation by examining the frequency of eponymous skills in women's gymnastics before and during the transition to a new market-based economic order. Our central hypothesis is that following the dissolution the communist governments of the Soviet Bloc and its satellites, the supply of innovation in the form of eponymous skills in women's gymnastics from these countries has fallen. Frequency distributions of eponymous skills in women's gymnastics both prior to and after the dissolution of the aforementioned communist regimes support this hypothesis, as do results from goodness-of-fit tests and stochastic dominance analysis of joint probability distributions.
Study on the performance of a new type of bobbin silk reeling machine
Authors: Luo Hailin , Fu Yaqin , Li Zhaoxin , Islam Md Zahidul
Published: November 2021

This study mainly investigated the performance and process parameter optimization of a new type of bobbin silk reeling machine by using orthogonal analysis designs. This new type of bobbin silk reeling machine with advanced winding and tension control technology was built through the transformation of a traditional automatic reeling machine. Experimental results indicated that a reeling speed of 130 m/min, an overfeeding ratio of 1.15, and a drying temperature of 90°C were the optimal process parameters. The molecular group characteristics, crystal structures, breaking strengths, and breaking elongation rates of the raw silk from homemade silk slices on bobbins prepared by this machine were similar to those from silk slices on small reels prepared by automatic silk reeling machines and traditional silk slices on bobbins prepared by winders. The softness of the raw silk from homemade silk slices on bobbins was similar to that from traditional silk slices on bobbins, and the cohesion performance of the raw silk from homemade silk slices on bobbins was better than that from traditional silk slices on bobbins. The raw silk from homemade silk slices on bobbins prepared by this machine is directly suitable for postweaving processing. This study can provide a practical basis for the development of the raw silk reeling technique on bobbins.
Sociodemographic and behavioural risk factors for obesity among community-dwelling older adults in Ghana and Nigeria: A secondary analysis of data from the SIREN study
Authors: Akpa Onoja M. , Okekunle Akinkunmi P. , Sarfo Fred S. , Akinyemi Rufus O. , Akpalu Albert , Wahab Kolawole W. , Komolafe Morenikeji , Obiako Reginald , Owolabi Lukman , Jenkins Carolyn , Abiodun Adeoye , Ogbole Godwin , Fawale Bimbo , Akinyemi Joshua , Agunloye Atinuke , Uvere Ezinne O. , Fakunle Adekunle , Ovbiagele Bruce , Owolabi Mayowa O. ,   on behalf of the SIREN study as part of the H3Africa consortium
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To explore the prevalence and risk factors of obesity among older adults from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of data obtained from the SIREN study through in-person interviews and measurements from healthy stroke-free older adults (≥60 years). Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m2. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of >0.90 for males and >0.85/females or waist circumference (WC) of >102 cm for males/>88 cm for females. Adjusted odds ratio (aORs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) of the relationship between obesity and sociodemographic factors were assessed at P  < 0.05.

Results

Overall, 47.5% of participants were overweight/obese, 76.6% had a larger than recommended WHR, and 54.4% had a larger than recommended WC. Abdominal obesity (WC; aOR: 9.43, CI: 6.99–12.50), being a Nigerian (aOR: 0.55; CI: 0.42–0.72), living in an urban setting (aOR: 1.92; CI: 1.49–2.46 ), earning >$100/month (aOR: 1.53; CI: 1.19–1.96), and having formal education (aOR: 1.42; CI: 1.08–1.87) were associated with overweight/obesity.

Conclusion

Living in urban settings, earning a higher income, and having a formal education were associated with a higher odds of obesity among older adults from LMICs.
Clinical academic careers for general practice nurses: a qualitative exploration of associated barriers and enablers
Authors: Jones Sarahjane , Bradbury Andrew , Shortland Sue , Hewett Fraser , Storey Karen
Published: November 2021

Background

The delivery of research in healthcare in the UK is dependent on a subgroup of clinicians – clinical academics – who concurrently engage in clinical practice and academic activities. The need to increase access to such roles for general practice nurses has been identified, although the need for a robust career framework remains.

Aims

This study, with a qualitative interview and focus group design, aimed to explore the concept of clinical academic careers for general practice nurses by identifying barriers and enablers associated with pursuing and performing such roles.

Methods

General practice nurses ( n = 18) and general practitioners ( n = 5) engaged in either an audio -recorded interview or focus group. Verbatim transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were identified: awareness and understanding; career pathway; personal and professional attributes; and organisational factors. Awareness and understanding were generally poor. Participants suggested that the career pathway was unclear, although it was generally assumed that such roles were ‘out of reach’ and require a minimum of Master’s level education. An interest in research and the confidence to perform such duties were reported as the required personal and professional attributes. Organisational factors included the need for employers to understand the value and benefit of general practice nurse clinical academic roles, along with ensuring that the inevitable competing demands of such a role were appropriately managed.

Conclusions

This study highlights the difficulties faced by general practice nurses wishing to pursue a clinical academic career. Academia is seemingly placed on a pedestal, emphasising the need to embed research training early in nursing education to alter general practice nurse perceptions that clinical academic roles are unobtainable. The development of a robust career pathway for general practice nurse clinical academic roles may have a positive impact on the retention of experienced general practice nurses and attract newly qualified nurses. This research provides evidence as to the need for one.
Cybersecurity post-COVID-19: Lessons learned and policy recommendations
Authors: Tasheva Iva
Published: November 2021

This article looks at the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis and increased remote work on cybersecurity and the priorities for EU action. Actions should include improving the cybersecurity of businesses, critical infrastructure and users, and creating an EU cybersecurity industry. As more and more aspects of our lives happen online, we are becoming more vulnerable to malicious attacks. This was demonstrated in 2020 when cyber-attacks increasingly disrupted the work of hospitals, service providers, government services and businesses across the globe. The frequency and scale of the attacks created a sense of urgency to improve our cybersecurity resilience. This article argues that the EU should reap the benefits of cybersecurity by pursuing a more ambitious cybersecurity agenda and putting EU values at the core of its approach. It also calls for cybersecurity to be included in all EU pillars, including the EU industrial research and innovation policy, as well as in EU investment plans and diplomatic strategy.
Trapping and rotation of microparticles using a metasurface exciting by linearly polarized beam
Authors: Yang Yi , Huang Siyuan
Published: November 2021

We numerically demonstrate trapping and rotation of particles using a metasurface formed by arranging nanocavities as a right-handed Archimedes’ spiral. Excited by a 90° linearly polarized beam, a focused surface plasmon polariton (SPP) field is formed at the center of the spiral, and the particle can be trapped by the field. While excited by −45° linearly polarized beams, a vortex SPP field carrying orbital angular momentum is formed, and the particles can be trapped and rotated in the clockwise direction at the vortex field.
Perceived Stress, Work-Related Burnout, and Working From Home Before and During COVID-19: An Examination of Workers in the United States
Authors: Hayes Sherrill W. , Priestley Jennifer L. , Moore Brian A. , Ray Herman E.
Published: November 2021

The purpose of the study was to understand the impact of involuntary remote working during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived stress and work-related burnout for workers with and without previous experience of remote work. The authors developed a questionnaire, open from March 23rd to May 19th, 2020, incorporating the Perceived Stress Scale, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, demographic, and work-related questions. This sample consisted of 256 professionals who self-identified as working at home during the pandemic. Pandemic restrictions increased perceived stress for all participants, but age and gender had significant effects on stress and burnout. Burnout was most significant for respondents already working remotely before COVID-19. The most significant challenges reported were—communication, collaboration, and time management with colleagues via technology. Working from home may contribute to higher levels of perceived stress and work-related burnout, which questions moves by some employers to make working from home a permanent arrangement.
Knee Hyperextension Greater Than 5° Is a Risk Factor for Failure in ACL Reconstruction Using Hamstring Graft
Authors: Guimarães Tales Mollica , Giglio Pedro Nogueira , Sobrado Marcel Faraco , Bonadio Marcelo Batista , Gobbi Riccardo Gomes , Pécora José Ricardo , Helito Camilo Partezani
Published: November 2021

Background:

The degree of knee hyperextension in isolation has not been studied in detail as a risk factor that could lead to increased looseness or graft failure after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Purpose:

To analyze whether more than 5° of passive knee hyperextension is associated with worse functional outcomes and greater risk of graft failure after primary ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A cohort of patients who had primary ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autografts was divided into 2 groups based on passive contralateral knee hyperextension greater than 5° (hyperextension group) and less than 5° (control group) of hyperextension. Groups were matched by age, sex, and associated meniscal tears. The following data were collected and compared between the groups: patient data (age and sex), time from injury to surgery, passive knee hyperextension, KT-1000 arthrometer laxity, pivot shift, associated meniscal injury and treatment (meniscectomy or repair), contralateral knee ligament injury, intra-articular graft size, follow-up time, occurrence of graft failure, and postoperative Lysholm knee scale and International Knee Documentation Committee subjective form scores.

Results:

Data from 358 patients initially included in the study were analyzed; 22 were excluded because the time from injury to surgery was greater than 24 months, and 22 were lost to follow-up. From the cohort of 314 patients, 102 had more than 5° of knee hyperextension. A control group of the same size (n = 102) was selected by matching among the other 212 patients. Significant differences in the incidence of graft failure (14.7% vs 2.9%; P = .005) and Lysholm knee scale score (86.4 ± 9.8 vs 89.6 ± 6.1; P = .018) were found between the 2 groups.

Conclusion:

Patients with more than 5° of contralateral knee hyperextension submitted to single-bundle ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendons have a higher failure rate than patients with less than 5° of knee hyperextension.
Book review: Bhairabi Prasad Sahu, The Making of Regions in Indian History: Society, State and Identity in Premodern Odisha
Authors: Roy Kumkum
Published: November 2021

Bhairabi Prasad Sahu, The Making of Regions in Indian History: Society, State and Identity in Premodern Odisha (New Delhi: Primus Books), 2020, xxvi + 274 pp., ₹931.00 (hb).
Book review: Ranabir Chakravarti, The Pull Towards the Coast, and Other Essays: The Indian Ocean History and the Subcontinent before 1500 ce
Authors: Sahu Bhairabi Prasad
Published: November 2021

Ranabir Chakravarti, The Pull Towards the Coast, and Other Essays: The Indian Ocean History and the Subcontinent before 1500 ce (Delhi: Primus Books), 2020, 326 pp., ₹1,395 (hb).
Book review: Manu V. Devadevan, The ‘Early Medieval’ Origins of India
Authors: Veluthat Kesavan
Published: November 2021

Manu V. Devadevan, The ‘Early Medieval’ Origins of India (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 2020, 516 + xii pp., ₹850 (pb).
Book review: Ruby Maloni, The Route to European Hegemony: India’s Intra-Asian Trade in the Early Modern Period
Authors: Hussain Ruquia K.
Published: November 2021

Ruby Maloni, The Route to European Hegemony: India’s Intra-Asian Trade in the Early Modern Period (Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries) (New Delhi: Manohar Publishers & Distributors), 2021, 301 pp., + 23 plates and 2 maps, ₹1,950 (hb).
Book review: Syed Ejaz Hussain & Sanjay Garg (eds.), Alternative Arguments: Essays in Honour of Surendra Gopal
Authors: Alam Ishrat
Published: November 2021

Syed Ejaz Hussain & Sanjay Garg (eds.), Alternative Arguments: Essays in Honour of Surendra Gopal (Delhi: Primus Books), 2020, with index, 730 pp., ₹1,995, (hb).
The global carrier frequency and genetic prevalence of Upshaw-Schulman syndrome
Authors: Zhao Ting , Fan Shanghua , Sun Liu
Published: November 2021

Background

Upshaw–Schulman syndrome (USS) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by thrombotic microangiopathies caused by pathogenic variants in ADAMTS13. We aimed to (1) curate the ADAMTS13 gene pathogenic variant dataset and (2) estimate the carrier frequency and genetic prevalence of USS using Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) data.

Methods

Studies were comprehensively retrieved. All previously reported pathogenic ADAMTS13 variants were compiled and annotated with gnomAD allele frequencies. The pooled global and population-specific carrier frequencies and genetic prevalence of USS were calculated using the Hardy-Weinberg equation.

Results

We mined reported disease-causing variants that were present in the gnomAD v2.1.1, filtered by allele frequency. The pathogenicity of variants was classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. The genetic prevalence and carrier frequency of USS were 0.43 per 1 million (95% CI: [0.36, 0.55]) and 1.31 per 1 thousand population, respectively. When the novel pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were included, the genetic prevalence and carrier frequency were 1.1 per 1 million (95% CI: [0.89, 1.37]) and 2.1 per 1 thousand population, respectively.

Conclusions

The genetic prevalence and carrier frequency of USS were within the ranges of previous estimates.
Comprehensive characterization of copy number variation (CNV) called from array, long- and short-read data
Authors: Lavrichenko Ksenia , Johansson Stefan , Jonassen Inge
Published: November 2021

Background

SNP arrays, short- and long-read genome sequencing are genome-wide high-throughput technologies that may be used to assay copy number variants (CNVs) in a personal genome. Each of these technologies comes with its own limitations and biases, many of which are well-known, but not all of them are thoroughly quantified.

Results

We assembled an ensemble of public datasets of published CNV calls and raw data for the well-studied Genome in a Bottle individual NA12878. This assembly represents a variety of methods and pipelines used for CNV calling from array, short- and long-read technologies. We then performed cross-technology comparisons regarding their ability to call CNVs. Different from other studies, we refrained from using the golden standard. Instead, we attempted to validate the CNV calls by the raw data of each technology.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that long-read platforms enable recalling CNVs in genomic regions inaccessible to arrays or short reads. We also found that the reproducibility of a CNV by different pipelines within each technology is strongly linked to other CNV evidence measures. Importantly, the three technologies show distinct public database frequency profiles, which differ depending on what technology the database was built on.
Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases in France: an 8 years nationwide study
Authors: Veziris Nicolas , Andréjak Claire , Bouée Stéphane , Emery Corinne , Obradovic Marko , Chiron Raphaël
Published: November 2021

Background

The objective of the study was to describe the epidemiology, management and cost of non-tuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) in France.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed using the SNDS (“Système national des données de santé”) database over 2010–2017. Patients with NTM-PD were identified based on the ICD10 codes during hospitalizations and/or specific antibiotics treatment regimens. The study population was matched (age, sex and region) to a control group (1:3) without NTM-PD.

Results

5628 patients with NTM-PD (men: 52.9%, mean age = 60.9 years) were identified over the study period and 1433 (25.5%) were treated with antibiotics. The proportion of patients still receiving treatment at 6 and 12 months was 40% and 22%, respectively. The prevalence of NTM-PD was estimated at 5.92 per 100,000 inhabitants and the incidence rate of NTM-PD remained stable over time between 1.025/100,000 in 2010 and 1.096/100,000 in 2017. Patients with NTM-PD had more co-morbidities compared to controls: corticoids (57.3% vs. 33.8%), chronic lower respiratory disease (34.4% vs. 2.7%), other infectious pneumonia (24.4% vs. 1.4%), malnutrition (based on hospitalization with the ICD-10 code reported during a hospital stay as a main or secondary diagnosis) (22.0% vs. 2.0%), history of tuberculosis (14.1% vs. 0.1%), HIV (8.7% vs. 0.2%), lung cancer and lung graft (5.7% vs. 0.4%), cystic fibrosis (3.2% vs. 0.0%), gastro-esophageal reflux disease (2.9% vs. 0.9%) and bone marrow transplant (1.3% vs. 0.0%) (p < 0.0001). The mean Charlson comorbidity index score was 1.6 (vs. 0.2 for controls; p < 0.0001). NTM-PD was independently associated with an increased mortality rate with a hazard ratio of 2.8 (95% CI: 2.53; 3.11). Mortality was lower for patients treated with antibiotics compared to untreated patients (HR = 0.772 (95% CI [0.628; 0.949]). Annual total expenses the year following the infection in a societal perspective were € 24,083 (SD: 29,358) in NTM-PD subjects vs. € 3402 (SD: 8575) in controls (p < 0.0001). Main driver of the total expense for NTM-PD patients was hospital expense (> 50% of the total expense).

Conclusion

Patients with NTM-PD in France were shown to have many comorbidities, their mortality risk is high and mainly driven by NTM-PD, and their management costly. Only a minority of patients got treated with antibiotics and of those patients treated, many stopped their therapy prematurely. These results underline the high burden associated with NTM-PD and the need for improvement of NTM-PD management in France.
Gibson approach and surgical hip dislocation according to Ganz in the treatment of femoral head fractures
Authors: De Mauro Domenico , Rovere Giuseppe , Smakaj Amarildo , Marino Silvia , Ciolli Gianluca , Perna Andrea , Battiato Concetto , El Ezzo Omar , Liuzza Francesco
Published: November 2021

Background

The purpose of the study is to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes in those patients with femoral head fracture, treated with open reduction and internal fixation through Gibson approach and Ganz flip trochanter osteotomy. The treatment of Pipkin fractures is very challenging, especially for small trauma centers, because of the unusual fracture patterns and high-level surgical skills required.

Case presentation

Between 2017 and 2020, nine cases of Pipkin fractures came to the Emergency Department at the Trauma Center of our Hospital in Rome. Inclusion criteria were the diagnosis of femoral head fracture, the open reduction and internal fixation as surgical choice and at least 24 months follow-up. Patients older than 65 years and those treated through total hip replacement or combined hip procedure (CHP) were excluded. Thus, five patients were included in our case series. The clinical outcome was evaluated according to Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, Vail Hip score, modified Harris Hip score and Merle D’Aubignè Postel score. Radiographic assessment was scored according to Epstein-Thompson classification and heterotopic ossification was assessed through Brooker classification. The mean follow-up was 24 months (range 12-24). Average modified Harris Hip score was 92.1 points (range 75.9–100), and the average Vail score was 81.8 (range 55-95). WOMAC score was assessed in three different subscales, pain (A), stiffness (B) and physical condition (C), with the following results: 1.4 A (range 0-7), 1.2 B (range 0-6) and 6.4 C (range 0-22). Merle d’Aubignè Postel score resulted excellent for four patients and good for one patient. According to Epstein-Thompson score of the radiological outcome, four patients showed a good result and one a fair result. No mechanical or infective complications occurred in the five patients.

Conclusions

Gibson’s approach and surgical hip dislocation through Ganz trochanteric flip osteotomy allow a good exposure of the femoral head and acetabulum, giving us the possibility to perform an anatomical reduction of the fracture. In our case series, satisfactory clinical and radiological short-term results were obtained without significant complications.
Making sense of the French public hospital system: a network-based approach to hospital clustering using unsupervised learning methods
Authors: Chrusciel Jan , Le Guillou Adrien , Daoud Eric , Laplanche David , Steunou Sandra , Clément Marie-Caroline , Sanchez Stéphane
Published: November 2021

Background

Hospitals in the public and private sectors tend to join larger organizations to form hospital groups. This increasingly frequent mode of functioning raises the question of how countries should organize their health system, according to the interactions already present between their hospitals. The objective of this study was to identify distinctive profiles of French hospitals according to their characteristics and their role in the French hospital network.

Methods

Data were extracted from the national hospital database for year 2016. The database was restricted to public hospitals that practiced medicine, surgery or obstetrics. Hospitals profiles were determined using the k-means method. The variables entered in the clustering algorithm were: the number of stays, the effective diversity of hospital activity, and a network-based mobility indicator (proportion of stays followed by another stay in a different hospital of the same Regional Hospital Group within 90 days).

Results

Three hospital groups were identified by the clustering algorithm. The first group was constituted of 34 large hospitals (median 82,100 annual stays, interquartile range 69,004 – 117,774) with a very diverse activity. The second group contained medium-sized hospitals (with a median of 258 beds, interquartile range 164 - 377). The third group featured less diversity regarding the type of stay (with a mean of 8 effective activity domains, standard deviation 2.73), a smaller size and a higher proportion of patients that subsequently visited other hospitals (11%). The most frequent type of patient mobility occurred from the hospitals in group 2 to the hospitals in group 1 (29%). The reverse direction was less frequent (19%).

Conclusions

The French hospital network is organized around three categories of public hospitals, with an unbalanced and disassortative patient flow. This type of organization has implications for hospital planning and infectious diseases control.
Clinicopathologic analysis of microscopic tumor extension in glioma for external beam radiotherapy planning
Authors: Nie Shulun , Zhu Yufang , Yang Jia , Xin Tao , Xue Song , Sun Jujie , Mu Dianbin , Chen Zhaoqiu , Sun Pengpeng , Yu Jinming , Hu Man
Published: November 2021

Background

There is no consensus regarding the clinical target volume (CTV) margins in radiotherapy for glioma. In this study, we aimed to perform a complete macropathologic analysis examining microscopic tumor extension (ME) to more accurately define the CTV in glioma.

Methods

Thirty-eight supra-total resection specimens of glioma patients were examined on histologic sections. The ME distance, defined as the maximum linear distance from the tumor border to the invasive tumor cells, was measured at each section. We defined the CTV based on the relationships between ME distance and clinicopathologic features.

Results

Between February 2016 and July 2020, a total of 814 slides were examined, corresponding to 162 slides for low-grade glioma (LGG) and 652 slides for high-grade glioma (HGG). The ME value was 0.69 ± 0.43 cm for LGG and 1.29 ± 0.54 cm for HGG (P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, tumor grade, O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase promoter methylated status (MGMTm), isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type status (IDHwt), and 1p/19q non-co-deleted status (non-codel) were positively correlated with ME distance (all P < 0.05). We defined the CTV of glioma based on tumor grade. To take into account approximately 95% of the ME, a margin of 1.00 cm, 1.50 cm, and 2.00 cm were chosen for grade II, grade III, and grade IV glioma, respectively. Paired analysis of molecularly defined patients confirmed that tumors that had all three molecular alterations (i.e., MGMTm/IDHwt/non-codel) were the most aggressive subgroups (all P < 0.05). For these patients, the margin could be up to 1.50 cm, 2.00 cm, and 2.50 cm for grade II, grade III, and grade IV glioma, respectively, to cover the subclinical lesions in 95% of cases.

Conclusions

The ME was different between the grades of gliomas. It may be reasonable to recommend 1.00 cm, 1.50 cm, and 2.00 cm CTV margins for grade II, grade III, and grade IV glioma, respectively. Considering the highly aggressive nature of MGMTm/IDHwt/non-codel tumors, for these patients, the margin could be further expanded by 0.5 cm. These recommendations would encompass microscopic disease extension in 95% of cases.

Trial registration

The trial was registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100049376).
CircTP63 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by regulating EZH2 via sponging miR-217 in gallbladder cancer
Authors: Wang Shouhua , Tong Huanjun , Su Tingting , Zhou Di , Shi Weibin , Tang Zhaohui , Quan Zhiwei
Published: November 2021

Background

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common biliary tract malignancy and has a poor prognosis in patients with GBC. CircRNA TP63 (circTP63) has been implicated in cell proliferation and invasion in some tumor progress. The study aims to investigate the clinical significance and functional role of circTP63 expression in GBC.

Methods

The expression of circTP63 in GBC tissues or cells was detected by qRT-PCR and the association between circTP63 expression and prognosis of GBC patients was analyzed. CCK8 assay, flow cytometry analysis, transwell assay and in vivo studies were used to evaluate the cell proliferation and invasion abilities after circTP63 knockdown in GBC cells. Luciferase reporter assays and RNA pull-down assay were used to determine the correlation between circTP63 and miR-217 expression. Besides, western blot analysis was also performed.

Results

In the present study, we showed that circTP63 expression was upregulated in GBC tissues and cells. Higher circTP63 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and short overall survival (OS) in patients with GBC. In vitro, knockdown of circTP63 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion abilities in GBC. Besides, we demonstrated that knockdown of circTP63 inhibited GBC cells Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) process. In vivo, knockdown of circTP63 inhibited tumor growth in GBC. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that circTP63 competitively bind to miR-217 and promoted EZH2 expression and finally facilitated tumor progression.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrated that circTP63 sponged to miR-217 and regulated EZH2 expression and finally facilitated tumor progression in GBC. Thus, targeting circTP63 may be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GBC.
Univariate and multivariate sex dimorphism in the diverse age group of the South Indian dentition using the polyvinyl siloxane elastomeric impression material
Authors: Chaudhary Roshan Kumar , Doggalli Nagabhushana , Subedi Nuwadatta
Published: November 2021

Background

In the South Indian population, an odontometric analysis was performed with the older age group (18 to 60 years) and using the dimensionally stable polyvinyl siloxane elastomeric impression material (PVS) that can create minute detail replicas of tooth structure. Both measurements of buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions of all permanent teeth (except third molars) were taken with a digital vernier calliper on 400 dental models as a reference sample and 80 dental models as a test sample, with the data from the reference samples subjected to an independent samples t test and stepwise logistic regression analysis.

Results

Independent samples t test divulged that canines were the most sexually dimorphic teeth followed by buccolingual dimensions of central and lateral incisors. All tooth variables were found greater in males, i.e. 56/56 (100%), whereas stepwise logistic regression analysis formula disclosed that the prediction accuracy in the age group of 18 to 39 years was 91%, 85% and 73% using the teeth from both the jaws, maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth respectively; similarly, in the age group of 40 to 60 years, it was 85%, 84% and 83% using teeth from both jaws, maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth respectively; finally, in the overall age group of 18 to 60 years, it was 83% and 75% using teeth from both jaws, maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth respectively. The mean percentage of sex dimorphism was found high in South Indian dentition compared with other populations.

Conclusions

Nonetheless, the accuracy of the results obtained can be considered moderate to high, and sexing can be achieved using regression formulas for each age group, which reflects demographic diversity.
A review of the forms, rationale, and challenges of supplier development in public procurement: lessons for public buyers in Tanzania
Authors: Changalima Ismail Abdi , Ismail Ismail Juma , Mchopa Alban Dismas
Published: November 2021

This article synthesizes current insights into supplier management practices that professional buyers can apply in the public procurement context. Specifically, it discusses the practices, rationale, and challenges associated with implementing supplier development as an important activity within supplier management practices. Drawing from the literature, the main arguments are on the applicability of indirect supplier development practices in the public procurement context. Therefore, it is concluded that public buyers can consider applying these practices in public organizations. However, caution should be exercised regarding the legal and regulatory structure that governs the country’s public procurement system. It further recommends empirical studies to be done on supplier development practices for local suppliers in specific public procurement projects.
Clinical Guideline Highlights for the Hospitalist: Management of Upper Gastrointestinal and Ulcer Bleeding
Authors: Hua Duong T , Pham Charles D
Published: November 2021

GUIDELINE TITLE

American College of Gastroenterology: Upper Gastrointestinal and Ulcer Bleeding

RELEASE DATE

May 1, 2021

PRIOR VERSION(S)

March 1, 2012

DEVELOPER

American College of Gastroenterology Practice Parameters Committee

FUNDING SOURCE

American College of Gastroenterology

TARGET POPULATION

Adult patients with overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Folle d’amour, folle de Dieu : la femme de Potiphar au prisme des cultures
Authors: Gorecka-Kalita Joanna
Published: November 2021

The paper analyses the character of Potiphar’s wife in the intercultural/ interreligious context. The founding story, that of the Book of Genesis, is the starting point; then comes the Hellenistic one (Joseph and Aseneth), the Christian (Morales on Job by Gregory the Great, Moralized Bibles etc.), the Jewish (Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Midrashim etc.) and the Muslim (the Quran, the Tafsir, the Stories of the Prophets etc.) stories and commentaries are presented. Particular attention is given to the Persian texts of the Middle Ages, since they fundamentally reinterpret the character of the heroine: from a lustful and perfidious woman, she becomes the image of a suffering lovestruck virgin and finally an allegory of the soul seeking God in Youssouf and Zouleïkha, Djami’s famous Sufi novel, tinged with Platonism.
Leopold Leon Sawaszkiewicz et Ignacy Pietraszewski à la recherche de l’identité orientale des Polonais
Authors: Jasionowicz Stanisław
Published: November 2021

In Le génie de l’Orient..., published in Brussels in 1846, Leopold Leon Sawaszkiewicz presents the collection and work of the Polish collector and connoisseur of Oriental cultures Ignacy Pietraszewski, who translated the Zend-Avesta – the holy book of Zoroastrianism – from Persian into Polish, French, and German. Sawaszkiewicz uses Pietraszewski’s rich collection of Islamic numismatics as a jumping-off point for numerous observations on the relations between the West and the East, from the perspective of the historic ties between the Poles – bound for nearly a millennium to Western Christian values – and the Turkish, Arab, Persian, and even Indian Orient, in which they searched, aside from artistic and literary inspiration, for traces of their own deep cultural and ethnic roots. This view of the rootedness of Polish culture in the universe of an apparently/actually distant imagination and mentality, makes it possible to reconsider the present conditions for honest and substantive dialogue between these different cultural and geopolitical regions. Sawaszkiewicz’s and Pietraszewski’s visions of the Orient, conceived at a time when the existing geopolitical order was confronted with the (re)birth of European national identity myths, bear witness to the active participation of Polish intellectuals in the debate on the foundations and future of Western civilization.
Le Maroc francophone en classe du FLE en Pologne : état des lieux et proposition didactique
Authors: Pudo Dorota
Published: November 2021

The article contains an idea for a lesson of French as a foreign language and focuses on the reading of a fragment from the Moroccan writer Tahar Ben Jelloun’s novel Enfant de sable. In the theoretical part, the author of the text analyses modern conceptions of interculturality in a language class as well as the place of literature in teaching foreign languages. The author also analyses the presence of Moroccan culture in French classes in Poland and the reasons why this presence seems so scarce. The objectives of the proposed lesson target communication skills (reading comprehension, oral interaction) and socio-cultural goals (getting to know a Moroccan author writing in French and increased awareness of cultural specificity of a foreign society). The chosen fragment illustrates a problem that is culturally distant to a Polish learner (a father broken by the fact that his seven children are all female, then apparently rejoicing at the birth of a boy). The proposed lesson develops as follows: it opens by an introductive discussion about Morocco and a short presentation of the author; the main part consists of reading the chosen fragment and completing some text-related exercises; finally, there follows a discussion aimed at achieving more cultural distance, focused on two questions: what elements of the fragment should be modified if the novel was to take place in Poland (and remain realistic) and what the learners’ emotions are toward the protagonist. Carrying out the lesson plan in one of Cracow’s high schools proved that the learners were able to achieve the present goals, and seemed genuinely interested in the discussed novel.
A la recherche de la modernité démocratique occidentale au Proche-Orient
Authors: Skaff Carole
Published: November 2021

In the current context, political scenarios are diversifying. The events of the past few years have shown the influence of the West on some Middle Eastern countries as regards democratization. This situation, with all its politico-economic complexities, prompted one to wonder about one of the important paradigms of democracy: freedom. It seems that the practice of democracy has contradictory actions and characters. Currently, wars and especially those in the East are waged in the name of democracy, whose dissemination is carried out by formidable actors (army, militia, small seditious groups, etc.) and highly contestable methods (weapons, coercion, manipulation...). The distinction between friends and enemies turns out to be difficult (Carl Schmitt). This destabilizes the national situation and people’s feeling of security because imposing democracy by force is an undemocratic act, which hinders the political order and is only a mediation of domination (Max Weber). The East is probably not predisposed to follow western democratic modernity, to develop another ideology, to assert itself in a new state of mind (see Tocqueville) and to make a peremptory political choice. To democratize the East requires education, a profound and “revolutionary” evolution in the mentality, a process of radical change which must be based on a political, economic and intellectual development by the principles of freedom, of “equalization of conditions” (equal rights and consideration, see Tocqueville). These principles are essential for a true integration of the East into the Western community. And one wonders if one can evoke a “limited democracy” (see Rosanvallon) or a democracy that only concerns Western countries and leaders. Democratization may not be universalizable, particularly in some countries of the Middle East.
Les antithèses dans les « songes » de Mariam, la petite Arabe (1846-1878)
Authors: Śliwa Dorota
Published: November 2021

Antitheses as a thought figure are characteristic for mystical discourse. First, the panorama of aspects linked to the antithesis and the Catholic mystical discourse are presented. Then, the analyses of the antitheses drawn from the mystical discourse of the “little Arab” are crried out on the examples of the image of the cloud and the image of a cloud and a tree. In the first case, this figure is characterized by dissymmetric predicates (intensified and varied on the negative pole) performing the prophetic and warning function. In the second case, the antitheses – performing the educational function and offering moral and spiritual teaching – are very varied and are connected by logical links between the different elements of the images.
Autumn de-worming
Authors: Rendle David
Published: November 2021

Autumn is traditionally a time when most horses are de-wormed with one or more products that are effective against tapeworms and both adult and larval roundworms. However, the increasing prevalence of resistance and availability of diagnostics should prompt scrutiny of whether blanket de-worming at this time of year is appropriate. If management is good and horses are at low-risk of clinical disease, then there may be no need to use anthelmintics. Serology provides a means of assessing exposure to both cyathostomins and tapeworms, but it has its limitations and does not provide a validated means of assessing the risk of parasitic disease. The results of serology, results of faecal worm egg counts performed in the population through the preceding grazing season, and knowledge of management practices in the population should all be considered when assessing whether the risk of the disease to the individual is such that it must take priority over the ever-increasing threat of resistance in the equine population.
A Deep Learning Framework for Intrusion Detection and Multimodal Biometric Image Authentication
Authors: Gayathri M. , Malathy C.
Published: November 2021

Nowadays, a demand is increased all over the world in the field of information security and security regulations. Intrusion detection (ID) plays a significant role in providing security to the information, and it is an important technology to identify various threats in network during transmission of information. The proposed system is to develop a two-layer security model: (1) Intrusion Detection, (2) Biometric Multimodal Authentication. In this research, an Improved Recurrent Neural Network with Bi directional Long Short-Term Memory (I-RNN-BiLSTM) is proposed, where the performance of the network is improved by introducing hybrid sigmoid-tanh activation function. The intrusion detection is performed using I-RNN-BiLSTM to classify the NSL-KDD dataset. To develop the biometric multimodal authentication system, three biometric images of face, iris, and fingerprint are considered and combined using Shuffling algorithm. The features are extracted by Gabor, Canny Edge, and Minutiae for face, iris, and fingerprint, respectively. The biometric multimodal authentication is performed by the proposed I-RNN-BiLSTM. The performance of the proposed I-RNN-BiLSTM has been analysed through different metrics like accuracy, f-score, and confusion matrix. The simulation results showed that the proposed system gives better results for intrusion detection. Proposed model attains an accuracy of 98% for the authentication process and accuracy of 98.94% for the intrusion detection process.