bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review on Synthesis, Optimization, Mechanism, Characterization, and Antibacterial Application of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Plants
Authors: Akintelu Sunday Adewale , Bo Yao , Folorunso Aderonke Similoluwa
Published: December 2020

Developments in nanotechnology and natural product research toward the search for novel antibacterial agents have drawn the interest of many scientists to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from natural product (especially plants) due to its numerous benefits over other methods of synthesis such as been easy, economical, convenient, and environmental friendly. Aside from the aforementioned advantages, the synthesis of AgNPs from medicinal plant has been reported as the best approach of synthesizing AgNPs with great biological activities due to the numerous biomolecules found in plants. Recently, the number of researches toward the improvement of the yield, morphological properties, analytical techniques, and the development of optimal conditions and exact mechanism for synthesizing AgNPs from plants have been increasing tremendously. In this review, we present a comprehensive report on the recent development in the synthesis, optimization conditions, mechanism, and characterization techniques of AgNPs synthesized from plant extracts. Furthermore, a thorough discussion on the recent advances in the application of AgNPs synthesized from plant as therapeutic agent against bacterial infections was made.
Survey of Paediatric Oncologists and Pathologists regarding Their Views and Experiences with Variant Translocations in Ewing and Ewing-Like Sarcoma: A Report of the Children’s Oncology Group
Authors: Kinnaman Michael D. , Zhu Chong , Weiser Daniel A. , Mohiuddin Sana , Hingorani Pooja , Roth Michael , Gill Jonathan , Janeway Katherine A. , Gorlick Richard , Lessnick Stephen L. , Grohar Patrick J.
Published: December 2020

Advances in molecular diagnostics have identified subsets of Ewing and Ewing-like sarcomas driven by variant translocations with unique biology. It is likely that patients with these tumours will have different clinical features and therapeutic outcomes. Nevertheless, the management of these patients both locally and within cooperative group trials depends on the local pathological diagnosis. It is not known what molecular diagnostic approaches are employed by local pathologists or if the exact translocation is commonly determined. In addition, it is not known what therapeutic approaches are employed for these patients or what cooperative trials are deemed appropriate for these patients by expert consensus. To answer these questions, we performed an international survey of oncologists and pathologists to better understand the diagnostic approaches used to identify variant translocations and the influence the findings have on therapy and clinical trial eligibility. An online survey was distributed to oncologists and pathologists primarily in North America. A total of 141 surveys were completed, representing a 28% response rate. The majority of respondents considered EWSR1-ETS gene family translocations (range 61–96%) to be Ewing sarcoma and would include them on the primary arm of a Ewing sarcoma clinical trial. There was a lack of consensus on how to classify and stratify BCOR-CCNB3, CIC-DUX4, and EWSR1+ with non-ETS partner fusions. Most respondents were either unsure how their institution tested, or their institution did not perform the test. In cases with atypical Ewing morphology, most respondents favoured additional fusion transcript testing. There is a lack of consensus regarding the classification and stratification of rare molecular subtypes in Ewing sarcoma. It is not clear how these alternative translocations have impacted outcomes for past clinical studies. This suggests a need for molecular confirmation of diagnoses and centralized or minimum standardization of testing for future trial enrolment.
Pattern of Plant Community Distribution along the Elevational Gradient and Anthropogenic Disturbance in Gole Forest, Ethiopia
Authors: Hailemariam Mesfin Belete , Temam Tamru Demsis
Published: December 2020

Vegetation-environment relationships are usually studied along elevational gradient. The patterns of plant community distribution in Gole forest, Ethiopia, were studied along elevational gradient and disturbances. Disturbances were recorded following the elevational gradient. For vegetation data collection, 62 sample plots of size 20 × 20 m were established along an elevational gradient (2728–3480 m.a.s.l). Data on species composition and environmental variables were measured and recorded in each plot. The elevation of each sample plot was measured using Garmin GPS. Anthropogenic disturbances in each plot were estimated using the following scales: 0 = no disturbance, 1 = slightly disturbed, 2 = moderately disturbed, and 3 = highly disturbed. R statistical package was used for cluster and ordination analysis. Boxplots and analysis of variance were used to assess the relationships between plant communities and environmental variables. Sorensen’s similarity coefficient was used to detect similarities and dissimilarities among communities. A total of 114 plant species belonging to 57 families and 94 genera were identified. Five plant community types were identified using agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. Every plant community had differences in composition and environmental variables. The variation in plant community distributions was significantly related to elevation and disturbance. Plant community distribution was negatively correlated with elevation (

P
<
0.05

) and also with disturbance (

P
<
0.05

). Sorensen’s similarity index showed that there was a difference in the distribution of plant species composition among the communities. The difference in plant community distribution of Gole forest was significantly related to elevation. Disturbances also have a considerable influence on the plant communities and mitigation of disturbance should be the main measure that needs to be taken into account in conservation planning in the study area.
Crystalline Silicon PERC Solar Cell with Ozonized AlOx Passivation Layer on the Rear Side
Authors: Liu Pang-Kai , Cheng Yu-Lun , Wang Likarn
Published: December 2020

We present a method of ozonation to form the rear-side passivation layers of crystalline silicon PERC cells. In the method, a thin aluminum film was deposited on the back surface of a silicon wafer and then was oxidized into an aluminum oxide layer by gaseous ozone. Lifetimes of the wafers with such passivation layers proved to be increased with respect to those untreated, and the resultant PERC cells showed a performance improvement compared with standard cells with full back surface fields.
The Combined Use of Negative‐Pressure Wound Therapy and Dermal Substitutes for Tissue Repair and Regeneration
Authors: Zhang Liping , Weng Tingting , Wu Pan , Li Qiong , Han Chunmao , Wang Xingang
Published: December 2020

In clinical practice, skin defects occur frequently due to various kinds of acute and chronic diseases. The standard treatment for these wounds is autografting, which usually results in complications such as scar formation and new wounds at donor sites. The advent of dermal substitutes has provided a novel method for wound repair, and rapid angiogenesis of the dermal substitutes is crucial for the graft to take. At present, many strategies have been developed to improve the process of vascularisation, some of which have shown promising potentials, but they could be very far from clinical applications. Most recently, negative‐pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used extensively in clinical practice for wound care and management. It has been reported that NPWT reduces the time required for vascular ingrowth into the dermal substitute and improves graft take, indicating great potentials for wound repair. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the combined use of NPWT and dermal substitutes for tissue repair and regeneration. Relative concerns and prospects are also discussed.
Craniofacial Reconstruction Method Based on Region Fusion Strategy
Authors: Wen Yang , Mingquan Zhou , Pengyue Lin , Guohua Geng , Xiaoning Liu , Kang Li
Published: December 2020

Craniofacial reconstruction is to estimate a person’s face model from the skull. It can be applied in many fields such as forensic medicine, archaeology, and face animation. Craniofacial reconstruction is based on the relationship between the skull and the face to reconstruct the facial appearance from the skull. However, the craniofacial structure is very complex and the relationship is not the same in different craniofacial regions. To better represent the shape changes of the skull and face and make better use of the correlation between different local regions, a new craniofacial reconstruction method based on region fusion strategy is proposed in this paper. This method has the flexibility of finding the nonlinear relationship between skull and face variables and is easy to solve. Firstly, the skull and face are divided into five corresponding local regions; secondly, the five regions of skull and face are mapped to low‐dimensional latent space using Gaussian process latent variable model (GP‐LVM), and the nonlinear features between skull and face are extracted; then, least square support vector regression (LSSVR) model is trained in latent space to establish the mapping relationship between skull region and face region; finally, perform regional fusion to achieve overall reconstruction. For the unknown skull, first divide the region, then project it into the latent space of the skull region, then use the trained LSSVR model to reconstruct the face of the corresponding region, and finally perform regional fusion to realize the face reconstruction of the unknown skull. The experimental results show that the method is effective. Compared with other regression methods, our method is optimal. In addition, we add attributes such as age and body mass index (BMI) to the mappings to achieve face reconstruction with different attributes.
An Efficient Outsourced Oblivious Transfer Extension Protocol and Its Applications
Authors: Zhao Shengnan , Song Xiangfu , Jiang Han , Ma Ming , Zheng Zhihua , Xu Qiuliang
Published: December 2020

Oblivious transfer (OT) is a cryptographic primitive originally used to transfer a collection of messages from the sender to the receiver in an oblivious manner. OT extension protocol reduces expensive asymmetric operations by running a small number of OT instances first and then cheap symmetric operations. While most earlier works discussed security model or communication and computation complexity of OT in general case, we focus on concrete application scenarios, especially where the sender in the OT protocol is a database with less computation and limited interaction capability. In this paper, we propose a generic outsourced OT extension protocol (

O
Tex

) that outsources all the asymmetric operations of the sender to a semihonest server so as to adapt to specific scenarios above. We give

O
Tex

a standard security definition, and the proposed protocol is proven secure in the semihonest model. In

O
Tex

, the sender works on the fly and performs only symmetric operations locally. Whatever the number of rounds OT to be executed and the length of messages in OT to be sent, our protocol realizes optimal complexity. Besides,

O
Tex

can be used to construct high-level protocols, such as private membership test (PMT) and private set intersection (PSI). We believe our

O
Tex

construction may be a building block in other applications as well.
A Chain Ratio Exponential-Type Compromised Imputation for Mean Estimation: Case Study on Ozone Pollution in Saraburi, Thailand
Authors: Chodjuntug Kanisa , Lawson Nuanpan
Published: December 2020

Due to its impact on health and quality of life, Thailand’s ozone pollution has become a major concern among public health investigators. Saraburi Province is one of the areas with high air pollution levels in Thailand as it is an important industrialized area in the country. Unfortunately, the August 2018 Pollution Control Department (PCD) report contained some missing values of the ozone concentrations in Saraburi Province. Missing data can significantly affect the data analysis process. We need to deal with missing data in a proper way before analysis using standard statistical techniques. In the presence of missing data, we focus on estimating ozone mean using an improved compromised imputation method that utilizes chain ratio exponential technique. Expressions for bias and mean square error (MSE) of an estimator obtained from the proposed imputation method are derived by Taylor series method. Theoretical finding is studied to compare the performance of the proposed estimator with existing estimators on the basis of MSE’s estimators. In this case study, the results in terms of the percent relative efficiencies indicate that the proposed estimator is the best under certain conditions, and it is then applied to the ozone mean estimation for Saraburi Province in August 2018.
Analysis and Optimization of Driving Attitude and Oscillation Characteristics of Suspension-Type Small Rail Vehicles
Authors: Liu Bing , Yue Huijun , Lin Jiachun , Wu Xiangkai , Shi Zhaoyao
Published: December 2020

Suspension-type small rail personal rapid transit systems are widely concerned due to their high efficiency and reliability. The increasing demands for ride comfort have put forward higher requirements for vehicle stationarity. In the study, with a single-bogie vehicle as the research object, a dynamic equation and a simulation model are firstly established to calculate the attitude angle and lateral velocity of the vehicle. Then, with the small amplitude and fast attenuation of the attitude angle and lateral velocity in a straight line and a bend as optimization objectives, the simulation model is optimized in terms of a series of variables, including the bogie with or without the supporting wheel, the supporting wheel tread, the driving wheel tread, the guide wheel tread, and the changes of the center of mass of the vehicle. Then, the problem of severe vehicle pitch with the double-bogie structure is solved. Finally, the simulation results and the optimization scheme are experimentally verified. The above optimization measures can significantly improve the driving stationarity of suspension-type small rail vehicles and enhance ride comfort.
Primary Subcutaneous Umbilical Endometriosis: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Capasso Lorenzo , Sciascia Valerio , Loiaco Giuseppe , Guida Giovanni , Iarrobino Francesco , Di Lillo Carmela , Massa Salvatore , de Luna Ferdinando Salzano
Published: December 2020

We report the case of a patient diagnosed with primary umbilical endometriosis intending to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic management of this rare disease. A 45-year-old woman suffering from a painful swelling located in the umbilical region, with intact and normal cutaneous aspect, came to our attention. Ultrasonography of the umbilical region showed a nodule with a nonhomogeneous echotexture pattern. Partial omphalectomy was performed under local anesthesia in day care setting surgery. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of umbilical endometriosis. Pre- and postoperative clinical controls showed no evidence for other endometriosis localization. No medical treatment was administered. No signs of recurrence were observed after 5 years from surgery. A review of the literature of the last 10 years was generated based on MEDLINE research, selecting some specific keywords. Several lesions can occur in the umbilical region, and endometriosis has to be ruled out even in patients without any surgery in their medical history. Surgery is the gold standard treatment for this condition: partial and radical omphalectomy are the two treatment options. We believe that given the significant psychological and aesthetical value of the umbilicus, surgical treatment has to be tailored and in case of a small endometrial umbilical nodule, partial omphalectomy (local excision of the umbilical endometrial nodule) with a 3 mm free border, even without adjuvant hormonal treatment, could ensure adequate and effective treatment.
It’s All about the Coalition
Authors: Po Sovinda , Primiano Christopher B.
Published: December 2020

Since its creation in 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has received ample attention in the media and from government officials and scholars. Many different, and often polarising, views exist on BRI. While some view it as China’s grand strategic goal of remaking the world in its own image, others perceive it as consistent with the international system. Using interviews conducted in Cambodia and an examination of press sources, this article draws from the selectorate theory to examine both why the Cambodian government is siding with China regarding economic ties, specifically regarding BRI, and the impact that is having on popular perception in Cambodia. The small coalition in Cambodia that Hun Sen seeks to placate results in a negative view among a significant segment of the Cambodian populace regarding Cambodia’s relations with China, and Chinese investments in particular.
The Discourse of Guohua in Wartime Shanghai
Authors: Chan Pedith Pui
Published: December 2020

This article looks at artists’ engagement with artistic activities carried out in wartime Shanghai, with a particular focus on guohua (lit., ‘national painting’). Drawing on primary sources such as archival materials, diaries, paintings, magazines and newspapers, it explores the layered meanings attached to and social functions of guohua and the institutional structure of the Shanghai art world from the gudao (solitary island) period to the advent of full occupation from December 1941 onwards. As a symbol of Chinese elite culture, guohua continued to dominate the Shanghai art world with support from Wang Jingwei’s regime and the occupying Japanese, and was deemed the root of East Asian art and one of the crucial pillars of the East Asian renaissance in the discourse of the new order of East Asian art. Through closely examining the discourse of guohua in occupied Shanghai, this article advances our understanding of the production and consumption of art in wartime Shanghai by going beyond the paradigmatic binary of ‘collaboration’ and ‘resistance’.
Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Black-Odor Water by Different Submerged Plants
Authors: Chen Guoning , Pan Liushu , Sun Zhuo , Xiong Jianhua , Zhu Hongxiang , Wang Shuangfei , Song Hainong , Lin Hongfei , Chen Yongli , Liang Jiaxiang
Published: December 2020

In general, nitrogen and phosphorus in eutrophic water are absorbed by submerged plants for growth, which is considered as a feature and frequently applied in sustainable wastewater treatment. These plants are entirely submerged at the bottom of the water, absorbing nitrogen and phosphorus
by roots, stems, leaves and epidermal cells. Compared with other species of aquatic plants, submerged plants show certain advantages in the aspects of planting area, total biomass and total removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Rational utilization of submerged plants is an effective way to
remove nitrogen and phosphorus from eutrophic water. Submerged macrophyte has been at the focus of attention in recent years as an alternative system for aquatic plant wastewater treatment with several applications in eutrophication. Aiming at the pollution control scheme of inland lakes,
in this study, the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by Hydrilla verticillaya (H. verticillaya) and Vallisneria natans (V. natans) were studied and compared in monoculture and mixed-culture plantings, thus screened the best submerged plants. Results showed that
the removal capacity for ammonium (NH+4–N), Nitrate (NO–3–N) and total phosphorus (TP) from high to low was NH+4–N, NO–3–N, and TP. Reasonable allocation of plants can
improve the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus. The order of removal capacity for different submerged plants to pollutants was: mixed culture V. natans and H. verticillaya > H. verticillaya > V. natans. The transformation of NO–3–N
to NH+4–N was considered as the NH+4–N removal mechanism.
Carbon Storage of Woody Debris of Evergreen Broadleaf Forests in Mid-Subtropical Region of China
Authors: Zhangquan Zeng , Hong Tang , Minghong Li , Silong Wang , Canming Zhang , Rui Yang , Ying Wang
Published: December 2020

To better understand the effect of forest succession on carbon storage of woody debris (WD), carbon stock and allocation of evergreen broadleaf forest, a major zonal forest in subtropical China was investigated. Three forest types were sampled, pine (Pinus massoniana) forest
(PF), pine and broadleaf mixed forest (MF) and evergreen broadleaf forest (BF). The amount of woody debris (WD) biomass was between 1.26–8.82 Mg · hm–2, under the following order: PF < MF < BF, showed a trend of increase gradually with the succession. Coarse
woody debris (CWD) carbon content varies with tree species and its decomposition level, with the improvement of CWD decomposition level, gradually reduce its carbon content. The woody debris carbon storage of PF, MF, and BF were 0.62 Mg · hm–2, 1.75 Mg · hm–2
and 3.78 Mg · hm–2, respectively, corresponded to the tree carbon storage 0.73%, 1.83% and 2.92%.
Study of Gas Production by Anaerobic Fermentation and Microbial Community Changes by In-Situ Microaerobic Desulphurization
Authors: Zhou Yan , Liu Hucheng , Kou Wei , Shao Lijie , Liu Peihan , Wang Xiaoming , Zhang Dalei
Published: December 2020

The enhancement of biogas quality at low cost and high efficiency process was one of the purposes of biogas engineering. In this work, we designed a reactor for microaerobic desulphurization. We used this reactor to study the anaerobic fermentation in systems that used cow manure with
total solid (TS) concentrations of 18.5%, 15% and 10%. The influence of anaerobic fermentation on the stability of gas production and the characteristics of the gas produced with different concentrations of fermentation materials was studied. The strain structure of the fermentation system
was obtained by high-throughput sequencing and taxonomy was compared. The H2S removal results showed that the average rates of the H2S removal in concentrations of fermentation materials of 18.5%, 15%, and 10% TS were 99.2%, 97.8%, and 78.8%, respectively. 16SrRNA sequencing
was performed in different fermented samples as well as a comparison between samples in order to determine the number of unique species (NUS) and the number of common species (NCS). By comparing TS 18.5 with TS 15 and TS 10 samples, it was determined that under fermentation conditions, NUS
were 113 and 106, respectively. Whereas NUS were 31 and 41, respectively, when comparing TS 15 and TS 10. These demonstrated that the number of strain species in the fermentation system with TS 18.5% was far more than those found in the systems with low concentration of fermentation. Also,
the ability for disturbance resistance of the microaerobic desulphurization system was stronger at high concentration of the fermentation.
Regulatory Effect of Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide on Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-3 Signal Pathway in Spleen of Rats with Radiation Injury
Authors: Chen Tian-Li , Song Tong-Tong , Sun Xu , Gu Yi-Wen , Du Wen-Jing , Li Xiang
Published: December 2020

To investigate the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) on spleen injury and its influence of Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-3 signal pathway in radiation rats, 60 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 5 groups randomly: the normal group, the model group, low-, middle-
and high- dose of ASP groups. On the 15th day after the appropriate medication, all the rats except the normal group received the 60Co γ-ray irradiation once with a total dose of 4.0Gy. The levels of NF-kBp65 and IKKa in serum, the contents of MDA, GSH and SOD in spleen of
each group were detected with ELISA after 24 h of irradiation, and the protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, HSPBP1 and TIMM8B in spleen of each group were detected by western blotting. The results showed that compared with the model group, NF-kBp65, IKKa and MDA contents were
decreased while GSH and SOD contents were increased in the middle and high dose groups. The level of Bcl-2 and TIMM8B were increased while Bax, caspase-3 and HSPBP1 were decreased in all groups. In conclusion, Angelica sinensis polysaccharide can reduce the expression levels of Bax
and caspase-3, while increase the level of Bcl-2 in spleen of rats induced by radiation and antagonize the body injury caused by radiation by regulating Bcl 2/Bax/Caspase 3 signaling pathway.
A febrile child with a ‘bunch of grapes’ appearance on neck ultrasonography
Authors: Patra Pratap Kumar , Banday Aaqib Zaffar , Bhagat Naveen , Vignesh Pandiarajan , Singh Surjit
Published: December 2020

Kawasaki disease is a common childhood vasculitis. Fever and lymphadenopathy, at times, are the only clinical presentation of Kawasaki disease, which mimics infectious lymphadenitis, especially, when other features are yet to evolve. In such a scenario, ultrasonography of cervical lymph nodes can help to differentiate Kawasaki disease lymphadenitis from infectious lymphadenitis. We present one such patient who was initially diagnosed as having bacterial lymphadenitis; however, ultrasonography of the neck lymph nodes showed typical imaging features described with Kawasaki disease lymphadenitis.
Bloodstream infections and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in intensive care unit
Authors: Chaturvedi Parul , Lamba Mamta , Sharma Deepak , Mamoria Ved P
Published: December 2020

Bloodstream infection remains one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality globally, specifically among intensive care unit patients. This prospective observational study included 887 blood culture samples collected cases admitted to intensive care unit suspected of having sepsis. Samples were cultured and evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility patterns: 202 (22.78%) blood cultures were positive and yielded microbial growth with 132 (14.88%) having mono-microbial growth. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 45.2% cases, with Escherichia coli being the most common; Gram positives accounted for 43.9% with Staphylococci haemolyticus being most common and 10.9% were fungal isolates. Gram-negative isolates were sensitive to colistin and tigecycline and 77.3% of isolates were extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers. Gram-positive isolates were sensitive to tigecycline, linezolid, vancomycin and teicoplanin with 97.5% being methicillin-resistant Staphylococci (MRSA). Most of the blood culture isolates from critically ill patients in intensive care unit were multidrug-resistant, ESBL producers and MRSA which raises a serious concern about the development of serious antibiotic resistance.
Not really at home: Adaptation strategies of Asian migrants in Ukraine
Authors: Odynets Svitlana
Published: December 2020

The paper problematizes the concept of transit migration and analyzes individual adaptation strategies used by migrants from the former Soviet Union and South Asian countries. These migrants transited through Ukraine and ended up in the country when their plans for further migration to European Union countries or the United States of America did not materialize. It examines how migration outcomes are affected by the migrants’ social capital and sheds light on their alternative resources to cope with life in Ukraine given limited state support. The results show significant differences in the adaptation and possibilities for legal ways to migrate to other countries for migrants coming from Central Asia, Afghanistan and other Asian countries.
Accounting for Multiple Nonfatal Strangulation in Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment
Authors: Messing Jill Theresa , Campbell Jacquelyn , AbiNader Millan Alexander , Bolyard Richelle
Published: December 2020

Nonfatal strangulation is a prevalent, underreported, and dangerous form of intimate partner violence (IPV). It is particularly important to assess for strangulation among abused women as this form of violence may not leave visible injury. The most severe negative physical and mental health consequences of strangulation appear to be dose-related, with those strangled multiple times or to the point of altered consciousness at higher risk of negative sequelae. This research examines the relationship between multiple strangulation, loss of consciousness due to strangulation, and risk of future near-fatal violence to modify the Danger Assessment (DA) and the Danger Assessment for Immigrant women (DA-I), IPV risk assessments intended to predict near-fatal and fatal violence in intimate relationships. Data from one study ( n = 619) were used to modify the DA to include an item on multiple strangulation or loss of consciousness due to strangulation. Data from an independent validation sample ( n = 389) were then used to examine the predictive validity of the updated DA and DA-I. The updated version of the DA predicts near-fatal violence at 7–8 months follow-up significantly better than the original DA. Adding multiple strangulation or loss of consciousness to the DA-I increased the predictive validity slightly, but not significantly. The DA and DA-I are intended to be used as a collaboration between IPV survivors and advocates as tools for education and intervention. Whether or not an IPV survivor has been strangled, she should be educated about the dangerous nature of strangulation and the need for medical intervention should her partner use strangulation against her. This evidence-based adaptation of the DA and DA-I may assist practitioners to assess for and intervene in dangerous IPV cases.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Physical and/or Sexual Abuse Among Female Middle School Students: A Cross- Sectional Study in Kinshasa, DRC
Authors: Jonas Kakungu Assani Wa Mwenda , Tang Hai-yan , Deng Ling-chao , Yu Yizhen , Jean-Baptiste Kakoma N’dusu , Basile Kalema Kisungu , Opoku Sampson , Meng Heng
Published: December 2020

This cross-sectional study sought to broaden the limited evidence on violence against young adolescent girls in non-conflict zones within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Our goal was to estimate the prevalence of and the predictors of physical and/or sexual abuse among girls aged 11–18 years in Kinshasa. A total of 3,100 girls from five randomly selected schools were recruited by our team and given the questionnaires; among them, 3,011 (97.1%) participants completed the questionnaires and were included in the study for further analysis. After collecting all valid responses, the overall prevalence of physical and/or sexual abuse was sorted into the following categories: experienced physical abuse without a weapon (recorded by 70.1% of respondents), experienced physical abuse with a weapon (66.3% of respondents), attempted rape without penetration (76.5% of respondents), experienced attempted rape with penetration (73.9% of respondents), and experienced verbal sexual harassment (93.0%).

Our logistic regression analysis indicated that specific kinds of living arrangements (such as only living with the father, mother, or a caregiver; odds ratio ranged 1.8 to 6.9) and places of residence (such as living in lower-class or middle-class districts; odds ratio ranged 1.7 to 6.2) had the strongest associations with higher risk pertaining to whether the respondent had experienced physical and/or sexual abuse in the past. Meanwhile, factors such as the students’ level of education (both middle grade and upper grade) and occupation of the father (specifically whether holding a part-time job or retired) were deemed to be more protective. However, physical and/or sexual abuse prevalence was found to be high among middle school girls in Kinshasa. Therefore, we recommend that drastic policies and strategies aimed at socioeconomic issue and living condition ameliorations among families should be implemented to curtail physical and sexual abuse in the nonconflict zones of the DRC.
Impact of FDI on Economic Growth in South Asia: Does Nature of FDI Matters?*This article is an outcome of a project supported by South Asia Network of Economic Research Institutes under 16th RRC.
Authors: Chaudhury Saswata , Nanda Nitya , Tyagi Bhawna
Published: December 2020

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is believed to be an important determinant of economic growth in developing countries, but its impact varies across countries. Presence of other determinants (like domestic investment, inflation, infrastructure and external trade) may augment or retard the potential impact of FDI on economic growth. Moreover, due to the non-homogeneous nature of sectoral FDI, the sectoral composition may create differential impact on economic growth. Hence, it is necessary to identify and measure the differential impact of sector-wise (primary versus secondary versus tertiary sector) FDI inflow. Exploring the nature and behaviour of overall and sectoral FDI inflow in South Asian countries in the recent past, this article has taken a holistic approach in studying and analysing the FDI-growth dynamics. The study found that the impacts of FDI in South Asia are indeed influenced by sectoral composition of FDI.
Emphysematous epididymo-orchitis: An unusual case report
Authors: Agrawal Akshat , Mohanty Sudhansu Sekhar , Sen Kamal Kumar
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Emphysematous epididymo-orchitis in the young to middle age groups without any comorbidity like diabetes or metabolic disorders is an uncommon entity.

Case report

We present a case of a nondiabetic young patient, diagnosed with emphysematous epididymo-orchitis as a sequela to urinary tract infection.

Discussion

Clinically differentiating diagnoses of the acute scrotum may be difficult and ultrasound can be used reliably as the initial modality showing the presence of air for early diagnosis.

Conclusion

Nondiabetic young patients without any metabolic disorder should also be suspected for emphysematous epididymo-orchitis in the setting of the acute scrotum. An ultrasound examination can predict its presence with confidence.
Evaluating the impact of a coach development intervention for improving coaching practices and player outcomes in netball: The MASTER coaching randomized control trial
Authors: Eather Narelle , Miller Andrew , Jones Brad , Morgan Philip J
Published: December 2020

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of a novel 8-week coach development intervention (MASTER) on game-based coaching practices of netball coaches from one netball club (n = 16; 8 intervention, 8 active-control; NSW Australia), and player outcomes for the junior athletes being coached. The multi-component MASTER intervention aimed to educate coaches on how to design and implement high quality game-based coaching sessions. The core pillar of MASTER is ‘positive coaching,’ delivered through games-based coaching practices. At baseline and 10-weeks, two coaching sessions per coach were filmed and assessed using the MASTER assessment tool. Players (8-16yrs; n = 85) were videoed during structured gameplay, with three aspects of game play assessed using Game Performance Assessment Instrument. Coaches and players (n = 75; 12-16yrs) completed a perceptions questionnaire. Using linear mixed model ITT analysis, significant interventions effects were observed for the primary outcome: percentage of time spent performing playing-form activities [25.7% (95% CI (7.79-43.65), P = 0.008, d = 1.52]. Significant interventions effects were also observed for coach perceptions, player game skills, and player self-perceptions (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed for player enjoyment, motivation, or wellbeing. The MASTER program was effective in improving coach and player self-perceptions, and coaching practices of netball coaches during training sessions.
Association between congenital thrombophilia and outcomes in pulmonary embolism patients
Authors: Lian Tian-Yu , Lu Dan , Yan Xin-Xin , Tan Jiang-Shan , Peng Fu-Hua , Zhu Yong-Jian , Wei Yun-Peng , Wu Tao , Sun Kai , Jiang Xin , Hua Lu , Jing Zhi-Cheng
Published: December 2020

The prevalence and distribution of congenital thrombophilia is still unclear in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of congenital thrombophilia in PE patients and their subsequent outcomes. A prospective observational study was conducted from May 2013 to June 2018. A total of 436 consecutive patients with PE were enrolled. All patients were tested for protein C, protein S, antithrombin III (ATIII), factor V Leiden, and prothrombin G20210A mutations. The median follow-up duration was ∼800 days (range, 11-1872 days). Congenital thrombophilia was diagnosed in 31 of 436 (7.1%) patients; 12 patients had protein C deficiency (2.8%), 13 had protein S deficiency (3.0%), 5 had ATIII deficiency (1.1%), and 1 had (0.2%) factor V Leiden. Age ≤50 years at the first episode (odds ratio [OR], 5.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.35-13.52; P < .001) and male sex (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.15-6.78; P = .03) were 2 independent predictors of congenital thrombophilia in PE patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of congenital thrombophilia between PE patients with and without risk factors (P = .58). We also found no significant difference in the risk of having a composite outcome of death or recurrent venous thromboembolism between patients with and without congenital thrombophilia (hazard ratio, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.02-5.69; P = .08). These results suggest that age and male sex are independently associated with the occurrence of congenital thrombophilia in PE patients but that congenital thrombophilia is not associated with the risk of recurrence or death with anticoagulation therapy.
Does patient fitness play a role in determining first-line treatment of acute myeloid leukemia?
Authors: Chen Evan C. , Garcia Jacqueline S.
Published: December 2020

The treatment choice for newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is no longer straightforward. Historically, patient fitness has been a major driver of the initial therapy decision based on the belief that intensive chemotherapy would be the optimal choice if a patient were “fit” enough to receive it. Tools based on chronological age, performance status, and comorbidities have been developed to help estimate patient fitness. With newer approved therapies that include nonintensive options such as IDH1 inhibition or less intensive options such as hypomethylating agent (HMA)- or low-dose cytarabine (LDAC)-based combinations with venetoclax, the choice of frontline AML therapy places more emphasis on disease-specific features, including cytogenetics and mutational profile. Moreover, newer treatments have higher response rates than what has been expected with older nonintensive options such as LDAC or HMA monotherapy. We present cases of three patients with AML with varying cytogenetic and molecular risks to demonstrate the important but changing role of patient fitness in the current era of expanding therapeutic options.
Can we use epigenetics to prime chemoresistant lymphomas?
Authors: Amengual Jennifer E.
Published: December 2020

Chemoresistance remains a challenging clinical problem in the treatment of many lymphoma patients. Epigenetic derangements have been implicated in both intrinsic and acquired chemoresistance. Mutations in epigenetic processes shift entire networks of signaling pathways. They influence tumor suppressors, the DNA-damage response, cell-cycle regulators, and apoptosis. Epigenetic alterations have also been implicated in contributing to immune evasion. Although increased DNA methylation at CpG sites is the most widely studied alteration, increased histone methylation and decreased histone acetylation have also been implicated in stem-like characteristics and highly aggressive disease states as demonstrated in both preclinical models of lymphoma and patient studies. These changes are nonrandom, occur in clusters, and are observed across many lymphoma subtypes. Although caution must be taken when combining epigenetic therapies with other antineoplastic agents, epigenetic therapies have rarely induced clinical meaningful responses as single agents. Epigenetic priming of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies in lymphoma patients may create opportunities to overcome resistance.
When I treat a patient with acute pulmonary embolism at home
Authors: Klok Frederikus A. , Huisman Menno V.
Published: December 2020

Home treatment is feasible and safe in selected patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and is associated with a considerable reduction in health care costs. When establishing a PE outpatient pathway, 2 major decisions must be made. The first one concerns the selection of patients for home treatment. The second one involves dedicated outpatient follow-up including sufficient patient education and facilities for specialized follow-up visits. Current evidence points toward the use of either the Hestia criteria or Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index with/without assessment of the right ventricular function to select patients for home treatment, depending on local preferences. Results from ongoing trials are expected to enforce current guideline recommendations on home treatment and pave the way for more broad application of this elegant and cost-effective management option for patients with acute PE.
Improving symptom control and reducing toxicities for pediatric patients with hematological malignancies
Authors: Sung Lillian , Miller Tamara P. , Phillips Robert
Published: December 2020

The continuing improvement in pediatric cancer survival over time is largely attributable to the availability of intensive therapies. Increasing attention has been focused on addressing the physical and psychosocial impacts of cancer and cancer treatments. Evidence from adult oncology suggests that routine symptom screening and feedback to health care providers can improve patient-clinician communication, reduce distress, and improve quality of life and may even increase survival. Many questions remain regarding implementation of routine symptom screening in pediatric cancer care, including the best symptom assessment instrument and the reporter type and feasibility of integration with electronic health records (EHRs). Nonsymptom adverse events are also important, for both routine clinical care and adverse event reporting for patients enrolled in clinical trials. However, traditional mechanisms for reporting adverse events lead to substantial inaccuracies and are labor intensive. An automated approach for abstraction from EHRs is a potential mechanism for improving accuracy and reducing workload. Finally, identification of symptom and nonsymptom toxicities must be paired with prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. These strategies should be based on clinical practice guidelines that synthesize evidence and use multiprofessional, multidisciplinary expertise to place this evidence in clinical context and create recommendations. How best to implement clinical practice guidelines remains a challenge, but EHR order sets and alerts may be useful. In summary, although survival is excellent for pediatric patients receiving cancer therapies, more focus is needed on identification of symptoms and nonsymptom toxicities and their management. The EHR may be useful for promoting better supportive care through these mechanisms.
Patient stratification in myelodysplastic syndromes: how a puzzle may become a map
Authors: Kubasch Anne Sophie , Platzbecker Uwe
Published: December 2020

Heterogeneity is the disease-defining epithet of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. During the last decade, significant progress has been made to better understand the diversity of clinical, molecular, cellular, and immunological factors that are bound to the prognosis and outcomes of patients with MDS. Despite the rapid generation of all of this biological information, how to implement it has fallen short. Redefining clinical tools to use this new information remains a challenge. The holistic integration of novel, high-impact individual risk parameters such as patient-reported outcomes or mutational and immunological data into conventional risk stratification systems may further refine patient subgroups, improve predictive power for survival, and provide a next-generation classification and prognosis system for patients with MDS. Dichotomic treatment strategies in patients with MDS according to their patient and disease profiles highlight the importance of precise risk stratification, which may be complemented by the definition of granular cohorts of patients with myeloid neoplasms and a druggable target (ie, IDH1/2 mutations) across conventional blast thresholds.
Prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: focus on hematological aspects of management
Authors: McLintock Claire
Published: December 2020

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of global maternal mortality and accounts for approximately one-quarter of all maternal deaths worldwide. Prevention of excess maternal deaths requires a coordinated approach to prevention, early recognition, and intervention by a multidisciplinary team. Although some women have risk factors for PPH that can be identified during pregnancy or during labor or birth, most women with severe PPH do not have any risk factors. Therefore, all pregnant women must be considered to be at risk of PPH. Common causes include uterine atony, retained placenta, trauma to the genital tract or uterus, and coagulopathy. The pivotal role of fibrinogen and hyperfibrinolysis in the evolution and as a treatment target for PPH is increasingly recognized. Coagulopathy can be an early feature in PPH that may be unrecognized, as it can be present before massive transfusion has occurred. Identification of coagulopathy by viscoelastic point-of-care testing or conventional laboratory assays can be helpful in guiding management of PPH and preventing severe maternal outcomes.
Immunotherapy with drugs
Authors: Choi Yun , Diefenbach Catherine S.
Published: December 2020

The treatment of lymphomas has undergone a shift in the last few decades, from traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy toward immune-targeting agents that supplement or, in some cases, even supplant direct tumor killing with activation of antitumor systemic immunity. Since the introduction of the first known immunomodulatory modality, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, multiple immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed including monoclonal antibodies (mABs), antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific T-cell engagers, checkpoint inhibitors, small molecule inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and vaccines. Many of these agents, either as monotherapies or as a component of a combination strategy, have shown impressive results, combining efficacy with tolerability. Immunotherapy ranging from mABs to checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy are now integrated into lymphoma treatment from the earliest lines of therapy to the relapsed and refractory setting for both Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Although further studies are needed to improve our understanding of the unique side effects of immunomodulation, to determine the optimal sequence and combinations of these agent with targeted therapies and standard chemotherapy, and to identify predictive biomarkers, they clearly represent a growing list of treatment options for both HL and NHL and an important step on our road toward cure of these diseases.