bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dermatologists’ perceptions on the utility and limitations of teledermatology after examining 55,000 lesions
Authors: Giavina Bianchi Mara , Santos Andre , Cordioli Eduardo
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Few studies have assessed the perception of teledermatologists about the utility and limitations of teledermatology, especially to diagnose a broad range of skin diseases. This study aimed to evaluate dermatologists’ confidence in teledermatology, its utility and limitations for dermatological conditions in primary care.

Methods

An analytical study that used a survey for dermatologists who diagnosed 30,916 patients with 55,012 lesions through teledermatology during a 1-year project in São Paulo, Brazil.

Results

Dermatologists found teledermatology useful for triage and diagnosis, especially for xerotic eczema, pigmentary disorders and superficial infections. Their confidence in teledermatology was statistically higher by the end of the project ( p = 0.0012). Limitations included some technical issues and the impossibility to suggest how soon the patient should be assisted face-to-face by a dermatologist. The most treatable group of diseases by teledermatology was superficial infections (92%). The use of dermoscopy images would significantly increase the confidence to treat atypical naevi and malignant tumours ( p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0003 respectively). Follow-ups by teledermatology or feedback from primary-care physicians would be desirable, according to the dermatologists.

Discussion

We found it interesting that dermatologists became increasingly confident in teledermatology after the project and how they classified teledermatology as useful for triage, diagnosis and even treatment of most types of skin conditions followed at primary care. Dermoscopy should definitely be added to the photographs, especially for malignant tumours and atypical naevi. Most of the technical limitations found could be solved with a few improvements in the software/platform.
Experimental investigation of prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab under flexural loading
Authors: Xie Qun , Xue Song , Liang Zhen-hua , Lin Ming-qiang
Published: August 2019

A novel type of prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab has been proposed in this article, and compared with traditional waffle slab, there are several typical characteristics of this floor system, including welded steel wire mesh laid in top concrete wythe, orthogonal steel trusses used to reinforce concrete ribs, and foamed concrete blocks filled among the ribs with the purpose of heat insulation and fire resistance. A special template system is adopted for the installation and concrete cast of prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab. All steel segments in prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab are precast and then assembled to form steel system in site. In order to investigate the structural behavior of prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab, two full-scale specimens with different aspect ratio have been experimentally studied under flexural load. The results obtained from the tests have been discussed and analyzed in the context of ultimate flexural load, cracking pattern and failure mode, load–deflection relationship, and load–strain relationship. The experimental results showed that the ultimate load-bearing capacity of prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab has greatly been influenced by the punching shear failure at the rib joints. Three crack types, such as flexural cracks, tensile cracks, and interface cracks, have been exhibited in the final failure of prefabricated steel-truss waffle slab. The deflection development at slab center has presented a four-stage behavior. The significant effect of aspect ratio has also been verified by strain analysis. A computer program has been developed according to the modified structural design method proposed in this article, and the comparison indicated a good agreement between experimental data and theoretical results.
Paranoid looking: on de-communization
Authors: Szcześniak Magda , Zaremba Łukasz
Published: August 2019

According to the famous statement by Robert Musil, ‘there is nothing in this world as invisible as monuments, attention runs down them without stopping for a moment.’ However, the moment when they suddenly become visible as the centre of intense social conflicts, it is difficult to believe they had been invisible for so long. This article analyses practices of contemporary iconoclastic gestures directed at monuments, examining the differences between recent iconoclastic acts in the United States and in Poland. Contrary to progressive anti-racist iconoclastic practices in the United States, the authors argue that the recent wave of attacks against monuments in Poland, connected to the state-sanctioned politics of ‘de-communization’, derives from a conservative vision of history and the public sphere. Drawing on Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s concept of ‘paranoid reading’, the authors show how the ‘de-communization’ project activates a particular ‘way of seeing’: paranoid looking, through which public spaces are turned into environments filled with objects that need to be suspiciously examined and assessed. The paranoid look works against the invisibility of monuments, aiming to extract objects from the landscape in order to further examine them in search of any suspicious elements – formal and stylistic features, more or less intelligible symbols and so on that will shed light on their under-acknowledged capacity for both culpability and criticality.
Televisual epistemologies and beyond
Authors: Parks Lisa
Published: August 2019

In this interview, Lisa Parks shares her reflections on a range of questions that remain central to her research, including what television is at the present moment and might become in the future; how satellites could be treated as part of an integrated history of media; the compartmentalizations of academia; research on surveillance, and the relationship between surveillance and capitalism; the invisibility and materiality of infrastructure, and the significance of field-based research practices; the entanglement of scholarship and social engagement; the emerging Silicon Valley satellite industry, vertical mediation and political resistance; and the urgency of environmental media studies.
Deceptive Affectionate Messages: Mate Retention Deployed Under the Threat of Partner Infidelity
Authors: Caton Neil R. , Horan Sean M.
Published: August 2019

Deceptive affectionate messages (DAMs) have been proposed to act as relational maintenance techniques and, as such, might be part of a greater repertoire of mate retention behaviors. We analyzed data from 1,993 Mechanical Turk participants to examine the relations between DAMs and mate retention, and whether these relations were mediated by the perceived risk of partner infidelity. In line with predictions, frequency of DAMs positively predicted general mate retention and cost-inflicting mate retention through the perceived risk of partner infidelity. In line with our nondirectional prediction, we also found that frequency of DAMs negatively predicted benefit-provisioning mate retention behaviors. In an exploratory mediation analysis of DAMs on benefit-provisioning mate retention via perceived partner infidelity, we surprisingly found that DAMs negatively predicted benefit-provisioning behavior due to the perceived risk of partner infidelity, suggesting that DAMs—but not benefit-provisioning mate retention—are deployed under the threat of partner infidelity. Overall, these findings suggest that DAMs might belong to a greater repertoire of mate retention (especially cost-inflicting) behaviors to thwart the possibility of partner infidelity.
Mission: Control. How Can We Increase Highly Effective Contraception Use in Women With Epilepsy?
Authors: Noe Katherine
Published: August 2019

[Box: see text]
The Innovated “Closed Chest Drainage System” of William Smoult Playfair (1871)
Authors: Desimonas Nikolaos , Tsiamis Costas , Sgantzos Markos
Published: August 2019

During the 19th century, the addition of the water-seal system to a closed chest drain was a major turning point in the history of thoracic surgery. German physician Gotthard Bülau seems to have invented and used his own closed chest drainage device with a liquid-seal system in 1875, and published it in the year 1891. But, in 1871, British physician William Smoult Playfair seems to have thought of the subaqueous drainage and used such drainage to treat the thoracic empyema in children. The British physician stresses in his texts the effectiveness of his method of fully draining the thoracic empyemas while simultaneously preventing air from entering the pleural cavity. An appropriate honor must be attributed to Playfair, who used a subaqueous chest drainage system and appears to be the first to publish such a method.
Noninferiority trials with nonadherence to the assigned randomized treatment
Authors: Korn Edward L , Gray Robert J , Freidlin Boris
Published: August 2019

Background:

Nonadherence to treatment assignment in a noninferiority randomized trial is especially problematic because it attenuates observed differences between the treatment arms, possibly leading one to conclude erroneously that a truly inferior experimental therapy is noninferior to a standard therapy (inflated type 1 error probability). The Lachin–Foulkes adjustment is an increase in the sample size to account for random nonadherence for the design of a superiority trial with a time-to-event outcome; it has not been explored in the noninferiority trial setting nor with nonrandom nonadherence. Noninferiority trials where patients have knowledge of a personal prognostic risk score may lead to nonrandom nonadherence, as patients with a relatively high risk may be more likely to not adhere to the random assignment to the (reduced) experimental therapy, and patients with a relatively low risk score may be more likely to not adhere to the random assignment to the (more aggressive) standard therapy.

Methods:

We investigated via simulations the properties of the Lachin–Foulkes adjustment in the noninferiority setting. We considered nonrandom in addition to random nonadherence to the treatment assignment. For nonrandom nonadherence, we used the scenario where a risk score, potentially associated with the between-arm treatment difference, influences patients’ nonadherence. A sensitivity analysis is proposed for addressing the nonrandom nonadherence for this scenario. The noninferiority TAILORx adjuvant breast cancer trial, where eligibility was based on a genomic risk score, is used as an example throughout.

Results:

The Lachin–Foulkes adjustment to the sample size improves the operating characteristics of noninferiority trials with random nonadherence. However, to maintain type 1 error probability, it is critical to adjust the noninferiorty margin as well as the sample size. With nonrandom nonadherence that is associated with a prognostic risk score, the type 1 error probability of the Lachin–Foulkes adjustment can be inflated (e.g. doubled) when the nonadherence is larger in the experimental arm than the standard arm. The proposed sensitivity analysis lessens the inflation in this situation.

Conclusion:

The Lachin–Foulkes adjustment to the sample size and noninferiority margin is a useful simple technique for attenuating the effects of random nonadherence in the noninferiority setting. With nonrandom nonadherence associated with a risk score known to the patients, the type 1 error probability can be inflated in certain situations. A proposed sensitivity analysis for these situations can attenuate the inflation.
Carpal kinematic changes after scaphoid nonunion: an in vivo study with four-dimensional CT imaging
Authors: de Roo Marieke G. A. , Dobbe Johannes G. G. , van der Horst Chantal M. A. M. , Streekstra Geert J. , Strackee Simon D.
Published: August 2019

The aim was to evaluate if motion between the scaphoid bone fragments is related to the position of the fracture line and if a scaphoid nonunion results in the uncoupling of the proximal and distal carpal row during wrist motion. The influence of dorsal intercalated segment instability on interfragmentary motion was also analysed. In this study, 12 patients were included with unilateral scaphoid nonunion. Four-dimensional computerized tomography was used to analyse flexion–extension and radioulnar deviation motion of both wrists. We found that an increased instability of the scaphoid fragments is associated with the presence of dorsal intercalated segment instability and is not dependent on the position of the fracture line relative to the scaphoid apex. Additionally, a scaphoid nonunion results in an uncoupling of the carpal rows.
‘She’s not obese, she’s a normal 5-year-old and she keeps up with the other kids’: families’ reasons for not attending a family-based obesity management programme
Authors: Povey RC , Cowap LJ , Scholtens K , Forshaw MJ
Published: August 2019

Aims:

To discover the reasons behind invited families’ lack of engagement with a family-based childhood obesity programme in a deprived area.

Methods:

Interviews were conducted with 10 families who were invited to join the programme, but declined to engage. There were two distinct subgroups of participants: those who had no interest in attending the programme and those who showed initial interest yet did not continue attending. The two subgroups were analyzed separately using inductive thematic analysis, and then compared.

Results:

Analysis identified eight themes overall. For both groups, when the service was perceived to be not needed (‘I didn’t see how that would help’), the families disengaged with it. For both groups, this perception was partly related to the perceived appearance of their children: either that they were not obese (‘I didn’t think my son was overweight’) or that they were growing into their size. There was also a similarity in both groups that they perceived that they were already following healthy lifestyles. In addition, several of the themes arising from the families who had no initial interest were related to the impact of the letter that parents received detailing the result of their child being weighed and measured at school. This angered parents (‘I was disgusted’), and there was a feeling that the approach was too generic.

Conclusion:

This study identified a number of potential reasons behind why families may decline to engage with a childhood obesity programme in a deprived area. Across all families, if the programme was perceived as not needed, they would disengage. For those who did not engage at all, the initial communication of the child’s body mass index (BMI) is crucial. Recommendations include taking a more personal and tailored approach for the initial communication and shifting the focus of the programmes onto healthier lifestyles.
Evaluation of an intervention targeting loneliness and isolation for older people in North Wales
Authors: Roberts JR , Windle G
Published: August 2019

Aims:

Age Cymru Gwynedd and Môn provided a service, Cadwyn Môn, which aimed to reduce loneliness and isolation of older people living on Anglesey, North Wales. It involved working with individuals to identify goals, beginning on a one-to-one basis, with the aim of integrating into a wider social setting. The aim of this study was evaluate the impact of Cadwyn Môn on those who received the service.

Methods:

The evaluation adopted a mixed-methods design. Standardized measures of loneliness, social isolation and well-being were obtained at baseline and follow-up time points, and a qualitative element explored client experiences further.

Results:

Improvements were observed in all standardized measures. Qualitative interviews also revealed important psychological and lifestyle changes.

Conclusions:

Given the anticipated rise in loneliness and social isolation alongside an ageing population, this evaluation contributes to understanding the qualities required for interventions to be effective. The findings provide support for the importance of developing individualized interventions that aim to gradually re-integrate people into their communities.
A systematic breakdown of the levels of evidence supporting the European Society of Cardiology guidelines
Authors: van Dijk Wouter B , Grobbee Diederick E , de Vries Martine C , Groenwold Rolf H H , van der Graaf Rieke , Schuit Ewoud
Published: August 2019

Aims

Reviews of clinical practice guidelines have repeatedly concluded that only a minority of guideline recommendations are supported by high-quality evidence from randomised controlled trials. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether these findings apply to the whole cardiovascular evidence base or specific recommendation types and actions.

Methods

All recommendations from current European Society of Cardiology guidelines were extracted with their class (I, treatment is beneficial; II, treatment is possibly beneficial; III, treatment is harmful) and level of evidence (A, multiple randomised controlled trials/meta-analyses; B, single randomised controlled trials/large observational studies; C, expert opinion/small studies). Recommendations were categorised by type (therapeutic, diagnostic, other) and actions (e.g. pharmaceutical intervention/non-invasive imaging/test).

Results

In total, 3531 recommendations (median 128, interquartile range 108–150) were extracted from 27 guidelines. Therapeutic recommendations comprised 2545 (72.1%) recommendations, 411 (16.1%) were supported by level of evidence A, 833 (32.7%) by B and 1301 (51.1%) by C. Class I/III (should/should not) recommendations on minimally invasive interventions were most supported by level of evidence A (55/183, 30.1%) (B [70/183, 38.3%], C [58/183, 31.7%]), while class I/III recommendations on open surgical interventions were least supported by level of evidence A (15/164, 9.1%) (B [34/164, 20.7%], C [115/164, 70.1%]). Of all (831, 23.5%) diagnostic recommendations, just 44/503 (8.7%) class I/III recommendations were supported by level of evidence A (B (125/503, 24.9%), C (334/503, 66.4%)).

Conclusion

Evidence levels supporting European Society of Cardiology guideline recommendations differ widely between recommendation types and actions. Attributing to this variability are different evidence requirements, therapeutic/diagnostic recommendations, different feasibility levels for trials (e.g. open surgical/pharmacological) and many off-topic/policy recommendations based on expert opinion.
Effectiveness of oral antibiotics for definitive therapy of non-Staphylococcal Gram-positive bacterial bloodstream infections
Authors: Quinn Nicholas J. , Sebaaly Jamielynn C. , Patel Bianka A. , Weinrib David A. , Anderson William E. , Roshdy Danya G.
Published: August 2019

Background:

Data on the effectiveness of definitive oral (PO) antibiotics for BSIs in preparation for discharge from hospital are lacking, particularly for Gram-positive bacterial BSIs (GP-BSI). The objective of this study was to determine rates of treatment failure based on bioavailability of PO antimicrobial agents used for GP-BSI.

Methods:

This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult inpatients admitted to an academic medical center over a three-year period. Patients with a non-staphylococcal GP-BSI who received intravenous antibiotics and were then switched to PO antibiotics for at least a third of their treatment course were included. The cohort was stratified into high (⩾90%) and low (<90%) bioavailability groups. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients experiencing clinical failure in each group. Secondary endpoints included clinical failure stratified by antibiotic group, bactericidal versus bacteriostatic PO agents, and organism.

Results:

A total of 103 patients met criteria for inclusion, which failed to reach the a priori power calculation. Of the patients included, 26 received high bioavailability agents and 77 received low bioavailability agents. Infections originated largely from a pulmonary source (30%) and were caused primarily by streptococcal species (75%). Treatment failure rates were 19.2% in the high bioavailability group and 23.4% in the low bioavailability group ( p = 0.66). Clinical failure stratified by subgroups also did not yield statistically significant differences.

Conclusions:

Clinical failure rates were similar among patients definitively treated with high or low bioavailability agents for GP-BSI, though the study was underpowered to detect such a difference.
Automated Measurement of Lumbar Lordosis on Radiographs Using Machine Learning and Computer Vision
Authors: Cho Brian H. , Kaji Deepak , Cheung Zoe B. , Ye Ivan B. , Tang Ray , Ahn Amy , Carrillo Oscar , Schwartz John T. , Valliani Aly A. , Oermann Eric K. , Arvind Varun , Ranti Daniel , Sun Li , Kim Jun S. , Cho Samuel K.
Published: August 2019

Study Design:

Cross sectional database study.

Objective:

To develop a fully automated artificial intelligence and computer vision pipeline for assisted evaluation of lumbar lordosis.

Methods:

Lateral lumbar radiographs were used to develop a segmentation neural network (n = 629). After synthetic augmentation, 70% of these radiographs were used for network training, while the remaining 30% were used for hyperparameter optimization. A computer vision algorithm was deployed on the segmented radiographs to calculate lumbar lordosis angles. A test set of radiographs was used to evaluate the validity of the entire pipeline (n = 151).

Results:

The U-Net segmentation achieved a test dataset dice score of 0.821, an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.914, and an accuracy of 0.862. The computer vision algorithm identified the L1 and S1 vertebrae on 84.1% of the test set with an average speed of 0.14 seconds/radiograph. From the 151 test set radiographs, 50 were randomly chosen for surgeon measurement. When compared with those measurements, our algorithm achieved a mean absolute error of 8.055° and a median absolute error of 6.965° (not statistically significant, P > .05).

Conclusion:

This study is the first to use artificial intelligence and computer vision in a combined pipeline to rapidly measure a sagittal spinopelvic parameter without prior manual surgeon input. The pipeline measures angles with no statistically significant differences from manual measurements by surgeons. This pipeline offers clinical utility in an assistive capacity, and future work should focus on improving segmentation network performance.
Dislocation of a Scleral-Fixated, Hydrophobic, Single-Piece Acrylic Intraocular Lens Secondary to Eyelet Fracture From Gore-Tex Suture
Authors: Gupta R. Rishi , Seamone Mark E. , Pollmann André S. , O’Brien Daniel M. , Lewis Darrell R.
Published: August 2019

Purpose:

This article reports a case of the dislocation of a scleral-fixated enVista MX60 (Bausch + Lomb) intraocular lens (IOL) secondary to eyelet fracture at the point of contact with a Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore & Associates) suture.

Methods:

A case report is discussed.

Results:

An 81-year-old woman presented with decreased vision secondary to a dislocated Gore-Tex scleral-sutured enVista MX60 IOL in the left eye 14 months after surgery. The patient returned to the operating room for IOL exchange, and intraoperatively it was confirmed that the eyelet of the lens had fractured secondary to tension from the Gore-Tex suture.

Conclusions:

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of eyelet fracture in an enVista MX60 scleral-sutured IOL secondary to tension from a Gore-Tex suture.
Identifying quality improvement opportunities using patient complaints: Feasibility of using a complaints taxonomy in a metropolitan maternity service
Authors: Nowotny Benjamin M , Loh Erwin , Davies-Tuck Miranda , Hodges Ryan , Wallace Euan M
Published: August 2019

Background

The Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool (HCAT) is a coding taxonomy developed to interrogate patient complaints for quality and safety improvement lessons. The reliability of the tool has been tested in whole-of-system and whole-of-service settings. We sought to assess whether the taxonomy is functional at the level of a single hospital department.

Objectives

To demonstrate the feasibility of applying HCAT in the setting of a large maternity department with a view to using it to inform quality and safety improvement opportunities.

Methods

All 200 de-identified complaints made between 1 April 2011 and 30 April 2016 to a multi-site maternity service were collated. Each complaint entry included a summary of complaint content, complaint report date, complaint closure date and an incident severity rating (ISR). HCAT was applied to the analysis of complaints using a previously validated content analysis framework. A coding flowchart was developed to aid classification.

Results

The 200 complaints involved 567 issues, an average of 2.8 issues per complaint. The most common issues were rude behaviour (n = 46), poor communication (n = 38), complaints relating to the quality of medical care (n = 36), nursing care (n = 35), surgical/medical complications (n = 28) and complaints relating to the attitude of staff members (n = 23). Complaints in the clinical domain made up the greatest proportion of both severe (ISR 1 – 66.7%) and moderate (ISR 2 – 64.5%) incidents.

Conclusions

Using a reliable taxonomy, we were able to successfully interrogate patient complaints, identifying quality improvement targets within a single maternity service. The taxonomy appears suitable for adoption and application across health jurisdictions.
Nanopetrophysical characterization of the Mancos Shale Formation in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico, USA
Authors: Hu Qinhong , Kalteyer Richard , Wang Jingyi , El-Sobky Hesham F.
Published: August 2019

The Mancos Shale of the San Juan Basin has been an important resource for the exploration and development of oil and gas. However, as with most unconventional plays, the shales have low porosity and extremely low permeability with predominantly nanometer-sized pores. Thus, it is critical to understand the nanopetrophysical properties of the reservoir so a proper assessment of the reservoir quality can be made. Working with three as-received core samples from three different wells of the Tacito Marine Bar and Offshore Mancos play types, we have developed an initial understanding of the nanopetrophysical properties of the pore structure as well as fluid-rock interactions in these tight reservoirs. We have performed a suite of integrated tests, such as mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), low-pressure nitrogen physisorption, core plug porosity and permeability, scanning electron microscopy imaging, water immersion porosimetry after vacuum pulling, contact angle, and fluid imbibition. In addition, we obtained supplementary data for total organic carbon, X-ray diffraction, and pyrolysis to further evaluate reservoir quality. The Mancos Shale samples exhibit petrophysical characteristics that are controlled by a predominant presence of nanometer-sized pore space, with 56%–96% pore volumes present as 3.4–50 nm in pore-throat sizes, as shown by the MIP approach. Contact angle and fluid imbibition tests demonstrate that samples are oil wet to mixed wet, with a tendency of pore networks to imbibe oil over water. The findings from integrated pore structure and wettability studies provide a database and some insights, from the perspectives of nanopetrophysical characterization, into the reservoir quality of the Mancos Shale.
Phase II Trial of De-Intensified Chemoradiotherapy for Human Papillomavirus–Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chera Bhishamjit S. , Amdur Robert J. , Green Rebecca , Shen Colette , Gupta Gaorav , Tan Xianming , Knowles Mary , Fried David , Hayes Neil , Weiss Jared , Grilley-Olson Juneko , Patel Shetal , Zanation Adam , Hackman Trevor , Zevallos Jose , Blumberg Jeffrey , Patel Samip , Kasibhatla Mohit , Sheets Nathan , Weissler Mark , Yarbrough Wendell , Mendenhall William
Published: August 2019

PURPOSE

To report the results of a phase II clinical trial of de-intensified chemoradiotherapy for patients with human papillomavirus–associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Major inclusion criteria were (1) having American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th edition T0-T3, N0-N2c, M0 (AJCC 8th edition T0-T3, N0-N2, M0), (2) being p16 positive, and (3) reporting minimal or remote smoking history. Treatment was limited to 60 Gy intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent intravenous cisplatin 30 mg/m2 once per week. Patients with T0-T2 N0-1 (AJCC 7th edition) did not receive chemotherapy. All patients had a 10- to 12-week post-treatment positron emission tomography/computed tomography to assess for neck dissection. The primary end point was 2-year progression-free survival. Secondary end points included 2-year local-regional control, distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival, and patient-reported outcomes (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and the patient-reported outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events).

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen patients were enrolled (median follow-up of 31.8 months), with 81% having a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Eighty percent of patients had 10 or fewer tobacco pack-years. Two-year local-regional control, distant metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival were as follows: 95%, 91%, 86%, and 95%, respectively. Mean pre- and 2-year post-treatment European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life scores were as follows: global, 79/84 (lower worse); swallowing, 8/9 (higher worse); and dry mouth, 14/45 (higher worse). Mean pre- and 2-year post-treatment patient-reported outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events scores (0 to 4 scale, higher worse) were as follows: swallowing, 0.5/0.7, and dry mouth, 0.4/1.3. Thirty-four percent of patients required a feeding tube (median, 10.5 weeks; none permanent). There were no grade 3 or higher late adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Clinical outcomes with a de-intensified chemoradiotherapy regimen of 60 Gy intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent low-dose cisplatin are favorable in patients with human papillomavirus–associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Neither neoadjuvant chemotherapy nor routine surgery is needed to obtain favorable results with de-escalation.
Not that hot after all: no limits to heat dissipation in lactating mice selected for high or low BMR
Authors: Sadowska Julita , Gębczyński Andrzej K. , Lewoc Małgorzata , Konarzewski Marek
Published: August 2019

Heat dissipation has been suggested as a limit to sustained metabolic effort, e.g. during lactation, when overheating is a possible risk. We tested this hypothesis using mice artificially selected for high (H-BMR) or low (L-BMR) BMR that also differ with respect to parental effort. We used fixed sized cross-fostered families and recorded litter mass daily until the 14th day of lactation. Midway through the experiment (day 8th) half of randomly chosen mothers from each line type had fur from the dorsal body surface removed to increase their thermal conductance and facilitate heat dissipation. Our results showed that neither of the line types benefited from increasing their thermal conductance at peak lactation. On the contrary, growth of the litters reared by the L-BMR females was compromised. Thus, our results do not support the heat dissipation limitation hypothesis.
Ethanol as a potential mosquito sample storage medium for RNA preservation
Authors: Torres Mirsha G. , Weakley Allison M. , Hibbert James D. , Kirstein Oscar D. , Lanzaro Gregory C. , Lee Yoosook
Published: August 2019

Sample storage for downstream RNA analysis can be challenging in some field settings, especially where access to cryogenic materials or refrigeration/freezer facilities are limited. This has limited RNA-based studies on African malaria vectors collected in the field. We evaluated RNA quality after storing mosquito samples in three different sample preservation media over a 4-week period. Storing mosquito specimens in cold (4°C) media significantly improved yields of intact RNA. Our results indicate commercially available products perform well in keeping RNA integrity as advertised. Moreover, absolute ethanol may be an economical alternative for sample preservation that can be utilized in some resource-limited settings.
Bayesian evaluation of the performance of three diagnostic tests for Plasmodium falciparum infection in a low-transmission setting in Kilifi County, Kenya
Authors: Mweu Marshal M. , Wambua Juliana , Njuga Fixtan , Bejon Philip , Mwanga Daniel
Published: August 2019

Background: Central to the successful elimination of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, are tests with superior capability of diagnosing low-density parasitaemias. Empirical evidence on the performance of the commonly available diagnostics (light microscopy (LM), rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) is needed to better inform case management and surveillance activities within primary health care settings where elimination of falciparum malaria is targeted. The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) and predictive values of LM, RDT and PCR tests for P. falciparum infection in children, while evaluating the effect of specific covariates on the accuracy of the tests.

Methods: The study enrolled 1,563 children presenting with fever (axillary temperature ≥ 37.50C) to the Ngerenya dispensary, Kilifi County between March and December 2014. A Bayesian latent class model (BLCM) was fitted to the participants’ diagnostic data obtained from blood samples that were screened for the presence of P. falciparum using the three tests.

Results: The PCR assay registered a higher Se (97.6% [92.0; 99.7]) than LM (84.0% [74.8; 91.0]) but similar to RDT (92.2% [84.4; 97.0]). However, the assay showed a similar Sp (98.9% [98.2; 99.4]) to both RDT (99.4% [98.9; 99.7]) and LM (99.5% [99.0; 99.8]). Regarding predictive values, the tests yielded statistically similar estimates of positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). A serial interpretation of the results of RDT and LM raised the PPVs and NPVs to >98%.

Conclusions: LM and RDT afford high Se and Sp in a low P. falciparum prevalence setting. A serial combination of the tests assures high PPV and NPV estimates. These elements, coupled with the wide deployment and affordability of the tests, lend the tests useful for guiding clinical care and surveillance activities for P. falciparum within elimination settings.
Monetary and Non-Monetary Inflation Factors
Authors: Николайчук Ольга , Nikolaychuk Olga , Зайцева Э. , Zayceva E.
Published: August 2019

In continuation of our scientific research, published in the previous issue of the journal, this article was written. In the process of research, the methods of analysis and synthesis, the graphic method were used. The results of this study prove the general theoretical conclusion about the relationship between nominal wage growth and inflation. Achieving financial stability is possible with a decrease in the rate of inflation. Based on the analysis of the scientific periodic and monographic literature, the calculations we have cited, the article concluded that the reasons for inflation in Russia are mostly non-monetary. But when choosing a macroeconomic policy, it is necessary to base on the coordination of influence on both monetary and non-monetary factors of inflation.
Corporate Universities As a Tool for Knowledge Management Systems in Enterprises
Authors: Ширинкина Елена , Shirinkina Elena , Шарамеева Е. , Sharameeva E.
Published: August 2019

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that innovations in the knowledge management system are becoming the determining factor in the competitiveness of enterprises in the 21st century. The purpose of this study is to identify and review the main factors influencing the transformation of the role of the knowledge management process in the modern world, and key global trends in corporate training today. The objectives of the research are to find and creatively master information on factors and trends, identify key trends in the knowledge management system, as well as corporate universities as knowledge management tools that influence their formation, prioritization and structured description of the identified factors and trends.
Improving the Organization of Wages in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Ширинкина Елена , Shirinkina Elena
Published: August 2019

The relevance of the study is because one of the tools for managing human capital is the effective organization of wages. The article defines the role of the effective organization of remuneration in the management of the human capital of oil and gas enterprises. The article examines the remuneration system of workers in oil and gas industry enterprises. The study is conducted through the consideration of such problems as the lack of communication wages with the results of work. The linear dependence of remuneration on the coefficient of performance is shown. In the main part of the article there are two approaches to calculating pay for work. The (creative) nature of the formation of the KPI matrix is shown. In conclusion, briefly the conditions for increasing the sustainability of the results of evaluation and the calculation of the premium are given.
The Use of the Intellectual Activity Results of in the Banking Sphere
Authors: Белоусова И. , Belousova I. , Дулев А. , Dulev A. , Невежин В. , Nevezhin V.
Published: August 2019

The article discusses issues related to the implementation of innovative and information technologies in the process of functioning of banking institutions. The analysis of the main directions of the using of the modern technologies is outlined; their advantages and main problems arising from the application of innovations in the processes of providing banking services and operations are revealed. The authors explore the possibilities and prospects for the use of intellectual property in the banking sector in the context of increasing competition between financial market participants and the need for Russia’s transition to a digital economy. In preparing the article, methods of analysis, synthesis, deduction and induction, methods of graphical analysis were applied. The methodological basis was the works of domestic economists and specialists in the field of information technology, materials of periodicals, websites and legislation. Based on the study, the main areas of use of the results of intellectual activity in the banking sector were identified. The directions of introduction of innovative financial technologies in the process of providing banking services are indicated, which will allow banks to overcome competition with other participants of the financial market and increase their efficiency, as well as accelerate the transition of Russia to the digital economy.
Antimicrobial activity of various brands of children's toothpastes formulated with Triclosan, Fluoride and Xylitol
Authors: Cosme-Silva Leopoldo , Da Silveira Ana Paula Pereira , Gasque Kellen Cristina da Silva , Moretti Neto Rafael Tobias , Sakai Vivien Thiemy , Moretti Ana Beatriz S
Published: August 2019

Objective: Evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of four different commercially available children’s toothpastes on bacteria growth inhibition from oral microbiota of young children. Material and Method: The toothpastes tested contained: 1100 ppm sodium fluoride, xylitol and 750 ppm sodium fluoride, xylitol and 500 ppm sodium fluoride, and  xylitol and triclosan. Twenty 18 to 30 month-old children were selected. Nonstimulated saliva samples were collected and inoculated on brain heart infusion (BHI) agar. Toothpaste dilutions were applied into the agar wells and incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours in microaerophilic conditions. Saline and 0.12% chlorhexidine were used as controls. Antimicrobial activity was determined in duplicate by agar-well diffusion technique. Bacterial growth inhibition zones were recorded in mm. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). Results: All toothpastes showed antimicrobial activity when compared to negative control (p<0.05). Toothpaste containing triclosan presented the highest antimicrobial activity followed, in this order, by xylitol and 750 ppm sodium fluoride, chlorhexidine, 1100 ppm sodium fluoride, xylitol and 500 ppm sodium fluoride and saline. Conclusions: Toothpaste containing triclosan and xylitol presented excellent antimicrobial activity, and may be considered a good option for young children.Key words: Toothpastes. Oral hygiene. Pediatric Dentistry.
Influence of different types of light curing units and photoinitiators in microhardness and color of composite resins after immersion in wine
Authors: Souza Morganna Borges de Almeida , Briso André Luiz Fraga , Ramos Fernanda de Souza e Silva , De Oliveira Reis Bruna , Dos Santos Paulo Henrique , Fagundes Ticiane Cestari
Published: August 2019

Abstract Objective: the aim of this study to evaluate the microhardness and color change (?E) of composite resins, light cured with different LEDs, submitted to staining drink. Materials and Methods: Two composite resins with lucerin-TPO (Tetric N-Ceram/ Vit-l-escence) and camphorquinone (Filtek Z350) were select. Specimens (n=120) were prepared. Then were photopolymerized with LED of singlewave or polywave. Microhardness and color evaluations were performed before and after chalanges. Data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA, Tukey's test (p?0,05). Results: No statistically significant difference between the two generations of LEDs was found for microhardness data. Regarding the ?E, statistical difference between the two LEDs was observed for Tetric N- Ceram and Filtek Z350. Conclusion: Compostion of composites appears to have more influence on analyses than the type of LEDs.
Masticatory force and electromyographic activity of the mandibular elevators muscles in different rehabilitation treatments.
Authors: Moura Isabela Silva Gomes , Kamezawa Leonardo Silva Gomes , Da Silva Eduardo Galera , Amorim Jose Benedito Oliveira , De Andrade Guilherme Schmitt , Pagani Clovis
Published: August 2019

The masticatory function is one of the most complex neuropsychological mechanisms in human motor performance and it depends on several factors, such as bite force, muscle coordination, morphology, and number of teeth in occlusion. Purpose: to evaluate the influence of different rehabilitation treatments such as complete and partial dentures, masticatory forces, and the dynamics of mandibular elevator muscles. Material and Methods: the maximum bite force (force transducer) and electrical activity (superficial electromyography) associated with the masseter and temporal muscles were quantified. These factors were evaluated at rest position and isometric contraction. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics and compared based on the experimental groups, through ANOVA and Tukey’s tests. Results: for bite force, the ANOVA test showed statistical difference between groups and Tukey’s test showed that the force measured in the removable partial dentures group was 44.75% lower than that of the control group, while for complete denture wearers, there was a reduction of 74.4% in bite force in relation to the control group. For electromyographic activity, there was no statistical difference between groups. Pearson’s correlation test (?=5%) showed positive correlation between the variables of bite force and electromyographic activity only for the control group. Conclusion: it was concluded that the loss of dental elements and their replacement with either partial or complete dentures has a great influence on bite force and electromyographic activity of the masseter and temporal muscles.
Science in new spaces
Authors: Pontes Nadia
Published: August 2019

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Multiprofessionalität als »Gemeinschaft der Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter im Verkündigungsdienst«
Authors: Kasparick Hanna
Published: August 2019

Überblick

Zu den Neuansätzen im Miteinander der Berufsgruppen gehörte auch die Ausbildungskonzeption des Bundes der Evangelischen Kirchen in der DDR aus dem Jahr 1975. Sie war Teil umfassender Bemü­hungen zu einer Kirchenreform. Anlässlich des 40jährigen Jubiläums der Gemeindepädagogischen Ausbildung im Osten Deutschlands beleuchtet der Beitrag das Gelingen und Scheitern dieser Re­formbemühungen und identifiziert auch für heutiges Nachdenken wichtige Fragen und Anregungen.
Gemeinsam unterwegs im Namen des Herrn
Authors: Bubmann Peter
Published: August 2019

Überblick

Pastoraltheologie kann nicht mehr allein aufs Pfarramt fokussiert werden, sie ist vielmehr als Theorie kirchlicher Berufe zu entwickeln. Empirische Erkenntnisse wie kirchentheore­tisch-normative Überlegungen sprechen dafür, das Miteinander kirchlicher Berufe verstärkt in den Blick zu nehmen, um den differenzierten Aufgaben der Kirche gegenwärtig gerecht werden zu können. Aus der Analyse aktueller Kirchenreformprozesse ergibt sich ein Plädoyer für die stärkere Berücksichtigung »multiprofessioneller Teams«.
Kirchliche Berufsgruppen zwischen funktionaler Differenzierung und Zusammenarbeit
Authors: Schulz Claudia
Published: August 2019

Überblick

Mit einer Feldrekonstruktion stellt der Beitrag eine Verbindung theoretischer Überlegungen und Perspektiven kirchlicher Fachkräfte dar. Mit Blick in eine konkrete Kirchengemeinde werden deren Bewertungen und Deutungen der Zusammenarbeit der Berufsgruppen analysiert und auf Fragen von beruflicher Profilierung im gemeinsamen Arbeitsfeld bezogen. Angefangen bei divergierenden Auffassungen, was Zusammenarbeit eigentlich ist und was sie ausmacht, bis hin zur Rolle der Zusammenarbeit für das eigene Berufsverständnis werden verschiedene Dimensi­onen des Miteinanders sichtbar - und in ihrer Tragweite als Hürden oder Chancen reflektiert.
Evaluation of Rhizobia strains UFLA 02 100 and CIAT 899 in line LEP 02 11 of Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Authors: Facco Cassiele Uliana , Andrade Carlos Alberto de Bastos , Silva Guilherme Fernando Capristo , Silva Junior Carlos Antonio da , Souza Ana Claudia Sossai
Published: August 2019

The growing quest for sustainability in agricultural production systems has been pushing researchers to develop new technologies under different soil and climatic conditions. Based on this, and knowing the socioeconomic importance of the bean, the use of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is explored. Thus, the quest for quantitative knowledge of BNF at the phenological stages in a new bean line using promising and commercial strains becomes necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the strains UFLA 02 100 and CIAT 899 in the different phenological stages of the LEP 02 11 common bean strain using the biological nitrogen fixation. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse on the Maringá-PR campus of the State University of Maringá. The design was a randomized complete block design in a 6x4 factorial scheme with four replications. The factor A comprised six nitrogen sources: Control, strain UFLA 02 100, strain CIAT 899, Nitrogen 60 kg ha-1, strain UFLA 02 100 + Nitrogen 30 kg ha-1, strain CIAT 899 + Nitrogen 30 kg ha-1 and the B factor is the phenological stages V4, R5, R6 and R8. The analyzed variables were: dry mass of nodules (DMN, grams/plant), dry mass of shoot (DMS, grams/plant), nitrogen content in shoot (NCS, %) and accumulation of nitrogen in shoot (ANS, grams/plant). For the statistical analysis of the data, the means test was used for the variables in the stages. The CIAT 899 strain statistically outperformed UFLA 02 100 for most variables and it was found that nitrogen fertilization negatively affected nodulation.