bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delirium is prevalent in older hospital inpatients and associated with adverse outcomes: results of a prospective multi-centre study on World Delirium Awareness Day
Authors:   Geriatric Medicine Research Collaborative
Published: December 2019

Background

Delirium is a common severe neuropsychiatric condition secondary to physical illness, which predominantly affects older adults in hospital. Prior to this study, the UK point prevalence of delirium was unknown. We set out to ascertain the point prevalence of delirium across UK hospitals and how this relates to adverse outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study across 45 UK acute care hospitals. Older adults aged 65 years and older were screened and assessed for evidence of delirium on World Delirium Awareness Day (14th March 2018). We included patients admitted within the previous 48 h, excluding critical care admissions.

Results

The point prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) delirium diagnosis was 14.7% (222/1507). Delirium presence was associated with higher Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS): CFS 4–6 (frail) (OR 4.80, CI 2.63–8.74), 7–9 (very frail) (OR 9.33, CI 4.79–18.17), compared to 1–3 (fit). However, higher CFS was associated with reduced delirium recognition (7–9 compared to 1–3; OR 0.16, CI 0.04–0.77). In multivariable analyses, delirium was associated with increased length of stay (+ 3.45 days, CI 1.75–5.07) and increased mortality (OR 2.43, CI 1.44–4.09) at 1 month. Screening for delirium was associated with an increased chance of recognition (OR 5.47, CI 2.67–11.21).

Conclusions

Delirium is prevalent in older adults in UK hospitals but remains under-recognised. Frailty is strongly associated with the development of delirium, but delirium is less likely to be recognised in frail patients. The presence of delirium is associated with increased mortality and length of stay at one month. A national programme to increase screening has the potential to improve recognition.
Risk selection into supplemental private health insurance in China
Authors: Jiang Yawen , Ni Weiyi
Published: December 2019

Background

Information on risk selection is important for the regulation and development of supplemental private health insurance (PHI). The research on risk selection into supplemental PHI has been documented in several developed countries where the regulation of the PHI markets was relatively mature. However, evidence on this important aspect of the supplemental PHI market in China is still absent in the literature. The private insurers in China were not prohibited from discrimination against pre-existing conditions and did not guarantee ongoing enrolment. Therefore, the direction and degree of risk selection could not be inferred using the evidence from the other countries. To provide evidence on risk selection into supplemental PHI in China, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2015 wave of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Results

Using probit models, we found that individuals having better self-reported general health were more likely to enrol in PHI in China, suggesting advantageous selection. This result was confirmed by an alternative analysis using an instrumental variable. We also adjusted the realized occurrence of hospitalization by excluding potential moral hazard effect and showed that the adjusted hospitalization risk was negatively associated with PHI enrolment, which also indicated advantageous selection.

Conclusions

The findings suggested potential over-insurance of healthier individuals or under-insurance of less healthy individuals. The regulation of the PHI market in China should aim to address the inefficiency. The current study could also contribute to the information base for policymakers in countries where the PHI markets similarly lack strong regulation.
Recombinant polypeptide of Mycobacterium leprae as a potential tool for serological detection of leprosy
Authors: Barbosa Marcelo dos Santos , de Sousa Iara Beatriz Andrade , Simionatto Simone , Borsuk Sibele , Marchioro Silvana Beutinger
Published: December 2019

Current prevention methods for the transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, are inadequate as suggested by the rate of new leprosy cases reported. Simple large-scale detection methods for M. leprae infection are crucial for early detection of leprosy and disease control. The present study investigates the production and seroreactivity of a recombinant polypeptide composed of various M. leprae protein epitopes. The structural and physicochemical parameters of this construction were assessed using in silico tools. Parameters like subcellular localization, presence of signal peptide, primary, secondary, and tertiary structures, and 3D model were ascertained using several bioinformatics tools. The resultant purified recombinant polypeptide, designated rMLP15, is composed of 15 peptides from six selected M. leprae proteins (ML1358, ML2055, ML0885, ML1811, ML1812, and ML1214) that induce T cell reactivity in leprosy patients from different hyperendemic regions. Using rMLP15 as the antigen, sera from 24 positive patients and 14 healthy controls were evaluated for reactivity via ELISA. ELISA-rMLP15 was able to diagnose 79.17% of leprosy patients with a specificity of 92.86%. rMLP15 was also able to detect the multibacillary and paucibacillary patients in the same proportions, a desirable addition in the leprosy diagnosis. These results summarily indicate the utility of the recombinant protein rMLP15 in the diagnosis of leprosy and the future development of a viable screening test.
An analog hardware solution for compressive sensing reconstruction using gradient-based method
Authors: Orović Irena , Lekić Nedjeljko , Beko Marko , Stanković Srdjan
Published: December 2019

This work proposes an analog implementation of gradient-based algorithm for compressive sensing signal reconstruction. Compressive sensing has appeared as a promising technique for efficient acquisition and reconstruction of sparse signals in many real-world applications. It starts from the assumption that sparse signals can be exactly reconstructed using far less samples than in standard signal processing. In this paper, we consider the gradient-based algorithm as the optimal choice that provides lower complexity and competitive accuracy compared with existing methods. Since the efficient hardware implementations of reconstruction algorithms are still an emerging topic, this work is focused on the design of hardware that will provide fast parallel algorithm execution for real-time applications, overcoming the limitations imposed by the large number of nested iterations during the signal reconstruction. The proposed implementation is simple and fast, executing 400 iterations in 1 ms which is sufficient to obtain highly accurate reconstruction results.
The impact of inclusion, dose and duration of pyrazinamide (PZA) on efficacy and safety outcomes in tuberculosis: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Millard James D. , Mackay Elizabeth A. , Bonnett Laura J. , Davies Geraint R.
Published: December 2019

Background

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a key component of current and future regimens for tuberculosis (TB). Inclusion of PZA at higher doses and for longer durations may improve efficacy outcomes but must be balanced against the potential for worse safety outcomes.

Methods

We will search for randomised and quasi-randomised clinical trials in adult participants with and without the inclusion of PZA in TB treatment regimens in the Cochrane infectious diseases group’s trials register, Cochrane central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) and the World Health Organization (WHO) international clinical trials registry platform. One author will screen abstracts and remove ineligible studies (10% of which will be double-screened by a second author). Two authors will review full texts for inclusion. Safety and efficacy data will be extracted to pre-piloted forms by one author (10% of which will be double-extracted by a second author). The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used to assess study quality. The study has three objectives: the association of (1) inclusion, (2) dose and (3) duration of PZA with efficacy and safety outcomes. Risk ratios as relative measures of effect for direct comparisons within trials (all objectives) and proportions as absolute measures of effect for indirect comparisons across trials (for objectives 2 and 3) will be calculated. If there is insufficient data for direct comparisons within trials for objective 1, indirect comparisons between trials will be performed. Measures of effect will be pooled, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals and p values. Meta-analysis will be performed using the generalised inverse variance method for fixed effects models (FEM) or the DerSimonian-Laird method for random effects models (REM). For indirect comparisons, meta-regression for absolute measures against dose and duration data will be performed. Heterogeneity will be quantified through the I2-statistic for direct comparisons and the τ2 statistic for indirect comparisons using meta-regression.

Discussion

The current use of PZA for TB is based on over 60 years of clinical trial data, but this has never been synthesised to guide rationale use in future regimens and clinical trials.

Systematic review registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42019138735
Evaluation of synthetic formaldehyde and methanol assimilation pathways in Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Vartiainen Eija , Blomberg Peter , Ilmén Marja , Andberg Martina , Toivari Mervi , Penttilä Merja
Published: December 2019

Background

Crude glycerol coming from biodiesel production is an attractive carbon source for biological production of chemicals. The major impurity in preparations of crude glycerol is methanol, which is toxic for most microbes. Development of microbes, which would not only tolerate the methanol, but also use it as co-substrate, would increase the feasibility of bioprocesses using crude glycerol as substrate.

Results

To prevent methanol conversion to CO2 via formaldehyde and formate, the formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FLD) gene was identified in and deleted from Yarrowia lipolytica. The deletion strain was able to convert methanol to formaldehyde without expression of heterologous methanol dehydrogenases. Further, it was shown that expression of heterologous formaldehyde assimilating enzymes could complement the deletion of FLD. The expression of either 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS) enzyme of ribulose monosphosphate pathway or dihydroxyacetone synthase (DHAS) enzyme of xylulose monosphosphate pathway restored the formaldehyde tolerance of the formaldehyde sensitive Δfld1 strain.

Conclusions

In silico, the expression of heterologous formaldehyde assimilation pathways enable Y. lipolytica to use methanol as substrate for growth and metabolite production. In vivo, methanol was shown to be converted to formaldehyde and the enzymes of formaldehyde assimilation were actively expressed in this yeast. However, further development is required to enable Y. lipolytica to efficiently use methanol as co-substrate with glycerol.
Reflecting on tuberculosis case notification and treatment outcomes in the Volta region of Ghana: a retrospective pool analysis of a multicentre cohort from 2013 to 2017
Authors: Osei Eric , Oppong Samuel , Adanfo Daniel , Doepe Bless Ativor , Owusu Andrews , Kupour Augustine Goma , Der Joyce
Published: December 2019

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a petrified condition with a huge economic and health impact on families and health systems in Ghana. Monitoring of TB programme performance indicators can provide reliable data for direct measurement of TB incidence and mortality. This study reflects on the trends of TB case notification and treatment outcomes and makes comparison among 10 districts of the Volta region of Ghana.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of surveillance data of a cohort of TB cases from 2013 to 2017. Trends of case notification and treatment outcomes were examined and compared. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent relationship between patients and disease characteristics and unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and p-values were estimated.

Results

A gradual declining trend of case notification of all forms of TB was noticed, with an overall case notification rate (CNR) of 65 cases per 100,000 population during the period. A wide variation of case notification of TB was observed among the districts, ranging from 32 to 124 cases per 100,000 population. Similarly, treatment success rate decreased slightly from 83.1% during the first year to 80.2% in 2017, with an overall treatment success rate of 82.5% (95% CI: 81.3–83.8%). Treatment failure, death, and lost to follow up rates were 0.8% (range 0.5–1.2%), 13.5% (range 12.4–14.7%), and 3.1% (range 2.6–3.8%) respectively. The treatment success rate among districts ranged from 70.5% in South Tongu to 90.8% in Krachi West district. Returned after treatment interruption (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.62; 95% CI: 1.66–7.91; P < 0.001) and TB/HIV co-infection (AOR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.57–2.40; P < 0.001) predicts poor treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

Over the past five years, TB case notification and successful treatment outcomes did not significantly improve. Wide district variations in CNR was observed. The overall treatment success rate observed in this study is below the target of > 90% set by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) end TB strategy. Additionally, patients who returned to continue treatment after interruption and those who were co-infected with HIV strongly predict unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Sustained interventions to prevent treatment interruptions and improved management of co-morbidities can enhance treatment outcomes, as required to achieve the elimination goal.
Where to spot: individual identification of leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) in South Korea
Authors: Park Heebok , Lim Anya , Choi Tae-Young , Baek Seung-Yoon , Song Eui-Geun , Park Yung Chul
Published: December 2019

Knowledge of abundance, or population size, is fundamental in wildlife conservation and management. Camera-trapping, in combination with capture-recapture methods, has been extensively applied to estimate abundance and density of individually identifiable animals due to the advantages of being non-invasive, effective to survey wide-ranging, elusive, or nocturnal species, operating in inhospitable environment, and taking low labor. We assessed the possibility of using coat patterns from images to identify an individual leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a Class II endangered species in South Korea. We analyzed leopard cat images taken from Digital Single-Lense Relfex camera (high resolution, 18Mpxl) and camera traps (low resolution, 3.1Mpxl) using HotSpotter, an image matching algorithm. HotSpotter accurately top-ranked an image of the same individual leopard cat with the reference leopard cat image 100% by matching facial and ventral parts. This confirms that facial and ventral fur patterns of the Amur leopard cat are good matching points to be used reliably to identify an individual. We anticipate that the study results will be useful to researchers interested in studying behavior or population parameter estimates of Amur leopard cats based on capture-recapture models.
Electron beam irradiation induced crystallization behavior of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide material
Authors: An Byeong-Seon
Published: December 2019

The crystallization of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 phase change material induced by electron beam irradiation was investigated by in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Amorphous matrix transformed into a partially crystalline state after being irradiated with a 200-keV electron beam for a long time. Real-time observation revealed that the crystallization of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 film occurs through a nucleation and growth mechanism under electron beam irradiation in TEM. While uncertainty from the 2D projection remains, the nuclei have been observed to grow preferentially along the < 100> direction.
Application of the WRF/Chem v.3.6.1 on the reanalysis of criteria pollutants over Metro Manila
Authors: Garcia Jacob Alberto , Vallar Edgar , Galvez Maria Cecilia , Bagtasa Gerry
Published: December 2019

Metro Manila, Philippines and other urban areas have reached internationally known unacceptable levels of pollution where about 80% can be attributed to vehicular emissions. The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry v.3.6.1 was used in the reanalysis of pollutant concentrations for the year 2013. Initial results from the planetary boundary layer study suggested that the Yonsei University scheme provides a good estimate of the atmosphere’s condition; hence, this setting was used for the succeeding simulations. The land coverage over Sangley point was not properly resolved by the model. This caused a cold bias for the station. Further evaluation of the model’s sea level pressure output for all sites returned high correlations showing that modeled values are in phase with the observed time series; however, wind speed values did not correlate well with the observed values and were all overestimated. The low correlations found were a result of the incapability of the model to detect the urban canopy layer over Metro Manila. Pollutant concentrations were overestimated. The pollutant time series suggests that the model overestimates concentration values for PM10, PM2.5, and SO2, while underestimating NO2 and O3 values. However, it does capture a significant 24-hourly cycle as seen in the time series’ spectra in the frequency domain. Furthermore, through a student’s t-test, the model also captures a significant difference in daytime and nighttime concentrations.
Screening potential plant species for arresting particulates in Jharia coalfield, India
Authors: Singh Shailendra K. , Singh Ranjeet K. , Singh Raj S. , Pal Debjit , Singh Krishnakant K. , Singh Pradeep K.
Published: December 2019

Mining and related activities cause severe degradation of ambient air quality. A study of particulate matter (PM) across transportation, mining and control (C) sites for dust attenuation capacity (DAC) in selected tree species were carried out in Jharia coalfield (JCF) to estimate the menace of dust pollution and also to measure air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Results indicated that the maximum value of PM10 and PM2.5 ranged from 54 to 174 and 29 to 78 μg m− 3 respectively across all the sites. The maximum values occurred in transportation and the minimum at C for both the particulates. Mining and transportation resulted in an increase in PM10 values by 161 and 200% and PM2.5 values by 100 and 136% respectively as compared to those in C. The mean concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 across the sites exceeded the permissible limit of 100 and 60 μg m− 3 respectively. Transportation was worse than mining due to the high proportion of hazardous fine (PM2.5) particulates. DAC indicated that Tectona grandis (TG) captured maximum dust (2.15 mg cm− 2) with 85% and Peltophorum inerme (PI) the minimum (0.15 mg cm− 2) with 5% efficiency. The trend for DAC showed TG > Ficus glomerata (FG) > Psidium guajava (PG) > Ficus benghalensis (FB) > Ficus religiosa (FR) > Alstonia scholaris (AS) > Aegle marmelos (AM) > Gmelina arborea (GA) > Dalbergia sissoo (DS) > Syzyzium cumini (SC) > Azadirachta indica (AI) > Terminalia arjuna (TA) > Mangifera indica (MI) > Albizia lebbeck (AL) > PI in descending order. APTI based on pH, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid and relative water content indicated maximum values for TG (17) with 90% and minimum for PI (10) with 57% of the total and is a measure of the sustainability of plants in JCF. The descending order for APTI was TG > PG > FG > FR > FB > AI > MI > SC > DS > GA > AM > AS > AL > TA > PI. Thus, TG is the most suitable and PI the least. Stomatal density is negatively related to DAC and positively related to APTI. DAC therefore, cannot be attributed to a single factor but a mix of complex factors such as morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaf, particle size, species type, metabolism, location, meteorology and stress conditions. Based on the findings a greenbelt design was proposed to improve the air quality of the mining and transportation areas.
The bio-mechanical properties of coco wood applied with Neem extracts: a potential preservative for sustainable building in Marinduque, Philippines
Authors: Ney Froilan P. , Malco Dannielle Claudette L. , Senoro Delia B. , Catajay-Mani Merian
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop an organic wood preservative from the liquid extract of Neem tree (Azadirachta indica). This product has the potential in controlling the fast deterioration of coco wood by extracting liquid from fruits with seeds and leaves of Neem tree. Effectiveness as wood preservative was investigated for termite repellency, water absorption, and tangential swelling following American Society for Testing and Materials methods such as D-3345–74, D-4442-92, and D-4446-06, respectively. The study revealed that wood samples with Neem extracts have favorable effects in preserving coco wood. It was also observed that extract from Neem leaves and fruits with seeds has no significant difference in terms of effectiveness on wood preservation displayed and coco wood physical characterization. The majority of the results were commensurate to gear on an affirmative finding to conclude that the liquid extract from Neem can be used and further explored as an effective material for wood preservation.
Diagnostic role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in recurrence detection of surgically treated gastric cancer: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Elfattah Hassan Gadalla Amr A. , Elmansy Noha , Elsayed Nahla Dessoki , Sarhan Mohamed Diaa , Osman Mohamed Fouad
Published: December 2019

Background

Radical surgery of gastric cancer is considered as the only curative treatment; however, its poor long-term survival is often occurred due to its recurrence either local and/or distant metastasis. Thus, early detection of recurrence helps in improving the prognosis. Our aim is to assess the diagnostic role of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting postoperative recurrence in gastric cancer patients who have a radiological and/or clinical suspicion of recurrence.

Results

The study was carried over 31 males (62%) and 19 females (38%) pathologically proven with gastric carcinoma and underwent surgical intervention. All patients underwent PET/CT scan where the site and number of positive FDG activity analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for locoregional recurrence were 75%, 81.58%, and 85% with p value 0.001; for regional lymph node recurrence were 100%, 100%, and 100% with p value < 0.001; for liver metastasis were 100%, 100%, and 100% with p value < 0.001; for peritoneum metastasis were 100%, 97.38%, and 98% with p value < 0.001; and for distant metastasis were 100%, 85.7%, and 94% with p value < 0.001.

Conclusion

With agreements to many studies, this study confirms that FDG PET/CT is a highly effective modality for postoperative surveillance detection of recurrent gastric cancer, especially in patients with clinically manifested disease, elevated tumor markers, and an indication of distant metastasis at diagnostic CT.
Thymus vulgaris extract modulates dexamethasone induced liver injury and restores the hepatic antioxidant redox system
Authors: Abou-Seif Howida Sayed , Hozayen Walaa Gamal , Hashem Khalid Shaaban
Published: December 2019

Background

The liver is the largest important organ and the site for essential biochemical reactions and detoxifying toxic substances in the human body. Long-term, high-dose dexamethasone administration can cause severe alterations in liver function. Therefore,Thymus vulgarisleave extract possess a modulatory role on dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity by attenuating antioxidant defense system.

By subcutaneous route, animals will receive three doses per week for 8 weeks of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg. b. wt.) concomitant with oral administration of thyme aqueous extract (500 mg/kg b.wt.).

Results

DXM treatment led to a marked increase in the liver function enzyme activities that are successfully ameliorated by thyme aqueous extract. Thyme natural antioxidants augmented the antioxidant defense system that overcomes oxidative stress caused by dexamethasone. Conversely, although dexamethasone-treated animals rose lipid peroxidation, thyme extract pretreatment did the reverse.

Conclusion

Hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by dexamethasone might improve by thyme natural antioxidants.
Sotagliflozin Decreases Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Concentrations by Delaying Intestinal Glucose Absorption
Authors: Powell David R , Zambrowicz Brian , Morrow Linda , Beysen Carine , Hompesch Marcus , Turner Scott , Hellerstein Marc , Banks Phillip , Strumph Paul , Lapuerta Pablo
Published: December 2019

Context

The effect of sotagliflozin (a dual sodium–glucose cotransporter [SGLT] 2 and SGLT1 inhibitor) on intestinal glucose absorption has not been investigated in humans.

Objective

To measure rate of appearance of oral glucose (RaO) using a dual glucose tracer method following standardized mixed meals taken after single sotagliflozin or canagliflozin doses.

Setting

Clinical research organization

Design and participants

In a double-blind, 3-period crossover study (NCT01916863), 24 healthy participants were randomized to 2 cohorts of 12 participants. Within each cohort, participants were randomly assigned single oral doses of either sotagliflozin 400 mg, canagliflozin 300 mg, or placebo on each of test days 1, 8, and 15. On test days, Cohort 1 had breakfast containing [6,6-2H2] glucose 0.25 hours postdose and lunch containing [1-2H1] glucose 5.25 hours postdose; Cohort 2 had breakfast containing no labeled glucose 0.25 hours postdose and lunch containing [6,6-2H2] glucose 4.25 hours postdose. All participants received a 10- to 15-hour continuous [U-13C6] glucose infusion starting 5 hours before their first [6,6-2H2] glucose-containing meal.

Main Outcome

RaO, postprandial glucose (PPG), and postprandial insulin.

Results

Sotagliflozin and canagliflozin decreased area under the curve (AUC)0–1 hour and/or AUC0–2 hours for RaO, PPG, and insulin after breakfast and/or the 4.25-hour postdose lunch (P < .05 versus placebo). After the 5.25-hour postdose lunch, sotagliflozin lowered RaO AUC0–1 hour and PPG AUC0–5 hours versus both placebo and canagliflozin (P < .05).

Conclusions

Sotagliflozin delayed and blunted intestinal glucose absorption after meals, resulting in lower PPG and insulin levels, likely due to prolonged local inhibition of intestinal SGLT1 that persisted for ≥5 hours after dosing.
Eighteenth Century Complications With 21st Century General Anesthesia: A Case Report of Scurvy
Authors: Zavaleta Jeffrey R. , Burt Napoleon
Published: December 2019

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be associated with self-imposed dietary restrictions causing nutritional deficiencies, and the anesthesiologist must be aware of their potential clinical implications. Because humans are unable to produce ascorbic acid through endogenous metabolic pathways and children with ASD may avoid vitamin C–containing foods, vitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, may develop in patients scheduled for general anesthesia. Vitamin C deficiency may cause dysfunction in autonomic nervous system processes or pulmonary hypertension resulting in unexpected hemodynamic lability. We describe a child with ASD and limited dietary options leading to undiagnosed scurvy and intraoperative hypotension.
Comparative study on the curative effect of laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery and renal functions under selective segmental renal artery clamping and main renal artery clamping
Authors: Liu Yuan-hua , Dai Hai-tao , Liu Chang-mao , Wang Zhong-yu , Zheng Jiang
Published: December 2019

Objective: To discuss the clinical effect and safety evaluation of laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery (LNSS) under selective segmental renal artery clamping (SSRAC) and main renal artery clamping (MRAC).

Methods: Eighty-four patients with T1 localized renal tumors who were admitted and treated from October 2017 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were classified into the S group (42 patients) and M group (42 patients). The patients in the S group received LNSS under SSRAC, while the patients in the M group received LNSS under MRAC. The duration of the operation, amount of intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative warm ischemia time, duration of postoperative hospital stay and positive rate of incisal edge; the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen values before and after the operation; and the occurrence rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications were compared.

Results: All operations were completed smoothly. No patients had a positive incisal edge, and no patients were converted to MRAC during the operation. The duration of the operation and the amount of intraoperative blood loss increased in the S group compared with the M group. The differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). The differences in the intraoperative warm ischemia time, postoperative drainage and duration of postoperative hospital stay in both groups had no statistical significance (P >0.05). The differences in serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in both groups before the operation had no statistical significance (P >0.05). The SCr and BUN levels significantly increased 1 d and 1 m after the operation. The SCr and BUN levels 1 d and 1 m after the operation were significantly lower in the S group than in the M group, and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). The differences in the occurrence rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications in both groups had no statistical significance (P >0.05).

Conclusion: SSRAC is a new renal artery clamping technology, and its curative effect on LNSS patients is significant. In addition, SSRAC has high safety and little influence on renal functions.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1505

How to cite this:Liu YH, Dai HT, Liu CM, Wang ZY, Zheng J. Comparative study on the curative effect of laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery and renal functions under selective segmental renal artery clamping and main renal artery clamping. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(2):121-125. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.2.1505

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The protective effects of antigen-specific IgY on pyocyanin-treated human lymphoma Raji cells
Authors: Susilowati Heni , Artanto Sidna , Yulianto Heribertus Dedy Kusuma , Sosroseno Wihaskoro , Hutomo Suryani
Published: December 2019

Background: Pyocyanin (PCN), a highly pathogenic pigment produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induces caspase 3-dependent human B cell (Raji cells) death. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to assess whether antigen-specific IgY antibodies may be protective on PCN-induced Raji cell death.

Methods: Chickens were subcutaneously immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant containing PCN, and then given two boosted immunizations.  Anti-PCN IgY antibodies were purified from egg yolk and detected using an agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and ELISA. Protective effects of antigen-specific IgY on Raji cells were tested using a cell viability assay.

Results: AGPT results showed the formation of strong immune complex precipitates, whilst ELISA further confirmed the presence of IgY antibodies specific to PCN at significant concentration. Further experiments showed that anti-PCN IgY antibodies significantly increased PCN-treated Raji cell viability in a dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that anti-PCN IgY antibodies may be protective on PCN-induced Raji cell death.
Of Circulatory Disorders in the Lungs with the Development of Chronic Respiratory Failure in Patients with Common Interstitial Pneumonia
Authors: Zolotnitskaia V , Amosov V. , Speranskaia A. , Tishkov Artem , Ratnikov V.
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To determine the features of circulatory disorders in the lungs in patients with ordinary interstitial pneumonia (OIP) at different stages of the pathological process and with the development of comorbid conditions.

Material and methods: The analysis of the results of radiation research methods: computer tomography, computed angiography and single photon emission computed tomography in 64 patients with common interstitial pneumonia. The selection criteria were the presence of respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension.

Results: The combination of interstitial and alveolar changes, their distribution in the lower parts of both lungs with subpleural localization are mainly pathognomonic for IPI. In 85 % of patients with OIP and the formation of a “cellular lung”, local perfusion disorders of various forms, of small size, subsegmental level, located symmetrically in the diaphragm regions were determined. The main distinctive CT signs of adherence to vascular pathology: pulmonary pattern mosaic; subpleural infiltration sites of the lung tissue of heterogeneous structure; defects in filling the pulmonary artery with a contrast agent during CT angiography; triangular subpleurally located areas of perfusion disturbance on SPECT (when SPECT/CT is combined), localized in the area of lung infarction, or in the zone of no changes on CT.

Conclusion: The development of pulmonary hypertension and chronic respiratory failure in OIP is determined by several factors that have an active or passive effect on pulmonary hemodynamics. Worsening of the patient’s condition and an increase in the degree of respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension, contributes to complication of the pulmonary vascular system – pulmonary thromboembolism and (or) thrombosis in situ, as well as persistent infectious inflammatory processes. In the presence of irreversible morphological changes in the lung parenchyma therapeutic measures do not affect the state of microcirculation in the lungs.
SOLAR SPECTROPOLARIMETER FOR SPACE WEATHER FORECAST
Authors: Ivanov Evgeniy , Gubin Aleksey , Lesovoi Sergey , Estrada Ramses Zaldivar
Published: December 2019

We propose a project of the meter wavelength range solar spectropolarimeter designed for a ground-based network developing for space weather forecast. The Software-Defined Radio (SDR) solution is chosen to meet such instrument network requirements as specification identity, low cost, possibility of controlling and transmitting data remotely via the Internet. Along with these requirements, the proposed SDR solution allows us to measure Stokes I and V easily, which contrasts the proposed instrument with e-CALLISTO network spectropolarimeters, most of which can record only one linear polarization. Deployment of such instruments at various longitudes will allow continuous observation of type II bursts, often related to coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — the most geoeffective solar activity events that affect the space weather significantly.
VARIATIONS OF IONOSPHERIC PARAMETERS OVER ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN) IN 1999–2013
Authors: Mukasheva Saule , Kapytin Vitaliy , Malimbaev Andrey
Published: December 2019

The paper presents the results of a study of the behavior of ionospheric parameters of the total electron content, I(t), and electron density in the maximum F2 layer, Nm, over Almaty (Kazakhstan) [43.25° N; 76.92° E] in 1999–2013. The time interval under study covers different solar activity levels. We have shown that at F10.7>175 in summer and at F10.7>225 in winter there is a saturation effect, i.e. with increasing solar activity level values of I(t) do not increase. The observed nonlinear relationship between the total electron content of the ionosphere and the solar radiation flux F10.7 results from the nonlinear relationship between the solar ultraviolet radiation and the solar radiation flux.

The study of the variability of the mid-latitude ionosphere parameters during different solar and geomagnetic activity levels has shown that the standard deviation ç(x) and average shift Xave of I(t) and Nm fluctuations relative to the quiet level weakly depend on solar activity, but greatly depend on geomagnetic activity when F10.7<100.
ENTRE A FANTASIA E A ILUSÃO: O DESAMPARO
Authors: Oliveira Gessé Duque Ferreira de , Ceccarelli Paulo Roberto
Published: December 2019

Resumo: Recordando que o conceito de fantasia em Formulações sobre os dois princípios do acontecer psíquico se equipara ao conceito de ilusão, utilizado em O futuro de uma ilusão, procurou-se realizar uma interlocução entre fantasia e desamparo. Primeiramente, é feita uma digressão sobre o conceito de ilusão, tal como trabalhado na obra freudiana, bem como da condição de desamparo, principalmente, psíquico. Além disso, realizou-se um resgate do conceito de fantasia, para enfim estabelecer as possibilidades de interlocução entre desamparo, ilusão e fantasia. Após essa análise, foi percebido que, embora tanto na fantasia quanto na ilusão o teste de realidade não exerce influência, fantasia e ilusão ocupam lugares diferentes na topologia psíquica.Palavras-chave: Desamparo. Fantasia. Ilusão.Abstract: Reminding that the concept of fantasy in Formulations on the two principles of psychic happening matches the concept of illusion, used in The Future of an Illusion, it was sought to make an interlocution between fantasy and helplessness. Firstly, a digression was made about the concept of illusion, as worked in Freud's work, as well as the condition of helplessness, especially psychic. In addition, the concept of fantasy was rescued to finally establish the possibilities of interlocution between helplessness, illusion and fantasy. After this analysis, it was realized that even though the reality test has no influence in both fantasy and illusion, they occupy different places in psychic topology.Keywords: Helplessness. Fantasy. Illusion.
PROCESSAMENTO DIGITAL DE IMAGENS PARA ESTUDOS DE DINÂMICAS DA PAISAGEM
Authors: Amaral Felipe Gonçalves , Cruz Carla Bernadete Madureira , Da Silva Camilla Bandeira , De Almeida Paula Maria Moura
Published: December 2019

Estudos de dinâmicas da paisagem vem ganhando maior relevância e sendo aplicados a diferentes temas e com diversas metodologias, possibilitando a geração de inúmeras análises espaço-temporais. Com eles urge a necessidade de caracterização, monitoramento e reconhecimento dessas mudanças na paisagem para subsidiar tomadas de decisão. Por isso, cada vez mais a cartografia e as geotecnologias se fortalecem como um dos métodos de diagnósticos, prognósticos e de detecção de mudanças, uma vez que auxiliam as análises quantitativas e qualitativas desses ambientes. Em virtude desta potencialidade, são observados investimentos em diversos métodos de mapeamento e monitoramento das dinâmicas territoriais a partir do Sensoriamento Remoto, métodos esses que apresentam maior complexidade e abrangência, além do avanço em ganho de tempo e precisão. A partir disso esse artigo tem como objetivo a criação de um mapa de mudanças da área que abrange o município do Rio de Janeiro através da detecção de mudanças multitemporais, considerando quatro datas entre 1985 e 2015, abordando toda a questão metodológica desse processo, desde o pré-processamento das imagens até o estudo mais específico na classificação integrada das imagens para a realização desse mapa de mudanças, passando pela análise da legenda escolhida e pelo tipo de classificação usado.
Worthy of the ‘global leader’ hype, or are we seeing the tip of the iceberg?
Authors: Tingle John
Published: December 2019

John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, discusses some recent patient safety crises, litigation claims and a new patient safety publication from NHS Resolution
Equilibrium, Thermodynamic and Kinetic studies for biosorption of Terasil Brown 2RFL from contaminated water using economical biomaterial
Authors: Bhatti Haq Nawaz , Noreen Saima , Tahir Noor , Ilyas Sadia , Siddiqua Umme Habibah
Published: December 2019

The present study investigated the potential of native and modified sugarcane bagasse for the biosorption of Terasil Brown 2RFLfrom wastewater. The novelty of present work is the preparation of cost effective, efficient and eco friendly biosorbent for the removal of disperse dyeÂ  usingÂ  waste sugarcane bagasse after different simple and inexpensive physical and chemical treatments. The optimization of various physicochemical factors like pH, biosorbent dose, contact time, initial dye concentration and temperature was carried out in batch mode. It was observed that the biosorption capacity of native, CTAB treated and immobilized biosorbent was decreased fromÂ Â Â Â  54.78 to 34, 60.56 to 39.1 and 27.34 to 18.65 mg/g by decreasing pH from 2 to 9. The optimum pH was found to be 2. The reduction in biosorption of disperse dye from 75.4 to 12, 87.59 to 23.44 and 35.66 to 10.78 mg/g was found for native, pretreated and immobilized biosorbent by increasing the dose ofÂ  biosorbent from 0.05 to 0.3g.Â  Kinetic study showed the increase of dye removal by increasing the time from 5 to 90 min for native, CTAB treated and immobilized sugarcane bagasse respectively and there was not any effect on removal was observed after 90 min. At 90 min, the obtained biosorption capacities were 78.99, 89.22 and 38.99 mg/g for native, pretreated and immobilized biosorbent respectively. From the equilibrium study, it was found that the biosorption capacity was increased from 13.88 to 85.67, 20.88 to 94.65 and 10 to 56.77 mg/g by increasing the initial dye concentration from 10 to 100 mg/L. Thermodynamic study revealed the reduction in biosorption capacity from 76.55 to 49, 89.87 to 60 and 35 to 15 mg/g by increasing the temperature from 30 to 60 oC. The 0.05 g, 90 min, 100 mg/L and 30 oC were observed as optimum environmental conditions to attain the maximum removal of disperse dye from contaminated water using native, pretreated and immobilized sugarcane bagasse. The effect of salt, heavy metal ions was also studied on biosorption capacity to make this process more applicable on industrial scale because the contaminated water which discharged from industries mostly contained these ingredients in it. The well fitted equilibrium and kinetic models were found to be Langmuir and pseudo-second-order. Thermodynamic study showed the spontaneous and exothermic nature of biosorption process. The desorption study was also done to make this study more economical and environment friendly. From comparison of native and different modified forms of sugarcane bagasse, it was estimated that the CTAB treated sugarcane bagasse could be used as an efficient, environment friendly and cost effective biosorbent for the removal of Terasil Brown 2RFL from aqueous solution.
The Political Economy of Immigration Policy: Some Simple Interest Group Analytics
Authors: Kaempfer William H. , Lowenberg Anton D. , Mertens William
Published: December 2019

Abstract Immigration policy is viewed as endogenously determined by interest group competition. The political effectiveness of each interest group depends on its ability to control free riding. Support maximizing politicians supply policies in response to the pressures exerted
by interest groups of differing political effectiveness, such differences being the main factor accounting for the adoption of socially inefficient policies. The model demonstrates that immigration policy outcomes are explained by the skill levels of immigrant workers, lengths of stay in the
destination country, ethnic and family ties, and the costs of enforcing immigration laws, together with possible voter prejudices toward immigrants.
An Empirical Analysis of Determinants of Recent Federal Personal Income Tax Evasion in the U.S.
Authors: Cebula Richard J.
Published: December 2019

Unaccounted for currency in die U.S. has been argued to reflect die presence of widespread income tax evasion. In turn, income tax evasion is especially problematic in this era of large government budget deficits and growing national debts which have led to debt crises. This empirical study seeks to identify determinants of recent federal personal income tax evasion in the U.S. using the most recent tax evasion data available, data that run through 2008 and are derived from the General Currency Ratio Model and measured in the form of the ratio of unreported AGI (adjusted gross income) to reported AGI. The empirical estimates find that personal income tax evasion is an increasing function of the maximum marginal federal personal income tax rate, the interest rate yield on three year Treasury notes, per capita real income, and a dummy variable for the years in which the second war in Iraq was conducted, while being a decreasing function of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the ratio of the tax free interest rate yield on high grade municipals to the taxable interest rate yield on ten year Treasury notes, the audit rate by IRS (Internal Revenue Service) personnel, and the average IRS penalty on detected unreported income. Thus, among other things, this study finds that more aggressive IRS policies are effective tools in the war against personal income tax evasion.
The Allocation of Death in the Afghanistan War: An International Public Choice Perspective
Authors: Mixon Franklin G.
Published: December 2019

A classic study by Goff - Tollison [1987] finds empirical support for the idea that variations in Vietnam War (1965-1971) casualties across the U.S. states were a function of variations in political influence across the U.S. states wielded by members of the U.S. Congress, as more senior and influential federal legislators were in a position to have soldiers transferred from combat zones to safer areas. This study revisits this issue by investigating the allocation of death among the minor participating countries in the Afghanistan War (2001- present) against the backdrop of political influence wielded by high-ranking officials in the United Nations, as well as political pressure borne out of important fiscal and commercial relationships between the U.S. and other nations. Results from a hurdle model suggest that possession of high-ranking posts within the U.N. provides the political influence necessary to reduce military deaths among the minor participating countries that occupy them. The results also suggest that maintaining a free trade relationship with the U.S., or being the recipient of U.S. aid, puts political pressure on a minor participating country to place combatants in harm's way in a war being led by the U.S.
Compensation for general asymmetric static loads for a complete optical system of freeform mirrors
Authors: Hartung Johannes , Merx Sebastian , Lukowicz Henrik von
Published: December 2019

Optical systems consisting of freeform metal mirrors are state of the art in optical engineering. The freeform shapes allow for more compact designs and offer more degrees of freedom for aberration correction. The metal components allow for the relocation of the effort from the integration to the fabrication stage. Metal mirrors for spaceborne optical systems experience several loads during orbital commissioning or operation. The present paper focuses on describing general static loads within the optical design to close the iteration loop between optical and mechanical design using this knowledge to investigate how to compensate for load-induced surface shape errors within the optical design. First, this analysis is performed for a two-mirror system with an asymmetric force load step. Second, the compensation for this load is discussed by performing another optical design step or a direct mechanical compensation step at mechanical design level. Since thermal loads usually introduce expansion effects, a third point of the paper is the discussion of thermal loads with some general results, to embed them into the shown formalism. The paper concludes by showing residual optical errors of the compensated optical system and comparing them with the nominal design.