bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of engaging authentically on nurse–patient relationships: A scoping review
Authors: Pratt Helen , Moroney Tracey , Middleton Rebekkah
Published: November 2020

The current international healthcare focus on ensuring the perspectives and needs of individual persons, families or communities are met has led to the core tenet of person‐centred care for all. The nurse–patient relationship is central to the provision of care, and enhancing this relationship to ensure trust and respect supports optimal care outcomes for those accessing healthcare services. Engaging authentically is one of the recognised key approaches in person‐centred practice, and this scoping review of the literature aims to gain an understanding of the role this process plays in developing effective relationships between nurses and the people they care for. A systematic search of databases and grey literature was undertaken, and twenty‐one research papers met the inclusion criteria. A thematic analysis revealed four themes: ‘getting to know the patient as a person’, ‘the complexity of relationship building—it takes time’, ‘the nurse: characteristics and behaviours that support the nurse–patient relationship’ and ‘the patient voice’. Nurses and patients both benefit from effective relationships, feeling valued and experiencing greater satisfaction with care. Key elements of engaging authentically were revealed as a nurse–patient relational process through this literature review; however, further research is needed to gain a greater understanding of this concept.
Non‐targeted 13C metabolite analysis demonstrates broad re‐orchestration of leaf metabolism when gas exchange conditions vary
Authors: Abadie Cyril , Lalande Julie , Limami Anis M. , Tcherkez Guillaume
Published: November 2020

It is common practice to manipulate CO2 and O2 mole fraction during gas‐exchange experiments to suppress or exacerbate photorespiration, or simply carry out CO2 response curves. In doing so, it is implicitly assumed that metabolic pathways other than carboxylation and oxygenation are altered minimally. In the past few years, targeted metabolic analyses have shown that this assumption is incorrect, with changes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, anaplerosis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylation), and nitrogen or sulphur assimilation. However, this problem has never been tackled systematically using non‐targeted analyses to embrace all possible affected metabolic pathways. Here, we exploited combined NMR, GC–MS, and LC–MS data and conducted non‐targeted analyses on sunflower leaves sampled at different O2/CO2 ratios in a gas exchange system. The statistical analysis of nearly 4,500 metabolic features not only confirms previous findings on anaplerosis or S assimilation, but also reveals significant changes in branched chain amino acids, phenylpropanoid metabolism, or adenosine turn‐over. Noteworthy, all of these pathways involve CO2 assimilation or liberation and thus affect net CO2 exchange. We conclude that manipulating CO2 and O2 mole fraction has a broad effect on metabolism, and this must be taken into account to better understand variations in carboxylation (anaplerotic fixation) or apparent day respiration.
Criminalization through Complicity: (Not) Reporting Crime in Mexico City
Authors: Hayden Tiana Bakić
Published: November 2020

In contemporary Mexico, the ideal of citizen responsibility and cooperation with authorities in crime prevention coexists with a widespread mistrust and disillusionment with the state. In this context, 90 percent of crimes go unreported to the police, a statistic that is a concern not only for law enforcement authorities but also for citizens who frequently comment that reporting is an ideal, even if few do so. Moving beyond a discussion of why people do or do not report crime, this article analyzes metapragmatic talk about (non)reporting in Mexico City's largest food market, La Central de Abasto. It shows such talk to be socially productive in the constitution of unequal publics. Merchants, workers, and authorities draw on and reproduce a language ideology in which the difficult‐to‐execute bureaucratic practice of reporting crime indexes proper citizenship even as forms of speech coded as silence or rumor index complicity with criminality. An attention to the metapragmatics of the crime report can thus expand understandings of contemporary processes of criminalization and its relationship to the constitution of unequal publics.
The Relation Between Social Identities and Outgroup Hostility Among German Immigrant‐Origin Citizens
Authors: Hamidou‐Schmidt Hayfat , Mayer Sabrina Jasmin
Published: November 2020

One of the major drivers of societal conflict are the intergroup relations which rely mainly on social identity and which are rarely analyzed for immigrant groups. This article changes this point of view by investigating the extent to which national, ethnic, and religious identities relate to outgroup hostilities towards the majority of the German population, towards other immigrant groups, and towards Syrian refugees among immigrant‐origin citizens. We employ a theoretical framework based on the social identity approach and use new representative survey data from 2017 for Germans of Turkish descent (N = 480) and Russian Germans (N = 471). Based on multivariate linear regression analysis, we show that ethnic identity has the strongest positive relation with outgroup hostilities, with the exception of the Russian‐Germans' evaluation of the German majority population. National identity among Germans of Turkish descent lessens their hostility towards other immigrants. Our results show the importance of analyzing immigrant groups with different migration trajectories separately before making generalized claims. Not only are the identity relations different between an ingroup identification and various outgroup targets, but they are also different between the immigrant groups for the same ingroup identification and outgroup target.
Whistleblowers as regulatory intermediaries: Instrumental and reflexive considerations in decentralizing regulation
Authors: Kampourakis Ioannis
Published: November 2020

This article frames whistleblowers as regulatory intermediaries who provide a response to the problem posed by the fragmentation of knowledge in a complex society and market economy. I identify two ways in which whistleblowers become regulatory intermediaries: The first is by remedying informational asymmetries between the regulator and the target (instrumental approach). Both in the United States and in the European Union, whistleblowers are protected on the basis of the value of the disclosed information for the advancement of regulatory objectives. The second way in which whistleblowers become regulatory intermediaries is by contributing to the development of “communities of compliance” and by enhancing the internal self‐regulatory capacities of regulatory targets (reflexive approach). Creating internal channels of reporting and monitoring is perceived as a way to change the organizational culture of targets. Through the instrumentalism – reflexivity dipole, competing rationales and normative visions of regulatory intermediation become apparent: It could, on the one hand, facilitate state intervention and legal sanctions or, on the other hand, signal the aspiration to embed public and social values in private actors.
Large‐scale genome‐wide association study, using historical data, identifies conserved genetic architecture of cyanogenic glucoside content in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root
Authors: Ogbonna Alex C. , Braatz de Andrade Luciano Rogerio , Rabbi Ismail Y. , Mueller Lukas A. , Jorge de Oliveira Eder , Bauchet Guillaume J.
Published: November 2020

Manihot esculenta (cassava) is a root crop originating from South America that is a major staple in the tropics, including in marginal environments. This study focused on South American and African germplasm and investigated the genetic architecture of hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a major component of root quality. HCN, representing total cyanogenic glucosides, is a plant defense component against herbivory but is also toxic for human consumption. We genotyped 3354 landraces and modern breeding lines originating from 26 Brazilian states and 1389 individuals were phenotypically characterized across multi‐year trials for HCN. All plant material was subjected to high‐density genotyping using genotyping by sequencing. We performed genome‐wide association mapping to characterize the genetic architecture and gene mapping of HCN. Field experiments revealed strong broad‐ and narrow‐sense trait heritability (0.82 and 0.41, respectively). Two major loci were identified, encoding for an ATPase and a MATE protein, and contributing up to 7 and 30% of the HCN concentration in roots, respectively. We developed diagnostic markers for breeding applications, validated trait architecture consistency in African germplasm and investigated further evidence for the domestication of sweet and bitter cassava. Fine genomic characterization revealed: (i) the major role played by vacuolar transporters in regulating HCN content; (ii) the co‐domestication of sweet and bitter cassava major alleles are dependent upon geographical zone; and (iii) the major loci allele for high HCN in M. esculenta Crantz seems to originate from its ancestor, M. esculenta subsp. flabellifolia. Taken together, these findings expand our insights into cyanogenic glucosides in cassava roots and its glycosylated derivatives in plants.
Are herbicide mixtures unaffected by resistance? A case study with Lolium rigidum
Authors: Busi Roberto , Beckie Hugh J.
Published: November 2020

Lolium rigidum Gaud., a grass weed species infesting winter field crops, has evolved resistance to the largest number of herbicide modes of action. In this study, 140 field populations of L. rigidum were screened with 14 herbicide treatments. Herbicide resistance at the recommended label dosage of pre‐emergence (PRE), post‐emergence (POST) and binary herbicide mixtures was considered present when plant survival was ≥6%. Plant survival to four acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase) POST herbicides averaged across all populations was approximately 15%, indicating substantial herbicide resistance. In contrast, the mean survival to the PRE treatments was only 2%, reflecting effective control of L. rigidum. Herbicide mixtures were the most effective treatments, with a significantly lower resistance frequency than stand‐alone herbicides. For example, only 12% of the tested samples were resistant to the mixture of clethodim + butroxydim in comparison with 40% and 61% to either butroxydim or clethodim, respectively. Similarly, 8% of the samples were resistant to the mixture of trifluralin + prosulfocarb versus a much greater frequency of 36% and 51% resistance to prosulfocarb and trifluralin, respectively. Surprisingly, the binary mixtures of trifluralin + triallate or pyroxasulfone + triallate are not affected by resistance (presently) due to the greater efficacy than that of either stand‐alone herbicide. Thus, herbicide mixtures can delay the onset of resistance and mitigate the existing levels of herbicide resistance and cross‐resistance in L. rigidum. Systematic screenings of a large number of field populations could identify the most (cost‐) effective herbicide mixtures and foster their informed adoption on farm to mitigate the rapid evolution of weed resistance in lieu of expert assumptions or modelling simulations.
Attached and Attaching Three-Dimensional Jets From Circular Nozzles: Analytical Model
Authors: Pease Leonard F. , Bamberger Judith Ann , Minette Michael J.
Published: November 2020

Here we consider velocity profiles of three dimensional attaching and attached jets emerging from circular nozzles. Like their well-studied two-dimensional counterparts, these wall jets lose momentum due to interactions with nearby surfaces. Unlike their two-dimensional counterparts, simple and quantitative expressions for the velocity profiles of three-dimensional wall jets remain elusive. Here we present a quantitative analytical model of the three-dimensional velocity profiles of attached jets inclusive of a local skin coefficient of friction. We compare these expressions to experimental velocity profiles at moderate and high nozzle Reynolds numbers to find reasonable quantitative agreement. This work has implications for a variety of industries including nuclear waste processing, where jet flows in mixing vessels suspend solids and gases trapped in radioactive waste tanks.
Kinematic Analysis and Design of a Six-Degrees of Freedom 3-RRPS Mechanism for Bone Reduction Surgery
Authors: Essomba Terence , Nguyen Phu Sinh
Published: November 2020

Robot-assisted bone reduction surgery consists in using robots to reposition the bone fragments into their original place prior to fracture healing. This study presents the application of a 3-RRPS augmented tripod mechanism with six degrees-of-freedom for longitudinal bone reduction surgery. First, the inverse and forward kinematic models of the mechanism are investigated. Particularly, the forward kinematic is solved by applying Sylvester's dialytic method. Second, the velocity model is studied and its singular configurations are identified. The workspace of the 3-RRPS mechanism is then outlined and compared with the Stewart platform, which is a classical mechanism for the targeted application. The results show that this mechanism provides a larger workspace, especially its rotation angle about the vertical axis, which is an important aspect in the bone reduction. A series of simulations on the numerical and graphic software is performed to verify the entire analysis of the parallel mechanism. A physiguide and mscadams software are used to carry out a simulation of a real case of femur fracture reduction using the proposed mechanism to validate its suitability. Finally, a robotic prototype based on the mechanism is manufactured and experimented using an artificial bone model to evaluate the feasibility of the mechanism.
Area-selective atomic layer deposition enabled by competitive adsorption
Authors: Suh Taewon , Yang Yan , Sohn Hae Won , DiStasio Robert A. , Engstrom James R.
Published: November 2020

In this work, we investigate the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZrO2 thin films on Cu and SiO2 substrates, using Zr[N(C2H5CH3)]4 as the thin-film precursor, and H2O or O2 as the coreactants. Here, we introduce 3-hexyne as a coadsorbate molecule during the thin-film precursor half-cycle and examine its effect on the selectivity of growth. We find that 3-hexyne strongly inhibits growth on Cu, while having essentially no effect on the growth on SiO2. Calculations using dispersion-inclusive density functional theory verify that 3-hexyne undergoes sp → sp2 rehybridization on Cu, which results in strong chemisorption on the metal surface, while only binding weakly to SiO2 via nonbonded van der Waals/dispersion interactions. After 10 cycles of ALD using 3-hexyne as the coadsorbate, we observed the deposition of ∼1.5 nm of ZrO2 on SiO2. On a Cu substrate, we only detected <0.15 nm of ZrO2 after the same number of cycles of ALD. At this point in the process, we find evidence of the formation of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) from in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and a significant increase in the roughness of the Cu substrate. We conclude that both factors likely contribute to the loss of selectivity due to the formation of sites (e.g., Cu2O) that bind 3-hexyne less strongly and/or an increase in the density of highly reactive sites (e.g., steps, kinks) that promote dissociative chemisorption of the thin-film precursor.
Moisture Content of Bacterial Cells Determines Thermal Resistance of Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis PT 30
Authors: Xie Yucen , Xu Jie , Yang Ren , Alshammari Jaza , Zhu Mei-Jun , Sablani Shyam , Tang Juming
Published: November 2020

This study established a logarithmic relationship between the thermal death time (
D
-value) of
S.
Enteritidis PT 30 and the moisture content (

X
W

) of the bacterial cells by conducting thermal inactivation tests on freeze-dried
S
. Enteritidis PT 30.
Manipulation of Saliva-Derived Microcosm Biofilms To Resemble Dysbiotic Subgingival Microbiota
Authors: Jiang Yaling , Brandt Bernd W. , Buijs Mark J. , Cheng Lei , Exterkate Rob A. M. , Crielaard Wim , Deng Dong Mei
Published: November 2020

In line with the new paradigm of the etiology of periodontitis, an inflammatory disorder initiated by dysbiotic subgingival microbiota, novel therapeutic strategies have been proposed targeting reversing dysbiosis and restoring host-compatible microbiota rather than eliminating the biofilms unselectively. Thus, appropriate laboratory models are required to evaluate the efficacy of potential microbiome modulators.
Insect Bacterial Symbiont-Mediated Vitellogenin Uptake into Oocytes To Support Egg Development
Authors: Mao Qianzhuo , Wu Wei , Huang Lingzhi , Yi Ge , Jia Dongsheng , Chen Qian , Chen Hongyan , Wei Taiyun
Published: November 2020

Many insects harbor obligate bacterial symbionts that can be vertically transmitted to offspring by female insects through eggs. Here, we report that leafhopper vitellogenin (Vg) recognizes and binds a surface channel molecule (porin) on the envelope of obligate bacterial symbiont
Nasuia
, which potentially induces the opening of porin channels for Vg to access the cytoplasm of
Nasuia
. Thus, Vg can exploit bacterial symbionts as the independent carriers into the oocytes. Such
Nasuia
-carried Vg contents support efficient insect egg development. Thus, our findings indicate that insects have evolved strategies to exploit the symbionts for carrying additional Vgs to guarantee optimal insect reproduction.
Whole-Genome Analysis of Clinical Vibrio cholerae O1 in Kolkata, India, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, Reveals Two Lineages of Circulating Strains, Indicating Variation in Genomic Attributes
Authors: Morita Daichi , Morita Masatomo , Alam Munirul , Mukhopadhyay Asish K. , Johura Fatema-tuz , Sultana Marzia , Monira Shirajum , Ahmed Niyaz , Chowdhury Goutam , Dutta Shanta , Ramamurthy Thandavarayan , Samanta Prosenjit , Takahashi Eizo , Okamoto Keinosuke , Izumiya Hidemasa , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: November 2020

Cholera continues to be a global concern, as large epidemics have occurred recently in Haiti, Yemen, and countries of sub-Saharan Africa. A single lineage of
Vibrio cholerae
O1 has been considered to be introduced into these regions from South Asia and to cause the spread of cholera. Using genomic epidemiology, we showed that two distinct lineages exist in Bengal, one of which is linked to the global lineage. The other lineage was found only in Iran, Iraq, and countries in Asia and differed from the global lineage regarding cholera toxin variant and drug resistance profile. Therefore, the potential transmission of this lineage to other regions would likely cause worldwide cholera spread and may result in this lineage replacing the current global lineage.
Trypanosoma cruzi Induces the PARP1/AP-1 Pathway for Upregulation of Metalloproteinases and Transforming Growth Factor β in Macrophages: Role in Cardiac Fibroblast Differentiation and Fibrosis in Chagas Disease
Authors: Choudhuri Subhadip , Garg Nisha Jain
Published: November 2020

Cardiomyopathy is the most important clinical manifestation of
T. cruzi
-driven CD. Recent studies have suggested the detrimental role of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP9 in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during cardiac remodeling in
T. cruzi
infection. Peripheral TGF-β levels are increased in clinically symptomatic CD patients over those in clinically asymptomatic seropositive individuals. We provide the first evidence that during
T. cruzi
infection, Mϕ release of MMP2 and MMP9 plays an active role in activation of TGF-β signaling of ECM remodeling and cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation. We also determined that PARP1 signals c-Fos- and JunB-mediated AP-1 transcriptional activation of profibrotic gene expression and demonstrated the significance of PARP1 inhibition in controlling chronic fibrosis in Chagas disease. Our study provides a promising therapeutic approach for controlling
T. cruzi
-driven fibroblast differentiation in CD by PARP1 inhibitors through modulation of the Mϕ signaling of the AP-1–MMP9–TGF-β pathway.
Characterization of the Plasmidome Encoding Carbapenemase and Mechanisms for Dissemination of Carbapenem-ResistantEnterobacteriaceae
Authors: Abe Ryuichiro , Akeda Yukihiro , Sugawara Yo , Takeuchi Dan , Matsumoto Yuki , Motooka Daisuke , Yamamoto Norihisa , Kawahara Ryuji , Tomono Kazunori , Fujino Yuji , Hamada Shigeyuki
Published: November 2020

Global dissemination of carbapenem-resistantEnterobacteriaceae(CRE) threatens human health by limiting the efficacy of antibiotics even against common bacterial infections. Carbapenem resistance, mainly due to carbapenemase, is generally encoded on plasmids and is spread across bacterial species by conjugation. Most CRE epidemiological studies have analyzed whole genomes or only contigs of CRE isolates. Here, plasmidome analysis on 230 CRE isolates carryingblaIMPwas performed to shed light into the dissemination of a single carbapenemase gene in Osaka, Japan. The predominant dissemination ofblaIMP-6by the pKPI-6 plasmid among genetically distinct isolates was revealed, as well as the emergences of pKPI-6 derivatives that acquired advantages for further disseminations. Underlying vast clonal dissemination of a carbapenemase-encoding plasmid, heteroresistance was found in CRE offspring, which was generated by the transcriptional regulation ofblaIMP-6, stabilization ofblaIMP-6through chromosomal integration, or broadened antimicrobial resistance due to a single point mutation inblaIMP-6.
Elucidation of Regulatory Modes for Five Two-Component Systems in Escherichia coli Reveals Novel Relationships
Authors: Choudhary Kumari Sonal , Kleinmanns Julia A. , Decker Katherine , Sastry Anand V. , Gao Ye , Szubin Richard , Seif Yara , Palsson Bernhard O.
Published: November 2020

E. coli
is a common commensal microbe found in the human gut microenvironment; however, some strains cause diseases like diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and meningitis.
E. coli
’s two-component systems (TCSs) modulate target gene expression, especially related to virulence, pathogenesis, and antimicrobial peptides, in response to environmental stimuli. Thus, it is of utmost importance to understand the transcriptional regulation of TCSs to infer bacterial environmental adaptation and disease pathogenicity. Utilizing a combinatorial approach integrating RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), independent component analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with exonuclease treatment (ChIP-exo), and data mining, we suggest five different modes of TCS transcriptional regulation. Our data further highlight noncognate inducers of TCSs, which emphasizes the cross-regulatory nature of TCSs in
E. coli
and suggests that TCSs may have a role beyond their cognate functionalities. In summary, these results can lead to an understanding of the metabolic capabilities of bacteria and correctly predict complex phenotype under diverse conditions, especially when further incorporated with genome-scale metabolic models.
Self-reported sports injuries and later-life health status in 3357 retired Olympians from 131 countries: a cross-sectional survey among those competing in the games between London 1948 and PyeongChang 2018
Authors: Palmer Debbie , Cooper Dale J , Emery Carolyn , Batt Mark E , Engebretsen Lars , Scammell Brigitte E , Schamasch Patrick , Shroff Malav , Soligard Torbjørn , Steffen Kathrin , Whittaker Jackie L , Budgett Richard
Published: November 2020

Objective

Describe the self-reported prevalence and nature of Olympic-career injury and general health and current residual symptoms in a self-selected sample of retired Olympians.

Methods

3357 retired Olympians from 131 countries completed a cross-sectional online survey, distributed by direct email through World Olympians Association and National Olympian Associations databases. The survey captured Olympic sport exposure, significant training and competition injury history (lasting>1 month), general health (eg, depression) during the athlete’s career, and current musculoskeletal pain and functional limitations.

Results

55% were men (44% women, 1% unknown), representing 57 sports (42 Summer, 15 Winter), aged 44.7 years (range 16–97). A total of 3746 injuries were self-reported by 2116 Olympians. This equated, 63.0% (women 68.1%, men 59.2%) reporting at least one significant injury during their Olympic career. Injury prevalence was highest in handball (82.2%) and lowest in shooting (40.0%) for Summer Olympians; and highest in alpine skiing (82.4%) and lowest in biathlon (40.0%) for Winter Olympians. The knee was the most frequently injured anatomical region (20.6%, 120 median days severity), followed by the lumbar spine (13.1%, 100 days) and shoulder/clavicle (12.9%, 92 days). 6.6% of Olympians said they had experienced depression during their career. One-third of retired Olympians reported current pain (32.4%) and functional limitations (35.9%).

Conclusions

Almost two-thirds of Olympians who completed the survey reported at least one Olympic-career significant injury. The knee, lumbar spine and shoulder/clavicle were the most commonly injured anatomical locations. One-third of this sample of Olympians attributed current pain and functional limitations to Olympic-career injury.
Comparison of detection rate of 16 sampling methods for respiratory viruses: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of clinical data and systematic review
Authors: Hou Nianzong , Wang Kai , Zhang Haiyang , Bai Mingjian , Chen Hao , Song Weidong , Jia Fusen , Zhang Yi , Han Shiliang , Xie Bing
Published: November 2020

Background

Respiratory viruses (RVs) is a common cause of illness in people of all ages, at present, different types of sampling methods are available for respiratory viral diagnosis. However, the diversity of available sampling methods and the limited direct comparisons in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) make decision-making difficult. We did a network meta-analysis, which accounted for both direct and indirect comparisons, to determine the detection rate of different sampling methods for RVs.

Methods

Relevant articles were retrieved comprehensively by searching the online databases of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane published before 25 March 2020. With the help of R V.3.6.3 software and ‘GeMTC V.0.8.2’ package, network meta-analysis was performed within a Bayesian framework. Node-splitting method andI2test combined leverage graphs and Gelman-Rubin-Brooks plots were conducted to evaluate the model’s accuracy. The rank probabilities in direct and cumulative rank plots were also incorporated to rank the corresponding sampling methods for overall and specific virus.

Results

16 sampling methods with 54 438 samples from 57 literatures were ultimately involved in this study. The model indicated good consistency and convergence but high heterogeneity, hence, random-effect analysis was applied. The top three sampling methods for RVs were nasopharyngeal wash (NPW), mid-turbinate swab (MTS) and nasopharyngeal swab (NPS). Despite certain differences, the results of virus-specific subanalysis were basically consistent with RVs: MTS, NPW and NPS for influenza; MTS, NPS and NPW for influenza-a and b; saliva, NPW and NPS for rhinovirus and parainfluenza; NPW, MTS and nasopharyngeal aspirate for respiratory syncytial virus; saliva, NPW and MTS for adenovirus and sputum; MTS and NPS for coronavirus.

Conclusion

This network meta-analysis provides supporting evidences that NPW, MTS and NPS have higher diagnostic value regarding RVs infection, moreover, particular preferred methods should be considered in terms of specific virus pandemic. Of course, subsequent RCTs with larger samples are required to validate our findings.
Improved cancer-related fatigue in a randomised clinical trial: methylphenidate no better than placebo
Authors: Centeno Carlos , Rojí Rocío , Portela Maria Angustias , De Santiago Ana , Cuervo Miguel Angel , Ramos Daniel , Gandara Alvaro , Salgado Esteban , Gagnon Bruno , Sanz Alvaro
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug used to treat fatigue in patients with advanced cancer, for which there is no gold standard of treatment.

Objective

To explore the efficacy of methylphenidate in the relief of fatigue in patients with advanced cancer.

Materials and methods

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre clinical trial, stratified according to the intensity of fatigue. The treatment was considered effective if the improvement in mean fatigue intensity between baseline values and day 6 was significantly higher in the methylphenidate group than in the placebo group. The responses were measured using the Edmonton Symptoms Assessment System (ESAS) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) scales.

Results

35 patients received placebo and 42 patients received methylphenidate. The populations of both groups were homogeneous. Patients receiving methylphenidate did not exhibit statistically significant improvement of fatigue in comparison to patients receiving placebo (p=0.52). The mean improvement of fatigue (ESAS) on day 6 was −1.9 (±2.5) in the placebo group, and −2.3 (±2.6) in the methylphenidate group (p=0.52). The results obtained with the FACT-F were congruent with those obtained by the ESAS. The responses in patients with severe fatigue were −2.4 (±2.9) in the placebo group and −3.4 (±2.5) in the methylphenidate group; the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.3).

Conclusion

Methylphenidate was not more efficient than placebo to treat cancer-related fatigue. Fatigue improved significantly after 3 days of treatment and was stabilised on day 6, both with placebo and methylphenidate. The side effects of methylphenidate were mild and infrequent.

Trial registration number

EudraCT Registry (2008-002171-27).
Educational needs of nursing home staff: does a needs-based palliative care course make a difference?
Authors: Phua Gillian Li Gek , Toh Hui Jin , Tan Laurence , Low James Alvin Yiew Hock
Published: November 2020

Objective

In Singapore, more elderly are living in nursing homes (NHs), with a resultant increase in deaths occurring in NHs. However, palliative care training is limited in Singapore’s core nursing curriculum, and many NHs rely on foreign-trained staff who may not have previous palliative care training. Our study aimed to evaluate whether a needs-based course can improve the palliative care knowledge and attitudes of NH nurses in Singapore.

Methods

Twenty-five nurses participated in the study. The intervention was an 8-week palliative care course developed based on needs assessment and led by a multidisciplinary faculty. A 50-item knowledge test was administered at baseline and 0 day and 3 and 6 months postcourse. Semistructured interviews were conducted at 3 months to assess for changes in attitudes and nursing practices.

Results

The mean knowledge score increased significantly from 31.4 (±4.4) precourse to 35.1 (±5.1) at 3 months. Knowledge scores in end-of-life care increased up to 6 months, and scores for pain and symptom management increased significantly at 3 months. Participants reported a positive change with improved communication skills and increased compassion. There was a lack of opportunities to apply some new knowledge and skills due to regulations and perceived residents’ preferences to engage more local senior staff.

Conclusion

The multidisciplinary needs-based palliative care course using various teaching modalities with follow-up knowledge tests helped to increase knowledge and improve communication skills and attitudes of NH nurses towards palliative care. The increase in knowledge and positive change in attitudes was noted to be sustained for at least 3 months postcourse.
Spinning black holes with a separable Hamilton–Jacobi equation from a modified Newman–Janis algorithm
Authors: Junior Haroldo C. D. Lima , Crispino Luís C. B. , Cunha Pedro V. P. , Herdeiro Carlos A. R.
Published: November 2020

Obtaining solutions of the Einstein field equations describing spinning compact bodies is typically challenging. The Newman–Janis algorithm provides a procedure to obtain rotating spacetimes from a static, spherically symmetric, seed metric. It is not guaranteed, however, that the resulting rotating spacetime solves the same field equations as the seed. Moreover, the former may not be circular, and thus expressible in Boyer–Lindquist-like coordinates. Amongst the variations of the original procedure, a modified Newman–Janis algorithm (MNJA) has been proposed that, by construction, originates a circular, spinning spacetime, expressible in Boyer–Lindquist-like coordinates. As a down side, the procedure introduces an ambiguity, that requires extra assumptions on the matter content of the model. In this paper we observe that the rotating spacetimes obtained through the MNJAalwaysadmit separability of the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for the case of null geodesics, in which case, moreover, the aforementioned ambiguity has no impact, since it amounts to an overall metric conformal factor. We also show that the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for light rays propagating in a plasma admits separability if the plasma frequency obeys a certain constraint. As an illustration, we compute the shadow and lensing of some spinning black holes obtained by the MNJA.
Thermodynamic constraints on matter creation models
Authors: Valentim R. , Jesus J. F.
Published: November 2020

Entropy is a fundamental concept from Thermodynamics and it can be used to study models on context of Creation Cold Dark Matter (CCDM). From conditions on the first ($$\dot{S}\ge 0$$

S
˙

≥
0

) (throughout the present work we will use dots to indicate time derivatives and dashes to indicate derivatives with respect to scale factor) and second order ($$\ddot{S}<0$$

S
¨

<
0

) time derivatives of total entropy in the initial expansion of Sitter through the radiation and matter eras until the end of Sitter expansion, it is possible to estimate the intervals of parameters. The total entropy ($$S_{t}$$

S
t

) is calculated as sum of the entropy at all eras ($$S_{\gamma }$$

S
γ

and $$S_{m}$$

S
m

) plus the entropy of the event horizon ($$S_h$$

S
h

). This term derives from the Holographic Principle where it suggests that all information is contained on the observable horizon. The main feature of this method for these models are that thermodynamic equilibrium is reached in a final de Sitter era. Total entropy of the universe is calculated with three terms: apparent horizon ($$S_{h}$$

S
h

), entropy of matter ($$S_{m}$$

S
m

) and entropy of radiation ($$S_{\gamma }$$

S
γ

). This analysis allows to estimate intervals of parameters of CCDM models.
Walking droplets through the lens of dynamical systems
Authors: Rahman Aminur , Blackmore Denis
Published: November 2020

Over the past decade the study of fluidic droplets bouncing and skipping (or “walking”) on a vibrating fluid bath has gone from an interesting experiment to a vibrant research field. The field exhibits challenging fluids problems, potential connections with quantum mechanics, and complex nonlinear dynamics. We detail advancements in the field of walking droplets through the lens of Dynamical Systems Theory, and outline questions that can be answered using dynamical systems analysis. The paper begins by discussing the history of the fluidic experiments and their resemblance to quantum experiments. With this physics backdrop, we paint a portrait of the complex nonlinear dynamics present in physical models of various walking droplet systems. Naturally, these investigations lead to even more questions, and some unsolved problems that are bound to benefit from rigorous Dynamical Systems Analysis are outlined.
Semantic Recovery of Traceability Links between System Artifacts
Authors: Alvarez-Rodríguez Jose María , Mendieta Roy , Moreno Valentín , Sánchez-Puebla Miguel , Llorens Juan
Published: November 2020

This paper introduces a mechanism to recover traceability links between the requirements and logical models in the context of critical systems development. Currently, lifecycle processes are covered by a good number of tools that are used to generate different types of artifacts. One of the cornerstone capabilities in the development of critical systems lies in the possibility of automatically recovery traceability links between system artifacts generated in different lifecycle stages. To do so, it is necessary to establish to what extent two or more of these work products are similar, dependent or should be explicitly linked together. However, the different types of artifacts and their internal representation depict a major challenge to unify how system artifacts are represented and, then, linked together. That is why, in this work, a concept-based representation is introduced to provide a semantic and unified description of any system artifact. Furthermore, a traceability function is defined and implemented to exploit this new semantic representation and to support the recovery of traceability links between different types of system artifacts. In order to evaluate the traceability function, a case study in the railway domain is conducted to compare the precision and recall of recovery traceability links between text-based requirements and logical model elements. As the main outcome of this work, the use of a concept-based paradigm to represent that system artifacts are demonstrated as a building block to automatically recover traceability links within the development lifecycle of critical systems.
Alkali supplementation as a therapeutic in chronic kidney disease: what mediates protection?
Authors: Mannon Elinor C. , O’Connor Paul M.
Published: November 2020

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) has been recognized as a possible therapy to target chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Several small clinical trials have demonstrated that supplementation with NaHCO3or other alkalizing agents slows renal functional decline in patients with CKD. While the benefits of NaHCO3treatment have been thought to result from restoring pH homeostasis, a number of studies have now indicated that NaHCO3or other alkalis may provide benefit regardless of the presence of metabolic acidosis. These data have raised questions as to how NaHCO3protects the kidneys. To date, the physiological mechanism(s) that mediates the reported protective effect of NaHCO3in CKD remain unclear. In this review, we first examine the evidence from clinical trials in support of a beneficial effect of NaHCO3and other alkali in slowing kidney disease progression and their relationship to acid-base status. Then, we discuss the physiological pathways that have been proposed to underlie these renoprotective effects and highlight strengths and weaknesses in the data supporting each pathway. Finally, we discuss how answering key questions regarding the physiological mechanism(s) mediating the beneficial actions of NaHCO3therapy in CKD is likely to be important in the design of future clinical trials. We conclude that basic research in animal models is likely to be critical in identifying the physiological mechanisms underlying the benefits of NaHCO3treatment in CKD. Gaining an understanding of these pathways may lead to the improved implementation of NaHCO3as a therapy in CKD and perhaps other disease states.
Accurate Integrated Navigation Method Based on Medium Precision Strapdown Inertial Navigation System
Authors: Bo Yang , Xiaogang Yang , Geping Qu , Yongjun Wang
Published: November 2020

A method of accurate integrated navigation for high-altitude aerocraft by medium precision strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS), star sensor, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is researched in this paper. The system error sources of SINS and star sensor are analyzed and modeled, and then system errors of SINS and star sensor are chosen as system states of integrated navigation. Considering that the output of star sensor is attitude quaternion, it can be regarded as an attitude matrix, then the equivalent attitude matrix is constructed by using the output of SINS, and the calculating equation of the equivalent attitude matrix is designed. Thus, one of the measurements of integrated navigation can be constructed by using the equivalent attitude matrix and the attitude matrix output of star sensor. According to the constraint conditions of the attitude matrix, the diagonal elements are selected as one of the measurements of integrated navigation, and the corresponding measurement equation is derived. At the same time, the velocity output and position output difference between SINS and GNSS is selected as the other measurement, and the corresponding measurement equation is also derived. On this basis, the Kalman filter is used to design an integrated navigation filtering algorithm. Simulation results show that although the medium precision SINS is used, the heading accuracy of this integrated navigation method is better than ±1.5′, the pitch and roll accuracy are better than ±0.9’, the velocity accuracy is better than ±0.05 m/s, and the position accuracy is better than ±3.8 m. Therefore, the integrated navigation effect is very significant.
Presynchronous Grid-Connection Strategy of Virtual Synchronous Generator Based on Virtual Impedance
Authors: Zhang Guanfeng , Yang Junyou , Wang Haixin , Cui Jia
Published: November 2020

The virtual synchronous generator (VSG) technology of inverter is widely used to provide the inertia and damping support for power system. However, an additional measurement device PLL (phase-locked loop) is required in the virtual synchronous generator grid connection to track the voltage phase, amplitude, and frequency, which restricts the flexible output of the distributed power generation system. To tackle this challenge, a method for grid-connected control of virtual synchronous generator based on virtual impedance is proposed. It is assumed that there is a virtual power exchange between the synchronous machine and the power grid when the virtual synchronous generator is off-grid, the virtual impedance is developed to calculate the virtual current, and when the virtual current is zero, the output voltage of the VSG can be synchronized with the voltage of the power grid, thereby seamlessly switching between off-grid and grid-connected VSG. A semiphysical simulation platform is built based on RT-LAB; simulation and experimental results show that the proposed grid synchronization control strategy of the VSG can achieve seamless transform between different VSG modes, which is simpler than the conventional synchronization control, while having a good active and reactive power tracing performance.
Biological Activity of Selected Compounds from Annona muricata Seed as Antibreast Cancer Agents: Theoretical Study
Authors: Oyebamiji Abel Kolawole , Tolufashe Gideon Femi , Oyawoye Olubukola Monisola , Oyedepo Temitope A. , Semire Banjo
Published: November 2020

Several natural products have been of help to humans, and its effect is noticeable in the medicinal world. Soursop with botanical name Annona muricata L. possesses antidiarrhea, anticold fever, antirheumatism, and antineuralgia properties. In this work, five selected molecular compounds were studied against type 3 of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD). Its anticancer activity was investigated using the quantum chemical method via Spartan 14 software, molecular docking via Discovery studio 2017, AutoDock Tool 1.5.6, AutoDock Vina 1.1.2, and PyMol 1.7.4.4 and the molecular dynamic simulation method via AMBER14 molecular dynamics package. Many descriptors (EHOMO, ELUMO, dipole moment, energy bandgap, area, volume, polarizability, polar surface area, Log P, hydrogen bond donor, and hydrogen bond acceptor) which describe the anticancer activity of the studied compounds were obtained. Also, the docking study revealed the inhibiting ability of the studied compound, and it was observed that compound C possesses a greater ability to inhibit than other studied compounds as well as the standard (5FU).
Physical and Mechanical Performance of Frozen Rocks and Soil in Different Regions
Authors: Chen Junhao , Wang Lexiao , Yao Zhaoming
Published: November 2020

The artificial freezing method is extensively used in the reinforcement of engineering strata in various regions for shaft excavation and subway connection channels. In this study, representative rock and soil strata from different regions were subjected to low‐temperature physical and mechanical performance tests. The results show that, compared with Cretaceous and Jurassic rock and soil strata, deep topsoil and shallow coastal topsoil have high water content, low thermal conductivities, high frost heave rates, and high freezing temperatures. In addition, the results show that, as the curing temperature decreases, the uniaxial compressive strengths and elastic moduli of deep topsoil and shallow coastal topsoil increase almost linearly. The strength of the sandy soil strata is the highest, followed by the cohesive soil strata, and the strength of the mucky soil and the calcareous clay is the lowest. The strength of the frozen wall and the waterproof requirements must both be taken into account in the freezing design. Deep Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks can have high strength of more than 5 MPa under normal temperature conditions. An increase in the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus with decreasing curing temperature is mainly manifested within the range from the normal temperature to −10°C. The strength can reach more than 10 MPa at −10°C, and only the strength requirements of the frozen wall need to be considered in the freezing design. At low temperatures, deep topsoil and shallow coastal topsoil are dominated by the form of compression failure. The average failure strain at −10°C is typically greater than 5%. When excavating the strata, it is essential to pay attention to the effect of creep. The failure strain of deep Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks is between 1% and 2%, and the breaking and sudden collapse of surrounding rocks should be prevented.
A WSN Clustering Multi-Hop Routing Protocol Using Cellular Virtual Grid in IoT Environment
Authors: Zhang Hui
Published: November 2020

By dividing the grid and clustering multi-hop algorithm, the lifetime of WSN can be prolonged effectively, and the reliability of the system can be improved. In order to prolong network lifetime and balance network energy consumption, a WSN clustering multi-hop routing protocol for electric vehicles using cellular virtual grid is proposed. The routing mechanism divides cells into regular hexagons. In the cluster head selection stage, the node angle ratio, distance ratio, and throughput optimization threshold function are introduced to select cluster heads independently. In data transmission, single hop in cluster and mixed hop between clusters are used to optimize the path and reduce energy consumption when transmitting data among cluster head nodes. In the routing protocol, the path cost from the intermediate node to the target node is calculated according to the distance and residual energy. The simulation results show that the protocol has obvious advantages in reducing network energy consumption compared with several traditional algorithms when the running time reaches 1200 s and the network coverage is high.