bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of patient engagement to quality of breast cancer care and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study among Latina breast cancer survivors in rural and urban communities
Authors: Bonilla Jackie , Escalera Cristian , Santoyo-Olsson Jasmine , Samayoa Cathy , Ortiz Carmen , Stewart Anita L. , Nápoles Anna María
Published: February 2021

Background

Compared to their white counterparts, Latina breast cancer survivors experience poorer quality of care and worse health-related quality of life. Limited English proficiency (LEP) and patient engagement in cancer care could help explain these disparities. We assessed associations between LEP status and difficulty engaging with physicians, with self-reported quality of breast cancer care and health-related quality of life (physical and emotional well-being) among rural and urban Latina breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Analyses used cross-sectional baseline survey data from two studies that tested a stress management program among rural and urban Latina breast cancer survivors in California. Medical information was collected through medical records review. Linear regression models examined bivariate and multivariable associations of LEP status (yes or no), difficulty engaging with doctors (asking questions and participating in treatment decisions) (1–4; higher score = greater difficulty), and rural versus urban site, with three outcomes: (1) quality of breast cancer care and information; (2) physical well-being; and (3) and emotional well-being, controlling for demographic and medical factors.

Results

The total sample included 304 women (151 from urban and 153 from rural sites). Mean age was 52.7 years (SD 10.9). Most were limited English proficient (84.5%) and had less than a high school education (67.8%). Difficulty engaging with doctors was inversely associated with patient ratings of quality of breast cancer care and information (B = − 0.190, p = 0.014), emotional well-being (B = − 1.866, p < 0.001), and physical well-being (B = − 1.272, p = 0.002), controlling for demographic and treatment factors. LEP (vs. not; B = 1.987, p = 0.040) was independently associated with physical well-being only. Rural/urban status was not related independently to any outcome.

Conclusions

Rural and urban Latina breast cancer survivors who report greater difficulty engaging with physicians experienced worse quality of breast cancer care and health-related quality of life. Promoting greater engagement of Latina breast cancer survivors in cancer care and providing medical interpreters when needed could improve patient outcomes among this vulnerable group.

Trial registration: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02931552 and NCT01383174.
Assessing the effect of virtual education on information literacy competency for evidence-based practice among the undergraduate nursing students
Authors: Shamsaee Maryam , Mangolian shahrbabaki Parvin , Ahmadian Leila , Farokhzadian Jamileh , Fatehi Farhad
Published: February 2021

Background

Information literacy competency is one of the requirements to implement Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in nursing. It is necessary to pay attention to curricular development and use new educational methods such as virtual education to strengthen information literacy competency in nursing students. Given the scarcity of the studies on the effectiveness of virtual education in nursing, particularly in Iran, and the positive university atmosphere regarding the use of virtual education, this study investigated the effect of virtual education on the undergraduate nursing students’ information literacy competency for EBP.

Methods

This interventional study was performed with two groups of intervention and control and a pretest and posttest design. Seventy-nine nursing students were selected and assigned to the intervention or control groups by random sampling. Virtual education of the information literacy was uploaded on a website in the form of six modules delivered in four weeks. Questionnaires of demographic information and information literacy for EBP were used to collect data before and one month after the virtual education.

Results

The results showed no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in all dimensions of information literacy competency in the pre-test stage. In the post-test, the virtual education improved dimensions of information seeking skills (t = 3.14,p = 0.002) and knowledge about search operators (t = 39.84,p = 0.001) in the intervention groups compared with the control group. The virtual education did not have any significant effect on the use of different information resources and development of search strategy with assessing the frequency of selecting the most appropriate search statement in the intervention group.

Conclusion

Virtual education had a significant effect on information seeking skills and knowledge about search operators in nursing students. Nurse educators can benefit from our experiences in designing this method for the use of virtual education programs in nursing schools. Given the lack of effectiveness of this program in using different information resources and development of search strategy, nurse educators are recommended to train information literacy for EBP by integrating several approaches such as virtual (online and offline) and face-to-face education.
Correction to: Impact of a 2‑year trial of nutritional ketosis on indices of cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Athinarayanan Shaminie J. , Hallberg Sarah J. , McKenzie Amy L. , Lechner Katharina , King Sarah , McCarter James P. , Volek Jeff S. , Phinney Stephen D. , Krauss Ronald M.
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
The residual cardiorenal risk in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Giugliano Dario , Maiorino Maria Ida , Bellastella Giuseppe , Esposito Katherine
Published: February 2021

In this commentary, we introduce the concepts of removed and residual risks in conditioning thecardiorenal outlook of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The removed cardiorenal risk represents the risk of progression of CV events (major adverse cardiovascular events, MACE; heart failure, HF) and diabetes kidney disease (DKD) taken away by optimal glycemic control or the use of newer antihyperglycemic drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, GLP-1RA, andsodium-glucose transporter-2 inhibitors, SGLT-2i) in patients with T2D, as demonstrated by the results of intensive glucose lowering trials (IGT) and cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT). IGT have shown that successful glycemic control has modest benefits, as the removed cardiorenal risk ranges from 9% for MACE, to 20% for progression of DKD and to 0% for HF. The removed risk of MACE is 13% for GLP-1RA and 12% for SGLT-2i. However, SGLT-2i, as compared with GLP-1RA, removed twofold more risk (39% vs 17%) for kidney outcomes and fourfold more risk (33% vs 9%) for HF. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors have no clinically important cardiorenal benefits, as residual risk is 99% for MACE, 100% for kidney outcomes (excluding new albuminuria), and 100% for HF. Although the results of some real world, population-based cohort studies suggest the possibility that the cardiorenal protection afforded by newer antihyperglycemic drugs is additive to that of optimal glycemic control, only specific randomized controlled trials could answer this question.
Noninvasive prenatal testing of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia through population-based parental haplotyping
Authors: Chen Chao , Li Ru , Sun Jun , Zhu Yaping , Jiang Lu , Li Jian , Fu Fang , Wan Junhui , Guo Fengyu , An Xiaoying , Wang Yaoshen , Fan Linlin , Sun Yan , Guo Xiaosen , Zhao Sumin , Wang Wanyang , Zeng Fanwei , Yang Yun , Ni Peixiang , Ding Yi , Xiang Bixia , Peng Zhiyu , Liao Can
Published: February 2021

Background

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) of recessive monogenic diseases depends heavily on knowing the correct parental haplotypes. However, the currently used family-based haplotyping method requires pedigrees, and molecular haplotyping is highly challenging due to its high cost, long turnaround time, and complexity. Here, we proposed a new two-step approach, population-based haplotyping-NIPT (PBH-NIPT), using α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia as prototypes.

Methods

First, we deduced parental haplotypes with Beagle 4.0 with training on a large retrospective carrier screening dataset (4356 thalassemia carrier screening-positive cases). Second, we inferred fetal haplotypes using a parental haplotype-assisted hidden Markov model (HMM) and the Viterbi algorithm.

Results

With this approach, we enrolled 59 couples at risk of having a fetus with thalassemia and successfully inferred 94.1% (111/118) of fetal alleles. We confirmed these alleles by invasive prenatal diagnosis, with 99.1% (110/111) accuracy (95% CI, 95.1–100%).

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that PBH-NIPT is a sensitive, fast, and inexpensive strategy for NIPT of thalassemia.
Molecular and phenotypic characterization of efflux pump and biofilm in multi-drug resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella Serovars isolated from food animals and handlers in Lagos Nigeria
Authors: Olubisose Elizabeth Tolulope , Ajayi Abraham , Adeleye Adeyemi Isaac , Smith Stella Ifeanyi
Published: February 2021

Background

Multidrug resistance efflux pumps and biofilm formation are mechanisms by which bacteria can evade the actions of many antimicrobials. Antibiotic resistant non-typhoidalSalmonellaserovars have become wide spread causing infections that result in high morbidity and mortality globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efflux pump activity and biofilm forming capability of multidrug resistant non-typhoidalSalmonella(NTS) serovars isolated from food handlers and animals (cattle, chicken and sheep) in Lagos.

Methods

Forty eight NTS serovars were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing by the disc diffusion method and phenotypic characterization of biofilm formation was done by tissue culture plate method. Phenotypic evaluation of efflux pump activity was done by the ethidium bromide cartwheel method and genes encoding biofilm formation and efflux pump activity were determined by PCR.

Results

All 48Salmonellaisolates displayed resistance to one or more classes of test antibiotics with 100% resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Phenotypically, 28 (58.3%) of the isolates exhibited efflux pump activity. However, genotypically, 7 (14.6%) of the isolates harbouredacrA,acrBandtolC, 8 (16.7%) harbouredacrA,acrDandtolCwhile 33 (68.8%) possessedacrA,acrB,acrDandtolC. All (100%) the isolates phenotypically had the ability to form biofilm with 23 (47.9%), 24 (50.0%), 1 (2.1%) categorized as strong (SBF), moderate (MBF) and weak (WBF) biofilm formers respectively butcsgAgene was detected in only 23 (47.9%) of them. Antibiotic resistance frequency was significant (p < 0.05) in SBF and MBF and efflux pump activity was detected in 6, 21, and 1 SBF, MBF and WBF respectively.

Conclusion

These data suggest thatSalmonellaserovars isolated from different food animals and humans possess active efflux pumps and biofilm forming potential which has an interplay in antibiotic resistance. There is need for prudent use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine and scrupulous hygiene practice to prevent the transmission of multidrug resistantSalmonellaspecies within the food chain.
Baker’s cyst in children: conservative management versus surgical excision according to clinical and imaging criteria
Authors: Mansour Mohammed A. , Shehata Mohammed A. , Shalaby Mohammed M. , Arafa Mohammed A. , Almetaher Hisham A.
Published: February 2021

Background

Pediatric patients rarely exhibit Baker’s cysts. This study was conducted on 15 cases (9 males, 6 females) presented with Baker (popliteal) cyst in the last 2 years (from September 2017 to September 2019). The mean age was 8.5 years. The aim of this study was to present our experience in management of these cases based on clinical and imaging criteria. Plain x-ray and knee ultrasonography were routinely done for all cases. If the size of the cyst was less than or equal to 3 cm by ultrasonography, with no or minimal pain, the patients were managed conservatively and were scheduled to followed up visits after 3 months, 6 months, and after 12 months for clinical assessment of symptoms and sonographic size of the cyst. Surgical excision of the Baker’s cyst was considered if the size of the cyst was more than 3 cm with persistent of pain.

Results

Seven cases had cysts less than 3 cm by ultrasonography and were managed conservatively. In five out of these seven cases, the cysts disappeared with no recurrence within the first year of follow-up. In two cases, the cysts increased in size with increase in pain. These two cases were subjected to surgical excision after 1 year of follow-up.

The remaining eight cases had cysts more than 3 cm and were managed by surgical excision.

Out of the ten cases which were managed by surgical excision, recurrence occurred in 3 cases within the first post-operative year (after 4 months, 7 months, and 8 months) consecutively.

Conclusions

The management of Baker’s cysts in children is debatable, with no definite protocol. In this current study, we conclude that surgical excision of large Baker’s cysts (more than 3 cm) with persistent symptoms is crucial providing meticulous dissection without rupture of the cyst and proper closure of the pedicle which connects the cyst with the knee joint, while conservative management and follow-up is effective in small Baker’s cysts (less than 3 cm) with no recurrence.
Estimation of Traffic Matrix from Links Load using Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Pachuau Joseph L , Roy Arnab , Krishna Gopal , Saha Anish Kumar
Published: February 2021

Traffic Matrix (TM) is a representation of all traffic flows in a network. It is helpful for traffic engineering and network management. It contains the traffic measurement for all parts of a network and thus for larger network it is difficult to measure precisely. Link load are easily obtainable but they fail to provide a complete TM representation. Also link load and TM relationship forms an under-determined system with infinite set of solutions. One of the well known traffic models Gravity model provides a rough estimation of the TM. We have proposed a Genetic algorithm (GA) based optimization method to further the solutions of the Gravity model. The Gravity model is applied as an initial solution and then GA model is applied taking the link load-TM relationship as a objective function. Results shows improvement over Gravity model.
ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ АДАПТАЦИОННЫХ СОСТАВЛЯЮЩИХ ЛИЧНОСТИ УЧАЩИХСЯ И ИХ СОЦИОМЕТРИЧЕСКОГО СТАТУСА В УЧЕНИЧЕСКОЙ ГРУППЕ
Authors: Malyshev I. V.
Published: February 2021

В статье рассматривается проблематика адаптации личности и ее взаимосвязи с социометрическим статусом в ученическом коллективе. Дается теоретическое обоснование проблемы адаптации личности и исследований в этом направлении во взаимосвязи с разными явлениями. Приводятся результаты исследования, характеризующие взаимосвязь между адаптационными составляющими личности учащихся и их социометрическим статусом в ученической группе.
ФЕНОМЕН «ТЯНИ-ВЫТАЛКИВАЙ» КАК ПРОЯВЛЕНИЕ ГЕНДЕРНОГО НЕРАВЕНСТВА В ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННОМ КОНТЕКСТЕ
Authors: Gurieva S. D.
Published: February 2021

Сквозь призму гендерного подхода анализируются социально-психологические явления, проявляющиеся в организации и отражающие ограничения для женщин в профессиональной сфере. Рассматриваются так называемые «стеклянные» феномены в организации: «стеклянный потолок» в профессиональной карьере женщин; «стеклянные стены» как вариант горизонтальной гендерной сегрегации; «стеклянный утес» – увеличение количества женщин на временных управленческих позициях; «липкий пол» – «застревание» на продолжительный период на начальных этапах построения карьеры. Предположение о причинах существования «стеклянных» феноменов и других проявлений гендерного неравенства в организации объединены в две основные группы. Первая группа объясняет существование гендерного неравенства, исходя из социальных факторов «отягощения» – «Pull down»; вторая группа факторов – «push out», связана с организационными факторами, выталкивающим работающую женщину за пределы компании. В настоящее время вопрос остаётся открытым: почему женщины «добровольно» уходят с рабочих мест и что современная организация и общество могут предложить им взаимен.
Integración de las actividades STEM en libros de texto.
Authors: Ferrada Ferrada Cristian Andres , Díaz Levicoy Danilo Antonio , Carrillo Rosúa Francisco Javier
Published: February 2021

The STEM educational perspective is rising and it s consistent with the competence approach incorporated in educational law. The aim of this work is to analyze to what extent the Primary Education Sciences textbooks in Spain and Chile are aligned with this STEM perspective. Following a content analysis methodology, in the 12 widely disseminated analyzed textbooks, 462 activities were identified. Among them, 164 (less than 50%) are related with, at least, one STEM area. These activities were classified according to the integrated curriculum analysis model, which proposes six ways to approach the integration of an activity.The “linked approach” shows a greater relevance in Spanish (50%) and Chilean textbooks (46%). In adition, the activities were classified according to an adaptation of the environmental education perspective approach. Among 5 existing approaches, the “experiential” (60) and the “praxique” (50) are the most prevalent approaches. The findings reveal the need to increase the relationship among disciplines to achieve a truly integrated STEM approach.
(In)Equality of Languages in the EU and Its Economic and Political Consequences
Authors: Szul Roman
Published: February 2021

Language policy (both explicit and implicit) of the EU serves several objectives: to ensure the equality of EU member states and their citizens, to enable the smooth functioning of EU institutions, to improve the economic performance of the EU and to create a sense of community within the UE. These objectives are contradictory which leads to a choice between the idealistic principle of equality of languages and the pragmatic inequality of languages, which in turn generates tensions in the EU over the economic and political consequences of both the equality and inequality of languages. The principle that the EU is a free association of member states implies the equality of all 24 (after Croatia’s accession) official EU languages. This discriminates against citizens whose mother tongues are different than those 24 languages, and, at the same time, generates problems related to the abundance of languages (organisation and costs of translation/interpretation). The smooth functioning of EU institutions, of the EU economy and market, requires the use of a reduced number of languages which is economically and politically disadvantageous for users of other languages and provokes conflicts as in the case of the unique European patent.
Technical requirement and test method specifications for decoy-state BB84 protocol QKD system
Authors: Lai Jun-sen , Liu Lu , Zhao Xin , Tang Xiao-hua , Tang Rui , Zhao Wen-yu , Zhang Hai-yi
Published: February 2021

Recently released CCSA's specifications about technical requirements and test methods for multi-vendor commercialized decoy-state BB84 protocol QKD system are reviewed. The future standardization outlook for QKD system and network are also discussed.
Silicon nitride programmable photonic processor with folded heaters
Authors: Pérez-López Daniel , Gutiérrez Ana , Capmany José
Published: February 2021

General-purpose programmable photonic processors rely on the large-scale integration of beamsplitters and reconfigurable phase shifters, distributed within unit cells or photonic gates. With their future evolution threatened by several hardware constrains, including the integration density that can be achieved with current mesh topologies, in this work, we present a unit cell topology design to increase the integration density of waveguide mesh arrangements based on folded Mach-Zehnder Interferometers. We report the design details of a 40-unit cell waveguide mesh integrated in a 11mm x 5.5 mm silicon nitride chip achieving, to the best of our knowledge, the highest integration density reported to date for a general-purpose photonic processor. The chip is electrically interfaced to a PCB and we report examples of reconfigurable optical beamsplitters, basic tunable microwave photonic filters with high peak rejection (40 dB approx.), as well as the dynamic interconnection and routing of 5G digitally modulated signals within the photonic mesh.
Using thermo-optical nonlinearity to robustly separate absorption and radiation losses in nanophotonic resonators
Authors: Wang Mingkang , Perez-Morelo Diego J. , Aksyuk Vladimir A.
Published: February 2021

Key for optical microresonator engineering, the total intrinsic loss is easily determined by spectroscopy; however, quantitatively separating absorption and radiative losses is challenging, and there is not a general and robust method. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a general all-optical characterization technique for separating the loss mechanisms with high confidence using only linear spectroscopic measurements and an optically measured resonator thermal time constant. We report the absorption, radiation, and coupling losses for ten whispering-gallery modes of three different radial orders on a Si microdisk. Although the total dissipation rates show order-of-magnitude differences, the small absorptive losses are successfully distinguished from the overwhelming radiation losses and show similar values for all the modes as expected for the bulk material absorption.
Microchip Nd:YAG dual-frequency laser interferometer for displacement measurement
Authors: Chen Hao , Zhang Shulian
Published: February 2021

The dual-frequency laser interferometer is an indispensable instrument to measure length, position, deformation and other parameters with high precision and long measurement distance in the advanced manufacturing industry and scientific research. In general, the light source of interferometer is the dual-frequency He-Ne laser. The disadvantages of He-Ne laser include generally large size, more heat radiation to the environment, and limited service life, which limits its application. In this paper, we study a microchip Nd:YAG dual-frequency laser interferometer with a 17.4 MHz frequency difference, which is formed by the stress-induced birefringence in the microchip itself. The down-conversion mixer is designed to decrease the beat frequency to about 5 MHz in heterodyne signal preprocessing modular to meet the bandwidth of phase meter. The experimental results show that the microchip Nd:YAG dual-frequency laser interferometer has a displacement resolution of 10 nm and a measuring range of 500 mm. Due to the advantages of the microchip dual-frequency laser, such as small size (40×40×35 mm), good portability, less power consumption and almost infinite service life, the microchip Nd:YAG dual-frequency laser interferometer has broad application prospects.
Plasmonic-coupled quantum dot photodetectors for mid-infrared photonics
Authors: Lee S. C. , Krishna S. , Jiang Y.-B. , Brueck S. R. J.
Published: February 2021

A plasmonic-coupled, InAs-based quantum dot photodetector fabricated for mid-wave infrared photonics is reported. The detector is designed to provide a broadband absorption [full width at half maximum (FWHM) ≳ 2 µm] peaked at ∼5.5 µm, corresponding to transitions from the ground state of the quantum dot to the quasi-continuum resonance state above the quantum well. From the coupling of this transition to the surface plasma wave (SPW) excited by an Au film atop the detector, fabricated with a 1.5 µm-period, 2-dimensional array of square holes, a narrowband SPW enhancement peaked at 4.8 µm with an FWHM less than 0.5 µm is achieved. At ∼90 K, a peak responsivity enhanced ∼5× by the plasmonic coupling is observed. Simulation reveals that this enhancement corresponds to collecting ∼6% of the incident light; ∼40% of the total absorption by the SPW excitation at the peak wavelength.
Continuous wavelength tuning from 3.9–12 µm from an optical parametric oscillator based on orientation-patterned GaP grown on GaAs
Authors: Schunemann Peter G. , Johnson Kerr , Farrell Carl , Maidment Luke , Shi Yiwen , Rutkauskas Marius , Reid Derryck T.
Published: February 2021

We report for the first time nonlinear frequency conversion—specifically optical parametric oscillation—in OP-GaP layers grown by hydride vapor-phase epitaxy on 3-inch OP-GaAs templates. Continuous tuning with wavelength coverage from 3.9–12 µm was achieved by using stepped and fan-out gratings having periods from 18.0–35.2 µm, which propagated 150 µm of a 1.2-mm-thick layer before overgrowth. Anti-reflection-coated OP-GaP crystals were pumped at 1040 nm with an ultrafast Yb-fiber laser, yielding idler output powers up to 150 mW (60 mW) in spectra centered at a wavelength of 5.6 µm (10.7 µm).
Ephaptic coupling in white matter fibre bundles modulates axonal transmission delays
Authors: Schmidt Helmut , Hahn Gerald , Deco Gustavo , Knösche Thomas R.
Published: February 2021

Axonal connections are widely regarded as faithful transmitters of neuronal signals with fixed delays. The reasoning behind this is that extracellular potentials caused by spikes travelling along axons are too small to have an effect on other axons. Here we devise a computational framework that allows us to study the effect of extracellular potentials generated by spike volleys in axonal fibre bundles on axonal transmission delays. We demonstrate that, although the extracellular potentials generated by single spikes are of the order of microvolts, the collective extracellular potential generated by spike volleys can reach several millivolts. As a consequence, the resulting depolarisation of the axonal membranes increases the velocity of spikes, and therefore reduces axonal delays between brain areas. Driving a neural mass model with such spike volleys, we further demonstrate that only ephaptic coupling can explain the reduction of stimulus latencies with increased stimulus intensities, as observed in many psychological experiments.
Antineoplastic kinase inhibitors: A new class of potent anti-amoebic compounds
Authors: Sauvey Conall , Ehrenkaufer Gretchen , Shi Da , Debnath Anjan , Abagyan Ruben
Published: February 2021

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite which infects approximately 50 million people worldwide, resulting in an estimated 70,000 deaths every year. Since the 1960s E. histolytica infection has been successfully treated with metronidazole. However, drawbacks to metronidazole therapy exist, including adverse effects, a long treatment course, and the need for an additional drug to prevent cyst-mediated transmission. E. histolytica possesses a kinome with approximately 300–400 members, some of which have been previously studied as potential targets for the development of amoebicidal drug candidates. However, while these efforts have uncovered novel potent inhibitors of E. histolytica kinases, none have resulted in approved drugs. In this study we took the alternative approach of testing a set of twelve previously FDA-approved antineoplastic kinase inhibitors against E. histolytica trophozoites in vitro. This resulted in the identification of dasatinib, bosutinib, and ibrutinib as amoebicidal agents at low-micromolar concentrations. Next, we utilized a recently developed computational tool to identify twelve additional drugs with human protein target profiles similar to the three initial hits. Testing of these additional twelve drugs led to the identification of ponatinib, neratinib, and olmutinib were identified as highly potent, with EC50 values in the sub-micromolar range. All of these six drugs were found to kill E. histolytica trophozoites as rapidly as metronidazole. Furthermore, ibrutinib was found to kill the transmissible cyst stage of the model organism E. invadens. Ibrutinib thus possesses both amoebicidal and cysticidal properties, in contrast to all drugs used in the current therapeutic strategy. These findings together reveal antineoplastic kinase inhibitors as a highly promising class of potent drugs against this widespread and devastating disease.
Ecosystem service value evaluation method in a complex ecological environment: A case study of Gansu Province, China
Authors: Zhao Xiaojiong , Wang Jian , Su Junde , Sun Wei
Published: February 2021

The scientific assessment of regional ecosystem service value (ESV) is helpful in developing scientific ecological protection plans and compensation policies. However, an ESV evaluation method that can adapt to the complex and diverse characteristics of the ecological environment has not been established. This study takes Gansu Province in China as an example, fully considering the regional differences in ecosystem service function. Five correction indices for the value equivalent factor per unit area were constructed on a provincial scale, and a regional difference adjustment index for 11 categories of ecosystem services was constructed on a regional scale. In this way, a value evaluation model based on regional differences was established. The results show that in 2015, the total ESV reached 2,239.56 billion yuan in Gansu Province, with ESV gradually increasing from the northeast to the southwest, and the high-value areas of service function being located in Qilian and Longnan Mountains. The forest and grassland ecosystems contributed the most to the ESV. From the perspective of value composition, local climate regulation and biodiversity maintenance functions are the main service functions of Gansu Province. From 2000 to 2015, ESV increased by 3.43 billion yuan in the province. The value of forest and urban ecosystems continued to increase, whereas the value of cultivated land ecosystem continued to decrease. In terms of spatial characteristics of the service value change, the area that experienced value reduction gradually moved from the central part of Gansu Province to the surrounding areas. The evaluation method proposed in this paper provides a relatively comprehensive evaluation scheme for the spatiotemporal dynamic evaluation of ESV in complex ecological environments.
Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19
Authors: Workman Alan D. , Jafari Aria , Xiao Roy , Bleier Benjamin S.
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) affects a majority of COVID-19 patients, is atypical in duration and recovery, and is associated with focal opacification and inflammation of the olfactory epithelium. Given recent increased emphasis on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the purpose of the present study was to experimentally characterize aerosol dispersion within olfactory epithelium (OE) and respiratory epithelium (RE) in human subjects, to determine if small (sub 5μm) airborne aerosols selectively deposit in the OE.

Methods

Healthy adult volunteers inhaled fluorescein-labeled nebulized 0.5–5μm airborne aerosol or atomized larger aerosolized droplets (30–100μm). Particulate deposition in the OE and RE was assessed by blue-light filter modified rigid endoscopic evaluation with subsequent image randomization, processing and quantification by a blinded reviewer.

Results

0.5–5μm airborne aerosol deposition, as assessed by fluorescence gray value, was significantly higher in the OE than the RE bilaterally, with minimal to no deposition observed in the RE (maximum fluorescence: OE 19.5(IQR 22.5), RE 1(IQR 3.2), p<0.001; average fluorescence: OE 2.3(IQR 4.5), RE 0.1(IQR 0.2), p<0.01). Conversely, larger 30–100μm aerosolized droplet deposition was significantly greater in the RE than the OE (maximum fluorescence: OE 13(IQR 14.3), RE 38(IQR 45.5), p<0.01; average fluorescence: OE 1.9(IQR 2.1), RE 5.9(IQR 5.9), p<0.01).

Conclusions

Our data experimentally confirm that despite bypassing the majority of the upper airway, small-sized (0.5–5μm) airborne aerosols differentially deposit in significant concentrations within the olfactory epithelium. This provides a compelling aerodynamic mechanism to explain atypical OD in COVID-19.
Staying Strong Toolbox: Co-design of a physical activity and lifestyle program for Aboriginal families with Machado-Joseph disease in the Top End of Australia
Authors: Carr Jennifer J. , Lalara Joyce , Lalara Gayangwa , Lalara Gwen , Daniels Bronwyn , Clough Alan R. , Lowell Anne , Barker Ruth N.
Published: February 2021

Physical activity has positive health implications for individuals living with neurodegenerative diseases. The success of physical activity programs, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse populations, is typically dependent on their alignment with the culture, lifestyle and environmental context of those involved. Aboriginal families living in remote communities in the Top End of Australia invited researchers to collaborate with them to co-design a physical activity and lifestyle program to keep individuals with Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) walking and moving around. The knowledge of Aboriginal families living with MJD, combined with findings from worldwide MJD research, formed the foundation for the co-design. An experience-based co-design (EBCD) approach, drawing from Indigenous and Participatory methodologies, was used. An expert panel of individuals with lived experience of MJD participated in a series of co-design phases. Prearranged and spontaneous co-design meetings were led by local community researchers within each phase. Data was collected using a culturally responsive ethnographic approach and analysed thematically. Sixteen panel members worked to develop the ‘Staying Strong Toolbox’ to cater for individuals with MJD who are ‘walking strong’; or ‘wobbly’; or ‘in a wheelchair’. Based on the ‘Staying Strong Framework’, the Toolbox was developed as a spiral bound A3 book designed to guide the user to select from a range of activities to keep them walking and moving around and to identify those activities most important to them to work on. The ‘Staying Strong Toolbox’ is a community driven, evidence based resource for a physical activity and lifestyle program for Aboriginal families with MJD. The Toolbox provides a guide for health professionals and support workers to deliver person-centred support to Aboriginal families with MJD, and that can be modified for use by other families with MJD or people with other forms of ataxia around the world.
Intersections between patient-provider communication and antenatal anxiety in a public healthcare setting in Pakistan
Authors: Kazi Asiya K. , Rowther Armaan A. , Atif Najia , Nazir Huma , Atiq Maria , Zulfiqar Shaffaq , Malik Abid , Surkan Pamela J.
Published: February 2021

This study explores pregnant women’s and healthcare providers’ perspectives on the role of patient-provider communication in experiences of antenatal anxiety within a low-resource setting. In 2017–18, we consecutively sampled pregnant women (n = 19) with at least mild anxiety and purposively sampled antenatal care providers (n = 10) from a public hospital in Punjab Province, Pakistan. We then conducted in-depth interviews and thematically coded them with a combination of inductive and deductive coding methodologies. We found that patients expressed a desire for warm, empathetic communication from providers who demonstrate respect, attentiveness, and a shared lived experience. Providers revealed an awareness that their heavy caseloads, high stress levels, and discourteous tones adversely influenced communication with pregnant women and may exacerbate their anxieties, but also reported that compassionately addressing women’s concerns, providing financial problem-solving and/or assistance, and moderating conflicting healthcare desires between patients and their families could alleviate anxiety in pregnant women. Patients reported feelings of anxiety stemming from a belief that they received lower quality communication from antenatal providers at public hospitals than patients received from antenatal providers at private hospitals, an experience that they partially attributed to their low socioeconomic status. Meanwhile, some providers disclosed potentially stigmatizing views of women from particular sociocultural backgrounds or low socioeconomic status, including perceptions that appeared to shape communication with these patients in antenatal care encounters. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that communication between pregnant women and antenatal providers that is warm, normalizes patient fears, and integrates patients’ interpersonal and financial considerations can mitigate pregnant women’s experiences of anxiety and reduce barriers to accessing antenatal care in Pakistan’s public healthcare facilities.
The mitochondrial localized CISD-3.1/CISD-3.2 proteins are required to maintain normal germline structure and function in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: King Skylar D. , Gray Chipo F. , Song Luhua , Mittler Ron , Padilla Pamela A.
Published: February 2021

Reproductive organs and developing tissues have high energy demands that require metabolic functions primarily supported by mitochondria function. The highly conserved CISD/NEET iron-sulfur (Fe-S) protein family regulates iron and reactive oxygen homeostasis, both of which are important for mitochondrial function. Disruption of iron and reactive oxygen homeostasis typically leads to detrimental effects. In humans, CISD dysfunction is associated with human health issues including Wolfram syndrome 2. UsingC.elegans, we previously determined that thecisd-1,cisd-3.1andcisd-3.2have an overlapping role in the regulation of physiological germline apoptosis through the canonical programmed cell death pathway. Here, we isolated thecisd-3.2(pnIs68)mutant that resulted in physiological and fitness defects including germline abnormalities that are associated with abnormal stem cell niche and disrupted formation of bivalent chromosomes. Thecisd-3.2(pnIs68)mutation led to complete disruption of thecisd-3.2gene expression and a decrease in expression of genetically intactcisd-1andcisd-3.1genes suggesting an indirect impact of thecisd-3.2(pnIs68)allele. The CISD-3.2 and CISD-3.1 proteins localize to the mitochondria in many tissues throughout development. Thecisd-3.2(pnIs68)mutant displays phenotypes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, including disruption of the mitochondrial network within the germline. These results further support the idea that the CISD protein family is required for mitochondrial function that supports important functions in animals including overall fitness and germline viability.
Triggers and alleviating factors for fatigue in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Lin Iris , Edison Briana , Mantri Sneha , Albert Steven , Daeschler Margaret , Kopil Catherine , Marras Connie , Chahine Lana M.
Published: February 2021

Background

Fatigue is common in Parkinson’s Disease, but few effective treatments are available for it. Exploring triggers and alleviating factors, including effects of exercise, could inform development of management strategies for Parkinson’s Disease fatigue.

Objectives

To examine triggers and alleviating factors for fatigue reported by individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, including perceived effect of exercise.

Methods

A sample of individuals with self-reported Parkinson’s Disease participating in the study Fox Insight were administered an online survey. The survey included the Parkinson's Fatigue Scale, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and multiple-choice questions about triggers and alleviating factors for fatigue.

Results

Among the sample of 1,029 individuals with Parkinson’s disease, mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was 67.4 (9.3) years, 44.0% were female. Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale score ranged from 16–80, mean (SD) 48.8 (16.2). Poor sleep (62.1%) and physical exertion (45.1%) were frequently reported triggers for fatigue. Coping strategies including sitting quietly (58.1%), laying down with or without napping, and exercise (20%). Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly scores were higher in those who reported that exercise alleviated their fatigue (49.7%) compared to those who reported it worsened their fatigue (18.9%) (mean (SD) score 158.5 (88.8) vs 119.8 (66.6) respectively; p<0.001).

Conclusions

Several behavioral and environmental triggers and alleviating strategies for fatigue are reported by individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Many feel that exercise alleviates fatigue, though the relationship between exercise and fatigue in Parkinson’s Disease appears complex. This exploratory study may inform future development of treatments or coping strategies for Parkinson’s disease fatigue.
Extracellular and intracellular intermittent magnetic-fluid hyperthermia treatment of SK-Hep1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells based on magnetic nanoparticles coated with polystyrene sulfonic acid
Authors: Chen Bo-Wei , Chiu Guo-Wei , He Yun-Chi , Huang Chih-Yu , Huang Hao-Ting , Sung Shian-Ying , Hsieh Chia-Ling , Chang Wei-Chieh , Hsu Ming-Shinn , Wei Zung-Hang , Yao Da-Jeng
Published: February 2021

The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) magnetized on applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to stimulate the thermal characteristics and to induce tumor apoptosis is a currently active area of research in cancer treatment. In previous work, we developed biocompatible and superparamagnetic polystyrene-sulfonic-acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles (PSS-MNPs) as applications for magnetically labeled cell trapping, but without assessment of treatment effects on tumor diseases. In the present work, we examined PSS-MNP-induced magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) on SK-Hep1 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells for lethal thermal effects with a self-made AMF system; an adjustable AMF frequency generated a variable intensity of magnetic field and induced MNP relaxation. The extracellular and intracellular MFH treatments on a SK-Hep1 cell line were implemented in vitro; the result indicates that the lethal effects were efficient and caused a significantly decreased cell viability of SK-Hep1 cells. As the PSS-MNP concentration decreased, especially in intracellular MFH treatments, the MFH effects on cells, however, largely decreased through heat spreading to the culture medium. On controlling and decreasing the volume of culture medium, the problem of heat spreading was solved. It can be consequently expected that PSS-MNPs would be a prospective agent for intracellular cancer magnetotherapy.
A survey on the attitudes of parents with young children on in-home monitoring technologies and study designs for infant research
Authors: Fish Laurel A. , Jones Emily J. H.
Published: February 2021

Remote in-home infant monitoring technologies hold great promise for increasing the scalability and safety of infant research (including in regard to the current Covid-19 pandemic), but remain rarely employed. These technologies hold a number of fundamental challenges and ethical concerns that need addressing to aid the success of this fast-growing field. In particular, the responsible development of such technologies requires caregiver input. We conducted a survey of the opinions of 410 caregivers on the viability, privacy and data access of remote in-home monitoring technologies and study designs. Infant-friendly wearable devices (such as sensing body suits) were viewed favourably. Caregivers were marginally more likely to accept video and audio recording in the home if data was anonymised (through automated processing) at point of collection, particularly when observations were lengthy. Caregivers were more open to international data sharing for anonymous data. Caregivers were interested in viewing all types of data, but were particularly keen to access video and audio recordings for censoring purposes (i.e., to delete data segments). Taken together, our results indicate generally positive attitudes to remote in-home monitoring technologies and studies for infant research but highlight specific considerations such as safety, privacy and family practicalities (e.g. multiple caregivers, visitors and varying schedules) that must be taken into account when developing future studies.
Optimizing multi-supplier multi-item joint replenishment problem for non-instantaneous deteriorating items with quantity discounts
Authors: Ai Xueyi , Yue Yi , Xu Haoxuan , Deng Xudong
Published: February 2021

This paper deals with a new joint replenishment problem, in which a number of non-instantaneous deteriorating items are replenished from several suppliers under different quantity discounts schemes. Involving both joint replenishment decisions and supplier selection decisions makes the problem to be NP-hard. In particular, the consideration of non-instantaneous deterioration makes it more challenging to handle. We first construct a mathematical model integrated with a supplier selection system and a joint replenishment program for non-instantaneous deteriorating items to formulate the problem. Then we develop a novel swarm intelligence optimization algorithm, the Improved Moth-flame Optimization (IMFO) algorithm, to solve the proposed model. The results of several numerical experiments analyses reveal that the IMFO algorithm is an effective algorithm for solving the proposed model in terms of solution quality and searching stableness. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments to further investigate the performance of the proposed model.
Forearm muscles fatigue induced by repetitive braking on a motorcycle is best discriminated by specific kinetic parameters
Authors: Marina Michel , Torrado Priscila , Baudry Stéphane , Duchateau Jacques
Published: February 2021

Maneuvering a motorcycle in racing conditions or for prolonged time is sufficiently demanding that on many occasions forearm muscles reach a state of functional failure when riders cannot properly brake or operate the throttle. This study intends to discriminate which ones of the several dynamometric parameters used in the literature to characterize the Force-time (F-t) curve during voluntary contractions are more sensitive to neuromuscular fatigue in simulated motorcycle-riding conditions. Thirty-three adults performed an intermittent fatiguing protocol (IFP) that simulated the brake-pulling and throttle-twisting actions, by using a hydraulic system equipped with a pressure sensor. Sixty pressure-time (P-t) curve parameters, including the rate of pressure development (RPD) and area under the curve were measured to characterize the time course of the braking maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Two types of variables were used to analyze the P-t curve: 1) Times interval (from 0 to 30-50-100-500-1000 and 2000 ms); 2) Percentages of MVC (10-30-60-90%MVC). Overall significant (p≤ 0.05) fatigue-related declines were observed only at time intervals longer than 100 ms and contraction intensities higher than 30%MVC. Strong and significant linear declines (p< 0.001) were observed at 500 ms and 1 s for normalized pressures, as well as for the ratio RPD60%MVC/MVC (p< 0.003) throughout the IFP. Our results suggest considering RPD at time windows of 0–500 ms and 0–1 s, and contraction intensities comprised between 30% and 60% of MVC, as more suitable criteria to study fatigue-related decrements in performance rather than the classical MVC force.