bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disability, psychological distress and quality of life in relation to cancer diagnosis and cancer type: population-based Australian study of 22,505 cancer survivors and 244,000 people without cancer
Authors: Joshy Grace , Thandrayen Joanne , Koczwara Bogda , Butow Phyllis , Laidsaar-Powell Rebekah , Rankin Nicole , Canfell Karen , Stubbs John , Grogan Paul , Bailey Louise , Yazidjoglou Amelia , Banks Emily
Published: December 2020

Background

Improved survival means that cancer is increasingly becoming a chronic disease. Understanding and improving functional outcomes are critical to optimising survivorship. We quantified physical and mental health-related outcomes in people with versus without cancer, according to cancer type.

Methods

Questionnaire data from an Australian population-based cohort study (45 and Up Study (n = 267,153)) were linked to cancer registration data to ascertain cancer diagnoses up to enrolment. Modified Poisson regression estimated age- and sex-adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for adverse person-centred outcomes—severe physical functional limitations (disability), moderate/high psychological distress and fair/poor quality of life (QoL)—in participants with versus without cancer, for 13 cancer types.

Results

Compared to participants without cancer (n = 244,000), cancer survivors (n = 22,505) had greater disability (20.6% versus 12.6%, respectively, PR = 1.28, 95%CI = (1.25–1.32)), psychological (22.2% versus 23.5%, 1.05 (1.02–1.08)) and poor/fair QoL (15.2% versus 10.2%; 1.28 (1.24–1.32)). The outcomes varied by cancer type, being worse for multiple myeloma (PRs versus participants without cancer for disability 3.10, 2.56–3.77; distress 1.53, 1.20–1.96; poor/fair QoL 2.40, 1.87–3.07), lung cancer (disability 2.81, 2.50–3.15; distress 1.67, 1.46–1.92; poor/fair QoL 2.53, 2.21–2.91) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (disability 1.56, 1.37–1.78; distress 1.20, 1.05–1.36; poor/fair QoL 1.66, 1.44–1.92) and closer to those in people without cancer for breast cancer (disability 1.23, 1.16–1.32; distress 0.95, 0.90–1.01; poor/fair QoL 1.15, 1.05–1.25), prostate cancer (disability 1.11, 1.04–1.19; distress 1.09, 1.02–1.15; poor/fair QoL 1.15, 1.08–1.23) and melanoma (disability 1.02, 0.94–1.10; distress 0.96, 0.89–1.03; poor/fair QoL 0.92, 0.83–1.01). Outcomes were worse with recent diagnosis and treatment and advanced stage. Physical disability in cancer survivors was greater in all population subgroups examined and was a major contributor to adverse distress and QoL outcomes.

Conclusions

Physical disability, distress and reduced QoL are common after cancer and vary according to cancer type suggesting priority areas for research, and care and support.
Veterinary-prescribed physical activity promotes walking in healthy dogs and people
Authors: Duncan Colleen , Carswell Angela , Nelson Tracy , Graham Dan J. , Duerr Felix M.
Published: December 2020

Background

Regular physical activity (PA) promotes health and can prevent and treat diseases among both humans and dogs. Unfortunately, most U.S. adults do not meet PA recommendations, and many dogs are also insufficiently active. Veterinary-prescribed PA programs have shown some success in increasing activity among overweight dogs, but the impacts of such programs have not yet been tested for efficacy among otherwise-healthy dogs and owners. In addition, although wearable devices that monitor PA and provide individuals with feedback (e.g., progress toward a daily step goal) can effectively increase human PA, it is unclear what impact similar wearable devices have on human and dog PA when the PA-monitoring devices are worn by dogs. The present study assessed the impact of an 8-week veterinary-prescribed PA program on activity and health among dogs and their owners, and randomized participants (n = 59) to two groups: one in which PA was measured but not visible to participants (n = 30), and one in which PA was measured and real time feedback was visible through a wearable device (n = 29).

Results

Participants in both groups showed significant PA increases over the course of the 8-week program. Biomedical testing performed at the veterinary clinic facilitated early diagnosis of systemic illness in one human participant. The frequency of hypertension in human participants decreased significantly from baseline to the end of the program (week 8). Other health indices (e.g., BMI in humans, body weight and BCS in dogs) improved, albeit not to a statistically significant extent, over the course of the program. There were no significant differences on the outcomes of interest between the two experimental conditions.

Conclusions

Veterinary-prescribed PA programs appear promising for increasing PA among insufficiently active but otherwise healthy dogs as well as their owners. Additional testing of veterinary-prescribed PA is warranted, particularly at other types of veterinary clinics (e.g., private practices). Incorporating wearable devices permitting owners to track canine PA did not appear necessary for obtaining these benefits; however, additional studies investigating alternative devices or different time periods may be warranted.
Cost utility analysis of cryopreserved amniotic membrane versus topical cyclosporine for the treatment of moderate to severe dry eye syndrome
Authors: Voigt Jeffrey
Published: December 2020

Background

The purpose is to perform a cost effectiveness analysis amniotic membrane vs. topical medications in the use of treating dry eye disease. A cost effectiveness analysis comparing amniotic membrane + other topical medications to topical cyclosporine A + other topical medications was evaluated using accepted decision tree modeling software.

Methods

TreeAge Pro 2019 software was used to evaluate the base case costs over a one year timeframe. Sensitivity analysis was performed on those variables which had the greatest effect on choosing one therapy versus the other based on cost. Monte Carlo simulation was run 1,000 times to determine the most effective, least costly alternative. Costs were evaluated from a societal level (direct + indirect). Quality of life utility scores were evaluated using known time tradeoffs from prior studies (scale 0–1; with 1 being perfect vision).

Results

Over a one year timeframe, the base case demonstrated that amniotic membrane + topical medications was the less expensive alternative and provided for incremental utilities versus topical cyclosporine + other medications (Cost/utility: $18,275/0.78 vs. $20,740/0.74). If examining direct costs only, topical cyclosporine was the least expensive option over a one year timeframe: $4,112 vs. $10,300. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that in order for topical cyclosporine to be the less expensive alternative the following variables would need to be: < 68 days productivity lost; < $161 productivity lost/day; > 79% of amniotic membrane implants would need to be re-implanted at month 4 (for whatever reason); > $2677 per amniotic membrane implant procedure (Medicare reimbursement rate); > 96% positive response to topical cyclosporine A at month 4; > 58% positive response to topical cyclosporine A at month 6 and; < 54% probability clinical improvement with amniotic membrane. Monte Carlo simulation demonstrated that amniotic membrane was the less costly, most effective alternative 91.5% of the time.

Conclusion

Based on improved outcomes using amniotic membrane, patient productivity was improved resulting in lower societal costs (less days lost from work). When considering the untoward effects of dry eye disease on societal costs, an improvement of the dry eye disease condition was accomplished most often with amniotic membrane.
Potential caveats of putative microglia-specific markers for assessment of age-related cerebrovascular neuroinflammation
Authors: Honarpisheh Pedram , Lee Juneyoung , Banerjee Anik , Blasco-Conesa Maria P. , Honarpisheh Parisa , d’Aigle John , Mamun Abdullah A. , Ritzel Rodney M. , Chauhan Anjali , Ganesh Bhanu P. , McCullough Louise D.
Published: December 2020

Background

The ability to distinguish resident microglia from infiltrating myeloid cells by flow cytometry-based surface phenotyping is an important technique for examining age-related neuroinflammation. The most commonly used surface markers for the identification of microglia include CD45 (low-intermediate expression), CD11b, Tmem119, and P2RY12.

Methods

In this study, we examined changes in expression levels of these putative microglia markers in in vivo animal models of stroke, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and aging as well as in an ex vivo LPS-induced inflammation model.

Results

We demonstrate that Tmem119 and P2RY12 expression is evident within both CD45intand CD45highmyeloid populations in models of stroke, CAA, and aging. Interestingly, LPS stimulation of FACS-sorted adult microglia suggested that these brain-resident myeloid cells can upregulate CD45 and downregulate Tmem119 and P2RY12, making them indistinguishable from peripherally derived myeloid populations. Importantly, our findings show that these changes in the molecular signatures of microglia can occur without a contribution from the other brain-resident or peripherally sourced immune cells.

Conclusion

We recommend future studies approach microglia identification by flow cytometry with caution, particularly in the absence of the use of a combination of markers validated for the specific neuroinflammation model of interest. The subpopulation of resident microglia residing within the “infiltrating myeloid” population, albeit small, may be functionally important in maintaining immune vigilance in the brain thus should not be overlooked in neuroimmunological studies.
Portable neuromodulation induces neuroplasticity to re-activate motor function recovery from brain injury: a high-density MEG case study
Authors: D’Arcy Ryan C. N. , Greene Trevor , Greene Debbie , Frehlick Zack , Fickling Shaun D. , Campbell Natasha , Etheridge Tori , Smith Christopher , Bollinger Fabio , Danilov Yuri , Livingstone Ashley , Tannouri Pamela , Martin Pauline , Lakhani Bimal
Published: December 2020

Background

In a recent high-profile case study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor improvements in motor function related to neuroplasticity following rehabilitation for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The findings demonstrated that motor function improvements can occur years beyond current established limits. The current study extends the functional imaging investigation to characterize neuromodulation effects on neuroplasticity to further push the limits.

Methods

Canadian Soldier Captain (retired) Trevor Greene (TG) survived a severe open-TBI when attacked with an axe during a 2006 combat tour in Afghanistan. TG has since continued intensive daily rehabilitation to recover motor function, experiencing an extended plateau using conventional physical therapy. To overcome this plateau, we paired translingual neurostimulation (TLNS) with the continuing rehabilitation program.

Results

Combining TLNS with rehabilitation resulted in demonstrable clinical improvements along with corresponding changes in movement evoked electro-encephalography (EEG) activity. High-density magneto-encephalography (MEG) characterized cortical activation changes in corresponding beta frequency range (27 Hz). MEG activation changes corresponded with reduced interhemispheric inhibition in the post-central gyri regions together with increased right superior/middle frontal activation suggesting large scale network level changes.

Conclusions

The findings provide valuable insight into the potential importance of non-invasive neuromodulation to enhance neuroplasticity mechanisms for recovery beyond the perceived limits of rehabilitation.
GermiX: A skin friendly hand sanitizer with prolonged effectivity against pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Singh Kanchan , Singh Hoshiyar , Haldar Swati , Varshney Anurag
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 pandemic has almost made hand sanitization a ritual resulting in a steep increase in the frequency of hand sanitization and an unprecedented surge in demand for hand sanitizers. In fact, several governments had to ration hand sanitizers in the retail outlets and over the counter chemist shops. Additionally, Indian government has put a cap on the prices of hand sanitizers. Currently, large sections of global and Indian population are grappling under financial crises. Therefore, mandatory hand sanitization has made an unwelcoming, yet unavoidable addition to the already-hard-to-maintain-grocery-list. Here, we have compared the anti-microbial efficacy of Patanjali Hand Sanitizer (PHS), developed and marketed by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. (an India-based food and herbal medicine company) with one of the topmost hand sanitizers currently used under clinical set-ups. PHS has anti-microbial efficacy comparable to that of the standard hand sanitizer. Besides, disc diffusion and time-dependent thumb print assays showed that PHS has longer retentivity on the applied surfaces, suggesting lesser consumption of the sanitizer and concomitant relaxation on the monthly grocery budget. Observed anti-bacterial potency of PHS is attributed to the disruption of bacterial cell membrane, as employed by alcohol-based hand sanitizers. A rough estimation revealed that PHS is ~ 4.3 times cost effective than the standard hand sanitizer used as the positive control in this study. Taken together, PHS is a suitable alternative for existing hand sanitizers available in the market that can relax the demand–supply strain and soften significantly the burden of monthly expenditure on hand sanitizers.
The connectedness of the solutions set for set-valued vector equilibrium problems under improvement sets
Authors: Liang Hongwei , Wan Zhongping , Zhang Litao
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we provide the connectedness of the sets of weak efficient solutions, Henig efficient solutions and Benson proper efficient solutions for set-valued vector equilibrium problems under improvement sets.
High-resolution 3D seismic imaging and refined velocity model building improve the image of a deep geothermal reservoir in the Upper Rhine Graben
Authors: Salaun Nicolas , Toubiana Helene , Mitschler Jean-Baptiste , Gigou Guillaume , Carriere Xavier , Maurer Vincent , Richard Alexandre
Published: December 2020

Over the past 35 years, geothermal projects have been developed in the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) to exploit deep geothermal energy. Underneath approximately 2 km of sedimentary deposits, the deep target consists of a granitic basement, which is highly fractured and hydrothermally altered. Therefore, it has high potential as a geothermal reservoir. Despite dense 2D seismic data coverage originally acquired for oil exploration (for a target two-way traveltime between 300 and 700 ms), the faults at the top of the granitic basement (between 1400 and 4000 ms) are poorly imaged, and their locations remain uncertain. To gain a better understanding of this large-scale faulting and to ensure the viability of future geothermal projects, a 3D seismic survey was acquired in the French part of the URG during the summer of 2018. This paper describes how an integrated project, combining seismic data processing, high-end imaging, and enhanced interpretation, was conducted to improve the understanding of this complex basin for geothermal purposes. By revealing the deep granite layer and its complex associated fault network, the insight from this project can help accurately locate future production wells.
Using geodetic data in geothermal areas
Authors: Vasco Donald W. , Rutqvist Jonny , Jeanne Pierre , Samsonov Sergey V. , Hartline Craig
Published: December 2020

Geodetic observations, often in conjunction with other data, provide a cost-effective means for identifying and characterizing geothermal resources. A review of the various methods reveals how the technology for measuring deformation has advanced considerably in the past few decades. Currently, interferometric synthetic aperture radar is the method of choice for monitoring deformation at a geothermal field. A discussion of geodetic monitoring at The Geysers geothermal field, California, illustrates some of the progress made and the challenges that remain.
Fault slip in hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoirs: Governing mechanisms and process-structure interaction
Authors: Berre Inga , Stefansson Ivar , Keilegavlen Eirik
Published: December 2020

Hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoirs in low-permeability basement and crystalline igneous rock can enhance permeability by reactivation and shear dilation of existing fractures. The process is characterized by interaction between fluid flow, deformation, and the fractured structure of the formation. The flow is highly affected by the fracture network, which in turn is deformed because of hydromechanical stress changes caused by the fluid injection. This process-structure interaction is decisive for the outcome of hydraulic stimulation, and, in analysis of governing mechanisms, physics-based modeling has potential to complement field and experimental data. Here, we show how recently developed simulation technology is a valuable tool to understand governing mechanisms of hydromechanical coupled processes and the reactivation and deformation of faults. The methodology fully couples flow in faults and matrix with poroelastic matrix deformation and a contact mechanics model for the faults, including dilation because of slip. Key elements are high aspect ratios of faults and strong nonlinearities in highly coupled governing equations. Example simulations using our open-source software illustrate direct and indirect hydraulic fault reactivation and corresponding permeability enhancement. We investigate the effect of the fault and matrix permeability and the Biot coefficient. A higher matrix permeability leads to more leakage from a permeable fault and thus suppresses reactivation and slip of the fault compared to the case with a lower matrix permeability. If a fault is a barrier to flow, increase of pressure because of the fluid injection results in stabilization of the fault; the situation is opposite if the fault is highly permeable compared to the matrix. For the given setup, lowering the Biot coefficient results in more slip than the base case. While conceptually simple, the examples illustrate the strong hydromechanical couplings and the prospects of physics-based numerical models in investigating the dynamics.
Harvesting geothermal energy with low unit cost installations
Authors: de Groot Paul , Mol Andre , Veenstra Edo
Published: December 2020

In the Netherlands, most geothermal energy is utilized for commercial greenhouse heating and is harvested from aquifers located at depths between 2 and 3 km. Typically, the design consists of two wells: a slanted production well and a slanted injection well that are spaced approximately 1.5 km apart in the aquifer formation. Subsidized exploitation is feasible if high volumes can be produced over long periods of time. This typical solution restricts the use of geothermal energy to high-demand applications in areas with suitable high-quality aquifers. We argue that harvesting geothermal energy is economically feasible almost anywhere in the Netherlands with an alternative concept of low unit cost (LUC) installations. LUC produces at a limited rate from cleverly designed high-quality installations that can be developed at a considerably lower cost. We discuss the LUC concept and its economics based on a project for commercial greenhouse heating in the eastern part of the Netherlands. We carry out a reinterpretation of publicly available 3D seismic and offset well data. The Early Cretaceous Bentheim Sandstone was identified as a suitable aquifer for LUC development. At the proposed well location, the top Bentheim is located at a depth of approximately 1500 m, corresponding to about 61°C. We predict a reservoir thickness of approximately 54 m, with a porosity of up to 25% and sufficient permeability. The LUC concept begins by drilling a pilot hole for static and dynamic aquifer characterization. Based on these test results, we decide on the final architecture and placement of wells. Our calculations show that a 1.5 megawatt thermal (MWth) geothermal plant is economically viable, even without government subsidy.
Reservoir facies mapping, depositional environment, and implication for hydrocarbon occurrence: A case study from Ariyalur-Pondicherry subbasin, Cauvery Basin, India
Authors: Sengupta Sushmita S. , Singh Jyoti , Prakash Ravi , Harilal
Published: December 2020

Commercial gaseous hydrocarbon has been established from multilayered reservoirs within the Bhuvanagiri Formation in the Ariyalur-Pondicherry subbasin, but sustained production is obtained from only a few wells of the Bhuvanagiri Field. This has necessitated developing an integrated depositional model dovetailing distribution of favorable reservoir areas of the Bhuvanagiri Formation within the subbasin. Root-mean-square amplitude attributes and spectral decomposition attributes, along with RGB blending of spectral slices at different frequencies, have revealed a conspicuously northeast-southwest-trending channel within the Bhuvanagiri Formation. From well, sedimentological, and biostratigraphic data analysis, a deepwater turbidity channel model for the Bhuvanagiri Formation has been postulated. Deciphering the facies distribution pattern vertically and laterally within the turbidity channel is often complex and challenging. Integrated analysis of available laboratory data, petrographic, and scanning electron microscopy studies indicate poor porosity and permeability because of clay coating on grains, occurrence of authigenic clay as pore fill, cementation, and other diagenetic changes that have made reservoir characterization increasingly challenging. Four major lithofacies assemblages have been identified: basal lags, slumps and debris flows, arenaceous coarse-grained stacked channels, and fine-grained channel levee with characteristic log and seismic responses. To characterize the lithofacies, various crossplots have been generated by using processed logs to derive interrelationships between reservoir facies and log impedance. A model-based inversion has been attempted, which resulted in fairly satisfactory output with likely discrimination of reservoir and nonreservoir in an unexplored area within the field. The outcome would facilitate further exploration and delineation activities within the Bhuvanagiri Formation in the Ariyalur-Pondicherry subbasin.
Memorials
Authors: Gajewski Dirk , Znak Pavel , Troyan Vladimir , Bakulin Andrey , Landa Evgeny
Published: December 2020

Boris Kashtan, 1941 – 2020 Paul C.H. Veeken, 1953 – 2020
Mental health of healthcare professionals during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
Authors: Yitayih Yimenu , Mekonen Seblework , Zeynudin Ahmed , Mengistie Embialle , Ambelu Argaw
Published: December 2020

Background

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic causes healthcare professionals to suffer mental health problems such as psychological distress, anxiety, depression, denial and fear. However, studies are lacking related to Ethiopia and to Africa in general.

Aims

To study the mental health of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia.

Method

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center among 249 healthcare professionals. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires between 22 and 28 March 2020. The psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) and symptoms of insomnia were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Social support was evaluated using the three-item Oslo Social Support Scale. Data were analysed using logistic regression to examine mutually adjusted associations, expressed as adjusted odds ratios. The psychosocial status of the healthcare professionals was predicted using a classification tree model supported by the genetic search method.

Results

The prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare professionals was 78.3%. The mean IES-R score was 34.2 (s.d. = 19.4). The ISI score indicated that the prevalence of insomnia was 50.2%. Higher psychological distress was associated with younger age, having insomnia, not having a daily update on COVID-19, and feeling stigmatised and rejected in the neighbourhood because of hospital work.

Conclusions

This study indicates that, in Ethiopia, the prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare professionals is high and associated with specific sociodemographic risks.
Catalytic Enantioselective Proton Transfer Reactions
Authors: Cao Jin , Zhu Shou-Fei
Published: December 2020

Enantioselective proton transfer refers to the process of enantioselective introduction of protons to carbanions through the recognition of prochiral faces. Enantioselective proton transfer can easily construct tertiary carbon stereocenters, which widely exist in natural products and bioactive compounds. However, catalytic enantioselective proton transfer has been a long-lasting challenge in asymmetric synthesis because the proton is the smallest ion and the proton transfer process of active intermediates is generally fast with complicated pathways and strong background reaction. In recent years, a series of new catalysts and catalytic strategies have been developed for stereocontrol of proton transfer processes in various organic reactions. At the same time, more in-depth mechanism studies have revealed detailed information and regulations of proton transfer in catalytic reactions. This paper reviews the recent progress on catalytic enantioselective proton transfer reactions according reaction types. At the end of this paper, the stereocontrol strategies of catalytic proton transfer are classified and the prospects of this field are also presented.
FIBROCYSTIC MASTOPATHY
Authors: Guseynov Arif
Published: December 2020

The lecture provides information for specialist doctors: oncologists, surgeons, mammologists, general practitioners on the diagnosis and treatment of fibrocystic mastopathy. The current data on the etiology and pathogenesis, classification and clinic of the disease are presented, well-known and new diagnostic methods, advantages and disadvantages of each method are described in detail. Issues of differential diagnostics are highlighted, optimal tactics, methods of conservative and surgical treatment are proposed
CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY OF TOLUENE EXTRACT OF YARROW (ACHILLED MILLEFOLIUM L., ASTERACEAE FAMILY) (the message II)
Authors: Platonov V. , Hadarcev Aleksandr , Suhih G. , Frankevich V. , Dunaev V. , Volochaeva M. , Datieva Fatima
Published: December 2020

The aim of the study is to study in detail the chemical composition of organic matter of common yarrow in order to establish the main biochemical processes responsible for the formation of the composition of the latter. Materials and methods of research. The chemical composition of toluene extract of yarrow was studied by chromatography-mass spectrometry under the following conditions. GC-2010 gas chromatograph connected to a GCMs-TQ-8030 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer running GCMS Solution 4.11 software. The results of studying the chemical composition of toluene extract-a product of sequential exhaustive extraction of yarrow by chromatography-mass spectrometry, which allowed identifying 129 individual compounds for which the quantitative content was determined, mass spectra and structural formulas were obtained, and the structure-group composition of the extract was calculated. Results and discussion. The basis of the extract is determined by hydrocarbons, esters, sterols and carboxylic acids, which account for: 43.59; 15.47; 15.33 and 7.59 (wt.% of the extract), respectively, the content of ketones, alcohols, aldehydes and organosilicon compounds-3.77; 2.77; 1.68 and 6.49 (wt.% of the extract). The presence of phenols and glycosides has not been established; furan and PYRAN fragments are part of the structures of individual alcohols and ketones. Based on the features of the chemical composition, it can be argued that the pharmacological effect of toluene extract of yarrow is determined precisely by the content of hydrocarbons, with the dominance of alkenes, alkynes, arenes and cycloalkanes; sterols of the following types: Betulin, Lupeol, γ-Sitosterol and Sitostenon, Campesterol, 24-Noroleana-3.12-dien; carboxylic acids containing up to three double and triple bonds in the hydrocarbon chain, as well as esters mainly formed by Oxalic and Benzeneacetic acid. Undoubtedly, a certain contribution to the direction of the pharmacological action of this extract is made by organosilicon compounds, the proportion of which is 6.49 (wt.% of the extract).
Front Matter: Volume 1
Authors: Hájek Petr , Vít Ondřej
Published: December 2020

This PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Social Sciences Volume 1 including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.
A roaring success
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: December 2020

Tigers Childcare has just opened a vibrant new nursey in Elephant & Castle, in south London. It's chief executive Karen Clince talks about the importance of tuning into children's emotional states and giving them the reassurance they may need.
Less stressed at home
Authors: Dusseau Anna
Published: December 2020

During the past 50 years school has dramatically increased its claim on children's lives with longer school days, more homework and the age range for compulsory education extending. Could homeschooling now provide a better model?
Acquired nystagmus
Authors: Panthagani Jesse , Virdee Jasvir , MacDonald Trystan , Bruynseels Alice , Batra Ruchika
Published: December 2020

Nystagmus is the repetitive to and fro movement of the eyes, which may be physiological or pathological. The movements can be horizontal, vertical, torsional or a combination of these movements. It starts by a slow movement of the eye away from the visual target. The second movement brings the eye back to the visual target. If this second movement is quick, the nystagmus is called jerk nystagmus. If the second movement is slow, the nystagmus is said to be pendular. Maintaining steady gaze is dependent upon visual fixation, the vestibulo-ocular reflex and the gaze-holding neural integrator system. Pathological nystagmus typically presents with the symptom of oscillopsia, which is the illusory movement of the surrounding environment. Nystagmus that develops outside of early infancy is termed acquired nystagmus. There may be serious underlying pathology that will require further investigation and management. This article reviews the terminology, pathophysiology, causes and treatment of acquired nystagmus.
Science fiction, reconfigured social theory and the Anthropocene Age: exploring and thinking about planetary futures through fictional imaginaries
Authors: Rumpala Yannick
Published: December 2020

Should humanity prepare for life on a less habitable planet? The magnitude of human activities indeed makes it necessary to think about their consequences and to consider tackling them with renewed imaginative foundations. From this point of view, science fiction may have the advantage of having anticipated the movement. By initiating and accumulating thought experiments, its narrative combinations offer a cognitive reservoir and a reflexive medium for interpreting the world. Science fiction, and its imaginary constructions, provide a rare representation of how ‘future generations’ live, act and organise themselves. Faced with the need for new intellectual resources and frameworks fuelled by the notion of the Anthropocene, this contribution will first show that imaginary productions of science fiction are also of interest as a distinctive way to represent and problematise (in the sense of Michel Foucault) the relation of thinking species to their habitat, and therefore to cast the Earth’s habitability, its state and becoming as collective issues. It will then specify the intellectual operations (exploration, framing, and experimentation in particular) that can be engaged on these bases, and thus the type of participation that science fiction can offer to build an ethics of the future.
Optimal, blind-search modal wavefront correction in atmospheric turbulence. Part I: simulations
Authors: Segel Max , Gladysz Szymon
Published: December 2020

Modal control is an established tool in adaptive optics. It allows not only for the reduction in the controllable degrees of freedom, but also for filtering out unseen modes and optimizing gain on a mode-by-mode basis. When Zernike polynomials are employed as the modal basis for correcting atmospheric turbulence, their cross-correlations translate to correction errors. We propose optimal modal decomposition for gradient-descent-based wavefront sensorless adaptive optics, which is free of this problem. We adopt statistically independent Karhunen-Loève functions for iterative blind correction and analyze performance of the algorithm in static as well as in dynamic simulated turbulence conditions.
Source noise suppression in attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy by edge-pixel referencing
Authors: Géneaux Romain , Chang Hung-Tzu , Schwartzberg Adam M. , Marroux Hugo J. B.
Published: December 2020

Attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (ATAS) is used to observe photoexcited dynamics with outstanding time resolution. The main experimental challenge of this technique is that high-harmonic generation sources show significant instabilities, resulting in sub-par sensitivity when compared to other techniques. This paper proposes edge-pixel referencing as a means to suppress this noise. Two approaches are introduced: the first is deterministic and uses a correlation analysis, while the second relies on singular value decomposition. Each method is demonstrated and quantified on a noisy measurement taken on WS2 and results in a fivefold increase in sensitivity. The combination of the two methods ensures the fidelity of the procedure and can be implemented on live data collection but also on existing datasets. The results show that edge-referencing methods bring the sensitivity of ATAS near the detector noise floor. An implementation of the post-processing code is provided to the reader.
High contrast cleavage detection for enhancing porous silicon sensor sensitivity
Authors: Layouni Rabeb , Dubrovsky Michael , Bao Mengdi , Chung Haejun , Du Ke , Boriskina Svetlana V. , Weiss Sharon M. , Vermeulen Diedrik
Published: December 2020

Using porous silicon (PSi) interferometer sensors, we show the first experimental implementation of the high contrast cleavage detection (HCCD) mechanism. HCCD makes use of dramatic optical signal amplification caused by cleavage of high-contrast nanoparticle labeled reporters instead of the capture of low-index biological molecules. An approximately 2 nm reflectance peak shift was detected after cleavage of DNA-quantum dot reporters from the PSi surface via exposure to a 12.5 nM DNase enzyme solution. This signal change is 20 times greater than the resolution of the spectrometer used for the interferometric measurements, and the interferometric measurements agree with the response predicted by simulations and fluorescence measurements. These proof of principle experiments show a clear path to achieving a real-time, highly sensitive readout for a broad range of biological diagnostic assays that generate a signal via nucleic acid cleavage triggered by specific molecular binding events.
Optimizing illumination for precise multi-parameter estimations in coherent diffractive imaging
Authors: Bouchet Dorian , Seifert Jacob , Mosk Allard P.
Published: December 2020

Coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) is widely used to characterize
structured samples from measurements of diffracting intensity
patterns. We introduce a numerical framework to quantify the precision
that can be achieved when estimating any given set of parameters
characterizing the sample from measured data. The approach, based on
the calculation of the Fisher information matrix, provides a clear
benchmark to assess the performance of CDI methods. Moreover, by
optimizing the Fisher information metric using deep learning
optimization libraries, we demonstrate how to identify the optimal
illumination scheme that minimizes the estimation error under
specified experimental constraints. This work paves the way for an
efficient characterization of structured samples at the sub-wavelength
scale.
Automated pipeline framework for processing of large-scale building energy time series data
Authors: Khalilnejad Arash , Karimi Ahmad M. , Kamath Shreyas , Haddadian Rojiar , French Roger H. , Abramson Alexis R.
Published: December 2020

Commercial buildings account for one third of the total electricity consumption in the United States and a significant amount of this energy is wasted. Therefore, there is a need for “virtual” energy audits, to identify energy inefficiencies and their associated savings opportunities using methods that can be non-intrusive and automated for application to large populations of buildings. Here we demonstrate virtual energy audits applied to large populations of buildings’ time-series smart-meter data using a systematic approach and a fully automated Building Energy Analytics (BEA) Pipeline that unifies, cleans, stores and analyzes building energy datasets in a non-relational data warehouse for efficient insights and results. This BEA pipeline is based on a custom compute job scheduler for a high performance computing cluster to enable parallel processing of Slurm jobs. Within the analytics pipeline, we introduced a data qualification tool that enhances data quality by fixing common errors, while also detecting abnormalities in a building’s daily operation using hierarchical clustering. We analyze the HVAC scheduling of a population of 816 buildings, using this analytics pipeline, as part of a cross-sectional study. With our approach, this sample of 816 buildings is improved in data quality and is efficiently analyzed in 34 minutes, which is 85 times faster than the time taken by a sequential processing. The analytical results for the HVAC operational hours of these buildings show that among 10 building use types, food sales buildings with 17.75 hours of daily HVAC cooling operation are decent targets for HVAC savings. Overall, this analytics pipeline enables the identification of statistically significant results from population based studies of large numbers of building energy time-series datasets with robust results. These types of BEA studies can explore numerous factors impacting building energy efficiency and virtual building energy audits. This approach enables a new generation of data-driven buildings energy analysis at scale.
Smart bracelet to assess physical activity after cardiac surgery: A prospective study
Authors: Hauguel-Moreau Marie , Naudin Cécile , N’Guyen Lee , Squara Pierre , Rosencher Julien , Makowski Serge , Beverelli Fabrice
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Little is known about the physical activity of patients after cardiac surgery. This study was designed to assess this activity using a connected bracelet.

Methods

In this prospective, monocentric study, patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were offered to wear an electronic bracelet. The main objective was to measure the physical activity recovery. Secondary objectives were the predictors of the correct use of the monitoring system, of the physical recovery and, if any, the relationship between physical activity and out-of-hospital morbidity.

Results

One hundred patients were included. Most patients (86%) were interested in participating in the study. The compliance to the device and to the study protocol was good (94%). At discharge, the mean number of daily steps was 1454 ± 145 steps, increasing quite homogeneously, reaching 5801±1151 steps at Day 60. The best fit regression curve gave a maximum number of steps at 5897±119 (r2 = 0.97). The 85% level of activity was achieved at Day 30±3. No predictor of noncompliance was found. At discharge, age was independently associated with a lower number of daily steps (p <0.001). At Day 60, age, peripheral arterial disease and cardio-pulmonary bypass duration were independently associated with a lower number of daily steps (p = 0.039, p = 0.041 and p = 0.033, respectively).

Conclusions

After cardiac surgery, wearing a smart bracelet recording daily steps is simple, well tolerated and suitable for measuring physical activity. Standard patients achieved around 6000 daily steps 2 months after discharge. 85% of this activity is reached in the first month.

Clinical trial registry number

NCT03113565
The crystal structure of mouse IRG1 suggests that cis-aconitate decarboxylase has an open and closed conformation
Authors: Chun Hye Lin , Lee So Yeon , Kim Ki-Hwa , Lee Chang Sup , Oh Tae-Jin , Park Hyun Ho
Published: December 2020

Itaconate, produced as an offshoot of the TCA cycle, is a multifunctional immunometabolite possessing antibacterial, antiviral, immune regulation, and tumor progression activities. The production of itaconate in biological systems is catalyzed by cis-aconitate decarboxylase (CAD, also known as immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1) in mammals). In this study, we solved the structure of IRG1 from Mus musculus (mouse IRG1). Structural comparison analysis revealed that IRG1 can exist in either an open or closed conformation and that this is controlled by the A1 loop located proximal to the active site. Our closed form structure was maintained by an unidentified molecule in the active site, which might mimic its substrate.

Protein Data Bank accession codes

Coordinate and structural factors were deposited with the Protein Data Bank under PDB ID: 7BR9.
Quality of acute internal medicine: A patient-centered approach. Validation and usage of the Patient Reported Measure-acute care in the Netherlands
Authors: Kremers Marjolein N. T. , Mols Elsemieke E. M. , Simons Yvonne A. E. , van Kuijk Sander M. J. , Holleman Frits , Nanayakkara Prabath W. B. , Haak Harm R.
Published: December 2020

Background

Providing high quality care is important and has gained more attention since the introduction of value-based healthcare. Value should be measured by outcomes achieved, relevant for patients. Patient-centeredness is one domain for quality improvement determined by the Institute of Medicine, aiming to deliver care responsive to the patient. The development and implementation of patient reported outcome- and experience measures can be used for this goal. Recently, we developed the Patient Reported Measure (PRM)-acute care, based on five relevant domains to evaluate and improve the quality of care in the Emergency Department (ED).

Objective

To validate the PRM-acute care, in order to evaluate and improve patient-centered care in the ED.

Methods

We performed a prospective questionnaire-based study. Patients ≥18 years presenting for internal medicine in the ED were eligible. The validity of the PRM-acute care was evaluated according to the COSMIN-criteria. We performed hypotheses testing to evaluate construct validity. The perceived quality of care was evaluated by statistical analysis.

Results

Face- and content validity was evaluated based on previously performed research and deemed good. Construct validity was supported by demonstrated differences between subgroups; patients with severe symptoms had a higher perceived quality of care. The correlation between overall satisfaction and the total mean score of the PRM-acute care (r = 0,447, p = 0.01) was significant. Overall, patients reported a mean perceived quality of care of 4.67/6.0.

Conclusion

The PRM-acute care is a valid instrument to measure the perceived quality of care in an acute setting for internal medicine patients. Additionally, patients reported a good perceived quality of care in the ED with scores ranging from moderate to well for each of the relevant domains. Therefore, we believe that the PRM-acute care can be implemented in daily practice to evaluate the perceived quality of care and to improve the quality of acute care.
A systematic review of interventions for reducing heavy episodic drinking in sub-Saharan African settings
Authors: Sileo Katelyn M. , Miller Amanda P. , Huynh Tina A. , Kiene Susan M.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Assess the effect of non-pharmacological alcohol interventions on reducing heavy episodic drinking (HED) outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

A systematic review of the available literature through August 19, 2020 was conducted. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials testing non-pharmacological interventions on alcohol consumption in sub-Saharan Africa were eligible for inclusion. Eligible outcomes included measures of HED/binge drinking, and measures indicative of this pattern of drinking, such as high blood alcohol concentration or frequency of intoxication. Three authors extracted and reconciled relevant data and assessed risk of bias. The review protocol is available on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42019094509). The Cochrane Handbook recommendations for the review of interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines guided all methodology.

Results

Thirteen intervention trials were identified that met our inclusion criteria and measured change in HED. Studies were judged of moderate quality. A beneficial effect of non-pharmacological interventions on HED was reported in six studies, three of which were deemed clinically significant by the review authors; no statistically significant effects were identified in the other seven studies. Interventions achieving statistical and/or clinical significance had an intervention dose of two hours or greater, used an array of psychosocial approaches, including Motivational Interviewing integrated in Brief Intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy and integrated risk reduction interventions, and were delivered both individually and in groups.

Conclusions

Evidence for the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce HED in sub-Saharan African settings was limited, demonstrating the need for more research. To strengthen the literature, future research should employ more rigorous study designs, improve consistency of HED measurement, test interventions developed specifically to address HED, and explore structural approaches to HED reduction.
The state of memory-matched distractor in working memory influence the visual attention
Authors: Long Quanshan , Luo Ting , Zhang Sheng , Jiang Yuanling , Hu Na , Gu Yan , Xu Peng , Chen Antao
Published: December 2020

Information in working memory (WM) can guide visual attention towards matched features. While recent work has suggested that cognitive control can act upon WM guidance of visual attention, little is known about how the state of memorized items retaining in WM contribute to its influence over attention. Here, we disentangle the role of inhibition and maintenance on WM-guided attention with a novel delayed match-to-sample dual-task. The results showed that active inhibition facilitated searching by diminishing sensory processing and deterring attentional guidance, indexed by an attenuated P1 amplitude and unaffected N2pc amplitude, respectively. By contrast, active maintenance impaired searching by attentional guidance while sensory processing remained unimpaired, indexed by an enhanced N2pc amplitude and unchanged P1 amplitude, respectively. Furthermore, multivariate pattern analyses could sucessfully decode maintenance and inhibition, suggesting that two states differed in modulating visual attention. We propose that remembered contents may play an anchoring role for attentional guidance, and the state of those contents retaining in WM may directly influence the shifting of attention. The maintenance could guide attention by accessing input information, while the inhibition could deter the shifting of attention by suppressing sensory processing. These findings provide a possible reinterpretation of the influence of WM on attention.