bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Insect Density, Movement Period, and Temperature on Three-Dimensional Movement and Distribution of Adult Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae)
Authors: Bharathi Vimala S K , Jayas Digvir S , Jian Fuji
Published: March 2022

Knowledge on three-dimensional (3D) movement and distribution of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) in grain bulks assists in the prediction of their distribution inside a bin. The following experiments were conducted to determine the 3D dispersal patterns of adult C. ferrugineus in wheat with 14.5% moisture content: 1) at various insect densities (0.35, 1.77 and 3.53 A/kg (adults/kg) at 20°C and in 24 h movement period; 2) in different movement periods (6, 24, and 72 h) at 20°C and 0.35 A/kg insect density; and 3) at different temperatures (20, 30 and 35°C) at 0.35 A/kg density in 24 h movement period. To create the densities of 0.35, 1.77, and 3.53 A/kg, 100, 500, and 1,000 adults were introduced in about 285 kg wheat, respectively. The 285 kg of wheat was kept in 343 mesh cubes, which in turn were packed in a wooden box. The introduced adults were counted at the end of the movement periods. Adult C. ferrugineus tended to move downward from the point of introduction, and then diffused throughout the grain bulk. The effects of insect densities, movement periods, and temperatures on the dispersion pattern of insects were similar in 1D columns, 2D chambers, and 3D grain bulk.
Incidence and predictors of severe altitude illness symptoms in Mt. Kilimanjaro hikers: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Croughs Mieke , Nyakunga Gissela B , Sakita Francis M , Kilonzo Kajiru , Mmbaga Blandina T , Soentjens Patrick
Published: March 2022

Background

Each year several Mt. Kilimanjaro hikers die due to altitude illness (AI) although urgent descent is technically easily possible. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence and predictors of severe altitude illness (SAI) symptoms and of summit success in Mt. Kilimanjaro hikers, and the measures taken when AI symptoms develop.

Methods

A prospective observational cohort study in Mt. Kilimanjaro hikers was conducted from December 2019 until March 2020. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire at the entrance gate and one at the descend gate. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to study the relations between the variables.

Results

A total of 1237 recreational hikers and 266 porters or guides were included. The incidence of severe symptoms was 8.6% in recreational hikers and 1.5% in porters and guides. One percent (1.1%) of hikers was hospitalized due to SAI. A history of SAI, young age, summit failure and lack of clear advice predicted the development of severe symptoms. Uhuru peak was reached by 87.9% of the hikers. Absence of severe symptoms, acetazolamide prophylaxis, climbing higher in daytime, young age and climbing in more days predicted summit success. The majority climbed further despite the presence of mild or severe symptoms. The only measure taken in case of mild symptoms that was associated with a lower incidence of severe symptoms was not climbing further.

Conclusion

The incidence of SAI symptoms in Mt. Kilimanjaro hikers was observed to be high. However, how hikers reacted during symptoms was not appropriate. Therefore, travel health counsellors should emphasize even more that hikers do not ascend higher until mild symptoms have resolved and that it is vital to descend immediately when severe symptoms develop. In addition, they can be informed on the measures, which improved summit success.
Awareness logic: Kripke lattices as a middle ground between syntactic and semantic models
Authors: Belardinelli Gaia , Rendsvig Rasmus K
Published: March 2022

The literature on awareness modelling includes both syntax-free and syntax-based frameworks. Heifetz, Meier and Schipper (HMS) propose a lattice model of awareness that is syntax-free. While their lattice approach is elegant and intuitive, it does not explicitly distinguish uncertainty from unawareness. Contra this, the most prominent syntax-based solution, the Fagin–Halpern (FH) model, accounts for this distinction and offers a simple representation of awareness but lacks the intuitiveness of the lattice structure. Here, we combine these two approaches by providing a lattice of Kripke models, induced by atom subset inclusion, in which uncertainty and unawareness are separate. We show that our model is equivalent to both HMS and FH models by defining transformations between them which preserve satisfaction of formulas of a language for explicit knowledge and obtain completeness through our and HMS’ results. Lastly, we prove that the Kripke lattice model can be shown equivalent to the FH model (when awareness is propositionally determined) also with respect to the language of the Logic of General Awareness, for which the FH model was originally proposed.
Accurate diffusion coefficients for dense white dwarf plasma mixtures
Authors: Caplan M E , Bauer Evan B , Freeman I F
Published: March 2022

Diffusion coefficients are essential microphysics inputs for modelling white dwarf evolution, as they impact phase separation at crystallization and sedimentary heat sources. Present schemes for computing diffusion coefficients are accurate at weak coupling (Γ ≪ 1), but they have errors up to a factor of 2 in the strongly coupled liquid regime (1 ≲ Γ ≲ 200). With modern molecular dynamics codes, it is possible to accurately determine diffusion coefficients in select systems with per cent-level precision. In this work, we develop a theoretically motivated law for diffusion coefficients that works across the wide range of parameters typical for white dwarf interiors. We perform molecular dynamics simulations of pure systems and two mixtures that respectively model a typical-mass C/O white dwarf and a higher-mass O/Ne white dwarf, and resolve diffusion coefficients for several trace neutron-rich nuclides. We fit the model to the pure systems and propose a physically motivated generalization for mixtures. We show that this model is accurate to roughly 15 per cent when compared to molecular dynamics for many individual elements under conditions typical of white dwarfs, and is straightforward to implement in stellar evolution codes.
Adiabatic evolution of the self-interacting axion field around rotating black holes
Authors: Omiya Hidetoshi , Takahashi Takuya , Tanaka Takahiro
Published: March 2022

Ultra-light axion fields, motivated by string theory, form a large condensate (axion cloud) around rotating black holes through superradiant instability. Several effects due to the axion cloud, such as the spin-down of black holes and the emission of monochromatic gravitational waves, open a new window to search for axions by astrophysical observations. When the axion self-interaction is considered, the evolution of clouds is altered significantly, and an explosive phenomenon called a bosenova can happen. Thus, it is necessary to understand the precise evolution of self-interacting clouds for the detection of axions by astrophysical observations. In this paper, we propose a new method to track the whole process of the growth of self-interacting axion clouds employing the adiabatic approximation. We emphasize that our method relies neither on the non-relativistic approximation nor on perturbative treatment of the self-interaction, which is often used in the literature. Our main finding is that the evolution of clouds in the strongly self-interacting regime depends on the strength of the gravitational coupling between the axion and the black hole. For a large coupling, the cloud evolves into a quasi-stationary state where the superradiant energy gain is balanced with the energy dissipation to infinity by the self-interaction. On the other hand, when one decreases the size of the coupling, clouds become unstable at some energy, which would be interpreted as the onset of a bosenova.
μTRISTAN
Authors: Hamada Yu , Kitano Ryuichiro , Matsudo Ryutaro , Takaura Hiromasa , Yoshida Mitsuhiro
Published: March 2022

The ultra-cold muon technology developed for the muon g − 2 experiment at J-PARC provides a low-emittance μ+ beam which can be accelerated and used for realistic collider experiments. We consider the possibility of new collider experiments by accelerating the μ+ beam up to 1 TeV. Allowing the μ+ beam to collide with a high-intensity e− beam at the TRISTAN energy, $E_{e^-}= 30$ GeV, in a storage ring with the same size as TRISTAN (a circumference of 3 km), one can realize a collider experiment with the center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s} = 346$ GeV, which allows the production of Higgs bosons through vector boson fusion processes. We estimate the deliverable luminosity with existing accelerator technologies to be at the level of 5 × 1033 cm−2 s−1, with which the collider can be a good Higgs boson factory. μ+μ+ colliders up to $\sqrt{s} = 2$ TeV are also possible using the same storage ring. They have the capability of producing the superpartner of the muon up to TeV masses.
A general formula by LDLT decomposition for the type-I seesaw mechanism
Authors: Yang Masaki J S
Published: March 2022

By performing an approximate spectral decomposition on the inverse mass matrix of the right-handed neutrinos M−1, we obtain a basis-independent formula for the type-I seesaw mechanism. Mathematically, it is based on the generalized Cholesky (or LDLT) decomposition of the symmetric matrix M−1 = LDLT, with a diagonal matrix D and a lower unitriangular matrix L. Since the diagonalization of L can be inverted without solving cubic equations, the formula will be useful in investigating the general properties of the mechanism, such as flavor symmetries, generalized CP symmetries, and fine-tunings.
Möbius Disjointness for a Class of Exponential Functions
Authors: Gu Weichen , Wei Fei
Published: March 2022

A vast class of exponential functions is shown to be deterministic. This class includes functions whose exponents are polynomial-like or ‘piece-wise’ close to polynomials after differentiation. Many of these functions are proved to be disjoint from the Möbius function.
Interdisciplinary research and policy impacts: Assessing the significance of knowledge coproduction
Authors: de Sandes-Guimarães Luisa Veras , Velho Raquel , Plonski Guilherme Ary
Published: March 2022

Research impact on various societal spheres has been increasingly demanded for funding purposes and as a form of demonstrating the relevance of scientific research for societal problems. In this context, interest in interdisciplinary research and knowledge coproduction has grown as a path to achieve this expected impact, but few studies have considered its conjoint association with societal impact. This article investigates how academic research undertaken in interdisciplinary groups impacts public policies. To this end, we used a multiple case study strategy (involving three broad interdisciplinary research groups) to understand how the differences regarding knowledge coproduction with policy actors were relevant to explain differences in research impacts: instrumental, conceptual, symbolic and capacity-building. All the groups studied presented some type of impact in public policies, with emphasis on conceptual impact. The importance of knowledge coproduction was highlighted in two broad interdisciplinary groups since they stood out with more instrumental impacts compared to the other one. We argue that the combination of broad interdisciplinarity of the group together with the coproduction of knowledge with policymakers as co-researchers produces research that has more impact on the public policy community, especially translated as instrumental impact.
DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS BASED ON PATIENT BODY MASS INDEX FOR SELECT INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES IN MINAS GERAIS/BRAZIL
Authors: Vieira L A , Silva F A R , Silva T , Nogueira M S
Published: March 2022

This work establishes local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in interventional radiology based on adult patient body mass index (BMI). The monitoring was carried out from 23 institutions and patient data from 3015 procedures were collected, being 907 Catheterism (CAT), 921 Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and 1187 CAT/PTCA and 6 BMI ranges were taken, going from under 18 up to 40 kg·m−2. It is presented that 18 initial DRL values to be used in the county of Minas Gerais. The overall 75th kerma-area product (KAP), commonly considered DRL, in Gy·cm2, is 94.6(SD 119)—CAT, 88.6(SD 121)—PTCA and 33.0(SD 47.6)—CAT/PTCA. In considering KAP–BMI individual values, one obtain the min–max ranges, in Gy·cm2, 3.2-BMI A to 101-BMI B for CAT, 65-BMI A to 102-BMI F for PTCA and 10.4-BMI A to 59.2-BMI E for CAT/PTCA. The KAP–BMI approach has shown to be feasible as a DRL optimization process.
SOIL–SOIL SOLUTION DISTRIBUTION COEFFICIENT OF RADIOIODINE IN SURFACE SOILS AROUND SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING PLANT IN ROKKASHO, JAPAN
Authors: Takeda Akira , Unno Yusuke , Tsukada Hirofumi , Takaku Yuichi , Hisamatsu Shunichi
Published: March 2022

The soil-soil solution distribution coefficient (Kd) of radioiodine in soil samples with various total carbon (TC) contents was measured in a batch sorption experiment using 125I tracer spiked as I−. The log values of Kd−125I and TC concentration in low-TC soils (< 10g kg−1) were positively correlated, whereas those of Kd−125I in TC rich soils (> 10 g kg−1) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in liquid phase were negatively correlated. The proportion of 125I in the < 3 kDa fraction in the liquid phase is negatively correlated with the log of DOC, implying that 125I is primarily combined with high-molecular-weight organic matter in soil solutions rich in DOC. The results suggest that Kd−125I in soil with high soil organic material (SOM) content is governed by DOC via the combination of 125I and DOC. In contrast, Kd−125I in soils with a low SOM content was governed by SOM because the anion exchange capacity of SOM was vital for the sorption of 125I−.
Movement Disorders and Mortality in Severely Mentally Ill Patients: The Curacao Extrapyramidal Syndromes Study XIV
Authors: Willems Anne E , Mentzel Charlotte L , Bakker Pieter Roberto , Van Os Jim , Tenback Diederik E , Gelan Petra , Daantjes Erna , Matroos Glenn E , Hoek Hans W , Van Harten Peter N
Published: March 2022

Background and Hypothesis

There is a substantial gap in life expectancy between patients with severe mental illness (SMI) and the general population and it is important to understand which factors contribute to this difference. Research suggests an association between tardive dyskinesia (TD) and mortality; however, results are inconclusive. In addition, studies investigating associations between parkinsonism or akathisia and mortality are rare. We hypothesized that TD would be a risk factor for mortality in patients with SMI.

Study Design

We studied a cohort of 157 patients diagnosed predominantly with schizophrenia on the former Netherlands Antilles. TD, parkinsonism, and akathisia were assessed with rating scales on eight occasions over a period of 18 years. Twenty-four years after baseline, survival status and if applicable date of death were determined. Associations between movement disorders and survival were analyzed using Cox regression. Sex, age, antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines at each measurement occasion were tested as covariates.

Study Results

Parkinsonism was a significant risk factor with an HR of 1.02 per point on the motor subscale of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (range 0–56). TD and akathisia were not significantly associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Parkinsonism may be an important risk factor for mortality in SMI patients. This finding calls for more follow-up and intervention studies to confirm this finding and to explore whether treatment or prevention of parkinsonism can reduce excess mortality.
The Analysis of Trends of Preschool Child Stunting, Wasting and Overweight in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Still More Effort Needed to Reach Global Targets 2025
Authors: Nikooyeh Bahareh , Ghodsi Delaram , Amini Maryam , Rasekhi Hamid , Rabiei Samira , Doustmohammadian Azam , Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub , Neyestani Tirang R
Published: March 2022

Background

This study was undertaken to analyze and compare Eastern Mediterranean (EM) countries in achievement of WHO nutrition global targets for children growth indicators by 2025.

Methods

A total of 108 national surveys from 20 countries in EM region were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of stunting and wasting and 93 surveys to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children. These data were obtained from national surveys included in the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition.

Results

In EM region, the prevalence of childhood stunting was estimated to have a 38% decline from 2000 (34.7%) to 2025 (21.2%). Only three countries in EM region (Iran and Jordan, Saudi Arabia) were anticipated to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. From 2000 to 2020, the prevalence of wasting decreased from 6.9 to 5.3. Six countries were presumed to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. Nine countries will presumably have overweight rates >5% (Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia) in 2025 whereas five countries will have overweight rates above 10% (Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia).

Conclusion

Despite descending trends of child stunting and wasting and a secular trend of child obesity in EM region, it is expected that WHO targets will not be achieved by 2025. A diverse socio-economic condition in EM countries necessitates different action plans. International determination, political commitment and, above all, involvement of the families are needed to achieve 2025 targets for child stunting, wasting and overweight/obesity.
Temporal Progress and Spatial Patterns of Northern Corn Leaf Blight in Corn Fields in China
Authors: Liu Hui , Guo Fangfang , Chen Xinglong , Wu Bo Ming
Published: March 2022

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is a devastating disease of corn in China. To enhance our understanding of NCLB epidemiology, the temporal progress and spatial patterns of NCLB were investigated. A susceptible corn cultivar, Xianyu 335, was planted in a field in Beijing in 2016 and 2017. Leaf lesions of NCLB on each plant were counted twice a week during the growing seasons. In addition, temporal disease progress was monitored for 8 weeks in three commercial corn fields in each of Yanqing, Miyun, Daxing, and Haidian Districts of Beijing in 2017, and the spatial patterns of diseased plants and NCLB lesion counts per plant were assessed in three commercial corn fields with moderate to high NCLB incidence in Yanqing District. The results demonstrated that a logistic model was the most appropriate to describe the temporal progress of NCLB incidence. The initial disease incidence was the key factor affecting disease epidemics under various conditions in the four districts of Beijing during the study. The higher the initial incidence of NCLB, the higher the final incidence. Thus, the earlier in the season NCLB incidence attained 1%, the higher was the final disease incidence. Greater than 1.0 variance-to-mean ratios suggested that the leaf lesions of NCLB tended to be aggregated on a plant. According to results from join-counts, variance of moving window averages, and semivariogram analysis, diseased corn plants and lesion numbers on each plant were aggregated in the field. The clustered pattern of NCLB lesions and infected plants suggested that conidia produced locally on diseased plants were important for disease spread within the field. The aggregated pattern of diseased plants suggested that plants should be sampled from more sites in a field to accurately estimate incidence of NCLB.
Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals that the Antimicrobial Kasugamycin Potential Targets Nitrate Reductase inDidymella segeticolato Achieve Control of Tea Leaf Spot
Authors: Jiang Xinyue , Jiang Shilong , Huang Hongke , Li Dongxue , Yang Rui , Yang Yuanyou , Wang Delu , Song Baoan , Chen Zhuo
Published: March 2022

Because of the lack of effective disease management measures, tea leaf spot—caused by the fungal phytopathogen Didymella segeticola (syn. Phoma segeticola)—is an important foliar disease. The important and widely used agricultural antimicrobial kasugamycin (Ksg), produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Streptomyces kasugaensis, effects high levels of control against crop diseases. The results of this study indicated that Ksg could inhibit the growth of D. segeticola hyphae in vitro with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 141.18 μg ml−1. Meanwhile, the curative effect in vivo on the pathogen in detached tea leaves also demonstrated that Ksg induced some morphological changes in organelles, septa, and cell walls as observed by optical microscopy and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. This may indicate that Ksg disturbs biosynthesis of key metabolites, inhibiting hyphal growth. Integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and bioinformatic analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes or differentially expressed proteins in D. segeticola hyphae in response to Ksg exposure were involved with metabolic processes and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Molecular docking studies indicated that Ksg may target nitrate reductase (NR), and microscale thermophoresis assay showed greater affinity with NR, potentially disturbing nitrogen assimilation and subsequent metabolism. The results indicated that Ksg inhibits the pathogen of tea leaf spot, D. segeticola, possibly by binding to NR, disturbing fungal metabolism, and inducing subsequent changes in hyphal growth and development.
Reclassification of the Main Causal Agent of Glomerella Leaf Spot on Apple intoColletotrichum chrysophilumin Southern Brazil and Uruguay
Authors: Astolfi Paula , Velho Aline C. , Moreira Victoria , Mondino Pedro E. , Alaniz Sandra M. , Stadnik Marciel J.
Published: March 2022

Glomerella leaf spot (GLS) is one of the most important diseases of apple, affecting a wide range of economically important cultivars, particularly Golden Delicious and its descendants. Caused mainly by species of the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex (CGSC), C. fructicola has been described as the most prevalent and aggressive species associated with GLS and apple bitter rot (ABR) in Brazil and Uruguay. Recently, new CGSC species, closely related to C. fructicola, have been identified causing ABR. To verify the accuracy of species identification within the CGSC, we aimed to reevaluate the identity of representative GLS-causing isolates from Brazilian and Uruguayan populations, previously identified as C. fructicola. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis based on APN2, ApMAT, CAL, GAPDH, GS, ITS, and TUB2 allocated these isolates in a monophyletic clade with C. chrysophilum. This species was first described as the causal agent of anthracnose in banana fruits in Brazil, and recent reports indicate its association with ABR in the United States. This is the first report of C. chrysophilum causing GLS disease on apple worldwide.
The Future Of Meat: Exploring The Nutritional Qualities And Environmental Impacts Of Meat Replacements
Authors: Mejia Maximino Alfredo , Harwatt Helen , Jaceldo‐Siegl Karen , Soret Sam , Sabate Joan
Published: March 2022

Animal products, particularly meat, are increasingly being questioned in terms of their role in an environmentally sustainable food system. Concurrently, there is a rising public consumption of meat analogs, largely driven by health concerns, with environmental concerns, taste and convenience also being important. Meat analogs are high‐protein, manufactured products with some taste and texture resemblance to meats. Hence, meat analogs could play a key role in replacing meat in the diet, however, to date, there has been no systematic assessment of the environmental impacts of meat analogs. Therefore, using primary production data (energy use, water use, ingredients quantities, packaging and processing methods) collected from 2 separate companies for burgers, sausages, mince, slices, rolls and nuggets, we performed Life Cycle Assessment using a specialized software (SimaPro) to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions from 39 meat analog products. Life Cycle Assessment is an internationally recognized and commonly used method to analyze the environmental impacts of products. Greenhouse gas emissions were measured as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). The average greenhouse gas impact across all meat analog categories was 2.4 kg CO2e/kg product. Results for the individual categories of meat analog were 1.8 kg CO2e/kg mince, 2.0 kg CO2e/kg slices, 2.0 kg CO2e/kg nuggets, 2.3 kg CO2e/kg sausages, 2.2 kg CO2e/kg rolls, and 4.1 kg CO2e/kg burgers. For canned, frozen and dry meat analogs, the average greenhouse gas impacts were 3.0 kg CO2e/kg, 2.1 kg CO2e/kg, and 0.7 kg CO2e/kg, respectively. To provide further context and nutritional relevance, we will compare the meat analogs with 3 of the most popularly consumed animal‐derived meats, in terms of kg CO2e per amount of product, protein, saturated fat and iron. Our findings show that meat analogs have much lower environmental impacts and could therefore continue to provide environmentally advantageous alternatives to animal‐derived meat.
Optimal Time to Initiate Breast Milk Expression in Mothers Delivering Extremely Premature Infants
Authors: Parker Leslie , Mueller Martina , Sandra Sullivan , Krueger Charlene
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Feeding breastmilk to premature infants decreases morbidity but is often limited owing to an insufficient breast milk supply and delayed attainment of lactogenesis stage II. Early initiation of breast milk expression following delivery has been shown to increase breast milk production in mothers of very low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) infants. However no adequately powered randomized trials have been conducted to determine the optimal time to initiation of breast milk expression in mothers who deliver extremely premature infants. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the optimal time to initiate breast milk expression in mothers of VLBW infants.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

180 women were stratified according to their infant's gestational age and were randomized to initiate breast milk expression within 60 min (group 1), 60–179 min (Group 2) or 180–360 min (group 3) following delivery. Breast milk volume and timing of lactogenesis stage II was compared between groups using Wilcoxon's rank sum tests. Breast milk volume was measured daily for the first 7 days and weekly for the first 6 weeks. Timing of lactogenesis stage II was determined through mothers' perceptions of sudden breast fullness.

RESULTS

Mothers who initiated BM expression 1–3 hours delivery were more likely to be lactating at 3 weeks (88%), 6 weeks (63%) and at discharge (62%) compared to those who initiated BM expression within 1 hour (68%, 60%, 33%) or 3–6 hours (70%, 54%, 35%) after delivery. In addition, mothers who initiated BM expression 1–3 hours following delivery had an earlier onset of lactogenesis stage II (p=0.013).

CONCLUSION

Initiation of breast milk expression 1–3 h following delivery increases duration of lactation and decreases time to lactogenesis stage II in mothers of VLBW infants.

Support or Funding Information

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R15NR01356
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Split-Neck Trial of Hyaluronic Acid Filler for Static Horizontal Neck Rhytides Using Either a Cannula or Needle
Authors: Siperstein Robyn , Cotofana Sebastian , Barnes Megan , Nestor Elizabeth , Meran Suzanne , Grunebaum Lisa
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers have been studied extensively on the face; however, their safety and efficacy on the neck has not yet been evaluated in a prospective trial in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the efficacy and safety of a HA filler for static horizontal neck rhytides using either a cannula or needle.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-six subjects were randomized to receive up to 1 mL of the HA filler Restylane Refyne (HARR, n = 20) or saline (n = 6) using a cannula on one side and a needle on the other with optional repeat treatment. Subjects were graded using the Transverse Neck Line Scale, Canfield photography, and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale.

RESULTS

A significant improvement 30 days after the last treatment was achieved on the Transverse Neck Line Scale when comparing HARR with saline according to the blind evaluator, subjects, and investigator without any significant side effects. In addition, the blind evaluator, subjects, and investigator rated the side of the neck injected with a needle as having significantly greater improvement than the cannula.

CONCLUSION

The hyaluronic acid filler, Restylane Refyne, achieved significant improvement in static horizontal neck rhytides using either a cannula or needle without any serious side effects, although the needle was more effective.
Use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in the Surgical Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Claessens Anouk A.E. , van Alphen Tert C. , Lapid Oren , Hoogbergen Maarten M. , Ovadja Zachri N.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Surgery is considered to be the best treatment for recurrent hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Although it is necessary to assess the effect on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are scarce and heterogeneously used in the literature about the surgical treatment of HS.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to provide a review of the complete literature for different PROMs used in the surgical treatment of HS and to assess their methodological qualities.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase with an assessment following the COnsensus-based standards for the Selection of health status Measurement INstrument criteria.

RESULTS

The search identified 218 articles, with the inclusion of 6 studies for analysis. Identified PROMs were as follows: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Derriford Appearance Scale-24 (DAS-24), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI). These non–disease-specific PROMs seem to have poor results concerning development and content validation.

CONCLUSION

The DLQI, WPAI, and DAS-24 are generic PROMs with poor methodological qualities for PROM development and content validation. Hidradenitis suppurativa–specific instruments are not used in available studies because they have been developed recently and, therefore, partially validated. More research is needed to further investigate methodological qualities of HS-specific instruments.
INTRAVITREAL CHOPPING OF DROPPED NUCLEUS WITH A NITINOL INTRAOCULAR FOREIGN BODY FORCEPS: AN ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RETAINED NUCLEUS FRAGMENTS
Authors: Acar Nur , Celiker Pelin
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficiency and safety of using an intraocular foreign body forceps with two nitinol loops at its tip to capture and chop dropped nucleus (DN) during vitrectomy as an alternative method and to evaluate the outcomes and complications of this surgical technique.

Methods:

The eyes that underwent 23-gauge vitrectomy with removal of DN using nitinol forceps with a minimum follow-up time of 1 year are included in this study. The efficiency of surgical technique and anatomical and functional results with complications is recorded.

Results:

Nine patients with a mean age of 73.11 ± 2.15 years were included in this study. The mean time between DN and vitrectomy was 7.67 ± 3.74 (5–14) days. In all eyes, DN was easily chopped and removed with aspiration. Argon laser photocoagulation was performed in 4 eyes (44.44%) during surgery. All eyes were followed up for a mean time of 21.11 ± 12.36 (12–48) months. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity increased significantly during the postoperative follow-up (P < 0.001). No complications related to the cataract surgery or DN removal were observed.

Conclusion:

Surgical removal of DN with the help of these forceps with nitinol loops is found to be safe and effective in this study. This method avoids ultrasonographic energy and enables 23-gauge vitrectomy without a fragmatome.
Staphylococcus aureus Community-acquired Pneumonia in Children After 13-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccination (2008–2018): Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes
Authors: Aguilera-Alonso David , Kirchschläger Nieto Silke , Ara Montojo María Fátima , Sanz Santaeufemia Francisco José , Saavedra-Lozano Jesús , Soto Beatriz , Caminoa María Belén , Berzosa Arantxa , Prieto Tato Luis , Cercenado Emilia , Tagarro Alfredo , Molina Arana David , Alonso Sanz Mercedes , Romero Gómez María Pilar , Chaves Sánchez Fernando , Baquero-Artigao Fernando
Published: March 2022

Background:

The epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has changed, influenced by sociosanitary conditions and vaccination status. We aimed to analyze the recent epidemiology of bacterial CAP in hospitalized children in a setting with high pneumococcal vaccination coverage and to describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric Staphylococcus aureus CAP.

Methods:

Children <17 years old hospitalized from 2008 to 2018 with bacterial CAP in 5 tertiary hospitals in Spain were included. Cases with pneumococcal CAP were randomly selected as comparative group following a case-control ratio of 2:1 with S. aureus CAP.

Results:

A total of 313 bacterial CAP were diagnosed: Streptococcus pneumoniae CAP (n = 236, 75.4%), Streptococcus pyogenes CAP (n = 43, 13.7%) and S. aureus CAP (n = 34, 10.9%). Throughout the study period, the prevalence of S. pyogenes increased (annual percentage change: +16.1% [95% CI: 1.7–32.4], P = 0.031), S. pneumoniae decreased (annual percentage change: –4.4% [95 CI: –8.8 to 0.2], P = 0.057) and S. aureus remained stable. Nine isolates of S. aureus (26.5%) were methicillin-resistant. Seventeen cases (50%) with S. aureus CAP had some pulmonary complication and 21 (61.7%) required intensive care. S. pneumoniae CAP showed a trend toward higher prevalence of pulmonary complications compared with S. aureus CAP (69.1% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.060), including higher frequency of pulmonary necrosis (32.4% vs. 5.9%, P = 0.003).

Conclusions:

The incidence of S. aureus CAP in children remained stable, whereas the prevalence of pneumococcal CAP decreased and S. pyogenes CAP increased. Patients with S. aureus presented a high frequency of severe outcomes, but a lower risk of pulmonary complications than patients with S. pneumoniae.
Development and validation of the Iris Glare, Appearance, and Photophobia questionnaire for patients with iris defects
Authors: Kryshtalskyj Michael T. , Rai Amrit S. , Durr Georges M. , Ahmed Iqbal Ike K.
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To validate the Iris Glare, Appearance, and Photophobia (Iris GAP) questionnaire, a new symptom-based and appearance-based quality-of-life measure for patients with iris defects.

Setting:

Single tertiary glaucoma clinic in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Methods:

Patients with varying degrees of iris defects were enrolled. Patients completed the Iris GAP questionnaire and the glare and driving subscales of the Refractive Status and Vision Profile (RSVP) questionnaire. Test–retest reliability, defined by Cronbach α and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), was evaluated with repeat testing 2 weeks later.

Results:

The study included 73 patients with iris defects, 68 controls with no iris defects, 77 patients with peripheral iridotomies (PIs) or transillumination defects (TIDs), and 22 patientswith surgically repaired irides (n = 22). Iris GAP scores ranged from 0 to 32 with a 97% completion rate. Iris GAP had high test–retest reliability (Cronbach α = 0.866, ICC = 0.953, P < .0005). Iris GAP scores were reliably distinguishable between patients with iris defects, repaired iris defects, and PIs and TIDs and controls (1-way analysis of variance, P < .0005). In pairwise comparisons, the major defect group had statistically significant higher scores than any of the other groups (P < .005 for each). The control and repaired groups had the lowest scores, whereas the PI/TID group had intermediate scores. 9 patients underwent iris repair between tests and had a mean difference of 8.2 ± 6.2 points between their preoperative and postoperative scores (P = .004). Iris GAP scores positively correlated with RSVP scores (R
2 = 0.73).

Conclusions:

Iris GAP can reliably evaluate symptomatology and patient-reported appearance in patients with iris defects.
Agreement between 2 SS-OCT biometry devices
Authors: McLintock Cameron , Niyazmand Hamed , Seo Shiney , Barrett Graham , Nilagiri Vinay Kumar , McKelvie James
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To assess the agreement between 2 swept-source optical coherence tomography biometry devices, Anterion and IOLMaster 700.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center, Brisbane, Australia.

Design:

Prospective comparative study.

Methods:

Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between devices for flat (K1), steep (K2), and mean (Km) keratometry for anterior, posterior, and total cornea, lens thickness (LT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), central corneal thickness (CCT), white to white (WTW), and axial length (AL). Generalized estimating equations were used to control for within-patient between-eye correlations. Interdevice differences were considered clinically significant if they were likely to alter the spherical refractive outcome by 0.25 diopter (D) or more.

Results:

159 eyes of 91 patients (41 male, 50 female) were included. Statistically significant differences were found for K1, K2, and Km for anterior, posterior, and total cornea. When the Anterion was compared with the IOLMaster 700, the mean differences were as follows: anterior K1: −0.17 D, anterior K2: −0.18 D, anterior Km: −0.17 D, posterior K1: −0.38 D, posterior K2: −0.36 D, posterior Km: −0.37 D, total K1: −0.65 D, total K2: −0.82 D, and total Km: −0.74 D. The difference in posterior and total K metrics was clinically significant. Statistically significant differences were noted for LT: 0.159 mm, CCT: −0.004 mm, ACD: 0.054 mm, and WTW: −0.152 mm, although these were not found to be clinically significant. There was no significant difference between devices for AL.

Conclusions:

This study found statistically and clinically significant differences for both posterior and total keratometry between the Anterion and the IOLMaster 700. Posterior and total corneal parameters cannot be considered interchangeable between devices.
Correlation between Placido-disc and rotating Scheimpflug keratometric findings before and after corneal crosslinking in children with keratoconus
Authors: Polido Júlia , Xavier dos Santos Araújo Maria Emília , H. Wakamatsu Tais , T. Lopes Bernardo , Alexander João G. , Cabral Thiago , Ambrósio Renato , Freitas Denise
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate correlation between Placido-disc and rotating Scheimpflug keratometric findings in children with progressive keratoconus (KC) before and after corneal crosslinking (CXL) and investigate whether these limits of agreement varied according to disease severity.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology of São Paulo Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.

Design:

Prospective nonrandomized open study.

Methods:

Data obtained using rotating Scheimpflug-based tomography and Placido-disc–based topography devices were collected from preoperative and last follow-up postoperative children with KC operated on using standard CXL protocol. Correlation and agreement analyses were performed between the 2 devices before and after CXL to obtain keratometric (K) findings.

Results:

44 eyes from 44 patients aged 8 to 16 years were analyzed at all timepoints. All parameters were found to be strongly correlated before (r = 0.84 to 0.99, P < .001) and after (r = 0.93 to 0.99, P < .001) CXL. The mean Scheimpflug measurements of flat K, steep K, Kmax, mean K, and corneal astigmatism were higher than Placido-disc measurements in a preoperative period. This mean difference decreased in postoperative, but, with exception of Kmax and corneal astigmatism, Scheimpflug measurements remained higher. The mean parameter measurements from both devices decreased after CXL; 95% limits of agreement between instruments were wide for all parameters and decreased in postoperative and in mild KC.

Conclusions:

Keratometry measurements obtained using rotating Scheimpflug and Placido-disc technology were found to be closely correlated but not interchangeable before and after CXL in pediatric patients. Agreement between devices was better after CXL and in mild KC than in advanced KC.
New artificial intelligence index based on Scheimpflug corneal tomography to distinguish subclinical keratoconus from healthy corneas
Authors: Almeida Jr Gildásio Castello , Guido Rodrigo Capobianco , Balarin Silva Henrique Monteiro , Brandão Cinara Cássia , de Mattos Luiz Carlos , Lopes Bernardo T. , Machado Aydano Pamponet , Ambrósio Renato
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To assess the efficiency of an index derived from multiple logistic regression analysis (MLRA) to measure differences in corneal tomography findings between subclinical keratoconus (KC) in 1 eye, corneal ectasia, and healthy corneas.

Setting:

2 private Brazilian ophthalmological centers.

Design:

Multicenter case–control study.

Methods:

This study included 187 eyes with very asymmetric ectasia and with normal corneal topography and tomography (VAE-NTT) in the VAE-NTT group, 2296 eyes with healthy corneas in the control group (CG), and 410 eyes with ectasia in the ectasia group. An index, termed as Boosted Ectasia Susceptibility Tomography Index (BESTi), was derived using MLRA to identify a cutoff point to distinguish patients in the 3 groups. The groups were divided into 2 subgroups with an equal number of patients: validation set and external validation (EV) set.

Results:

2893 patients with 2893 eyes were included. BESTi had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 with 86.02% sensitivity (Se) and 83.97% specificity (Sp) between CG and the VAE-NTT group in the EV set, which was significantly greater than those of the Belin-Ambrósio Deviation Index (BAD-D) (AUC: 0.81; Se: 66.67%; Sp: 82.67%; P < .0001) and Pentacam random forest index (PRFI) (AUC: 0.87; Se: 78.49%; Sp: 79.88%; P = .021).

Conclusions:

BESTi facilitated early detection of ectasia in subclinical KC and demonstrated higher Se and Sp than PRFI and BAD-D for detecting subclinical KC.
Telehealth for Contraceptive Care During the Initial Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic at Local Health Departments in 2 US States: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Authors: Beatty Kate E. , Smith Michael G. , Khoury Amal J. , Ventura Liane M. , Ariyo Tosin , de Jong Jordan , Surles Kristen , Rahman Aurin , Slawson Deborah
Published: March 2022

Objectives:

This study examined implementation of telehealth for contraceptive care among health departments (HDs) in 2 Southern US states with centralized/largely centralized governance structures during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustaining access to contraceptive care for underserved communities during public health emergencies is critical. Identifying facilitators and barriers to adaptive service provision helps inform state-level decision making and has implications for public health policy and practice, particularly in states with centralized HD governance.

Design:

Mixed-methods study including a survey of HD clinic administrators and key informant interviews with clinic- and system-level staff in 2 states conducted in 2020.

Setting:

Health department clinics in 2 Southern US states.

Participants:

Clinic administrators (survey) and clinic- and system-level respondents (key informant interviews). Participation in the research was voluntary and de-identified.

Main Outcome Measures:

(1) Telehealth implementation for contraceptive care assessed by survey and measured by the percentage of clinics reporting telehealth service provision during the pandemic; and (2) facilitators and barriers to telehealth implementation for contraceptive care assessed by key informant interviews. For survey data, bivariate differences between the states in telehealth implementation for contraceptive care were assessed using χ2 and Fisher exact tests. Interview transcripts were coded, with emphasis on interrater reliability and consensus coding, and analyzed for emerging themes.

Results:

A majority of HD clinics in both states (60% in state 1 and 81% in state 2) reported a decrease in contraceptive care patient volume during March-June 2020 compared with the average volume in 2019. More HD clinics in state 1 than in state 2 implemented telehealth for contraceptive services, including contraceptive counseling, initial and refill hormonal contraception, emergency contraception and sexually transmitted infection care, and reported facilitators of telehealth. Medicaid reimbursement was a predominant facilitator of telehealth, whereas lack of implementation policies and procedures and reduced staffing capacity were predominant barriers. Electronic infrastructure and technology also played a role.

Conclusions:

Implementation of telehealth for contraceptive services varied between state HD agencies in the early phase of the pandemic. Medicaid reimbursement policy and directives from HD agency leadership are key to telehealth service provision among HDs in centralized states.
Cancer Care at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Davidson Nancy E. , Knudsen Karen E. , Nasso Shelley Fuld , Oyer Randall , Pergam Steve , Strawbridge Lara , Shulman Lawrence
Published: March 2022

Purpose

A multidisciplinary panel of experts convened to review the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care in the United States as part of a symposium convened by the National Cancer Policy Forum in July 2021.

Methods

Representatives from the cancer care community, patients, infection prevention, and a government agency provided insight into key elements of the response to and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care in the United States in 2020.

Results

Multiple stakeholders worked quickly to adapt to provide seamless care to cancer patients with considerable success despite the profound uncertainties that faced us in the early days of the pandemic.

Discussion

The experiences of the early days of COVID-19 in the cancer community led to key recommendations toward the goal of preparing for the next major disruption to cancer care. These include increasing competency in emergent technologies, rapid communication, engagement of all key stakeholders in policy decisions, ensuring emergency preparedness, and advocating for permanent regulatory changes to minimize barriers to enable a unified cancer community to provide effective and readily accessible cancer care.
Improving Equity in Cancer Care in the Face of a Public Health Emergency
Authors: Winkfield Karen M. , Winn Robert A.
Published: March 2022

Cancer health disparities have been well documented among different populations in the United States for decades. While the cause of these disparities is multifactorial, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the structural barriers to health and health care and the gaps in public health infrastructure within the United States. The most long-standing inequities are rooted in discriminatory practices, current and historical, which have excluded and disenfranchised many of the most vulnerable populations in the nation. These systemic barriers are themselves a public health crisis, resulting in increased mortality rates in communities of color from both COVID-19 and cancer. While implementing programs to temporarily improve cancer equity locally or regionally is laudable, it is imperative to develop a public health strategy focused on alleviating the root causes of health inequities to improve the health and well-being of every citizen and ensure readiness for the next public health emergency.