bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Ouoba Serge , Ouedraogo Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde , Lingani Moussa , E Bunthen , Hussain Md Razeen Ashraf , Ko Ko , Nagashima Shintaro , Sugiyama Aya , Akita Tomoyuki , Tinto Halidou , Tanaka Junko
Published: November 2021

Background

Detailed characteristics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Burkina Faso are scarce. The main aim of this study was to assess HCV seroprevalence in various settings and populations at risk in Burkina Faso between 1990 and 2020. Secondary objectives included the prevalence of HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes.

Methods

A systematic database search, supplemented by a manual search, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and African Index Medicus. Studies reporting HCV seroprevalence data in low and high-risk populations in Burkina Faso were included, and a random-effects meta-analysis was applied. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs institute checklist.

Results

Low-risk populations were examined in 31 studies involving a total of 168,151 subjects, of whom 8330 were positive for HCV antibodies. Six studies included a total of 1484 high-risk persons, and 96 had antibodies to HCV. The pooled seroprevalence in low-risk populations was 3.72% (95% CI: 3.20–4.28) and 4.75% (95% CI: 1.79–8.94) in high-risk groups. A non-significant decreasing trend was observed over the study period. Seven studies tested HCV RNA in a total of 4759 individuals at low risk for HCV infection, and 81 were positive. The meta-analysis of HCV RNA yielded a pooled prevalence of 1.65% (95% CI: 0.74–2.89%) in low-risk populations, which is assumed to be indicative of HCV prevalence in the general population of Burkina Faso and suggests that about 301,174 people are active HCV carriers in the country. Genotypes 2 and 1 were the most frequent, with 60.3% and 25.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

HCV seroprevalence is intermediate in Burkina Faso and indicates the need to implement effective control strategies. There is a paucity of data at the national level and for rural and high-risk populations. General population screening and linkage to care are recommended, with special attention to rural and high-risk populations.
Risk factors associated with albuminuria in Rwanda: results from a STEPS survey
Authors: Tran Ngoc Candide , Barango Prebo , Harrison Roger , Jones Andrew , Shongwe Steven Velabo , Tuyishime Albert , Uwinkindi François , Xu Hongyi , Shoop-Worrall Stephanie
Published: November 2021

Background

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing burden which affects every part of the world, including developing countries. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has varied etiology which can result from or complicate other NCDs such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The growing prevalence of NCDs coupled with the increasing age in most developing countries, has seen a marked increase of CKD in these settings. CKD has been described as “the most neglected NCD” and greatly affects the quality of life of patients. It also places a huge economic burden on societies. However, few epidemiological data exist, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Assessment of the prevalence of albuminuria as a marker of kidney damage and CKD progression and its main risk factors was thus needed in Rwanda.

Methods

This study analyzed data collected during the first STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor Surveillance (STEPS) survey in Rwanda, conducted from 2012 to 2013, to assess the prevalence of albuminuria. A multistage cluster sampling allowed to select a representative sample of the general population. Furthermore, descriptive, as well as univariable analyses and multiple logistic regression were performed to respond to the research question.

Results

This survey brought a representative sample of 6,998 participants, among which 4,384 (62.65%) were female. Median age was 33 years (interquartile range, IQR 26-44), and over three quarters (78.45%) lived in rural areas. The albuminuria prevalence was 105.9 per 1,000 population. Overall, semi-urban and urban residency were associated with lower odds of CKD (odds ratio, OR 0.36, CI 0.23-0.56, p<0.001 and OR 0.34, CI 0.23-0.50, p<0.001, respectively) than rural status. Being married or living with a partner had higher odds (OR 1.44 (CI 1.03-2.02, p=0.031) and OR 1.62 (CI 1.06-2.48, p=0.026), respectively) of CKD than being single. Odds of positive albuminuria were also greater among participants living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (OR 1.64, CI 1.09- 2.47, p=0.018). Gender, age group, smoking status and vegetable consumption, body mass index (BMI) and hypertension were not associated with albuminuria.

Conclusion

The albuminuria prevalence was estimated at 105.9 per 1,000 in Rwanda. Rural residence, partnered status and HIV positivity were identified as main risk factors for albuminuria. Increased early screening of albuminuria to prevent CKD among high-risk groups, especially HIV patients, is therefore recommended.
Modification of improved-genome editing via oviductal nucleic acids delivery (i-GONAD)-mediated knock-in in rats
Authors: Aoshima Takuya , Kobayashi Yukari , Takagi Hisayoshi , Iijima Kenta , Sato Masahiro , Takabayashi Shuji
Published: November 2021

Background

Improved genome-editing via oviductal nucleic acids delivery (i-GONAD) is a new technology that facilitates in situ genome-editing of mammalian zygotes exiting the oviductal lumen. The i-GONAD technology has been developed for use in mice, rats, and hamsters; however, oligonucleotide (ODN)-based knock-in (KI) is more inefficient in rats than mice. To improve the efficiency of i-GONAD in rats we examined KI efficiency using three guide RNAs (gRNA), crRNA1, crRNA2 and crRNA3. These gRNAs recognize different portions of the target locus, but also overlap each other in the target locus. We also examined the effects of commercially available KI -enhancing drugs (including SCR7, L755,507, RS-1, and HDR enhancer) on i-GONAD-mediated KI efficiency.

Results

The KI efficiency in rat fetuses generated after i-GONAD with crRNA2 and single-stranded ODN was significantly higher (24%) than crRNA1 (5%; p < 0.05) or crRNA3 (0%; p < 0.01). The KI efficiency of i-GONAD with triple gRNAs was 11%. These findings suggest that KI efficiency largely depends on the type of gRNA used. Furthermore, the KI efficiency drugs, SCR7, L755,507 and HDR enhancer, all of which are known to enhance KI efficiency, increased KI efficiency using the i-GONAD with crRNA1 protocol. In contrast, only L755,507 (15 μM) increased KI efficiency using the i-GONAD with crRNA2 protocol. None of them were significantly different.

Conclusions

We attempted to improve the KI efficiency of i-GONAD in rats. We demonstrated that the choice of gRNA is important for determining KI efficiency and insertion and deletion rates. Some drugs (e.g. SCR7, L755,507 and HDR enhancer) that are known to increase KI efficiency in culture cells were found to be effective in i-GONAD in rats, but their effects were limited.
Spousal violence against women and its consequences on pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health of women in India
Authors: Bramhankar Mahadev , Reshmi R. S.
Published: November 2021

Background

Globally, one in three women experienced domestic violence. Alike the scenario observed in India, and a very few studies talk about violence and its consequences on women's health. Hence, the purpose of this study is to access the level of various types of spousal violence in India and to understand the association between physical, sexual and emotional violence against ever-married women by their husbands. The study further examines the consequences of spousal violence on women's health in terms of adverse pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health in India.

Methods

The study uses secondary data from National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4, 2015–16). The analysis was based on a sample of ever-married women aged 15–49 years. Bivariate descriptive analysis and multiple regression analyses have been carried out to understand the association between spousal violence and its consequences on women's health.

Results

The study finds that the physical, sexual and emotional violence experienced by ever-married women in India are 29.8%, 13.8% and 7.0%, respectively. Further, the physical and sexual violence experienced by women have a significant association with an unwanted pregnancy, abortion, miscarriages and ever had termination of pregnancies. The regression analysis shows that violence by sexual partners among battered women increased the likelihood of unwanted pregnancy. Similarly, abortion and ever had a termination of pregnancies are also adversely affected by partner violence. Further, the risk of sexually transmitted infection increases 77% by sexual violence and 44% by emotional violence among battered women. Also, Sexual violence substantially increases the risk of prolonged labour during pregnancy.

Conclusion

This study revealed that one in three women experiencing violence by their husband and also it is evident that various forms of spousal violence adversely affect pregnancies outcomes and reproductive health among battered women compared to not battered.
The role of access to electricity, female education, and public health expenditure on female health outcomes: evidence from SAARC-ASEAN countries
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mafizur , Alam Khosrul
Published: November 2021

Background

The importance of the status of female health should have research priority due to the unique medical needs of women. Hence this paper attempts to explore the nexus of access to electricity, female education, and public health expenditure with female health outcomes in the SAARC-ASEAN countries.

Methods

Using the data of 2002–2018, and applying the cross-sectional dependence test, Modified Wald test, Wooldridge test, the Panel corrected standard error (PCSE) model, the Feasible generalized least square (FGLS) model, and the pair-wise Granger causality test, the robust outcomes on female health are found.

Results

Access to electricity, female education rate, public health expenditure, economic growth, and immunization rate, all have a positive effect on female life expectancy at birth, and a negative effect on the female adult mortality rate. The urbanization rate has a significantly positive impact on female life expectancy at birth but an insignificant impact on female adult mortality rate. The one-way causal relationship between the variables are also revealed.

Conclusions

All the results are rational and have important milestone for the health sector. The health status of females should be improved and protected by formulating effective policies on access to electricity, female education, public health expenditure, immunization, economic growth, and urbanization.
Identifying the most important workplace factors in predicting nurse mental health using machine learning techniques
Authors: Havaei Farinaz , Ji Xuejun Ryan , MacPhee Maura , Straight Heather
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Nurses are at a high risk of developing mental health problems due to exposure to work environment risk factors. Previous research in this area has only examined a few factors within nurses’ work environments, and those factors were not conceptualized with the goal of improving workplace mental health. The purpose of this study is to identify the most important work environment predictors of nurse mental health using a comprehensive and theoretically grounded measure based on the National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.

Methods

This is an exploratory cross-sectional survey study of nurses in British Columbia, Canada. For this study, responses from a convenience sample of 4029 actively working direct care nurses were analyzed using random forest regression methods. Key predictors include 13 work environment factors. Study outcomes include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout and life satisfaction.

Results

Overall, healthier reports of work environment conditions were associated with better nurse mental health. More specifically balance, psychological protection and workload management were the most important predictors of depression, anxiety, PTSD and emotional exhaustion. While engagement, workload management, psychological protection and balance were the most important predictors of depersonalization, engagement was the most important predictor of personal accomplishment. Balance, psychological protection and engagement were the most important predictors of life satisfaction.

Conclusions

Routine assessment with standardized tools of nurses’ work environment conditions and mental health is an important, evidence-based organizational intervention. This study suggests nurses’ mental health is particularly influenced by worklife balance, psychological protection and workload management.
Characterisation of the enzyme transport path between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts
Authors: Pesante Giovanna , Sabbadin Federico , Elias Luisa , Steele-King Clare , Shipway J. Reuben , Dowle Adam A. , Li Yi , Busse-Wicher Marta , Dupree Paul , Besser Katrin , Cragg Simon M. , Bruce Neil C. , McQueen-Mason Simon J.
Published: November 2021

Background

Shipworms are marine xylophagus bivalve molluscs, which can live on a diet solely of wood due to their ability to produce plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. Bacterial carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), synthesised by endosymbionts living in specialised shipworm cells called bacteriocytes and located in the animal’s gills, play an important role in wood digestion in shipworms. However, the main site of lignocellulose digestion within these wood-boring molluscs, which contains both endogenous lignocellulolytic enzymes and prokaryotic enzymes, is the caecum, and the mechanism by which bacterial enzymes reach the distant caecum lumen has remained so far mysterious. Here, we provide a characterisation of the path through which bacterial CAZymes produced in the gills of the shipworm Lyrodus pedicellatus reach the distant caecum to contribute to the digestion of wood.

Results

Through a combination of transcriptomics, proteomics, X-ray microtomography, electron microscopy studies and in vitro biochemical characterisation, we show that wood-digesting enzymes produced by symbiotic bacteria are localised not only in the gills, but also in the lumen of the food groove, a stream of mucus secreted by gill cells that carries food particles trapped by filter feeding to the mouth. Bacterial CAZymes are also present in the crystalline style and in the caecum of their shipworm host, suggesting a unique pathway by which enzymes involved in a symbiotic interaction are transported to their site of action. Finally, we characterise in vitro four new bacterial glycosyl hydrolases and a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase identified in our transcriptomic and proteomic analyses as some of the major bacterial enzymes involved in this unusual biological system.

Conclusion

Based on our data, we propose that bacteria and their enzymes are transported from the gills along the food groove to the shipworm’s mouth and digestive tract, where they aid in wood digestion.
A KRT6A mutation p.Ile462Asn in a Chinese family with pachyonychia congenita, and identification of maternal mosaicism: a case report
Authors: Li Yue , Wang Yumeng , Ming Yan , Chaolan Pan , Jia Zhang , Cheng Ni , Qiaoyu Cao , Li Ming , Tianyi Xu
Published: November 2021

Background

Pachyonychia congenita (PC, OMIM #167200, #167210, #615726, #615728, and #615735) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by keratin gene mutations inKRT6A,KRT6B,KRT6C,KRT16orKRT17. It is characterized with nail dystrophy and palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK). The most prominent manifestation is plantar pain. This is a further unusual case of parental mosaicism in PC. Although very rare, germ cell mosaicism should be considered when providing genetic counselling for unaffected parents of a child with PC.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 5-year-old boy with thickening nails and oral leukokeratosis at birth. He began to develop palmoplantar keratoderma at 2 years old and his sister has similar clinical manifestation characterized with nail discoloration and thickening. A previously reported heterozygous mutation, p.Ile462Asn, was identified in KRT6A in the proband and his affected sister. SNaPshot sequencing revealed mosaicism at a level of 2.5% and 4.7% in DNA from blood and hair bulbs from the unaffected mother. HiSeq deep sequencing demonstrated low-grade mosaicism in the patient’s younger sister and parents.

Conclusion

These findings indicate the ability of WES and SNaPshot sequencing to detect low-frequency mosaic mutations. Although very rare, germinal mosaicism should be considered when genetic counseling is given to families with presumed spontaneous cases of PC.
Learning to walk with a wearable robot in 880 simple steps: a pilot study on motor adaptation
Authors: Haufe Florian L. , Kober Alessia M. , Wolf Peter , Riener Robert , Xiloyannis Michele
Published: November 2021

Background

Wearable robots have been shown to improve the efficiency of walking in diverse scenarios. However, it is unclear how much practice is needed to fully adapt to robotic assistance, and which neuromotor processes underly this adaptation. Familiarization strategies for novice users, robotic optimization techniques (e.g. human-in-the-loop), and meaningful comparative assessments depend on this understanding.

Methods

To better understand the process of motor adaptation to robotic assistance, we analyzed the energy expenditure, gait kinematics, stride times, and muscle activities of eight naïve unimpaired participants across three 20-min sessions of robot-assisted walking. Experimental outcomes were analyzed with linear mixed effect models and statistical parametric mapping techniques.

Results

Most of the participants’ kinematic and muscular adaptation occurred within the first minute of assisted walking. After ten minutes, or 880 steps, the energetic benefits of assistance were realized (an average of 5.1% (SD 2.4%) reduction in energy expenditure compared to unassisted walking). Motor adaptation was likely driven by the formation of an internal model for feedforward motor control as evidenced by the reduction of burst-like muscle activity at the cyclic end of robotic assistance and an increase in arm-swing asymmetry previously associated with increased cognitive load.

Conclusion

Humans appear to adapt to walking assistance from a wearable robot over 880 steps by forming an internal model for feedforward control. The observed adaptation to the wearable robot is well-described by existing three-stage models that start from a cognitive stage, continue with an associative stage, and end in autonomous task execution.

Trial registration Not applicable.
Enhanced chromatin accessibility contributes to X chromosome dosage compensation in mammals
Authors: Talon Irene , Janiszewski Adrian , Theeuwes Bart , Lefevre Thomas , Song Juan , Bervoets Greet , Vanheer Lotte , De Geest Natalie , Poovathingal Suresh , Allsop Ryan , Marine Jean-Christophe , Rambow Florian , Voet Thierry , Pasque Vincent
Published: November 2021

Background

Precise gene dosage of the X chromosomes is critical for normal development and cellular function. In mice, XX female somatic cells show transcriptional X chromosome upregulation of their single active X chromosome, while the other X chromosome is inactive. Moreover, the inactive X chromosome is reactivated during development in the inner cell mass and in germ cells through X chromosome reactivation, which can be studied in vitro by reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency. How chromatin processes and gene regulatory networks evolved to regulate X chromosome dosage in the somatic state and during X chromosome reactivation remains unclear.

Results

Using genome-wide approaches, allele-specific ATAC-seq and single-cell RNA-seq, in female embryonic fibroblasts and during reprogramming to pluripotency, we show that chromatin accessibility on the upregulated mammalian active X chromosome is increased compared to autosomes. We further show that increased accessibility on the active X chromosome is erased by reprogramming, accompanied by erasure of transcriptional X chromosome upregulation and the loss of increased transcriptional burst frequency. In addition, we characterize gene regulatory networks during reprogramming and X chromosome reactivation, revealing changes in regulatory states. Our data show that ZFP42/REX1, a pluripotency-associated gene that evolved specifically in placental mammals, targets multiple X-linked genes, suggesting an evolutionary link between ZFP42/REX1, X chromosome reactivation, and pluripotency.

Conclusions

Our data reveal the existence of intrinsic compensatory mechanisms that involve modulation of chromatin accessibility to counteract X-to-Autosome gene dosage imbalances caused by evolutionary or in vitro X chromosome loss and X chromosome inactivation in mammalian cells.
Retinal organoids as models for development and diseases
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Wang Wen , Jin Zi-Bing
Published: November 2021

The evolution of pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids (ROs) has brought remarkable opportunities for developmental studies while also presenting new therapeutic avenues for retinal diseases. With a clear understanding of how well these models mimic native retinas, such preclinical models may be crucial tools that are widely used for the more efficient translation of studies into novel treatment strategies for retinal diseases. Genetic modifications or patient-derived ROs can allow these models to simulate the physical microenvironments of the actual disease process. However, we are currently at the beginning of the three-dimensional (3D) RO era, and a general quantitative technology for analyzing ROs derived from numerous differentiation protocols is still missing. Continued efforts to improve the efficiency and stability of differentiation, as well as understanding the disparity between the artificial retina and the native retina and advancing the current treatment strategies, will be essential in ensuring that these scientific advances can benefit patients with retinal disease. Herein, we briefly discuss RO differentiation protocols, the current applications of RO as a disease model and the treatments for retinal diseases by using RO modeling, to have a clear view of the role of current ROs in retinal development and diseases.
Patient-important outcomes reported in randomized controlled trials of pharmacologic treatments for COVID-19: a protocol of a META-epidemiological study
Authors: Jimenez-Mora Mario A. , Varela Andrea Ramírez , Meneses-Echavez Jose F. , Bidonde Julia , Angarita-Fonseca Adriana , Siemieniuk Reed A. C. , Zeraatkar Dena , Bartoszko Jessica J. , Brignardello-Petersen Romina , Honarmand Kimia , Rochwerg Bram , Guyatt Gordon , Yepes-Nuñez Juan José
Published: November 2021

Background

The coronavirus disease 19 (covid-19) pandemic has underscored the need to expedite clinical research, which may lead investigators to shift away from measuring patient-important outcomes (PIO), limiting research applicability. We aim to investigate if randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of covid-19 pharmacological therapies include PIOs.

Methods

We will perform a meta-epidemiological study of RCTs that included people at risk for, or with suspected, probable, or confirmed covid-19, examining any pharmacological treatment or blood product aimed at prophylaxis or treatment. We will obtain data from all RCTs identified in a living network metanalysis (NMA). The main data sources are the living WHO covid-19 database up to 1 March 2021 and six additional Chinese databases up to 20 February 2021. Two reviewers independently will review each citation, full-text article, and abstract data. To categorize the outcomes according to their importance to patients, we will adapt a previously defined hierarchy: a) mortality, b) quality of life/ functional status/symptoms, c) morbidity, and d) surrogate outcomes. Outcomes within the category a) and b) will be considered critically important to patients, and outcomes within the category c) will be regarded as important. We will use descriptive statistics to assess the proportion of studies that report each category of outcomes. We will perform univariable and multivariable analysis to explore associations between trial characteristics and the likelihood of reporting PIOs.

Discussion

The findings from this meta-epidemiological study will help health care professionals and researchers understand if the current covid-19 trials are effectively assessing and reporting the outcomes that are important to patients. If a deficiency in capturing PIOs is identified, this information may help inform the development of future RCTs in covid-19.

Systematic review registrations

Open Science Framework registration:osf.io/6xgjz.
Legal environment and corporate finance: evidence from the Italian manufacturing industry
Authors: Falavigna Greta , Ippoliti Roberto
Published: November 2021

Considering the Italian manufacturing industry between 2014 and 2016 (more than 250,000 observations), this technical note analyzes the relation between the courts’ ability to enforce credit rights and the opportunity to finance business activities with trade credits instead of financial debts, delaying payments and decreasing the financial costs. According to our results, and considering mortgage foreclosure, if the time necessary to settle an insolvency case increases by 1000 days, we can expect an increase in operating debt between 3 and 11%, and a decrease of financial expenses between 3000 and 7000 Euro.
Introduction to this special section: Geomechanics
Authors: Finkbeiner Thomas , Bathija Arpita P.
Published: November 2021

The term “geomechanics” means different things to different people. We assert that in the petroleum industry the broad consensus for a definition would probably be something like this:

Geomechanics is the discipline that investigates rock mechanical behavior in the subsurface (i.e., at the wellbore wall, the overburden, cap rock, and/or the reservoir) under present-day in-situ stress and pore pressure conditions or those changed through human activity/intervention (e.g., production, injection, stimulation) during the life of a well.
Multiattribute probabilistic neural network for near-surface field engineering application
Authors: Ramdani Ahmad , Finkbeiner Thomas , Chandra Viswasanthi , Khanna Pankaj , Hanafy Sherif , Vahrenkamp Volker
Published: November 2021

Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) is an important rock parameter required in the engineering design of structures built on top or within the interior of rock formations. In a site investigation project, UCS is typically obtained discretely (through point-to-point measurement) and interpolated. This method is less than optimal to resolve meter-scale UCS variations of heterogenous rock such as carbonate formations in which property changes occur within data spacing. We investigate the geotechnical application of multiattribute analysis based on near-surface reflection seismic data to probe rock formations for their strength attributes at meter-scale variability. Two Late Jurassic outcrops located in central Saudi Arabia serve as testing sites: the Hanifa Formation in Wadi Birk and the Jubaila Formation in Wadi Laban. The study uses core and 2D seismic profiles acquired in both sites, from which we constrain UCS, acoustic velocity, density, and gamma-ray values. A positive linear correlation between UCS and acoustic impedance along the core indicates that seismic attributes can be utilized as a method to laterally extrapolate the UCS away from the core location. Seismic colored inversion serves as input for neural network multiattribute analysis and is validated with a blind test. Results from data at both outcrop sites indicate a high degree of consistency with an absolute UCS error of approximately 5%. We also demonstrate the applicability of predicted UCS profiles to interpret mechanical stratigraphy and map lateral UCS heterogeneities. These findings provide a less expensive alternative to constrain UCS from limited core data on a field-scale site engineering project.
Specific surface area: A reliable predictor of creep and stress relaxation in gas shales
Authors: Mandal Partha Pratim , Sarout Joel , Rezaee Reza
Published: November 2021

In recent years, short-term creep parameters determined in the laboratory from cylindrical gas shale samples subjected to triaxial (in-situ) stress conditions have been used successfully to infer long-term deformation and stress relaxation at the reservoir scale across geologic time scales. Due to the viscoelastic formalism, both the laboratory creep response and field-scale stress relaxation can be modeled with power law functions of time involving the elastic compliance of the shale B, the time-dependence exponent n, and the amount of total strain ∊. Gas shales often exhibit a high specific surface area associated with their high content in clay minerals and/or total organic carbon (TOC). The low-pressure nitrogen adsorption technique can be used advantageously to estimate specific surface area (SN2); i.e., it is a relatively fast and cost-effective measurement conducted on powdered samples of shale material. A robust global empirical correlation between gas shale creep parameters and SN2 emerges from the analysis of laboratory data collected from multiple gas shale formations in Australia (the prospective Goldwyer Formation) and the United States (Barnett, Haynesville, and Eagle Ford formations), and spanning a broad range of clay content, organic matter, maturity, and porosity values. This data set also shows that the summed fractions of clay minerals, TOC, and porosity, the so-called weak phase fraction, correlates nearly as well with primary creep parameters. The weak phase fraction can also be estimated from faster and more cost-effective measurements or from well logs. To evaluate its predictive capacity, the key correlation between SN2 and creep parameters is used in a case study to predict the magnitude of present-day least principal stress Shmin across six depth intervals/lithologic layers in a prolific unconventional shale formation in the northeastern United States. Several Shmin measurements are available for verification, and our approach successfully captures the observed layered variation of stress with depth.
Demonstrating multiple attenuation with model-driven processing using neural networks
Authors: Bugge Aina Juell , Evensen Andreas K. , Lie Jan Erik , Nilsen Espen H.
Published: November 2021

Some of the key tasks in seismic processing involve suppressing multiples and noise that interfere with primary events. Conventional multiple attenuation on seismic prestack data is time-consuming and subjective. As an alternative, we propose model-driven processing using a convolutional neural network trained on synthetically modeled training data. The crucial part of our approach is to generate appropriate training data. Here, we compute a generic data set with pairs of synthetic gathers with and without multiples. Because we generate the primaries first and then add multiples, we ensure that we have perfect target data without any multiple energy. To compute generic and realistic training data, we include elements of wave propagation physics and implement a randomized flexibility of settings such as the wavelet, frequency content, degree of random noise, and amplitude variation with offset effects with each gather pair. A fully convolutional neural network is trained on the synthetic data in order to learn to suppress the noise and multiples. Evaluations of the approach on benchmark data indicate that our trained network is faster than conventional multiple attenuation because it can be run efficiently on a modern GPU, and it has the potential to better preserve primary amplitudes. Multiple removal with model-driven processing is demonstrated on seismic field data, and the results are compared to conventional multiple attenuation using a commercial Radon algorithm. The model-driven approach performs well when applied to real common-depth point gathers, and it successfully removes multiples, even where the multiples interfere with the primary signals on the near offsets.
Prediction of biological age by morphological staging of sarcopenia in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Dhondt Ineke , Verschuuren Clara , Zečić Aleksandra , Loier Tim , Braeckman Bart P. , De Vos Winnok H.
Published: November 2021

Sarcopenia encompasses a progressive decline in muscle quantity and quality. Given its close association with ageing, it may represent a valuable healthspan marker. The commonalities with human muscle structure and facile visualization possibilities make Caenorhabditis elegans an attractive model for studying the relationship between sarcopenia and healthspan. However, classical visual assessment of muscle architecture is subjective and has low throughput. To resolve this, we have developed an image analysis pipeline for the quantification of muscle integrity in confocal microscopy images from a cohort of ageing myosin::GFP reporter worms. We extracted a variety of morphological descriptors and found a subset to scale linearly with age. This allowed establishing a linear model that predicts biological age from a morphological muscle signature. To validate the model, we evaluated muscle architecture in long-lived worms that are known to experience delayed sarcopenia by targeted knockdown of the daf-2 gene. We conclude that quantitative microscopy allows for staging sarcopenia in C. elegans and may foster the development of image-based screens in this model organism to identify modulators that mitigate age-related muscle frailty and thus improve healthspan.
The microtubule-associated protein She1 coordinates directional spindle positioning by spatially restricting dynein activity
Authors: Ecklund Kari H. , Bailey Megan E. , Kossen Kelly A. , Dietvorst Carsten K. , Asbury Charles L. , Markus Steven M.
Published: November 2021

Dynein motors move the mitotic spindle to the cell division plane in many cell types, including in budding yeast, in which dynein is assisted by numerous factors including the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) She1. Evidence suggests that She1 plays a role in polarizing dynein-mediated spindle movements toward the daughter cell; however, how She1 performs this function is unknown. We find that She1 assists dynein in maintaining the spindle in close proximity to the bud neck, such that, at anaphase onset, the chromosomes are segregated to mother and daughter cells. She1 does so by attenuating the initiation of dynein-mediated spindle movements within the mother cell, thus ensuring such movements are polarized toward the daughter cell. Our data indicate that this activity relies on She1 binding to the microtubule-bound conformation of the dynein microtubule-binding domain, and to astral microtubules within mother cells. Our findings reveal how an asymmetrically localized MAP directionally tunes dynein activity by attenuating motor activity in a spatially confined manner.
Minimally invasive magnetic resonance image-guided prostate interventions
Authors: van Luijtelaar Annemarijke , Fütterer Jurgen J , Bomers Joyce GR
Published: November 2021

Whole gland prostate cancer treatment, i.e. radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, is highly effective but also comes with a significant impact on quality of life and possible overtreatment in males with low to intermediate risk disease. Minimal-invasive treatment strategies are emerging techniques. Different sources of energy are used to aim for targeted treatment in order to reduce treatment-related complications and morbidity. Imaging plays an important role in targeting and monitoring of treatment approaches preserving parts of the prostatic tissue. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is widely used during image-guided interventions due to the multiplanar and real-time anatomical imaging while providing an improved treatment accuracy. This review evaluates the available image-guided prostate cancer treatment options using MRI or magnetic resonance imaging/transrectal ultrasound (MRI/TRUS)-fusion guided imaging. The discussed minimal invasive image-guided prostate interventions may be considered as safe and feasible partial gland ablation in patients with (recurrent) prostate cancer. However, most studies focusing on minimally invasive prostate cancer treatments only report early stages of research and subsequent high-level evidence is still needed. Ensuring a safe and appropriate utilization in patients that will benefit the most, and applied by physicians with relevant training, has become the main challenge in minimally invasive prostate cancer treatments.
Estimation of the Original Location of Haechi (Haetae) Statues in Front of Gwanghwamun Gate Using Archival Photos from Early 1900s and Newly Taken Photos by Image Analysis
Authors: Oh Hyundok , Nam Ho Hyun , Yoo Yeongsik , Kim Jung Gon , Kang Kitaek , Yoo Woo Sik
Published: November 2021

Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace was dismantled and relocated during the Japanese colonial period, destroyed during the Korean War, reconstructed with reinforced concrete in 1968, and finally erected at its present location in 2010. A pair of Haechi statues located in front of Gwanghwamun was dismantled and relocated several times, and the statues have yet to be returned precisely to their original positions. This study assesses the historical accuracy of their current placement under the Gwanghwamun Square Restructuring Project of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Cultural Heritage Administration based on archival photos from the early 1900s, and proposes a method to estimate the original positions of the Haechi through image analysis of contemporary photographs and recent digital camera photos. We estimated the original position of the Haechi before the Japanese colonial period by identifying the shooting location of the archival photo and reproducing contemporary photographs by calculating the angle and distance to the Haechi from the shooting location. The leftmost and rightmost Haechi were originally located about 9.6 m to the east and 7.4 m to the north and about 1.9 m to the west and 8.0 m to the north, respectively, of their current location indicators. As the first attempt to determine the original location of a building and its accessories using archival photos, this study launches a new scientific methodology for the restoration of cultural properties.
Scientific Analysis of Firing Characteristics for Walls and Rooftiles Excavated from Jeseoksa Dump-site, Iksan
Authors: Ahn Kyoung Suk , Lee Min Hye , Han Min Su
Published: November 2021

In this study, the physicochemical properties of 21 wall fragments and rooftile pieces excavated from Jeseoksa Dump-site were analyzed, and the possibility of heat exposure, such as the fire reported in the literature, was investigated by estimating the firing temperature. From the results, it was estimated that the rooftiles were composed of refined materials, and the walls were composed of materials having different particle sizes depending on the layer. Unlike ordinary rooftiles and walls, they exhibited an uneven surface with traces of bloating phenomenon in the cross section. It was estimated from the blackening of some portions that firing was not performed in a controlled state in a constant firing environment. In addition, the estimated firing temperature showed that the non-overfired rooftiles had endured a firing temperature of 900°C or less, but the over-fired samples were subjected to a temperature of 1,000°C or higher and were fired at a temperature higher than the manufacturing temperature at that time. Additionally, the rooftiles probably became defective during firing or molding at the time of production, but the non-overfired rooftiles exhibited an intact shape and showed the possibility of heat exposure due to fire. Therefore, the analytical results of this study confirm that the defective architectural components damaged by the fire, as reported in the literature, were discarded in the Jeseoksa dump-site.
Λόγος εν εγκλεισμώ
Authors: Σύρμος Αχιλλέας
Published: November 2021

Η παρούσα διατριβή ερευνά όψεις της πολυσημίας των λογοτεχνικών μαρτυριών που προέρχονται από διωκόμενους συγγραφείς στην Κομμουνιστική Αλβανία από το δικτατορικό καθεστώς του Ενβέρ Χότζα και του Ραμίζ Αλία, κατά την περίοδο 1944-1991. Η μελέτη επιχειρεί να αναδείξει μεθοδολογικά και να θεωρητικοποιήσει σε ένα σαφές επιστημονικό πλαίσιο την ειδολογική ανάδυση του όρου «λογοτεχνία των διωκομένων» της Κομμουνιστικής Αλβανίας. Η τραυματική εμπειρία του εγκλεισμού σε στρατόπεδο καταναγκαστικής εργασίας και η αφηγηματική της αναπαράσταση αποτελούν την θεματική ορίζουσα της εν λόγω λογοτεχνικής μαρτυρίας. Η ερευνητική πορεία που ακολουθείται θέτει στο κέντρο των θεματικών της προθέσεων τη φύση και το βάθος της διαλεκτικής ανάμεσα στην εν γένει ευρωπαϊκή στρατοπεδική λογοτεχνία και τις αντίστοιχες λογοτεχνικές μαρτυρίες όσων διώχθηκαν από το δικτατορικό καθεστώς του Ενβέρ Χότζα, καθώς επίσης την περιπέτεια της Γραφής υπό συνθήκες έσχατης καταπίεσης.
Modifications to the delivery of NHS face-to-face general practice consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic in England
Authors: Duncan Lorna J. , Cheng Kelly F.D.
Published: November 2021

Background: In order to minimise transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, delivery of English general practice consultations was modified in March 2020 to enable the separation of patients with diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 from others. Remote triage and consultations became the default, with adapted face-to-face contact used only when clinically necessary. Face-to-face delivery modifications were decided locally and this study aimed to identify the different models used nationwide in spring/summer 2020.

Methods: In June 2020, a survey was sent by email to the 135 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) responsible for planning and commissioning NHS health care services in England to identify the local organisation of face-to-face general practice consultations since March 2020.

Results: All CCGs responded. Between March and July 2020, separation of patients with diagnosed or suspected COVID-19 (‘COVID-19 patients’) from others was achieved using the following models:

zoned practices (used within 47% of CCGs), where COVID-19 and other patients were separated within their own practice;

‘hot’ or ‘cold’ hubs (used within 90% of CCGs), separate sites where COVID-19 or other patients registered at one of several collaborating practices were seen;

‘hot’ and ‘cold’ home visits (used within 70% of CCGs).

For around half of CCGs, either all their GP practices used zoning, or all used hubs; in other CCGs, both models were used. Demand-led hub availability offered flexibility in some areas. Home visits were mainly used supplementally for patients unable to access other services, but in two CCGs, they were the main/only form of COVID-19 provision. 

Conclusions: Varied, flexible ways of delivering face-to-face general practice consultations were identified.  Analysis of the modified delivery in terms of management of COVID-19 and other conditions, and other impacts on staff and patients, may both aid future pandemic management and identify beneficial elements for practice beyond this.
The legal implications of prenatal diagnosis in Malaysia
Authors: Kuek Chee Ying
Published: November 2021

Background: Prenatal diagnosis enables detection of any disease or disability of the fetus during the pregnancy of a woman. Parents whose fetus is found to have a serious disorder from antenatal testing may terminate the pregnancy if it is permitted by the law or continue with the pregnancy to term. However, the chance of terminating a pregnancy may be denied if there is prenatal negligence by the medical practitioner in terms of diagnosis or failure to advise on the test results correctly. The purpose of this research is to examine the possible legal implications of prenatal diagnosis in Malaysia.

Methods: This study adopts doctrinal legal research in which the researcher examines statutes and decided cases in Malaysia, the United Kingdom (UK) and Singapore relating to abortion, wrongful birth and wrongful life claims, in order to determine the legal implications of prenatal diagnosis in Malaysia.

Results: In Malaysia, abortion following a prenatal diagnosis is only legally possible if the statutory criteria in the Penal Code are met. Abortion is illegal if it is not done for therapeutic purposes. A wrongful birth action brought by a woman who claims to be deprived of the opportunity to terminate her pregnancy may be successful in Malaysia, if it can be proven that a legal abortion could have been performed if not because of the prenatal negligence of the medical practitioner. However, a wrongful life action brought in the child’s name for being allowed to be born with a disability may not be viable since the claim could hardly be established and it is against the public policy.

Conclusions: Theoretically, it is possible to bring a wrongful birth action resulted from negligence in prenatal diagnosis successfully in Malaysia, but the chance is relatively slim for wrongful life action.
Dynamic Resource Allocation in the Cloud with Near-Optimal Efficiency
Authors: Perez-Salazar Sebastian , Menache Ishai , Singh Mohit , Toriello Alejandro
Published: November 2021

Motivated by maximizing spot instances in cloud shared systems, in this work, we consider the problem of taking advantage of unused resources in highly dynamic cloud environments while preserving users’ performance. We introduce an online model for sharing resources that captures basic properties of cloud systems, such as unpredictable users’ demand patterns, very limited feedback from the system, and service level agreement (SLA) between the users and the cloud provider. We provide a simple and efficient algorithm for the single-resource case. For any demand patterns, our algorithm guarantees near-optimal resource utilization as well as high users’ performance compared with their SLA baseline. In addition to this, we validate empirically the performance of our algorithm using synthetic data and data obtained from Microsoft’s systems.
Reducing central line-associated bloodstream infection in contaminated central venous catheters: case studies of a pediatric contamination guideline
Authors: Chamblee Tracy B , Patton Lindsey J , Young Virginia B , Marusich Jennifer , Bowens Cindy D , Miles Darryl K
Published: November 2021

Healthcare organizations have prioritized patient safety and quality improvement efforts to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Implementation of central venous catheter (CVC) insertion and maintenance bundles have significantly reduced infection rates. Nevertheless, CLABSIs continue to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitals, and further efforts are necessary to improve CVC care practices. A hospital-wide committee at a tertiary care pediatric hospital identified gaps in our CVC maintenance practices resulting from CVC contamination events from a patient's body fluids. A lack of published literature on the topic resulted in the need to create an institutional clinical practice guideline (CPG) to develop guidance to mitigate potential CLASBIs from CVC contamination. Utilization of the CVC CPG in all inpatient units and other reduction strategies resulted in a steady decline in our CLABSI rates, particularly in those related to CVC contamination events. Case reports illustrate the effectiveness of the CPG.