bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Physical Fitness Training of Athletes Based On Parameter Bayesian Estimation
Authors: Shi Jizu , Yin Zhonglie , Wang Guanjun , Xia Yuxin , Fan Jing , Yang Ming
Published: February 2021

In this paper, 64 national first-class athletes in speed skating and short-track speed skating were selected to participate in hypoxia training. In the study, athletes participated in a total of eight weeks of training, measured and analyzed the physiological indexes of athletes in normoxic environment and hypoxic environment. In the study, data analysis combined with machine learning was used to obtain the conversion formula of athletes’ physiological indexes in hypoxia training and normoxia training. The experimental results show that the simulated hypoxia environment of 2300m is effective for athletes participating in both sports, in which the effect of short track speed skating is obvious, and the effect of speed skating is weak. Through the analysis, it is found that female athletes are more easily affected by hypoxia training. Relatively speaking, women who take part in the same hypoxia training get more benefits. The physiological indexes in normoxic environment and hypoxic environment are used in machine learning, and the transformation formulas of various physiological indexes under the environmental conditions in this study are successfully obtained. It is proved that the error between the hypoxia physiological index estimated by the transformation formula and the actual physiological index is small, which shows that the transformation formula is more accurate. This proves that hypoxia training can be estimated by means of machine learning to obtain more accurate data guidance, which has a strong practical significance for coaches to guide athletes’ training.
Information Security Protection Strategy Based on Computer Big Data Technology
Authors: Zhang Yue , Sun Qian
Published: February 2021

Under the background of big data era, network information has become an important part in the development of modern society. At the same time, computer information security has also suffered an unprecedented impact, corporate secrets stolen, personal privacy has been exposed and other incidents emerge in endlessly. It is an urgent time to strengthen information security protection. Therefore, this paper puts forward the research work of information security protection strategy based on computer big data technology. This paper makes an in-depth investigation on the current situation of computer information security protection. According to the investigation, most enterprises think it is necessary to strengthen the information security protection, but few of them are actually applied to the work. The analysis shows that the main reason is that the information security protection is difficult, the influencing factors are complex, and the investment cost is high. In view of these problems, this paper makes an investigation on the factors affecting the computer network information security, and puts forward effective improvement measures. This measure strengthens the construction of protection software and emphasizes the cultivation of enterprise’s information protection awareness. Through the relevant investigation, we can see that after adopting the information security protection measures, the enterprise’s computer information security has been effectively guaranteed.
Impact of Environmental Regulation on Industrial Green Efficiency——Based on Non-radial SBM Model
Authors: Zhang Zhenxiang
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the industrial green efficiency of each province is measured by the non-radial SBM model, and then makes a tobit regression of environmental regulations with green efficiency. Finally, the heterogeneity of the region and the heterogeneity of efficiency are analyzed.
Teaching Research of Integrating Virtual Reality Technology into Environmental Design Professional Courses
Authors: Chen Fangfang
Published: February 2021

The role of virtual reality technology in environmental design professional courses has become increasingly prominent. The integration of augmented reality technology and gamified learning has become a new trend in environmental design. This article introduces the concept and characteristics of virtual reality technology, points out its application in the environmental design profession, and focuses on these applications to analyze the specific application and changes of virtual reality technology in the environmental design profession teaching, in order to be able to provide information on the environmental design profession. Modernized teaching brings new thinking. This article takes the VR virtual reality technology teaching interactive model as the research object, and analyzes the model with the multimedia teaching platform. In the course of the experiment, combined with the empirical analysis of the development status of VR virtual reality technology, the VR interaction model was analyzed, combined with the learning characteristics of the environmental design major, and it was concluded that the panoramic display software related to the environmental art design major can be combined with other software in actual teaching. Teaching activities. The research results show that the virtual reality technology in the experiment is 2.31 higher than the non-priority teaching factor, and the average variance is higher than 0.97. The teaching uses VR technology reasonably, combines the characteristics of the environmental design discipline, and strengthens the perspective of the integrated design material standard case. Experiential exploration of color materials, etc., improve students’ enthusiasm and enthusiasm for learning, and can also bring innovation in teaching models to environmental design.
An Experimental Research and Analysis of Reform of College Physical Education Teaching Model Based on Modern Network Technology
Authors: Wei Wenting , Fang Wenxuan , Peng Ji
Published: February 2021

Information technology is changing with each passing day, and the influence of network technology on the current teaching process of universities is gradually increasing. The extensive application of network technology provides an important source of information for physical education. Physical education conducted in accordance with the traditional model does not train students’ sports skills. The application of network technology can provide targeted teaching according to the different needs of different students for different sports, and can overcome the limitations of time and space. The use of network technology can effectively solve college sports. Many problems in teaching. This article analyzes the current situation of the use of network technology in sports schools at home and abroad, and understands how to use network technology in the Internet era and the issues that need attention today. Through the use of network technology to teach the teaching content of various sports in college sports, and establish a network platform for evaluating physical education, not only is it convenient for students to conduct remote learning and assist education through the Internet in time, but also can carry out functions such as physical education content and online examination. Pay attention to the modern technical characteristics of college sports, effectively help students improve their understanding of lifelong sports, and realize the diversity of college sports forms, which greatly improves the flexibility of college sports.
Practical Application of Sports Basketball Teaching APP under the Background of the New Media
Authors: Wei Wenting , Wei Jinrui , Peng Ji
Published: February 2021

The Basketball is a sport with both competition and entertainment. In recent years, due to the popularity of NBA in the United States, basketball has been widely popularized in China. Basketball is one of the core contents of physical education, but the existing basketball teaching methods are too theoretical, boring process, and not conducive to students’ mastery of skills. Therefore, combined with the characteristics of the information age, this paper puts forward the practical application research of sports basketball teaching app under the background of new media. In this paper, the new media technology and sports app are deeply studied. It is considered that the use of new media technology in Basketball Teaching in the future is a great development trend. The use of basketball training teaching APP can improve teaching effect, cultivate students’ interest in learning in class, and cultivate students’ learning awareness. In order to further verify the practical effect of APP teaching method for basketball teaching, this paper establishes the corresponding comparative experiment. The experimental group used app teaching method; the control group used traditional teaching method, and then compared the average score of basic basketball between the two groups through the test. The results of the experiment show that the score of the experimental group using app teaching method is significantly higher than that of the control group, with obvious difference. Therefore, it can be considered that the app teaching method can improve the basketball training effect of the traditional basketball training method.
Influencing Factors of Continuous Use of New Agricultural Information Platform
Authors: Wang Feng
Published: February 2021

The Chinese government strongly supports the construction of data information sharing platforms, focusing on the domestic scientific research industry. The construction of agricultural scientific data sharing platform will help users more easily obtain agricultural knowledge. This removed the obstacles to agricultural development and had a major impact on the modernization and construction of agricultural practices. However, at the current level of science and technology, it is difficult to collect all data. Sources of agricultural scientific data are more extensive, and more data are generated from agricultural scientific research. The purpose of this article is to study the factors that influence the continued use of new agricultural information platforms. In terms of methods, this article first conducts exploratory and confirmatory research on the scale, uses Kaiser’s point of view, and uses eigenvalues greater than 1 as the basic principle for extracting common factors. Perform factor analysis, reliability analysis, validity analysis, correlation analysis. In terms of surveys, the survey methods used are field questionnaires, on-site interviews, and interviews with people. The main survey objects are agricultural producers, farmers, government employees of townships and villages, and employees of agricultural enterprises and cooperative organizations. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed and 268 were recovered, of which 226 were valid, with a recovery rate of 89.3% and an effective rate of 84.3%. It is concluded that the main factors affecting the continued use of the new agricultural information platform are farmers’ demand for agricultural market information, learning knowledge, policies and regulations, and soil and fertilizer.
The analysis of science textbooks: science-chemistry teachers’ book and students’ book of junior high school
Authors: Setiawan B , Setiawan R
Published: February 2021

This study aims to analyse the science textbooks for teachers and students of junior high school students. The method used in this research is a qualitative method that used text analysis as a content analysis. The issue of school science textbooks has been a major research topic within the science education research tradition. The analysis of textbooks is divided into three formality values, namely: terminology and notation, nominalisations, and the use of passive voice. The categories of terminology and notation for teachers’ book and students’ book showed the result of high (H) value, the nominalisations for teachers’ book and students’ book also showed the result of high (H) value. Meanwhile, the use of passive voice for teachers’ book and students’ book showed the result of a low (L) value. By nominalising verbs in writing, more information can be packed into each clause so that the noun phrases can extend and carry more content. On the other hand, the analysis showed the result of low value in the use of passive voice while the verbs in passive voice appeared less than the verbs in the active voice. The result also showed weak power relationship and weak involvement in both textbooks. The weak power (hierarchical) relationship was shown by more occurrences of interrogatives and declarative rather than imperatives in both textbooks. Meanwhile, the weak involvement was shown by the frequency of the use of personal pronouns (more use of plural personal pronouns than singular ones). In conclusion, the analysis in both Chemistry textbooks (teachers’ book and students’ book) in the content of acid and base was high value in the formality markers of both terminologies, notation, and the nominalisations.
Physics education students’ understanding of the concept of epistemology, ontology, and axiology
Authors: Suprapto N
Published: February 2021

One of the studies in the physics education curriculum at the undergraduate level is the philosophy of science (POS). This study aims to analyse the university students’ understanding of the concept of epistemology, ontology, and axiology. As the situation of COVID-19 pandemic, an online survey design was utilised in this research. The participants included 89 students who were majoring in Physics Education at a public university in Surabaya Indonesia. In the duration of the Spring Semester 2020, the research was conducted by giving an online test containing statements with a value range of one to ten and a questionnaire with one to five Likert scale. The data obtained were then analysed using quantitative descriptive analysis techniques and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to achieve the results of the students’ perception of the philosophy of science. The findings indicated it was about 22% of the total participants had a lack of understanding of epistemological studies. Meanwhile, a total of 14.3% of them had a lack of understanding of the concept of ontology. The best result was the understanding of the concept of axiology, the physics education students achieved 91.2% in a good level. Turning to the result of EFA, it stated all items developed to measure the factor behind the structure scale with loading factor more than 0.4 with the overall reliability of more than .80. These findings provide an additional treasure of previous knowledge that rarely explores the concept of epistemology, ontology, and axiology in a specific manner.
The Design For Wind Speed Measurement Using Labview
Authors: Rokhmanila  , Gunastuti  , Rosiana  , Kifni
Published: February 2021

In general, wind is every movement of air on the surface of the earth. Technically, wind is every horizontal or near horizontal movement of the air. The wind has the direction and the velocity that is defined by the air pressure difference on the surface of the earth. This device was designed to measure the velocity of the wind using the combination of Arduino Uno and the Labview Software. It worked where the movement of the wind turn the propeller that was connected to the disk. The disk had a hole that was sensed by photoelectric sensor connected to a port at Arduino Microcontroller in order to provide a pulse. This pulse was calculated by Labview program and converted into speed measurement (meter/second). The result of the measurement using this device were compared with the result of Android based application and a calibrated Anemometer to compare the accuracy of the designed device. The result showed that the accuracy of the designed device is 70-80%.
Comparison of Experimental Power Reactor Hot Gas Chamber Geometry for Hot Gas Mixing Optimisation
Authors: Dwijayanto R Andika Putra , Subekti Muhammad
Published: February 2021

Experimental Power Reactor (Reaktor Daya Eksperimental/RDE) is BATAN’s proposed demonstration nuclear power reactor based on high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) design. As such, RDE faces an issue concerning severe temperature deviation in its hot coolant gas channel. Hot gas chamber, thus, is a necessary component to reduce coolant gas temperature deviation into acceptable homogenisation level. A preliminary simulation of hot gas mixing in a different hot gas chamber designs using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is performed to study the optimum geometry for homogenising the coolant gas. Of the three designs simulated, the “slope” geometry is found to be performing best in homogenising the RDE hot coolant gas. Pressure drop of each design is also discussed.
Mechanical Strength Design Analysis of Molecular Sieve Vessel of Helium Purification Systems in RDE
Authors: Rosidi Ainur , Haryanto Dedy , Heru G.Bambang , Sriyono  , Nugroho Ari
Published: February 2021

Experimental Power Reactor (RDE) uses a type of pebble bed fuel and helium gas as the primary coolant. In order to maintain the quality of helium as a coolant in accordance with the established requirements, the helium purification system is designed. One part of the main components of this helium purification system facility that absorbs CO2, CH4, and H2O is a molecular sieve vessel. The purpose of this study is to determine the ability of mechanical strength of a molecular sieve vessel through simulation testing using Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) software. The steps taken in analyzing the mechanical strength of molecular sieve designs include; built a 3-dimensional model, entering data on the mechanical properties of the material used, and simulating the operation at a test pressure of 30 bar and a temperature ranging from 50 °C to 250 °C. At a pressure of 30 bar and a temperature of 200 °C, the mechanical voltage result was 2.13 × 109 N/m2 that exceeded the yield strenght of 304 Stainless Steel material at 1.7 × 109 N / m2. Furthermore, the smallest translational displacement was 0.218 mm.
The Effect of Addition Organic Inhibitor Bintaro Fruit Extract (Cerbera Manghas) to Inhibition Eficiency and Corrosion Rate on JIS G3131 Steel in 0,1 M H2so4 Environment
Authors: Triana Y , Utami P R , Laksono A D , Awali J , Tajalla G U N , Sulistijono
Published: February 2021

Currently, the oil and gas processing industry has increased quite well. The oil and gas processing industry uses shelters such as tanks for storing and processing fluids. The type of tank must be adapted to the fluid characteristics contained insite it to reduce the possibility of damage such as corrosion. In the process of oil refinement, there is always corrosion in the tank. This happen caused by contact between sulfuric acid (H2SO4) used to remove impurities with steel in the tank. So it needs a good corrosion handling to overcome the problem. In this study, organic inhibitors from Bintaro fruits (Cerbera manghas) will be used to reduce corrosion on surface JIS G3131 steel. The antioxidant compound content of extract was confirmed using 2,2-difenil-1-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) testing. Observation of corrosion rate on JIS G3131 steel and inhibition efficiency is studied through weight loss method and (Open Circuit Potential) OCP measurement. From this research we obtained IC50 value of DPPH testing equal to 126,7882 ppm which shows the antioxidant activity is medium. Through the FTIR test it is indicated that the Bintaro fruit contain the coumarin compound. The result of weight loss and OCP test on JIS G3131 steel is known that the addition of 200 ppm fruit extract with 720 hours of soaking is the best optimization result which can decrease corrosion rate up to 22,767 mm/year with the efficiency of 25,249% inhibitor.
Effect of Noise and Room Temperature on Employee Productivity in Mechanical Maintenance Workshop PT. Semen Bosowa Maros
Authors: Arminas  , Nurwahidah A , Ahdan M
Published: February 2021

The work environment is a place where employees do work activities. The work environment can bring positive and negative impacts on employees in order to achieve their work. The work environment in a company is very important to be considered by management. If the work environment can be managed properly, employees can work safely and comfortably so that the company’s objectives can be achieved and productivity can be improved. This study aimed to determine the effect of noise and room temperature on worker productivity at the Mechanical Maintenance Workshop PT. Semen Bosowa Maros. The method used in this study uses questionnaires and interviews directly to determine the effect of noise and room temperature on worker productivity at the Mechanical Maintenance Workshop PT. Semen Bosowa Maros. The questionnaire data was then processed using the SPSS program and multiple linear regression analysis. From the results of processing questionnaire data regarding noise and room temperature to productivity, it is known that noise and room temperature are important factors that affect productivity with a percentage of 57.7%. Noise and room temperature simultaneously (together) have a significant effect on productivity with sig values. 0,000 <0,05
Pasture monoculture in conditions of drained peat soils
Authors: Ulanov A N , Kovshova V N , Smirnova A V , Ulanov N A , Glubokovskikh A L , Mokrushina O G
Published: February 2021

In this article, on the example of a pasture area in 1935, zaluzheniya, theoretical provisions and practical developments on the creation and use of long-term cultural pastures (DCP) on a drained low-lying peat deposit are presented. The paper shows the environmental and soil protection role of a long-term pasture ecosystem in preserving and extending the life of a peat deposit used as soil. It is noted the peculiarity of the system of grass stand care, the uniqueness of its species diversity, the influence of various factors on the consumption of pasture phytomass by lactating cows. A special place is given to the assessment of the physiological state of grazing animals, their productivity and reproductive functions.
Optimal time for sowing mixed summer crops for green fodder
Authors: Buyankin N I , Krasnoperov A G
Published: February 2021

In most of the territory of the Russian Federation in grain-growing areas, the second half of the growing season (July-August) is more favorable in terms of precipitation and positive temperatures, and by October, summer mixed crops of legumes and cereals can form a fairly large number of green mass. The inclusion of mixed legumes and cereals with different linear growth rates makes it possible to create multi-tiered crops: the lower tier was occupied by lupine and paiza, the upper tier-beans, vetch and peas. This arrangement of plants allows crops to use the energy of sunlight more efficiently and prevent the evaporation of moisture from the soil, especially during the summer sowing period. Quality assessment of the yield of green mass of summer intercropping legume-cereal crop output chromoproteins units per 1 ha showed that late summer time summer mixed sowing has the advantages of not only protein, but also carbohydrates. The maximum collection of protein and forage protein units was obtained in the summer mixed sowing of narrow-leaved lupine, forage beans, spring vetch, forage peas and payza. Therefore, research on obtaining high-protein green feed for herbivorous farm animals in the late autumn period in the Kaliningrad region is promising and requires careful study.
Genetic conditionality of optimization of live weight at early insemination of heifers
Authors: Kosyachenko N M , Abramova M V , Ilina A V , Zyryanova S V , Konovalov AV
Published: February 2021

The article describes a model for estimating the genotype of cattle developed and tested on actual livestock. The model is a selection index that takes into account the live weight of young animals aged 6 and 9 months. The average and high correlation between the indicators of live weight of young animals aged 6 and 9 months, lim rP 0.49…0.63 end rG 0.38…0.58. The Accuracy of genotype estimation (RJH) using the developed model is 0.57…0.66. The expected genetic improvement in live weight when using the index was 1.29…2.40 kg at the age of 6 months and 0.94…2.20 kg at the age of 9 months. The model allows for an early assessment of the breeding value of young animals aged 6-9 months at the level of short-term breeding programs for dairy cattle herds. In conjunction with the index assessment of ancestral indicators, it can be used in the formation of elite groups of young animals.
Change in potato productivity under the impact of viral diseases
Authors: Kolychikhina M S , Beloshapkina O O , Phiri C
Published: February 2021

In 2014-2019 as part of comprehensive tests of the antiviral activity of a number of products in the field, a comparative assessment of the productivity of healthy potato plants and generations of plants of different varieties previously artificially inoculated with phytopathogenic viruses Y, S, M was carried out. During the testing period, in small-plot field experiments on a site at the Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev Plant Protection Station (Moscow), the yield of the Ilyinsky plants infected Potato virus M decreased on average by 48,8%, of the Red Scarlet plants infected with Potato virus Y - by 54,9%, of the Adretta plants infected with Potato virus S - by 52,3%. In 2016 under the production conditions of Lipetsk region the yield loss of the potato variety Ramos was 31,8%, and in the Astrakhan region the yield of the potato variety Impala decreased by 36%. The effect of viruses on the content of photosynthetic pigments in infected plants was studied. In comparison with healthy plants the percentage of total chlorophyll in the wet weight of the leaves of the Ilyinsky plants decreased by 23,2%, of the Red Scarlet plants - by 19,7%, of the Adretta plants - by 15,8%. Varietal differences were revealed in the changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in tubers, starch and dry matter content from various viral pathogens.
Water monitoring system design for data collection at specific intervals via cloud application
Authors: Abdul Muta’Ali A N , Sazali N , Ghani S A C , Walter J
Published: February 2021

With the growing issue of water pollution and resources, the need for a remote water monitoring system has never been more crucial. The implementation of remote monitoring systems has a growing interest in the current technology development. This project aims to design a water monitoring system via cloud application. Based on previous research and papers written on the topic, a few system designs have been theorized but not implemented. In this project, the data is transmitted through the combination of LoRa and Wi-Fi connection. The system is also powered by rechargeable battery and solar panels. The communication using long range achieved a distance test of 898 m. The full system has the capability to be deployed in a distance and have the data collected uploaded to a cloud. A web server accessed through the local IP address serves the user interface that provides current data of the water parameters.
Three tailorable optical vortices generated by a modified fractal spiral forked plate
Authors: Xia Tian , Cheng Shubo , Yu Weixing , Tao Shaohua
Published: February 2021

A modified fractal spiral forked plate (MFSFP) is proposed to generate three tailorable coplanar optical vortices at multiple focal planes, which consist of two off-axis vortices and one axial vortex. The axial vortex and one low-intensity off-axis vortex can have equal intensity by designing an appropriate spiral-like filter. In addition, the MFSFP has self-similar axial and off-axis optical vortices. Moreover, the tailorable topological charges of two off-axis vortices are related to those of the fractal spiral zone plate (FSZP) and forked grating and the topological charge of the axial vortex is equal to that of the FSZP. In the experiments, based on the interferometric measurement method, the differences between fingers of forked fingers are used to prove the above topological charge transformation rule. The method of constructing the MFSFP is illustrated. The MFSFP is applicable to rotate particles at multiple positions of the different planes simultaneously, increase optical communication capacities and produce multiple images simultaneously.
Mass testing after a single suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in London care homes, April–May 2020: implications for policy and practice
Authors: Tang Suzanne , Sanchez Perez Marina , Saavedra-Campos Maria , Paranthaman Karthik , Myers Richard , Fok Jonathan , Crawley-Boevey Emma , Dun-Campbell Kate , Janarthanan Roshni , Fernandez Elena , Vusirikala Amoolya , Patel Bharat , Ma Thomas , Amin-Chowdhury Zahin , Shetty Nandini , Zambon Maria , Bell Anita , Wynne-Evans Edward , Chow Yimmy , Ladhani Shamez
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Previous investigations have identified high rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among residents and staff in care homes reporting an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We investigated care homes reporting a single suspected or confirmed case to assess whether early mass testing might reduce risk of transmission during the peak of the pandemic in London.

Methods

Between 18 and 27 April 2020, residents and staff in care homes reporting a single case of COVID-19 to Public Health England had a nasal swab to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and subsequent whole-genome sequencing. Residents and staff in two care homes were re-tested 8 days later.

Results

Four care homes were investigated. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 20% (65/333) overall, ranging between 3 and 59%. Among residents, positivity ranged between 3 and 76% compared with 3 and 40% in staff. Half of the SARS-CoV-2-positive residents (23/46, 50%) and 63% of staff (12/19) reported symptoms within 14 days before or after testing. Repeat testing 8 days later in two care homes with the highest infection rates identified only two new cases. Genomic analysis demonstrated a small number of introduction of the virus into care homes, and distinct clusters within three of the care homes.

Conclusions

We found extensive but variable rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents and staff in care homes reporting a single case of COVID-19. Although routine whole-home testing has now been adopted into practice, care homes must remain vigilant and should be encouraged to report a single suspected case, which should trigger appropriate outbreak control measures.
Flattening the World of Pathology Education and Training and Shortening the Curve of Pathology Learning
Authors: Hassell Lewis A , Afzal Anoshia
Published: February 2021

Objectives

We review how the pandemic-related education disruption may interplay with pathology manpower worldwide and shifts in disease burden to identify workable solutions.

Methods

Literature related to pathology education, pathology services in low-resource settings, and application of digital tools to pathology education was reviewed for trends and training gaps. Publications covering pathology manpower and cancer incidence worldwide were also included to assess needs.

Results

Pandemic-related virtual teaching has produced abundant online training materials. Pathology learning resources in low- to middle-income countries remain considerably constrained and dampen pathology manpower growth to meet current needs. Projected increases in disease burden toward the developing world thus pose a major challenge. Digital pathology resources have expanded and are beginning to appear beyond the developed countries.

Conclusions

This circumstance offers a unique opportunity to leverage digital teaching resources to enhance and equitize training internationally, potentially sufficient to meet the rising wave of noncommunicable diseases. We propose four next steps to take advantage of the current opportunity: curate and organize digital training materials, invest in the digital pathology infrastructure for education and clinical care, expand student exposure to pathology through virtual electives, and develop further competency-based certification pathways.
Vulnerability to xylem cavitation of Hakea species (Proteaceae) from a range of biomes and life histories predicted by climatic niche
Authors: Oyanoghafo Osazee O , O’ Brien Corey , Choat Brendan , Tissue David , Rymer Paul D
Published: February 2021

Background and Aims

Extreme drought conditions across the globe are impacting biodiversity, with serious implications for the persistence of native species. However, quantitative data on physiological tolerance are not available for diverse flora to inform conservation management. We quantified physiological resistance to cavitation in the diverse Hakea genus (Proteaceae) to test predictions based on climatic origin, life history and functional traits.

Methods

We sampled terminal branches of replicate plants of 16 species in a common garden. Xylem cavitation was induced in branches under varying water potentials (tension) in a centrifuge, and the tension generating 50 % loss of conductivity (stem P50) was characterized as a metric for cavitation resistance. The same branches were used to estimate plant functional traits, including wood density, specific leaf area and Huber value (sap flow area to leaf area ratio).

Key Results

There was significant variation in stem P50 among species, which was negatively associated with the species climate origin (rainfall and aridity). Cavitation resistance did not differ among life histories; however, a drought avoidance strategy with terete leaf form and greater Huber value may be important for species to colonize and persist in the arid biome.

Conclusions

This study highlights climate (rainfall and aridity), rather than life history and functional traits, as the key predictor of variation in cavitation resistance (stem P50). Rainfall for species origin was the best predictor of cavitation resistance, explaining variation in stem P50, which appears to be a major determinant of species distribution. This study also indicates that stem P50 is an adaptive trait, genetically determined, and hence reliable and robust for predicting species vulnerability to climate change. Our findings will contribute to future prediction of species vulnerability to drought and adaptive management under climate change.
Venous Thromboembolism and Bleeding Events With Chemoprophylaxis in Abdominoplasty: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of 1596 Patients
Authors: Perzia Brittany M , Marquez Jocellie , Mellia Joseph A , Jou Christopher , Othman Sammy , Basta Marten N , Fischer John P , Labropoulos Nicos , Khan Sami
Published: February 2021

Background

Many plastic surgeons avoid the administration of venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis out of concern for surgical bleeding in abdominoplasty. Although previous studies have attempted to address the relationship between abdominoplasty and bleeding or VTE, poor reporting techniques remain a challenge. As a result, there has been a lack of reliable data to guide clinical practice.

Objectives

The authors sought to determine the prevalence of bleeding and VTE in abdominoplasty with and without chemoprophylaxis.

Methods

A systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines utilizing PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central. Patient demographics, comorbidities, risk category (if available), bleeding events, VTE events, and chemoprophylaxis information were recorded.

Results

Across 10 articles, 691 patients received chemoprophylaxis in the setting of abdominoplasty: 68 preoperatively, 588 postoperatively, and 35 received both; 905 patients did not receive chemoprophylaxis. A total of 96.8% of patients were female, 73% underwent concomitant liposuction, and none were clearly risk stratified. The overall incidence of VTE and bleeding was 0.56% (9/1596) and 1.6% (25/1596), respectively. Compared with no chemoprophylaxis, chemoprophylaxis was not associated with increased incidence of bleeding (1.3% [9/671] vs 0.91% [8/881], P = 0.417) or decreased incidence of VTE (0.87% [6/691] vs 0.33% [3/901], P = 0.187).

Conclusions

The prevalence of bleeding in abdominoplasty was low. Chemoprophylaxis was not associated with increased risk of bleeding or decreased risk of VTE, though the lack of risk stratification and heterogeneity of the cohort precludes firm conclusions. This study underscores the importance of utilizing validated risk-stratification tools to guide perioperative decision-making.

Level of Evidence: 4
Increased male mating success in the presence of prey and rivals in a sexually cannibalistic mantis
Authors: Burke Nathan W , Holwell Gregory I
Published: February 2021

Precopulatory sexual cannibalism—or cannibalism without mating—is expected to promote the evolution of male strategies that enhance mating success and reduce the risk of cannibalism, such as preferentially approaching feeding females. Sexual selection on male competitiveness has the potential to alter male mating decisions in the face of cannibalism risk, but such effects are poorly understood. We investigated the effect of prey availability and male–male competition on mating incidence in the highly cannibalistic Springbok mantis, Miomantis caffra. We found that matings were initiated more rapidly and more often in the presence of prey, suggesting that females distracted with foraging may be less of a threat. Competition between males also hastened the onset of copulation and led to higher mating success, with very large effects occurring in the presence of both prey and competitors, indicating that intrasexual competition may intensify attraction to foraging females. Taken together, our results suggest that precopulatory cannibalism has selected for male preference for foraging females and that males adjust their mating strategy to both the risk of competition and the threat of cannibalism.
A leaky dimorphic sexual system and breeding system characterize a successful island colonist: the reproductive biology ofPlocama pendula(Rubiaceae)
Authors: Anderson Gregory J , Pérez De Paz Julia , Anderson Mona , Bernardello Gabriel , Taylor David W
Published: February 2021

Island plants provide special opportunities for the study of evolution and ecology. In field and greenhouse studies we characterized a model reproductive system for Plocama pendula, endemic to the Canary Islands. This species has a complicated and not immediately obvious reproductive system. Pollination is biotic, and all flowers are morphologically hermaphroditic, but half of the plants characteristically bear flowers with nectar, pistils with reflexed stigmatic lobes and pollen-less anthers (i.e. they are functionally female flowers). The other half bear nectar-less flowers with abundant pollen and full-sized pistils that mostly have un-reflexed stigmatic lobes (i.e. they are hermaphroditic flowers functioning mostly as males). However, experiments show these pollen-bearing flowers to be self-compatible. Thus, the functionally male flowers have a breeding system that allows selfing in limited circumstances, but the functionally male flowers produce far fewer fruits than do functionally female flowers. With morphologically gynodioecious, functionally largely dioecious flowers, sometimes capable of selfing, the reproductive system of this species could be labelled as ‘leaky’ in many respects. Thus, we propose that P. pendula has colonized new habitats and persists in substantial populations at least in part because it manifests a reproductive system that is a model for successfully balancing the often-conflicting evolutionary demands of colonization, establishment and persistence.
LAMC2 promotes cancer progression and gemcitabine resistance through modulation of EMT and ATP-binding cassette transporters in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Okada Yasuyuki , Takahashi Naoki , Takayama Tetsuji , Goel Ajay
Published: February 2021

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. Gemcitabine remains an effective option for the majority of PDAC patients. Unfortunately, currently no reliable prognostic and predictive biomarkers of therapeutic response are available for the patients with PDAC. Laminin γ2 (LAMC2) is overexpressed in several cancers, and its high expression facilitates cancer development and chemoresistance. However, its functional role in PDAC remains unclear, and a better understanding of this will likely help improve the prognosis of PDAC patients. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical and biological role of LAMC2 in PDAC. We first analyzed the expression levels of LAMC2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR in a cohort of 114 PDAC patients. Interestingly, higher expression of LAMC2 significantly correlated with poor survival in PDAC cohort. In addition, elevated LAMC2 expression served as a potential prognostic marker for survival. Subsequently, functional characterization for the role of LAMC2 in PDAC was performed by small interfering RNA knockdown in pancreatic cancer (PC) cell lines. Interestingly, inhibition of LAMC2 in PC cells enhanced the gemcitabine sensitivity and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, it inhibited colony formation ability, migration and invasion potential. Furthermore, LAMC2 regulated the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. In addition, LAMC2 significantly correlated with genes associated with the expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in PC cells and PDAC patients. In conclusion, these results suggest that LAMC2 regulates gemcitabine sensitivity through EMT and ABC transporters in PDAC and may be a novel therapeutic target in PDAC patients.
The Catholic Moral Tradition, Conscience, and the Practice of Medicine
Authors: Tully Patrick
Published: February 2021

One contested moral commitment shared by the American Medical Association (AMA) and American Nurses Association (ANA) has to do with the place of conscience in the practice of medicine. These organizations, each in their own way, urge their respective members to engage in careful moral discernment regarding their professional life, and they assert the existence of an obligation on the part of others to respect the conscientious objections of healthcare professionals and to accommodate objecting individuals. Yet despite the value that these organizations place on conscience and objector rights, these organizations do not offer elaborate philosophical defenses of their positions. This shortcoming is exposed by the light of contemporary philosophical challenges to conscience-friendly policies. What such challenges demand is a philosophical defense of these organizations’ moral commitments and corresponding policy recommendations. The point of this article is to indicate how the Catholic philosophical tradition’s account of the nature and importance of conscience can philosophically underwrite these organizations’ conscience-related principles and practices. It can be seen, then, that the Catholic tradition is far from inimical to the contemporary practice of medicine and that, on the contrary, this tradition offers philosophically serious grounds on which to rest (and from which to defend) some of the most morally significant values and guidelines endorsed by these contemporary health-professional organizations and their members.
Assessment of kidney function: clinical indications for measured GFR
Authors: Ebert Natalie , Bevc Sebastjan , Bökenkamp Arend , Gaillard Francois , Hornum Mads , Jager Kitty J , Mariat Christophe , Eriksen Bjørn Odvar , Palsson Runolfur , Rule Andrew D , van Londen Marco , White Christine , Schaeffner Elke
Published: February 2021

In the vast majority of cases, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is estimated using serum creatinine, which is highly influenced by age, sex, muscle mass, body composition, severe chronic illness and many other factors. This often leads to misclassification of patients or potentially puts patients at risk for inappropriate clinical decisions. Possible solutions are the use of cystatin C as an alternative endogenous marker or performing direct measurement of GFR using an exogenous marker such as iohexol. The purpose of this review is to highlight clinical scenarios and conditions such as extreme body composition, Black race, disagreement between creatinine- and cystatin C–based estimated GFR (eGFR), drug dosing, liver cirrhosis, advanced chronic kidney disease and the transition to kidney replacement therapy, non-kidney solid organ transplant recipients and living kidney donors where creatinine-based GFR estimation may be invalid. In contrast to the majority of literature on measured GFR (mGFR), this review does not include aspects of mGFR for research or public health settings but aims to reach practicing clinicians and raise their understanding of the substantial limitations of creatinine. While including cystatin C as a renal biomarker in GFR estimating equations has been shown to increase the accuracy of the GFR estimate, there are also limitations to eGFR based on cystatin C alone or the combination of creatinine and cystatin C in the clinical scenarios described above that can be overcome by measuring GFR with an exogenous marker. We acknowledge that mGFR is not readily available in many centres but hope that this review will highlight and promote the expansion of kidney function diagnostics using standardized mGFR procedures as an important milestone towards more accurate and personalized medicine.
The impact of force magnitude on the first and second maxillary molars in cervical headgear therapy
Authors: Talvitie Tuula , Helminen Mika , Karsila Susanna , Varho Reeta , Signorelli Luca , Pirttiniemi Pertti , Peltomäki Timo
Published: February 2021

Aim

To study the effect of force magnitude on the maxillary first and second molars in cervical headgear (CHG) therapy.

Material and methods

In this controlled clinical trial, patients (n = 40) were treated with CHG with a light (L, 300 g, n = 22) or a heavy force (H, 500 g, n = 18) magnitude. The subjects were asked to wear CHG for 10 hours a day for 10 months. The outer bow of the CHG facebow was lifted up for 10–20 degrees and the inner bow was expanded 3–4 mm. Adherence to instructions and force magnitude were monitored using an electronic module (Smartgear, Swissorthodontics, Switzerland). Panoramic and lateral radiographs before (T1) and after treatment (T2) were analysed using a Romexis Cephalometric module (Planmeca, Finland) focussing on the angular, sagittal, and vertical positions of the permanent first and second molars.

Results

According to the cephalometric analysis of the maxillary first and second molars, distal tipping occurred during T1–T2 in the H group (P = 0.010 and 0.000, respectively), and the change was greater in the H group compared to the L group (P = 0.045 and 0.019, respectively). Based on the panoramic analysis, tipping occurred in the distal direction during therapy in the H group in the second molars compared to the midline or condylar line (P = 0.001 and 0.001; P = 0.008 and 0.003 on the right and left, respectively).

Conclusion

With heavy force magnitude, the maxillary first and second molars can tilt more easily in the distal direction even if the CHG was used less. Distal tipping of the molar can be considered to be a side effect of CHG therapy.