bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection and diagnosis of large airway collapse: a systematic review
Authors: Mitropoulos Alexandros , Song Woo-Jung , Almaghlouth Fatma , Kemp Samuel , Polkey Michael , Hull James H.
Published: June 2021

Large airway collapse (LAC) is a frequently encountered clinical problem, caused by tracheobronchomalacia +/− excessive dynamic airway collapse, yet there are currently no universally accepted diagnostic criteria. We systematically reviewed studies reporting a diagnostic approach to LAC in healthy adults and patients, to compare diagnostic modalities and criteria used. Electronic databases were searched for relevant studies between 1989 and 2019. Studies that reported a diagnostic approach using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging or flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy were included. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate the prevalence of LAC in healthy subjects and in patients with chronic obstructive airway diseases. We included 41 studies, describing 10 071 subjects (47% female) with a mean±sdage of 59±9 years. Most studies (n=35) reported CT findings, and only three studies reported bronchoscopic findings. The most reported diagnostic criterion was a ≥50% reduction in tracheal or main bronchi calibre at end-expiration on dynamic expiratory CT. Meta-analyses of relevant studies found that 17% (95% CI: 0–61%) of healthy subjects and 27% (95% CI: 11–46%) of patients with chronic airways disease were classified as having LAC, using this threshold. The most reported approach to diagnose LAC utilises CT diagnostics, and at a threshold used by most clinicians (i.e., ≥50%) may classify a considerable proportion of healthy individuals as being abnormal and having LAC in a quarter of patients with chronic airways disease. Future work should focus on establishing more precise diagnostic criteria for LAC, relating this to relevant physiological and disease sequelae.
The importance of central airway dilatation in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans
Authors: Kogo Mariko , Matsumoto Hisako , Tanabe Naoya , Chen-Yoshikawa Toyofumi F. , Nakajima Naoki , Yoshizawa Akihiko , Oguma Tsuyoshi , Sato Susumu , Nomura Natsuko , Morimoto Chie , Sunadome Hironobu , Gotoh Shimpei , Ohsumi Akihiro , Date Hiroshi , Hirai Toyohiro
Published: June 2021

Background

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a clinical syndrome characterised by progressive small airway obstruction, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Central airway dilatation is one of its radiological characteristics, but little is known about the clinical and pathological associations between airway dilatation and BO.

Methods

This retrospective study consecutively included patients who underwent lung transplantation due to BO at Kyoto University Hospital from 2009 to 2019. Demographic and histopathological findings of the resected lungs were compared between patients with and without airway dilatation measured by chest computed tomography (CT) at registration for lung transplantation.

Results

Of a total of 38 included patients (median age, 30 years), 34 (89%) had a history of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, and 22 (58%) had airway dilatation based on CT. Patients with airway dilatation had a higher frequency ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolation with greater residual volume than those without airway dilatation. Quantitative CT analysis revealed an increase in lung volume to predictive total lung capacity and a percentage of low attenuation volume <−950 HU at inspiration in association with the extent of airway dilatation. Airway dilatation on CT was associated with an increased number of bronchioles with concentric narrowing of the lumen and thickening of the subepithelium of the walls on histology.

Conclusions

In patients with BO, airway dilatation may reflect increased residual volume or air trapping and pathological extent of obstructive bronchioles, accompanied by a risk ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolation. More attention should be paid to the development of airway dilatation in the management of BO.
Genotype-by-environment interactions for reproduction, body composition, and growth traits in maternal-line pigs based on single-step genomic reaction norms
Authors: Chen Shi-Yi , Freitas Pedro H. F. , Oliveira Hinayah R. , Lázaro Sirlene F. , Huang Yi Jian , Howard Jeremy T. , Gu Youping , Schinckel Allan P. , Brito Luiz F.
Published: June 2021

Background

There is an increasing need to account for genotype-by-environment (G × E) interactions in livestock breeding programs to improve productivity and animal welfare across environmental and management conditions. This is even more relevant for pigs because selection occurs in high-health nucleus farms, while commercial pigs are raised in more challenging environments. In this study, we used single-step homoscedastic and heteroscedastic genomic reaction norm models (RNM) to evaluate G × E interactions in Large White pigs, including 8686 genotyped animals, for reproduction (total number of piglets born, TNB; total number of piglets born alive, NBA; total number of piglets weaned, NW), growth (weaning weight, WW; off-test weight, OW), and body composition (ultrasound muscle depth, MD; ultrasound backfat thickness, BF) traits. Genetic parameter estimation and single-step genome-wide association studies (ssGWAS) were performed for each trait.

Results

The average performance of contemporary groups (CG) was estimated and used as environmental gradient in the reaction norm analyses. We found that the need to consider heterogeneous residual variance in RNM models was trait dependent. Based on estimates of variance components of the RNM slope and of genetic correlations across environmental gradients, G × E interactions clearly existed for TNB and NBA, existed for WW but were of smaller magnitude, and were not detected for NW, OW, MD, and BF. Based on estimates of the genetic variance explained by the markers in sliding genomic windows in ssGWAS, several genomic regions were associated with the RNM slope for TNB, NBA, and WW, indicating specific biological mechanisms underlying environmental sensitivity, and dozens of novel candidate genes were identified. Our results also provided strong evidence that the X chromosome contributed to the intercept and slope of RNM for litter size traits in pigs.

Conclusions

We provide a comprehensive description of G × E interactions in Large White pigs for economically-relevant traits and identified important genomic regions and candidate genes associated with GxE interactions on several autosomes and the X chromosome. Implementation of these findings will contribute to more accurate genomic estimates of breeding values by considering G × E interactions, in order to genetically improve the environmental robustness of maternal-line pigs.
Routine immunohistochemistry study for polyomavirus BK nephropathy in transplanted kidney biopsies, is it recommended?
Authors: Nili Fatemeh , Mohammadhoseini Maliheh , Khatami Seyed Mohammadreza , Seirafi Golnar , Haghzare Majidreza
Published: June 2021

Background

Early diagnosis and treatment of Polyomavirus BK Nephropathy (PVBKN) is a challenging issue in the management of patients with kidney transplantation. Currently, histopathologic diagnosis is the gold standard method for diagnosis of PVBKN. However, typical viral inclusions may not be found in early stages of the PVBKN and should, instead, be diagnosed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) study. There is no clear consensus about routine IHC tests in the pathologic evaluation of transplanted kidney biopsy samples.

Material and methods

The current study was conducted on transplanted kidney biopsy samples, since 2016 to 2019. The patients who have presented with new onset of allograft dysfunction, at least 2 weeks after transplantation surgery, were included in our study. All these biopsy samples were evaluated with routine renal biopsy stains as well as IHC for SV40 (Simvian Virus 40) antigen. The identification of typical nuclear virus inclusion body and any nuclear positive staining on IHC (≥1+ positive result) were considered as definite evidence of PVBKN. Sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive and Negative Predictive Values (PPV and NPV) of histopathologic assessment without IHC study were evaluated.

Results

Among 275 included cases, 18 (6.5%) patients with PVBKN were diagnosed. In patients with PVBKN, typical viral inclusions were detected in 14 samples (77.7%), on primary histopathological examination. However, virus-infected cells were identified just after IHC study in 4 (22.2%) of patients. Sensitivity, Specifity, PPV and NPV of morphologic histopathological assay without IHC for detection of PVBKN was 77.7, 100, 100 and 98.4% respectively.

Conclusion

Routine IHC study for SV40 in all transplanted kidney biopsy samples with new onset of allograft dysfunction, will enhance the diagnostic sensitivity of early stage disease detection.
Efficacy of systemic oncological treatments in patients with advanced esophageal or gastric cancers at high risk of dying in the middle and short term: an overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Santero M. , Pérez-Bracchiglione J. , Acosta-Dighero R. , Meade A. G. , Antequera A. , Auladell-Rispau A. , Quintana M. J. , Requeijo C. , Rodríguez-Grijalva G. , Salas-Gama K. , Dorantes-Romandia R. , Salazar J. , Solà I. , Urrútia G. , Bonfill Cosp X.
Published: June 2021

Background

Esophageal and gastric cancers are a significant public health problem worldwide, with most patients presenting with advanced-stage disease and, consequently, poor prognosis. Systemic oncological treatments (SOT) have been widely used over more conservative approaches, such as supportive care. Nevertheless, its effectiveness in this scenario is not sufficiently clear. This paper provides an overview of systematic reviews that assessed the effectiveness of SOT compared with the best supportive care (BSC) or placebo in patients with advanced esophageal or gastric cancers in an end-of-life context.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and PROSPERO for eligible systematic reviews (SRs) published from 2008 onwards. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), functional status, and toxicity. Two authors assessed eligibility and extracted data independently. We evaluated the methodological quality of included SRs using the AMSTAR-2 tool and the overlap of primary studies (corrected covered area, CCA). Also, we performed a de novo meta-analysis with data reported for each primary study when it was possible. We assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.

Results

We identified 16 SRs (19 included trials) for inclusion within this overview. Most reviews had a critically low methodological quality, and there was a very high overlap of primary studies. It is uncertain whether SOT improves OS and PFS over more conservative approaches due to the very low certainty of evidence.

Conclusions

The evidence is very uncertain about the effectiveness of SOT for advanced esophageal or gastric cancers. High-quality SRs and further randomized clinical trials that include a thorough assessment of patient-centered outcomes are needed.

Trial registration

Open Science Framework, 10.17605/OSF.IO/7CHX6.
Impact of triglycerides and waist circumference on insulin resistance and β-cell function in non-diabetic first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ahmed Fahd , AL-Habori Molham , Al-Zabedi Ebtesam , Saif-Ali Riyadh
Published: June 2021

Background

Although there is abundant evidence indicating the relative contribution of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell dysfunction (HOMA-β) among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of Type 2 DM patients, few studies reported the association between HOMA-IR and HOMA-β with metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome factors on HOMA-IR, HOMA-β and glycoproteins in non-diabetic FDRs.

Methods

In this study, 103 Yemeni male subjects aged 25–42 years, with BMI < 25 kg/m2 were examined, 39 of whom were normal subjects with no family history of diabetes served as control and 64 subjects were non-diabetic FDRs of Type 2 DM patients.

Results

Both glycoproteins, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fructosamine as well as insulin, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were significantly (p = 4.9 × 10−9; 6.0 × 10−8; 6.6 × 10−12; 1.3 × 10−7; 5.5 × 10−12, respectively) higher in non-diabetic FDRs as compared to control group. Fasting plasma glucose, though within normal range, were significantly (p = 0.026) higher in non-diabetic FDRs. Linear regression analysis showed that both TG and WC are the main metabolic syndrome factors that significantly increased HOMA-IR (B = 0.334, p = 1.97 × 10−6; B = 0.024, p = 1.05 × 10−5), HOMA-β (B = 16.8, p = 6.8 × 10−5; B = 0.95, p = 0.004), insulin (B = 16.5, p = 1.2 × 10−6; B = 1.19, p = 8.3 × 10−6) and HbA1c (B = 0.001, p = 0.034; B = 0.007, p = 0.037).

Conclusion

Triglyceride and WC are the important metabolic syndrome factors associated with insulin resistance, basal β-cell function and insulin levels in non-diabetic FDR men of Type 2 DM patients. Moreover, FDRs showed insulin resistance with compensatory β-cell function (hyperinsulinaemia) suggesting that insulin resistance precede the development of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in individuals at risk of Type 2 DM.
Food security assessment in rural areas: evidence from Iran
Authors: Ahmadi Dehrashid Atefeh , Bijani Masoud , Valizadeh Naser , Ahmadi Dehrashid Hossein , Nasrollahizadeh Bahram , Mohammadi Akbar
Published: June 2021

Background

Food security is considered a pivotal factor for the sustainable development of communities and focus on this issue in rural areas. More specifically, it is of paramount importance in developing countries. Accordingly, this descriptive-analytical study aimed to evaluate the status of food security in rural areas of Iran. The main originality of the present study is to assess the strategic future-oriented vision for food security in addition to the evaluation of the current status of the studied area.

Methodology

Data were collected using the standard questionnaire of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a researcher-made close-ended questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were confirmed by a panel of specialists and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, respectively. In addition, data analysis was performed using SPSS24 (to analyze the descriptive statistics) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation (FTOPSIS).

Results

According to the results, 80% of the villagers suffered from food insecurity (25% in low food insecurity situation, 42% in moderate food insecurity situation, and 13% in severe food insecurity situation). Evaluation of the factors affecting food insecurity demonstrated that economic (standardized weight of 0.566), stability (standardized weight of 0.559), and availability (standardized weight of 0.558) were the most important components affecting food insecurity. Moreover, in a systemic approach, the growth of migration from rural to urban areas, pressure on water and soil resources, and the occurrence of environmental hazards are of the most significant consequences of food insecurity. In addition, due to the excessive use of underground water for cucurbits, which is the dominant cultivation pattern in this region, the groundwater level has dropped sharply in some villages farther from the city which can be alarming for exacerbating food insecurity in the near future.

Conclusion

Since the low-income level of villagers, lack of job diversity, and lack of access to adequate food are the main reasons for food insecurity, in this respect, it is suggested that more attention be paid to the development of occupations and job diversity in these regions by decision-makers and policy-makers.
Lignocellulose as an insoluble fiber source in poultry nutrition: a review
Authors: Röhe Ilen , Zentek Jürgen
Published: June 2021

Extensive research in recent years into the use of various fiber sources in poultry nutrition has led to the perception that dietary fiber is more than a simple diet diluent. Several studies showed that the feeding of insoluble fiber sources such as oat hulls, sunflower hulls or wood shavings may affect digestive physiology and function improving chickens health and growth performance. In this context, the effect of lignocellulose as an insoluble dietary fiber source is increasingly being investigated. Lignocellulose is a component of plant cell walls and consists mainly of the insoluble carbohydrate polymers cellulose and hemicelluloses as well as the phenolic polymer lignin. Lignocellulose is chemically and physicochemically different from other insoluble fiber sources and thus possibly has different effects on poultry compared to traditional fiber sources. Several studies investigated the effect of dietary lignocellulose on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tract development and intestinal microbiota in broilers and laying hens. Studies differed in terms of feed formulation and lignocellulose inclusion level as well as products of different suppliers were used. The results obtained are inconsistent; beneficial, indifferent or detrimental effects of feeding lignocellulose were observed, so that a final assessment of lignocellulose as a “novel” insoluble fiber source is difficult. This review article summarizes the results of studies in connection with the feeding of lignocellulose to poultry, compares them with those that have used other insoluble fiber sources and illuminates the possible mechanisms of action.
Brief early adolescent multi-family therapy (BEAM) trial for anorexia nervosa: a feasibility randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Baudinet Julian , Eisler Ivan , Simic Mima , Schmidt Ulrike
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Multi-family therapy (MFT) is a recommended treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa internationally. Despite recent significant advances in single-family therapy, the evidence base for MFT remains relatively small. Several individual and family factors have been associated with poorer outcomes in single-family therapy, many of which may be addressed or ameliorated by MFT if delivered early in treatment. This trial aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of adding a five-day multi-family therapy group to the early stages of family therapy for anorexia nervosa. Secondary objectives are to explore effect size changes in key individual and family factors across treatment.

Methods

This feasibility trial will use a randomised controlled design. Sixty adolescents (age 10–17 inclusive) with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa and their parents will be recruited from a community-based specialist eating disorder service in London, UK. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive six months of eating disorder focussed family therapy with a five-day MFT group (experimental group) or without (control group). Block randomisation will be conducted by the King’s Clinical Trials Unit and researchers will be blind to participants’ intervention allocation. Feasibility, acceptability and secondary outcomes measures will be collected at baseline, post-MFT, end of treatment, six-month and 12-month follow-up. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed according to trial sign-up rates, retention, measure completion rates and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes include physical health improvements, changes in psychiatric symptoms, emotion regulation and reflective function capacity, expressed emotion, parental difficulties and therapeutic alliance. Descriptive data and exploration analysis of trends and effect sizes will be reported upon at trial completion.

Discussion

The five-day MFT program developed for this study is novel, brief and more accessible than previous MFT models. The inclusion of a data collection point during treatment and follow-up will allow for an investigation of trends during and after treatment. This will allow exploration and comparison of future potential mediators and moderators of MFT and FT-AN outcomes and how these may differ between treatments.

Trial registration

ISRCTN registry;ISRCTN93437752, on 27 January 2021.
Immunotherapy in endometrial cancer: rationale, practice and perspectives
Authors: Cao Wenyu , Ma Xinyue , Fischer Jean Victoria , Sun Chenggong , Kong Beihua , Zhang Qing
Published: June 2021

Tumor immunotherapy has attracted more and more attention nowadays, and multiple clinical trials have confirmed its effect in a variety of solid tumors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer (ACT), and lymphocyte-promoting cytokines are the main immunotherapy methods. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most frequent tumors in women and the prognosis of recurrent or metastatic EC is poor. Since molecular classification has been applied to EC, immunotherapy for different EC subtypes (especially POLE and MSI-H) has gradually attracted attention. In this review, we focus on the expression and molecular basis of the main biomarkers in the immunotherapy of EC firstly, as well as their clinical application significance and limitations. Blocking tumor immune checkpoints is one of the most effective strategies for cancer treatment in recent years, and has now become the focus in the field of tumor research and treatment. We summarized clinical date of planned and ongoing clinical trials and introduced other common immunotherapy methods in EC, such as cancer vaccine and ACT. Hormone aberrations, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and p53 mutant and that affect the immunotherapy of endometrial cancer will also be discussed in this review.
The use of Robinia pseudoacacia L fruit extract as a green corrosion inhibitor in the protection of copper-based objects
Authors: Pourzarghan Vahid , Fazeli-Nasab Bahman
Published: June 2021

The most important inhibitors used in bronze disease are BTA and AMT. While these inhibitors control corrosion, they are toxic and cancerous. In this study, the acacia fruit extract (200 ppm to 1800 ppm) was used to the prevention of corrosion inhibition of bronze alloy in corrosive sodium chloride solution 0.5 M, for 4 weeks consecutively. The Bronze alloy used in this research, was made based on the same percentage as the ancient alloys (Cu-10Sn). IE% was used to obtain the inhibitory efficiency percentage and Rp can be calculated from the resistance of polarization. SEM–EDX was used to evaluate the surfaces of alloy as well as inhibitory. The experiment was conducted in split plot design in time based on the RCD in four replications. ANOVA was performed and comparison of means square using Duncan's multiple range test at one percent probability level. The highest rate of corrosion inhibition (93.5%) was obtained at a concentration of 1800 ppm with an increase in the concentration of the extract, corrosion inhibition also increased, i.e., more bronze was prevented from burning. Also, the highest corrosion inhibitory activity of Acacia extract (79.66) was in the second week and with increasing duration, this effect has decreased. EDX analysis of the control sample matrix showed that the amount of chlorine was 8.47%wt, while in the presence of corrosive sodium chloride solution, after 4 weeks, the amount of chlorine detected was 3.20%wt. According to the morphology (needle and rhombus) of these corrosion products based on the SEM images, it can be said, they are the type of atacamite and paratacamite. They have caused bronze disease in historical bronze works. The green inhibitor of Acacia fruit aqueous extract can play an effective role in inhibiting corrosion of bronze, but at higher concentrations, it became fungal, which can reduce the role of Acacia fruit aqueous extract and even ineffective. To get better performance of green inhibitors, more tests need to be done to improve and optimize.
Perception of the health surveillance users on the health electronic surveillance network (HESN), Saudi Arabia, 2016
Authors: Almayahi Zayid K. , Alswaidi Fahad , Alzahrani Abdullah
Published: June 2021

Background

The established aim of the Saudi Health Electronic Surveillance Network (HESN) is to support the prevention and control of different health events, and to facilitate the delivery of other public health programs. This study aims to evaluate the perceptions of active HESN users regarding its general performance through five major components: practicability, design, data and communication, technical support, and general impression.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 using a sample of active HESN users. Out of 1535 active users, 700 were randomly selected. A predesigned electronic questionnaire was sent to each participant via email which was completed by 485 participants. Different composite scores were calculated and compared to the sociodemographic and other technical variables.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 36.92 ± 9.12 (24–65 years), and 57.8% of the sample were male. Riyadh and the KSA’s eastern province represented the highest two regions of participation, at (18.4%) and (14.2%) participants, respectively. About 70.8% were generally satisfied with HESN, while 86.6%% believed that it is better than the traditional paper-work system. Participants who used to work more frequently expressed more level of satisfaction compared to those with minimal use per week or month (P≤ 0.001). Internet speed displayed a significant association with the general level of satisfaction with HESN (P< 0.001). Additionally, users who accessed HESN with the Google Chrome browser displayed higher levels of satisfaction when compared to users who relied on other browsers (P= 0.003).

Conclusion

Presently, the level of user satisfaction with HESN is reasonable. However, to achieve optimal outcomes for HESN usage, improvements should be considered.
Microbiological quality of non-sterile pharmaceuticals in Egypt
Authors: Salem Nourhan Mahrous Ahmed , Elbarrawy Mohamed Abbas , Azzam Nashwa Fawzy Abd El Moez
Published: June 2021

Background

The context and purpose of the study are as follows: Drug-borne infections may arise from non-adherence to strict microbiological quality of pharmaceuticals products. Moreover, presence of exceeding levels of microorganisms in non-sterile pharmaceuticals may lead to change of their organoleptic characteristics and loss of effectiveness. The aim of the study is to evaluate the microbiological quality of commonly used non-sterile pharmaceuticals in Alexandria, Egypt.

Results

Average microbiological quality of the studied products, where 17.03% and 19.23 % of samples had exceeded the maximum acceptable limit of TAMC and TYMC, respectively. NoE.coliwas isolated from oral products. None ofS.aureusnorP.aeruginosawere isolated from topical products. Bacterial growth was recovered from 19 (10.44%) of the studied 182 samples, fourBacillusspp. had been recovered from topical products, twoP.aeruginosaisolates were recovered from tablets and other two were isolated from syrups dosage forms. Other isolates werePseudomonas stutzeri,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Acinetobacter Achromobacter denitrificans,Ochrobactrum anthropicandAeromonas salmonicida.

Conclusion

Average microbiological quality of the tested pharmaceuticals used in Alexandria.
Patterns and Predictors of Oral Anticancer Agent Use in Diverse Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wheeler Stephanie B. , Spees Lisa P. , Jackson Bradford E. , Baggett Christopher D. , Wilson Lauren E. , Greiner Melissa A. , Kaye Deborah R. , Zhang Tian , George Daniel , Scales Charles D. , Pritchard Jessica E. , Dinan Michaela A.
Published: June 2021

PURPOSE:

Availability of targeted oral anticancer agents (OAAs) has transformed care for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Our objective was to identify patterns and predictors of OAA use within 12 months after mRCC was detected to understand real-world adoption of OAAs.

METHODS:

We used a novel, North Carolina cancer registry–linked multipayer claims data resource to examine patterns of use of five oral therapies among patients with mRCC diagnosed in 2006-2015, with claims through 2016. Patients were required to have 12 months of continuous enrollment before metastatic index date. Log-Poisson models estimated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) for associations between patient characteristics and OAA use. In sensitivity analyses, we used a competing risk framework to estimate adjusted risk differences in OAA use.

RESULTS:

Our population-based study of 713 patients demonstrated low (37%) OAA use during the first year after metastatic index date among both publicly and privately insured patients, with shifting patterns of use consistent with regulatory approvals over time. Compared with patients age 18-49 years, patients age 70-74 years were half likely to use OAAs (95% confidence limit [CL], 0.34 to 0.78) and patients age 80+ years were 71% less likely to use OAAs (95% CL, 0.17 to 0.50). Patients with two comorbidities (RR, 0.73; 95% CL, 0.55 to 0.98) and those with 3+ comorbidities (RR, 0.68; 95% CL, 0.50 to 0.91) were less likely to receive OAA than those without comorbidities. Patients with higher frailty also had lower OAA utilization (RR, 0.67; 95% CL, 0.52 to 0.85).

CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest a need to better understand the system-level and provider-level drivers of OAA underuse, as well as OAA adherence and associated survival.
Geography, Genre, and Narrative in Kipling's Kim
Authors: Laskin Emily
Published: June 2021

This article examines Kipling's 1901 novel Kim in light of the period's contemporary geopolitical events, arguing that the novel imagines both the end of the British Empire and a utopian state in which empire is static and eternal. The essay uncovers a parallel between the geographic regions on India's periphery, toward which the novel's action drives but which it never ultimately reaches, and two “developmental genres,” the picaresque and the bildungsroman, which the novel holds in tension. It argues further that whereas earlier studies of Kim and the bildungsroman have explained Kim's thwarted temporality as a novel about a period newly unmoored from the stabilizing concept of the nation-state, they do not account for the politicized space of Kipling's South Asia. This article shows that just as temporal development was becoming more open-ended and abstract, spatial development in the non-European world was becoming increasingly circumscribed. Kim therefore requires not just a youthful hero and a deferred Bildung but also an unreachable region—Central Asia, to India's north—and a thwarted picaresque narrative in order to represent the newly burgeoning globalized order.
Differentiation of cystic lesions in the jaw by conventional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging
Authors: Wamasing Natnicha , Watanabe Hiroshi , Sakamoto Junichiro , Tomisato Hiroshi , Kurabayashi Tohru
Published: June 2021

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine the discrimination power of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for cystic lesions in the jaw using MRI.

Methods:

We selected 127 cystic lesions, comprising dentigerous cysts (DCs), odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), and unicystic ameloblastomas (UABs), from our MRI database examined by 3T MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging sequences, and we reviewed their imaging characteristics. We attempted to discriminate the three types of lesions by ADC values with receiver operator characteristic analysis; however, satisfactory results were not obtained for differentiation between DC and OKC. Therefore, we performed a decision tree analysis.

Results:

The imaging characteristics of the lesions were significantly different according to Fisher’s exact test, except for differences in sex. The ADC values statistically discriminated the lesions of DC and UAB, OKC and UAB, but not DC and OKC. Thus, differentiation was performed by a decision tree for DC and OKC by evaluating the following points: the attached tooth condition, signal intensity on the T1 weighted image (T1SI), ADC value, and the cyst site. However, cases showing hypo- or isointense T1SI with an ADC value under 1.168 × 10–3 mm2/s were difficult to differentiate.

Conclusion:

The ADC value helped distinguish UAB from both DC and OKC, but not DC from OKC. However, the decision tree based on ADC value, tooth contact status, and T1SI helped differentiate DC and OKC to some extent.
Ο Διδακτικός Μετασχηματισμός Περιεχομένου και η Αναγκαιότητα στη Διδακτική Φυσικών Επιστημών: Ζητήματα, Ευρήματα και Προτάσεις
Authors: Καριώτογλου Πέτρος Π.
Published: June 2021

Στην εργασία αυτή συζητούνται θεωρητικές και πρακτικές βιβλιογραφικές αναφορές για τον διδακτικό μετασχηματισμό του περιεχομένου των Φυσικών Επιστημών, από την εισαγωγή του όρου ως transposition didactique από τον Yves Chevallard (στα Μαθηματικά) ως και πρακτικές εφαρμογές των εκπαιδευτικών στην διδακτική πράξη. Αναζητούμε ακόμη την ύπαρξη και την αναγκαιότητα του μετασχηματισμού στα ρεύματα της Διδακτικής των Φυσικών Επιστημών, αλλά και τις κριτικές που ακούστηκαν κατά την εισαγωγή του όρου. Επιπλέον αναζητούμε στη βιβλιογραφία μελέτες διδακτικών παρεμβάσεων, π.χ. Διδακτικών Μαθησιακών Ακολουθιών, που έγιναν στη χώρα μας και στις οποίες αναφέρεται ρητά ή υπονοούμενα ο διδακτικός μετασχηματισμός του περιεχομένου που πραγματοποιήθηκε. Στις μελέτες αυτές προσπαθούμε να αναδείξουμε τον μετασχηματισμό και να κατηγοριοποιήσουμε τα σχετικά παραδείγματα. Η εργασία ολοκληρώνεται με την πρόταση για την ανάγκη συστηματικής μελέτης του διδακτικού μετασχηματισμού από την κοινότητα της Διδακτικής των Φυσικών Επιστημών, με στόχο νέα Προγράμματα Σπουδών, οδηγούς εκπαιδευτικών και προγράμματα εκπαίδευσης φοιτητών και υπηρετούντων εκπαιδευτικών.
Γενικότερα Εκπαιδευτικά Ζητήματα που Αναδύονται μέσα από την Έρευνα στη Διδακτική των Φυσικών Επιστημών
Authors: Τσελφές Βασίλης
Published: June 2021

Στο κείμενο που ακολουθεί προσπαθώ να παρουσιάσω έναν περιορισμένο αριθμό ζητημάτων της Διδακτικής των Φυσικών Επιστημών, που σήμερα μπορεί να ισχυρισθεί κάποιος ότι εξελίσσονται χωρίς σαφή προσανατολισμό. Μιλάω για παράδειγμα για τα προβλήματα που εμφανίστηκαν στο πρόγραμμα της εννοιολογικής αλλαγής αλλά και για τη χωρίς ευδιάκριτη κατεύθυνση ανάπτυξη δεκάδων διαφορετικών διδακτικών προσανατολισμών. Ως θεωρητική βάση χρησιμοποιώ το παλιό, προπολεμικό ρεύμα του Πραγματισμού και ως κεντρική υπόθεση το γεγονός ότι η Διδακτική των Φυσικών Επιστημών δεν μπορεί παρά να λαμβάνει υπόψη της το γενικότερο κοινωνικό, εκπαιδευτικό και πολιτικό πλαίσιο εντός του οποίου αναπτύσσεται. Καταλήγω υποστηρίζοντας ότι η Διδακτική των Φυσικών Επιστημών πρέπει να τολμήσει να πραγματοποιήσει έναν απλό προγραμματικό μετασχηματισμό: να αναγνωρίσει ότι η επί του πεδίου εφαρμογή των επιτυχιών της εμποδίζεται από τη σύνδεση των μαθησιακών αποτελεσμάτων με τις μονοσήμαντες έννοιες που έχουν υιοθετήσει οι εκπαιδευτικοί θεσμοί ως επιστημονικές και να στρέψει το ενδιαφέρον της προς την απόκτηση ικανοτήτων.
1999-2020: Στιγμιότυπα από τις Ερευνητικές μου Αναζητήσεις
Authors: Χαλκιά Κρυσταλλία
Published: June 2021

Η παρούσα εργασία αναφέρεται στις σημαντικότερες ερευνητικές προσπάθειες των τελευταίων 20 χρόνων της επαγγελματικής μου ζωής. Αναπτύσσεται σε 5 βασικές θεματικές ενότητες που αναφέρονται σε έρευνες σχετικές με: α) τον επιστημονικό γραμματισμό στα Σχολεία Δεύτερης Ευκαιρίας (ΣΔΕ), β) τους τρόπους αναπαράστασης και έκφρασης των εννοιών των φυσικών επιστημών, γ) τις άτυπες πηγές μάθησης στις φυσικές επιστήμες, δ) τους τρόπους διδακτικού μετασχηματισμού των μεγάλων θεωριών της φυσικής και της βιολογίας σε σχολική επιστήμη, και ε) τους τρόπους διδακτικής μετάβασης από το συγκεκριμένο (εμπειρία) στην αφαίρεση (επιστημονική γνώση) σχετικά με έννοιες και φαινόμενα του μεγάκοσμου.
The Perceptions Community College Advising Coordinators Have of Their Institutional Advising Models: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Kapinos Brian
Published: June 2021

This exploratory qualitative study examined how community college advising coordinators describe their roles within the context of institutional advising models. Conducted to address the lack of empirical research concerning advising coordinators, we determined to uncover what institutional and administrative challenges advising coordinators may face within those advising models. Thirteen advising coordinators, employed at separate public institutions within the Northeast United States, participated in this study. Findings demonstrated that split advising models might pose additional logistic or administrative challenges for coordinators, considering their status as middle managers with limited oversight of institutional advising services. Additionally, due to their limited roles as middle managers, advising coordinators may be unable to ensure the consistency of institutional advising practices for students.
(Des)informação nos serviços de saúde em tempos de pandemia da Covid-19: uma questão ética e uma requisição enviesada ao trabalho de assistentes sociais
Authors: De Matos Maurílio Castro
Published: June 2021

O artigo reflete sobre os desafios éticos que a pandemia da Covid-19 evidencia. No contexto de uma doença provocada por um vírus, que ainda não possui cura e nem vacina para todas as pessoas, a luta pelo acesso aos serviços de saúde e direito a vida é uma questão ética. No trabalho nos serviços hospitalares, nos tempos da pandemia, têm surgido requisições de cunho administrativo e burocrático para o trabalho de Assistentes Sociais, que gravitam em torno do direito a informação. Tal questão, ainda que não seja na sua maioria, de competência desses profissionais, expressa uma requisição ética posta para o trabalho coletivo em saúde. Palavras-Chave: covid-19; saúde, serviço social; ética; informação.
Silvana Noemí Martínez: uma mirada latinoamericana e caribenha na FITS
Authors: Diniz Tânia Maria Ramos de Godoi
Published: June 2021

Entrevista com Silvana Noemí Martínez.
Aerosol and Gas Phase Concentrations from an Adapted Annular Denuder System in a Broiler Housing Facility
Authors: Spencer Jennifer L. , Osborne Vern , Van Heyst Bill
Published: June 2021

Highlights

An adapted annular denuder system (ADS) was implemented in a broiler facility to measure secondary aerosols.

Results show that secondary aerosols were not always associated with ammonium or ammonia.

Chloride aerosols were significant in comparison to other species and were present at consistent concentrations.

This study concludes that the chloride source was the feed in the feeding pans.

Abstract. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is present in animal housing facilities from both primary and secondary sources. Measuring secondary aerosols in harsh environments with high gas and particulate concentrations, such as poultry housing facilities, is an ongoing challenge. This study presents the results from the implementation of an adapted annular denuder system (ADS) used to measure secondary PM2.5 from inside a broiler facility in Ontario, Canada. Results from this work show that secondary aerosols formed the majority of total PM2.5 during the early portion of the growth cycle. It was further determined that the ion balance between ammonium and anions was not consistent, leading to the conclusion that a significant portion of the aerosol species are associated with a previously unidentified source that is not necessarily due to secondary reactions. Keywords: Ammonia, Annular denuder system, Particulate matter, Poultry, Secondary aerosols.
Symmetrical superfission of optical solitons in a well-type nonlocal system
Authors: Meng Li , Liu Jiali , Zhang Huafeng , Yang Wenxing
Published: June 2021

The dynamical properties of fundamental and dipolar mode solitons, in
the process of propagating in the well-type nonlocal system, are
provided. During propagating in a deep well-type nonlocal system with
a moderate width, a fundamental mode soliton splits into a pair of
symmetrical sub-beams, and a dipolar mode soliton can divide into two
pairs of symmetrical sub-beams. Furthermore, the propagation
directions of these sub-beams can be effectively controlled by
adjusting system parameters that include the well depth and well
width. These properties could be applied to optical routing,
all-optical switching, signal processing, and ultrafast
optical communications.
Real-time holographic quantitative measurement of vapor density distribution of suspended droplets
Authors: Song Wei , Liu Qiusheng , Zhang Lixian , Han Binbin , Zhang Lu
Published: June 2021

We applied digital holography (DH) technology in a quantitative measurement of the density distribution of a low refractive index transparent substance (e.g., the vapor of suspended droplets). An optical setup was built based on the Mach–Zehnder interferometer. A measurement performance test showed the mean relative error of the measurement error was about 2.0%; that of the environment disturbance error was about 0.47%. By a quantitative method to assess the precision limit, the temperature measurement precision could achieve 0.01°C, and the vapor density measurement precision could achieve

0.0001

k
g

/

m

3

. We believe that all the benefits above make the setup a good choice for application in the Chinese space station.
Fundamental bounds on the performance of monochromatic passive cloaks
Authors: Jelinek Lukas , Gustafsson Mats , Capek Miloslav , Schab Kurt
Published: June 2021

Fundamental bounds on the performance of monochromatic scattering-cancellation and field-zeroing cloaks made of prescribed linear passive materials occupying a predefined design region are formulated by projecting field quantities onto a sub-sectional basis and applying quadratically constrained quadratic programming. Formulations are numerically tested revealing key physical trends as well as advantages and disadvantages between the two classes of cloaks. Results show that the use of low-loss materials with high dielectric contrast affords the highest potential for effective cloaking.
Adaptive deep-learning equalizer based on constellation partitioning scheme with reduced computational complexity in UVLC system
Authors: Chen Hui , Niu Wenqing , Zhao Yiheng , Zhang Junwen , Chi Nan , Li Ziwei
Published: June 2021

Visible light communication (VLC) system has emerged as a promising solution for high-speed underwater data transmission. To tackle with the linear and nonlinear impairments, deep learning inspired equalization is introduced into VLC. Despite their success in accuracy, deep learning approaches often come with high computational budget. In this paper, we propose an adaptive deep-learning equalizer based on complex-valued neural network and constellation partitioning scheme for 64 QAM-CAP modulated underwater VLC (UVLC) system. Inspired by the fact that symbols modulated at different levels experience various extent of nonlinear distortion, we adaptively partition the received symbols in constellation and design compact equalization networks for specific regions to reduce computation consumption. Experiments demonstrate that the partitioned equalizer can achieve the bit error rate below the 7% hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) limit of 3.8 × 10−3 at 2.85 Gbps similar to the standard complex-valued network, yet with 56.1% total computational complexity reduction. This work paves the path for online data processing in high speed UVLC system.
F-mode ultraviolet photoacoustic remote sensing for label-free virtual H&E histopathology using a single excitation wavelength
Authors: Kedarisetti Pradyumna , Restall Brendon S. , Haven Nathaniel J. M. , Martell Matthew T. , Cikaluk Brendyn D. , Deschenes Jean , Zemp Roger J.
Published: June 2021

Photoacoustic remote sensing (PARS) is a novel all-optical imaging modality that allows for non-contact detection of initial photoacoustic pressures. Using 266-nm excitation pulses, ultraviolet PARS (UV-PARS) has previously demonstrated imaging contrast for cell nuclei in histological samples with

<

400

n
m

resolution. In prior PARS-based imaging schemes, the signal amplitude at an interrogation point was determined by the maximum deflection from the DC scattering signal in response to a pulsed excitation. This method, however, does not take into consideration additional information encoded in the frequency domain of the recorded PARS signals. Here, we present a frequency domain technique called F-mode PARS that can be used to generate images with nuclear and cytoplasmic enhanced contrast, enabling label-free virtual hematoxylin-and-eosin-like microscopy, using only a single excitation wavelength. With F-mode processing, we have been able to demonstrate contrast-to-noise ratios of up to 38 dB between cell nuclei and surrounding cytoplasm, which represents up to a 25-dB improvement over previous implementations of UV-PARS systems.
Microscopic analysis of the energy, momentum, and spin distributions in a surface plasmon-polariton wave
Authors: Bekshaev A. Y. , Angelsky O. V. , Zheng J. , Hanson S. G. , Zenkova C. Yu.
Published: June 2021

We analyze the electromagnetic field near a plane interface between a
conductive and a dielectric media, under conditions supporting surface
plasmon-polariton (SPP) propagation. The conductive medium is
described by the hydrodynamic electron-gas model that enables a
consistent analysis of the field-induced variations of the electron
density and velocity at the interface and its nearest vicinity. The
distributions of electromagnetic dynamical characteristics: energy,
energy flow, spin and momentum are calculated analytically and
illustrated numerically, employing silver-vacuum interface as an
example. A set of the “field” and material contributions
to the energy, spin and momentum are explicitly identified and
classified with respect to their physical origins and properties, and
the orbital (canonical) and spin (Belinfante) momentum constituents
are separately examined. In this context, a procedure for the
spin-orbital momentum decomposition in the presence of free charges is
proposed and substantiated. The microscopic results agree with the
known phenomenological data but additionally show specific nanoscale
structures in the near-interface behavior of the SPP energy and
momentum, which can be deliberately created, controlled and used in
nanotechnology applications.
Highly sensitive terahertz metamaterial biosensor for bovine serum albumin (BSA) detection
Authors: Hou Xinfu , Chen Xieyu , Li Tianming , Li Yaoyao , Tian Zhen , Wang Mingwei
Published: June 2021

Terahertz (THz) metamaterials are widely used in biosensor devices due to their unique superiority, and the demand for new high sensitivity biosensors based on THz metamaterials is increasing. This paper presents a polarization-insensitive terahertz metamaterial sensor used for BSA detection. Simulation reveals that the peak of transmission spectrum shifts obviously when the sensor is covered with analytes of different refractive index and thickness. After the sensor is covered with 10 μm thick non-destructive analytes, its sensitivity is as high as 135 GHz/RIU. Experiments show that the lowest detectable concentration of BSA solutions by this sensor is 0.1 mg/mL, the peak red shift of the transmission spectrum reaches 137 GHz when the concentration is 17.6 mg/mL, and the frequency shift percentage is 16.4%. This study provides a highly sensitive solution for biosensor detection in the pharmaceutical and food fields.