bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rationality of MiraclesCan a Scientist Believe in Miracles? A MIT Professor Answers Questions on God and Science, IanHutchinson, IVP, 2018 (ISBN 978‐0‐8308‐4547‐7), viii + 288 pp., pb $20Medjugorje and the Supernatural: Science, Mysticism, and Extraordinary Religious Experience, Daniel MariaKlimek, Oxford University Press, 2018 (ISBN 978‐0‐19‐067920‐0), xiv + 378 pp., hb £64
Authors: Giostra Alessandro
Published: December 2019

The term ‘miracle’ comes from the Latin ‘miror’, that is ‘to be amazed at’. So a miracle indicates something going much beyond the ordinary course of nature and violating natural laws. The idea of miracles as rational events emerges from the contents of those books. Although the authors delve into that intriguing subject from different perspectives, they ground their views upon a common epistemological approach including historical witnesses, Christian revelation, and the limits of the scientific discourse. Miracles form part of the ongoing discussion on the science–faith relationship, and opinions about mystical experiences cannot exclude an exact definition of science and faith. Our society is dominated by science and technology, and the widely held negative perception of miracles is deeply influenced by a naturalistic mentality. A clear‐cut distinction between the rationality of natural research and the uncertainty of religion proves unsuccessful to account for events which science cannot explain.
A Fine‐Tuned Universe, or These Scientists Sound Like TheologiansA Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos, Geraint F.Lewis and Luke A.Barnes, James Clarke & Co., 2017 (ISBN 978‐1‐107‐15661‐6), xviii + 374 pp., hb £18.99A Hospitable Universe: Addressing Ethical and Spiritual Concerns in Light of Recent Scientific Discoveries, RodolfoGambini with JorgePullin, Imprint, 2018 (ISBN 978‐1‐845‐40964‐7), 308 pp., pb £19.99Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins: Cosmology, Geology, and Biology in Christian Perspective, Robert C.Bishop, Larry L.Funck, Raymond J.Lewis, Stephen O.Moshier, and John H.Walton (eds), IVP, 2018 (ISBN 978‐0‐8308‐5291‐8), xxiv + 664 pp., hb $75
Authors: Tripp Jeffrey M.
Published: December 2019

Certain physical constants, like the mass of an electron or the gravitational constant, are not determined by physical theory. Rather, physicists must determine them empirically. However, in case after case, physicists have also found that these constants fit within a narrow range of possible values that allow life to exist in our universe. Tweak them even slightly, and the universe becomes incapable of forming planets, molecules, or even atoms, much less complex lifeforms. It would seem the universe is fine‐tuned to permit life. Three sets of authors with scientific backgrounds attempt to understand the theistic implications of fine tuning. While their goals and approaches differ, their discussions highlight the potential fine tuning has to foster dialogue between science and theology.
Crime Against Women in India: Unveiling Spatial Patterns and Temporal Trends of Dowry Deaths in the Districts of Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Vicente G. , Goicoa T. , Fernandez-Rasines P. , Ugarte M. D.
Published: December 2019

Crimes against women in India have been continuously increasing lately as reported by the National Crime Records Bureau. Gender-based violence has become a serious issue to such an extent that it has been catalogued as a high impact health problem by the World Health Organization. However, there is a lack of spatiotemporal analyses to reveal a complete picture of the geographical and temporal patterns of crimes against women. We focus on analysing how the geographical pattern of ‘dowry deaths’ changes over time in the districts of Uttar Pradesh during the period 2001–2014. The study of the geographical distribution of dowry death incidence and its evolution over time aims to identify specific regions that exhibit high risks and to hypothesize on potential risk factors. We also look into different spatial priors and their effects on final risk estimates. Various priors for the hyperparameters are also reviewed. The risk estimates seem to be robust in terms of the spatial prior and hyperprior choices and final results highlight several districts with extreme risks of dowry death incidence. Statistically significant associations are also found between dowry deaths, sex ratio and some forms of overall crime.
‘I had to stifle my feelings’ – Bilingual health professionals translating for family members in a healthcare setting. A qualitative study
Authors: Nielsen Dorthe Susanne , Abdulkadir Leila Saud , Lynnerup Camilla , Sodemann Morten
Published: December 2019

Background

As an alternative to a professional interpreter, children or relatives often act as so‐called ‘language brokers’ in the healthcare sector. Litterature have demonstrated that the cultural context is significant for the potential outcome for child language brokers. For individuals from a collectivistic family pattern, it becomes natural and is often regarded as respectful, to assist older relatives day and night.

Aim

Very little is known about young people providing informal translation services in a Scandinavian context. We therefore aimed to capture the lived experiences of bilingual health professionals, students and postgraduates who have experienced interpreting for family members in a healthcare setting. By interviewing bilingual health professionals, we aimed to obtain two perspectives, the translators and the professionals, in one interview.

Results

Analysing the conditions, meanings and reasoning, it became possible for us to understand the young translators’ situations and how their life conditions affected their reasons for action in certain ways and in certain conditions. The analysis revealed four main themes: (i) the importance of social relations and cultural conditions; (ii) the hidden burden of consequences for participants’ health conditions due to the focus on health‐related consequences and emotionally difficult situations experienced by the participants; (iii) participants experienced limitations in language skills as a challenge; and (iv) being ‘in between’ in the encounter with the professional system.

Conclusion

When family members interpret for the family, the family interpreter is at risk of being excluded by the family or being exposed to and involved in highly sensitive dilemmas that may forever impair normal family relations: health professionals should be aware of this and take professional responsibility.
To stay in touch – intensive care patients’ interactions with nurses during mobilisation
Authors: Bunzel Anne‐Marie Gellert , Weber‐Hansen Naja , Schantz Laursen Birgitte
Published: December 2019

Background

Minimal sedation has made it possible to communicate and cooperate with intensive care patients and mobilisation can start earlier during their stay in the intensive care unit.

Purpose

To investigate the intensive care patient’s reaction and interaction to mobilisation.

Method

This study used focused ethnography combining observations, interviews and four scores for evaluating awareness, and pain levels were included: Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale Confusion Assessment Method For The Intensive Care Unit, Numeric Rating Scale and Critical Pain Observation Tool. Twelve patients were observed during mobilisation, with subsequent interviews of the involved nurses.

Findings

Nurses run the risk of overlooking the patient’s reactions, such as pain, discomfort or needs during mobilisation.

Nurses use several different ways of communicating to create contact with the patients.

Patients with an impaired awareness level become more aware during mobilisation.

Conclusions

If the nurse’s attention is focused on the technical side of caregiving, there is a risk that she might overlook the patient’s reactions and needs. If the nurse is aware of the risk of overlooking the patient’s reactions, she may plan the mobilisation to ensure that the patient gets the necessary attention and is included in the process. In that way, the patient might avoid unnecessary discomfort and maintain trust and confidence in the nurse.
The effect of care burden on formal caregiver’s quality of work life: a mixed‐methods study
Authors: Kalanlar Bilge , Kuru Alici Nilgün
Published: December 2019

Background

The health of caregivers is as important as that of the elderly they care for. Although several studies have stressed the necessity and importance of reducing the care burden on formal caregivers and increasing the quality of their working lives, this issue has not been addressed both qualitatively and quantitatively from the caregivers’ perspective.

Aim

This study is a comprehensive assessment of the effects of formal caregivers’ care burden on the quality of their working lives.

Method

A convergent design of mixed methods was used. This study was conducted with 110 formal caregivers at an Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Center between 1 and 31 January 2019. Additional semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 10 of the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative analysis and thematic statistics for qualitative analysis. The quantitative and qualitative data were merged and integrated for a mixed‐method analysis.

Results

The relationship between the quality of working life and care burden was statistically significant for the formal caregivers. The results of the interviews supported this relationship. Four themes emerged from the interviews: the effects of caregiving on care staff, the effects of caregiving on caregivers’ daily lives, the requirements for providing better care and caregivers’ description of caregiving in a few words.

Conclusion

Given that the care burden of formal caregivers affects the quality of their working lives, this burden should be assessed on a regular basis and efforts needed to be made to reduce it and improve the quality of their working lives.
Self‐concept as a mechanism through which parental psychological control impairs empathy development from adolescence to emerging adulthood
Authors: Choe So Young , Lee Jungeun Olivia , Read Stephen J.
Published: December 2019

We examined the relationship among perceived parental psychological control (PPC), self‐concept, and empathy, from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Child Development Project longitudinal data analyses indicate that, when adolescents notice PPC at age 13, they have poor self‐concept (less competence) at age 16, and they show less empathic concern (EC) toward others at age 24. The indirect effects of self‐concept at age 16 are significant for EC, but not for perspective taking (PT). Moreover, perceived PPC at age 13 does not directly predict their EC at age 24, but it does their PT at age 24, and these results were found regardless of the gender of the parents and adolescents. Our results shed light on poor self‐concept in adolescence as a mechanism by which PPC impairs healthy emotional development from adolescence to emerging adulthood.
Critical evaluation of the appetite test for children with severe acute malnutrition
Authors: Zangenberg Mike , Abdissa Alemseged , Johansen Øystein H. , Tesfaw Getnet , Friis Henrik , Briend André , Eshetu Beza , Kurtzhals Jørgen A. L. , Girma Tsinuel
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The appetite test is used to risk stratify for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in inpatient or outpatient care. The test is recommended in guidelines despite lack of evidence. We evaluated its ability to identify children at risk of a poor treatment outcome.

Methods

We conducted an observational study of children diagnosed with SAM at three health facilities in Ethiopia. The appetite test was done independently, and the result did not affect decisions about hospitalisation and clinical care. Data were analysed using mixed linear and logistic regression models.

Results

Appetite was tested in 298 (89%) of 334 children enrolled; 56 (19%) passed. Children failing the appetite test had a 6.6% higher weight gain per day (95% CI: 2.6, 10.8) adjusted for type of treatment, oedema, duration of follow‐up and age than children passing the test. We found medical complications in 179 (54%) children. Medical complications were associated with blood markers of metabolic disturbance. Children with medical complications tended to have lower weight gain than those without complications (3.5%, 95% CI: −0.25, 7.0). Neither the appetite test nor medical complications were correlated with bacteraemia or treatment failure.

Conclusions

Our findings question the use of the appetite test to identify children who need inpatient care. An assessment of medical complications alone could be a useful risk indicator but needs to be evaluated in other settings.
Genome‐wide association study of agronomic and quality traits in a world collection of the wild wheat relative Triticum urartu
Authors: Talini Rebecca F. , Brandolini Andrea , Miculan Mara , Brunazzi Alice , Vaccino Patrizia , Pè Mario Enrico , Dell'Acqua Matteo
Published: December 2019

Triticum urartu (2n = 2x = 14, subgenome AuAu), a wild diploid wheat progenitor, features broad allelic diversity for a number of traits of agronomic relevance. A thorough characterization of the diversity of T. urartu natural accessions may provide wheat breeders with new alleles potentially contributing to wheat improvement. In this study, we performed an extensive genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a world collection of 299 T. urartu ex situ accessions, developing 441 327 single nucleotide polymorphisms and recording trait values for agronomic and quality traits. The collection was highly diverse, with broad variation in phenology and plant architecture traits. Seed features were also varied, and analyses of flour quality reported 18 distinct patterns of glutenins, and carotenoid concentrations and sedimentation volumes in some cases surpassing those of cultivated materials. The genome‐wide molecular markers developed on the collection were used to conduct a genome‐wide association study reporting 25 highly significant quantitative trait nucleotides for the traits under examination, only partially overlapping loci already reported in wheat. Our data show that T. urartu may be considered a valuable allele pool to support the improvement of wheat agronomy and quality.
CT is helpful for the detection and presurgical planning of lung perforation in dogs with spontaneous pneumothorax induced by grass awn migration: 22 cases
Authors: Baudin Tréhiou Clément , Gibert Sophie , Sériot Paul , Dunié‐Mérigot Antoine , Blond Laurent
Published: December 2019

Spontaneous pneumothorax induced by grass awns accounts for 5% of spontaneous pneumothorax and 22.5% of thoracic grass awn cases. Previous studies report limited interest of CT for spontaneous pneumothorax. Aims of this retrospective case series were to describe CT features of this condition and determine if CT features can efficiently localize the perforation site. Dogs that had a spontaneous pneumothorax, CT examination, thoracic surgery, and confirmed lung perforation due to a grass awn were included. Computed tomography studies were reviewed and compared to the surgical findings.  In 19 of 22 (86.4%) dogs, the pneumothorax or its recurrence were ipsilateral to the perforation site. The perforation site was identified in 21 of 22 (95.5%) dogs and involved the caudal lobes in 20 of 22 (90.9%) cases. The lateralization and the involved lung lobe corresponded to surgical findings in 21 of 22(95.5%) dogs. The perforation site was characterized as a soft tissue attenuating focus lying against an extensive pleural thickening in 21 of 22(95.5%) dogs. An adjacent defect in the visceral pleura was seen in 13 of 22(59.1%) dogs. A grass awn was seen in 11 of 22(50%) dogs.  The pneumothorax distribution and grass awn position consistently indicated the perforation side in this sample of dogs. The comparison with surgical findings suggests CT might be helpful for future presurgical planning of this etiology for pneumothorax.
Alterations in mitochondrial functions and morphology in muscle and non‐muscle tissues in type 1 diabetes: implications for metabolic health
Authors: Monaco Cynthia M.F. , Perry Christopher G.R. , Hawke Thomas J.
Published: December 2019

New Finding

What is the topic of this review?

Evidence of impaired mitochondrial functions and/or morphology in people with type 1 diabetes across various organ systems.

What advances does it highlight?

Impairments to mitochondrial functions and morphology may be a primary mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of various complications in people with type 1 diabetes.

We recently made the observation that there are significant alterations to the ultrastructure and functions of mitochondria in skeletal muscle of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). These alterations are proposed to lead to decreased energy production in skeletal muscle during exercise and thus may contribute to the impaired aerobic exercise capacity reported in some people with T1D. This Symposium Review summarizes the evidence that similar alterations also occur in the mitochondria present in organ systems outside skeletal muscle in people with T1D, and that this may contribute to the development and progression of the known complications of T1D, which eventually lead to the reported premature mortality.
Guiding and Trapping Cracks With Compliant Inclusions for Enhancing Toughness of Brittle Composite Materials
Authors: Brodnik Neal R. , Hsueh Chun-Jen , Faber Katherine T. , Bourdin Blaise , Ravichandran Guruswami , Bhattacharya Kaushik
Published: December 2019

The problem of toughening heterogeneous materials with a stiff matrix and compliant inclusions is investigated through numerical simulations and experiments. Specifically, the problem of optimizing a combination of effective toughness and effective elastic modulus in the context of a square array of compliant inclusions in a stiff matrix is explored. Crack propagation in the heterogeneous material is simulated using a variational phase-field approach. It is found that the crack can meander between or get attracted to and trapped in the inclusions. Composite specimens with a stiff matrix and compliant circular inclusions were 3D printed, and their fracture toughness was measured using a specially designed loading fixture. The experimental results show agreement with the numerical predictions by demonstrating the attraction and trapping of cracks in the inclusions. This study demonstrates the potential for significant enhancement of toughness through elastic compliance contrast between the matrix and the inclusion without notably compromising the effective elastic modulus of the composite material.
Organizing Tagged Knowledge: Similarity Measures and Semantic Fluency in Structure Mining
Authors: Sexton Thurston , Fuge Mark
Published: December 2019

Recovering a system’s underlying structure from its historical records (also called structure mining) is essential to making valid inferences about that system’s behavior. For example, making reliable predictions about system failures based on maintenance work order data requires determining how concepts described within the work order are related. Obtaining such structural information is challenging, requiring system understanding, synthesis, and representation design. This is often either too difficult or too time consuming to produce. Consequently, a common approach to quickly elicit tacit structural knowledge from experts is to gather uncontrolled keywords as record labels—i.e., “tags.” One can then map those tags to concepts within the structure and quantitatively infer relationships between them. Existing models of tag similarity tend to either depend on correlation strength (e.g., overall co-occurrence frequencies) or on conditional strength (e.g., tag sequence probabilities). A key difficulty in applying either model is understanding under what conditions one is better than the other for overall structure recovery. In this paper, we investigate the core assumptions and implications of these two classes of similarity measures on structure recovery tasks. Then, using lessons from this characterization, we borrow from recent psychology literature on semantic fluency tasks to construct a tag similarity measure that emulates how humans recall tags from memory. We show through empirical testing that this method combines strengths of both common modeling paradigms. We also demonstrate its potential as a preprocessor for structure mining tasks via a case study in semi-supervised learning on real excavator maintenance work orders.
Computer Simulation of Mixed Convection of Alumina-Deionized Water Nanofluid Over Four In-Line Electronic Chips Embedded in One Wall of a Vertical Rectangular Channel
Authors: Ramu Nalla , Ghoshdastidar P. S.
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a computational study of mixed convection cooling of four in-line electronic chips by alumina-deionized (DI) water nanofluid. The chips are flush-mounted in the substrate of one wall of a vertical rectangular channel. The working fluid enters from the bottom with uniform velocity and temperature and exits from the top after becoming fully developed. The nanofluid properties are obtained from the past experimental studies. The nanofluid performance is estimated by computing the enhancement factor which is the ratio of chips averaged heat transfer coefficient in nanofluid to that in base fluid. An exhaustive parametric study is performed to evaluate the dependence of nanoparticle volume fraction, diameter of Al2O3 nanoparticles in the range of 13–87.5 nm, Reynolds number, inlet velocity, chip heat flux, and mass flowrate on enhancement in heat transfer coefficient. It is found that nanofluids with smaller particle diameters have higher enhancement factors. It is also observed that enhancement factors are higher when the nanofluid Reynolds number is kept equal to that of the base fluid as compared with the cases of equal inlet velocities and equal mass flowrates. The linear variation in mean pressure along the channel is observed and is higher for smaller nanoparticle diameters.
Hair eruption initiates and commensal skin microbiota aggravate adverse events of anti-EGFR therapy
Authors: Klufa Jörg , Bauer Thomas , Hanson Buck , Herbold Craig , Starkl Philipp , Lichtenberger Beate , Srutkova Dagmar , Schulz Daniel , Vujic Igor , Mohr Thomas , Rappersberger Klemens , Bodenmiller Bernd , Kozakova Hana , Knapp Sylvia , Loy Alexander , Sibilia Maria
Published: December 2019

EGFR/ERK signaling in
Lrig1
+
stem cells secures barrier integrity during hair eruption to protect from invasion of commensal microbiota.
Mass-producing wearable sensors: No sweat
Authors: Han Li-Hsin
Published: December 2019

Laser engraving can mass-produce cost-efficient, wearable sensors that monitor vital signs and sweat, detecting biomarkers linked to chronic diseases.
Tumor mutations are not alone in the plasma
Authors: Naxerova Kamila
Published: December 2019

Most cell-free DNA mutations in cancer patients originate in hematopoietic clones.
Comparison of the MICs Obtained by Gradient Concentration Strip and EUCAST Methods for Four Azole Drugs and Amphotericin B against Azole-Susceptible and -Resistant
Aspergillus
Section
Fumigati
Clinical Isolates
Authors: Dellière S. , Verdurme L. , Bigot J. , Dannaoui E. , Senghor Y. , Botterel F. , Fekkar A. , Bougnoux M. E. , Hennequin C. , Guitard J.
Published: December 2019

Reference methods used to assess the drug susceptibilities of
Aspergillus fumigatus
isolates consisted of EUCAST and CLSI standardized broth microdilution techniques. Considering the increasing rate and the potential impact on the clinical outcome of azole resistance in
A. fumigatus
, more suitable techniques for routine testing are needed. The gradient concentration strip (GCS) method has been favorably evaluated for yeast testing.
Interleukin-4 Signaling Plays a Major Role in Urogenital Schistosomiasis-Associated Bladder Pathogenesis
Authors: Mbanefo Evaristus C. , Fu Chi-Ling , Ho Christina P. , Le Loc , Ishida Kenji , Hammam Olfat , Hsieh Michael H.
Published: December 2019

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is crucial in many helminth infections, but its role in urogenital schistosomiasis, infection withSchistosoma haematobiumworms, remains poorly understood due to a historical lack of animal models. The bladder pathology of urogenital schistosomiasis is caused by immune responses to eggs deposited in the bladder wall. A range of pathology occurs, including urothelial hyperplasia and cancer, but associated mechanisms and links to IL-4 are largely unknown.
Comparison of Three Commercial Tools for Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing Analysis
Authors: Thoendel Matthew , Jeraldo Patricio , Greenwood-Quaintance Kerryl E. , Yao Janet , Chia Nicholas , Hanssen Arlen D. , Abdel Matthew P. , Patel Robin
Published: December 2019

Metagenomic shotgun sequencing for the identification of pathogens is being increasingly utilized as a diagnostic method. Interpretation of large and complicated data sets is a significant challenge, for which multiple commercial tools have been developed. Three commercial metagenomic shotgun sequencing tools, CosmosID, One Codex, and IDbyDNA, were compared to determine whether they result in similar interpretations of the same sequencing data.
Accelerated silicosis with bone marrow, hepatic and splenic involvement in a patient with lung transplantation
Authors: Carreño Hernández M Cruz , Garrido Paniagua Sara , Colomés Iess María , Guemra Mehdi
Published: December 2019

Chronic silicosis is an entity widely described in literature. However, other types such as accelerated, acute, complicated and extrapulmonary silicosis are little documented. We present a case of accelerated extrapulmonary silicosis in a lung transplant patient in whom the diagnosis of systemic silicosis was made incidental to non-respiratory complications that occurred during follow-up. The appearance of cytopenia and liver failure led to diagnostic tests that documented the presence of silicotic granulomas in those locations. Taking into account the intensity, time of exposure, onset and development of the disease, we found a highly atypical case of accelerated extrapulmonary silicosis in which inorganic particles (presumably silica) were documented inside granulomas and macrophages of the bone marrow. With these findings, we reflect on the lack of consideration of these entities within clinical practice, their probable under diagnosis and the need to study other pathophysiological mechanisms of acquisition and dissemination of silicosis.
Acceptability to patients of screening disposable transnasal endoscopy: qualitative interview analysis
Authors: McGoran John , Bennett Andrea , Cooper Joanne , De Caestecker John , Lovat Laurence B , Guha Neil , Ragunath Krish , Sami Sarmed S
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Screening in selected high risk populations for Barrett’s oesophagus (BO) and oesophageal varices (OVs) has been proposed, but there are obstacles with conventional oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (C-OGD), including patient acceptability. Portable and disposable office-based transnasal endoscopy (TNE) is a feasible and accurate alternative to C-OGD that may have use in primary and secondary care. This article outlines a qualitative analysis of patient experiences of TNE and C-OGD in order to gain an insight into an acceptable delivery of an endoscopic screening service.

Design

Purposeful sampling identified 23 participants who then underwent semi-structured interviews to determine their experiences of both procedures. Thematic analysis was conducted to derive meaning from their lived experiences.

Setting

A secondary care endoscopy unit, clinic room and interview room.

Participants

Patients referred for BO or OV surveillance and for endoscopy to investigate dyspepsia underwent unsedated TNE using the EG Scan II device followed by C-OGD with or without sedation (patient choice), as part of a clinical trial.

Results

The themes that arose from our analysis were: inclusivity in one’s own healthcare, comfort level and convenience, validity of the procedure and application to a screening population and a sense of altruism and reciprocity. Positive aspects of TNE included participant empowerment, reduced discomfort and avoidance of conscious sedation. Participants felt that if TNE screening was of proven efficacy it would be welcomed, though views on use in a community setting were mixed.

Conclusions

Most patients preferred TNE to unsedated C-OGD and the reasons they gave featured strongly in the emerging themes. Preferences between TNE and sedated C-OGD were more subtle, with equivalent comfort scores but merits and drawbacks of both being discussed. This information identifies opportunities and challenges in establishing an endoscopic screening service.

Trial registration number

ISRCTNregistry identifier: 70595405; Pre-results.
Factors influencing active tuberculosis case-finding policy development and implementation: a scoping review
Authors: Biermann Olivia , Lönnroth Knut , Caws Maxine , Viney Kerri
Published: December 2019

Objective

To explore antecedents, components and influencing factors on active case-finding (ACF) policy development and implementation.

Design

Scoping review, searching MEDLINE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the World Health Organization (WHO) Library from January 1968 to January 2018. We excluded studies focusing on latent tuberculosis (TB) infection, passive case-finding, childhood TB and studies about effectiveness, yield, accuracy and impact without descriptions of how this evidence has/could influence ACF policy or implementation. We included any type of study written in English, and conducted frequency and thematic analyses.

Results

Seventy-three articles fulfilled our eligibility criteria. Most (67%) were published after 2010. The studies were conducted in all WHO regions, but primarily in Africa (22%), Europe (23%) and the Western-Pacific region (12%). Forty-one percent of the studies were classified as quantitative, followed by reviews (22%) and qualitative studies (12%). Most articles focused on ACF for tuberculosis contacts (25%) or migrants (32%). Fourteen percent of the articles described community-based screening of high-risk populations. Fifty-nine percent of studies reported influencing factors for ACF implementation; mostly linked to the health system (eg, resources) and the community/individual (eg, social determinants of health). Only two articles highlighted factors influencing ACF policy development (eg, politics). Six articles described WHO’s ACF-related recommendations as important antecedent for ACF. Key components of successful ACF implementation include health system capacity, mechanisms for integration, education and collaboration for ACF.

Conclusion

We identified some main themes regarding the antecedents, components and influencing factors for ACF policy development and implementation. While we know much about facilitators and barriers for ACF policy implementation, we know less abouthowto strengthen those facilitators andhowto overcome those barriers. A major knowledge gap remains when it comes to understanding which contextual factors influence ACF policy development. Research is required to understand, inform and improve ACF policy development and implementation.
Predictive accuracy of perceived baby birth size for birth weight: a cross-sectional study from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Nigatu Dabere , Haile Demewoz , Gebremichael Bereket , M Tiruneh Yordanos
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of maternally perceived baby birth size assessments as a measure of birth weight and examine factors influencing the accuracy of maternal size assessments.

Study design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study is based on national data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey.

Participants

We included 1455 children who had both birth size and birth weight data.

Main outcome measures

Predictive accuracy of baby birth size for low birth weight. Level of discordance between maternally perceived birth size and birth weight including factors influencing discordance.

Results

Mother-reported baby birth size had low sensitivity (57%) and positive predictive value (41%) to indicate low birth weight but had high specificity (89%) and negative predictive values (94%). The per cent of agreement between birth weight (<2500 g vs ≥2500 g) and maternally perceived birth size (small size vs average or above) was 86% and kappa statistics indicated a moderate level of agreement (kappa=0.41, p<0.001). Maternal age, wealth index quintile, marital status and maternal education were significant predictors of the discordance between birth size and birth weight.

Conclusions

Maternal assessment of baby size at birth is an inaccurate proxy indicator of low birth weight in Ethiopia. Therefore, a mother’s recall of birth size should be used as a proxy indicator for low birth weight with caution and should take maternal characteristics into consideration.
Deficiencies in healthcare prior to suicide and actions to deal with them: a retrospective study of investigations after suicide in Swedish healthcare
Authors: Roos af Hjelmsäter Elin , Ros Axel , Gäre Boel Andersson , Westrin Åsa
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The overall aim of this study was to aggregate the conclusions of all investigations conducted after suicides reported to the supervisory authority in Sweden in 2015, and to identify deficiencies in healthcare found in these investigations; the actions proposed to deal with the deficiencies; the level of the organisational hierarchy (micro–meso–macro) in which the deficiencies and actions were situated; and outcomes of the supervisory authority’s decisions.

Design and setting

This is a retrospective study of all reports from Swedish primary and secondary healthcare after suicide to the regulatory authority in Sweden in 2015.

Results

In 55% (n=240) of cases, healthcare providers reported healthcare deficiencies that contributed to suicide; these deficiencies were primarily in ‘suicide risk assessment’ and ‘treatment’. Actions aimed at preventing new suicides were proposed in 80% of cases (n=347). By far, the most frequent actions were ‘education and competence’, present in 52% of cases (n=227) and did not much correspond with identified deficiencies. Sixty-five per cent of the deficiencies and actions were at microlevel, while the remainders were at mesolevel. In 65% (n=284) of cases, the supervisory authority approved the investigation without further requirements.

Conclusions

The most common identified deficiencies were related to care in the immediate interface between patient and staff. Actions proposed to prevent new suicides were centred on single educational interventions without distinctive sustainable effects in the organisations and usually did not correspond with the identified deficiencies. Future research should examine if application of a framework based on knowledge of the suicide process, suicide prevention strategies and patient safety would enable more sophisticated investigations that could facilitate progress on suicide prevention.
Understanding incentive preferences of community health workers using discrete choice experiments: a multicountry protocol for Kenya, Uganda, Bangladesh and Haiti
Authors: Agarwal Smisha , Anaba Udochisom , Abuya Timothy , Kintu Richard , Casseus Alain , Hossain Sharif , Obadha Melvin , Warren Charlotte E
Published: December 2019

Introduction

There is a renewed global interest in improving community health worker (CHW) programmes. For CHW programmes to be effective, key intervention design factors which contribute to the performance of CHWs need to be identified. The recent WHO guidelines recommends the combination of financial and non-financial incentives to improve CHW performance. However, evidence gaps remain as to what package of incentives will improve their performance in different country contexts. This study aims to evaluate CHW incentive preferences to improve performance and retention which will strengthen CHW programmes and help governments leverage limited resources appropriately.

Methods and analysis

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) will be conducted with CHWs in Bangladesh, Haiti, Kenya and Uganda with different levels of maturity of CHWs programmes. This will be carried out in two phases. Phase 1 will involve preliminary qualitative research including focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews to develop the DCE design which will include attributes relevant to the CHW country settings. Phase 2 will involve a DCE survey with CHWs, presenting them with a series of job choices with varying attribute levels. An orthogonal design will be used to generate the choice sets for the surveys. The surveys will be administered in locally-appropriate languages to at least 150 CHWs from each of the cadres in each country. Conditional and mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) models will be used for the estimation of stated preferences.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Population Council’s Institutional Review Board in New York, and appropriate ethics review boards in Kenya, Uganda, Bangladesh and Haiti. The results of the study will be disseminated through in-country dissemination workshops, meetings with country-level stakeholders and policy working groups, print media, online blogs and peer-reviewed journals.
Scoping review study to identify how communities in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada use quality improvement (QI) approaches to address community health and well-being
Authors: Carr Tara , Turner Mallory Wolfe , Ramaswamy Rohit
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Both US and global communities lag on key health indicators. There has been limited progress in building capacity to improve health beyond the healthcare field. Yet, communities also need to engage in health improvement initiatives. A substantial body of literature describes standards and core components for quality improvement (QI) approaches in clinical settings. This study aims to determine how communities in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada use QI approaches for health and well-being improvement and how such approaches compare to those in clinical settings.

Methods and analysis

We developed a study protocol based on scoping review framework by Arksey and O’Malley, methodological advancements for scoping studies (Levac et al) and other published protocols. We developed research questions in an iterative process and used the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes strategy to determine eligibility criteria. Electronic databases deemed appropriate (Web of Science, Scopus, and Proquest Health Management) will be searched for studies that meet inclusion criteria. References of included studies will be included when relevant. Two reviewers will independently screen all abstracts and full-text studies for inclusion. A third reviewer will adjudicate disagreements that arise. An instrument will be developed to extract data from included studies. Quantitative and qualitative results will be reported.

Ethics and dissemination

We developed this protocol to systematically conduct a scoping review of how US communities use QI approaches to address community health and well-being. Results will benefit multiple stakeholders by informing how to better support, design and evaluate community well-being improvement interventions. Results will be distributed through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, presentations and a public health graduate course.
Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders in the 21st century: A call for novel approaches
Authors: Bui Eric , King Franklin , Melaragno Andrew
Published: December 2019

While limited advances have occurred in the past 30 years in the pharmacological management of anxiety and stress-related disorders, novel molecular pathways both within and without the monoamine systems are currently under investigation and offer promising new avenues for more effective future treatments. Enhancing psychotherapy approaches with pharmacological compounds offers the potential to not only transform the standard of care of these conditions, but more broadly would introduce a paradigm shift in the way medications and their role in psychiatric care are conceptualised. Although further human trials and more translational research are sorely needed, continuing to pursue innovative mechanisms and treatments is hoped to yield substantial results in the coming decades and a departure from the reliance on chemical agents of the 20th century.
Empty mast cell syndrome: fallacy or fact?
Authors: Mohamed Omar E , Baretto Richard L , Walker Ian , Melchior Cathryn , Heslegrave Jane , Mckenzie Ruth , Hullur Chidanand , Ekbote Anjali , Krishna Mamidipudi Thirumala
Published: December 2019

Post-anaphylaxis mast cell anergy (PAMA), commonly referred to as ‘empty mast cell (MC) syndrome’, is a state of temporary loss of cutaneous MC reactivity in the immediate aftermath of anaphylaxis. Data relating to this condition are sparse and the incidence rate is currently unknown. PAMA has been described only in a few published case reports in the context of hymenoptera venom allergy and perioperative anaphylaxis. Best practice guidelines regarding optimal timing for performing skin tests postanaphylaxis are largely based on expert opinion, and allergy work-up has been recommended after 4–6 weeks postanaphylaxis to avoid false-negative results.

This article provides a review of clinical literature surrounding PAMA, critically evaluates intracellular events in MCs from in vitro data and hypothesises regarding plausible immune mechanisms. There are no published data to directly explain molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Although not evidence based, PAMA has been attributed to depletion of MC granules following anaphylaxis. It is also plausible that exposure to high allergen concentrations in anaphylaxis can induce a temporary shift in MCs towards dominance of inhibitory signalling pathways, thus contributing to a state of transient hyporesponsiveness observed in some patients. Other potential contributory factors for reduced MC reactivity include downregulation of FcεRI expression, cross-linking of FcεRI to the inhibitory, low-affinity IgG receptors and administration of pharmacotherapeutic agents for anaphylaxis treatment. It is likely that this interesting phenomenon can be explained by a combination of these proposed mechanisms in addition to other genetic/host factors that have not yet been identified.
Maternal cumulative exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, prematurity and small for gestational age: a pooled analysis of two birth cohorts
Authors: Migault Lucile , Garlantézec Ronan , Piel Clément , Marchand-Martin Laetitia , Orazio Sébastien , Cheminat Marie , Zaros Cécile , Carles Camille , Cardis Elisabeth , Ancel Pierre-Yves , Charles Marie-Aline , de Seze René , Baldi Isabelle , Bouvier Ghislaine
Published: December 2019

Background

Data on the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on pregnancy outcomes are inconclusive.

Objective

To study the relation between maternal cumulative exposure to ELF-EMF during pregnancy and the risk of prematurity or small for gestational age (SGA) in a pooled analysis of two French birth cohorts.

Methods

Elfe and Epipage2 are both population-based birth cohorts initiated in 2011 and included 18 329 and 8400 births, respectively. Health data and household, mother and child characteristics were obtained from medical records and questionnaires at maternity and during follow-up. A job exposure matrix was used to assess cumulative exposure to ELF-EMF during three periods: (1) until 15 weeks of gestation, (2) until 28 weeks of gestation and (3) until 32 weeks of gestation. Analyses were restricted to single live births in mainland France and to mothers with documented jobs (N=19 894). Adjusted logistic regression models were used.

Results

According to the period studied, 3.2%–4% of mothers were classified as highly exposed. Results were heterogeneous. Increased risks of prematurity were found among low exposed mothers for the three periods, and no association was observed among the most exposed (OR1=0.92 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.15); OR2=0.98 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.21); OR3=1.14 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.41)). For SGA, no association was observed with the exception of increased risk among the low exposed mothers in period 2 and the most exposed in period 3 (OR=1.25 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.53)).

Conclusion

Some heterogeneous associations between ELF-EMF exposure and prematurity and SGA were observed. However, due to heterogeneity (ie, their independence regarding the level of exposure), associations cannot be definitely explained by ELF-EMF exposure.
Neville George Kingston
Authors: Thwaites Gemma
Published: December 2019

An inspiration to many young vets, he lived life at full speed. He loved to travel and often combined it with aid work in areas of conflict, natural disasters and epidemics.
Evidence and quantitative evaluation of tensile maturation strain in flax phloem through longitudinal splitting
Authors: Alméras Tancrède , Petrova Anna , Kozlova Liudmila , Gril Joseph , Gorshkova Tatyana
Published: December 2019

The stems of flax (Linum usitatissimum L. cv. ‘Mogilevsky’) contain many gelatinous fibers in their phloem. These fibers are important for the mechanical stability of the plant as well as for industrial applications. Gelatinous fibers are known to have a motor function in the xylem of trees and in many plant organs. This function arises from the so-called maturation strain, i.e., the tendency of the gelatinous layer to shrink during fiber maturation, resulting in a state of residual tensile stress. However, the occurrence of tensile maturation strain in flax phloem fibers remains to be demonstrated, and its magnitude has never been evaluated. Here we present a novel method to highlight and quantify this strain. The method consists in splitting a stem segment longitudinally, and measuring the curvature of the half segments through their opening distance. By using a mechanical model, the maturation strain can be calculated from the curvature, the dimensions of the component tissues, and their elastic properties. The model is validated by the agreement between model predictions and observations. The splitting experiment provides qualitative evidence that flax phloem develops tensile stress during maturation, just as xylem gelatinous fibers do. Calculations enable quantitative estimation of the maturation strain. The magnitude of this strain for the material studied is, on average, –1.5%.
Polypleuraspis(Arthropoda, Trilobita) from the middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series) around Kane Basin (Nunavut and Greenland)
Authors: Peel John S.
Published: December 2019

Polypleuraspis Poulsen, 1927, originally established on the basis of a single trilobite pygidium from the Cape Wood Formation of Inglefield Land, northwestern Greenland, is redescribed on the basis of material from additional occurrences in the Cape Wood and Telt Bugt formations exposed around Kane Basin in Ellesmere Island (Nunavut) and northern and northwestern Greenland. Polypleuraspis occurs together with Glossopleura Poulsen, 1927 in the Glossopleura walcotti Poulsen, 1927 Biozone of the Delamaran Stage of North American (Laurentian) usage, in middle Cambrian strata (Miaolingian Series) of the Wuliuan Stage. The type species, Polypleuraspis solitaria Poulsen, 1927, is compared with Polypleuraspis insignis Rasetti, 1951 from the Stephen Formation (Burgess Shale Formation) of British Columbia and to a new species from the Telt Bugt Formation of Daugaard-Jensen Land: Polypleuraspis glacialis sp. nov. Polypleuraspis cooperi Robison and Babcock, 2011, from the Spence Shale of Utah of similar age, is assigned to Polypleuraspidella gen. nov.