bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of soybean cultivation in the north of Central Russia
Authors: Zelenov A A , Polukhin A A , Anisimov P V
Published: March 2021

Modern agricultural production is based on ensuring the required level of production in order to obtain the maximum yield of the final product per unit area. Selection of a variety in this system is one of the fundamental points. In the course of the analysis of varieties of various breeding zoned in the Central Black Earth Region, it was found that in the period 2018-2019 in the north of Central Russia, varieties of local domestic selection Zusha (2.81 t/ha) and Osmon’ (2.85 t/ha) showed the highest efficiency. At the same time, foreign varieties Amadeus (6.08 t/ha) and Sirelia (7.11 t/ha) had the best potential.

Under equal conditions, domestic varieties showed the best economic efficiency in 178-229% of the actual profitability. However, foreign varieties have an excellent potential of 382-561% of profitability, which is hindered by morphological and adaptive characteristics.
Yoga Asana Identification: A Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Jose Josvin , Shailesh S
Published: March 2021

Yoga is a healthy practice that originated from India, to rejuvenate a man in his physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. Moving with the brisk technology advancements, there is a vast opportunity for computational probing in all social domains. But still, the utilization of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for applying to an interdisciplinary domain like yoga is quite challenging. In this work, a system that recognizes a yoga posture from an image or a frame of a video has been developed with the help of deep learning techniques like convolutional neural networks (CNN) and transfer learning. We have considered images of 10 different asanas for training the model as well as evaluating the prediction accuracy. The prediction model backed with transfer learning shows promising results with 85% prediction accuracy and this system can be considered as an initial step to build an automated yoga image and video analysis tool.
UFMDRA: Uterine Fibroid Medicinal Drugs Review Analysis
Authors: Vineeta  , Manek Asha S , Mishra Pranay
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, enormous reviews are posted online by the consumers which provide related and required knowledge to the similar consumers. Such information is very much crucial for decision making and hence trendy among the web users. This information is very essential not only for potential consumers to make decisions but also for forecasting success and sustainability in commercial businesses. Online reviews on medicinal drugs are important for patients, medical representatives and medical industries. Reviewing medicinal drugs is challenging as sentiment analysis provides very little opportunity to discuss it. Collecting the reviews for uterine fibroid medicines from websites and analysing is a challenging process. An efficient Uterine Fibroid Medicinal Drugs Review Analysis (UFMDRA) model is developed with a decision tree algorithm which is trained and tested for different split ratios to obtain 100% accuracy. Experimental analysis results show that the proposed model has better classification performance in terms of accuracy compared to other classifiers.
Performance of particle swarm optimization bin packing algorithm for dynamic virtual machine placement for the consolidation of cloud server
Authors: Pandiselvi C. , Sivakumar S.
Published: March 2021

Infrastructure as a service offered by the cloud computing is one of the most important service. It allows physical machines to get virtualized by creating many instances of virtual machines. Mapping virtual machines on physical machine has become the major challenge in cloud data centres. The dynamic virtual machine placement methods are used to solve this issue with objectives like maximizing the resource utilization, minimizing the energy consumption and maximizing the scalability of data centres. In this paper a virtual machine placement-based bin packaging algorithm is proposed and analysed with four different fitness strategies to obtain the optimal solution. The unimodal (Sphere, Step) and multimodal (Graywang and Rastridge) benchmark functions are used with proposed algorithm for the analysis and obtain the quantitative measurements. The results show that optimizing the mass of particles using the best fitting strategy reduces the energy consumption, resource utilization and improved the scalability of data centres.
Non-Functional Requirements for Blockchain: Challenges and New Directions
Authors: Tisha Tahmina Akter , Shibly Mir Moynuddin Ahmed
Published: March 2021

Blockchain is one of the breakout technologies of the 21st century and it is destined to rule the field of cybersecurity. Eventually, all applications and software will adopt blockchain for being the most secure technology ever existed. Unlike other fields of computer science, blockchain too has functional and non-functional requirements (NFRs). As it is an emerging technology, Blockchain’s non-functional requirements are yet to be well-defined. From requirements engineering perspectives, the NFRs for blockchain should be well-established. In this study, some of the major non-functional requirements of blockchain are thoroughly analyzed. And, challenges of NFRs for blockchain and new research directions have been proposed. Five non-functional requirements challenges are presented-lack of knowledge about NFRs for blockchain, the necessity of feasibility analysis, integration with software engineering, NFRs measurement metrics, and its formal language representation. Based on those challenges, four new research directions have also been proposed. If those challenges are dealt with properly, the world will surely march towards a safer future in terms of cybersecurity.
Nanostructure of bone tissue probed with Ca 2p and O 1s NEXAFS spectroscopy
Authors: Sakhonenkov Sergei , Konashuk Aleksei , Brykalova Xenia , Cherny Alexander , Kornilov Nikolai , Rykov Yuri , Filatova Elena , Pavlychev Andrey
Published: March 2021

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is applied to investigate relationships between hierarchical organization of the skeleton and nanostructure of femoral bone in knee compartments and to understand the osteoarthritis (OA) related changes at the subcellular level. Our focus is on local electronic and atomic and molecular architectonics of the medial and lateral condyles of the femur resected during total knee arthroplasty in patients with medial compartmental knee OA. The element-specific and site-dependent peculiarities in spectral distributions of oscillator strength for core-to-valence transitions are revealed. The near Ca 2p and O 1s edges x-ray absorption fine structure (Ca 2p and O 1s NEXAFS) spectra of the saw cuts demonstrate substantial redistributions in intact and OA damaged areas on the proximal side, and on the proximal and distal sides of the samples. Examining the O 1s NEXAFS spectra new chemical bonds are revealed on the proximal surface in the OA areas. Strong intra-atomic intershell Ca2+ 2

p

3

/

2
,

1

/

2

5

3

d

1

interaction specifies the great similarity of the Ca 2p NEXAFS spectra. Their analysis performed in combination with the x-ray photoelectron data has demonstrated the formation of non-apatite calcium in the OA areas of the samples. It is shown that NEXAFS spectroscopy is a powerful tool for deeper understanding relationship between hierarchical skeletal organization and nanostructure of native bone. Perspectives for development of novel methods for medical imaging and diagnosis of subchondral bone at the nanolevel are discussed.
Browning of White Adipocytes in Fat Grafts Associated With Higher Level of Necrosis and Type 2 Macrophage Recruitment
Authors: Liu Tong , Fu Su , Wang Qian , Cheng Hao , Mu Dali , Luan Jie
Published: March 2021

Background

Induced browning adipocytes were assumed less viable and more prone to necrosis for their hypermetabolic property. A previous study showed that browning of adipocytes was more evident in fat grafts with necrosis in humans.

Objectives

The authors aimed to estimate whether fat transfer–induced browning biogenesis was associated with necrosis and its potential inflammation mechanisms in murine models.

Methods

Human subcutaneous adipose from thigh or abdomen of 5 patients via liposuction was injected in 100 µL or 500 µL (n = 20 per group) into the dorsal flank of 6- to 8-week-old female nude mice fed with normal chow diet and harvested after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Control groups did not receive any grafting procedures (sham operation), where lipoaspirates were analyzed immediately after harvest. Histology and electronic microscopy, immunological analyses of browning markers, necrosis marker, and type I/II macrophages markers in mice were performed.

Results

Histology and electronic microscopy showed browning adipocytes in fat grafts with a higher level of necrosis (0.435 ± 0.017 pg/mL for cleaved caspase-3, **P < 0.01), IL-6 (749.0 ± 134.1 pg/mL,***P < 0.001) and infiltration of type 2 macrophage profiles in mice (twofold increase, *P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Browning of adipocytes induced by fat transfer in mice is in parallel with post-grafting necrotic levels associated with elevated interleukin-6 and activated type 2 macrophage profiles, which promote browning development.
The Difference in Facial Movement Between the Medial and the Lateral Midface: A 3-Dimensional Skin Surface Vector Analysis
Authors: Freytag David L , Alfertshofer Michael G , Frank Konstantin , Melnikov Dmitry V , Moellhoff Nicholas , Swift Arthur , Heisinger Stephan , Gotkin Robert H , Ehrl Denis , Cotofana Sebastian
Published: March 2021

Background

Our understanding of the functional anatomy of the face is constantly improving. To date, it is unclear whether the anatomic location of the line of ligaments has any functional importance during normal facial movements such as smiling.

Objectives

The authors sought to identify differences in facial movements between the medial and lateral midface by means of skin vector displacement analyses derived from 3-dimensional (3D) imaging and to further ascertain whether the line of ligaments has both a structural and functional significance in these movements.

Methods

The study sample consisted of 21 healthy volunteers (9 females and 12 males) of Caucasian ethnic background with a mean age of 30.6 (8.3) years and mean BMI of 22.57 (2.5) kg/m2. 3D images of the volunteers’ faces in repose and during smiling (Duchenne type) were taken. 3D imaging-based skin vector displacement analyses were conducted.

Results

The mean horizontal skin displacement was 0.08 (2.0) mm in the medial midface (lateral movement) and was −0.08 (1.96) mm in the lateral midface (medial movement) (P = 0.711). The mean vertical skin displacement (cranial movement of skin toward the forehead/temple) was 6.68 (2.4) mm in the medial midface, whereas it was 5.20 (2.07) mm in the lateral midface (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

The results of this study provide objective evidence for an antagonistic skin movement between the medial and lateral midface. The functional boundary identified by 3D imaging corresponds to the anatomic location of the line of ligaments.

Level of Evidence: 4
PrecisionProDB: improving the proteomics performance for precision medicine
Authors: Cao Xiaolong , Xing Jinchuan
Published: March 2021

As the next-generation sequencing technology becomes broadly applied, genomics and transcriptomics are becoming more commonly used in both research and clinical settings. However, proteomics is still an obstacle to be conquered. For most peptide search programs in proteomics, a standard reference protein database is used. Because of the thousands of coding DNA variants in each individual, a standard reference database does not provide perfect match for many proteins/peptides of an individual. A personalized reference database can improve the detection power and accuracy for individual proteomics data. To connect genomics and proteomics, we designed a Python package PrecisionProDB that is specialized for generating a personized protein database for proteomics applications. PrecisionProDB supports multiple popular file formats and reference databases, and can generate a personized database in minutes. To demonstrate the application of PrecisionProDB, we generated human population-specific reference protein databases with PrecisionProDB, which improves the number of identified peptides by 0.34% on average. In addition, by incorporating cell line-specific variants into the protein database, we demonstrated a 0.71% improvement for peptide identification in the Jurkat cell line. With PrecisionProDB and these datasets, researchers and clinicians can improve their peptide search performance by adopting the more representative protein database or adding population and individual-specific proteins to the search database with minimum increase of efforts.

Availabilityand implementation

PrecisionProDB and pre-calculated protein databases are freely available at https://github.com/ATPs/PrecisionProDB and https://github.com/ATPs/PrecisionProDB_references.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Protein contact map refinement for improving structure prediction using generative adversarial networks
Authors: Maddhuri Venkata Subramaniya Sai Raghavendra , Terashi Genki , Jain Aashish , Kagaya Yuki , Kihara Daisuke
Published: March 2021

Motivation

Protein structure prediction remains as one of the most important problems in computational biology and biophysics. In the past few years, protein residue–residue contact prediction has undergone substantial improvement, which has made it a critical driving force for successful protein structure prediction. Boosting the accuracy of contact predictions has, therefore, become the forefront of protein structure prediction.

Results

We show a novel contact map refinement method, ContactGAN, which uses Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). ContactGAN was able to make a significant improvement over predictions made by recent contact prediction methods when tested on three datasets including protein structure modeling targets in CASP13 and CASP14. We show improvement of precision in contact prediction, which translated into improvement in the accuracy of protein tertiary structure models. On the other hand, observed improvement over trRosetta was relatively small, reasons for which are discussed. ContactGAN will be a valuable addition in the structure prediction pipeline to achieve an extra gain in contact prediction accuracy.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/kiharalab/ContactGAN.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Unexpected population genetic structure in two closely related euphaeid damselflies from the Yaeyama and Taiwan Islands (Odonata: Euphaeidae)
Authors: Kanke Emi , Suzuki Kohei , Sekiné Kazuki , Suzuki Tomoya , Hatta Kokichi , Yang Man-Miao , Tojo Koji
Published: March 2021

In general, population genetics theory predicts that a fragmented smaller population will contain relatively less genetic diversity than a larger population, and so will have a higher rate of genetic fixation due to random genetic drift or inbreeding. However, in this study, having analysed the genetic structure of the mitochondrial DNA COI region between two closely related euphaeid damselflies, we obtained unexpected results which contradict the theoretically expected patterns. Despite their geographical proximity, Euphaea yayeyamana was clearly genetically isolated on Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, and no haplotype crossovers were observed. Even within each island, several diverse haplotypes were observed, indicating a significantly high haplotype intra-island diversity. However, the genetic diversity within Taiwan’s population of Euphaea formosa was significantly lower than that within either Ishigaki or Iriomote Island, even though Taiwan is significantly larger, with high mountain ranges that reach c. 4000 m a.s.l. and an abundance of habitats, all factors that should contribute to high genetic diversity. The current low diversity status for Taiwan’s population may be due to genetic bottleneck effects. In contrast, despite the very small population sizes of Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands coupled with the effects of glacial and interglacial geological events, they have maintained markedly high genetic diversity.
SEARCH Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Streamlined Treatment Intervention Reduces Mortality at a Population Level in Men With Low CD4 Counts
Authors: Kamya Moses R , Petersen Maya L , Kabami Jane , Ayieko James , Kwariisima Dalsone , Sang Norton , Clark Tamara D , Schwab Joshua , Charlebois Edwin D , Cohen Craig R , Bukusi Elizabeth A , Peng James , Jain Vivek , Chen Yea-Hung , Chamie Gabriel , Balzer Laura B , Havlir Diane V
Published: March 2021

Background

We tested the hypothesis that patient-centered, streamlined human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care would achieve lower mortality than the standard treatment model for persons with HIV and CD4 ≤ 350/uL in the setting of population-wide HIV testing.

Methods

In the SEARCH (Sustainable East Africa Research in Community Health) Study (NCT01864603), 32 communities in rural Uganda and Kenya were randomized to country-guided antiretroviral therapy (ART) versus streamlined ART care that included rapid ART start, visit spacing, flexible clinic hours, and welcoming environment. We assessed persons with HIV and CD4 ≤ 350/uL, ART eligible in both arms, and estimated the effect of streamlined care on ART initiation and mortality at 3 years. Comparisons between study arms used a cluster-level analysis with survival estimates from Kaplan-Meier; estimates of ART start among ART-naive persons treated death as a competing risk.

Results

Among 13 266 adults with HIV, 2973 (22.4%) had CD4 ≤ 350/uL. Of these, 33% were new diagnoses, and 10% were diagnosed but ART-naive. Men with HIV were almost twice as likely as women with HIV to have CD4 ≤ 350/uL and be untreated (15% vs 8%, respectively). Streamlined care reduced mortality by 28% versus control (risk ratio [RR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .56, .93; P = .02). Despite eligibility in both arms, persons with CD4 ≤ 350/uL started ART faster under streamlined care versus control (76% vs 43% by 12 months, respectively; P < .001). Mortality was reduced substantially more among men (RR = 0.61; 95% CI: .43, .86; P = .01) than among women (RR = 0.90; 95% CI: .62, 1.32; P = .58).

Conclusions

After population-based HIV testing, streamlined care reduced population-level mortality among persons with HIV and CD4 ≤ 350/uL, particularly among men. Streamlined HIV care models may play a key role in global efforts to reduce AIDS deaths.
Average of Patient Deltas: Patient-Based Quality Control Utilizing the Mean Within-Patient Analyte Variation
Authors: Cembrowski George S , Xu Qian , Cervinski Mark A
Published: March 2021

Background

Because traditional QC is discontinuous, laboratories use additional strategies to detect systematic error. One strategy, the delta check, is best suited to detect large systematic error. The moving average (MA) monitors the mean patient analyte value but cannot equitably detect systematic error in skewed distributions. Our study combines delta check and MA to develop an average of deltas (AoD) strategy that monitors the mean delta of consecutive, intrapatient results.

Methods

Arrays of the differences (delta) between paired patient results collected within 20–28 h of each other were generated from historical data. AoD protocols were developed using a simulated annealing algorithm in MatLab (Mathworks) to select the number of patient delta values to average and truncation limits to eliminate large deltas. We simulated systematic error by adding bias to arrays for plasma albumin, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, aspartate aminotransferase, bicarbonate, bilirubin (total and direct), calcium, chloride, creatinine, lipase, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, total protein, and magnesium. The average number of deltas to detection (ANDED) was then calculated in response to induced systematic error.

Results

ANDED varied by combination of assay and AoD protocol. Errors in albumin, lipase, and total protein were detected with a mean of 6 delta pairs. The highest ANDED was calcium, with a positive 0.6-mg/dL shift detected with an ANDED of 75. However, a negative 0.6-mg/dL calcium shift was detected with an ANDED of 25.

Conclusions

AoD detects systematic error with relatively few paired patient samples and is a patient-based QC technique that will enhance error detection.
Influence of sex on intracellular calcium homoeostasis in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Herraiz-Martínez Adela , Tarifa Carmen , Jiménez-Sábado Verónica , Llach Anna , Godoy-Marín Hector , Colino-Lage Hildegard , Nolla-Colomer Carme , Casabella-Ramon Sergi , Izquierdo-Castro Paloma , Benítez Iván , Benítez Raul , Roselló-Díez Elena , Rodríguez-Font Enrique , Viñolas Xavier , Ciruela Francisco , Cinca Juan , Hove-Madsen Leif
Published: March 2021

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with intracellular calcium disturbances in human atrial myocytes, but little is known about the potential influence of sex and we here aimed to address this issue.

Methods and results

Alterations in calcium regulatory mechanisms were assessed in human atrial myocytes from patients without AF or with long-standing persistent or permanent AF. Patch-clamp measurements revealed that L-type calcium current (ICa) density was significantly smaller in males with than without AF (−1.15 ± 0.37 vs. −2.06 ± 0.29 pA/pF) but not in females with AF (−1.88 ± 0.40 vs. −2.21 ± 0.0.30 pA/pF). In contrast, transient inward currents (ITi) were more frequent in females with than without AF (1.92 ± 0.36 vs. 1.10 ± 0.19 events/min) but not in males with AF. Moreover, confocal calcium imaging showed that females with AF had more calcium spark sites than those without AF (9.8 ± 1.8 vs. 2.2 ± 1.9 sites/µm2) and sparks were wider (3.0 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.3 µm) and lasted longer (79 ± 6 vs. 55 ± 8 ms), favouring their fusion into calcium waves that triggers ITIs and afterdepolarizations. This was linked to higher ryanodine receptor phosphorylation at s2808 in women with AF, and inhibition of adenosine A2A or beta-adrenergic receptors that modulate s2808 phosphorylation was able to reduce the higher incidence of ITI in women with AF.

Conclusion

Perturbations of the calcium homoeostasis in AF is sex-dependent, concurring with increased spontaneous SR calcium release-induced electrical activity in women but not in men, and with diminished ICa density in men only.
Biological Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Implications of Adult Emergence Patterns of TwoLeucopisspp. (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) andLaricobius nigrinus(Coleoptera: Derodontidae) Larval Drop
Authors: Dietschler Nicholas J , Bittner Tonya D , Trotter R Talbot , Fahey Timothy J , Whitmore Mark C
Published: March 2021

The hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae Adelges tsugae Annand) poses a serious threat to hemlocks in eastern North America, and ongoing research is focused on the identification and development of biological controls to protect and manage hemlock resources. Three predators native to the Pacific Northwest of North America that have been the focus of much research are Leucopis argenticollis (Zetterstedt), Leucopis piniperda (Malloch) (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), and Laricobius nigrinus (Fender) (Coleoptera: Derodontidae). This study addresses the knowledge gap of adult Leucopis spp. emergence patterns, with comparisons to the timing of larval La. nigrinus drop for pupation. Adult Leucopis spp. emergence was observed in the lab from field-collected, adelgid-infested foliage from Washington state in 2019 and 2020. Adult Leucopis spp. were collected daily as they emerged from foliage collections and identified to species using morphological features; a subset was validated using DNA barcoding. Accumulated heating degree days were calculated to compare a standardized emergence timing across collections made at different locations and temperature regimes. The abundance of the two Leucopis spp. and of the combined Leucopis spp. and La. nigrinus varied among sites and years, and no species was consistently more abundant than the other. Evaluations of seasonal emergence trends of the three species determine the predator complex behaves in a temporally stratified and predictable way. Emergence of adult Le. argenticollis was observed first, followed by La. nigrinus larval drop, with Le. piniperda emerging at the end of larval drop, and finally a second emergence of Le. argenticollis.
Chinese stroke survivors’ perceptions of participation in exercise or sitting Tai Chi
Authors: Zhao Jie , Zang Yuli , Chau Janita Pak Chun , He Rong , Thompson David R
Published: March 2021

Aims

Exercise promotes functional recovery among stroke survivors and is recommended to be commenced as soon as is feasible. However, little is known about stroke survivors’ perception of participation in exercise or sitting Tai Chi, a more culturally appropriate and popular movement in China. To explore Chinese stroke survivors’ perceptions of participation in exercise or sitting Tai Chi.

Methods and results

Face-to-face semi-structured interviews and content analysis of transcripts were conducted with a purposive sample of 30 stroke survivors. The qualitative study explored perceptions of post-stroke participation in exercise or sitting Tai Chi. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist was used to report findings. Perceived facilitators of exercise participation were healthcare professionals’ encouragement and recommendations, family and peer support and survivors’ motivation, intention, and self-perceived benefits. Perceived barriers were fear of falling, physical discomfort, and challenges in standing. Despite some reservations, most participants were willing to try sitting Tai Chi.

Conclusions

Encouragement and support, motivation, and perceived benefits were important for exercise participation after stroke. With the premise that all medical and nursing students in China are trained in Tai Chi, for stroke survivors with no access to formal exercise programmes, sitting Tai Chi may offer an appropriate alternative.
Toward Understanding Everyday Lives of Older Adults: A Methodological Exploration
Authors: Shin Jung-hye , Her-Xiong Youhung , Tredinnick Ross , Ponto Kevin
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives

Emerging trends in aging in place and increasing needs for home health care highlight the importance of researching older adults’ daily lives as they unfold within their residential environments. However, studies that examine how older adults interact with their home environments are scarce as homes are fluid and private spaces and do not render themselves easily to the researcher’s eyes. This article explores a new investigational method combining 3D-scanning and biomarker tracking technology with in-depth qualitative interviews in situ to explore older adults’ daily interactions with their home environments.

Research Design and Methods

We employed a unique approach that combined spatial, locational, and physiological tracking technology with in-depth qualitative in-home interviews with older adults aged 62–89 who received home modifications as a means to successfully age in place. We explored multiple data sets both individually and collectively, using various data analysis, visualization, and integration methods to test the feasibility and utility of our approach.

Results

A review of individual data sets allowed unique insights into different aspects of the daily lives of this sample of older adults. When combined, the data sets and subsequent analysis allowed an in-depth understanding of participants’ well-being and adaptive behaviors.

Discussion and Implications

This study provides a strong methodology for studying the home environment and its impact on the participants’ health and well-being. Insights obtained through this method can inform research, policy, and practice at all levels for professionals to continue exploring ways to support older adults aged 65 and older aging at home.
Smoking, Radiation Therapy, and Contralateral Breast Cancer Risk in Young Women
Authors: Reiner Anne S , Watt Gordon P , John Esther M , Lynch Charles F , Brooks Jennifer D , Mellemkjær Lene , Boice John D , Knight Julia A , Concannon Patrick , Smith Susan A , Liang Xiaolin , Woods Meghan , Shore Roy , Malone Kathleen E , Bernstein Leslie ,   The WECARE Study Collaborative Group, Bernstein Jonine L
Published: March 2021

Evidence is mounting that cigarette smoking contributes to second primary contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk. Whether radiation therapy (RT) interacts with smoking to modify this risk is unknown. In this multicenter, individually matched, case-control study, we examined the association between RT, smoking, and CBC risk. The study included 1521 CBC cases and 2212 controls with unilateral breast cancer, all diagnosed with first invasive breast cancer between 1985 and 2008 aged younger than 55 years. Absorbed radiation doses to contralateral breast regions were estimated with thermoluminescent dosimeters in tissue-equivalent anthropomorphic phantoms, and smoking history was collected by interview. Rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CBC risk were estimated by multivariable conditional logistic regression. There was no interaction between any measure of smoking with RT to increase CBC risk (eg, the interaction of continuous RT dose with smoking at first breast cancer diagnosis [ever/never]: RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.14; continuous RT dose with years smoked: RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.01; and continuous RT dose with lifetime pack-years: RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.01). There was no evidence that RT further increased CBC risk in young women with first primary breast cancer who were current smokers or had smoking history.
Pain and QOL in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: Buffering by Resilience Processes
Authors: Wright Laura A , Cohen Lindsey L , Gise Jensi , Shih Sharon , Sil Soumitri , Carter, Sierra
Published: March 2021

Objective

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders. The central feature of this chronic condition is pain. Several identified risk factors exacerbate the impact of pain on quality of life (QOL) in SCD; however, there are relatively fewer investigations of strengths-based resilience variables that might buffer the influence of pain on living with SCD. The purpose of this study was to examine strength-based resilience processes in youth with SCD and their parents. Grounded in an ecological resilience-risk model, we evaluated whether adolescent and parent protective factors (pain acceptance, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility) moderated the relation between adolescent-reported pain burden and QOL.

Methods

Ninety-three 12- to 18-year-old adolescents with SCD and their parents participated. Adolescents completed assessments of pain characteristics, pain acceptance, mindfulness, and QOL. Parents completed instruments measuring demographic and disease variables and parent psychological flexibility.

Results

Pain variables were associated with protective factors in predicted directions. Adolescent acceptance and mindfulness were positively correlated with QOL. Parent psychological flexibility and adolescent QOL were not related. After controlling for demographic, pain, and disease variables, moderation analyses indicated that adolescent pain acceptance buffered the relation between SCD pain burden and QOL. Moderation analyses were not significant for adolescent mindfulness or parent psychological flexibility.

Conclusions

Results suggest that strengths-based factors may play an important role for adolescents’ QOL within the context of SCD pain. Interventions that enhance teenagers’ ability to accept pain might be particularly useful to improve QOL in adolescents living with SCD pain.
Nucleosome composition regulates the histone H3 tail conformational ensemble and accessibility
Authors: Morrison Emma A , Baweja Lokesh , Poirier Michael G , Wereszczynski Jeff , Musselman Catherine A
Published: March 2021

Hexasomes and tetrasomes are intermediates in nucleosome assembly and disassembly. Their formation is promoted by histone chaperones, ATP-dependent remodelers, and RNA polymerase II. In addition, hexasomes are maintained in transcribed genes and could be an important regulatory factor. While nucleosome composition has been shown to affect the structure and accessibility of DNA, its influence on histone tails is largely unknown. Here, we investigate the conformational dynamics of the H3 tail in the hexasome and tetrasome. Using a combination of NMR spectroscopy, MD simulations, and trypsin proteolysis, we find that the conformational ensemble of the H3 tail is regulated by nucleosome composition. As has been found for the nucleosome, the H3 tails bind robustly to DNA within the hexasome and tetrasome, but upon loss of the H2A/H2B dimer, we determined that the adjacent H3 tail has an altered conformational ensemble, increase in dynamics, and increase in accessibility. Similar to observations of DNA dynamics, this is seen to be asymmetric in the hexasome. Our results indicate that nucleosome composition has the potential to regulate chromatin signaling and ultimately help shape the chromatin landscape.
Cardiac Output and Cerebral Blood Flow: A Systematic Review of Cardio-Cerebral Coupling
Authors: Castle-Kirszbaum Mendel , Parkin William Geoffrey , Goldschlager Tony , Lewis Philip M.
Published: March 2021

Control of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is crucial to the management of neurocritically ill patients. Small studies which have examined the role of cardiac output (CO) as a determinant of CBF have inconsistently demonstrated evidence of cardio-cerebral coupling. Putative physiological mechanisms underpinning such coupling include changes in arterial blood pressure pulsatility, which would produce vasodilation through increased oscillatory wall-shear-stress and baroreceptor mediated reflex sympatholysis, and changes in venous backpressure which may improve cerebral perfusion pressure. We sought to summarize and contextualize the literature on the relationship between CO and CBF and discuss the implications of cardio-cerebral coupling for neurocritical care. A systematic review of the literature yielded 41 studies; all were of low-quality and at high-risk of bias. Results were heterogenous, with evidence for both corroboration and confutation of a relationship between CO and CBF in both normal and abnormal cerebrovascular states. Common limitations of studies were lack of instantaneous CBF measures with reliance on transcranial Doppler–derived blood flow velocity as a surrogate, inability to control for fluctuations in established determinants of CBF (eg, PaCO2), and direct effects on CBF by the interventions used to alter CO. Currently, the literature is insufficiently robust to confirm an independent relationship between CO and CBF. Hypothetically, the presence of cardio-cerebral coupling would have important implications for clinical practice. Manipulation of CBF could occur without the risks associated with extremes of arterial pressure, potentially improving therapy for those with cerebral ischemia of various etiologies. However, current literature is insufficiently robust to confirm an independent relationship between CO and CBF, and further studies with improved methodology are required before therapeutic interventions can be based on cardio-cerebral coupling.
Prototype Development and Usability Evaluation of a Clinical Decision Support Tool for Pharmacogenomic Pharmacy in Practice
Authors: Baker Elizabeth White , Dodson Crystal Heath
Published: March 2021

Pharmacogenetics, a subset of precision medicine, provides a way to individualize drug dosages and provide tailored drug therapy to patients. This revolution in prescribing techniques has resulted in a knowledge deficit for many healthcare providers on the proper way to use pharmacogenetics in practice. This research study explored the potential adoption of clinical decision support system mobile apps by clinicians through investigating the initial usability of the PGx prototype application in an effort to address the lack of such tools used in practice. The study method included usage of a clinical decision support system programmed within our pharmacogenomics drug dosage application (called PGx) in a simulated environment. Study participants completed the System Usability Scale survey to report on the perceived usefulness and ease of use of the mobile app. The PGx app has a higher perceived usability than 85% of all products tested, considered very good usability for a product. This general usability rating indicates that the nurse practitioner students find the application to be a clinical decision support system that would be helpful to use in practice.
HIV-Related Stigma Among People Living With HIV in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Moradzadeh Rahmatollah , Zamanian Maryam
Published: March 2021

HIV is perceived as a taboo topic in Iranian culture. This study examined HIV-related stigma among Iranian people living with HIV (PLWH). This cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 PLWH in 2019. HIV-related stigma was assessed by a standardized questionnaire adapted into Persian for this study. The range of the stigma scores for each of the subscales (personalized stigma, negative self-image, disclosure concerns, and concerns about public attitudes) was 3–12, whereas the range for the total stigma score was 12–48. The highest and lowest mean scores were observed in concerns about public attitudes (10.07) and negative self-image (7.39). The total mean stigma score was 37.03, indicating a high level of stigma. The most important factors determining HIV-related stigma were socioeconomic status, transmission method, duration of disease, and education level. This study suggests the need for more effective interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma among Iranian PLWH.
Impact of Hearing Rehabilitation Using Cochlear Implants on Cognitive Function in Older Patients
Authors: Issing Christian , Baumann Uwe , Pantel Johannes , Stöver Timo
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To assess the effects of hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implants on a subset of cognitive domains in older patients (≥65 yr).

Study Design:

Prospective observational study.

Setting:

Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main.

Patients:

Patients aged between 65 and 86 years who have received unilateral cochlear implant (CI) therapy.

Intervention:

Unilateral cochlear implantation.

Main Outcome Measures:

The dementia screening test (DemTect) and the trail making test (TMT) were carried out on three occasions: previous to the surgery, at the initial fitting (about 1 month after surgery) and 6 months after surgery.

Results:

The average overall score on the DemTect scale increased significantly within 6 months of CI treatment (p = 0.049), with verbal aspects improving particularly markedly. The results of the trail making test showed that within 6 months of CI treatment, processing speed increased significantly (TMT A: p = 0.003; TMT B: p = 0.001).

Conclusion:

A pre-post comparison showed that aural rehabilitation with a CI results in an improvement in cognitive subdomains. Further comprehensive randomized-controlled studies may be necessary to evaluate possible confounding variables and to assess long-term results.
Rural College Students’ Amenability Toward Using At-Home Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Kits
Authors: Hubach Randolph D. , Mahaffey Carlos , Rhoads Kelley , O'Neil Andrew M. , Ernst Campbell , Bui Lynn X. , Hamrick Justin , Giano Zachary
Published: March 2021

Background

College students residing in rural areas of the United States have limited access to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening programs; yet, have increased rates of infection.

Methods

Students (N = 326), attending a state university located within a rural community, completed an online survey containing open-ended questions that gauged their perceptions and experiences with HIV/STI testing, amenability to at-home testing technology, and preferences for obtaining at-home testing kits. Inductive coding was used to create themes for each open-ended question.

Results

Students encounter a number of perceived barriers to accessing clinical HIV/STI testing venues including cost, utilization of parents' medical insurance, and stigma. Students desired screening paradigms that allow for a greater sense of privacy and the ability to be empowered through self-sampling methods. This includes the use of at-home testing kits, which could be accessed via mail, campus, or the local community. Although students were overwhelmingly amenable to using at-home testing, students discussed concerns with potential user error that could impact testing accuracy.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest the importance of developing less clinically oriented systems of HIV/STI screening, which allow students to choose from an array of screening options. Removing perceived barriers, notably access and privacy concerns, to HIV/STI testing by leveraging at-home testing is one potential method to increase screening uptake among this at-risk population.
Factors Associated With Online Sex Partners Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: Results From a National Survey
Authors: Kachur Rachel E. , Copen Casey E. , Strona F.V. , Bernstein Kyle T. , Furness B.W. , Hogben Matthew
Published: March 2021

Background

Associations between online sex seeking and increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) typically rely on convenience samples. We examined Internet and mobile app use for finding sex partners among a nationally representative sample of MSM.

Methods

We analyzed 2011 to 2017 data from the National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative sample of the civilian, non-institutionalized US population (15–44 years). The analytic sample was comprised of men who reported 1 or more same-sex partners in the past year. We also assessed associations between online sex-seeking and STI risk, sexual health care behaviors, and condom use.

Results

Of 13,320 male respondents, 442 (3.0%) reported sex with a man in the past year, of whom 215 (46.3%) had met a partner online. Between MSM who met partners online and those who did not, we found no differences by age, education, race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Men who have sex with men with online partners were more likely to identify as gay (68.4% vs 49.5%, P = 0.0124). They also reported more sex partners overall (M = 3.04 vs 1.60, P < 0.0001), and multiple insertive (46.3% vs 8.5%, P < 0.0001) and receptive (33.2% vs 15.4%, P = 0.0055) anal sex partners, in the past year. They were also more likely to receive sexual risk assessments (56.0% vs 40.4%, P = 0.0129), STI testing (57.4% vs 35.3%, P = 0.0002), and STI treatment (17.8% vs 8.7%, P = 0.0152) in the past year. We found no differences in condom use.

Conclusions

Men who have sex with men who report using online sources to find sex partners are more likely than other MSM to report behaviors that increase risk for STI/HIV but are also more likely to engage in behaviors that may mitigate further transmission, such as STI testing.
Health Care Provider Perceptions of Facilitators and Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Delivery in Five Countries
Authors: Islam Jessica Y. , Gurbani Arshya , Ramos Silvina , Morgan Karen , Kim Chan Joo , Richter Karin L. , de Sanjose Silvia , Smith Jennifer S. , Vielot Nadja A.
Published: March 2021

Background

National human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs could reduce global cervical cancer morbidity and mortality with support from health care providers. We assessed providers' perceptions of HPV vaccination in 5 countries.

Methods

We identified providers from 5 countries where national HPV vaccination programs were at various stages of implementation: Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain. Providers authorized to administer adolescent vaccines completed an in-depth survey, reporting perceptions of barriers and facilitators to initiating and completing HPV vaccination, and logistical challenges to HPV vaccination.

Results

Among 151 providers, common barriers to HPV vaccination initiation across all countries were parents' lack of awareness (39%), concerns about vaccine safety or efficacy (33%), and cost to patients (30%). Vaccination education campaign (70%) was the most commonly cited facilitator of HPV vaccination initiation. Common barriers to series completion included no reminder system or dosing schedule (37%), loss to follow-up or forgetting appointment (29%), and cost to patients (25%). Cited facilitators to completing the vaccine series were education campaigns (45%), affordable vaccination (32%), and reminder/recall systems (22%). Among all countries, high cost of vaccination was the most common logistical challenge to offering vaccination to adolescents (33%).

Conclusions

Incorporating provider insights into future HPV vaccination programs could accelerate vaccine delivery to increase HPV vaccination rates globally.
Rising Syphilis Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Stanford Kimberly A. , Almirol Ellen , Schneider John , Hazra Aniruddha
Published: March 2021

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on syphilis rates is unknown. A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients screened for syphilis through universal screening in a large, urban emergency department from June 2019 to June 2020. During the early pandemic (April through June 2020), screening rates remained similar, but the rate of presumed active infection increased from 1.2% to 1.8% (prevalence ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.00; P < 0.01), with significant increases among adolescents and women. Only 19.2% of patients with presumed active infection presented for STI-related complaints. Universal screening represents a valuable tool for achieving syphilis control within high-prevalence communities.
The Use of Intracranial Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect a Presumptive Syphilitic Brain Aneurysm
Authors: Askar Wajih , Nadeem Iram , Dalby Jessica , Hunter Paul , Kuchinsky Genevieve , Wolfe Thomas , Stoner Bradley
Published: March 2021

Syphilitic intracranial aneurysm is a rare presentation of meningovascular syphilis in developed countries. In this case report, we discuss the utilization of the intracranial vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging in the management of a patient with a rare fusiform brain aneurysm, positive syphilis serologies, and inconclusive cerebrospinal fluid findings.
Superiority of NaF PET/CT Over Chest CT in a Case of Osteosarcoma
Authors: Morland David , Godard François , Lalire Paul , Eymard Jean-Christophe , Papathanassiou Dimitri
Published: March 2021

We report the case of a 21-year-old man referred to our institution for the initial staging of an osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the right femur. An 18F-NaF PET/CT demonstrated millimetric pleuroparenchymal metastases, later confirmed on follow-up. These lesions were not reported on both dedicated chest CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT.
False-Positive 68Ga–Fibroblast Activation Protein-Specific Inhibitor Uptake of Benign Lymphoid Tissue in a Patient With Breast Cancer
Authors: Gündoğan Cihan , Güzel Yunus , Can Canan , Alabalik Ulaş , Kömek Halil
Published: March 2021

68Ga-fibroblast activation protein-specific inhibitor (FAPI)-04 PET/CT was performed in a patient with left lower outer quadrant breast cancer who had 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT showed higher accumulation of radiotracer in primary tumor and axillary lymph nodes than 18F-FDG PET/CT. In addition, focal increased FAPI uptake was observed in another nodular lesion in the lower inner quadrant in the same breast, which was considered malignant. However, Tru-Cut biopsy of this lesion was reported as benign lymphoid tissue. This case showed that all FAPI accumulation in breast tissue should not be interpreted in favor of malignancy; histopathological confirmation is required.