bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Math anxiety differentially impairs symbolic, but not nonsymbolic, fraction skills across development
Authors: Starling‐Alves Isabella , Wronski Matthew R. , Hubbard Edward M.
Published: November 2021

Although important for the acquisition of later math skills, fractions are notoriously difficult. Previous studies have shown that higher math anxiety (MA) is associated with lower performance in symbolic fraction tasks in adults and have suggested that MA may negatively impact the acquisition of fractions in children. However, the effects of MA on fraction skills in school‐aged children remain underexplored. We, therefore, investigated the impact of MA on the performance of younger (second and third graders) and older (fifth and sixth graders) children in math fluency (MF), written calculation, fraction knowledge (FK), and symbolic fraction and nonsymbolic ratio processing. On the basis of our prior work suggesting a perceptual foundation for fraction processing, we predicted that symbolic, but not nonsymbolic, math skills (especially fractions) would be impaired by MA. As predicted, higher MA was associated with lower performance in general mathematics achievement and symbolic fraction tasks, but nonsymbolic ratio processing was not affected by MA in either age group. Furthermore, working memory capacity partially mediated the effects of MA on general mathematics achievement, FK, and symbolic fraction processing. These results suggest that understanding the bidirectional interactions between MA and fractions may be important for helping children acquire these critical skills.
Food‐allergy‐specific anxiety and distress in parents of children with food allergy: A systematic review
Authors: Westwell‐Roper Clara , To Sharon , Andjelic Gordan , Lu Cynthia , Lin Boyee , Soller Lianne , Chan Edmond S. , Stewart S. Evelyn
Published: November 2021

Background

Parenting a child with food allergy (FA) can lead to impaired quality of life and family functioning. Anxiety is a critical component of FA‐associated distress and a potential target for therapeutic intervention. This systematic review aimed to clarify the concept of FA‐specific anxiety (FAA) and its antecedents, consequences, and correlates and to determine the extent to which existing FA‐specific outcome measures capture symptoms of parental distress and FAA.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL were searched for qualitative and quantitative studies examining distress or anxiety in parents of children with FA through August 2020. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020208316) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Ninety‐eight studies were included in the final narrative synthesis. Most participants were mothers, and reporting of demographic data was limited. Parents identified anxiety as the most burdensome form of FA‐specific emotional distress. Several allergy‐related factors as well as medical and psychosocial interventions were associated with reduced parental anxiety and distress. However, affective, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions of FAA were only partially addressed by existing measures for general anxiety symptoms and FA‐specific parental factors.

Conclusions

FAA contributes to distress and functional impairment among parents of children with FA. Current FA‐specific parent measures fail to adequately capture dimensions of FAA, suggesting that further work is needed to improve the assessment and monitoring of FAA and its impacts. Characterization of this construct represents an initial step in developing standardized methods for assessing and monitoring FAA in clinical populations.
Opioid‐sparing effects of ultrasound‐guided erector spinae plane block for adult patients undergoing surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Jiao Bo , Chen Hai , Chen Mingyuan , Lu Peilin , Liu Jin , Chen Chan
Published: November 2021

Background

Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a new method of administering analgesics to patients perioperatively. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the opioid‐sparing effects of erector spinae plane block in patients during the perioperative period compared to conventional analgesia and identify its role in the development of opioid‐free anesthesia.

Methods

Relevant study articles were retrieved from PubMed, the Web of Science, Medline via Ovid, Embase via Ovid, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on June 11, 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the use of ESPB with control (no/sham block). The primary outcome was opioid consumption at 24 h after surgery and intraoperative opioid consumption. A random‐effects model was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) if there was significant heterogeneity in the data; otherwise, the fixed‐effect model was used.

Results

A total of 25 randomized controlled trials involving 1461 patients were included. The use of ultrasound‐guided ESPB was associated with reduced opioid consumption at 24 h after surgery [SMD: −2.14, 95% CI: −2.61 to −1.67, p < 0.001] and during the intraoperative period [SMD: −2.30, 95% CI: −3.21 to −1.40, p < 0.001]. In addition, it took a longer time to administer the first rescue analgesia in the ESPB group [SMD: 3.60, 95% CI: 2.23–4.97, p < 0.001] and the group was associated with lower incidences of postoperative nausea or vomiting (PONV) [OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.34–0.72, p < 0.001].

Conclusions

Ultrasound‐guided ESPB could provide an opioid‐sparing effect and effective analgesia in adults undergoing surgeries with general anesthesia, and then promote opioid‐free anesthesia development.
Circulating fibrocyte level in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Yaşar Pınar Aslan , Köse Mehmet , Erdem Serife , Hangül Melih , Karaman Zehra Filiz , Eken Ahmet
Published: November 2021

Background

This study aimed to evaluate circulating fibrocyte levels in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients during stable and exacerbation periods of the condition.

Methods

The study group consisted of 39 patients diagnosed with CF and 20 healthy controls. Individuals included in the study were divided into three groups: CF, CF exacerbated, and a healthy control group. Their circulating fibrocyte levels were compared. Findings from a pulmonary function test and high‐resolution computed tomography of the lung were evaluated and compared.

Results

The circulating fibrocyte count was found to be significantly higher in patients with CF compared with the exacerbated and control groups. No correlation was found between the forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity values in the pulmonary function test and the circulating fibrocyte count. The circulating fibrocyte count in patients (in the CF group) with positive findings in the high‐resolution computed tomography was statistically significantly lower.

Conclusions

The circulating fibrocyte level in the peripheral blood of the patients with CF was increased.
Ontogeny of a subtidal point bar in the microtidal Venice Lagoon (Italy) revealed by three‐dimensional architectural analyses
Authors: Bellizia Elena , Donnici Sandra , Madricardo Fantina , Finotello Alvise , D’Alpaos Andrea , Ghinassi Massimiliano
Published: November 2021

Sedimentological and architectural features of meandering subtidal channels are relatively unexplored, and their deposits are commonly investigated based on facies models set up for intertidal meandering channels. The Venice Lagoon (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) is affected by a micro‐tidal regime and hosts a dense network of active and buried tidal channels. It represents an excellent natural laboratory to improve the current knowledge on subtidal meander morphodynamics and related deposits. In this study, the integration of high‐resolution geophysical images and core data allows reconstruction of the architectural three‐dimensional model of a meandering subtidal palaeochannel, which is buried below a modern subtidal flat. The study palaeochannel was 35 m wide and 3 m deep, and formed three adjacent meander bends and related point bars. A detailed three‐dimensional architectural reconstruction was carried out for deposits associated with one of these meander bends, that was crossed by a minor, low‐sinuosity channel with two minor bank‐attached bars. This reconstruction highlights that the study point bar has a horseshoe shape, which arose from the onset of bar accretion from an already‐sinuous channel. Reconstructed growth stages of the studied bends show that point‐bar accretion can follow different styles of planform transformation, also experiencing simultaneously landward (or seaward) deposition according to the dominant flow direction (i.e. local tidal asymmetry). The analyses show that planform transformations occurred in parallel with elevation changes of the related channel thalweg, which shaped pools with geometry varying with the radius of curvature of the bend. The present study highlights the relevance of high‐resolution three‐dimensional reconstructions to link palaeomorphodynamic processes with related sedimentary products.
Biomechanical responses of Nordic walking in people with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Leal‐Nascimento Antonio Henrique , da Silva Edson Soares , Zanardi Ana Paula Janner , Ivaniski‐Mello André , Passos‐Monteiro Elren , Martinez Flávia Gomes , Rodrigo de Carvalho Alberito , Baptista Rafael Reimann , Peyré‐Tartaruga Leonardo Alexandre
Published: November 2021

In healthy adults, Nordic walking (NW) is known to increase the external mechanical energy fluctuations, though the external work is unaltered due to an improved pendulum‐like recovery in comparison with free walking (FW). We aimed to compare mechanical, pendulum‐like, and spatiotemporal parameters of gait at different speeds with and without NW poles in people with Parkinson's disease and healthy controls. The study included 11 people (aged 65.6 ± 7.0 years) with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, scoring between 1 and 1.5 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale (H&Y), and nine healthy controls (aged 70.0 ± 5.6 years). All the people were experienced Nordic walkers. Walking tests were performed at 1.8 km h−1 and 4.7 km h−1, on eight 3D force platforms on a walkway. We found greater pendulum‐like energy recovery (p < 0.05) in the Parkinson group during NW than in FW, while external mechanical work remained similar (p > 0.05). People with Parkinson's disease showed a major increase in vertical and forward energy fluctuations using poles than in healthy controls. In addition, the Parkinson group showed increased stride frequency and reduced stride length compared to controls in the NW and FW conditions. Our findings partly justify the lower walking economy in Parkinson's disease due to reduced pendulum‐like mechanism at commonly used speeds. NW alters gait mechanics similarly in Parkinson group and healthy control, increasing the total mechanical work. Therefore, NW can be a compelling strategy for rehabilitation because of its potential for improving functional mobility, increasing pendulum‐like mechanism in Parkinson's disease.
“God Sees No Color” So Why Should I? How White Christians Produce Divinized Colorblindness
Authors: Mehta Sharan Kaur , Schneider Rachel C. , Ecklund Elaine Howard
Published: November 2021

The durability of racism in the United States continues to inspire critical scholarship about the mechanisms that drive persisting inequalities. Drawing on theories of colorblindness and white ignorance, growing work examines how White people actively deny, revise, or mystify white supremacy, illuminating cultural mechanisms that (re)produce racialized structures. Largely absent from this body of work, however, is the potential role of religion—specifically Christianity—as a cultural system that can inform and legitimize ways of knowing (or not knowing) about racism. Here, we draw on 85 interviews with White Christians (Catholic, Mainline Protestant, and Evangelical Protestant) to analyze how they talk about racism and produce racial knowledge. We show how some White Christians draw on colorblind religious frames and religious frames of diversity and inclusion to inform and legitimize overlapping, sometimes contradictory racial logics that can be deployed across social contexts to produce ignorance about systemic racism. Findings reveal the production of colorblindness as a dynamic process that, under certain conditions, White Christians actively negotiate by using religious frames, producing what we describe as divinized colorblindness.
Categorical Perception of p‐Values
Authors: Rao V. N. Vimal , Bye Jeffrey K. , Varma Sashank
Published: November 2021

Traditional statistics instruction emphasizes a .05 significance level for hypothesis tests. Here, we investigate the consequences of this training for researchers’ mental representations of probabilities — whether .05 becomes a boundary, that is, a discontinuity of the mental number line, and alters their reasoning about p‐values. Graduate students with statistical training (n = 25) viewed pairs of p‐values and judged whether they were “similar” or “different.” After controlling for several covariates, participants were more likely and faster to judge p‐values as “different” when they crossed the .05 boundary (e.g., .046 vs. .052) compared to when they did not (e.g., .026 vs. .032). This result suggests a categorical perception‐like effect for the processing of p‐values. It may be a consequence of traditional statistical instruction creating a psychologically real divide between so‐called statistical “significance” and “nonsignificance.” Such a distortion is undesirable given modern approaches to statistical reasoning that de‐emphasize dichotomizing the p‐value continuum.
The Right to Change Co‐Producing Ethnographic Animation with Indigenous Youth in Amazonia
Authors: Morelli Camilla
Published: November 2021

This article explores the use of ethnographic animation as a method to engage Indigenous youth actively in the production and representation of knowledge, producing research that not only examines social change, but also establishes pathways for change driven by participants themselves. Drawing on a recent collaboration with a professional animator, an Indigenous artist, and young Matses migrants in Amazonian Peru, I discuss how ethnographic animation can open up a space for Indigenous youth who feel radically unheard and unseen by wider society to discuss key challenges they face, while producing tangible outputs (animated films) to gain a sense of wider recognition through forms of self‐representation.
An Improved Blockchain Technique for Secure Land Registration Data Records
Authors: Humdullah Salman , Othman Siti Hajar , Razali Muhammad Najib , Kutty Mammi Hazinah , Javed Rabia
Published: November 2021

The land is a very valuable asset for any government. It’s government job to ensure that the land registration and transfer are done without any fraud, good speed and transparency. The current land registration method employed by the governments are not open to frauds, hacks, and corruption of land records. Fraud is one of the major problems in land registration methods. In this study, the goal is to develop the framework by incorporating the blockchain technique that secures the land data during the land registration and transfer phases by preventing the fraud. The use of blockchain gives us the transparent, decentralized and robust infrastructure to build our framework upon. The blockchain technology is implemented with the asymmetric keys encryption/decryption that securely stores the land registration/transfer data. The data is held using encrypting with the public key of the landowner and storing a hash of the data. The use of the cryptographic function of hashing using SHA. The comparison of using SHA 256 and SHA 512 is given and discussed. The dataset used to compare results is created using 200 records of JSON objects with each object being identical for both SHA256 and SHA512 to remove data bias. The proposed framework with the SHA 512 performed 29% faster than the SHA 256. The results indicate our proposed framework performing better than the works proposed in current research land registration techniques.
Relax App: Designing Mobile Brain-Computer Interface App to Reduce Stress among Students
Authors: John Jayaraj Priyangka , Ghazali Masitah , Gaber Abubaker
Published: November 2021

Students especially at universities undergo a lot of pressure and stress, and mental health is something that must not be taken lightly, especially at the time of pandemic as we are experiencing now. The need for us to look into the mental health is constantly reminded everywhere. There are a lot of ways to reduce stress such as meditation, getting involved in sports and one of the most practiced methods is by listening to music. Music has been indeed proved to have positive effects on humans and that it aids healing process such as binaural beats and Solfeggio frequency. These frequencies of music have impact towards the brainwave. This study reports on how the design thinking process was used to better identify the most suitable means on integrating mobile Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) as an application to know the impacts of different type of frequencies of music on the human brain to reduce stress. Besides suggesting a generic guideline to develop an application for mobile BCI, this study also provides us insights into the readiness of mobile BCI as an application for common usage.
Adaptive Virtual Reality Exergame: Promoting Physical Activity Among Workers
Authors: Stranick Thomas , Lopez Christian
Published: November 2021

This work presents a virtual reality (VR) Exergame application designed to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Moreover, to help adapt the tasks of the exergame, a machine learning model that predicts users’ exercise intensity level is presented. WMSDs are an important issue that can have a direct economic impact to an organization. Exercise and stretching is one method that can benefit workers and help prevent WMSDs. While several applications have been developed to prevent WMSDs, most of them suffer from a lack of immersivity or they just focus on education and not necessarily on helping workers warm-up or stretch. In light of this, an Exergame application that leverages VR and Depth-sensor technology to help provide users with an immersive first-person experience that engages them in physical activities is introduced in this work. The objective of the Exergame is to motivate users to perform full-body movements in order to pass through a series of obstacles. While in the game, users can visualize their motions by controlling the virtual avatar with their body movements. It is expected that this immersivity will motivate and encourage the users. Initial findings show the positive effects that the base exergame has on individuals’ motivation and physical activity. The results indicate that the application was able to engage individuals in low-intensity exercises that produced significant and consistent increases in their heart rate. Lastly, the results show that the machine learning model predicted users’ exercise activity level with an accuracy of 76.67%.
Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforcement on Grindability of Zirconium Diboride Ceramics
Authors: Shanbhog Nagaraj , Arunachalam N. , Bakshi Srinivasa R.
Published: November 2021

The effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPS) on the grindability of GNP reinforced ZrB2 was studied using a resin bonded diamond grinding wheel under dry and wet conditions. A comparative study of grinding forces was performed at selected wheel surface speeds and depths of cut for surface grinding. ZrB2-GNP showed lower normal grinding forces due to the improved fracture toughness and reduced hardness. The presence of GNP reinforcement in ZrB2 resulted in lower tangential forces and reduced specific grinding energy due to the role of GNP as a solid lubricant. The measured forces showed a good correlation with the micro cutting model for ZrB2 and ZrB2-GNP under dry conditions. The tangential forces showed the same trend as normal forces at different depths of cut and wheel surface speeds for ZrB2 and ZrB2-GNP with average force ratios of 0.3 and 0.35, respectively. The presence of porosity in ZrB2 increased the normal grinding forces during wet grinding. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the grinding chips indicated a mixture of both the ductile mode and the brittle mode of material removal with predominantly brittle fractured chips. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of GNPs in ZrB2-GNP grinding chips. The topography of the grinding wheel showed higher wheel loading after the dry grinding than that of wet grinding. The wet grinding resulted in relatively lower surface roughness (Ra values) than dry grinding.
Method for Determining Adiabatic Film Effectiveness in Presence of Thermal Boundary Layer
Authors: Parker James , Povey Thomas
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we present a new method for determining adiabatic film effectiveness in film cooling experiments with nonuniform inlet temperature distributions, in particular the situation of an inlet thermal boundary layer. This might arise in a quasi-steady experiment due to loss of heat from the mainstream flow to the inlet contraction walls, for example. In this situation, the thermal boundary layer would be time-varying. Adiabatic film effectiveness is generally normalized by the difference between mainstream and coolant gas temperatures. Most importantly, these temperatures are generally assumed to be spatially—and, possibly temporally—uniform at the system inlet. In experiments with nonuniform inlet temperature, the relevant hot gas temperature for a particular point of interest on a surface is not easily determined, being a complex function of both the inlet temperature profile and the flow field between the inlet and the point of interest. In this situation, adiabatic film effectiveness cannot be uniquely defined using conventional processing techniques. We solve this problem by introducing the concept of equivalent mainstream effectiveness, a nondimensional temperature for the mainstream that can be used to represent the thermal boundary layer profile at the inlet plane, or the effective temperature of the mainstream gas—which we refer to as the equivalent mainstream temperature—entrained into the mixing layer affecting the wall temperature at a particular point of interest. By using data from two or more time instants during an experiment, we simultaneously solve for equivalent mainstream effectiveness and true adiabatic film effectiveness, that is, the adiabatic film effectiveness that we would measure in an experiment with both steady and uniform inlet temperature. This is an important transformation because the true adiabatic effectiveness has a clear physical interpretation and is a more transportable quantity between systems (comparisons between different experiments, between experiment and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), etc.). The proposed method is experimentally demonstrated using full-surface infrared (IR) thermography measurements of a cooled rotor blade platform, operated in a transonic linear cascade facility at matched engine conditions. Film effectiveness measurements processed in the conventional way suffer from inlet thermal boundary layer effects, rendering them both time-varying (as heat is released to the walls of the tunnel) and, in certain regions, nonphysical in magnitude. The proposed technique renders the same data insensitive to time, and everywhere within physically reasonable limits. By demonstrating independence to the particular (time-varying) inlet temperature profile, we demonstrate the advantages of the proposed technique.
Double-pass consistency for amplitude- and frequency-modulation detection in normal-hearing listeners
Authors: Attia Sarah , King Andrew , Varnet Léo , Ponsot Emmanuel , Lorenzi Christian
Published: November 2021

Amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) provide crucial auditory information. If FM is encoded as AM, it should be possible to give a unified account of AM and FM perception both in terms of response consistency and performance. These two aspects of behavior were estimated for normal-hearing participants using a constant-stimuli, forced-choice detection task repeated twice with the same stimuli (double pass). Sinusoidal AM or FM with rates of 2 or 20 Hz were applied to a 500-Hz pure-tone carrier and presented at detection threshold. All stimuli were masked by a modulation noise. Percent agreement of responses across passes and percent-correct detection for the two passes were used to estimate consistency and performance, respectively. These data were simulated using a model implementing peripheral processes, a central modulation filterbank, an additive internal noise, and a template-matching device. Different levels of internal noise were required to reproduce AM and FM data, but a single level could account for the 2- and 20-Hz AM data. As for FM, two levels of internal noise were needed to account for detection at slow and fast rates. Finally, the level of internal noise yielding best predictions increased with the level of the modulation-noise masker. Overall, these results suggest that different sources of internal variability are involved for AM and FM detection at low audio frequencies.
Treatment with Fluticasone Propionate Increases Antibiotic Efficacy during Treatment of Late-Stage Primary Pneumonic Plague
Authors: Crane Samantha D. , Banerjee Srijon K. , Pechous Roger D.
Published: November 2021

Severe and late-stage pneumonias are often difficult to treat with antibiotics alone due to overwhelming host inflammatory responses mounted to clear infection. These host responses contribute to pulmonary damage leading to acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death.
Inhibitor-Resistant Mutants Give Important Insights into Candida albicans ABC Transporter Cdr1 Substrate Specificity and Help Elucidate Efflux Pump Inhibition
Authors: Niimi Masakazu , Niimi Kyoko , Tanabe Koichi , Cannon Richard D. , Lamping Erwin
Published: November 2021

Overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is a major cause of drug resistance in fungal pathogens. Milbemycins, enniatin B, beauvericin, and FK506 are promising leads for broad-spectrum fungal multidrug efflux pump inhibitors.
GSK3640254 Is a Novel HIV-1 Maturation Inhibitor with an Optimized Virology Profile
Authors: Dicker Ira , Jeffrey Jerry L. , Protack Tricia , Lin Zeyu , Cockett Mark , Chen Yan , Sit Sing-Yuen , Gartland Martin , Meanwell Nicholas A. , Regueiro-Ren Alicia , Drexler Dieter , Cantone Joseph , McAuliffe Brian , Krystal Mark
Published: November 2021

HIV-1 maturation inhibitors (MIs) offer a novel mechanism of action and potential for use in HIV-1 treatment. Prior MIs displayed clinical efficacy but were associated with the emergence of resistance and some gastrointestinal tolerability events.
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Infection Impedes Pseudomonas aeruginosa Colonization and Persistence in Mouse Respiratory Tract
Authors: Lindgren Natalie R. , Novak Lea , Hunt Benjamin C. , McDaniel Melissa S. , Swords W. Edward
Published: November 2021

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience lifelong respiratory infections, which are a significant cause of morbidity and death. These infections are polymicrobial in nature, and the predominant bacterial species undergo a predictable series of changes as patients age.
Binding of Gold(III) from Solutions by the [Ag6{S2CN(CH2)6}6] Cluster: Synthesis, Thermal Behavior, and Self-Organization of the Supramolecular Structure of the Double Complex [Au{S2CN(CH2)6}2]2[AgCl2]Cl·2CHCl3 (Role of Secondary Au⋅⋅⋅Cl, Ag⋅⋅⋅S, and Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl Interactions)
Authors: Korneeva E. V. , Novikova E. V. , Loseva O. V. , Smolentsev A. I. , Ivanov A. V.
Published: November 2021

The capability of silver(I) cyclo-hexamethylenedithiocarbamate to concentrate gold(III) from solutions characterized by a high level of salinity (5.15 M NaCl) into the solid phase has been established. The double chloroform-solvated Au(III)–Ag(I) complex [Au{S2CN(CH2)6}2]2[AgCl2]Cl·2CHCl3 (I) was preparatively isolated as an individual form of binding of [AuCl4]– anions. The composition of the ionic structural units of compound I indicates that gold(III) binding from a solution to the solid phase is accompanied by the complete redistribution of the HmDtc ligands between the coordination spheres of Ag(I) and Au(III). Complex I characterized by IR spectroscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis, and X-ray structure analysis (CIF file CCDC no. 2051654) exhibits the supramolecular structure containing two oppositely charged pseudo-polymeric subsystems. Complex cations [Au{S2CN(CH2)6}2]+ and anions [AgCl2]– (in a ratio of 2 : 1) form a complicatedly organized cation-anionic pseudo-polymeric ribbon ({[Au(HmDtc)2]⋅⋅⋅[AgCl2]⋅⋅⋅[Au(HmDtc)2]}+)n due to secondary interactions Ag⋅⋅⋅S (3.2613 Å) and Au⋅⋅⋅Cl (3.2765 Å). The pseudo-polymeric ribbon consists of two rows of cations and a row of anions. The outer-sphere chloride ions combine the solvate chloroform molecules by two equivalent hydrogen bonds Cl⋅⋅⋅H–C yielding anion-molecular triads [Cl3CH⋅⋅⋅Cl⋅⋅⋅HCCl3]–, which are involved in the formation of the supramolecular ribbon due to the secondary Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl interactions (3.4058 Å) between the nonequivalent chlorine atoms of the nearest solvate molecules. The study of the thermal behavior of complex I makes it possible to determine the character of thermolysis and conditions for the quantitative regeneration of bound gold.
Eliciting gastric cancer survivors’ preferences for follow-up services: a discrete choice experiment protocol
Authors: Li Hui-qin , Han Jin-hua , Yuan Hua , Wan Guang-ying , Xue Hui , Zhang Xiu-ying
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Follow-up care is important for gastric cancer survivors, but follow-up strategies for gastric cancer survivors remain inconsistent, and compliance of gastric cancer survivors with follow-up care is very low. Understanding the needs and preferences of gastric cancer survivors is conducive to developing appropriate and acceptable follow-up strategies, thereby improving patient compliance. Discrete choice experiments can quantify individual needs and preferences. However, to date, there is no discrete choice experiment on the preferences of gastric cancer survivors, and no studies have examined how gastric cancer survivors make choices based on different characteristics of follow-up. This paper outlines an ongoing discrete choice experiment that aims to (1) explore follow-up service-related characteristics that may affect gastric cancer survivors’ choices about their follow-up, (2) elicit how gastric cancer survivors consider the trade-offs among different follow-up service options using discrete choice experiment, (3) determine whether gastric cancer survivors’ needs and preferences for follow-up vary due to the economy, politics, technology and culture in different regions.

Methods and analysis

Six attributes were developed through a literature review, semistructured interviews and experts and focus group discussions. A fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the interaction between attributes. A multiple logit model will be used to understand the trade-off between the follow-up characteristics of gastric cancer survivors. A mixed logit model will be used to explore the willingness to pay and uptake rate of gastric cancer survivors for follow-up attributes and further explore the preferences of different groups.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the ethics committee of the School of Nursing, Jilin University. The results of this study will be shared through online blogs, policy briefs, seminars and peer-reviewed journal articles and will be used to modify the current strategy of gastric cancer survivors’ follow-up services according to economic development and regional culture.
Characteristics of Chinese patients with genetic CJD who have E196A or E196K mutation inPRNP: comparative analysis of patients identified in the Chinese National CJD Surveillance System
Authors: Shi Qi , Xiao Kang , Chen Cao , Zhou Wei , Gao Li-Ping , Wu Yue-Zhang , Wang Yuan , Hu Chao , Gao Chen , Dong Xiao-Ping
Published: November 2021

Objective

Two different mutations at codon 196, namely E196A and E196K, have been reported to be related to genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). We aimed to comparatively analyse the features of Chinese patients with these two mutations from the CJD surveillance system in China.

Design and setting

Comparative analysis of patients identified via the Chinese National CJD Surveillance System during the period 2006–2020.

Participants

16 Chinese patients with genetic CJD with E196A mutation and 5 with E196K mutation.

Methods

Neurological examination, EEG and MRI, western blot, gene sequence, and RT-QuIC.

Results

The age of onset of E196K genetic CJD cases (median of 61 years) was older than the E196A cases (median of 67 years). Generally, these two subtypes of genetic CJD were more like sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) clinically. The E196A cases showed more major symptoms, while those of E196K cases were restricted to dementia and mental problems. During progression, more sCJD-associated symptoms and signs gradually appeared, but none of the E196K cases showed cerebellum and visual disturbances. Typical periodic sharp wave complexes on MRI were recorded in 25% of E196A cases but not in E196K cases. sCJD-associated abnormalities on MRI, positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 14-3-3 and increased CSF total tau were observed frequently, ranging from two out of three cases to four out of five cases, without a difference. Positive CSF RT-QuIC was detected in 37.5% (6 of 16) of E196A cases and 60% (3 of 5) of E196K cases. The duration of survival of E196K cases (median of 4.5 months) was shorter than the E196A cases (median of 6.5 months). Moreover, female cases and cases with young age of onset (<60 years) in E196A displayed longer survival time than male patients and cases with older age of onset (≥60 years).

Conclusions

This is the largest comprehensive report of genetic CJD with mutations at codon 196 to date, describing the similarity and diversity in clinical and laboratory tests between patients with E196A and with E196K mutations.
Educational cost-effective intervention to reduce pathologist’s peripheral blood smears reviews with non-contributory findings: an academic institution experience
Authors: Lollie Trang K , Parks Robyn , Bakic Lissette , Ziman Alyssa , Pullarkat Sheeja
Published: November 2021

Peripheral blood smear (PBS) review by a pathologist is a necessary and invaluable diagnostic tool. However, innovative highly sophisticated haematology analysers that flag peripheral blood abnormalities have decreased the need for a PBS review. Ordering practices including PBS reviews lumped as part of an ‘order set’ or with complete blood count (CBC) constituted most PBS requests at our institution. A retrospective review of all PBS review orders from 1 April 2016 to 31 January 2017 was performed to investigate the ordering practices at our institution. A total of 2864 PBS were ordered during the above study period. In many cases, the PBS report did not add any significant clinical information beyond that acquired by the CBC and differential count. These findings inspired policy changes within our institution for pathologist PBS reviews. Within the electronic order system, all PBS orders for inpatients were linked to a pop-up window with criteria for peripheral smear review and instructions on the approval policy. Outpatient orders required clinicians to request pathology approval. This implementation reduced total number of PBS orders by 42.5% with no adverse effect on patient management. Empowering pathologists and clinicians with guidelines on PBS review orders is a beneficial educational exercise of resource utilisation. Discussion with physicians regarding clinical indications reduces non-contributory PBS reviews, provides guidance to appropriate testing, and aptly allocates pathologist and laboratory staff time and resources.
Diversion-p64: results from an international, prospective, multicenter, single-arm post-market study to assess the safety and effectiveness of the p64 flow modulation device
Authors: Bonafe Alain , Perez Marta Aguilar , Henkes Hans , Lylyk Pedro , Bleise Carlos , Gascou Gregory , Sirakov Stanimir , Sirakov Alexander , Stockx Luc , Turjman Francis , Petrov Andrey , Roth Christian , Narata Ana-Paula , Barreau Xavier , Loehr Christian , Berlis Ansgar , Pierot Laurent , Miś Marcin , Goddard Tony , Clifton Andy , Klisch Joachim , Wałęsa Cezary , Dall’Olio Massimo , Spelle Laurent , Clarencon Frédéric , Yakovlev Sergey , Keston Peter , Nuzzi Nunzio Paolo , Dima Stefanita , Wendl Christina , Willems Tine , Schramm Peter
Published: November 2021

Background

The use of flow diversion to treat intracranial aneurysms has increased in recent years.

Objective

To assess the safety and angiographic efficacy of the p64 flow modulation device.

Methods

Diversion-p64 is an international, prospective, multicenter, single-arm, study conducted at 26 centers. The p64 flow modulation device was used to treat anterior circulation aneurysms between December 2015 and January 2019. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of major stroke or neurologic death at 3–6 months, with the primary efficacy endpoint being complete aneurysm occlusion (Raymond-Roy Occlusion Classification 1) on follow-up angiography.

Results

A total of 420 patients met the eligibility criteria and underwent treatment with the p64 flow modulation device (mean age 55±12.0 years, 86.2% female). Mean aneurysm dome width was 6.99±5.28 mm and neck width 4.47±2.28 mm. Mean number of devices implanted per patient was 1.06±0.47, with adjunctive coiling performed in 14.0% of the cases. At the second angiographic follow-up (mean 375±73 days), available for 343 patients (81.7%), complete aneurysm occlusion was seen in 287 (83.7%) patients. Safety data were available for 413 patients (98.3%) at the first follow-up (mean 145±43 days) with a composite morbidity/mortality rate of 2.42% (n=10).

Conclusions

Diversion-p64 is the largest prospective study using the p64 flow modulation device. The results of this study demonstrate that the device has a high efficacy and carries a low rate of mortality and permanent morbidity.
Extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grade 2c: a potential angiographic target for endovascular treatment in acute basilar artery occlusion?
Authors: Chen Luming , Zhao Chenghao , Song Jiaxing , Zi Wenjie , Sang Hongfei , Yuan Junjie , Huang Jiacheng , Li Linyu , Luo Weidong , Fu Xinmin , Zhou Peiyang , Wan Yue , Zeng Guoyong , Xie Dongjing , Gao Fei , Li Fengli , Qiu Zhongming , Yang Qingwu
Published: November 2021

Background

Higher extended Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) grades are associated with better clinical outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for proximal intracranial occlusion of the anterior circulation. However, the relationship between eTICI grade and outcomes after EVT in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains unclear. We aimed to explore which eTICI category was the cut-off correlating with better clinical outcomes in patients with BAO undergoing EVT.

Methods

We included patients treated via EVT from the BASILAR study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of eTICI grades on 90-day favorable functional outcomes, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–3. Other outcomes were functional independence (mRS 0–2), all-cause mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

Results

Among 647 patients treated with EVT, 127 (19.6%), 128 (24.5%), 110 (21.1%), and 282 (54%) patients achieved eTICI grades of 0–2a, 2b, 2c, and 3, respectively. Compared with eTICI grades 0–2a, higher rates of favorable functional outcomes (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.96, 95% CI 1.33 to 6.57, and aOR 7.40, 95% CI 3.63 to 15.09, respectively) were observed for grades 2c and 3, not 2b (aOR 1.93, 95% CI 0.86 to 4.36). The risks of mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were also lower for eTICI grades 2c and 3 than for grades 0–2a.

Conclusions

An eTICI grade of 2c/3 may be a target for successful reperfusion after EVT in patients with acute BAO; however, further studies with larger sample sizes and clinical trials are needed.
Endovascular treatment for vaccine-induced cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination: a report of three cases
Authors: Cleaver Jonathan , Ibitoye Richard , Morrison Hamish , Flood Richard , Crewdson Kate , Marsh Aidan , Abhinav Kumar , Bosnell Rose , Crossley Robert , Mortimer Alex
Published: November 2021

Background

Vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare complication following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is overrepresented in VITT and is often associated with multifocal venous thromboses, concomitant hemorrhage and poor outcomes. Hitherto, endovascular treatments have not been reviewed in VITT-related CVST.

Methods

Patient records from a tertiary neurosciences center were reviewed to identify patients who had endovascular treatment for CVST in VITT.

Results

Patient records from 1 January 2021 to 20 July 2021 identified three patients who underwent endovascular treatment for CVST in the context of VITT. All were female and the median age was 52 years. The location of the CVST was highly variable. Two-thirds of the patients had multifocal dural sinus thromboses (sigmoid, transverse, straight and superior sagittal) as well as internal jugular vein thromboses. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in all patients; subarachnoid blood was noted in two of them, and intraparenchymal hemorrhage occurred in all. There was one periprocedural parenchymal extravasation which abated on temporary cessation of anticoagulation. Outcome data revealed a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 2 in all cases.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that endovascular treatment for VITT-associated CVST is feasible and can be safe in cases that deteriorate despite medical therapy. Extensive clot burden, concomitant hemorrhage, rapid clinical progression and persistent rises in intracranial pressure should initiate multidisciplinary team discussion for endovascular treatment in appropriate cases.
Cancer and mortality in coal mine workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alif Sheikh M , Sim Malcolm R , Ho Clarence , Glass Deborah C
Published: November 2021

Coal mine workers are exposed to a number of workplace hazards which may increase the risk of cancer and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate cancer and mortality in coal mine workers We searched in Ovid Medline, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases using keywords and text words related to coal mines, cancer and mortality and identified 36 full-text articles using predefined inclusion criteria. Each study’s quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We performed random-effect meta-analyses including 21 of the identified articles evaluating cancer and/or mortality of coal mine workers. The meta-analysis showed an increased risk of all-cause mortality (SMR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.30) and mortality from non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD) (3.59, 95% CI 3.00 to 4.30) in cohorts with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP). We found a somewhat increased risk of stomach cancer (1.11, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.35) and of mortality from NMRD (1.26, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.61) in the cohorts of coal miners with unknown CWP status. The meta-analysis also showed a decreased risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality among coal miners. This may be a result of the healthy worker effect and possible lower smoking rates, and perhaps also reflect the physically active nature of many jobs in coal mines. The meta-analysis for lung cancer did not show increased risk in coal miners with CWP (1.49, 95% CI 0.70 to 3.18) or for coal miners of unknown CWP status (1.03, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.18). Lower smoking rates in coal mine workers could explain why case–control studies where smoking was controlled for showed higher risks for lung cancer than were seen in cohort studies. Coal mine workers are at increased risk of mortality from NMRD but decreased risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality. Studies of coal mine workers need long-term follow-up to identify increased mortality and cancer incidence.
Identification of plasmids from Brazilian Chromobacterium violaceum strains
Authors: de Lima Daniel Chaves , Medeiros Inácio Gomes , de Cássia Silva-Portela Rita , da Silva Junior Francisco Carlos , Fassarela Agnez-Lima Lucymara , de Souza Jorge Estefano Santana , Batistuzzo de Medeiros Silvia R.
Published: November 2021

Chromobacterium violaceum is an opportunistic pathogen found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Chromobacterium violaceum infections are difficult to treat, and many strains are resistant to antibiotics. Recently, a novel plasmid (pChV1) was discovered in the type strain ATCC 12472, suggesting that other C. violaceum strains may harbor extra-chromosomal DNA. The aim of the present study was to detect and compare new plasmids in Brazilian strains of C. violaceum using next-generation sequencing techniques. We obtained draft genomes of six plasmids from strains isolated from the Amazon region and aligned them with pChV1. At least three plasmids, CVAC05, CVACO2, and CVT8, were similar to pChV1. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that these new extra-chromosomal DNA sequences have a common origin with pChV1 but have diverged. Many of the ORFs detected were related to plasmid segregation/maintenance, viral structural proteins, and proteins with unknown functions. These findings may enable better genetic manipulation of C. violaceum, which will enhance our ability to exploit this valuable microorganism in industrial and clinical applications.
Comparing the population structure of the specialist Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) and the generalist Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) in Ontario (Canada) and Michigan (USA)
Authors: Snetsinger Megan , Row Jeffrey R. , Hazell Megan E. , Plain Dennis , Lougheed Stephen C.
Published: November 2021

Species differing in life-history attributes vary in their responses to features within a shared landscape. We evaluated genetic structure of sympatric gartersnake species in southwestern Ontario (Canada) and southeastern Michigan (USA), where habitat fragmentation is high due to agriculture and urbanization. We surveyed genetic structure of a habitat specialist, Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri (Cope, 1889)), and a habitat generalist, Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Linnaeus, 1758)), using DNA microsatellites. Bayesian clustering, discriminant analysis of principal components, and pairwise population comparisons revealed genetic differentiation among three major regional clusters of Butler’s Gartersnake with evidence of further division within one. Genetic clustering of Butler’s Gartersnake suggest that inhospitable habitat limits dispersal. Eastern Gartersnakes showed less structure, with assignment tests implying a single genetic cluster. We found positive significant Mantel’s r for both species in the smallest distance class (<15 km), but significant isolation by distance for Butler’s Gartersnake only. These findings together imply that connectivity for Eastern Gartersnakes is less impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation or that we were less able to detect their effects. Our study shows the value of multispecies comparisons in studies seeking to understand the underlying causes of genetic structure in natural populations.