bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Light Scattering: A New Noninvasive Technology for Neonatal Heart Rate Monitoring
Authors: Gangaram-Panday Norani H. , van Essen Tanja , Goos Tom G. , de Jonge Rogier C.J. , Reiss Irwin K.M. , van Weteringen Willem
Published: May 2020

Background: Heart rate (HR) detection in premature infants using electrocardiography (ECG) is challenging due to a low signal amplitude and the fragility of the premature skin. Recently, the dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique has been miniaturized, allowing noninvasive HR measurements with a single sensor. Objective: The aim was to determine the accuracy of DLS for HR measurement in infants, compared to ECG-derived HR. Methods: Stable infants with a gestational age of ≥26 weeks, monitored with ECG, were eligible for inclusion. HR was measured with the DLS sensor at 5 different sites for 15 min each. We recorded every 10th second of the DLS-derived HR and the DLS signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the ECG-derived HR was extracted for analysis. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the first group, the optimal SNR cut-off value was determined and then applied to the second group to assess agreement. Results: HR measurements from 31 infants were analyzed. ECG-DLS paired data points were collected at the forehead, an upper extremity, the thorax, a lower extremity, and the abdomen. When applying the international accuracy standard for HR detection, DLS accuracy in the first group (n = 15) was optimal at the forehead (SNR cut-off 1.66). Application of this cut-off to the second group (n = 16) showed good agreement between DLS-derived HR and ECG-derived HR (bias –0.73 bpm; 95% limits of agreement –15.46 and 14.00 bpm) at the forehead with approximately 80% (i.e., 1,066/1,310) of all data pairs remaining. Conclusion: The investigated DLS sensor was sensitive to movement, overall providing less accurate HR measurements than ECG and pulse oximetry. In this study population, specific measurement sites provided excellent signal quality and good agreement with ECG-derived HR.
The Impact of EGFR Mutation Status and Brain Metastasis for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Ramucirumab plus Docetaxel
Authors: Furuya Naoki , Ito Kentaro , Sakaguchi Tadashi , Hida Naoya , Kakinuma Kazutaka , Morikawa Kei , Inoue Takeo , Komase Yuko , Hataji Osamu , Mineshita Masamichi
Published: May 2020

Objectives: Currently, combination therapy of ramucirumab (RAM) + docetaxel (DOC) must play a more important role as a second-line treatment. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation accounts for around 50% of oncogenic driver mutations in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Asian subsets. The number of brain metastases (BM) is relatively higher in EGFR mutation-positive patients compared to EGFR wild-type patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of RAM + DOC focusing on EGFR mutation and BM. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive advanced NSCLC patients who received combination therapy of RAM + DOC at three institutions. A total of 112 patients with NSCLC were enrolled for efficacy analyses. We evaluated the efficacy of RAM + DOC for EGFR-mutated NSCLC with endpoints including progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival. Results: Median PFS was 5.7 months for the EGFR mutant group compared with 3.6 months for the EGFR wild-type group (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.87; p = 0.01). Median TTF was 5.1 months for the EGFR mutant group compared with 2.8 months for the EGFR wild-type group (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.85; p = 0.007). Median PFS and TTF of the EGFR mutant group was significantly longer than median PFS and TTF of the EGFR wild-type group. The multivariate analysis identified EGFR mutation status as an independent favorable factor of PFS. In subset analyses of BM, median PFS of the EGFR mutant group (2.8 months) was significantly shorter than that of the EGFR wild-type group (5.1 months) (HR 7.27, 95% CI 1.78–29.68; p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study revealed that EGFR mutation status and BM might be predictive or prognostic factors for PFS.
The Link between Asthma and Bronchiectasis: State of the Art
Authors: Crimi Claudia , Ferri Sebastian , Campisi Raffaele , Crimi Nunzio
Published: May 2020

The nonrecognition of asthma-associated comorbidities is often responsible for the therapeutic failure and the worsening of symptoms, and it is associated with frequent exacerbations, higher disease severity, and increased health costs. Bronchiectasis, one of the most frequent asthma-associated comorbidities, can increase airways inflammation and exacerbation rates and cause respiratory functional impairment. The aim of this article is to review the interactions between bronchiectasis and asthma, in order to better identify patients in the overlap between the 2 diseases and to select an “ad hoc” therapy. A literature search on PubMed/MEDLINE was performed using the following search terms: bronchiectasis in asthma, the association between asthma and bronchiectasis, comorbidities in asthma, and severe asthma. This review analyzed the following items: incorrect or underestimated diagnosis of asthma and bronchiectasis, prevalence of bronchiectasis in asthma, the impact of bronchiectasis in asthma, radiological imaging features of the 2 diseases, etiopathogenesis, and common causes (such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, immune deficits, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and treatment of asthma and bronchiectasis). The concomitant presence of bronchiectasis and asthma should be suspected and investigated in patients with severe asthma, frequent exacerbations, and not responding to standard therapy. This clinical phenotype, characterized by a more severe disease, worse outcomes, and functional decline, must be readily recognized in order to choose the most appropriate therapeutic approach, able to potentially improve the management of bronchial asthma, to prevent the onset of exacerbations as well the functional decline, and to reduce health costs.
Desmoid Type Fibromatosis of the Breast: Ten-Year Institutional Results of Imaging, Histopathology, and Surgery
Authors: Lorenzen Jörn , Cramer Miriam , Buck Nina , Friedrichs Kay , Graubner Kirsten , Lühr Clara Sonja , Lindner Christoph , Niendorf Axel
Published: May 2020

Background: Desmoid type fibromatoses has proven to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, as they often appear primarily as a carcinoma of the breast with a high recurrence risk. Patients: A digital archive search was performed for the period from 2009 to the end of 2018. Inclusion criteria consisted of histological examination of at least the surgical specimen in the reference pathology department and at least a second opinion diagnosis in the reference radiology department. Results: A total of 14 women and 1 man underwent surgery on desmoid type fibromatosisof the breast. The average patient age was 49 years (range: 22–72 years). The mean tumor size was 2.2 cm (range: 0.8–4.2 cm). The tumor was detectable in mammography in 12 out of 13 patients and in all 15 patients in sonography. MRI was performed preoperatively in 6 patients; in all of the patients, the tumor was visualized with inhomogeneous contrast enhancement. In the imaging procedures, all desmoid type fibromatoses were classified as suspicious. Performing the core biopsy, preoperative histology confirmed desmoid fibromatosis in 12 out of 15 patients. Nuclear stain for ß-catenin was positive in 7 out of 10 patients.Negative staining was found for AE1/A3 in 10 out of 10 and CD34 in 12 out of 12 patients. In all of the patients, a single-stage operation without the detection of border-forming tumor margins was performed. The follow-up interval ranged from 16 to 96 months (mean: 44.86 months, median: 43 months). In this follow-up period, no patient was diagnosed with desmoid tumor recurrence. Conclusion: In imaging, desmoid type fibromatosis of the breast has typical malignancy-related criteria. Extensive preoperative diagnostics enable the planning of complete primary excision of the lesion and reduce the recurrence risk.
Athenaeus and the Control
Authors: Witty Michael
Published: May 2020

Very early experiments described in ancient literature usually have no detailed explanation of the methods used let alone the explicit Control expected by modern scientists for comparison with Treatments. Athenaeus describes a rarely recorded exception in The Deipnosophistae which has been briefly noted in scientific literature but not sufficiently contextualized. The experiment described has one treatment, a control and Athenaeus cites the desirability of replication, making this passage read like a modern text rather than an ancient one. Because technical processes were invented in ancient times I assume that experiments were also practiced, even though they are not described in ancient literature. This passage in Athenaeus exemplifies, by rare contrast, the general lack of description for ancient scientific methods. This lack may be because the ancient practitioners of technical processes did not have the reason modern scientists use for disclosure of all methods and results. Moderns achieve monetization that is protected by Intellectual Property Law or by acquisition of authority followed by salaried teaching in the academy. Ancient experimenters protected their discoveries by secrecy and maintained monopolies by concealment, an inconvenience for modern scholars. The form of ancient literature is important for this subject: it is not like modern scientific literature. When the ancients mention scientific subjects in writing it is in the form of literary discourse and debate where the aim is cerebral. There is no description of technical details where the aim is to allow replication of the experiment. Comfortable logic not experiment is described and intellectual improvement was usually the aim of ancient literature, rather than practical outcomes. The only reason we have knowledge of ancient practitioners of something similar to modern scientific methods from literature is that their kind of technical antics were briefly mentioned by ancient authors, because of their surprising and amusing nature.
Continuity and Mathematical Ontology in Aristotle
Authors: Shatalov Keren Wilson
Published: May 2020

In this paper I argue that Aristotle's understanding of mathematical continuity constrains the mathematical ontology he can consistently hold. On my reading, Aristotle can only be a mathematical abstractionist of a certain sort. To show this, I first present an analysis of Aristotle's notion of continuity by bringing together texts from his Metaphysica and Physica, to show that continuity is, for Aristotle, a certain kind of per se unity, and that upon this rests his distinction between continuity and contiguity. Next I argue briefly that Aristotle intends for his discussion of continuity to apply to pure mathematical objects such as lines and figures, as well as to extended bodies. I show that this leads him to a difficulty, for it does not at first appear that the distinction between continuity and contiguity can be preserved for abstract mathematicals. Finally, I present a solution according to which Aristotle's understanding of continuity can only be saved if he holds a certain kind of mathematical ontology.
Socratic Appetites as Plotinian Reflectors: A New Interpretation of Plotinus’s Socratic Intellectualism
Authors: Lightbody Brian
Published: May 2020

Enneads I: 8.14 poses significant problems for scholars working in the Plotinian secondary literature. In that passage, Plotinus gives the impression that the body and not the soul is causally responsible for vice. The difficulty is that in many other sections of the same text, Plotinus makes it abundantly clear that the body, as matter, is a mere privation of being and therefore represents the lowest rung on the proverbial metaphysical ladder. A crucial aspect to Plotinus's emanationism, however, is that lower levels of a metaphysical hierarchy cannot causally influence higher ones and, thus, there is an inconsistency in the Egyptian's magnum opus, or so it would seem. Scholars have sought to work through this paradox by positing that Plotinus is a "paleolithic Platonist" or Socratic. The advantage of this approach is that one may be able to resolve the tension by invoking Socrates's eliminativist solution to the problem of weakness of will, as found in The Protagoras. In the following article, I argue that such attempts are not wrong-headed just underdetermined. They take up the standard reading of Socratic moral intellectualism, namely the "informational" interpretation and, therefore, fail to render a coherent view of Plotinus's moral philosophy. The following paper, in contrast, utilizes a new reading of intellectualism advanced by Brickhouse and Smith, which, when subtended with a "powers approach" to causality, resolves the aforementioned, problematic passage of Enneads.
Terceirização de portais de transparência fiscal em prefeituras municipais
Authors: Dias Lidiane Nazaré da Silva , Aquino André Carlos Busanelli de , Silva Polyana Batista da , Albuquerque Francivaldo dos Santos
Published: May 2020

A terceirização de portais de transparência pode ser um projeto frágil, superficial e suscetível à desatualização dos dados. O artigo explorou como ocorria e os efeitos da terceirização dos portais de transparência. Foi aplicada uma análise qualitativa comparada (Qualitative Comparative Analysis – QCA) em dezesseis prefeituras de um mesmo estado. Essas prefeituras assinaram um Termo de Ajuste de Gestão com o Tribunal de Contas, e como estratégia para atendimento do termo, terceirizaram a implantação dos seus portais de transparência. Nos casos em questão, a integração entre o portal de transparência com sistemas de administração financeira e o registro de eventos orçamentários de forma concomitante à ocorrência, sinalizaram ser decisivos para a preservação da atualização dos dados no portal de prefeituras após cessar período de maior fiscalização.
Informed peer review for publication assessments: Are improved impact measures worth the hassle?
Authors: Abramo Giovanni , D’Angelo Ciriaco Andrea , Felici Giovanni
Published: May 2020

In this work we ask whether and to what extent applying a predictor of a publication’s impact that is better than early citations has an effect on the assessment of the research performance of individual scientists. Specifically, we measure the total impact of Italian professors in the sciences and economics over time, valuing their publications first by early citations and then by a weighted combination of early citations and the impact factor of the hosting journal. As expected, the scores and ranks of the two indicators show a very strong correlation, but significant shifts occur in many fields, mainly in economics and statistics, and mathematics and computer science. The higher the share of uncited professors in a field and the shorter the citation time window, the more recommendable is recourse to the above combination.
Are disruption index indicators convergently valid? The comparison of several indicator variants with assessments by peers
Authors: Bornmann Lutz , Devarakonda Sitaram , Tekles Alexander , Chacko George
Published: May 2020

Recently, Wu, Wang, and Evans (2019) proposed a new family of indicators, which measure whether a scientific publication is disruptive to a field or tradition of research. Such disruptive influences are characterized by citations to a focal paper, but not its cited references. In this study, we are interested in the question of convergent validity. We used external criteria of newness to examine convergent validity: In the postpublication peer review system of F1000Prime, experts assess papers whether the reported research fulfills these criteria (e.g., reports new findings). This study is based on 120,179 papers from F1000Prime published between 2000 and 2016. In the first part of the study we discuss the indicators. Based on the insights from the discussion, we propose alternate variants of disruption indicators. In the second part, we investigate the convergent validity of the indicators and the (possibly) improved variants. Although the results of a factor analysis show that the different variants measure similar dimensions, the results of regression analyses reveal that one variant ( DI5) performs slightly better than the others.
Greater female first author citation advantages do not associate with reduced or reducing gender disparities in academia
Authors: Thelwall Mike , Sud Pardeep
Published: May 2020

Ongoing problems attracting women into many Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects have many potential explanations. This article investigates whether the possible undercitation of women associates with lower proportions of, or increases in, women in a subject. It uses six million articles published in 1996–2012 across up to 331 fields in six mainly English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The proportion of female first- and last-authored articles in each year was calculated and 4,968 regressions were run to detect first-author gender advantages in field normalized article citations. The proportion of female first authors in each field correlated highly between countries and the female first-author citation advantages derived from the regressions correlated moderately to strongly between countries, so both are relatively field specific. There was a weak tendency in the United States and New Zealand for female citation advantages to be stronger in fields with fewer women, after excluding small fields, but there was no other association evidence. There was no evidence of female citation advantages or disadvantages to be a cause or effect of changes in the proportions of women in a field for any country. Inappropriate uses of career-level citations are a likelier source of gender inequities.
Mortality in children hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus infection in Singapore
Authors: Lee MW , Goh AEN
Published: May 2020

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to investigate the trend and seasonality of infection due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) in Singapore and to examine the risk factors for mortality among children with RSV infection requiring admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS A retrospective study was conducted at KKH on children with RSV infections who were admitted to the PICU between January 2004 and December 2010. The medical records of children who died from RSV infections were reviewed. Linear regression was performed to determine the risk factors for RSV mortality. RESULTS RSV infection was documented in 5,785 children during the study period; the infection was noted to be occurring throughout the year, with a small increase in prevalence between the months of June and August every year. Among 85 (1.5%) out of 5,785 children who were admitted to the PICU for RSV infection, 74 (1.3%) survived and 11 (0.2%) died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that haemodynamically significant cardiac disease (odds ratio [OR] 12.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9–16.7, p = 0.05), immunodeficiency (OR 71.4, 95% CI 8.2–500, p < 0.001) and metabolic disease (OR 71.4, 95% CI 4.3–1,000, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for mortality in RSV infections. Prematurity increased the risk of admission to the PICU but was not significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSION Children with haemodynamically significant cardiac disease, immunodeficiency and metabolic disease were at higher risk of death after hospitalisation for RSV-related illnesses. These children should be considered for palivizumab prophylaxis.
Clinical depression among patients after acute coronary syndrome: a prospective single-tertiary centre analysis
Authors: Leong LK , Mahmood Zuhdi AS , Abdul Hafidz MI
Published: May 2020

INTRODUCTION Clinical depression is a known consequence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and is associated with an adverse outcome among these patients, although this is often under-recognised. Through this study, we investigated the incidence of depression in post-ACS patients and its associated factors. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study in 95 patients with ACS admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia. Clinical depression was assessed during the index admission and at 30 days after discharge, using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics, and binary logistic regression was used to determine the independent factors associated with depression, after adjusting for significant demographic variables and clinical characteristics. The strength of this association was presented as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, and the significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS The mean age of the study population was about 60 years, and 72.6% of the patients were male. Symptoms of depression were present in 88.4% of the patients at baseline. Depression at 30 days was more likely in female patients, patients with diabetes mellitus and patients on dialysis (p = 0.024, p < 0.001, p = 0.008, respectively). Patients with baseline moderate to severe depression were more likely to have moderate to severe depression at 30 days (p < 0.001). Baseline depression was the strongest predictor of depression at 30 days. An increment of one unit in PHQ-9 baseline score increased the risk of developing severe depression at 30 days by 31%. CONCLUSION Depression was prevalent in our post-ACS patients. The associated factors were female gender, diabetes mellitus and dialysis treatment.
Effect of interaction between Phytophthora nicotianae and Meloidogyne spp. on the productivity and quality of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum)
Authors: Vanegas-Villa Diana M. , Navarro-Álzate Rafael A. , Afanador-Kafuri Lucia , Gutiérrez-Monsalve Jaime A. , Morales-Osorio Juan G. , Uribe-Soto Sandra I. , Gaviria-Gutiérrez Bertha M.
Published: May 2020

Black shank disease caused by Phytophthora nicotianae is the most devastating pathology in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). In Colombia, an increase in the severity of P. nicotianae has been reported when parasitic nematodes are active in tobacco plants. The main objective of this study was to determine the pathogenicity, leaf quality and interaction between P. nicotianae (Races 0 and 1) with Meloidogyne spp. on tobacco plants in samples collected in 15 farms of Colombia. To quantify the interaction between both pathogens, variables such as plant survival, index of pathogenicity, and chemical and physical quality of the leaves were measured. Within a confidence level of 95% there is evidence of a positive synergistic effect between Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and P. nicotianae (Races 0 and 1) in a variety-dependent manner. For ‘ICA Servita’ the variables of index of pathogenicity, of root-knots and fresh weight of root, reduced the leaf price because of the interaction. For ‘K346’, Race 0 of P. nicotianae apparently reduced the pathogenicity of M. javanica in contrast to P. nicotianae Race 1. In addition, ‘ICA Servita’ and ‘K346’ showed susceptibility to nematodes. At the end of the harvest of ‘ICA Servita’, the interaction caused a considerable decrease in the physical and chemical quality of tobacco leaves, resulting in lower weight and number of leaves, affecting the price of tobacco in the market with reductions of more than 50%. Plant mortality of ‘ICA Servita’ and ‘K346’ was 50 and 60%, respectively, in interactions with both pathogens.
Machine Learning Systems Applied to Health Data and System
Authors: Bonifazi Fedele , Volpe Elisabetta , Digregorio Giuseppe , Giannuzzi Viviana , Ceci Adriana
Published: May 2020

The use of machine learning (ML) in medicine is becoming increasingly fundamental to analyse complex problems by discovering associations among different types of information and to generate knowledge for medical decision support. Many regulatory and ethical issues should be considered. Some relevant EU provisions, such as the General Data Protection Regulation, are applicable. However, the regulatory framework for developing and marketing a new health technology implementing ML may be quite complex. Other issues include the legal liability and the attribution of negligence in case of errors. Some of the above-mentioned concerns could be, at least partially, resolved in case the ML software is classified as a ‘medical device’, a category covered by EU/national provisions. Concluding, the challenge is to understand how sustainable is the regulatory system in relation to the ML innovation and how legal procedures should be revised in order to adapt them to the current regulatory framework.
Resurrection of Cremanthodium gracillimum and C. wardii (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), with notes on the genus in Myanmar

Authors: WANG LONG
Published: May 2020

Cremanthodium gracillimum and C. wardii (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), two species endemic to northern Myanmar, have been previously reduced to the synonymy of C. rhodocephalum and C. campanulatum, respectively. Critical morphological comparison, however, indicates that both of them are separate species easily distinguishable in the genus. The specific status of the two species is therefore reinstated herein. A full description is given for the two species, and some taxonomic notes are made on other Cremanthodium species from Myanmar. A key to all the species of the genus in this country is provided.
Tecunumania stothertiae (Cucurbitaceae): a new species from western Ecuador and a new generic record for South America

Authors: CORNEJO XAVIER , SCHAEFER HANNO , NEE MICHAEL H.
Published: May 2020

Tecunumania stothertiae (Cucurbitaceae), a new species of herbaceous vine endemic to western Ecuador, is here described and illustrated. The discovery of Tecunumania stothertiae represents a new generic record for Ecuador and for South America. It represents a new southern extension for Tecunumania, a genus previously thought to be endemic to Mesoamerica. The conservation status of Tecunumania stothertiae is here assessed as Endangered.
Study on the antipyretic effect of gypsum and its compatibility on yeast-induced pyrexia rats based on NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Ye Hong-Bo , Zuo Jia-Hang , Ma Chao , Lin He , Xu Yan , Sun Jia-Ming , Ye Dou-Dan , Lv Guang-Fu , Lin Zhe
Published: May 2020

To research the antipyretic function of gypsum and its compatibility on yeast-induced pyrexia rats based on NF-κB signaling pathway, the rat model of fever was replicated by subcutaneous injection of 20% yeast suspension in the back of the rat. Gypsum, Anemarrhenae, gypsum
and Anemarrhena or aspirin was administered by gavage. Gypsum and its synergist reduced the body temperature of febrile rats significantly, and reduced the levels of fever-producing medium Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and pyrogenic factors including tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),
interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rat serum also the level of central heating medium PGE2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Furthermore, we demonstrated that gypsum and Anemarrhena concerted application inhibit NF-κB signal pathway
in yeast-induced pyrexia rats. The results indicate that gypsum and its Anemarrhena concerted application may be a potential antipyretic and the antipyretic mechanism is attributed to the suppression of NF-κB signal pathway.
Clinical efficacy and safety of silver nanoparticlebased disinfectant combined with piperacillin sodium and sulbactam sodium in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Sheng Lina , Tu Juncai , Lou Lianqing
Published: May 2020

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of piperacillin sulbactam in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections, as well as the efficacy of silver nanoparticle-based disinfectant in equipment disinfection to reduce exogenous infection. From May 2018 to November
2018, 100 patients that had been diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection and hospitalized were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group was given piperacillin/sulbactam, and the control group was given mezlocillin/sulbactam, where 5.0 g was
added to 100 mL of normal saline and administered via intravenous drip twice a day over a treatment course of 14 days. The cure rate of the experimental and control groups were 65.22% and 56.52% respectively. The efficacy rate was 91.30% and 91.30% respectively, with no significant difference
between the two groups (P > 0.05). The results indicated that piperacillin/sulbactam is a safe, effective treatment for lower respiratory tract infections in elderly patients, the equipment was sterilized with silver nanoparticle-based disinfectant to reduce the incidence of adverse
reactions and exogenous infections.
Sensitivity of 89–190-GHz Microwave Observations to Ice Particle Scattering
Authors: Chen Ruiyao , Bennartz Ralf
Published: May 2020

The sensitivity of microwave brightness temperatures (TBs) to hydrometeors at frequencies between 89 and 190 GHz is investigated by comparing Fengyun-3C (FY-3C) Microwave Humidity Sounder-2 (MWHS-2) measurements with radar reflectivity profiles and retrieved products from the Global Precipitation Measurement mission’s Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR). Scattering-induced TB depressions (ΔTBs), calculated by subtracting simulated cloud-free TBs from bias-corrected observed TBs for each channel, are compared with DPR-retrieved hydrometeor water path (HWP) and vertically integrated radar reflectivity ZINT. We also account for the number of hydrometeors actually visible in each MWHS-2 channel by weighting HWP with the channel’s cloud-free gas transmission profile and the observation slant path. We denote these transmission-weighted, slant-path-integrated quantities with a superscript asterisk (e.g., HWP*). The so-derived linear sensitivity of ΔTB with respect to HWP* increases with frequency roughly to the power of 1.78. A retrieved HWP* of 1 kg m−2 at 89 GHz on average corresponds to a decrease in observed TB, relative to a cloud-free background, of 11 K. At 183 GHz, the decrease is about 34–53 K. We perform a similar analysis using the vertically integrated, transmission-weighted slant-path radar reflectivity and find that ΔTB also decreases approximately linearly with . The exponent of 0.58 corresponds to the one we find in the purely DPR-retrieval-based ZINT–HWP relation. The observed sensitivities of ΔTB with respect to and HWP* allow for the validation of hydrometeor scattering models.
Archetypes of Climate-Risk Profiles among Rural Households in Limpopo, South Africa
Authors: Paumgarten Fiona , Locatelli Bruno , Witkowski Ed T. F.
Published: May 2020

More frequent and intense climate hazards, a predicted outcome of climate change, are likely to threaten existing livelihoods in rural communities, undermining households’ adaptive capacity. To support households’ efforts to manage and reduce this risk, there is a need to better understand the heterogeneity of risk within and between communities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revised their climate vulnerability framework to incorporate the concept of risk. This study contributes toward the operationalization of this updated framework by applying a recognized methodology to the analysis of the climate-related risk of rural households. Using a mixed-method approach, including a cluster analysis, it determined and assessed archetypical patterns of household risk. The approach was applied to 170 households in two villages, in different agroecological zones, in the Vhembe District Municipality of South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Six archetypical climate-risk profiles were identified based on differences in the core components of risk, namely, the experience of climate hazards, the degree of exposure and vulnerability, and the associated impacts. The method’s application is illustrated by interpreting the six profiles, with possible adaptation pathways suggested for each. The archetypes show how climate-related risk varies according to households’ livelihood strategies and capital endowments. There are clear site-related distinctions between the risk profiles; however, the age of the household and the gender of the household head also differentiate the profiles. These different profiles suggest the need for adaptation responses that account for these site-related differences, while still recognizing the heterogeneity of risk at the village level.
Twenty-five Years of the Constitution Seventy-fourth Amendment Act (74th CAA),1992: Promise and Performance
Authors: Prasad D. Ravindra , Pardhasaradhi Y.
Published: May 2020

The Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act, 1992, completed 25 years of implementation. All states in India amended the municipal laws in conformity with the Act and are implementing them. As a consequence, provisions have been made to hold urban local body elections regularly, reservations to women and weaker sections, constitute election and finance commissions, and district and metropolitan planning committees. However, a closer analysis, after 25 years of its implementation, brings out certain deficiencies. The states seem to be half-hearted to decentralise democracy, reluctant to empower urban local bodies, functionally and financially and unwilling to clothe them with autonomy. It is time to revisit the Act, review its performance based on 25 years of experience and suggest measures to achieve the objectives that lay behind its enactment.
Testing the Effectiveness of a Salutogenic Model for Reducing Suicidal Tendencies in a Population of Elderly and Young Adults
Authors: Wilchek-Aviad Yael , Cohen-Louck Keren
Published: May 2020

Suicide is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with the elderly having the highest suicide rates. This study tests the effectiveness of a salutogenic model in normative elderly people compared with young adults in protecting against risk behaviors and suicidal tendencies, based on two variables: locus of control and meaning in life (mediating variable between locus of control and suicidal tendency). Participants were 191 people aged 65 to 100 years and 200 young adults aged 18 to 28 years old. Participants completed questionnaires on locus of control and purpose in life and were assessed for suicidal tendencies. Findings reveal a negative effect of age on locus of control, purpose in life, and a negative correlation between purpose in life and internal locus of control and suicidal tendency. Purpose in life mediates between internal locus of control and suicidal tendency in both populations. The salutogenic model has significant implications and can be used to reduce suicidal tendencies.
Successful use of Protek Duo cannula to provide veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and right ventricular support for acute respiratory distress syndrome in an adolescent with complex congenital heart disease
Authors: Vijayakumar Niranjan , Badheka Aditya , Chegondi Madhuradhar , Mclennan Daniel
Published: May 2020

Rescuing patients with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and right heart failure after left ventricular assist device placement remains a challenge in patients with congenital heart disease. TandemLife Protek Duo (TandemLife, Pittsburg, PA) is a double-lumen cannula introduced via the internal jugular vein that can provide veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and right heart support. To our knowledge, we report the first case of successfully using the TandemLife Protek Duo cannula to provide veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and right ventricle support in an adolescent male with an existing right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit and the melody pulmonary valve who developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome after the placement of left ventricular assist device. The stability of the cannula enabled minimal recirculation-related hypoxia events, early mobilization, and ambulation. Our patient was discharged home after lung recovery and currently awaiting a heart transplant.
Elective lung cancer surgery in the COVID-19 era: how do we do it?
Authors: Bilkhu Rajdeep , Billè Andrea
Published: May 2020

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant mortality around the world and the focus has been on reducing the number of infections. In order not to compromise treatment of oncology patients, reducing the number of patients with COVID-19 undergoing treatment is mandatory. We reviewed the experience of the National Institute of Cancer in Milan and compared it with our experience.
Access to Credit, Farm Productivity and Market Participation in Ghana: A Conditional Mixed Process Approach
Authors: Alhassan Hamdiyah , Abu Benjamin Musah , Nkegbe Paul Kwame
Published: May 2020

This study tests the hypothesis of whether credit impacts productivity, and whether productivity in turn impacts market participation under a simultaneous modelling framework of credit, productivity and market participation, which has not been pursued in the literature. Using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey Round 6, we applied a conditional mixed process estimation technique to correct for selectivity bias and unobserved endogeneity. We find that credit positively impacts productivity, which in turn positively impacts market participation. Furthermore, other determinants such as roads, public transport, radio and phone, and compliance with extension advice positively influence productivity while availability of markets and multiple cropping in a season increase the decision to sell maize. These findings imply that the transmission mechanism to transform the subsistence nature of Ghanaian agriculture into a sector characterized by commercial agriculture is to enhance access to credit, which in turn would stimulate productivity, which in turn would enhance market engagement.

JEL Classification: Q12, Q13, Q14
Online identification of torsionally coupled shear buildings using virtual synchronization method
Authors: Ghaderi Pedram , Amini Fereidoun , Emamian Mohammad
Published: May 2020

In this study, the virtual synchronization method is developed for online identification of parameters in torsionally coupled shear buildings. In this method, first, a virtual model of the building is made and excited simultaneously with the actual building. Then, a proper virtual controller is designed, which forces the virtual model to follow the dynamic response of the actual building by converging the unknown parameters to the actual values. A major difficulty of the virtual synchronization method originates from the determination of its design parameters, which greatly affects the final performance. The main contribution of this study is an optimum scenario for defining the design parameters of the virtual synchronization method to maintain desirable accuracy and convergence speed. Provided numerical studies show that the proposed design scenario makes the virtual synchronization method a competitor to the other well-known methods. Also, the effect of building height and excitation on the performance of the virtual synchronization method is studied. Besides, robustness against measurement noise and modeling uncertainties are investigated.
Comparative analysis of 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge forceps stiffness and related displacement
Authors: Pastore Marco R , De Giacinto Chiara , Cirigliano Gabriella , Turco Gianluca , Borelli Massimo , Tognetto Daniele
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To test the stiffness and displacement of different vitreous forceps. Physical features and deformation after multiple procedures were also measured.

Methods

Eleven different 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge vitreous forceps were studied. The measurements were repeated loading the probe at different distances from the tip: at the top of the tip and 10 and 20 mm from the tip, respectively. For each probe, 10 successive identical bending tests were performed. The total length and the internal and external diameters of each forceps were also measured.

Results

A total of 330 successive identical bending tests were performed. No progression in deformation after the repeated measurements was recorded ( p > 0.05). In each gauge group, displacement differences were detected according to the manufacturing metal properties, the total length, and the thickness of the shaft wall. A minimal adequate model to describes forceps displacements in terms of their significant predictors, such as gauge, model, and load distance from the tip, was created.

Conclusion

We provided a precise assessment of the stiffness and displacement of different vitreous forceps to enable surgeons to select the optimal instrument according to the benefits and limitations of each forceps.
Successful Removal of Clostridioides Difficile Spores and Pathogenic Bacteria From a Launderable Barrier Using a Commercial Laundry Process
Authors: Hooker Edmond Anderson , Ulrich David , Brooks Dane
Published: May 2020

Background:

To properly clean and disinfect hospital mattresses, bed manufacturers recommend a 3- to 6-step process to remove all pathogenic bacteria. An alternative is to use a removable barrier on the mattress, which is laundered after each use. The current study was to determine efficacy of a commercial laundry process in eliminating Clostridioides difficile (C diff) spores, Mycobacterium terrae (M terrae), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P aeruginosa), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K pneumoniae), and Escherichia coli (E coli) from a barrier.

Methods:

A test barrier received 3 unique microbial suspensions in separate locations, each suspension having a known quantity of specific microorganisms: C diff spores, M terrae, and a mixed suspension of MRSA, S aureus, P aeruginosa, K pneumoniae, and E coli. A wash load contained the test barrier and 11 additional ballast barriers. Various soils were spread onto the barriers to simulate heavy soiling that may occur in a wash load: Each barrier received a small amount of mixed soil, 50% received urine, 25% received blood, and 25% received a large amount of additional mixed soil. The load was laundered using 71°C (160°F) water, detergent, and chlorine bleach, with final drying at 71°C (160°F). After laundering, remaining colony-forming units (CFUs) of each microorganism were counted at the applied locations. Each test was replicated 3 times. Industry-accepted methods were used to produce suspensions, apply inoculum, and recover organisms after laundering.

Results:

Before laundering, test barriers contained at least 7.0 log10 cfu/mL of each microorganism distributed over 103 cm2. After laundering, in all cases, no residual CFUs were detected over the test area, resulting in greater than 6.0 log10 reductions for every organism. ( P < .05).

Conclusions:

Under extreme test conditions including the presence of soil, the laundry process removed all detectable pathogenic bacteria and spores from the barrier.
The Potential Uses of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Dermatology: A Review
Authors: Thomsen Bryce J. , Chow Eunice Y. , Sapijaszko Mariusz J.
Published: May 2020

Background

A growing interest exists in the relationship between diet and skin disease, with many recent studies identifying a role for omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs) in various dermatological conditions.

Objective

Our objective was to identify the spectrum of uses for O3FA supplementation reported in literature and to evaluate the current level of evidence for its clinical application in skin disease prevention and management.

Methods

A search was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE for primary literature that examined O3FA intake and skin health. A manual search of reference lists was performed to identify additional articles for inclusion.

Results

A total of 38 studies met eligibility for review, reporting benefits for O3FA supplementation in the treatment of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, and skin ulcers. Additionally, a reduced incidence of skin cancer and a decrease in the severity of drug-associated mucocutaneous side effects were reported with O3FA supplementation.

Conclusion

This review yielded many well-studied benefits of O3FA uses in dermatology. Given its high safety profile, low cost, and ease of supplementation, O3FA is a reasonable supplement that may benefit patients wishing to improve inflammatory skin conditions through diet. Areas of particular clinical interest where supplementation may be valuable include O3FAs for systemic UV photoprotection, as well as adjuvant treatment for acne to reduce both inflammatory lesion count and the severity of mucocutaneous side effects associated with isotretinoin use.
Negotiating screen time: A mother’s struggle over ‘no screen time’ with her infant son
Authors: Teichert Laura
Published: May 2020

The literature on infant and toddler screen time has been built on two traditions—cognitive models of learning and sociocultural models of learning. Cognitive studies have cautioned against the use of screen time for young children because clinical research has not shown children can learn as effectively from screens as they do from human interaction and might delay children’s cognitive development. Conversely, qualitative research has described the social ways children learn and use digital technology through social interactions with other people in their homes. This paper reports on an autoethnographic study of how digital tools were embedded in the everyday ways of life in my home during my son’s first 18 months of life. I present a first-hand account of the tensions I experienced as I grappled with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of no, ‘digital media use (except video-chatting) in children younger than 18–24 months’ (p. 3). I juxtapose screen time recommendations with the everyday realities of my life as a first-time mother in the 21st century. Throughout the study, I was enmeshed in two roles—researcher and mother—and drew on phenomenology to describe my infant son and my lived experiences using digital technology in our home. My researcher persona was influenced by the traditions and perspectives of sociocultural theories and new literacy studies and the positive learning that can occur while using digital technology. I noted how digital tools were ingrained in daily moments and ways of life, particularly those which used the TV and smartphones, and could not be removed. Yet, my mother persona felt guilty about our use of digital technology and I struggled with the messages I received from news and social media that warned against screen time for infants and toddlers.
Toward auto-netnography in consumer studies
Authors: Coombes Philip H , Jones Scott
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this article is to offer an argument for a wider acceptance and adoption of online auto-ethnography—or auto-netnography as an alternative social media research method to online ethnography—or netnography—when undertaking consumer research. As an online research method, netnographies have attracted increasing attention from researchers in various inter-disciplinary studies during recent years, but the method is still not considered mainstream. While the proliferation of online communities using various social media platforms is increasingly supporting consumers when making product/service choices, the adoption of netnographies appears to leave room for an extension toward the consideration by consumer researchers of how auto-netnography could highlight these researchers’ own personal experiences in online communities. Auto-netnography allows the researcher to capture their own online experiences as a consumer would through social observation, reflexive note-taking, and other forms of data. Contemporary technology can also provide a more innovative approach with artificial intelligence offering an alternative dimension. We contend there is a need for consumer researchers—both academic and practitioner—to further reflect on and discuss the deployment of auto-netnography to contribute to further exploration of online communities through the qualitative lens.