bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An analysis on the divergence of Chironomid spp. based on the study of 18S rRNA and polytene chromosome organization in the species revealing the role of environment on speciation
Authors: Dey Sanjay Kumar , Bhaduri Swapna , Midya Trilochan
Published: April 2021

Background

Nine species of Chironomus evolved throughout the world were measured for their divergence with regard to their DNA sequences concerning 18S rRNA since it is conserved for a specific species. With the advancement of the field of molecular evolution, cytogenetics requires further correlation between molecular architecture and morphological features of a species to compare amongst others to decipher their role in speciation. Therefore, divergence of DNA sequences of the Chironomus were compared with differences in the polytene chromosome features of most of the species under this investigation to evaluate underlying correlation among them, if any, to finally establish a novel method of molecular classification broadly applicable in cytogenetics studies.

Results

When Chironomus javanus Kieffer was considered as a reference organism, an in silico pair-wise alignment of sequences for the 18S rRNA gene regions of the other eight different species of the same genus exhibited nucleotide sequence homology ranging from 67 to 98%. This divergence of the species under consideration might be due to environmental impact causing alteration of nitrogenous bases probably due to mismatch pairing in DNA replication. This may be suggested as a cause of evolution of species in nature. A concomitant study on the polytene chromosome band patterns of majority of these species belonging to this series also indicated a divergence ranging from 10% to 30%.

Conclusions

Sequence analysis based on 18S rRNA of nine species of Chironomus under this investigation shows a similarity in the polytene chromosome organization in most of the Chironomid species of the series. Hence, molecular divergence in the species is consistent with cytological difference among Chironomid species. Therefore, molecular data based on 18S rRNA and cytological characters based on the polytene chromosome features of the Chironomid species may be useful for their taxonomical recognition. Moreover, variations concerning two aspects of this study may be correlated to their environmental distinctions.
Surface functionalization of thermoset composite for infrared hybrid welding
Authors: Perrin Henri , Mertz Grégory , Senoussaoui Noha-Lys , Borghini Loïc , Klein Sébastien , Vaudemont Régis
Published: April 2021

Fusion assembly is a highly promising technique for joining thermoplastic composite to thermoset composites, enabling the use of both the most affordable composite material and process for each substructure. However, some major challenges need to be addressed such as functionalizing the thermoset composite surface through co-curing with an appropriate thermoplastic interlayer or realizing a fast and robust welding process that meets all quality and mechanical requirements. In this paper, we investigated the potential of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and its amorphous (PEEK A) and semicristalline (PEEK SC) states as interlayer materials, co-cured onto thermoset composites. A surface preparation involving the atmospheric plasma process demonstrated that both PEEK state materials can be used as interlayer with favorable adhesion properties. The influence of the plasma treatment on surface properties and morphology was also experimentally characterized.
Impact of solar radiation on chemical structure and micromechanical properties of cellulose-based humidity-sensing material Cottonid
Authors: Scholz R. , Langhansl M. , Hemmerich M. , Meyer J. , Zollfrank C. , Walther F.
Published: April 2021

Renewable and environmentally responsive materials are an energy- and resource-efficient approach in terms of civil engineering applications, e.g. as so-called smart building skins. To evaluate the influence of different environmental stimuli, like humidity or solar radiation, on the long-term actuation behavior and mechanical robustness of these materials, it is necessary to precisely characterize the magnitude and range of stimuli that trigger reactions and the resulting kinetics of a material, respectively, with suitable testing equipment and techniques. The overall aim is to correlate actuation potential and mechanical properties with process- or application-oriented parameters in terms of demand-oriented stimuli-responsive element production. In this study, the impact of solar radiation as environmental trigger on the cellulose-based humidity-sensing material Cottonid, which is a promising candidate for adaptive and autonomously moving elements, was investigated. For simulating solar radiation in the lab, specimens were exposed to short-wavelength blue light as well as a standardized artificial solar irradiation (CIE Solar ID65) in long-term aging experiments. Photodegradation behavior was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared as well as electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements to assess changes in Cottonid’s chemical composition. Subsequently, changes in micromechanical properties on the respective specimens’ surface were investigated with roughness measurements and ultra-micro-hardness tests to characterize variations in stiffness distribution in comparison to the initial condition. Also, thermal effects during long-term aging were considered and contrasted to pure radiative effects. In addition, to investigate the influence of process-related parameters on Cottonid’s humidity-driven deformation behavior, actuation tests were performed in an alternating climate chamber using a customized specimen holder, instrumented with digital image correlation (DIC). DIC was used for precise actuation strain measurements to comparatively evaluate different influences on the material’s sorption behavior. The infrared absorbance spectra of different aging states of irradiated Cottonid indicate oxidative stress on the surface compared to unaged samples. These findings differ under pure thermal loads. EPR spectra could corroborate these findings as radicals were detected, which were attributed to oxidation processes. Instrumented actuation experiments revealed the influence of processing-related parameters on the sorption behavior of the tested and structurally optimized Cottonid variant. Experimental data supports the definition of an optimal process window for stimuli-responsive element production. Based on these results, tailor-made functional materials shall be generated in the future where stimuli-responsiveness can be adjusted through the manufacturing process.
The Fungi-specific histone Acetyltransferase Rtt109 mediates morphogenesis, Aflatoxin synthesis and pathogenicity in Aspergillus flavus by acetylating H3K9
Authors: Sun Ruilin , Wen Meifang , Wu Lianghuan , Lan Huahui , Yuan Jun , Wang Shihua
Published: April 2021

Aspergillus flavusis a common saprophytic filamentous fungus that produces the highly toxic natural compound aflatoxin during its growth process. Synthesis of the aflatoxins, which can contaminate food crops causing huge losses to the agricultural economy, is often regulated by epigenetic modification, such as the histone acetyltransferase. In this study, we usedAspergillus flavusas an experimental model to construct the acetyltransferase genertt109knockout strain (△rtt109) and its complementary strain (△rtt109·com) by homologous recombination. The growth of △rtt109was significantly suppressed compared to the wild type (WT) strain and the △rtt109·com strain. The sclerotium of △rtt109grew smaller, and the amount of sclerotia generated by △rtt109was significantly reduced. The number of conidiums of △rtt109was significantly reduced, especially on the yeast extract sucrose (YES) solid medium. The amount of aflatoxins synthesized by △rtt109in the PDB liquid medium was significantly decreased We also found that the △rtt109strain was extremely sensitive to DNA damage stress. Through the maize seed infection experiment, we found that the growth of △rtt109on the surface of affected corn was largely reduced, and the amount of aerial mycelium decreased significantly, which was consistent with the results on the artificial medium. We further found that H3K9 was the acetylated target of Rtt109 inA. flavus. In conclusion, Rtt109 participated in the growth, conidium formation, sclerotia generation, aflatoxin synthesis, environmental stress response, regulation of infection ofA. flavus.The results from this study ofrtt109showed data for acetylation in the regulation of life processes and provided a new thought regarding the prevention and control ofA. flavushazards.
Mean blastomere diameter may predict clinical pregnancy in long agonist protocol intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with single embryo transfer
Authors: Guven Suleyman , Alanya Tosun Sebnem , Guvendag Guven Emine Seda
Published: April 2021

Background

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mean blastomere diameter (MBD) on pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cases undergoing the long agonist cycle protocol. A total of 84 cases were evaluated within the scope of this observational prospective study. All cases were normoresponders, under 35 years old, with the long agonist protocol applied and single embryo (grade I or II) transfer performed. On the third day after ICSI, each embryo selected for transfer was subjected to measurement of the mean blastomere diameter (MBD) at ×25 magnification.

Results

The mean female age was 30.14 ± 3.32 years, and the total clinical pregnancy rate was 33.3%. In the group that got pregnant, MBD was found to be statistically significantly higher than in the nonpregnant group. In terms of predicting clinical pregnancy, when the MBD value of 49.73 μm was accepted as the best cutoff value, the sensitivity was calculated as 75% and specificity as 53.6%. Clinical pregnancy rate was 18.9% in cases below this value, whereas clinical pregnancy rate was 44.7% in cases with this value and above. In other words, when the MBD value rose above 49.73 μm from a value below 49.73 μm, the clinical pregnancy rate increased by an average of 2.3 times.

Conclusions

With MBD measurement, it is possible to select the embryo with the best implantation capability in microinjection cycles with the long luteal agonist protocol.
Patient and Physician Attitudes Toward Telemedicine in Cancer Clinics Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wehrle Chase J. , Lee Sang W. , Devarakonda Aditya K. , Arora Tania K.
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE

COVID-19 has infected more than 94 million people worldwide and caused more than 2 million deaths. Patients with cancer are at significantly increased risk compared with the general population. Telemedicine represents a common strategy to prevent viral spread. We sought to evaluate patient with cancer and physician perceptions of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A 16-question survey was e-mailed to 1,843 active e-mails of patients presenting to one of the six cancer clinics at a comprehensive cancer care center from January 1, 2020, to June 1, 2020. A six-question survey was e-mailed to attending physicians of those clinics. Specialties included Medical Oncology, Hematology-Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Urological Oncology, and Gynecologic Oncology.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-four patients (20.3%) and 14 physicians (66.7%) responded. Most (68.2%) currently prefer in-person visits, and 80.4% prefer in-person visits following pandemic resolution. More than half (52.2%) of patients preferring virtual visits do so because of convenience. Most (63.1%) patients with cancer are comfortable with a complete physical examination. Surgical patients are more likely to prefer a complete examination ( P = .0476). Physicians prefer in-person visits (64.2%) and believe that virtual visits maybe or probably do not provide comparable care (64.2%). 71.4% believe that virtual visits help prevent the spread of infectious disease.

CONCLUSION

Given preferences for in-person visits, cancer care teams should be prepared to continue providing in-person visits for many of their patients. The discrepancy between patient and provider concern for spread of infectious disease represents an area where patients may benefit from increased education. Providers should feel comfortable performing physical examinations at their own discretion.
Effect of Leptin Therapy on Survival in Generalized and Partial Lipodystrophy: A Matched Cohort Analysis
Authors: Cook Keziah , Ali Omer , Akinci Baris , Foss de Freitas Maria Cristina , Montenegro Renan Magalhães , Fernandes Virginia Oliveira , Gupta Deepshekhar , Lou Kai-Jye , Tuttle Edward , Oral Elif A , Brown Rebecca J
Published: April 2021

Context

Data quantifying the impact of metreleptin therapy on survival in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related generalized lipodystrophy (GL) and partial lipodystrophy (PL) are unavailable.

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the treatment effect of metreleptin on survival in patients with GL and PL.

Design/Setting/Patients

Demographic and clinical characteristics were used to match metreleptin-treated and metreleptin-naïve patients with GL and PL. Differences in mortality risk were estimated between matched cohorts of metreleptin-treated and metreleptin-naïve patient cohorts using Cox proportional hazard models. Sensitivity analyses assessed the impact of study assumptions and the robustness of results.

Outcome Measures

This study assessed time-to-mortality and risk of mortality.

Results

The analysis evaluated 103 metreleptin-naïve patients with characteristics matched to 103 metreleptin-treated patients at treatment initiation. Even after matching, some metabolic and organ abnormalities were more prevalent in the metreleptin-treated cohort due to bias toward treating more severely affected patients. A Cox proportional hazards model associated metreleptin therapy with an estimated 65% decrease in mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.348, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.134–0.900; P = 0.029) even though the actual number of events were relatively small. Results were robust across a broad range of alternate methodological assumptions. Kaplan–Meier estimates of time-to-mortality for the metreleptin-treated and the matched metreleptin-naïve cohorts were comparable.

Conclusions

Metreleptin therapy was associated with a reduction in mortality risk in patients with lipodystrophy syndromes despite greater disease severity in treated patients, supporting the view that metreleptin can have a positive disease-modifying impact. Confirmatory studies in additional real-world and clinical datasets are warranted.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Transdermal and Injection Testosterone Therapy in Klinefelter Syndrome: A Real-Life Study
Authors: Kabilan Apiraa , Skakkebæk Anne , Chang Simon , Gravholt Claus H
Published: April 2021

Context

Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is the most frequent sex chromosome disorder in males. Due to hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, treatment with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is commonly indicated. There are no international guidelines for the most appropriate TRT in KS.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate how different routes of testosterone administration impact testosterone-responsive variables, as well as the development of later metabolic diseases and other complications.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study covering 5 years from 2015 to 2020. Data on TRT, biochemical parameters, bone mineral density (BMD), medications, comorbidity, and karyotyping were derived from electronic patient records and The Danish Cytogenetic Register.

Results

A total of 147 KS males were included: 81 received injection TRT, 61 received transdermal TRT, and 5 did not receive TRT. Testosterone levels were similar in the 2 TRT groups (P = 0.9), while luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were higher in the group receiving transdermal TRT (P = 0.002). Levels of cholesterol, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, hemoglobin, hematocrit, liver parameters, prostate-specific antigen, and spine and hip BMD were similar in the 2 treatment groups (Ps > 0.05).

Conclusion

TRT, irrespective of route of administration, affects androgen-responsive variables similarly in males with KS. Neither long-acting injection nor transdermal gel seem to reduce the risk of metabolic diseases significantly. These results should encourage clinicians in seeking the route of administration resulting in the highest degree of adhesion to treatment based on individual patient preferences. Implementation of shared decision-making with patients may be important when choosing TRT.
“Broken Bits of Color in the Dirt”
Authors: Schwartz Jesse W.
Published: April 2021

This essay examines the numerous critical claims of “timeliness” around the recently recovered novel Romance in Marseille as well as Claude McKay’s own numerous commitments and challenges as they emerge therein: the multiple and enduring afterlives of slavery, the Bolshevik Revolution and the burgeoning of its stiflingly bureaucratic Thermidor under Stalin, the various theoretical and programmatic complications that issues of race and gender posed for international socialism alongside the promises and disappointments of emancipatory politics writ large. However, in attempting to adjudicate such problematics of difference, McKay also provides the outlines of a dialectical “Black Intersectional International,” thereby gesturing toward a “commonism” of the quayside.
“A Syrup of Passion and Desire”
Authors: Tuszynska Agnieszka
Published: April 2021

This article examines the politics of transgressive pleasure and desire in Claude McKay’s novel Romance in Marseille, as a response to what Achille Mbembe, departing from Foucault’s notion of biopower, has termed necropolitics. In the novel, the interlocking hegemonic systems of racism and capitalism function as mechanisms of necropower—the power of determining whose lives are deemed worthy and whose bodies are deemed disposable—which is executed through the procedures of mutilation, surveillance, poverty, and sexual exploitation. Foregrounding the titular “romance,” McKay’s novel features characters who engage in romantic and sexual relationships that subvert the expectations of heteronormativity, sexual economy, and the color line. Anticipating the twenty-first-century theories that locate sovereign power in the body, McKay politicizes and radicalizes desire as a response to the racialization, criminalization, and dehumanization of his novel’s lumpen characters.
Shoreline Thinking
Authors: Winkiel Laura
Published: April 2021

This article explores the relation between the dockside denizens of Claude McKay’s Marseille and the violent history of slavery and racism. It takes a longue durée approach to modernism by arguing that the previous five hundred years of colonization and conquest of Black and Indigenous life continue to constrain the possibilities of freedom imagined in the art and literature of the early twentieth century. Using Édouard Glissant’s poetics of relation, it considers how the shoreline in Romance in Marseille provides a fecund location for sifting through the residues of slavery to salvage possibilities for living otherwise than the racist state demands. In so doing, Romance in Marseille goes further than McKay’s other novels in asserting that Black femininity must be central to a Black reinvention of the human.
Local adaptation in thermal tolerance for a tropical butterfly across ecotone and rainforest habitats
Authors: Dongmo Michel A. K. , Hanna Rachid , Smith Thomas B. , Fiaboe K. K. M. , Fomena Abraham , Bonebrake Timothy C.
Published: April 2021

Thermal adaptation to habitat variability can determine species vulnerability to environmental change. For example, physiological tolerance to naturally low thermal variation in tropical forests species may alter their vulnerability to climate change impacts, compared with open habitat species. However, the extent to which habitat-specific differences in tolerance derive from within-generation versus across-generation ecological or evolutionary processes are not well characterized. Here we studied thermal tolerance limits of a Central African butterfly (Bicyclus dorothea) across two habitats in Cameroon: a thermally stable tropical forest and the more variable ecotone between rainforest and savanna. Second generation individuals originating from the ecotone, reared under conditions common to both populations, exhibited higher upper thermal limits (CTmax) than individuals originating from forest (∼3°C greater). Lower thermal limits (CTmin) were also slightly lower for the ecotone populations (∼1°C). Our results are suggestive of local adaptation driving habitat-specific differences in thermal tolerance (especially CTmax) that hold across generations. Such habitat-specific thermal limits may be widespread for tropical ectotherms and could affect species vulnerability to environmental change. However, microclimate and within-generation developmental processes (e.g. plasticity) will mediate these differences, and determining the fitness consequences of thermal variation for ecotone and rainforest species will require continued study of both within-generation and across-generation eco-evolutionary processes.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Self-organized cell migration across scales – from single cell movement to tissue formation
Authors: Stock Jessica , Pauli Andrea
Published: April 2021

Self-organization is a key feature of many biological and developmental processes, including cell migration. Although cell migration has traditionally been viewed as a biological response to extrinsic signals, advances within the past two decades have highlighted the importance of intrinsic self-organizing properties to direct cell migration on multiple scales. In this Review, we will explore self-organizing mechanisms that lay the foundation for both single and collective cell migration. Based on in vitro and in vivo examples, we will discuss theoretical concepts that underlie the persistent migration of single cells in the absence of directional guidance cues, and the formation of an autonomous cell collective that drives coordinated migration. Finally, we highlight the general implications of self-organizing principles guiding cell migration for biological and medical research.
Rehabilitation of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis after functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: JEICAN Ionuț Isaia , TROMBITAS Veronica , CRIVII Carmen , DUMITRU Mihai , ALUAȘ Maria  , DOGARU Gabriela , GHEBAN Dan , JUNIE Lia Monica , ALBU Silviu
Published: April 2021

Introduction. In the case of many patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), antibiotic and steroid therapies fail, and surgery is required. The recovery of patients after surgery equally depends on the postoperative behavior of each individual patient. The paper presents the outcomes of recovery after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in a group of 74 patients.
Methods. The study was conducted in patients undergoing surgical treatment by FESS, performed by the same surgeon. For the development of the statistical database, the clinical records were collected by the same investigator.
Results. On the day of surgery and on the first postoperative day, 72.9% of patients reported facial pain, 41.8% nausea, 9.4% nasal bleeding, 8.8% vomiting. At 6 months postoperatively, 71.6% of patients estimated that they had a better quality of life than before surgery, 64.8% mentioned an improvement of olfaction as an effect, and 6.7% developed septal turbinate synechiae.
Conclusions. No major complications were identified in the recovery of CRS patients after FESS. Postoperative facial pain was less well tolerated by young patients (18-35 years old). The improvement of smell and the increase of disease-specific quality of life are the most relevant results of recovery after FESS mentioned by the patients included in our study. The otorhinolaryngologist and the family doctor play an important role in the education of patients regarding the importance of treatment with mineral and thermal waters in post-FESS recovery.
Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis, endoscopic sinus surgery, FESS, rehabilitation, ERAS protocols,
Applications of fitness function in Pubalgia affliction
Authors: IONIŢE Cătălin , AROTĂRIŢEI Dragoş , TURNEA Marius , ILEA Mihai , ROTARIU Mariana
Published: April 2021

Introduction. The relationships among variables are important in medicine and sport, and the most common approaches use linear correlation for optimization and prediction. Material and method. We propose to o novel usage of a known method (the genetic programming algorithm) to construct a nonlinear model in a practical case for rehabilitation find out the mathematical formula for a relationship among many variables . This study seeks to find a mathematical function to estimate the current state of the patient: healthy, affected by Pubalgia. Results and discussions. In the proposed application, a mathematical relationship is sought for five variables that express a state of health for patients, plantar footprint, plantar footprint – right, plantar pressure, plantar pressure – right and the surface of the body weight center. Conclusions. In this article, genetic programming has been proposed to construct a mathematical function to estimate the patient's condition possibly affected by Pubalgia. Keywords: e-health, rehabilitation, genetic algorithm,fitness function,
Influence of the physical activity in the elderly people diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis during the pandemic period caused by COVID-19
Authors: SILIŞTEANU Sînziana Călina , SILIŞTEANU Andrei Emanuel , SZAKÁCS Juliánna
Published: April 2021

Introduction. Knee osteoarthritis is considered to be a chronic disease that affects the joints by causing pain, joint stiffness and decreased functional capacity. Regular physical activity can keep and increase functional capacity, it can reduce pain by improving movement behavior. The disruption of the sedentary behavior of the elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis can lead to improved physical function and general health. The purpose of this paper is to point out the role of physical activity in the elderly people diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and method. A total of 155 patients diagnosed (clinical and imaging) with knee ostoarthritis, who were treated on an outpatient basis, from May to September 2020, were studied. The parameters assessed in the study were pain, joint stiffness, the ability to carry out daily activities, anxiety and quality of life. Results and discussion.The studied group of patients was homogeneous in terms of the weight by age group and gender. Higher values were recorded in the study group in the evaluation of patients based on scales, the results being statistically significant, with value for p<0.05, which means that the hypothesis was validated. Conclusions. Patients of the study group recorded improvementin of functional capacity, joint stability and static and dynamic balance, which allowed a faster reintegration into the family and society.
Keywords: physical activity, pain, elderly people, knee osteoarthritis,
Η επίδραση της από του στόματος και της μακράς δράσης ενέσιμης αντιψυχωτικής αγωγής στη σεξουαλική δραστηριότητα και σεξουαλική ικανοποίηση ασθενών με σχιζοφρένεια και με διπολική διαταραχή
Authors: Αγγελάκη Μαρία
Published: April 2021

Εισαγωγή: Η σεξουαλική δυσλειτουργία σε ασθενείς με διάγνωση σχιζοφρένειας ή διπολικής διαταραχής μπορεί να σχετίζεται με την ίδια τη νόσο, τους ψυχοκοινωνικούς παράγοντες, τη σωματική υγεία και την αντιψυχωτική αγωγή. Σκοπός: Η διερεύνηση του τύπου και της συχνότητας της σεξουαλικής δυσλειτουργίας ασθενών με διάγνωση σχιζοφρένειας ή διπολικής διαταραχής που υποβάλλονται σε αντιψυχωτική αγωγή. Μέθοδος: Πρόκειται για πολυκεντρική ,μη παρεμβατική μελέτη συσχέτισης, στην οποία συμμετείχαν ασθενείς με σχιζοφρένεια και διπολική διαταραχή που παρακολουθούνταν στην Πανεπιστημιακή Ψυχιατρική Κλινική και στα Κοινοτικά Κέντρα Ψυχικής Υγείας και Υγιεινής από το Δεκέμβριο 2018 έως το Δεκέμβριο 2019. Οι ασθενείς συμμετείχαν στη μελέτη μετά από ενυπόγραφη πληροφορημένη συναίνεση. Τα δημογραφικά και κλινικά δεδομένα συλλέχθηκαν από τους ασθενείς μέσω ημιδομημένης συνέντευξης. Για την εκτίμηση της σεξουαλικής λειτουργίας χρησιμοποιήθηκε το ερωτηματολόγιο «Antipsychotics and Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (ASFQ)», μετά τη λήψη της σχετικής άδειας. Η ανάλυση των δεδομένων πραγματοποιήθηκε με το IBM SPSS 21.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) και το επίπεδο στατιστικής σημαντικότητας ορίστηκε το p≤0,05. Αποτελέσματα: Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 87 ασθενείς που λάμβαναν αντιψυχωτικά. Η μέση ηλικία των ασθενών που συμμετείχαν στη μελέτη ήταν 43,6 έτη, ενώ η μέση διάρκεια της νόσου ήταν 16,9 έτη. Συνολικά παρατηρήθηκε σε όλους τους ασθενείς επιδείνωση της σεξουαλικής λειτουργίας. Συγκεκριμένα, το 52,6 % των ασθενών είχαν μειωμένη σεξουαλική επιθυμία και το 46,6% είχαν μειωμένο οργασμό. Το 10,5% είχαν γαλακτόρροια και το 17,1% είχαν αύξηση του μεγέθους των μαστικών αδένων Στους άνδρες, το 37,2% είχαν μειωμένη στύση, ενώ το 56,2% είχαν μειωμένη εκσπερμάτιση. Στις γυναίκες, το 48,3% είχαν μειωμένη κολπική λίπανση και το 40% δεν είχαν έμμηνο ρύση κατά τη διάρκεια των τελευταίων τεσσάρων έως έξι εβδομάδων. Οι ασθενείς που λάμβαναν τυπικά αντιψυχωτικά pos είχαν μεγαλύτερη δυσκολία επίτευξης οργασμού (p=0,05) και μειωμένη ικανότητα στύσης (p=0,016). Αντιθέτως, οι ασθενείς που λάμβαναν άτυπα αντιψυχωτικά pos είχαν μειωμένη ικανότητα εκσπερμάτισης (p=0,017). Οι ασθενείς που λάμβαναν πολυφαρμακεία ανέφεραν υψηλότερη βαθμολογία σεξουαλικής ανηδονίας (p = 0,019). Βρέθηκε μια θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ του αριθμού των ανεπιθύμητων ενεργειών των αντιψυχωτικών και της σεξουαλικής ανηδονίας (p <0,001), και συγκεκριμένα της μειωμένης εκσπερμάτωσης (p = 0,006). Τέλος, συσχετίστηκαν σημαντικά η ηλικία, η επαγγελματική αποκατάσταση και το μορφωτικό επίπεδο με τη σεξουαλική δυσλειτουργία. Συμπεράσματα: Η σεξουαλική δυσλειτουργία είναι μία από τις ανεπιθύμητες ενέργειες της αντιψυχωτικής αγωγής, η οποία θα μπορούσε να έχει σημαντικό αντίκτυπο στη συμμόρφωση των ασθενών στα συνταγογραφούμενα αντιψυχωτικά φάρμακα με σοβαρές επιπτώσεις στην υγεία τους αλλά και στην ποιότητα ζωής τους.
Is butyrate a natural alternative to dexamethasone in the management of CoVID-19?
Authors: K Nithin K. , Patil Prakash , Bhandary Satheesh Kumar , Haridas Vikram , N Suchetha Kumari , E Sarathkumar , Shetty Praveenkumar
Published: April 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 has affected more than 100 million lives. Severe CoVID-19 infection may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death of the patient, and is associated with hyperinflammation and cytokine storm. The broad spectrum immunosuppressant corticosteroid, dexamethasone, is being used to manage the cytokine storm and hyperinflammation in CoVID-19 patients. However, the extensive use of corticosteroids leads to serious adverse events and disruption of the gut-lung axis. Various micronutrients and probiotic supplementations are known to aid in the reduction of hyperinflammation and restoration of gut microbiota. The attenuation of the deleterious immune response and hyperinflammation could be mediated by short chain fatty acids produced by the gut microbiota. Butyric acid, the most extensively studied short chain fatty acid, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, butyric acid has been shown to ameliorate hyperinflammation and reduce oxidative stress in various pathologies, including respiratory viral infections. In this review, the potential anti-inflammatory effects of butyric acid that aid in cytokine storm depletion, and its usefulness in effective management of critical illness related to CoVID-19 have been discussed.
Antibiotic Drug screening and Image Characterization Toolbox (A.D.I.C.T.): a robust imaging workflow to monitor antibiotic stress response in bacterial cells in vivo
Authors: Mayer Benjamin , Schwan Meike , Thormann Kai M. , Graumann Peter L.
Published: April 2021

The search for novel drugs that efficiently eliminate prokaryotic pathogens is one of the most urgent health topics of our time. Robust evaluation methods for monitoring the antibiotic stress response in prokaryotes are therefore necessary for developing respective screening strategies. Besides advantages of common in vitro techniques, there is a growing demand for in vivo information based on imaging techniques that allow to screen antibiotic candidates in a dynamic manner. Gathering information from imaging data in a reproducible manner, robust data processing and analysis workflows demand advanced (semi-)automation and data management to increase reproducibility. Here we demonstrate a versatile and robust semi-automated image acquisition, processing and analysis workflow to investigate bacterial cell morphology in a quantitative manner. The presented workflow, A.D.I.C.T, covers aspects of experimental setup deployment, data acquisition and handling, image processing (e.g. ROI management, data transformation into binary images, background subtraction, filtering, projections) as well as statistical evaluation of the cellular stress response (e.g. shape measurement distributions, cell shape modeling, probability density evaluation of fluorescence imaging micrographs) towards antibiotic-induced stress, obtained from time-course experiments. The imaging workflow is based on regular brightfield images combined with live-cell imaging data gathered from bacteria, in our case from recombinant Shewanella cells, which are processed as binary images. The model organism expresses target proteins relevant for membrane-biogenesis that are functionally fused to respective fluorescent proteins. Data processing and analysis are based on customized scripts using ImageJ2/FIJI, Celltool and R packages that can be easily reproduced and adapted by users. Summing up, our approach aims at supporting life-scientists to establish their own imaging-pipeline in order to exploit their data as versatile as possible and in a reproducible manner.
Understanding Large-Scale Dynamic Purchase Behavior
Authors: Jacobs Bruno , Fok Dennis , Donkers Bas
Published: April 2021

A scalable model-based approach to gain insights in dynamic purchase behavior for large product assortments and customer bases.
Fair Allocation of Indivisible Goods: Improvement
Authors: Ghodsi Mohammad , Hajiaghayi Mohammad Taghi , Seddighin Masoud , Seddighin Saeed , Yami Hadi
Published: April 2021

We study the problem of fair allocation for indivisible goods. We use the maximin share paradigm introduced by Budish [Budish E (2011) The combinatorial assignment problem: Approximate competitive equilibrium from equal incomes. J. Political Econom. 119(6):1061–1103.] as a measure of fairness. Kurokawa et al. [Kurokawa D, Procaccia AD, Wang J (2018) Fair enough: Guaranteeing approximate maximin shares. J. ACM 65(2):8.] were the first to investigate this fundamental problem in the additive setting. They showed that in delicately constructed examples, not everyone can obtain a utility of at least her maximin value. They mitigated this impossibility result with a beautiful observation: no matter how the utility functions are made, we always can allocate the items to the agents to guarantee each agent’s utility is at least 2/3 of her maximin value. They left open whether this bound can be improved. Our main contribution answers this question in the affirmative. We improve their approximation result to a 3/4 factor guarantee.
Labor Welfare in On-Demand Service Platforms
Authors: Benjaafar Saif , Ding Jian-Ya , Kong Guangwen , Taylor Terry
Published: April 2021

Problem definition: An on-demand service platform relies on independent workers (agents) who decide how much time, if any, to devote to the platform. Some labor advocates have argued that an expansion of the labor pool hurts agents—by reducing the wage and agent utilization (i.e., the fraction of time an agent is busy serving customers). Motivated by concern for agent welfare, regulators are considering measures that reduce the labor pool size or that impose a floor on the nominal wage or effective wage (i.e., the product of the nominal wage and agent utilization). Are agents indeed hurt by an expansion in the labor pool size? Which type of wage-floor regulation is preferable? Are consumers hurt by the imposition of a wage floor? Academic/practical relevance: Because independent agents work without the traditional protections intended to ensure the welfare of employees, the welfare of those agents is an important concern. Methodology: We employ an equilibrium model that accounts for the interaction among price, wage, labor supply, customer delay, and demand. Results: Average labor welfare increases and then decreases in the labor pool size; that is, agents are harmed by an expansion in the labor pool size if and only if the labor pool size is sufficiently large. The effective wage floor is superior to the nominal wage floor in terms of labor welfare maximization. More generally, the two types of wage floors have structurally different effects on labor welfare, with a floor on the nominal wage only beneficial to agents if it is sufficiently small. Contrary to the conventional view that consumers are hurt by an effective wage floor (because they face a higher price, due to upward pressure on the wage, and longer delay, due to upward pressure on agent utilization), consumers actually benefit. Managerial implications: Regulators, labor advocates, platform managers, and agents benefit from understanding the forces that create and destroy labor welfare.
A responsabilização do fornecedor pelo desvio produtivo do consumidor e o dano temporal
Authors: Andrade Mariana Dionísio de , Pinto Eduardo Régis Girão de Castro , Aragão Larissa Magalhães
Published: April 2021

O presente estudo tem como objetivo responder ao seguinte problema de pesquisa: é possível responsabilizar o fornecedor pelo desvio produtivo do consumidor, considerando o prejuízo do tempo desperdiçado na busca pela solução de problemas não ocasionados por este? Para abordar o tema de maneira mais ampla, foi necessária a compreensão sobre preceitos consumeristas e suas características, o conceito de novos danos, a tutela ao tempo, bem como a banalização da responsabilidade civil ao dano temporal.A metodologia utilizada é classificada como bibliográfica, pura, qualitativa e descritiva. O estudo é embasado em obras de Nelson Rosenvald, Claudia Lima Marques, Bruno Miragem e Marcos Dessaune, dentre outros. É possível concluir que o desvio produtivo do consumidor tem sido objeto de discussões, sobretudo com aumento de demandas em que se admite a responsabilidade civil do fornecedor pela perda do tempo útil.
Biopolítica, racismo e vida nua: quando o sol não nasce para todos
Authors: Wermuth Maiquel Ângelo Dezordi , De Castro André Giovane
Published: April 2021

O artigo aborda o tema da biopolítica e do racismo de Estado em face da população negra no Brasil. A problemática envolve a forma pela qual o racismo, como instrumento de justificação da morte direta ou indireta em uma sociedade marcada pela biopolítica, afeta os negros na Contemporaneidade em relação à violência e à persecução penal. A hipótese originária deste trabalho acadêmico evidencia a utilização do racismo como indispensável à eliminação, via morte e segregação, dos negros considerados como raça impura, ruim, perigosa e desnecessária para os fins da sociedade e do Estado. A investigação científica, à luz do método fenomenológico-hermenêutico, da abordagem qualitativa, da técnica exploratória e dos procedimentos bibliográfico e documental, objetiva estudar criticamente a formação e a vinculação da biopolítica com o racismo, o modo de realização do racismo frente aos negros, principalmente no Brasil, e a situação da população negra sob a perspectiva da biopolítica. A pesquisa, por fim, concebe a existência dos negros atrelada à condição de homo sacer, retratada pela vida nua, desprovida de direitos humanos e eliminável do tecido político-social, no disseminado estado de exceção em vastos campos contemporâneos.
Serious complications and deterioration in the newborn
Authors: Lindsay Pat
Published: April 2021

Most babies make a smooth transition to life outside the uterus and progress is usually good afterwards. Nevertheless, a few babies become really ill. The signs of serious illness in a neonate may not be obvious and their condition can deteriorate very quickly. Death is a real risk if staff and parents are not watchful. This article discusses some less common and more serious complications and highlights some of the signs that the infant's condition is starting to deteriorate. The focus of the paper is the healthy term infant.
Rare health conditions 45: Holt-Oram syndrome, infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, query (Q) fever
Authors: Barber Chris
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this series is to highlight a range of rare health conditions. Rare health conditions are those that affect no more and usually fewer than 1 person in every 2000 and many healthcare assistants and nurses will encounter some of these conditions given the high number of them. This 45th article will explore three of these conditions: Holt-Oram syndrome, infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy and query (Q) fever.
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of three diagnostic test strategies for angle closure in a developing country
Authors: Miyamoto Mariana Y , Cohen Ralph , Kasahara Niro
Published: April 2021

Background/Aims

The appropriate roles for alternative diagnostic tests in detecting primary angle closure of the eye are uncertain. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of Scheimpflug camera imaging, the van Herick technique and gonioscopy to identify primary angle in a developing country.

Methods

This cross-sectional diagnostic study included participants aged >40 years with suspected primary angle closure in the developing country of Brazil. All participants underwent Scheimpflug camera imaging, a van Herick test and gonioscopy. The diagnostic ability of these tests was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Costs of interventions were derived using the Brazilian Hierarchical Classification of Medical Procedures. The cost-effectiveness of the tests were compared using an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Results

Gonioscopy was confirmed to be the most accurate diagnostic test for primary angle closure, closely followed by the van Herick test. The accuracy of Scheimpflug camera imaging was considerably lower, largely because of its low sensitivity. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio demonstrated that Scheimpflug camera imaging was also the least cost-effective, as it was considerably more expensive but with less clinical benefits.

Conclusions

Because of its relatively low accuracy and high costs, Scheimpflug camera imaging is not as cost-effective as gonioscopy nor the van Herick test as a means of diagnosing primary angle closure in a developing country.
Personal reflections of a 36-year career in mental health nursing
Authors: Ho Danny
Published: April 2021

Danny Ho reflects on his career in mental health nursing, highlighting the highs and lows his roles entailed.
Extreme Points of Certain Transportation Polytopes with Fixed Total Sums
Authors: Chen Zhi , Zhu Zelin , Li Jiawei , Yang Lizhen , Cao Lei
Published: April 2021

Transportation matrices are $m\times n$ nonnegative matrices with given row sum vector $R$ and column sum vector $S$. All such matrices form the convex polytope $\mathcal{U}(R,S)$ which is called a transportation polytope and its extreme points have been classified. In this article, we consider a new class of convex polytopes $\Delta(\bar{R},\bar{S},\sigma)$ consisting of certain transportation polytopes satisfying that the sum of all elements is $\sigma$, and the row and column sum vectors are dominated componentwise by the given positive vectors $\bar{R}$ and $\bar{S}$, respectively. We characterize the extreme points of $\Delta(\bar{R},\bar{S},\sigma)$. Moreover, we give the minimal term rank and maximal permanent of $\Delta(\bar{R},\bar{S},\sigma)$.
Effect of stem position and length on bone-stem constructs after cementless hip arthroplasty
Authors: Kwak Dae-Kyung , Bang Sun-Hee , Lee Sung-Jae , Park Ji-Hun , Yoo Je-Hyun
Published: April 2021

Aims

There are concerns regarding initial stability and early periprosthetic fractures in cementless hip arthroplasty using short stems. This study aimed to investigate stress on the cortical bone around the stem and micromotions between the stem and cortical bone according to femoral stem length and positioning.

Methods

In total, 12 femoral finite element models (FEMs) were constructed and tested in walking and stair-climbing. Femoral stems of three different lengths and two different positions were simulated, assuming press-fit fixation within each FEM. Stress on the cortical bone and micromotions between the stem and bone were measured in each condition.

Results

Stress concentration was observed on the medial and lateral interfaces between the cortical bone and stem. With neutral stem insertion, mean stress over a region of interest was greater at the medial than lateral interface regardless of stem length, which increased as the stem shortened. Mean stress increased in the varus-inserted stems compared to the stems inserted neutrally, especially at the lateral interface in contact with the stem tip. The maximum stress was observed at the lateral interface in a varus-inserted short stem. All mean stresses were greater in stair-climbing condition than walking. Each micromotion was also greater in shorter stems and varus-inserted stems, and in stair-climbing condition.

Conclusion

The stem should be inserted neutrally and stair-climbing movement should be avoided in the early postoperative period, in order to preserve early stability and reduce the possibility of thigh pain, especially when using a shorter stem. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(4):250–258.
Improving Access to Home and Community Care: An Analysis of the 2017 Health Accord
Authors:   McGill University, Robertd Rhiannon , Bartram Mary ,   Carleton University, Kalenteridis Katerina ,   Carleton University, Quesnel-Vallée Amélie ,   McGill University
Published: April 2021

In 2017, the federal Liberal government confirmed the new Canadian Health Accord, which included a targeted transfer of $6B over ten years to the provinces and territories to improve access to home and community care services. Although there were previous federal initiatives aimed at enhancing home and community care services, challenges remain. Many Canadians cannot access home care, and a high burden of care is placed on formal and informal caregivers. These challenges partly stem from an unregulated home care sector and a societal undervaluing of the caregiving role. In 2016, federal, provincial, and territorial governments met and established home and community care as a Canadian health priority. Funding was agreed to in principle from 2016 to 2017 and finalized from 2017 to 2019 through a series of bilateral agreements. The targeted transfer appears to be boosting investments in the home care sector and fostering collaboration across jurisdictions. However, it is unclear whether there have been improvements in access to home and community care.
Extensive-dynamic-range and high-resolution surface profiling with phase-sensitive spectral-domain white-light interferometry
Authors: Jiao Zhicheng , Jiang Yunfei , Zhao Yuqian , Liu Jian , Yu Yao , Ma Zhenhe , Wang Yi
Published: April 2021

We demonstrate a Fourier-transform-based method for extensive-dynamic-range and high-resolution surface profiling using phase-sensitive spectral-domain white-light interferometry. By combining the frequency and phase of interference fringes, this method is capable of displacement measurement with nanometer-scale resolution and a dynamic range up to several millimeters. The performance of the method is demonstrated by surface profiling of a coin, gauge blocks, and a cell-phone circuit board.