bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
False Claims Act Overview and Implications for Neurologists
Authors: Rose Rachel V. , Kass Joseph S.
Published: May 2021

The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General identifies the five most important federal fraud and abuse laws that are most applicable to physicians: the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law), the Exclusion Authorities, and the Civil Monetary Penalties Law

The False Claims Act is the US government’s primary tool for combating fraud perpetrated through the filing of false claims for federal government reimbursement. Neurologists and companies serving the needs of neurologic patients have not been immune from False Claims Act–related legal action. This article provides an overview of the False Claims Act, uses real-life neurologic cases to illustrate the range of False Claims Act violations and recoveries, and offers some practical compliance suggestions.
Pathophysiology of Migraine
Authors: Recober Ana
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article summarizes the current understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine, including some controversial aspects of the underlying mechanisms of the disorder.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent functional neuroimaging studies focusing on the nonpainful symptoms of migraine have identified key areas of the central nervous system implicated in the early phases of a migraine attack. Clinical studies of spontaneous and provoked migraine attacks, together with preclinical studies using translational animal models, have led to a better understanding of the disease and the development of disease-specific and targeted therapies.

Our knowledge of the pathophysiology of migraine has advanced significantly in the past decades. Current evidence supports our understanding of migraine as a complex cyclical brain disorder that likely results from dysfunctional sensory processing and dysregulation of homeostatic mechanisms. This article reviews the underlying mechanisms of the clinical manifestations of each phase of the migraine cycle.
Headache in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Szperka Christina
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the approach to a child or adolescent with headache, the criteria for common diagnoses, and the evidence base for treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS

The guidelines for acute and preventive treatment of migraine were updated in 2019. These guidelines summarize the available evidence and outline the questions that should be addressed in future research. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of several new classes of drugs and devices to treat adult migraine in the past few years has resulted in ongoing or planned pediatric trials.

Headache is a common symptom in children, and it is important to take a detailed history and perform a thorough physical examination to make the diagnosis. Nearly 1 in 10 children experience recurrent headaches due to migraine, which cause significant impairment in school performance and quality of life. The acute and preventive treatments that are currently available will help at least two-thirds of children with migraine, and several trials of new therapies offer hope for the future.
Leaning against the Wind and Crisis Risk
Authors: Schularick Moritz , Steege Lucas ter , Ward Felix
Published: May 2021

Can central banks defuse rising stability risks in financial booms by leaning against the wind with higher interest rates? This paper studies the state-dependent effects of monetary policy on financial crisis risk. Based on the near-universe of advanced economy financial cycles since the nineteenth century, we show that discretionary leaning against the wind policies during credit and asset price booms are more likely to trigger crises than prevent them. (JEL E43, E44, E52, E58, F33)
Antitrust Policies and Profitability in Nontradable Sectors
Authors: Besley Timothy , Fontana Nicola , Limodio Nicola
Published: May 2021

Firms in tradable sectors are more likely to be subject to external competition to limit market power, while nontradable firms are more dependent on domestic policies and institutions. This paper combines an antitrust index available for multiple countries with firm-level data from Orbis covering more than 12 million firms from 94 countries, including 20 sectors over 10 years and finds that profit margins of firms operating in nontradable sectors are significantly lower in countries with stronger antitrust policies compared to firms operating in tradable sectors. The results are robust to a wide variety of empirical specifications. (JEL D22, E02, L44)
Radiomics AI prediction for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) prognosis and recurrence with target volume approach
Authors: FH Tang , CYW Chu , EYW Cheung
Published: May 2021

Objectives:

To evaluate the performance of radiomics features extracted from planning target volume (PTV) and gross tumor volume (GTV) in the prediction of the death prognosis and cancer recurrence rate for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods:

188 HNSCC patients’ planning CT images with radiotherapy structures sets were acquired from Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). The 3D slicer (v. 4.10.2) with the PyRadiomics extension (Computational Imaging and Bioinformatics Lab, Harvard medical School) was used to extract radiomics features from the radiotherapy planning images. An in-house developed deep learning artificial neural networks (DL-ANN) model was used to predict death prognosis and cancer recurrence rate based on the features extracted from GTV and PTV of the CT images.

Results:

The PTV radiomics features with DL-ANN model could achieve 77.7% accuracy with overall AUC equal to 0.934 and 0.932 when predicting HNSCC-related death prognosis and cancer recurrence respectively. Furthermore, the DL-ANN model can achieve an accuracy of 74.3% with AUC equal to 0.947 and 0.956 for the HNSCC-related death prognosis and cancer recurrence respectively using GTV features.

Conclusion:

Using both GTV and PTV radiomics features in the DL-ANN model, can aid in predicting HNSCC-related death prognosis and cancer recurrence. Clinicians may find it helpful in formulating different treatment regimens and facilitate personized medicine based on the predicted outcome when performing GTV and PTV delineation.

Advances in knowledge:

Radiomics features of GTV and PTV are reliable prognosis and recurrence predicting tools, which may help clinicians in GTV and PTV delineation to facilitate delivery of personalized treatment.
Ausgrabungen und Funde im Jahr 2005
Authors: Bargetzi Dagmar , Flück Hannes , Glaser Catrin , Leuzinger Urs , Matt Christoph Philipp , Schön Udo , Spichtig Norbert , Stegmüller Christian
Published: May 2021

Berichte zu den archäologischen Untersuchungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt im Jahr 2005.
Frühmittelalterliche Grubenhäuser auf dem Basler Münsterhügel
Authors: Leuch-Bartels Katrin
Published: May 2021

Der vorliegende Aufsatz stellt einen Auszug aus der Dissertation «Besiedlung des Basler Münsterhügels von der römischen Zeit bis 1000 n. Chr.» dar, die im April 2001 von der Philosophisch-historischen Fakultät der Universität Basel angenommen wurde.

Im Zentrum der Untersuchungen stehen die Grubenhäuser auf dem Basler Münsterhügel. Basierend auf den durch das Fundmaterial gewonnenen Datierungen wird die Bauweise der Grubenhäuser besprochen. Die während den Grabungen beobachteten Bestattungen werden katalogartig dargestellt und die Anhaltspunkte zur Datierung zusammengefasst. Als Fazit werden die durch die Auswertung der Grubenhäuser und ihres Umfeldes gewonnenen Kenntnisse in einen historischen Kontext gestellt.
Wohin mit dem Abfall?
Authors: Martinoli Danièle , Plüss Petra
Published: May 2021

Der Inhalt einer spätrömischen Grube der Grabung 2004/38, Trafostation, Münsterplatz (A) 20, wurde archäobiologisch untersucht.

Bei den aus der Grube geborgenen Knochen handelt sich um diejenigen tierischen Abfälle, die beim Schlachten, beim Zerteilen des Tierkörpers in handliche Portionen und beim Entfleischen der Knochen anfielen.

Die botanischen Proben enthielten verkohlte Gerstenkörner in hoher Konzentration. Dies lässt auf einen verbrannten Gerstenvorrat oder auf Gerste, die beim Dörrprozess verkohlt ist, schliessen.
Zwei Tote und eine Hand voll Geld
Authors: Nick Michael
Published: May 2021

Während der archäologischen Untersuchung an der Fabrikstrasse 40 stiessen die Ausgräber 1996 auf einen kleinen Metallklumpen. Während der Restaurierung zeigte sich, dass es sich beim Klumpen um mehrere zusammengebackene Potinmünzen handelt.

Von sechs Münzen sind jeweils so viele Bildelemente sichtbar, dass sie alle als Sequanerpotins der Gruppe A bestimmt werden können. Damit gehören die Münzen dem in der Gasfabrik Siedlung am häufigsten gefundenen Münztyp an.
Baugeschichtliche Untersuchungen im Jahr 2007
Authors: Badrutt Conradin , Jaggi Bernard , Merki Matthias , Ritzmann Hans , Tramèr Stephan
Published: May 2021

Im vorliegenden Bericht werden 17 baugeschichtliche Untersuchungen vorgestellt, die im Jahr 2007 abgeschlossen werden konnten.
Ausgrabungen und Funde im Jahr 2008
Authors: Bargetzi Dagmar , Hagendorn Andrea , Leuzinger Urs , Matt Christoph Philipp , Schön Udo , Stegmüller Christian , Straumann Sven
Published: May 2021

Berichte zu den archäologischen Untersuchungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt im Jahr 2008.
Esskultur im Hinterhof
Authors: Häberle Simone , Matt Christoph Ph. , Vandorpe Patricia , Akeret Örni
Published: May 2021

Das unterste Schichtpaket in der Latrinenverfüllung konnte ins 12. Jh. datiert werden und stellt den eigentlichen Benutzungshorizont der Latrine dar. Die interdisziplinäre Auswertung dieses Befundes umfasste die Aufarbeitung historischer Quellen sowie die Untersuchung der keramischen Funde, der Grosstierknochen und der Tier- und Pflanzenreste aus den Schlämmproben.

Anhand der Egebnisse wurde versucht, einen stadtgeschichtlichen und kulturhistorischen Kontext herzustellen und Aussagen zur Gesellschaftsschicht, zur «Esskultur» und zu handwerklichen Tätigkeiten (Hornverarbeitung) der Latrinenbenutzer zu formulieren.
Von Fechter und Werenfels zu Herzog & de Meuron
Authors: Straumann Sven
Published: May 2021

Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden neuzeitliche Funde und Befunde einer 2008 auf dem Münsterhügel durchgeführten Grossgrabung vorgestellt. Ganz bewusst konzentriert sich dieser Aufsatz auf die Befundeinheit eines auch historisch bekannten Gebäudes aus dem 18. Jahrhundert. Historische Bildquellen und Pläne ergänzen auf einzigartige Weise die archäologischen Beobachtungen. Der Katalogteil bietet einen Einblick ins Fundspektrum dieser Epoche.
Vorwort
Authors: Lassau Guido
Published: May 2021

Vorwort des Kantonsarchäologen Guido Lassau.
Kurz gelebt und reich bestattet
Authors: Rissanen Hannele , Alder Cornelia
Published: May 2021

Im folgenden Bericht werden die ersten Resultate der archäologischen und anthropologischen Untersuchungen der Bestattung eines kleinen Kindes vorgestellt. Das Grab kam 2006 in einer Nekropole neben der spätkeltischen Siedlung Basel-Gasfabrik zum Vorschein. Im Grab des Kindes fand man neben Schmuck auch Reste von Textilien und Fell. Auffallend ist, dass dem Kind trotz seines geringen Alters kostbarer Frauenschmuck mitgegeben wurde.
Keltische Kostbarkeiten auf den Kopf gestellt
Authors: Hüglin Sophie , Spichtig Norbert
Published: May 2021

Seit der Entdeckung der keltischen Deponierung von Basel-Gasfabrik im Februar 2010 warten Fachwelt und Öffentlichkeit gespannt auf dessen Freilegung. Derzeit werden die wertvollen Stücke unter Laborbedingungen vorsichtig geborgen. Schon jetzt aber erörtern Norbert Spichtig, verantwortlich für das Grossprojekt Basel-Gasfabrik, und Sophie Hüglin, wissenschaftliche Leiterin der Grabung, den Jahrhundertfund.
Ausgrabungen und Funde im Jahr 2011
Authors: Bernasconi Marco , Braun Ingmar M. , Hüglin Sophie , Lassau Guido , Matt Christoph , Pümpin Christine , Rentzel Philippe , Scholz Till , Spichtig Norbert , Steiner Susan
Published: May 2021

Berichte zu den archäologischen Untersuchungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt im Jahr 2011.
Tätigkeitsbericht für das Jahr 2011
Authors: Lassau Guido
Published: May 2021

Der Tätigkeitsbericht des Kantonsarchäologen bietet einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Kennzahlen und die Arbeiten in den verschiedenen Abteilungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung im Jahr 2011.
Vorwort und Impressionen
Authors: Lassau Guido
Published: May 2021

Vorwort des Kantonsarchäologen Guido Lassau und Impressionen aus dem Berichtsjahr 2016.
Tätigkeitsbericht für das Jahr 2016
Authors: Lassau Guido
Published: May 2021

Der Tätigkeitsbericht des Kantonsarchäologen bietet einen Überblick über die wichtigsten Kennzahlen und die Arbeiten in den verschiedenen Abteilungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung im Jahr 2016.
Personnel management of a hotel company
Authors: Klyuchevskaya Irina
Published: May 2021

The textbook examines in detail the essence of the personnel management of a hotel company; the specifics of the personnel policy in the field of hospitality; the strategies of hotel companies in the field of recruitment, training, adaptation, building a business career, motivation and release of staff. Innovative strategies in the field of training of personnel of hotel enterprises are considered, recommendations for reducing the level of conflicts and stress among hotel employees are proposed. At the end of each chapter, there are tasks and questions that allow you to consolidate the theoretical material in practice.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher and secondary vocational education of the latest generation.
For students of educational organizations of higher education, studying in the areas of training 43.03.03 "Hotel business" and 43.03.02 "Tourism" (bachelor's level), and students of professional educational organizations, studying in the specialty 43.02.11 "Hotel service". It can be used for training students of organizations of additional professional education, students of both full-time and distance learning forms. Individual chapters can be useful for college students.
Intelligent technologies in unmanned systems
Authors: Gvozdeva Valentina
Published: May 2021

The textbook discusses the work on the application of intelligent technologies in unmanned systems. A description of the research methodology is given, the results of the work carried out, as well as their interpretation are presented. The basics of managing intelligent unmanned systems are studied. The basic concepts and definitions, the history of development, and the basics of data management in unmanned systems are described. The main methods and models used in intelligent unmanned systems are presented. The issues of data management in unmanned systems of various types of activities are considered.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For training students of universities and colleges in specialties involving the study of disciplines related to intelligent control in unmanned systems.
Design and management of geological exploration works for oil and gas
Authors: Kerimov Vagif , Kos'yanov Vadim , Mustaev Rustam
Published: May 2021

The textbook deals with the organization and management of exploration activities for oil and gas, as well as examples of planning, monitoring and implementation of exploration projects in leading oil and gas companies in Russia and the world. Currently, project management is being actively introduced into the practice of oil and gas exploration, and in this connection, the book examines its features, which have become firmly established in the life of many companies in the oil and gas industry.
The main risks of oil and gas exploration are shown. The essence of the local forecast of oil and gas potential and preparation of search objects for drilling is given. The issues of classification of oil and combustible gas reserves and resources are summarized. The geological and economic assessment of the efficiency of geological exploration is considered.
The chapters of the textbook are accompanied by control questions and tasks, as well as topics for essays.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For undergraduates in the direction of training 21.04.01 "Oil and Gas business" and students specializing in the direction 21.05.02 "Applied Geology".
Social policy
Authors: Tavokin Evgeniy
Published: May 2021

The textbook sets out the theoretical and methodological foundations,
as well as specific directions of social policy. The
principles of organization and mechanisms of functioning
of social policy models in Western countries are considered. The material is illustrated by operational
statistical and sociological facts.
It is recommended for university students studying in the areas of "
State and Municipal Management", "Personnel management",
"Management", "Sociology" and other managerial specialties,
students of various forms of training, professional
retraining and advanced training, as well as undergraduates and postgraduates
of relevant specialties.
Social transformations in the Russian labor market: informal employment
Authors: Igor' Alekseevich , Mariya Alekseevna , Elena Viktorovna , Vera Aleksandrovna
Published: May 2021

This monograph is devoted to the problems of social transformations in modern Russian society, which cover the labor market, forming an extensive socio-professional group of self-employed people with physical and mental labor. The self-employed in the shadow market transform the social structure, forming a specific class, which is characterized by its own original class culture, class norms of behavior, values, and lifestyle. The class character of this professional group marks archaic trends in stratification in the modern Russian Federation and can serve as the basis for the revival of the old traditional urban class — philistinism — in Russia.
It is intended for bachelors, masters, postgraduates studying in the areas of "Management", "Sociology", "Economics", "State and Municipal Management", "Personnel Management", as well as for a wide range of readers interested in social transformations in the modern world, social processes of archaization, the formation of class structures and social processes in informal employment markets.
Project management of innovative activity of enterprises
Authors: Badykova Idelya , Romanova Anna
Published: May 2021

The monograph examines the statement that the combination of innovation activity and corporate social responsibility should create a synergistic effect of sustainable development of the enterprise. It is shown that increasing loyalty on the part of a large number of stakeholder groups (especially employees, consumers, suppliers, etc.) and reducing the level of risk perception on the part of financial stakeholders, consumers, etc. through the emergence of a "halo" or "halo" of responsible business are extremely important for high-risk innovation activities, increase the effectiveness of project management. At the same time, a positive perception on the part of stakeholders should affect the competitiveness of the company as a whole and its economic efficiency.
For students and teachers, as well as all those interested in the economy of enterprises.
How Do Peer Awards Motivate Creative Content? Experimental Evidence from Reddit
Authors: Burtch Gordon , He Qinglai , Hong Yili , Lee Dokyun
Published: May 2021

We theorize peer awards’ effects on the volume and novelty of creative user-generated content (UGC) produced at online platform communities. We then test our hypotheses via a randomized field experiment on Reddit, wherein we randomly and anonymously assigned Reddit’s Gold Award to 905 users’ posts over a two-month period. We find that peer awards induced recipients to make longer, more frequent posts and that these effects were particularly pronounced among newer community members. Further, we show that recipients were causally influenced to engage in greater (lesser) exploitation (exploration) behavior, producing content that exhibited significantly greater textual similarity to their own past (awarded) content. However, because the effects were most pronounced among new community members, who also produce content that, in general, is systematically more novel than that of established members to begin with, this process yields a desirable outcome: larger volumes of generally novel UGC for the community.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
How Does Online Lending Influence Bankruptcy Filings?
Authors: Wang Hongchang , Overby Eric M.
Published: May 2021

By providing quick and easy access to credit, online lending platforms may help borrowers overcome financial setbacks and/or refinance high-interest debt, thereby decreasing bankruptcy filings. On the other hand, these platforms may cause borrowers to overextend themselves financially, leading to a “debt trap” and increasing bankruptcy filings. To investigate the impact of online lending on bankruptcy filings, we leverage variation in when state regulators granted approval for a major online lending platform—Lending Club—to issue peer-to-peer loans. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that state approval of Lending Club led to an increase in bankruptcy filings. A complementary instrumental variables analysis using loan-level data yields similar results. We find suggestive evidence that the ease of receiving a Lending Club loan causes some borrowers to overextend themselves financially, leading to bankruptcy. Our results suggest that recent initiatives from online lending platforms to control how borrowers use loans, such as Lending Club’s “balance transfer loans” that send loan funds directly to creditors, can help these platforms provide safe and affordable credit. Our study adds to the literature that examines how online platforms influence society and the economy; it contributes to the literature that examines how financial products, services, and regulations influence bankruptcy filings; and it has policy implications for online lending design and regulation.

This paper was accepted by Lorin Hitt, information systems.
Single-shot digital multiplexed holography for the measurement of deep shapes
Authors: Kozacki Tomasz , Mikuła-Zdańkowska Marta , Martinez-Carranza Juan , Idicula Moncy Sajeev
Published: May 2021

This work develops a single-shot holographic profilometer that enables shape characterization of discontinuous deep surfaces. This is achieved by combining hologram frequency multiplexing and an illumination technique of complex amplitude in multi-incidence angle profilometer. Object illumination is carried out from seven directions simultaneously, where the radial angular coordinates of illumination plane waves obey the geometric series. It is shown that: (i) the illumination pattern provides the required frequency separation of all object wavefronts in transverse frequency space, which is necessary for hologram demultiplexing, and (ii) numerical generation of longitudinal scanning function (LSF) is possible, which has large measurement range, high axial resolution, and small side lobes. Low side lobes of LSF and the developed multiplexed field dependent aberration compensation method are essential to minimize the negative influence of speckle noise of single-shot capture on the measurement result. The utility of the proposed method is demonstrated with experimental measurement of heights of two step-like objects.
Interferometric stitching method for testing cylindrical surfaces with large apertures
Authors: Xue Shuai , Dai Yifan , Zeng Shengyue , Chen Shanyong , Tian Ye , Shi Feng
Published: May 2021

Cylindrical surfaces widely used in high-energy laser systems can have nearly semi-meter-scale dimensions, and aperture angles can exceed R/3. State-of-the-art interferometric stitching test methods involve stitching only along the arc direction, and the reported dimensions of ∼50 × 50 mm2 are far smaller than those required in high-energy laser systems. To rectify this limitation, an interferometric stitching method for cylindrical surfaces with large apertures is proposed. Moreover, a subaperture stitching algorithm that can stitch along both the linear and arc directions is developed. An interferometric stitching workstation equipped with a six-axis motion stage and a series of computer-generated holograms is established, where cylindrical surfaces with R/# values as large as R/0.5 and apertures up to 700 mm can be tested based on the theoretical analysis. A convex cylindrical surface with a 350 × 380 mm2 aperture is tested to validate the proposed method’s feasibility in enlarging the testable aperture of cylindrical surfaces significantly from Ф50 mm to Ф700 mm, thereby promoting the application of large cylindrical surfaces in high-energy laser systems.
Genomic and immunogenic changes of Piscine novirhabdovirus (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus) over its evolutionary history in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Authors: Niner Megan D. , Stepien Carol A. , Gorgoglione Bartolomeo , Leaman Douglas W.
Published: May 2021

A unique and highly virulent subgenogroup (-IVb) ofPiscine novirhabdovirus, also known as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV), suddenly appeared in the Laurentian Great Lakes, causing large mortality outbreaks in 2005 and 2006, and affecting >32 freshwater fish species. Periods of apparent dormancy have punctuated smaller and more geographically-restricted outbreaks in 2007, 2008, and 2017. In this study, we conduct the largest whole genome sequencing analysis of VHSV-IVb to date, evaluating its evolutionary changes from 48 isolates in relation to immunogenicity in cell culture. Our investigation compares genomic and genetic variation, selection, and rates of sequence changes in VHSV-IVb, in relation to other VHSV genogroups (VHSV-I, VHSV-II, VHSV-III, and VHSV-IVa) and with other Novirhabdoviruses. Results show that the VHSV-IVb isolates we sequenced contain 253 SNPs (2.3% of the total 11,158 nucleotides) across their entire genomes, with 85 (33.6%) of them being non-synonymous. The most substitutions occurred in the non-coding region (NCDS; 4.3%), followed by theNv-(3.8%), andM-(2.8%) genes. Proportionally moreM-gene substitutions encoded amino acid changes (52.9%), followed by theNv-(50.0%),G-(48.6%),N-(35.7%) andL-(23.1%) genes. Among VHSV genogroups and subgenogroups, VHSV-IVa from the northeastern Pacific Ocean has shown the fastest substitution rate (2.01x10-3), followed by VHSV-IVb (6.64x10-5) and by the VHSV-I, -II and-III genogroups from Europe (4.09x10-5). A 2016 gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) from Lake Erie possessed the most divergent VHSV-IVb sequence. Thein vitroimmunogenicity analysis of that sample displayed reduced virulence (as did the other samples from 2016), in comparison to the original VHSV-IVb isolate (which had been traced back to 2003, as an origin date). The 2016 isolates that we tested induced milder impacts on fish host cell innate antiviral responses, suggesting altered phenotypic effects. In conclusion, our overall findings indicate that VHSV-IVb has undergone continued sequence change and a trend to lower virulence over its evolutionary history (2003 through present-day), which may facilitate its long-term persistence in fish host populations.
Evaluation of the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric chronic critical illness
Authors: Demirkiran Hilmi , Kilic Mehmet , Tomak Yakup , Dalkiran Tahir , Yurttutan Sadik , Basaranoglu Murat , Tuncer Oguz , Derme Turan , Tekeli Arzu Esen , Bahar Ilhan , Keskin Siddik , Oksuz Hafize
Published: May 2021

Our aim was to determine characteristics of children with chronic critical illness (CCI) admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care children’s hospital in Turkey. The current study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study that was done from 2014 to 2017. It involved three university hospitals PICUs in which multiple criteria were set to identify pediatric CCIs. Pediatric patients staying in the ICU for at least 14 days and having at least one additional criterion, including prolonged mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, sepsis, severe wound (burn) or trauma, encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, being postoperative, and neuromuscular disease, was accepted as CCI. In order to identify the newborn as a chronic critical patient, a stay in the intensive care unit for at least 30 days in addition to prematurity was required. Eight hundred eighty seven (11.14%) of the patients who were admitted to the PICU met the definition of CCI and 775 of them (87.3%) were discharged to their home. Of CCI patients, 289 (32.6%) were premature and 678 (76.4%) had prolonged mechanical ventilation. The total cost values for 2017 were statistically higher than the other years. As the length of ICU stay increased, the costs also increased. Interestingly, high incidence rates were observed for PCCI in our hospitals and these patients occupied 38.01% of the intensive care bed capacity. In conclusion, we observed that prematurity and prolonged mechanical ventilation increase the length of ICU stay, which also increased the costs. More work is needed to better understand PCCI.
The aesthetic experience of critical art: The effects of the context of an art gallery and the way of providing curatorial information
Authors: Szubielska Magdalena , Imbir Kamil
Published: May 2021

The aim of our research was to investigate the influence of the situational context of presenting contemporary critical artworks (in an art gallery vs in a laboratory setting) and the way in which one is acquainted with contextual information, i.e. a curatorial description (reading it on one’s own vs listening to it vs a lack of curatorial information), on the reception of critical art. All experimental stimuli were exemplars of contemporary art which raise current controversial social and political issues. Non-experts in the field of art were asked to rate their emotional reactions on non-verbal scales and estimate their liking and understanding of the artworks. As predicted, the art gallery context increased both the experience of aesthetic emotions–in terms of valence, arousal, subjective significance, and dominance and aesthetic judgements–in terms of liking. Thus, for critical art (i.e. current artworks which critically address serious, up-to-date issues) the situational context of the gallery increased the aesthetic experience–which is in line with previous studies on the gallery (or museum) effect. Curatorial information increased understanding, so non-experts seem to need interpretative guidance in the reception of critical art. Subjective significance was higher in the reading of curatorial information condition than the listening to curatorial information condition or the control condition (a lack of curatorial information). It seems, therefore, that art non-experts have a better understanding of critical art after being exposed to the curatorial description, but this does not result in an increase in liking and aesthetic emotions. Probably this is because the curatorial description allows one to grasp the difficult, often unpleasant issue addressed by critical art.
Depression, anxiety, stress and their associated factors among Ethiopian University students during an early stage of COVID-19 pandemic: An online-based cross-sectional survey
Authors: Simegn Wudneh , Dagnew Baye , Yeshaw Yigizie , Yitayih Sewbesew , Woldegerima Birhanemeskel , Dagne Henok
Published: May 2021

Background

The occurrence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the mental health situation of almost everyone, including University students who spent most of their time at home due to the closure of the Universities. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing depression, anxiety, stress and identifying their associated factors among university students in Ethiopia during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We invited students to complete an online survey using Google forms comprising consent, socio-demographic characteristics, and the standard validated depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) questionnaire. After completion of the survey from June 30 to July 30, 2020, we exported the data into SPSS 22. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were computed. Associated factors were identified using binary logistic regression and variables with a p-value <0.05 were declared as statistically significant factors with the outcome variables.

Results

A total of 423 students completed the online survey. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in this study was 46.3%, 52%, and 28.6%, respectively. In the multivariable model, female sex, poor self-efficacy to prevent COVID-19, those who do not read any material about COVID-19 prevention, lack of access to reading materials about their profession, and lack of access to uninterrupted internet access were significantly associated with depression. Female sex, lower ages, students with non-health-related departments, those who do not think that COVID-19 is preventable, and those who do not read any materials about COVID-19 prevention were significantly associated with anxiety. Whereas, being female, students attending 1st and 2nd years, those who do not think that COVID-19 is preventable, presence of confirmed COVID-19 patient at the town they are living in, and lack of access to reading materials about their profession were significantly associated with stress.

Conclusions

Depression, anxiety, and stress level among University students calls for addressing these problems by controlling the modifiable factors identified and promoting psychological wellbeing of students.
Three-year mortality in cryptococcal meningitis: Hyperglycemia predict unfavorable outcome
Authors: Tsai Sheng-Ta , Lin Fu-Yu , Chen Pei-Shan , Chiang Hsiu-Yin , Kuo Chin-Chi
Published: May 2021

Existing evidence revealed grave prognosis for cryptococcal meningitis (CM), particularly its short-term mortality. However, its long-term survival and prognostic factors remained unknown. This study investigated 3-year mortality and analyzed its predictive factors in patients with CM. This retrospective cohort study with 83 cerebrospinal fluid culture-confirmed CM patients was conducted at China Medical University Hospital from 2003 to 2016. The 3-year mortality rate in patients with CM was 54% (45 deaths among 83 patients). Advanced age, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative state, low Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, decreased hemoglobin and hyperglycemia on diagnosis were associated with 3-year mortality. After multivariate adjustment in the Cox proportional hazard model, only severe hyperglycemia (serum glucose ≥200 mg/dL) on diagnosis could predict 3-year mortality.
Psychosis proneness, loneliness, and hallucinations in nonclinical individuals
Authors: Lincoln Sarah Hope , Johnson Taylor , Kim Sarah , Edenbaum Emma , Hooley Jill M.
Published: May 2021

Hallucinations occur along a continuum of normal functioning. Investigating the factors related to this experience in nonclinical individuals may offer important information for understanding the etiology of hallucinations in psychiatric populations. In this study we test the relationship between psychosis proneness, loneliness, and auditory hallucinations in a nonclinical sample using the White Christmas paradigm. Seventy-six undergraduate students participated in this study. We found that slightly more than half of our participants endorsed a hallucinatory experience during the White Christmas paradigm. However, we did not observe a relationship between the number of hallucinatory experiences and schizotypy, propensity to hallucinate, or loneliness. Moreover, there were no differences on these measures between individuals who reported hearing a hallucination during the White Christmas paradigm relative to those who did not. Thus, there may be other contextual factors not investigated in this study that might clarify the mechanism by which auditory hallucinations are experienced in a nonclinical population.
An evaluation tool to strengthen the collaborative process of the public-private partnership in the veterinary domain
Authors: Poupaud Mariline , Antoine-Moussiaux Nicolas , Dieuzy-Labaye Isabelle , Peyre Marisa
Published: May 2021

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the veterinary domain are widely implemented worldwide and can help to strengthen the capacities of Veterinary Services. Few analyses have been made of these initiatives. This study is aimed at developing an evaluation tool based on participatory approaches and focusing on the quality of PPP processes in the veterinary domain. The tool was divided into ten sections relevant to PPP process organisation and activities. The 44 evaluation criteria and six quality attributes (operationality, relevance, acceptability, inclusiveness, adaptability, and stability) were identified based on literature review and case-study application. The tool was adjusted during four regional PPP training workshops bringing together stakeholders from both public and private sectors. Finally, the tool was validated through an experts’ elicitation process and applied in the field in Paraguay. The tool was developed in a non-normative perspective to help the partners adapt the PPP to their specific context, to maximize the opportunities and minimize the risks of such collaborations, and to formulate adapted recommendations to strengthen and improve the PPP collaborative process and thus the outcomes. In an ex-ante perspective, this tool would also help public and private actors to engage and develop a PPP process following the best possible practices. The aim of this tool is to help decision making in terms of PPP development and implementation in the veterinary domain to ensure the added value and relevance of such a collaborative approach in different countries worldwide.
Abundance estimation for line transect sampling: A comparison of distance sampling and spatial capture-recapture models
Authors: Crum Nathan J. , Neyman Lisa C. , Gowan Timothy A.
Published: May 2021

Accurate and precise abundance estimation is vital for informed wildlife conservation and management decision-making. Line transect surveys are a common sampling approach for abundance estimation. Distance sampling is often used to estimate abundance from line transect survey data; however, search encounter spatial capture-recapture can also be used when individuals in the population of interest are identifiable. The search encounter spatial capture-recapture model has rarely been applied, and its performance has not been compared to that of distance sampling. We analyzed simulated datasets to compare the performance of distance sampling and spatial capture-recapture abundance estimators. Additionally, we estimated the abundance of North Atlantic right whales in the southeastern United States with two formulations of each model and compared the estimates. Spatial capture-recapture abundance estimates had lower root mean squared error than distance sampling estimates. Spatial capture-recapture 95% credible intervals for abundance had nominal coverage, i.e., contained the simulating value for abundance in 95% of simulations, whereas distance sampling credible intervals had below nominal coverage. Moreover, North Atlantic right whale abundance estimates from distance sampling models were more sensitive to model specification compared to spatial capture-recapture estimates. When estimating abundance from line transect data, researchers should consider using search encounter spatial capture-recapture when individuals in the population of interest are identifiable, when line transects are surveyed over multiple occasions, when there is imperfect detection of individuals located on the line transect, and when it is safe to assume the population of interest is closed demographically. When line transects are surveyed over multiple occasions, researchers should be aware that individual space use may induce spatial autocorrelation in counts across transects. This is not accounted for in common distance sampling estimators and leads to overly precise abundance estimates.
A proposed population-health based metric for evaluating representativeness of air quality monitoring in cities: Using Hong Kong as a demonstration
Authors: Hohenberger Tilman Leo , Che Wenwei , Fung Jimmy C. H. , Lau Alexis K. H.
Published: May 2021

City air quality monitoring (AQM) network are typically sparsely distributed due to high operation costs. It is of the question of how well it can reflect public health risks to air pollution given the diversity and heterogeneity in pollution, and spatial variations in population density. Combing high-resolution air quality model, spatial population distribution and health risk factors, we proposed a population-health based metric for AQM representativeness. This metric was demonstrated in Hong Kong using hourly modelling data of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3 in 2019 with grid cells of 45m * 48m. Individual and total hospital admission risks (%AR) of these pollutants were calculated for each cell, and compared with those calculated at 16 monitoring sites using the similarity frequency (SF) method. AQM Representativeness was evaluated by SF and a population-health based network representation index (PHNI), which is population-weighted SF over the study-domain. The representativeness varies substantially among sites as well as between population- and area-based evaluation methods, reflecting heterogeneity in pollution and population. The current AQM network reflects population health risks well for PM10 (PHNI = 0.87) and PM2.5 (PHNI = 0.82), but is less able to represent risks for NO2 (PHNI = 0.59) and O3 (PHNI = 0.78). Strong seasonal variability in PHNI was found for PM, increasing by >11% during autumn and winter compared to summer due to regional transport. NO2 is better represented in urban than rural, reflecting the heterogeneity of urban traffic pollution. Combined health risk (%ARtotal) is well represented by the current AQM network (PHNI = 1), which is more homogenous due to the dominance and anti-correlation of NO2 and O3 related %AR. The proposed PHNI metric is useful to compare the health risk representativeness of AQM for individual and multiple pollutants and can be used to compare the effectiveness of AQM across cities.
Sprouty4 negatively regulates ERK/MAPK signaling and the transition from in situ to invasive breast ductal carcinoma
Authors: Brock Ethan J. , Jackson Ryan M. , Boerner Julie L. , Li Quanwen , Tennis Meredith A. , Sloane Bonnie F. , Mattingly Raymond R.
Published: May 2021

Breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-obligate precursor of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). It is still unclear which DCIS will become invasive and which will remain indolent. Patients often receive surgery and radiotherapy, but this early intervention has not produced substantial decreases in late-stage disease. Sprouty proteins are important regulators of ERK/MAPK signaling and have been studied in various cancers. We hypothesized that Sprouty4 is an endogenous inhibitor of ERK/MAPK signaling and that its loss/reduced expression is a mechanism by which DCIS lesions progress toward IDC, including triple-negative disease. Using immunohistochemistry, we found reduced Sprouty4 expression in IDC patient samples compared to DCIS, and that ERK/MAPK phosphorylation had an inverse relationship to Sprouty4 expression. These observations were reproduced using a 3D culture model of disease progression. Knockdown of Sprouty4 in MCF10.DCIS cells increased ERK/MAPK phosphorylation as well as their invasive capability, while overexpression of Sprouty4 in MCF10.CA1d IDC cells reduced ERK/MAPK phosphorylation, invasion, and the aggressive phenotype exhibited by these cells. Immunofluorescence experiments revealed reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and relocation of E-cadherin back to the cell surface, consistent with the restoration of adherens junctions. To determine whether these effects were due to changes in ERK/MAPK signaling, MEK1/2 was pharmacologically inhibited in IDC cells. Nanomolar concentrations of MEK162/binimetinib restored an epithelial-like phenotype and reduced pericellular proteolysis, similar to Sprouty4 overexpression. From these data we conclude that Sprouty4 acts to control ERK/MAPK signaling in DCIS, thus limiting the progression of these premalignant breast lesions.
Redefining monetary policy rules: A threshold approach
Authors: Diaz-Roldan Carmen , Prats María A. , Ramos-Herrera Maria del Carmen
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we try to analyse the extent to which a redefinition of the monetary policy rule would help to avoid the zero-lower bound, as well as to explore the conditions needed to avoid that constraint. To that aim, we estimate the threshold values of the key variables of the policy rule: the inflation gap and the output gap. The threshold model allows us to know which are the turning points from which the relationship between the key variables and the interest rate revert. In the Eurozone countries, we have found that the inflation gap always contributes to increasing the nominal interest rate. On the contrary, the output gap works differently when it reaches values above or below the threshold value, which would favour the reduction of the interest rates towards the zero level.
Improved procedures and computer programs for equivalence assessment of correlation coefficients
Authors: Shieh Gwowen
Published: May 2021

The correlation coefficient is the most commonly used measure for summarizing the magnitude and direction of linear relationship between two response variables. Considerable literature has been devoted to the inference procedures for significance tests and confidence intervals of correlations. However, the essential problem of evaluating correlation equivalence has not been adequately examined. For the purpose of expanding the usefulness of correlational techniques, this article focuses on the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and the Fisher’sztransformation for developing equivalence procedures of correlation coefficients. Equivalence tests are proposed to assess whether a correlation coefficient is within a designated reference range for declaring equivalence decisions. The important aspects of Type I error rate, power calculation, and sample size determination are also considered. Special emphasis is given to clarify the nature and deficiency of the two one-sided tests for detecting a lack of association. The findings demonstrate the inappropriateness of existing methods for equivalence appraisal and validate the suggested techniques as reliable and primary tools in correlation analysis.