bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inarticulate and Unconscious: Non-Justiciability before the International Court of Justice
Authors: John Anna
Published: April 2021

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has explicitly rejected the notion that some disputes are non-justiciable. This article argues that despite these assertions, some disputes before the Court are de facto non-justiciable. The Court’s jurisprudence shows that techniques of avoidance are used when confronted with non-justiciable issues. These avoidance techniques include the dismissal of cases on technical grounds, and the partial or non-assertion of jurisdiction, which can result in conflicting or irreconcilable jurisprudence. The non-justiciability of disputes before the ICJ arises from the Court’s judicial function, which is in turn shaped by its institutional design and the scope of its powers. However, the use of avoidance techniques to confront non-justiciable disputes may raise questions about the fairness of dispute settlement before the ICJ.
Appointment and Dis-Appointment at the CJEU: Part I – The FV/Simpson Litigation
Authors: Bradley Kieran
Published: April 2021

This first part of a two-part article examines the rulings of the General Court and the Court of Justice concerning the irregular appointment in 2016 of a judge to the Union’s Civil Service Tribunal (now abolished). The CJEU was acting more or less in tandem with the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ástráðsson v. Iceland; between them, these courts have confirmed for their respective legal orders that the right to a fair trial before a “tribunal established by law” includes a requirement that the judge(s) be appointed in accordance with the predetermined procedure. This requirement is not, however, absolute, but seeks ultimately to safeguard the independence and impartiality of the judiciary; it must therefore be balanced with other fundamental values, such as legal certainty and the irremovability of judges. The Simpson ruling may also have a certain resonance at the national level, as well as showcasing the CJEU’s remarkable “review” procedure, now in abeyance.
Mentoring Youth for Joy in Anxious Times
Authors: Cole Allan Hugh , Helsel Philip Browning
Published: April 2021

In this article, the authors set forward a theory of joy built upon adolescent development and describe how anxiety sometimes interferes. They elaborate why adolescence is a time of joy and the type of future-oriented adolescent imagination that fosters joy. Describing adolescent development from neurological, biological, social, sexual orientation, racial identity, and stages of faith perspectives, they show how joy and development are linked in adolescent flourishing. After defining anxiety, showing its prevalence, and distinguishing it from worry they indicate how the existential concerns of anxiety interferes with joy and how mentorship can help. Exploring pertinent Scriptures, they examine some ameliorative effects against anxiety through attachment based play that challenges a competitive culture and mentorship that evokes already-emergent strengths.
Assessment of Knowledge and Sources of Information on Lassa Fever Infection Among the Undergraduate Students of Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
Authors: Umoke MaryJoy , Umoke Prince Christian Ifeanachor , Nwalieji Chioma Adaora , Onwe Rosemary N. , Nwafor Ifeanyi Emmanuel , Agbaje Samson Olaoluwa , Nwimo Ignatius O.
Published: April 2021

Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease characterized by acute viral hemorrhagic fever, endemic in West Africa including Nigeria. The study assessed the knowledge and sources of information on Lassa fever infection among the undergraduate students of Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among a sample of 389 students (18 years above). A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed with SPSS (Version 20), and hypotheses were tested at p < .05 level of significance. Results showed that the majority of the students had good knowledge of Lassa fever description, 232 (60.75%); the signs and symptoms, 221 (57.9%); mode of transmission, 261 (68.41%); and preventive measures, 291 (76.13%). Radio, 23 (84.6%), and television, 307 (80.4%), were their major sources of information. Age ( p = .424), sex ( p = .082), and academic level ( p = .553) were not significant in the study, while faculty (social sciences; p = .000*) was strongly associated with the knowledge of Lassa fever. In conclusion, the overall knowledge of Lassa fever was good among students, though knowledge gaps were observed in the signs and symptoms. We recommend that health education on endemic diseases in the state be made a compulsory course as a general study (GST) in the university. Also, the internet, social media, and campus campaign be further used to educate and sensitize students on the effect of Lassa fever.
The Confucian Value of Benevolence and Volunteering Among Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Functional Motives
Authors: Guo Meiying , Liu Hongrui , Yao Meilin
Published: April 2021

Previous studies have revealed the influence of cultural values on volunteering; however, few have focused on the Confucian value of benevolence. This study examined the relationship between the Confucian value of benevolence and volunteering, as well as the mediating role of volunteer motives. A total of 473 Chinese college students completed questionnaires to assess the Confucian value of benevolence, including familism, unity, and harmony (UH), six functional motives to volunteer and volunteering. The results revealed a positive relationship between UH and volunteering and the mediating role of functional motives; however, there was no significant association between familism and volunteering. Furthermore, a multigroup analysis suggested that the mediation model was similar across genders among college students. Practical implications and limitations are also discussed.
Keratoconus: cross-linking the window of the eye
Authors: Hayes Sally , Morgan Siân R. , Meek Keith M.
Published: April 2021

Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea progressively thins and weakens, leading to severe, irregular astigmatism and a significant reduction in quality of life. Although the precise cause of keratoconus is still not known, biochemical and structural studies indicate that overactive enzymes within the cornea break down the constituent proteins (collagen and proteoglycans) and cause the tissue to weaken. As the disease develops, collagen fibres slip past each other and are redistributed across the cornea, causing it to change shape. In recent years, it was discovered that the photochemical induction of cross-links within the corneal extracellular matrix, through the use of riboflavin and ultraviolet (UVA) light, could increase the strength and enzymatic resistance of the tissue and thereby halt keratoconus progression. Worldwide acceptance and use of riboflavin/UVA corneal cross-linking therapy for halting keratoconus progression has increased rapidly, in accordance with the growing body of evidence supporting its long-term effectiveness. This review focusses on the inception of riboflavin/UVA corneal cross-linking therapy for keratoconus, its clinical effectiveness and the latest scientific advances aimed at reducing patient treatment time, improving patient comfort and increasing patient eligibility for treatment.

Plain language summary

Review of current treatments using cross-linking to halt the progress of keratoconus Keratoconus is a disease in which the curved cornea, the transparent window at the front of the eye, weakens, bulges forward into a cone-shape and becomes thinner. This change of curvature means that light is not focussed onto the retina correctly and vision is progressively impaired. Traditionally, the effects of early keratoconus were alleviated by using glasses, specialist contact lenses, rings inserted into the cornea and in severe cases, by performing a corneal transplant. However, it was discovered that by inducing chemical bonds called cross-links within the cornea, the tissue could be strengthened and further thinning and shape changes prevented. The standard cross-linking procedure takes over an hour to perform and involves the removal of the cells at the front of the cornea, followed by the application of Vitamin B2 eye drops and low energy ultraviolet light (UVA) to create new cross-links within the tissue. Clinical trials have shown this standard procedure to be safe and effective at halting keratoconus progression. However, there are many treatment modifications currently under investigation that aim to reduce patient treatment time and increase comfort, such as accelerated cross-linking procedures and protocols that do not require removal of the surface cells. This review describes the different techniques being developed to carry out corneal cross-linking efficiently and painlessly, to halt keratoconus progression and avoid the need for expensive surgery.
ETV6-FLT3–positive myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia presenting in an infant: an entity distinct from JMML
Authors: Spitzer Barbara , Dela Cruz Filemon S. , Ibanez Sanchez Glorymar D. , Zhang Yanming , Xiao Wenbin , Benayed Ryma , Markova Alina , Rodriguez-Sanchez M. Irene , Bouvier Nancy , Roshal Mikhail , Kung Andrew L. , Shukla Neerav
Published: April 2021

Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia (MLN-Eo) is a World Health Organization (WHO) established category of hematologic malignancies primarily arising in adults. We discuss an 8-month-old infant who presented with clinical features similar to those of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) but who was diagnosed with MLN-Eo driven by an ETV6-FLT3 fusion. Results of patient-derived leukemia ex vivo studies demonstrated increased sensitivity to type I FLT3 inhibitors as compared with type II inhibitors. Treatment with the type I inhibitor gilteritinib resulted in complete immunophenotypic and cytogenetic remission. This patient subsequently underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and remains in complete remission 1 year later. This is the youngest patient reported with an ETV6-FLT3 fusion and adds to the mounting reports of FLT3-rearranged MLN-Eo, supporting its addition to the WHO classification. Furthermore, this case highlights the clinical utility of ex vivo drug testing of targeted therapies.
Healthyversusinflamed lung environments differentially affect mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Rolandsson Enes Sara , Hampton Thomas H. , Barua Jayita , McKenna David H. , dos Santos Claudia C. , Amiel Eyal , Ashare Alix , Liu Kathleen D. , Krasnodembskaya Anna D. , English Karen , Stanton Bruce A. , Rocco Patricia R.M. , Matthay Michael A. , Weiss Daniel J.
Published: April 2021

Background

Despite increased interest in mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based cell therapies for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), clinical investigations have not yet been successful and our understanding of the potentialin vivomechanisms of MSC actions in ARDS remains limited. ARDS is driven by an acute severe innate immune dysregulation, often characterised by inflammation, coagulation and cell injury. How this inflammatory microenvironment influences MSC functions remains to be determined.

Aim

The aim of this study was to comparatively assess how the inflammatory environment present in ARDS lungsversusthe lung environment present in healthy volunteers alters MSC behaviour.

Methods

Clinical-grade human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSCs) were exposed to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples obtained from ARDS patients or from healthy volunteers. Following exposure, hMSCs and their conditioned media were evaluated for a broad panel of relevant properties, including viability, levels of expression of inflammatory cytokines, gene expression, cell surface human leukocyte antigen expression, and activation of coagulation and complement pathways.

Results

Pro-inflammatory, pro-coagulant and major histocompatibility complex (self-recognition) related gene expression was markedly upregulated in hMSCs exposedex vivoto BALF obtained from healthy volunteers. These changes were less apparent and often opposite in hMSCs exposed to ARDS BALF samples.

Conclusion

These data provide new insights into how hMSCs behave in healthyversusinflamed lung environments, and strongly suggest that the inflamed environment in ARDS induces hMSC responses that are potentially beneficial for cell survival and actions. This further highlights the need to understand how different disease environments affect hMSC functions.
Contributions of asthma, rhinitis and IgE to exhaled nitric oxide in adolescents
Authors: Flashner Bess M. , Rifas-Shiman Sheryl L. , Oken Emily , Camargo Carlos A. , Platts-Mills Thomas A.E. , Workman Lisa , Litonjua Augusto A. , Gold Diane R. , Rice Mary B.
Published: April 2021

Exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO) is an indicator of allergic airway inflammation. However, it is unknown how asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic sensitisation relate toFeNO, particularly among adolescents and in overlapping conditions. We sought to determine the associations between asthma, AR, and aeroallergen immunoglobulin (Ig)E andFeNOin adolescents.

We measuredFeNOamong 929 adolescents (aged 11–16 years) in Project Viva, an unselected prebirth cohort in Massachusetts, USA. We defined asthma as ever asthma physician diagnosis plus wheezing in the past year or taking asthma medications in the past month, AR as a physician diagnosis of hay fever or AR, and aeroallergen IgE as any IgE >0.35 IU·mL−1among 592 participants who provided blood samples. We examined associations of asthma, AR and IgE with percent difference inFeNOin linear regression models adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, age and height, maternal education and smoking during pregnancy, and household/neighbourhood demographics.

Asthma (14%) was associated with 97% higherFeNO(95% CI 70–128%), AR (21%) with 45% higherFeNO(95% CI 28–65%), and aeroallergen IgE (58%) with 102% higherFeNO(95% CI 80–126%) compared to those without each condition, respectively. In the absence of asthma or AR, aeroallergen IgE was associated with 75% higherFeNO(95% CI 52–101), while asthma and AR were not associated withFeNOin the absence of IgE.

The link between asthma and AR withFeNOis limited to those with IgE-mediated phenotypes.FeNOmay be elevated in those with allergic sensitisation alone, even in the absence of asthma or AR.
Incorporating foot assessment in the comprehensive geriatric assessment
Authors: Iseli Rebecca K. , Duncan Gregory , Lee Elton K. , Lewis Ellen , Maier Andrea B.
Published: April 2021

Background

Foot problems are common in older adults and associated with poorer physical function, falls, frailty and reduced quality of life. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), a multidisciplinary process that is considered the gold standard of care for older adults, does not routinely include podiatry assessment and intervention in hospitalized older adults.

Aims

To introduce foot assessment to inpatient CGA to determine prevalence of foot disease, foot disease risk factors and inappropriate footwear use, assess inter-rater reliability of foot assessments, determine current podiatry input and examine associations between patient characteristics and foot disease risks.

Methods

Prospective, observational cohort study of older adults on geriatric rehabilitation wards. Foot assessment completed using the Queensland Foot Disease Form (QFDF) in addition to routine CGA.

Results

Fifty-two patients (median age [inter-quartile range] 86.4 [79.2–90.3] years, 54% female) were included. Six patients (12%) had foot disease and 13 (25%) had a ‘high risk’ or ‘at risk’ foot. Foot disease risk factor prevalence was peripheral arterial disease 9 (17%); neuropathy 10 (19%) and foot deformity 11 (22%). Forty-one patients (85%) wore inappropriate footwear. Inter-rater agreement was substantial on presence of foot disease and arterial disease, fair to moderate on foot deformity and fair on neuropathy and inappropriate footwear. Eight patients (15%) saw a podiatrist during admission: 5 with foot disease, 1 ‘at risk’ and 2 ‘low risk’ for foot disease. Patients with an at risk foot or foot disease had significantly longer median length of hospital stay (25 [13.7–32.1] vs 15.2 [8–22.1] days, p = 0.01) and higher median Malnutrition Screening Test scores (2 [0–3] vs 0 [0–2], p = 0.03) than the low-risk group. Patients with foot disease were most likely to see a podiatrist (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Foot disease, foot disease risk factors and inappropriate footwear are common in hospitalized older adults, however podiatry assessment and intervention is mostly limited to patients with foot disease. Addition of routine podiatry assessment to the multidisciplinary CGA team should be considered. Examination for arterial disease and risk of malnutrition may be useful to identify at risk patients for podiatry review.
“Randomized trial of physical activity on quality of life and lung cancer biomarkers in patients with advanced stage lung cancer: a pilot study”
Authors: Bade Brett C. , Gan Geliang , Li Fangyong , Lu Lingeng , Tanoue Lynn , Silvestri Gerard A. , Irwin Melinda L.
Published: April 2021

Background

Lung cancer survivors need more options to improve quality of life (QoL). It is unclear to what extent patients with advanced stage disease are willing to participate in home-based physical activity (PA) and if these interventions improve QoL. The goal of our study was to determine interest in participating in our 3-month home-based walking regimen in patients with advanced stage lung cancer. We used a randomized design to evaluate for potential benefit in PA and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods

We performed an open-label, 1:1 randomized trial in 40 patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) evaluating enrollment rate, PA, QoL, dyspnea, depression, and biomarkers. Compared to usual care (UC), the intervention group (IG) received an accelerometer, in-person teaching session, and gain-framed text messages for 12 weeks.

Results

We enrolled 56% (40/71) of eligible patients. Participants were on average 65 years and enrolled 1.9 years from diagnosis. Most patients were women (75%), and receiving treatment (85%) for stage IV (73%) adenocarcinoma (83%). A minority of patients were employed part-time or full time (38%). Both groups reported low baseline PA (IG mean 37 (Standard deviation (SD) 46) vs UC 59 (SD 56) minutes/week; p = 0.25). The IG increased PA more than UC (mean change IG + 123 (SD 212) vs UC + 35 (SD 103) minutes/week; p = 0.051)). Step count in the IG was not statistically different between baseline (4707 step/day), week 6 (5605; p = 0.16), and week 12 (4606 steps/day; p = 0.87). The intervention improved EORTC role functioning domain (17 points; p = 0.022) with borderline improvement in dyspnea (− 13 points; p = 0.051) compared to UC. In patients with two blood samples (25%), we observed a significant increase in soluble PD-1 (219.8 (SD 54.5) pg/mL; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our pilot trial using a 3-month, home-based, mobile health intervention enrolled over half of eligible patients with stage III and IV NSCLC. The intervention increased PA, and may improve several aspects of QoL. We also identified potential biomarker changes relevant to lung cancer biology. Future research should use a larger sample to examine the effect of exercise on cancer biomarkers, which may mediate the association between PA and QoL.

Clinical trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03352245).
Apixaban anti-Xa level monitoring in treatment of acute upper extremity deep vein thrombosis for patient on chronic hemodialysis: a case report
Authors: Roberge Guillaume , Wells Philip Stephen
Published: April 2021

Background

Patients on dialysis are at higher risk of major bleeding and recurrent thrombosis creating acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment challenges. DOACs represent an interesting option but there are concerns of bioaccumulation and increased bleeding risk. Anti-Xa trough levels may be used to monitor for bioaccumulation but there is little data.

Case presentation

We describe a case, a 51 yo female, 36 kg on hemodialysis with a provoked acute upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in whom body habitus and calciphylaxis contraindicated the use of standard therapy. She received apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily for 6 weeks. The apixaban anti-Xa trough levels were measured weekly 12 h after the morning dose and ranged from 58 to 84 ng/mL, similar to expected levels with normal renal function. There were no adverse events in the 3 months follow-up.

Conclusions

We saw no evidence of bioaccumulation indicating a potential role for low dose apixaban for acute VTE in dialysis patients.
Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2), a pseudo serine/threonine kinase in tumorigenesis and stem cell fate decisions
Authors: Fang Yu , Zekiy Angelina Olegovna , Ghaedrahmati Farhoodeh , Timoshin Anton , Farzaneh Maryam , Anbiyaiee Amir , Khoshnam Seyed Esmaeil
Published: April 2021

The family of Tribbles proteins play many critical nonenzymatic roles and regulate a wide range of key signaling pathways. Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) is a pseudo serine/threonine kinase that functions as a scaffold or adaptor in various physiological and pathological processes. Trib2 can interact with E3 ubiquitin ligases and control protein stability of downstream effectors. This protein is induced by mitogens and enhances the propagation of several cancer cells, including myeloid leukemia, liver, lung, skin, bone, brain, and pancreatic. Thus, Trib2 can be a predictive and valuable biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Recent studies have illustrated that Trib2 plays a major role in cell fate determination of stem cells. Stem cells have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate into specific cell types. Stem cells are important sources for cell-based regenerative medicine and drug screening. Trib2 has been found to increase the self-renewal ability of embryonic stem cells, the reprogramming efficiency of somatic cells, and chondrogenesis. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances of Trib2 function in tumorigenesis and stem cell fate decisions.
Diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes at the dawn of the personalized medicine era
Authors: Akil Ammira Al-Shabeeb , Yassin Esraa , Al-Maraghi Aljazi , Aliyev Elbay , Al-Malki Khulod , Fakhro Khalid A.
Published: April 2021

Type 1 diabetes affects millions of people globally and requires careful management to avoid serious long-term complications, including heart and kidney disease, stroke, and loss of sight. The type 1 diabetes patient cohort is highly heterogeneous, with individuals presenting with disease at different stages and severities, arising from distinct etiologies, and overlaying varied genetic backgrounds. At present, the “one-size-fits-all” treatment for type 1 diabetes is exogenic insulin substitution therapy, but this approach fails to achieve optimal blood glucose control in many individuals. With advances in our understanding of early-stage diabetes development, diabetes stratification, and the role of genetics, type 1 diabetes is a promising candidate for a personalized medicine approach, which aims to apply “the right therapy at the right time, to the right patient”. In the case of type 1 diabetes, great efforts are now being focused on risk stratification for diabetes development to enable pre-clinical detection, and the application of treatments such as gene therapy, to prevent pancreatic destruction in a sub-set of patients. Alongside this, breakthroughs in stem cell therapies hold great promise for the regeneration of pancreatic tissues in some individuals. Here we review the recent initiatives in the field of personalized medicine for type 1 diabetes, including the latest discoveries in stem cell and gene therapy for the disease, and current obstacles that must be overcome before the dream of personalized medicine for all type 1 diabetes patients can be realized.
Correction to: New approaches to symptomatic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Cummings Jeffrey
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
HBP1-mediated transcriptional repression of AFP inhibits hepatoma progression
Authors: Cao Zhengyi , Cheng Yuning , Wang Jiyin , Liu Yujuan , Yang Ruixiang , Jiang Wei , Li Hui , Zhang Xiaowei
Published: April 2021

Background

Hepatoma is a common malignancy of the liver. The abnormal high expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is intimately associated with hepatoma progress, but the mechanism of transcriptional regulation and singularly activation of AFP gene in hepatoma is not clear.

Methods

The expression of transcription factor HBP1 and AFP and clinical significance were further analyzed in hepatoma tissues from the patients who received surgery or TACE and then monitored for relapse for up 10 years. HBP1-mediated transcriptional regulation of AFP was analyzed by Western blotting, Luciferase assay, Realtime-PCR, ChIP and EMSA. After verified the axis of HBP-AFP, its impact on hepatoma was measured by MTT, Transwell and FACS in hepatoma cells and by tumorigenesis in HBP1−/− mice.

Results

The relative expressions of HBP1 and AFP correlated with survival and prognosis in hepatoma patients. HBP1 repressed the expression of AFP gene by directly binding to the AFP gene promoter. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-encoded protein HBx promoted malignancy in hepatoma cells through binding to HBP1 directly. Icaritin, an active ingredient of Chinese herb epimedium, inhibited malignancy in hepatoma cells through enhancing HBP1 transrepression of AFP. The repression of AFP by HBP1 attenuated AFP effect on PTEN, MMP9 and caspase-3, thus inhibited proliferation and migration, and induced apoptosis in hepatoma cells. The deregulation of AFP by HBP1 contributed to hepatoma progression in mice.

Conclusions

Our data clarify the mechanism of HBP1 in inhibiting the expression of AFP and its suppression in malignancy of hepatoma cells, providing a more comprehensive theoretical basis and potential solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatoma.
Should the BCRA1/2-mutations healthy carriers be valid candidates for hematopoietic stem cell donation?
Authors: Fresa Alberto , Sica Simona
Published: April 2021

It’s still not clear whether the mutational status of BRCA-mutated healthy hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) donors could have an impact on the engraftment. Comparing the studies present in literature, we focused on the correlation between BRCA mutations and the development of hematological malignancies and Fanconi anemia (FA); then, we explored HSCs types, frequencies, and functions in the presence of BRCA mutations, as well as the reconstitution of hematopoiesis after chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The role of BRCA mutations in the FA showed a possible involvement in the onset of the disease; the mutation carriers, indeed, did not show any sign of the typical phenotype of the FA. BRCA mutational status can be considered as a risk factor for hematological malignancies, but only for secondary malignancies and/or in the presence of bone marrow stress factors. Currently we don’t know if a conditioning regimen could be compensated by BRCA mutated HSCs, even if murine models tried to show the possible differences between fully mutated, haploinsufficient and normal HSCs. Thus, given the downregulating effect of the mutations on hematopoiesis, it could be questionable to use the HSCs of a BRCA-mutated donor in the presence of another available donor with the same compatibility.
Antibacterial activity of royal jelly-mediated green synthesized silver nanoparticles
Authors: Gevorgyan Susanna , Schubert Robin , Yeranosyan Mkrtich , Gabrielyan Lilit , Trchounian Armen , Lorenzen Kristina , Trchounian Karen
Published: April 2021

The application of green synthesis in nanotechnology is growing day by day. It’s a safe and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. The current research aimed to study raw royal jelly’s potential in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity. Royal jelly served as a reducing and oxidizing agent in the green synthesis technology of colloidal silver nanoparticles. The UV–Vis maximum absorption at ~ 430 nm and fluorescence emission peaks at ~ 487 nm confirmed the presence of Ag NPs. Morphology and structural properties of Ag NPs and the effect of ultrasound studies revealed: (i) the formation of polydispersed and spherical particles with different sizes; (ii) size reduction and homogeneity increase by ultrasound treatment. Antibacterial activity of different concentrations of green synthesized Ag NPs has been assessed on Gram-negative S. typhimurium and Gram-positive S. aureus, revealing higher sensitivity on Gram-negative bacteria.
How property rights influence equity, efficiency and sustainability of high-altitude rangeland management in Bhutan
Authors: Tenzing Karma , Millar Joanne , Black Rosemary
Published: April 2021

This paper explores how property rights arrangements affect the equity, efficiency and sustainability of high-altitude rangeland management in Bhutan from the perspectives of rangeland users. Property rights affect how natural resources are allocated to individuals, communities and institutions and how they are managed. In Bhutan, only grazing rights are granted to rangeland users, as ownership of rangeland lies with the State. Three case study areas were selected across Bhutan with different levels of rangeland degradation, governance arrangements and property rights regimes. Semi-nomadic yak herders, sedentary livestock farmers and government officials participated in 40 semi-structured interviews and nine focus group discussions between 2013 and 2014. Findings revealed that historical inequities exist with private leases and some communal leases, but government-supported leases with management rights are considered more equitable. All property rights systems can become unproductive and inefficient with increasing populations, but communal areas are at greater risk of sub-optimal resource use and conflicts. Respondents were concerned about the lack of management rights, uncertainty over future lease arrangements and climate change impacts. This research revealed that (i) assignment of incomplete property rights is detrimental to efficient and sustainable natural resource management; (ii) banning of traditional practices such as burning, clearing and cutting of shrubs and bushes could undermine conservation by triggering natural resource degradation; (iii) granting of management rights in the bundle of rights is vital to encourage provisioning and maintenance activities; and (iv) in the absence of official contracts, deeds or titles which provide tenure security and political legitimacy, equitable distribution, clear boundary demarcation with written norms and rules are not sufficient to foster long-term investment in provisioning and maintenance activities. We discuss the implications of the findings for delayed implementation of the Land Act 2007 aimed at a more equitable redistribution of use rights and improved high-altitude rangeland management in Bhutan.
New approach to calculating tree height at the regional scale
Authors: Li Congrong , Song Jinling , Wang Jindi
Published: April 2021

Background

Determining the spatial distribution of tree heights at the regional area scale is significant when performing forest above-ground biomass estimates in forest resource management research. The geometric-optical mutual shadowing (GOMS) model can be used to invert the forest canopy structural parameters at the regional scale. However, this method can obtain only the ratios among the horizontal canopy diameter (CD), tree height, clear height, and vertical CD. In this paper, we used a semi-variance model to calculate the CD using high spatial resolution images and expanded this method to the regional scale. We then combined the CD results with the forest canopy structural parameter inversion results from the GOMS model to calculate tree heights at the regional scale.

Results

The semi-variance model can be used to calculate the CD at the regional scale that closely matches (mainly with in a range from − 1 to 1 m) the CD derived from the canopy height model (CHM) data. The difference between tree heights calculated by the GOMS model and the tree heights derived from the CHM data was small, with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.96 for a 500-m area with high fractional vegetation cover (FVC) (i.e., forest area coverage index values greater than 0.8). Both the inaccuracy of the tree height derived from the CHM data and the unmatched spatial resolution of different datasets will influence the accuracy of the inverted tree height. And the error caused by the unmatched spatial resolution is small in dense forest.

Conclusions

The semi-variance model can be used to calculate the CD at the regional scale, together with the canopy structure parameters inverted by the GOMS model, the mean tree height at the regional scale can be obtained. Our study provides a new approach for calculating tree height and provides further directions for the application of the GOMS model.
An ADePT evaluation for incorporating the TIPPS periodontal health intervention into primary care antenatal programmes to enhance infant birth weight in Palestine: a feasibility study
Authors: Abuhaloob Lamis , Helles Nahla , Mossey Peter , Freeman Ruth
Published: April 2021

Background

A feasibility study was conducted to implement the Talk, Instruct, Practice, Plan and Support (TIPPS) intervention for pregnant women to enhance infant birth weight in a conflict area in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). The decision tool, A process for Decision-making after Pilot and feasibility Trials (ADePT), examines the methodological factors identified in a feasibility study, that may require modification for a full trial. Thus, this study aimed to use the ADePT decision tool to evaluate if the feasibility study had achieved its objectives and to identify the need for intervention, clinical context and trial design modification.

Methods

A one-arm, pretest–posttest feasibility study recruited 25 pregnant women in their first trimester and clinic staff from a primary healthcare clinic located in Gaza City, Palestine. The TIPPS periodontal health intervention was delivered by antenatal care nurses to the pregnant women during their regular follow-up appointments. The ADePT framework was applied to evaluate the findings from the feasibility study. The ADePT checklist demonstrated sample size estimation, recruitment, consent, intervention adherence, intervention acceptability, costs and duration, completion and appropriateness of outcome assessments, retention, logistics, and synergy between protocol components.

Results

All recruited pregnant women (25, aged 16–35 years old) consented to participate in the study, and the adherence to the intervention was 88% (22 women). The TIPPS intervention was acceptable, but there was ambivalence over who should deliver it in the clinic. Only the cost of toothbrushing and TIPPS information materials was calculated, while the cost of nurses’ time was not included. The missing values of data were few (12% of gingival bleeding data and 22% from infant birth weight data). This intervention significantly reduced the mean percentage of plaque and bleeding scores after 3 months. The sample size for future randomised controlled trial was estimated around 400 participants. The participants stated the value of the intervention. The clinic staff voiced concerns regarding time and the cost of nurses providing the TIPPS intervention. This allowed suggestions to be made regarding the modification of trial design and context of implementation.

Conclusions

The ADePT evaluation showed it was possible to progress to full trial with modifications in the trial design.
Anti-MDA5 juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with second-degree heart block but no skin or lung involvement: a case report
Authors: Ryan Meghan E. , Cortez Daniel , Dietz Kelly R. , Karachunski Peter , Binstadt Bryce A.
Published: April 2021

Background

Patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and autoantibodies directed against melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) characteristically have interstitial lung disease, severe cutaneous involvement, arthritis, and relatively mild myositis. Cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy can occur and has been associated with anti-signal recognition particle and anti-polymyositis-scleroderma autoantibodies, but not with anti-MDA5 autoantibodies.

Case presentation

A 14-year-old male presented with weakness, second-degree heart block, arthritis, and hematologic cytopenias. Imaging and biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, and he had high titer anti-MDA5 autoantibodies. There were no cutaneous or pulmonary abnormalities. While on prednisone and methotrexate, the patient’s heart block improved from second- to first-degree and the cytopenias resolved. Persistent myositis prompted the addition of intravenous immunoglobulin. Seven months into the disease course, the arthritis and myositis are in remission and the patient is no longer taking corticosteroids.

Conclusions

We report a novel case of a patient with juvenile idiopathic myositis who lacked the typical cutaneous and pulmonary findings associated with anti-MDA5 positivity, but who had cardiac conduction defects. This report broadens the clinical spectrum of anti-MDA5-associated inflammatory myopathy.
Deriving invariant checkers for critical infrastructure using axiomatic design principles
Authors: Yoong Cheah Huei , Palleti Venkata Reddy , Maiti Rajib Ranjan , Silva Arlindo , Poskitt Christopher M
Published: April 2021

Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) in critical infrastructure face serious threats of attack, motivating research into a wide variety of defence mechanisms such as those that monitor for violations ofinvariants, i.e. logical properties over sensor and actuator states that should always be true. Many approaches for identifying invariants attempt to do so automatically, typically using data logs, but these can miss valid system properties if relevant behaviours are not well-represented in the data. Furthermore, as the CPS is already built, resolving any design flaws or weak points identified through this process is costly. In this paper, we propose a systematic method for deriving invariants from an analysis of a CPSdesign, based on principles of the axiomatic design methodology from design science. Our method iteratively decomposes a high-level CPS design to identify sets of dependentdesign parameters(i.e. sensors and actuators), allowing for invariants and invariant checkers to be derived in parallel to the implementation of the system. We apply our method to the designs of two CPS testbeds, SWaT and WADI, deriving a suite of invariant checkers that are able to detect a variety of single- and multi-stage attacks without any false positives. Finally, we reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our approach, how it can be complemented by other defence mechanisms, and how it could help engineers to identify and resolve weak points in a design before the controllers of a CPS are implemented.
Survey on the indexes of health equity in the physical environment and infrastructures of Kermanshah province, Iran
Authors: Reshadat Sohyla , Saeidi Shahram , Zangeneh Alireza , Almasi Ali , Rahimi Naderi Samira , Teimouri Ramin , Teimouri Raziyeh , Gholami Kiaee Kobra , Khezeli Mehdi
Published: April 2021

Background

Health equity is directly associated with the proper distribution of resources, the existence of infrastructures, and the balanced physical environment. The present study aimed to survey the indexes of health equity in the physical environment and infrastructures of Kermanshah province based on the national indexes.

Results

The results revealed that access to transportation, health centers, solid waste management, and green and sports per capita had the least distance from the negative ideal whereas the noise pollution index had the greatest distance. However, house hygiene and air pollution indexes were within the negative and positive ideal ranges.

Conclusions

The health equity indexes were not distributed equitably across counties and geographical regions of Kermanshah province.
Examining the connection among national tourism expenditure and economic growth in Algeria
Authors: Sari Hassoun Salah Eddine , Adda Khayereddine Salim , Sebbane Asma Hadjira
Published: April 2021

Tourism is one of the most important sectors for several researchers and decision makers, due to its influence on the world economic growth in the twenty-first century, making it as a source of competition between countries to a global industry for its effective strategic role in the development of countries. In this paper, we used two variables natural logarithm of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and natural logarithm of per capita international and national tourism expenditure (ITE) to study the relationship between the tourism sector and economic growth in Algeria over the period of 1995–2017. We established with the unit root test with and without breakpoint that the variables are stationary in the first difference and there is a structural break in (ITE) and (GDP). Thus, with the presence of a breakpoint, we employed the methodology of Gregory–Hansen to avoid such issue, but we found that there was no evidence of cointegration with breakpoint, so then we used the vector autoregressive model (VAR). The model showed that the tourism sector has a positive and insignificant coefficient on the economic growth, while the economic growth factor has a positive and significant on the tourism sector. In the short run, there was a one-way causality from GDP to ITE at the level of 1%, confirming the economic-driven tourism growth hypothesis. Also, we found with Breitung and Candelon causality that there was same causality at the level of 10%.
Foundation News: Impact of the pandemic on the GWB drinking water project in the Nepal Himalaya region
Authors: Nicholson Kirsten , Neumann Klaus , Sharma Subodh , Sherpa Lakpa Thering
Published: April 2021

In 2019, after almost a decade of working on water quality in the Himalayas, we submitted a proposal to Geoscientists Without Borders® (GWB) titled “Understanding high mountain aquifers to source drinking water in Sagarmatha National Park.” The project involves a combination of water-quality and quantity measurements, geologic mapping, and an electrical resistivity tomography survey. The goal of the project is to help two communities (Phortse and Lobuche within Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal) minimize their water vulnerability to climate change and earthquakes. The project team includes researchers and students from the United States and Nepal, as well as nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and community councils. In the proposal, we identified physical health and altitude as the primary risks that could hinder the success of the project. Like everyone else in early 2019, we had no way to foresee the events of 2020, which would almost completely derail our project. Health has turned out to be the major hinderance. The irony of the global pandemic is how much it has impacted the work of the U.S.-based team and how little it has impacted the necessity of the project.
Machine-driven earth exploration: Artificial intelligence in oil and gas
Authors: Alkhalifah Tariq , Almomin Ali , Naamani Ali
Published: April 2021

Artificial intelligence (AI), specifically machine learning (ML), has emerged as a powerful tool to address many of the challenges we face as we try to illuminate the earth and make the proper prediction of its content. From fault detection, to salt boundary mapping, to image resolution enhancements, the quest to teach our computing devices how to perform these tasks accurately, as well as quantify the accuracy, has become a feasible and sought-after objective. Recent advances in ML algorithms and availability of the modules to apply such algorithms enabled geoscientists to focus on potential applications of such tools. As a result, we held the virtual workshop, Artificially Intelligent Earth Exploration Workshop: Teaching the Machine How to Characterize the Subsurface, 23–26 November 2020.
Understanding and Addressing Disparities in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies: Approaches for Clinicians
Authors: Smith-Graziani Demetria , Flowers Christopher R.
Published: April 2021

Approximately 185,840 individuals will be diagnosed with hematologic malignancies in the United States in 2020. Disparities in disease incidence, prevalence, burden, mortality, and survivorship have been identified among this patient population. Contributing factors include genetic ancestry, race/ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, and geographic region. Historically, these inequities have been understudied. Addressing these disparities requires a systems-level approach, improving access to care and reducing biases in the clinical setting. Additional research is needed to construct comprehensive, multilevel models to explore systematic observational studies and perform strategic intervention trials to overcome these disparities.
Overcoming Barriers to Clinical Trials Cooperation: The Breast International Group Example
Authors: Piccart-Gebhart Martine J. , Goulioti Theodora , Straehle Carolyn , Cameron David
Published: April 2021

Clinical trials cooperation is not a luxury; it is a necessity, now more than ever, first in light of the segmentation of tumors according to their molecular targets—which are being matched to an increasing number of competitive drugs—and second because it is the only chance to maintain academic research centered on addressing patients’ needs. In its 21 years of existence, the Breast International Group, an umbrella organization supporting the activities of 54 member groups across six continents, has been confronted with challenges that include (1) keeping trust and motivation within the network; (2) improving the interface between academia and industry; (3) improving patient involvement and trust in clinical trials; and (4) fundraising for noncommercial research. We describe how these challenges have been addressed so far, with the hope of empowering the next generation of clinical investigators.
Chronic Dizziness
Authors: Cha Yoon-Hee
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Determining the etiology of disorders that manifest with chronic dizziness can seem a daunting task, but extracting some basic elements of the patient’s history can reduce the differential diagnosis significantly. This includes determining initial triggers, timing of symptoms, associated features, and exacerbating factors. This article covers distinct causes of chronic dizziness including persistent postural perceptual dizziness, mal de débarquement syndrome, motion sickness and visually induced motion sickness, bilateral vestibulopathy, and persistent dizziness after mild concussion.

RECENT FINDINGS

To date, none of the disorders above has a cure but are considered chronic syndromes with fluctuations that are both innate and driven by environmental stressors. As such, the mainstay of therapy for chronic disorders of dizziness involves managing factors that exacerbate symptoms and adding vestibular rehabilitation or cognitive-behavioral therapy alone or in combination, as appropriate. These therapies are supplemented by serotonergic antidepressants that modulate sensory gating and reduce anxiety. Besides expectation management, ruling out concurrent disorders and recognizing behavioral and lifestyle factors that affect symptom severity are critical issues in reducing morbidity for each disorder.

Many syndromes of chronic dizziness can be diagnosed by recognition of key features, although many symptoms overlap between these groups. Symptoms may be manageable and improve with time, but they are often incompletely relieved.