bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluación del desempeño en seguridad laboral en proyectos de construcción del Banco Mundial
Authors: Hernández-Gómez María Gabriela , Morales-Martínez Gabriela , Rodríguez-Zamora María G.
Published: March 2021

El sector construcción históricamente ha registrado en el mundo la tasa más alta de accidentes, lesiones incapacitantes y muertes. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: (i) evaluar el desempeño de los contratistas de seis construcciones de edificios completos en el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, financiados por el Banco Internacional de Reconstrucción y Fomento, y supervisados por el cliente, a través de la Salvaguarda Ambiental y Social; (ii) proponer una metodología de evaluación del desempeño en seguridad laboral. Se analizó si: (i) el número total de accidentes disminuía conforme aumentaba la cantidad de procedimientos de seguridad laboral; (ii) existía asociación entre la cantidad de procedimientos y las capacitaciones brindadas; (iii) disminuía el índice de incidencia de accidentes al incrementarse el número de capacitaciones; (iv) el cumplimiento en aspectos de seguridad laboral se afectaba por el área de construcción, cantidad de procedimientos, índice de incidencia de accidentabilidad y años de experiencia del profesional a cargo. Los hallazgos ratifican el rol del cliente en la gestión de la seguridad laboral y su impacto positivo sobre el desempeño de los contratistas. De forma paralela, se presenta una propuesta metodológica para la evaluación del desempeño, aplicable a proyectos de construcción de esta naturaleza.
Examining the Factors Affecting High Diabetes Rates in Southern States: A Brief Report
Authors: Umucu Emre , Iwanaga Kanako , Alrabiah Abdalmajeed , Chan Fong , Johnson Ebonee , Wu Jia-Rung , Strauser David , Estala-Gutierrez Veronica Y , Washington Khadidra
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Evidence shows that region of country is a critical factor in understanding diabetes-related health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine whether geographic location (southern states vs. other states) attenuate or strengthen the relationship between state diabetes rates and (a) race/ethnicity, (b) income, and (c) percentage of physical inactivity.

Method

The state-level data was extracted from multiple public websites. Descriptive statistics and moderation analyses were conducted to test research questions.

Results

Results revealed that the magnitudes of relationship between state diabetes rate and (a) income and (b) percentage of Black/African American were affected by geographic location (southern states vs other states).

Conclusions

Given Southern states have substantial health disparities compared to non-Southern states, key stakeholders and the public health system should emphasize the importance of developing and evaluating effective public health policies based on income, physical activity, and race/ethnicity.
Systematic Review of Intervention Research in Rehabilitation Counseling and Related SettingsFrom 2007 to 2018
Authors: Phillips Brian N. , Fleming Allison R. , McDaniels Brad W. , Nerlich Andrea P. , Gray Joy , Rong Xiaoxu
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Rehabilitation counseling has seen many advances in evidence-based practice in the last decade. The purpose of this study was to provide a review of intervention literature conducted within rehabilitation counseling or related fields from the years 2007–2018.

Method

A systematic review of rehabilitation research was conducted, and a total of 163 intervention studies were included in the final sample. Description and analysis include a summary of where and when manuscripts were published, aspects of the intervention (target population, setting, and desired change), and criteria for evaluation of the intervention.

Results

Findings show an increase in the use of intervention research during the period studied while also highlighting several patterns in rehabilitation research relating to the targeted samples, outcomes pursued, and the design of research.

Conclusions

There is much more intervention research being conducted related to rehabilitation counseling process and outcomes than is demonstrated in rehabilitation counseling journals. This systematic review provides a greater understanding of the progress being made through these international research efforts.
Indigenous Monikah Tajio Ethnic of Islamic Cultural Heritage at Kasimbar, Central Sulawesi
Authors: Malla Hamlan Andi Baso , Yusuf Khaeruddin , Yunus Nur Rohim
Published: March 2021

This article objective to examine the monikah indigenous traditions for Kasimbar Tajio ethnic communities in Central Sulawesi. Qualitative method used in this research, data collection techniques of observation, interviews and document tracking non-structure. Technical analysis of data through data reduction, display data, verification data to generate conclusions and findings of the research results. Conclusion The study found that first; monikah custom comes from acculturation Mandar and Tajio ethnic culture in the tradition of marriage, second; monikah custom implementation of social value that affects personality Tajio ethnic communities in maintaining the values of brotherhood, family, respect for elders, unity and cooperation, maintain the pattern of interpersonal communication that is based on mutual respect in maintaining a harmonious relationship between human beings. third; monikah indigenous religious value that affects Islamic personality in performing worship to Allah (God), tawadhu’ attitude, moral education, purity and purification of the soul, ta’aruf and silaturrahmi.
The Transformation of Values in A Catfish Folklore
Authors: Bahruddin Uril , Jauhari Qomi Akit , Faizin Nur , Sempo Muhammad Widus
Published: March 2021

Industrial developments have brought many significant changes in various fields of life, especially agriculture and education. It seems that the transformation of the agricultural sector and fishpond farming in Medang Village, Glagah, Lamongan are affected by the catfish folklore that keep the people concerned for generations. This is a phenomenological research and the results are descriptive and qualitative. The data are described and interpreted hermeneutically. The results indicate that the catfish folklore contains a number of educational values that dynamically developed along with the people's beliefs about the folklore as a myth. This transformation of educational values includes: the value of ubudiyyah, the value of the struggle in the life; and the moral value. This transformation occurs through the intervention of many parties, both internal and external ones, such as the local government, the elders, the community leaders  as well as educators. Other factors are technological development and the development of the fishery industry. This research suggests the stakeholders of the village level, districts, and regencies to make the folklore as a medium in learning the educational values. The society, especially the fishpond farmer at Medang village are suggested to preserve the folklore without preventing it to be known. The scholars and the artists can also bring this folklore to life and present it in a more interesting format, both in a pure and classic appearance and in collaboration so that it can be presented as a myth that has a profound meaning.
Religious Harmony Construct Amid A Plural Community in East Java
Authors: Mardiana Dina , Yusuf Muhammad , Jamil Asyraf Isyraqi
Published: March 2021

This study examined the harmonization of five religions (Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, and Buddhism) that are adhered to by the people of Mojorejo Village, Batu, East Java. This village has an important role, as it becomes the first area in Batu, East Java – that implement and develop the concept of religious pluralism and harmonization in one village area thus it has been awarded as “A Village that is Aware of Religious Harmony” from the government of Batu. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the constructs of religious harmony that have been successfully established in Mojorejo Village, Batu, East Java. The theory underlying this study is Nurcholis Madjid’s theory of humanist pluralism. This study used a qualitative approach to produce descriptive data in the form of oral, written, and observable behavior. Through three data collection methods (observation, in-depth interview, a study of documents), this study concludes that the religious harmony construct of the Mojorejo Village community is established from a pattern of accustoming mutual respect among villagers which is carried out both naturally and sustainably. This continuity manifests through cooperation in three ways: religious, social, and cultural cooperation so that it can lead to the emerge of perspectives, ideas, and a social environment capable of maintaining and preserving religious plurality in harmony. Therefore, the application of religious harmony in Mojorejo Village, Batu, East Java can be used as an alternative solution for other areas in locating and facilitating religious plurality so that it remains harmonious amid a pluralistic community.
Expenditures on scientific research (cross-country comparisons).
Authors: Shepelev Gennady
Published: March 2021

Cross-country comparisons of research expenditures are made, depending on the size of the economy (gross domestic product at purchasing power parity) and GDP per capita. It is shown that the determining factor in the position of countries is GDP per capita and all countries can be divided into four groups based on this feature. This groups differ in the scale of funding for science, characterized by the volume of expenditures on science as a percentage of GDP. For the group of developed countries, an additional division is made into subgroups depending on the specialization of their economies. In the general sample, groups of countriesthat differ in the specialization of the economy are identified, and the difference in the policy of countries of different specialization in the financing of scientific research is considered. The position of Russia in relation to the BRICS countries and economically developed countries is considered. It is shown that the place of Russia in the ratings that characterize the volume of scientific research fits into the general patterns obtained for the entire set of the countries considered, and corresponds to the current volume of per capita GDP and the specialization of the Russian economy in the extractive industries. The current financial instruments for financing scientific research are considered from the point of view of their possible impact on changing the situation with Russia’s position in international ratings.
Is it possible to develop science without international cooperation? Review of the RIAC report “Novye gorizonty nauchnoi diplomatii v Rossii” [New Horizons of Science Diplomacy in Russia]
Authors: Malakhov Vadim
Published: March 2021

The review is devoted to the analysis of the report of the Russian International Affairs Council “New Horizons for Science Diplomacy in Russia”. Published in December 2020, the report focuses on the problems and prospects of development of science diplomacy in Russia. The report presents an analysis of the experience of using science diplomacy in Western countries (the USA, Great Britain and France), and presents a summary of domestic experience in this area. Given the poor study of the phenomenon of science diplomacy in Russia, the authors of the report provide a detailed overview of the situation in Russia and the world,expose the shortcomings of policy in this area with arguments, and, based on an analysis of global experience, offer a set of recommendations for the development of science diplomacy in modern Russia. At the same time, the report contains a number of gaps that require deeper analysis. Thus, there is no analysis of the experience of developing countries, such as China or India; the role of such a public authority as the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in the implementation of science diplomacy in Russia is not studied enough; some of the authors’ proposals on the development of science diplomacy do not look well-reasoned.
Consequences of South European Debt Crisis
Authors: Kvashnin Yu.
Published: March 2021

Debt crisis in South European region turned out to be the focal point of the European debt crisis. It made explicit fundamental disproportions in the development of the Eurozone, in particular strict division between the Center and the Periphery. After joining to the Eurozone South European countries faced further deterioration of their positions in the global markets and fixing of an unfavorable type of their international specialization. Such situation can be seen most evidently in the case of Greece.
Mechanical Engineering Clusters in International Division of Labor
Authors: Sokolov V.
Published: March 2021

The article considers the proportions of mutual deliveries of goods in the triangle USA – Western Europe – East Asia in the recent decade. It is shown that the USA remained to be a net importer of industrial products while West European and East Asian countries were the net providers. The US deficit in goods’ trade with China and Germany exceeded the pre-crisis level. Still, the integral trade deficit of the USA remained lower than before the crisis, in particular because of lesser deficit in trade with oil producing countries and Japan. Reduction of China’s and Eurozone countries’ surplus in comparison to 2007-2008 can be explained by the dynamics of their trade with third countries (in particular, with the suppliers of energy resources which the prices turned back to high levels in post-crisis period). The same relate to a lesser extent to Japan which the surplus in trade with the USA did not reach the pre-crisis level. The author concludes that even during crisis and post-crisis periods the changes in balance of payments of the leading suppliers of mechanical engineering goods were mostly determined by their trade with the suppliers of raw materials rather than by the mutual trade.
Islam in Urban Space and Public Conscience of Europe
Authors: Vainshtein G.
Published: March 2021

Conflicts of new kind are spreading in Europe, caused by the growing ethnic, cultural, and religious polarization of society. Old tensions between the core population and the immigrants, particularly Muslims, are being exacerbated by growing attempts of local spiritual community leaders to assert Islamic identity of the increasing number of newcomers. The policy of multiculturalism, once acclaimed as a reliable means of integration, draws more criticism. The right-wing radicalism is intensifying. The disenchantment is rising.
Next – without Covenants-2
Authors: Mikheev V. , Lukonin S. , Safronova Y.
Published: March 2021

This paper raises the problem of the place determination and the role of the Popular Republic of China in the context of the modern multipolar world. The author reveals this question in the light of Chinese experience of political development in the XXth century, modern achievements as well as problems and contradictions in its foreign and domestic policy. The article also analyses “problem points” of the Chinese foreign policy and the contemporary international relations system which are China’s greatest concern for they threaten global stability. The author expounds and elucidates Chinese foreign policy strategy in the XXIth century and China’s mission in a changing world.
Spectral Transformations and Associated Linear Functionals of the First Kind
Authors: García-Ardila Juan , Marcellán Francisco
Published: March 2021

Given a quasi-definite linear functional u in the linear space of polynomials with complex coefficients let us consider the corresponding sequence of monic orthogonal polynomials (SMOP in short) (Pn)n≥0. For the Christoffel transformation u˜=(x−c)u with SMOP (P˜n)n≥0, we are interested to study the relation between u˜ and u(1)˜, where u(1) is the linear functional for the associated orthogonal polynomials of the first kind (Pn(1))n≥0 and u(1)˜=(x−c)u(1) is its Christoffel transformation. This problem is also studied for the Geronimus transformations.
Current Challenges of Cardiac Amyloidosis Awareness Among Romanian Cardiologists
Authors: Adam Robert , Neculae Gabriela , Stan Claudiu , Jurcut Ruxandra
Published: March 2021

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is a restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by deposition of amyloid in the myocardium and recent studies revealed it is more frequently seen than we thought. Advances have been made over the last years, but a delayed diagnosis is frequently seen. An online survey was conducted among cardiologists from Romania representing the first assessment of the knowledge of CA among them with 195 cardiologists answering the questionnaire. There was a wide variation in their knowledge regarding CA. Our participants had few experience with CA and reported a significant delay between first cardiac symptom and diagnosis. Around one half of them did not seem familiar with the noninvasive diagnostic algorithm and with the wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt). Even the participants who are aware of this condition and the available treatment options stated this is a rare disease and there is no disease modifying treatment available for ATTRwt. Awareness among cardiologists is the most important challenge in diagnosing CA. Romanian cardiologists are partially aware of this topic, but there are still gaps in their knowledge. Educational programs can improve screening of patients with a high suspicion for this progressive condition whose evolution has been dramatically changed by the new treatment options.
Subaltern Writing in Hag-Seed
Authors: ZHAO Meijiao
Published: March 2021

Hag-Seed is a re-imagining story of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' written by Margaret Atwood, a famous Canadian writer. Hag-seed is a successful adaptation in The Hogarth Shakespeare Project organized by Hogarth Press. In this novel, Atwood adopts the form “play in play” to recur the whole scene of The Tempest. Through the depictions of minor characters in a prison, the novel presents the dilemma and struggle of marginalized protagonists in front of the power. In the novel, the play directed by Felix criticizes the power abuse and the social oppression suffered by the lower classes and women. Atwood's rewriting of The Tempest aims to reveal the loss of the humanistic concerns in modern society and advocate making “the other” acquire their rights to free speech.
Extreme-flood-related peat blocks: An Anthropocene analogue to ancient coal-forming environments
Authors: Rodríguez-López Juan Pedro , Soria Ana R. , Liesa Carlos L.
Published: March 2021

Coal clasts associated with extreme floods are prone to survive and maintain their large size, contrary to the general belief that distance from the parent peat layer reduces the size of transported clasts. Contrary to apparent logic, moreover, a second flood event favors the preservation potential of such soft organic clasts, this being the minimal fragmentation. An Anthropocene example from an urban park in Spain demonstrates that peat clasts up to 1 m long can survive due to flotation for a distance of almost a hundred meters and are well preserved and stabilized thanks to a second flood. These peat blocks were generated by catastrophic flooding of urban peatlands along the Ebro River (city of Zaragoza) during exceptional rainfalls in Iberia. The water flow from the Ebro River flooded the peatland at the surface of the meander, ripping up peat clasts from a shear or detachment level formed by an indurated level characterized by rounded quartzite pebbles, which acted as a hydrological discontinuity surface. Extensive evidence of the paleoflow direction is provided by oriented crushed reeds and the widespread occurrence of imbricated and thrusted peat blocks on the eroded and exposed peatland and in the main urban accumulation areas. To be specific, peat blocks and minor clasts accumulated in four areas associated with different modes of transport and topographic steps. From proximal to distal these are as follows: i) a proximal rim including thrusted peat blocks on the eroded peatland, ii) two intermediate accumulation zones associated with topographic steps in the park, characterized by peat-clast imbrication, iii) gravity-fall peat clasts deposited in an artificial channel in the park, and iv) peat rafts of more than 1 m in diameter scattered over the surface of the park (at a distance of 90 m from the eroded peatland).
Contrasting facies patterns between river-dominated and symmetrical wave-dominated delta deposits
Authors: Willis Brian J. , Sun Tao , Ainsworth R. Bruce
Published: March 2021

Process-physics-based, coupled hydrodynamic–morphodynamic delta models are constructed to understand preserved facies heterogeneities that can influence subsurface fluid flow. Two deltaic systems are compared that differ only in the presence of waves: one river dominated and the other strongly influenced by longshore currents. To understand an entire preserved deltaic succession, the growth of multiple laterally adjacent delta lobes is modeled to define delta axial to marginal facies trends through an entire regressive–transgressive depositional succession. The goal is to refine a facies model for symmetrical wave-dominated deltas (where littoral drift diverges from the delta lobe apex). Because many factors change depositional processes on deltas, the description of the river-dominated example is included to provide a direct reference case from which to define the impact of waves on preserved facies patterns. Both systems display strong facies trends from delta axis to margin that continued into inter-deltaic areas. River-dominated delta regression preserved a dendritic branching of compensationally stacked bodies. Transgression, initiated by sea-level rise, backfilled the main channel and deposited levees and splays on the submerging delta top. Wave-dominated deltas developed dual clinoforms: a shoreface clinoform built as littoral drift carried sediment away from the river month and onshore, and a subaqueous delta-front clinoform composed of sediment accumulated below wave base. Although littoral drift in both directions away from the delta axis stabilized the position of the river at the shoreline, distributary-channel avulsions and lateral migration of river flows across the subaqueous delta top produced heterogeneities in both sets of clinoform deposits. Separation of shoreface and subaqueous delta-front clinoforms across a subaqueous delta top eroded to wave base produced a discontinuity in progradational vertical successions that appeared gradual in some locations but abrupt in others. Littoral drift flows away from adjacent deltas converged in inter-deltaic areas, producing shallow water longshore bars cut by wave-return-flow channels with associated terminal mouth bars. Transgression initiated by sea-level rise initially led to vertical aggradation of wave-reworked sheet sands on the subaqueous delta top and then retreating shoreface barrier sands as the subaerial delta top flooded. Pseudo inter-well flow tests responded to local heterogeneities in the preserved deposits. As expected, abandoned channels in the river-dominated case defined shoreline-perpendicular preferential flow paths and wave-dominated delta deposits are more locally homogeneous, but scenarios for development of more pronounced shore-parallel heterogeneity patterns for wave-influenced deltas are discussed. The results highlight the need to consider the dual clinoform nature of wave-dominated delta deposition for facies prediction and subsurface interpretation.
A simple, effective petrographic method for quantifying percent clay or other grain-coat coverage in sandstones
Authors: Franks Stephen G. , Pantano John
Published: March 2021

A simple petrographic method is presented to quantify the percent of grain-coat coverage in sandstones. The method involves visually noting whether, at the intersection of a grain boundary and an ocular crosshair, a grain coat (or other grain coating) is present or absent. If a coating is absent at the juncture of the grain boundary and the ocular crosshair, then it can be recorded whether an open pore, a pore-filling cement, or another grain is present at that point. The technique is simple to apply as part of standard point-counting procedures for composition or for grain size. It is much less time consuming, minutes rather than hours, than methods that involve measuring grain perimeters and grain-coat length on SEM images or on thin sections. Computer simulations and comparative measurements on sets of the same samples suggest that they yield results comparable to those techniques. It is less subjective than visual estimates of grain-coat coverage and gives more reproducible results. The mineralogy of the grain coat, its thickness, and its paragenetic relationships to other grain-coating phases can be simultaneously recorded.
Evolution of calcite microcrystal morphology during experimental dissolution
Authors: Hashim Mohammed S. , Kaczmarek Stephen E.
Published: March 2021

Phanerozoic limestones are composed of low-Mg calcite microcrystals (i.e., micrite) that typically measure between 1 and 9 μm in diameter. These microcrystals, which host most of the microporosity in subsurface reservoirs, are characterized by a variety of microtextures. Despite the overwhelming consensus that calcite microcrystals are diagenetic, the origin of the various textures is widely debated. The most commonly reported texture is characterized by polyhedral and rounded calcite microcrystals, which are interpreted to form via partial dissolution of rhombic microcrystals during burial diagenesis. A proposed implication of this model is that dissolution during burial is responsible for significant porosity generation. This claim has been previously criticized based on mass-balance considerations and geochemical constrains. To explicitly test the dissolution model, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted whereby various types of calcites composed of rhombic and polyhedral microcrystals were partially dissolved under a constant degree of undersaturation, both near and far-from-equilibrium.

Our results indicate that calcite crystals dissolved under far-from-equilibrium conditions develop rounded edges and corners, inter-crystal gulfs (narrow grooves or channels between adjacent crystals), and a few etch pits on crystal faces—observations consistent with the burial-dissolution hypothesis. Crystals dissolved under near-equilibrium conditions, in contrast, retain sharp edges and corners and develop ledges and pits—suggesting that dissolution occurs more selectively at high-energy sites. These observations support the longstanding understanding that far-from-equilibrium dissolution is transport-controlled, and near-equilibrium dissolution is surface-controlled. Our results also show that while the rhombic calcite crystals may develop rounded edges and corners when dissolved under far-from-equilibrium conditions the crystals themselves do not become spherical. By contrast, polyhedral crystals not only develop rounded edges and corners when dissolved under far-from-equilibrium conditions but become nearly spherical with continued dissolution. Collectively, these observations suggest that rounded calcite microcrystals more likely form from a precursor exhibiting an equant polyhedral texture, rather than from a euhedral rhombic precursor as previously proposed. Lastly, the observation that calcite crystals developed rounded edges and corners and inter-crystal gulfs after only 5% dissolution indicates that the presence of such features in natural limestones need not imply that significant porosity generation has occurred.
Estimating remaining carbon budgets using temperature responses informed by CMIP6
Authors: Rypdal Martin , Boers Niklas , Fredriksen Hege-Beate , Eiselt Kai-Uwe , Johansen Andreas , Martinsen Andreas , Mentzoni Endre Falck , Graversen Rune , Rypdal Kristoffer
Published: March 2021

A remaining carbon budget (RCB) estimates how much CO2 we can emit and still reach a specific temperature target. The RCB concept is attractive since it easily communicates to the public and policymakers, but RCBs are also subject to uncertainties. The expected warming levels for a given carbon budget has a wide uncertainty range, which increases with less ambitious targets, i.e., with higher CO2 emissions and temperatures. Leading causes of RCB uncertainty are the future non-CO2 emissions, Earth system feedbacks, and the spread in the climate sensitivity among climate models. The latter is investigated in this paper, using a simple carbon cycle model and emulators of the temperature responses of the Earth System Models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) ensemble. It is shown that the transient climate response to cumulative emissions of carbon (TCRE) is approximately proportional to the transient climate response (TCR), suggesting that observational constraints imposed on climate sensitivity in the model ensemble can reduce uncertainty in RCB estimates.
Simultaneous Perception of Prosthetic and Natural Vision in AMD Patients
Authors: Palanker Daniel , Mer Yannick Le , Mohand-Said Saddek , Sahel José-Alain
Published: March 2021

Loss of photoreceptors in atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results in severe visual impairment. Since the low-resolution peripheral vision is retained in such conditions, restoration of central vision should not jeopardize the surrounding healthy retina and allow for simultaneous use of the natural and prosthetic sight. We report the first clinical results with a photovoltaic substitute of photoreceptors providing simultaneous use of the central prosthetic and peripheral natural vision in atrophic AMD. Four patients with geographic atrophy have been implanted subretinally with a wireless 2x2mm-wide 30 µm-thick device, having 378 pixels of 100 µm in size. They demonstrated Landolt acuity of 1.17 ± 0.13 pixels, corresponding to the Snellen range of 20/460–20/565. With electronic magnification of up to a factor of 8, patients demonstrated acuity in the range of 20/63 − 20/98. Under room lighting conditions, patients could simultaneously use prosthetic central vision and their remaining peripheral vision in the implanted eye and in the fellow eye.
WITHDRAWN: Use of antioxidants supplementation on developmental outcomes in children with Down Syndrome - a systematic review and meta-analyses
Authors: Jafri Sidra Kaleem , Iqbal Atiya , Alam Anusha , Frei Julia , Lassi Zohra
Published: March 2021

AIM

To evaluate the published literature on the use of antioxidants in improving developmental outcomes in DS children

METHODS

The systematic review included interventional studies (randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs (q-RCTs)) on children between the ages of 0 to 18 years diagnosed with DS and used antioxidants for improving developmental outcomes, and compered with similar children given placebo or no supplementation. Aim was to have a true randomized population for intervention, thus RCTs and quasi- RCTs were included. Studies were excluded if those were non-randomized controlled studies (including observational studies, systematic and narrative review articles, editorials and commentaries) with no random allocation and no comparison group. We also excluded studies if data from participants with DS was included as part of a larger group of participants (e.g. children with intellectual disability) and could not be separated for subgroup analysis, and studies that did not assess developmental domains and only assessed biochemical markers. The review included children with other conditions associated with developmental disability, only when data for children with DS were separately reported.

RESULTS

Eleven RCTs and q-RCTs fulfilled the eligibility criteria with 683 participants with Down syndrome, with age range of newborns to 17 years of age. Eight studies did not show any statistically significant clinical benefit of using antioxidants. A meta-analysis was applied to compare changes in the effect sizes (post and pre-intervention) in GDQ between the intervention and control groups. The forest plot including the three studies doesn’t demonstrate a statistically significant improvement.

INTERPRETATION

This review concludes that the use of antioxidants does not improve the developmental outcomes in pediatric population with DS.
Family-centered approach to monitoring children’s development in a paediatric outpatient setting: feasibility study from Pakistan
Authors: Rasheed Muneera A. , Mughis Waliyah , Elahi Kinza N , Hasan Babar S.
Published: March 2021

Background: The purpose of the study was to design and test the feasibility of a recent guideline of family-centered psychosocial support as an approach to developmental monitoring in a pediatric outpatient setting.Methods: The patient experience team at a private tertiary care hospital leveraged an on-going patient and family-centric initiative in the service to implement the intervention. The intervention delivery model was designed using the theory of change model and entailed the following i) the service providers: paediatricians but with support from psychology trainee volunteers to address time constraints; ii) monitoring form: Survey of Well-Being of Young Children (SWYC) being feasible and designed for regular developmental monitoring as parent report; iii) family support intervention: the Care for Child Development module to enhance parent-child interactions given team’s successful experience with inpatient children; iv) timing: utilize wait time to also enhance families’ experience and v) reinforcement: reinforced by the paediatrician in the consultation visit to capitalize on the established rapport and relationship with families. All families with children under 5 years 5 months of age in selected clinics (acute care, complex care, developmental issues) were eligible. The study was evaluated for acceptability and implementation feasibility. Families were interviewed about their experience; trainees provided a written narrative while physicians provided feedback on email. These were thematically analyzed using an inductive approach.Results: A total 182 families were administered the SWYC with 54% children detected for further review on cognitive milestones and 76% on social-emotional milestones. Forty-eight families were interviewed regarding their experience with the intervention. They reported the monitoring process to be useful and important for them as parents indicating acceptability. Paediatricians and trainees found the intervention to be important for parents and children’s health also requesting further understanding about child’s functioning. The trainees further expressed the experience to be significant for their own learning.Conclusion: The authors conclude that the intervention model for a family-centric approach to monitoring was acceptable to the families and the service providers. The intervention when implemented using a robust behaviour change framework can enhance feasibility.
Selective cadmium fluorescence probe based on bis-heterocyclic molecule and its imaging in cells
Authors: Hagimori Masayori , Karimine Yasushi , Mizuyama Naoko , Hara Fumiko , Fujino Takeshi , Saji Hideo , Mukai Takahiro
Published: March 2021

Fluorescence probes that selectively image cadmium are useful for detecting and tracking the amount of Cd2+ in cells and tissues. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel Cd2+ fluorescence probe based on the pyridine-pyrimidine structure, 4-(methylsulfanyl)-6-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine (3), as a low-molecular-weight fluorescence probe for Cd2+. Compound 3 could successfully discriminate between Cd2+ and Zn2+ and exhibited a highly selective turn-on response toward Cd2+ over biologically related metal ions. The dissociation constant and detection limit of 5.4 x 10− 6 mol L− 1 and 4.4 × 10− 7 mol L− 1, respectively, were calculated using fluorescence titration experiments. Studies with closely related analogs showed that the bis-heterocyclic moiety of 3 acted as both a coordination site for Cd2+ and a fluorophore. Further, the methylsulfanyl group of compound 3 is essential for achieving selective and sensitive Cd2+ detection. Fluorescence microscopy studies using living cells revealed that the cell membrane permeability of compound 3 is sufficient to detect intracellular Cd2+. These results indicate that novel bis-heterocyclic molecule 3 has considerable potential as a fluorescence probe for Cd2+ in biological applications.
Inpatient Use of Metformin and Acarbose Is Associated with Reduced Mortality of COVID-19 Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Li Jinghong , Wei Qi , McCowen Karen , Xiong Wei , Liu Jiao , Jiang Wenlijun , Thomas Robert , Hepokoski Mark , He Ming , Shyy John , Malhotra Atul , Xiong Nian , Li Willis
Published: March 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a strong risk factor for complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The effect of T2DM medications on COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear. In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 131 patients with T2DM hospitalized for COVID-19 in Wuhan, we have previously found that metformin use prior to hospitalization is associated with reduced mortality. Here we continue to investigate the effects of inpatient use of T2DM medications, including metformin, acarbose, insulin, and sulfonylureas, on the mortality of COVID-19 patients with T2DM during hospitalization. We found that patients using metformin and acarbose, alone or both together, after admission were significantly more likely to survive than those who did not use either metformin or acarbose. Thus, our analyses suggest that inpatient use of metformin and acarbose together or alone during hospitalization should be studied in randomized trials.
Volumetric Comparative Analysis of Anatomy Through Far-Lateral Approach: Surgical Space and Exposed Tissues
Authors: Tang Ke , Feng Xu , Yuan Xiaodong , Li Yang , Chen Xinyue
Published: March 2021

Objective
The three-dimensional (3D) visualization model has ability to quantify the surgical anatomy of far-lateral approach. This study was designed to disclose the relationship between surgical space and exposed tissues in the far-lateral approach by the volumetric analysis of 3D model.
Methods
The 3D skull base modelswere constructed using MRI and CT data of 15 patients (30 sides) with trigeminal neuralgia. Surgical corridorsof the far-lateral approach was simulated by triangular pyramids to represent two surgical spaces exposing bony and neurovascular tissues. Volumetric comparison of surgical anatomy was performed using pair t test.
Results
The morphometric results were almost the same in the two surgical spaces except the vagus nerve (CN X) exposed only in one corridor. Whereas, the volumetric comparison represented the statistical significant differences of surgical space, and bony and neurovascular tissues involved in the two corridors (P༜0.001). The differences of bony and neurovascular tissuesfailed to equal the difference of surgical space.
Conclusions
For far-laterl approach, the increase of exposure for the bony and neurovascular tissues is not necessarilymatched with the increase of surgical space. The volumetric comparative analysis is helpful to provide more detailed anatomical information in the surgical design.
tDCS Randomized Controlled Trials in No-structural Diseases: A Quantitative Review
Authors: Gianni Eugenia , Bertoli Massimo , Simonelli Ilaria , Paulon Luca , Pasqualetti Patrizio , Tecchio Franca
Published: March 2021

The increasing number and quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) employing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) denote the rising awareness of neuroscientific community about its electroceutical potential and opening to include these treatments in the framework of medical therapies under the indications of the international authorities.The purpose of this quantitative review is to estimate the recommendation strength applying the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria and PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) model values for effective tDCS treatments on no-structural diseases, and to provide an estimate of Sham effect for future RCTs. Applying GRADE evaluation pathway, we searched in literature the tDCS-based RCTs in psychophysical diseases displaying a major involvement of brain electrical activity unbalances. Three independent authors agreed on Class 1 RCTs (18 studies) and meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model for pathologies sub-selected based on PICO and systemic involvement criteria. The meta-analysis integrated with extensive evidence of negligible side effects and low-cost, easy-to-use procedures, indicated that tDCS treatments for depression and fatigue in MS ranked between moderately and highly recommendable. For these interventions we reported the PICO variables, with left vs. right dorsolateral prefrontal target for 30 min/10 days against depression and bilateral somatosensory vs occipital target for 15min/5 days against MS fatigue.An across-diseases meta-analysis devoted to the Sham effect provided references for power analysis in future tDCS RCTs on these clinical conditions.High-quality indications support tDCS as a promising tool to build electroceutical treatments against diseases involving neurodynamics alterations.
Value of Intraoperative Monitoring of the Trigeminal Nerve in Detection of a Superiorly Displaced Facial Nerve During Surgery for Large Vestibular Schwannomas
Authors: Ashram Yasmine A. , Zohdy Youssef M. , Rayan Tarek A. , Badr-El-Dine Mohamed M.K.
Published: March 2021

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of trigeminal and facial nerve monitoring in the early identification of a superiorly displaced facial nerve.Patients and MethodsThis prospective study included 24 patients operated for removal of large vestibular schwannomas (VS). Electromyographic (EMG) events recorded after mapping the superior surface of the tumor were evaluated by analyzing the latencies of the responses from the masseter and facial nerve innervated muscles.ResultsThe latency of the recorded compound muscle action potential (CMAP) from the masseter muscle was 3.6 ±0.5 msec, and of the simultaneously recorded volume conducted responses from the frontalis, o.oculi, nasalis, o.oris and mentalis muscles were 4.6 ±0.9, 4.1 ±0.7, 3.9 ±0.4, 4.3 ±0.8 and 4.5 ±0.6 msec respectively after trigeminal nerve stimulation in 24 (100%) patients. In 6 (25%) patients, the mean latency of CMAP on the masseter was 3.6 ±0.5 msec, and the latencies of the CMAP from the frontalis, nasalis, o.oris and mentalis muscles were longer than those of the volume conduced responses (p=0.002; p=0.001; p< 0.001; and p=0.015 respectively) indicating stimulation of both nerves (trigemino-facial EMG response). All patients with this response were later confirmed anatomically to have an AS displaced facial nerve. ConclusionUnderstanding the trigemino-facial EMG response is of value in identifying an AS displaced facial nerve; in preventing electrophysiological confusion between the trigeminal and the facial nerves; and in detecting the presence of volume conducted contributions in the measured facial nerve CMAP at the end of surgery.
Virulence Factors, Antibiotic Resistance patterns, and Molecular Types of Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella Pneumoniae
Authors: Ahmadi Mitra , Behzadi Payam , Ranjbar Reza
Published: March 2021

Background

Klebsiella pneumoniae is armed with a wide range of antibiotic resistance mechanisms which mostly challenges effective treatment. Due to this fact, the aims of the current study were to identify the clinical strains of K . pneumoniae as well as to determine their phenotypes and molecular characterization related to antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes.

Methods

In this investigation, specimens from a hospital and different laboratories located in Shahr-e-Qods, Tehran, Iran were collected during a period of nine-month (December 2018 to August 2019). The isolated strains of K. pneumoniae were then identified through standard microbial and biochemical assays. Additionally, disk diffusion, combined disk, modified Hodge test and PCR were performed for antibiotic resistance of the strains and virulence genes profiling, respectively. The molecular typing was accomplished by ERIC-PCR.

Results

Eighty-four isolates of K. pneumoniae were identified and subjected to the study. Fifty- two percent of the isolated strains of K. pneumoniae were detected as multidrug resistant (MDR) pathotypes with the highest resistance to ceftriaxone (65%) and the lowest resistance to colistin (23%). Twenty-seven (52%) out of 52 (100%) MDR pathotypes of isolated K. pneumoniae were identified as ESBL producers. According to Modified Hodge Test (MHT) results, out of 24 resistant strains of isolated K. pneumoniae to imipenem and meropenem, 15 pathotypes (62.5%) were detected as KPC producers. The gene of blaCTX (encoding carbapenemase) with 96% ranked first, while the blaKPC gene with the prevalence of 71% ranked second among ESBL producers. The aminoglycoside resistance gene of Aac6-Ib showed the highest frequency with the prevalence percentage of 90%. The virulence genes of mrkD (94%) and magA (11%) were the highest and lowest among isolates, respectively. According to ERIC-PCR results the isolated strains of K. pneumoniae were divided into four clusters in which the cluster 4 was predominant group.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in conjunction with a significant relationship between the strains reveals a high pathogenic capacity of the isolated pathotypes of K. pneumoniae . These findings emphasize the choose of more effective antibiotic regimens for treatment of infections caused by K. pneumoniae.

Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae , antibiotic resistance, ESBL, virulence genes, molecular typing.
Association of high adherence to vegetables-and-fruits dietary pattern with quality of life among Chinese women with early stage breast cancer
Authors: Lei Yuan-Yuan , Ho Suzanne C. , Kwok Carol , Cheng Ashley , Cheung Ka Li , Lee Roselle , Mo Frankie , Yeo Winnie
Published: March 2021

Purpose: Dietary intake and patients’ quality of life (QoL) are important supportive care issues in breast cancer survivorship. This study aimed to identify dietary pattern after breast cancer diagnosis. In addition, the association between dietary patterns and QoL were cross-sectionally investigated.Methods: A breast cancer cohort which included 1462 Chinese women were longitudinally interviewed at four time-points, namely baseline, 18-, 36-, and 60-months after diagnosis. At each follow-up, validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) were used to assess patients’ dietary intake, and principal component analysis was used to derive dietary patterns. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) were used to measure QoL. This study included 1226 patients with invasive disease who completed assessment at 18-month follow-up and had detailed data of dietary intake and QoL. Results: Two major dietary patterns were identified: “grain and animal food pattern” and “vegetables and fruits pattern”. Multivariable linear regression analysis indicated that grain and animal food intake was inversely associated with score for fatigue (P = 0.010) and dyspnea (P = 0.024). Vegetables and fruits intake were positively associated with scores for global health status/QoL (P = 0.002), while inversely associated with score for loss of appetite (P = 0.040) and diarrhea (P = 0.009). Conclusion: This study suggested that high adherence to a vegetables and fruits pattern might have beneficial effect on QoL among Chinese breast cancer patients. Prospective follow-up data could further confirm whether a specific dietary pattern has impact on cancer outcomes.