bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities for improving patient experiences among medical travellers from Canada’s far north: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Kerber Kate , Kolahdooz Fariba , Otway Meeka , Laboucan Melinda , Jang Se Lim , Lawrence Sue , Aronyk Suzanne , Quinn Matthew , Irlbacher-Fox Stephanie , Milligan Crystal , Broadhead Sabrina , DeLancey Debbie , Corriveau Andre , Sharma Sangita
Published: December 2019

Objectives

This paper explores patient experiences and identifies barriers and opportunities for improving access to healthcare for patients from the Canadian north who travel to receive medical care in a Southern province.

Design

A mixed-methods, cross-sectional study involved one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews.

Participants

52 one-on-one interviews with Northwest Territories (NWT) patients and patient escorts and two focus group discussions (n=10). Fourteen key informant interviews were conducted with health workers, programme managers and staff of community organisations providing services for out-of-province patients. A Community Advisory Board guided the development of the questionnaires and interpretation of results.

Results

Respondents were satisfied with the care received overall, but described unnecessary burdens and bureaucratic challenges throughout the travel process. Themes relating to access to healthcare included: plans and logistics for travel; level of communication between services; clarity around jurisdiction and responsibility for care; indirect costs of travel and direct costs of uninsured services; and having a patient escort or advocate available to assist with appointments and navigate the system. Three themes related to healthcare experiences included: cultural awareness, respect and caring, and medical translation. Respondents provided suggestions to improve access to care.

Conclusions

Patients from NWT need more information and support before and during travel. Ensuring that medical travellers and escorts are prepared before departing, that healthcare providers engage in culturally appropriate communication and connecting travellers to support services on arrival have the potential to improve medical travel experiences.
NINJA trial: should the nail plate be replaced or discarded after nail bed repair in children? Protocol for a multicentre randomised control trial
Authors: Jain Abhilash , Jones Amy , Gardiner Matthew D , Cooper Cushla , Sierakowski Adam , Dritsaki Melina , Png May Ee , Stokes Jamie R , Shirkey Beverly , Cook Jonathan , Beard David , Greig Aina V H
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Trauma to the nail bed is the most common surgically treated paediatric hand injury. The majority of surgeons replace the nail plate after repairing the nail bed despite a lack of evidence to do so. Replacing the nail plate may be associated with increased postoperative infection. We will investigate the impact of replacing or discarding the nail plate on infection, cosmetic appearance, pain and subsequent healthcare use. The Nail bed INJury Analysis trial (NINJA) aims to answer the question of whether the nail plate should be replaced or discarded after surgical nail bed repair in children.

Methods and analysis

A two-arm parallel group open multicentre randomised control trial of replacing the nail plate or not, as part of a nail bed repair, will be undertaken in children presenting within 48 hours of a nail bed injury requiring surgical repair. The coprimary outcomes are: cosmetic appearance summary score at a minimum of 4 months and surgical site infection at around 7 days following surgery. Secondary outcomes are EuroQol EQ-5D-(Y); the pain intensity experienced at first dressing change; child/parent satisfaction with nail healing and healthcare resource use. We will recruit a minimum of 416 patients (208 in each group) over 3 years. Children and their parents/carers will be reviewed in clinic around 7 days after their operation and will be assessed for surgical site infection or other problems. The children, or depending on age, their parents/carers, will also be asked to complete a questionnaire and send in photos of their fingernail at a minimum of 4 months postsurgery to assess cosmetic appearance.

Ethics and dissemination

The South Central Research Ethics Committee approved this study on 4 June 2019 (18/SC/0024). A manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal will be submitted on completion of the trial as per National Institute for Health Research publication policy. The results of this trial will substantially inform clinical practice and provide evidence on whether the practice of replacing the nail plate should continue at the time of nail bed repair.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN44551796.
Is congruent movement training more effective than standard visual scanning therapy to ameliorate symptoms of visuospatial neglect? Study protocol of a randomised control trial
Authors: Elshout Joris A , Nijboer Tanja C W , Van der Stigchel Stefan
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Approximately 30% of all patients with stroke show visuospatial neglect (VSN). Currently, visual scanning therapy (VST) is applied in clinical settings to attenuate neglect symptoms. VST builds on the premise that eye movements to the affected hemifield lead to a concurrent shift of visual attention. Congruent movements with different effectors of the motor system, for example, eye and hand, can produce an even larger boost of attention compared with a single effector. This congruency principle may produce a powerful bias in the motor system, which may counteract the pathological biases in the attentional system of neglect patients. Therefore, an intervention with congruent eye and hand movements may result in greater attenuation of neglect compared with an intervention with single eye movements as applied in standard VST. The current randomised controlled trial will investigate the beneficial effects of this updated version of VST by comparing changes in performance on standard neuropsychological neglect tasks and severity of neglect in activities of daily living.

Methods and analysis

Thirty VSN patients in the subacute phase poststroke onset will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: congruent eye and hand movement training (experimental group) versus standard VST (control group). Each patient will receive 10 sessions of training, 30 min each, within 2 weeks. Performance on standard neuropsychological neglect tasks, a visual discrimination task, severity of neglect in ADL and eye movement characteristics before and after intervention will be compared for and between both groups.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the ethical committee of the University Medical Centre Utrecht. All subjects will participate voluntarily and will give written informed consent. Results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NTR7005
Inter-rater reliability in performance status assessment between clinicians and patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chow Ronald , Zimmermann Camilla , Bruera Eduardo , Temel Jennifer , Im James , Lock Michael
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Performance status is an essential consideration for clinical practice and for patient eligibility for clinical trials in oncology. Assessment of performance status is traditionally done by clinicians, but there is an increasing interest in patient-completed assessment. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarise inter-rater concordance between patient and clinician ratings of performance status.

Methods

A search strategy was developed and executed in the databases of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from inception until 15 August 2019. Articles were eligible for inclusion if there was mention of both (1) use of performance status tool Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG), and (2) assessment of performance status by both clinicians and patients. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for each study and were meta-analysed according to a random-effect analysis model. Analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (V.3) by Biostat.

Results

Sixteen articles were included in our review, reporting on a cumulative sample size of 6619 patients. The quality of evidence was moderate, as determined by the GRADE tool.

Concordance ranged from fair to moderate for both the KPS and ECOG tools. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.449 for KPS and 0.584 for ECOG.

Conclusions

There is fair to moderate concordance of patient and clinician performance status ratings. Future studies should examine the reasoning behind clinician and patient ratings to better understand discrepancies between ratings.
Providing fluid therapy to equine colic patients. Part 2
Authors: Auckburally Adam , Petruccione Ilaria , Voss Sarah
Published: December 2019

Background: Fluid therapy is a controversial topic in both human and veterinary medicine. While it is appreciated that fluid therapy can be immediately life‐saving, particularly in animals suffering from hypovolaemic shock, it is increasingly recognised that inappropriate fluid therapy can lead to significant morbidity.

Aim of the article: This article, the second in a two‐part series, considers some clinical aspects of fluid therapy in adult horses with colic and some of the controversies surrounding fluid rates, fluid types and the management of metabolic acidosis. The first part, published in last month's issue of In Practice, discussed basic physiological concepts of body fluids, available fluid types and the practicalities of administration in the adult horse.
Productive performance of lambs fed with high-moisture triticale grain ensiled with different additives
Authors: Bumbieris Junior Valter Harry , de Pietro Guimarães Vinícius André , de Azambuja Ribeiro Edson Luis , das Dores Ferreira da Silva Leandro , Jobim Clóves Cabreira , Mizubuti Ivone Yurika , Camilo Isabella Mayara , Grandis Fernando Augusto , Zanin Ediane
Published: December 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance, nutrient intake, and ingestive behavior of lambs fed high-moisture triticale grain (HMTG) ensiled with different additives. Twenty-four intact male lambs with an initial body weight (BW) of 20.05 ± 2.88 kg were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: silage of HMTG, without additive; silage of HMTG ensiled with enzyme–bacterial additive; silage of HMTG ensiled with 0.5% urea; and silage of HMTG ensiled with 1.5% sodium benzoate. No difference (P > 0.05) was seen in the performance (with an average daily weight gain of 210 g d−1), nutrient intake, or ingestive behavior of the lambs. There was a significant difference in the intake of ether extract according to the additive used in the silage. The highest intake (in relation to metabolic BW) was found for HMTG ensiled with enzyme–bacterial additive: 1.49 g kg−1 BW0.75. The silage of HMTG can be used as a single source of concentrate, aiming at moderate weight gains for feedlot lambs, thus providing an alternative for the conservation of nutritional quality of ensiling without causing changes in the performance of the animals.
Male reproductive input, breeding tenure, and turnover in high-density brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis) populations on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Shimozuru Michito , Shirane Yuri , Jimbo Mina , Yamanaka Masami , Nakanishi Masanao , Ishinazaka Tsuyoshi , Kasai Shinsuke , Nose Takane , Fujimoto Yasushi , Tsuruga Hifumi , Mano Tsutomu , Tsubota Toshio
Published: December 2019

Male reproductive behavior has not been thoroughly investigated in large, non-social mammals. We studied male reproductive input using field observations and microsatellite DNA data for the brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis Lydekker, 1897) population in a special wildlife protection area on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, Japan. We identified the father of 82 offspring born between 2006 and 2018 from 54 litters produced by 20 females and revealed that they were sired by a total of 19 males. Overall, paternity was distributed relatively evenly among different males, although litter production tended to be skewed to a few bears in some years. Male breeding tenure varied among individuals, but most tenures were within the range of 1 to 6 years. Human-caused mortality, mostly occurring near human residential areas, induced male turnover, indicating that the special wildlife protection area located in the inner part of the Shiretoko Peninsula is not free from human impact. The frequency of successful reproduction was highest in 10- to 14-year-old bears, which is consistent with the period when males reach physical maturity. These results contribute to an understanding of breeding systems in large solitary mammals and to appropriate conservation and management strategies for brown bear populations.
On the contribution of different coupling constants in the infrared regime of Yang–Mills theory: A Curci–Ferrari approach
Authors: Fernández Matías , Peláez Marcela
Published: December 2019

We investigate the influence of the different vertices of two-point correlation functions in the infrared regime of Yang–Mills theory using a phenomenological description. This regime is studied in Landau-gauge and using perturbation theory within a phenomenological massive model. We perform a one-loop calculation for two-point correlation functions taking into account the different roles of the various interactions in the infrared. Our results show a good agreement with the lattice data.
Propagation dynamics of cosh-Airy beams in Kerr nonlinear media
Authors: Liu Jinyu , Jiao Ruiyun , Wang Jing , Yang Zhendong , Zhan Kaiyun
Published: December 2019

We investigate propagation dynamics of cosh- and cosine-Airy beams in Kerr nonlinear media. The cosh-Airy and cosine-Airy beam can be considered as a superposition of two Airy beams with different decay factors and different propagation trajectories, respectively. It is shown that the solitons shedding from cosh-Airy and cosine-Airy beams and their interaction in both in-phase and out-of-phase cases are strongly dependent on the modulation parameter associated with the cosh function. The interaction between two cosine-Airy beams can exhibit attraction or repulsion under proper interval and initial angle condition in both in-phase and out-of-phase cases.
Few-photon transport in strongly interacting light-matter systems: A scattering approach
Authors: See Tian Feng
Published: December 2019

Engineering strong photon–photon interactions at the quantum level have been crucial in various areas of research, notably in quantum information processing and quantum simulation. It is often done by coupling matter strongly to light. A promising way to achieve this is via waveguide quantum electrodynamics (QED). Motivated by these advancements, we study few-photon transport in waveguide QED setups. First, we present a diagrammatic technique to systematically study multiphoton scattering based on the scattering formalism and Green’s function approach. We demonstrate our proposal through physically relevant examples involving scattering of few-photon states from two-level emitters as well as from arrays of correlated Kerr nonlinear resonators described by the Bose–Hubbard model. In the second part, we apply the diagrammatic technique that was developed to perform a comprehensive study on a Bose–Hubbard lattice with a quasi-periodic potential. This model exhibits many-body localisation. We compute the two-photon transmission probability and show that it carries signatures of the underlying localisation transition with close agreement to the participation ratio of the eigenstates. The systematic scattering approach provided in this paper provides a foundation for future works at the interface between quantum optics and condensed matter.
Synthesis of cyclic carbonates by ruthenium(VI) bis-imido porphyrin/TBACl-catalyzed reaction of epoxide with CO2
Authors: Damiano Caterina , Sonzini Paolo , Intrieri Daniela , Gallo Emma
Published: December 2019

The catalytic activity of the ruthenium(VI) bis-imido porphyrin complex/TBACl binary system in promoting the CO[Formula: see text] cycloaddition to epoxides forming cyclic carbonates is here reported. The system was very efficient in catalyzing the conversion of differently substituted epoxides under mild experimental conditions (100 [Formula: see text]C and 0.6 MPa of CO[Formula: see text]. Even if the sole TBACl resulted active under the optimized experimental conditions, the addition of ruthenium species was fundamental to maximizing the reaction productivity both in terms of epoxide conversions and cyclic carbonate selectivities. A preliminary mechanistic study indicated a positive role of ruthenium imido nitrogen atom in activating carbon dioxide.
Bipolar-valued fuzzy soft hyper BCK ideals in hyper BCK algebras
Authors: Muhiuddin G. , Harizavi Habib , Jun Young Bae
Published: December 2019

Using the notion of bipolar-valued fuzzy soft set, the concepts of bipolar-valued fuzzy soft (weak, [Formula: see text]-weak, strong) hyper BCK ideal are introduced, and related properties and relations are investigated. Characterizations of bipolar-valued fuzzy soft (weak) hyper BCK ideal are considered. Conditions for a bipolar-valued fuzzy soft weak hyper BCK ideal to be a bipolar-valued fuzzy soft [Formula: see text]-weak hyper BCK ideal are provided. Conditions for a bipolar-valued fuzzy soft set to be a bipolar-valued fuzzy soft strong hyper BCK ideal are displayed.
Update on Symptomatic Treatment of Acute Vertebral Compression Fracture
Authors: Wong Stella Pui Yan , Mok Chi Chiu
Published: December 2019

The vertebral column is the most common site of osteoporotic fracture in older individuals and in those using long-term glucocorticoids. Vertebral compression fracture leads to significant morbidities such as acute and chronic pain, spinal deformities and neurological complications, resulting in reduced mobility and quality of life. As a previous vertebral compression fracture is a strong risk factor for further fragility fractures and mortality, it should be treated appropriately. This article reviews the management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and provides evidence-based treatment options.
Tight Analysis of Parallel Randomized Greedy MIS
Authors: Fischer Manuela , Noever Andreas
Published: December 2019

We provide a tight analysis that settles the round complexity of the well-studied
parallel randomized greedy MIS
algorithm, thus answering the main open question of Blelloch, Fineman, and Shun [SPAA’12].

The parallel/distributed randomized greedy Maximal Independent Set (MIS) algorithm works as follows. An order of the vertices is chosen uniformly at random. Then, in each round, all vertices that appear before their neighbors in the order are added to the independent set and removed from the graph along with their neighbors. The main question of interest is the number of rounds it takes until the graph is empty. This algorithm has been studied since 1987, initiated by Coppersmith, Raghavan, and Tompa [FOCS’87], and the previously best known bounds were
O
(log
n
) rounds in expectation for Erdős-Rényi random graphs by Calkin and Frieze [Random Struc. Alg.’90] and
O
(log
2
n
) rounds with high probability for general graphs by Blelloch, Fineman, and Shun [SPAA’12].

We prove a high probability upper bound of
O
(log
n
) on the round complexity of this algorithm in general graphs and that this bound is tight. This also shows that parallel randomized greedy MIS is as fast as the celebrated algorithm of Luby [STOC’85, JALG’86].
Review of Factor Man by Matt Ginsberg
Authors: Gasarch William
Published: December 2019

What would you do if you proved P=NP? If you publish it you might be rich and famous: : : in a world destroyed by cyber terrorists. If you don't publish it someone might beat you to it. Can you make money off of it?

Matt Ginsberg's fictional book, Factor Man, grapples intelligently with this question. The premise is that someone (alias Factor Man) has proven P=NP and has a pretty good plan for how to (1) cash in, and (2) not create economic havoc.
Review of Kolmogorov Complexity and Algorithmic Randomness by A. Shen, V. A. Uspensky, and N. Vereshchagin
Authors: Shafei Hadi
Published: December 2019

This is a book about Kolmogorov complexity and algorithmic randomness. The main idea in Kolmogorov complexity, introduced by A. N. Kolmogorov and others in the 1960's, is to use an algorithmic approach to measure the amount of information in finite objects [1]. Kolmogorov wanted to create an information theory that, unlike Shannon information theory, is founded independently from probability theory. This approach results in a notion of randomness that is independent from the notion of probability and is closer to the intuition that "randomness is the absence of regularities" [2, 1].

As authors stated in the introduction, this book is not intended to be comprehensive, especially with respect to the more recent results; However, the authors cover a wide range of topics and results in Kolmogorov complexity theory and whenever a result is not rigorously investigated, sufficient references are provided. The book starts from the basic concepts and builds its way up toward the more advanced concepts and techniques. The progress from the introductory to the advanced topics is seamless which makes the reading an enjoyable experience. Concepts and techniques are explained very well and proofs are rigorous, detailed, and clear. Important and complicated proofs are usually followed by excellent discussions about the main ideas and techniques used in them. The book also contains many interesting and insightful philosophical discussions.
SIGACT News Complexity Theory Column 103
Authors: Hemaspaandra Lane A.
Published: December 2019

SETH vs Approximation Warmest thanks to Aviad Rubinstein and Virginia Vassilevska Williams for their guest column. As you can see, it not only is excitingly covering a lot of exciting work, but also is presenting quite a few open issues; clearly, they are inviting you to join the party!
Novel Solutions for Closed Queueing Networks with Load-Dependent Stations
Authors: Casale Giuliano , Harrison Peter G. , Hong Ong Wai
Published: December 2019

Load-dependent closed queueing networks are difficult to approximate since their analysis requires to consider statedependent service demands. Standard evaluation techniques, such as mean-value analysis, are not equally efficient in the load-dependent setting, where mean queue-lengths are insufficient alone to recursively determine the model equilibrium performance. As such, novel exact techniques to address this class of models can benefit performance engineering practice by offering alternative trade-offs between accuracy and computational cost.

In this paper, we derive novel exact solutions for the normalizing constant of state probabilities in the load-dependent setting. For single-class load-dependent models, we provide an explicit exact formula for the normalizing constant that is valid for models with arbitrary load-dependent rates. From this result, we derive two novel integral forms for the normalizing constant in multiclass load-dependent models, which involve integration in the real and complex domains, leading to novel numerical approximations. The paper also illustrates through experiments the computational gains and accuracy of the obtained expressions.
Genetic Polymorphisms in the RAD51 Gene with a Risk of Head and Neck Cancer and Esophageal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Lin , Zhang Xue , Zhang Zhong-Ti
Published: December 2019

Background. The role of RAD51 gene polymorphisms with the development of head and neck cancer (HNC) and esophageal cancer (EC) remains controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between the RAD51 polymorphisms and these two cancers quantitatively. Methods. Databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were used to search relevant papers prior to August 17, 2019. STATA 11.0 was performed to observe the correlation. Results. Ten relevant papers were enrolled in our analysis. Overall, a significant correlation was observed between the rs1801320 polymorphism and the increased risk of these two cancers (OR=1.32, 95%CI=1.03‐1.71 for C vs. G; OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.03‐2.19 for CG vs. GG; and OR=1.44, 95%CI=1.05‐1.99 for CC+CG vs. GG). In subgroup analyses, an increased risk was found for EC (OR=2.07, 95%CI=1.01‐4.25 for C vs. G; OR=2.08, 95%CI=1.17‐3.71 for CC vs. GG; and OR=1.78, 95%CI=1.00‐3.15 for CC vs. CG+GG), but not for HNC. Moreover, our analysis revealed that no statistical evidence of correlation was discovered between the polymorphism of rs1801321 and the increased risk of HNC. However, stratified analysis based on ethnicity suggested that rs1801321 polymorphism was related to the decreased risk of HNC among Caucasians (OR=0.82, 95%CI=0.72‐0.95 for T vs. G). Conclusions. rs1801320 polymorphism was strongly associated with the risk of these two associated cancers, especially with esophageal cancer. Moreover, our results revealed that rs1801321 polymorphism was correlated to the decreased risk of HNC among Caucasians.
Risky Alcohol Consumption and Heavy Episodic Drinking among Parents in Germany: Results of a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Varnaccia Gianni , Manz Kristin , Zeiher Johannes , Rattay Petra , Lange Cornelia
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Risky alcohol consumption (RAC) and heavy episodic drinking (HED) by parents can have negative effects on their children. At present, little is known about these forms of alcohol consumption among parents in Germany. The aim of this analysis is to estimate the percentage of parents living in Germany who practise RAC and HED and to study associations between these consumption patterns and sociodemographic factors. Material and Methods. The data basis comprises the data of the nationwide studies “Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell” (GEDA) of 2009, 2010, and 2012. The data were collected by means of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Our analysis included all participants living in a household with at least one child of their own under 18 years of age (n = 16,224). Information on RAC and HED was collected using the AUDIT-C screening instrument. Logistic regression models were used to study the relationship between parental alcohol consumption and sociodemographic variables. Results. 18.4% of the mothers and 29.6% of the fathers exhibited RAC; 8.4% of the mothers and 21.0% of the fathers practised HED. After mutual adjustment, RAC showed a significant association with the level of education, income (only mothers), employment status (only mothers), migration background, relationship status (only mothers), and the age of the youngest child. HED showed a significant association with income (only mothers), the age of the youngest child (only mothers), and the level of education (only fathers). Conclusions. The presented analysis emphasizes the relevance of preventive measures to reduce parental alcohol consumption. In addition to universal interventions, risk group-specific measures (e.g., for parents with high income) are needed to reduce parental alcohol consumption and thus support a healthy development of children.
Comparisons of Effective Fields of Two Ultra-Widefield Ophthalmoscopes, Optos 200Tx and Clarus 500
Authors: Matsui Yoshitsugu , Ichio Atsushi , Sugawara Asako , Uchiyama Eriko , Suimon Hitomi , Matsubara Hisashi , Sugimoto Masahiko , Ikesugi Kengo , Kondo Mineo
Published: December 2019

Purpose. To compare the effective fields of the Optos 200Tx® and Clarus 500™, two ultra-widefield ophthalmoscopes, based on their ability to image branches of retinal vessel in the four retinal quadrants. Methods. Ninety retinal images from 90 patients with various eye diseases were studied. All patients had undergone 200° retinal imaging to obtain a single image of Optos (O) and the montage of two images of the Clarus (C). The highest number of traceable vessel branches in the four retinal quadrants was determined by two masked raters. An image was classified as “O > C” when the number of identifiable branch was greater in the Optos than the Clarus, as “O = C” when the number was equal and as “O < C” when the number was fewer in the Optos than the Clarus. Results. The appearance probability of “O > C” was significantly higher at the upper temporal quadrant than “O < C” (p<0.01 for both raters). In contrast, the appearance probability of “O < C” was significantly higher at the lower nasal quadrant than “O > C” (p<0.01 for both raters). There were no significant differences in the appearance probability between “O > C” and “O < C” at the other two retinal quadrants (p>0.50 for both raters). Conclusions. These results demonstrate that the effective field of views was different between the two devices at different retina quadrants. Further studies are needed to clarify possible factors such as artifacts by the eyelashes, differences in the depth of focus, motion of the device, and different locations of the images on the effective field of views.
From FPGA to Support Cloud to Cloud of FPGA: State of the Art
Authors: Skhiri Rym , Fresse Virginie , Jamont Jean Paul , Suffran Benoit , Malek Jihene
Published: December 2019

Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) draws a significant attention from both industry and academia by accelerating computationally expensive applications and achieving low power consumption. FPGAs are interesting due to the flexibility and reconfigurabiltiy of their device. Cloud computing becomes a major trend towards infrastructure and computing resources dematerialization. It provides “unlimited” storage capacities and a large number of data and applications that make collaboration easier between multiple (not domain specific) designers. Many papers in the literature have surveyed Cloud and FPGA separately and, more precisely, their services and challenges. The acceleration of applications by FPGA and the unlimited capacities of the cloud are expected to be more and more pervasive. As more and more FPGA are being deployed in traditional cloud, it is appropriate to clarify what is the cloud FPGA and which drawbacks of using FPGA in local are resolved. We present a survey of the cloud FPGA works that have been proposed to exploit the advantages of using FPGA in the cloud. We classify these studies in three services to highlight their benefits and limitations. This survey aims at motivating further researches in cloud FPGA.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Tumor Metastases to the Right and Left Ventricles with Carcinoid Heart Disease
Authors: Barnebee Daniel , Morse Brian , Strosberg Jonathan R. , Pejic Marijan , Jeong Daniel
Published: December 2019

A 76-year-old male with a small bowel neuroendocrine tumor with hepatic metastases presented with new onset lower extremity swelling, bloating, and weight gain which ultimately lead to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to evaluate for cardiac involvement of disease. CMR showed right and left ventricular myocardial metastases along with findings suggestive of carcinoid heart disease. The patient had severe tricuspid valve regurgitation necessitating surgical valve repair. The patient underwent bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement and debulking of the metastases with surgical pathology confirming neuroendocrine tumor metastases. Follow-up clinical evaluations at 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively showed improvement in cardiac function and stable hepatic tumor burden. This case demonstrates the utility of CMR to diagnose myocardial metastases and carcinoid heart disease complicated by severe tricuspid regurgitation, which guided surgical management.
Efficacy and Determinants of Response to HER Kinase Inhibition inHER2-Mutant Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Smyth Lillian M. , Piha-Paul Sarina A. , Won Helen H. , Schram Alison M. , Saura Cristina , Loi Sherene , Lu Janice , Shapiro Geoffrey I. , Juric Dejan , Mayer Ingrid A. , Arteaga Carlos L. , de la Fuente Macarena I. , Brufksy Adam M. , Spanggaard Iben , Mau-Sørensen Morten , Arnedos Monica , Moreno Victor , Boni Valentina , Sohn Joohyuk , Schwartzberg Lee S. , Gonzàlez-Farré Xavier , Cervantes Andrés , Bidard François-Clement , Gorelick Alexander N. , Lanman Richard B. , Nagy Rebecca J. , Ulaner Gary A. , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Jhaveri Komal , Gavrila Elena I. , Zimel Catherine , Selcuklu S. Duygu , Melcer Myra , Samoila Aliaksandra , Cai Yanyan , Scaltriti Maurizio , Mann Grace , Xu Feng , Eli Lisa D. , Dujka Melanie , Lalani Alshad S. , Bryce Richard , Baselga José , Taylor Barry S. , Solit David B. , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Hyman David M.
Published: December 2019

HER2 mutations define a subset of metastatic breast cancers with a unique mechanism of oncogenic addiction to HER2 signaling. We explored activity of the irreversible pan-HER kinase inhibitor neratinib, alone or with fulvestrant, in 81 patients with HER2-mutant metastatic breast cancer. Overall response rate was similar with or without estrogen receptor (ER) blockade. By comparison, progression-free survival and duration of response appeared longer in ER+ patients receiving combination therapy, although the study was not designed for direct comparison. Preexistent concurrent activating HER2 or HER3 alterations were associated with poor treatment outcome. Similarly, acquisition of multiple HER2-activating events, as well as gatekeeper alterations, were observed at disease progression in a high proportion of patients deriving clinical benefit from neratinib. Collectively, these data define HER2 mutations as a therapeutic target in breast cancer and suggest that coexistence of additional HER signaling alterations may promote both de novo and acquired resistance to neratinib.

Significance:

HER2 mutations define a targetable breast cancer subset, although sensitivity to irreversible HER kinase inhibition appears to be modified by the presence of concurrent activating genomic events in the pathway. These findings have implications for potential future combinatorial approaches and broader therapeutic development for this genomically defined subset of breast cancer.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 161
Accuracy of a Robotic Endoscopic System in Cadaver Models with Simulated Tumor Targets: ACCESS Study
Authors: Chen Alexander C. , Pastis Nicholas J. , Machuzak Michael S. , Gildea Thomas R. , Simoff Michael J. , Gillespie Colin T. , Mahajan Amit K. , Oh Scott S. , Silvestri Gerard A.
Published: December 2019

Background: Bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions continues to present clinical challenges, despite increasing experience using newer guided techniques. Robotic bronchoscopic platforms have been developed to potentially improve diagnostic yields. Previous studies in cadaver models have demonstrated increased reach into the lung periphery using robotic systems compared to similarly sized conventional bronchoscopes, although the clinical impact of additional reach is unclear. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the performance of a robotic bronchoscopic system’s ability to reach and access artificial tumor targets simulating peripheral nodules in human cadaveric lungs. Methods: Artificial tumor targets sized 10–30 mm in axial diameter were implanted into 8 human cadavers. CT scans were performed prior to procedures and all cadavers were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Electromagnetic navigation, radial probe endobronchial ultrasound, and fluoroscopy were used for all procedures. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy was performed on each cadaver by an individual bronchoscopist to localize and biopsy peripheral lesions. Results: Sixty-seven nodules were evaluated in 8 cadavers. The mean nodule size was 20.4 mm. The overall diagnostic yield was 65/67 (97%) and there was no statistical difference in diagnostic yield for lesions <20 mm compared with lesions measuring 21–30 mm, the presence of a concentric or eccentric radial ultrasound image, or relative distance from the pleura. Conclusions: The robotic bronchoscopic system was successful at biopsying 97% of peripheral pulmonary lesions 10–30 mm in size in human cadavers. These findings support further exploration of this technology in prospective clinical trials in live human subjects.
The Usefulness of Auditory Perceptual Assessment and Acoustic Analysis as a Screening Test for Voice Problems
Authors: Lee YeonWoo , Kim GeunHyo , Sohn KeonTae , Lee ByungJoo , Lee JinChoon , Kwon SoonBok
Published: December 2019

Background/Aims: The aims of study were (1) to determine the cut-off values of parameters related to auditory perceptual assessment (visual analog scale [VAS]) and acoustic analysis (cepstral peak prominence [CPP], low-frequency/high-frequency [L/H] ratio, CPP SD, L/H ratio SD, acoustic voice quality index [AVQI], and cepstral spectral index of dysphonia [CSID]) for predicting voice problems within a Korean population, and (2) to verify the discriminative power of these cut-off values. Methods: 1,113 voice samples were analyzed in this study. Perceptual assessments (VAS) were performed by 5 speech-language pathologists. For the acoustic analysis, cepstral parameters, CSID, and AVQI were calculated. The cut-off values of parameters predicting voice problems were obtained using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Additionally, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were measured. Results: High reliabilities were observed for the perceptual assessments. The cut-off values of parameters had a high sensitivity, specificity, and AUC. Of these, CSID was the parameter with the highest AUC values. Conclusion: Each parameter demonstrated a high discriminative power for classifying the presence or absence of voice problems. The results of this study could be used as an objective criterion for screening voice problems.
Validation of the Dutch Version of the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory for Neurogenic Patients
Authors: Samuels Eveline E. , van Hooren Michel , Baijens Laura W.J. , Beeckman Anne-Sophie , Lima Passos Valéria , Pilz Walmari
Published: December 2019

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to validate the Dutch-language version of the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) for patients with neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD). Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight patients with neurogenic OD and 92 healthy control subjects completed the MDADI and the Dutch version of the Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL-NL). Exclusion criteria were: suffering from a concurrent head-and-neck oncological disease, scoring below 23 on a Mini Mental State Examination, being older than 85 years, and being illiterate or blind. None of the patients was in a palliative state of disease. Floor and ceiling effects, known-groups validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion validity were assessed. Results: The MDADI total score showed no floor or ceiling effects for the patient group. Known-groups validity was confirmed by group differences in score distributions between patients and healthy control subjects. The internal consistency showed Cronbach’s α-values ranging from 0.77 to 0.92. Correlations between the MDADI subscales and SWAL-QOL-NL domains were moderate to strong: 0.71, 0.70, and 0.62 (convergent construct validity). Correlations between the MDADI scores and the SWAL-QOL-NL domains general burden, food selection, eating duration, communication, mental health, social functioning, and frequency of symptoms were moderate to strong, ranging from 0.41 to 0.75. Weak correlations (<0.4) were found between the MDADI scores and the SWAL-QOL-NL domains eating desire, sleep, and fatigue. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the Dutch translation of the MDADI is a psychometrically validated and suitable dysphagia-specific quality-of-life questionnaire for patients with neurogenic OD.
From Perception to Action: The Role of Auditory Input in Shaping Vocal Communication and Social Behaviors in Birds
Authors: Elie Julie E. , Hoffmann Susanne , Dunning Jeffery L. , Coleman Melissa J. , Fortune Eric S. , Prather Jonathan F.
Published: December 2019

Acoustic communication signals are typically generated to influence the behavior of conspecific receivers. In songbirds, for instance, such cues are routinely used by males to influence the behavior of females and rival males. There is remarkable diversity in vocalizations across songbird species, and the mechanisms of vocal production have been studied extensively, yet there has been comparatively little emphasis on how the receiver perceives those signals and uses that information to direct subsequent actions. Here, we emphasize the receiver as an active participant in the communication process. The roles of sender and receiver can alternate between individuals, resulting in an emergent feedback loop that governs the behavior of both. We describe three lines of research that are beginning to reveal the neural mechanisms that underlie the reciprocal exchange of information in communication. These lines of research focus on the perception of the repertoire of songbird vocalizations, evaluation of vocalizations in mate choice, and the coordination of duet singing.
How to Integrate Personalized Medicine into Prevention? Recommendations from the Personalized Prevention of Chronic Diseases (PRECeDI) Consortium
Authors: Boccia Stefania , Pastorino Roberta , Ricciardi Walter , Ádány Róza , Barnhoorn Floris , Boffetta Paolo , Cornel Martina C. , De Vito Corrado , Gray Muir , Jani Anant , Lang Michael , Roldan Jim , Rosso Annalisa , Sánchez José Manuel , Van Dujin Cornelia M. , Van El Carla G. , Villari Paolo , Zawati Ma’n H.
Published: December 2019

Medical practitioners are increasingly adopting a personalized medicine (PM) approach involving individually tailored patient care. The Personalized Prevention of Chronic Diseases (PRECeDI) consortium project, funded within the Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) scheme, had fostered collaboration on PM research and training with special emphasis on the prevention of chronic diseases. From 2014 to 2018, the PRECeDI consortium trained 50 staff members on personalized prevention of chronic diseases through training and research. The acquisition of skills from researchers came from dedicated secondments from academic and nonacademic institutions aimed at training on several research topics related to personalized prevention of cancer and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In detail, 5 research domains were addressed: (1) identification and validation of biomarkers for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, secondary prevention of Alzheimer disease, and tertiary prevention of head and neck cancer; (2) economic evaluation of genomic applications; (3) ethical-legal and policy issues surrounding PM; (4) sociotechnical analysis of the pros and cons of informing healthy individuals on their genome; and (5) identification of organizational models for the provision of predictive genetic testing. Based on the results of the research carried out by the PRECeDI consortium, in November 2018, a set of recommendations for policy makers, scientists, and industry has been issued, with the main goal to foster the integration of PM approaches in the field of chronic disease prevention.
ВИКОРИСТАННЯ МОБІЛЬНИХ ДОДАТКІВ ПРИ ВИКЛАДАННІ МЕДИЧНОЇ ІНФОРМАТИКИ ІНТЕРНАМ-СТОМАТОЛОГАМ
Authors: Bogdanova T. I. , Pasko M. I. , Avdusenko M. V.
Published: December 2019

У статті розглянуто можливість використання мобільних додатків для удосконалення викладання медичної інформатики для інтернів-стоматологів. Показано, що традиційна програма для навчання інтернів реалізує два головних напрями: вивчення функціональних особливостей роботи офісних програм та ознайомлення з можливостями програм для статистичної обробки медичних даних. Зазвичай акцент робиться на вивченні статистичних програм, що є цікавим лише інтернам, які планують свою майбутню діяльність пов’язати з наукою. Водночас існує безліч мобільних додатків, які можуть бути корисними  лікарю в його практичній діяльності. В даній роботі мобільні додатки пропонується поділити на дві групи: загально-змістовні та спеціальні. Серед найбільш корисних загально-змістовних додатків виділені такі: «3D внутрішні органи анатомія 1.9.8», «Medical Terminologies», «Epocrates», «МБК-10», «Read by QxMD» та «MedAssist». Водночас підкреслюється, що при викладанні медичної інформатики в інтернатурі слід враховувати спеціалізацію майбутніх лікарів, тому для лікарів-стоматологів найбільш корисними можуть бути, наприклад, такі, як: «Dental Patient Education», «Cone Beam CT», «Smile Designer Pro», «Dentist +» або «SimplyCeph». Надається аналіз можливостей кожного додатка. Перспективою подальших досліджень є виявлення педагогічної ефективності використання смарт-технологій для формування професійних компетентностей лікарів-стоматологів.
FORMING THE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF FUTURE DOCTORS AS A PEDAGOGICAL PROBLEM WHEN STUDYING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Authors: Nakhaieva Ya. M. , Humenna I. R.
Published: December 2019

The mаin objectives of higher medicаl educаtion аre professionаl improvement of physiciаns to meet the needs dictаted by the modern world both аt undergrаduаte аnd postgrаduate levels. Educаtion of the future tаkes on the feаtures of innovаtive educаtion integrаted with reseаrch аctivity, charаcterized by а continuous, fundаmental, prаctical orientation. The article deals with the problem of the formation of the professional competence of future doctors in the study of foreign languages in medical institutions of higher education. It is noted, that modern education programmes, introduced as a result of the reform of medical education, are built not only on the principle of knowledge and skills obtaining, but also the acquisition of competencies. Modern trends in planning, organizing, evaluating the quality of education аctually helped to ensure the implementation of competence-based аpproach in the training of doctors. The theoretical aspects of this problem are also considered.

The research has identified the need to develop methodological materials for focusing on and developing the future doctors during studying of foreign languages.
The images of animism in two novels by Boaventura Cardoso
Authors: Puritta Felipe De Oliveira
Published: December 2019

The objective of this article is to discuss the structural function of the images of Angolan traditional beliefs in two novels of Boaventura Cardoso: Maio, Mês de Maria (1997) and Noites de Vigília (2012). In order to compare the two uses of these images by the writer, the researches of Saraiva (2007) and Garuba (2003) on the term “animist realism” will be used, besides the concepts of “animism”, from Viveiros de Castro (2014), “cultural materialism”, from Williams (1979), and “transculturation”, from Rama (2001).
Colonialismo e Libertação
Authors: Santos Matheus Vieira dos
Published: December 2019

O colonizador cria e mantém a prática racista para justificar sua dominação, formando um mundo dual cujos polos se invertem na luta de Libertação nacional. Estas tensões raciais, diferentes entre os colonizados e colonizadores, estão presentes na narrativa A geração da Utopia de Pepetela. Nesta obra, vemos, por um lado, personagens negras sofrendo racismo dos portugueses; e, por outro, Sara, uma das protagonistas, sendo alvo da desconfiança dos companheiros negros do movimento libertário.
Insurgent screams in raw meat and hashtag
Authors: Coswosk Jânderson Albino
Published: December 2019

We point out some of the chronicles in Cidinha da Silva’s #Paremdenosmatar as texts that translate in a literary language the genocide of the black population in contemporary Brazil. We call the reader’s attention to the way the chronicles establish a necropolitics around the black body and how its physical and symbolic annihilation occurs. In addition, we also present the construction of a “poetics of life” in #Paremdenosmatar, which creates fictional spaces of resistance of the Afro-Brazilian population.