bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The quality, suitability, content and readability of online health‐related information regarding sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery
Authors: Brissette Vincent , Alnaki Ali , Garfinkle Richard , Lloyd Marshall , Demian Marie , Vasilevsky Carol‐Ann , Morin Nancy , Boutros Marylise
Published: January 2021

Aim

Patients are not well informed about sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery and often turn to the Internet for information. The purpose of this study was to assess online information for patients on sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery.

Methods

An online search of Google, Yahoo and Bing was performed using specific (e.g., rectal cancer surgery and vaginal pain) and general (e.g., rectal cancer surgery and sex) search terms. Inclusion criteria were websites in English, designed for patients, and including content regarding sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery. Websites were assessed for readability (nine standardized tests), quality (DISCERN tool), suitability (Suitability Assessment of Materials tool), and content.

Results

Of 5040 websites identified, 99 unique websites met inclusion criteria. Three (3%) websites fulfilled the American Medical Association recommendation of a 6th‐grade reading level. Using the DISCERN instrument, two (2%) websites were assigned good/excellent quality, nineteen (19%) referenced their sources of information, and thirty‐one (31%) fully discussed the impact of sexual dysfunction on quality of life. Using the SAM instrument, three (3%) websites were classified as highly suitable for rectal cancer patients, sixty‐five (66%) were adequate, and thirty‐one (31%) were inadequate. With regards to content, nine (9%) websites fully discussed the impact of sexual dysfunction on patients partners and fifty‐one (52%) websites did not cover prognosis.

Conclusion

Online health information available to patients on sexual dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery is suboptimal. Websites are not suitable, lack important content, and are written at too complex a reading level for patients.
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine provoke arrhythmias at concentrations higher than those clinically used to treat COVID‐19: A simulation study
Authors: Okada Jun‐ichi , Yoshinaga Takashi , Washio Takumi , Sawada Kohei , Sugiura Seiryo , Hisada Toshiaki
Published: January 2021

The risk of fatal arrhythmias is the major concern for using chloroquine (CQ) or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), but the reported number of life‐threatening arrhythmic events or deaths is relatively small. The objective of this study was to assess the arrhythmogenic risk of these two drugs using a multiscale heart simulation, which allows testing even at high concentrations, including those that cause fatal arrhythmias. We measured the inhibitory action of CQ, HCQ, and HCQ with 30 μM azithromycin (AZ) on six ion currents (fast [INa] and late [INa,L] components of the sodium current, L‐type calcium current [ICa,L], rapid [IKr/hERG], and slow [IKs] components of delayed rectifier potassium, and inward rectifier potassium [IK1]) over a wide range of concentrations using the automated patch‐clamp system. Using the concentration–inhibition relationship that was thus obtained, we simulated the drug effects while increasing the concentration until the life‐threatening arrhythmia, torsade de pointes (TdP), was observed. The obtained threshold concentrations for TdP were 12.5, 35, and 22.5 μM for CQ, HCQ, and HCQ with AZ, respectively. Adding therapeutic concentrations of mexiletine or verapamil successfully prevented the occurrence of TdP, and verapamil was more effective. CQ, HCQ, and HCQ with AZ thresholds for TdP were larger than both antiviral concentrations that were reported by in vitro experiments and free plasma concentrations that were attained by the clinically used dosage. The current simulation data provided a safety margin to the currently used clinical dose for CQ and HCQ/AZ.

Study Highlights

WHAT IS THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ON THE TOPIC?

Despite the potent in vitro antiviral effect, clinical trials have failed to show the therapeutic effects of chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)/azithromycin (AZ) to treat coronavirus disease 2019. Torsadogenic potentials may limit the dosage of these drugs, but the reported incidence of fatal arrhythmias is rare.

WHAT QUESTION DID THIS STUDY ADDRESS?

Our objective was to assess the arrhythmogenicity of CQ and HCQ/AZ over a wide range of drug concentrations using a multiscale heart simulation.

WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE?

Our study showed that CQ and HCQ/AZ do not induce fatal arrhythmias even at concentrations much higher than in vitro antiviral half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) values at which QT prolongation exceeds 150 ms. We also found that estimated free plasma concentrations of CQ and HCQ/AZ achieved by currently used dosing protocols are lower than the antiviral EC50 for these drugs.

HOW MIGHT THIS CHANGE CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY OR TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE?

Our simulation data provided a safety margin to the currently used clinical dose for CQ and HCQ/AZ.
Increased muscle echointensity correlates with clinical disability and muscle strength in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Authors: Fisse Anna Lena , Fiegert Sean , Stoykova Zornitsa , Brünger Jil , Athanasopoulos Diamantis , Grüter Thomas , Motte Jeremias , Gold Ralf , Pitarokoili Kalliopi
Published: January 2021

Background and purpose

We evaluated muscle echointensity as a marker for secondary axonal damage in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) using ultrasonography. Findings were correlated with clinical disability and muscular strength.

Methods

Eighty patients with CIDP (40 with typical and 40 with atypical CIDP) were examined clinically, including assessment of Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score and Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment Overall Disability Sum Score (INCAT‐ODSS). Echointensity in eight proximal and distal muscles of the arms and legs was evaluated by muscle ultrasonography using the Heckmatt scale.

Results

Alterations of echointensity occurred most frequently in the distal leg muscles, with a median (range) Heckmatt score of 1.5 (1–4). There were no differences between typical and atypical CIDP patients with regard to Heckmatt score. Alterations of echointensity correlated to disability and muscle strength. The arm score of the INCAT‐ODSS correlated to Heckmatt score for the distal arm muscles (r = 0.23, p = 0.046) and the leg score of the INCAT‐ODSS correlated to Heckmatt scores for the proximal (r = 0.34, p = 0.002) and distal leg muscles (r = 0.33, p = 0.004). MRC sum score, as well as individual MRC scores for arm and leg muscles, correlated to Heckmatt scores of the corresponding muscle groups (r = −0.25, p = 0.02 for MRC sum score).

Conclusion

Increased muscle echointensity, reflecting fibrosis and fatty infiltration due to secondary axonal damage, correlated to muscular strength and disability in a large cohort of CIDP patients. Alterations of echointensity occur in both typical and atypical CIDP patients and are pronounced in the distal leg muscles.
Sex and age differences in the diet of the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) using web‐sourced photographs: exploring the feasibility of a new citizen science approach
Authors: Panter Connor T. , Amar Arjun
Published: January 2021

Diet differences between the sexes and ages have often been recorded for bird species. Many raptor species show extreme sexual size dimorphism, with females often considerably larger than the males and these differences may be reflected in their diets. Diet studies in raptors most frequently focus on analysing prey remains or pellets collected at nest‐sites. These methods are subsequently limited to breeding birds in the breeding season and are also restricted by their inability to distinguish prey items between the sexes. The use of web‐sourced photographs to examine raptor diet has the potential to overcome some limitations of more traditional methods used to assess diet. We used this approach for the Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus in the United Kingdom, exploring diet between the sexes and ages throughout the entire year. In total, we obtained 843 web‐sourced photographs of Sparrowhawks with their prey items. There were 12 key prey items that had a frequency ≥ 10 in the Sparrowhawk diet: Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto, Rock Dove Columba livia, Common Blackbird Turdus merula, House Sparrow Passer domesticus, unidentified ‘small’ and ‘medium’ birds, European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, European Greenfinch Chloris chloris, Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus and Stock Dove Columba oenas. Several prey species were more often seen in the diet of one sex or age group. Overall, average prey weights of adult females were two and a half times heavier than for adult males and one and a half times heavier for juvenile females. However, this method may be slightly biased towards larger prey items, which should be considered in future studies. Despite this limitation, our method enabled dietary differences between the sexes and ages of this highly sexual size dimorphic raptor species to be explored throughout the year.
Associations of caesarean section with body mass and waist circumference trajectories from age 2 to 13 years: A nationally representative birth cohort study in Australia
Authors: Begum Tahmina , Fatima Yaqoot , Perales Francisco , Anuradha Satyamurthy , Mamun Abdullah
Published: January 2021

Background

Measuring obesity at a single time point does not explain the independent association between C‐section birth and obesity in a child's life course.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the longitudinal link between C‐section with obesity trajectories during childhood.

Methods

We analysed data from a nationally representative birth cohort study named “Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC)”, commenced in 2004. General obesity was measured through the Body Mass Index (BMI) and abdominal obesity by the Waist Circumference (WC) using the biennially collected data from age 2 to 13 years (2006‐2016). Group‐based trajectory modelling was applied to identify the distinct pattern of BMI & WC trajectories. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess the association between C‐section and obesity trajectories after adjusting for perinatal factors.

Results

Of the 3524 study children, 30% were born by C‐section. Three distinct BMI trajectory groups emerged: stable normal (60%), moderately rising (33%) and accelerated (7%). The WC trajectories were, stable normal (58%), moderate (34%) and accelerated (8%). Compared with the stable normal group, children born through C‐section had a higher risk to follow accelerated trajectories for both BMI (OR:1.72; 95% CI: 1.28‐2.32) and WC (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.15‐1.98) with P‐value <0.01. Adjustment of potential confounders did not alter these associations substantially.

Conclusions

C‐section birth significantly increases the risk of having an accelerated obesity trajectory in children. Limiting the C‐section for absolute clinical causes and early institution of preventive approach can reduce the obesity burden among children delivered through C‐section.
Parenting practices of Somali immigrant mothers in Alberta
Authors: Tetreault Brittany , Salami Bukola O. , Mohamud Habiba , Fernández‐Sánchez Higinio
Published: January 2021

This paper provides insights into the little‐explored gendered perspective of the parenting practices of Somali immigrant mothers in a Canadian province (Alberta). We use a critical ethnographic methodology and a transnational feminist framework. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten Somali mothers aged 18 to 50. Mothers were interviewed about their parenting practices in a post‐migration context, including challenges. Our results show immigrant mothers combine their cultural values with new values from Canada that they find effective. We find gendered differences in how parenting experiences are perceived. Our results suggest the need for anti‐racist and culturally safe health, education, and child policies and practices.
Helicobacter pylori eradication prevents secondary gastric cancer in patients with mild‐to‐moderate atrophic gastritis
Authors: Kato Minoru , Hayashi Yoshito , Nishida Tsutomu , Oshita Masahide , Nakanishi Fumihiko , Yamaguchi Shinjiro , Kitamura Shinji , Nishihara Akihiro , Akasaka Tomofumi , Ogiyama Hideharu , Nakahara Masanori , Yamada Takuya , Kishida Osamu , Yamamoto Masashi , Shimayoshi Akinori , Tsujii Yoshiki , Kato Motohiko , Shinzaki Shinichiro , Iijima Hideki , Takehara Tetsuo
Published: January 2021

Background and Aim

Whether Helicobacter pylori eradication prevents metachronous recurrence after endoscopic resection (ER) of early gastric cancer remains controversial. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the long‐term (> 5 years) effects of H. pylori eradication by stratifying patients' baseline degrees of atrophic gastritis.

Methods

A total of 483 H. pylori‐positive patients who had undergone ER for early gastric cancer were divided into two groups—(i) those having undergone successful H. pylori eradication within 1 year after ER (eradicated group, n = 294) and (ii) those with failed or not attempted H. pylori eradication (non‐eradicated group, n = 189). The cumulative incidences of metachronous gastric cancer between the two groups were compared for all patients, for patients with mild‐to‐moderate atrophic gastritis (n = 182), and for patients with severe atrophic gastritis (n = 301).

Results

During a median follow‐up of 5.2 years (range 1.1–14.8), metachronous cancer developed in 52 (17.7%) patients in the eradicated group and in 35 (18.5%) patients in the non‐eradicated group (P = 0.11, log–rank test). In patients with mild‐to‐moderate atrophic gastritis (111 and 71 in the eradicated and non‐eradicated groups, respectively), the cumulative incidence of metachronous cancer was significantly lower in the eradicated group than that in the non‐eradicated group (P = 0.03, log–rank test). However, no significant intergroup difference was observed in patients with severe atrophic gastritis (P = 0.69, log–rank test).

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori eradication had a preventive effect on the development of metachronous gastric cancer in patients with mild‐to‐moderate atrophic gastritis.
Getting from here to there: future planning as reported by adult siblings of individuals with disabilities
Authors: Casale E. G. , Burke M. M. , Urbano R. C. , Arnold C. K. , Hodapp R. M.
Published: January 2021

Background

Although they will often serve as caregivers for their brothers–sisters with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), adult siblings are rarely included in future planning.

Method

This study examined 495 American siblings who completed a web‐based questionnaire about themselves, their brother–sister with IDD, parents and whether their families completed 11 future planning activities.

Results

Although virtually all families completed some future planning, on average, families completed slightly over half of the 11 activities (75% completed eight or fewer). Families more frequently identified a successor to current caregivers and engaged in planning discussions with one another and with the brother–sister; least often, families completed a letter of intent or began securing residential placements. Future planning activities comprised three domains: (1) legal activities, (2) residential activities and (3) family discussions about the future. Variables relating to one or more domains included whether the brother–sister lived in or outside of family home; brother–sister independent living abilities; presence of an intellectual disability; parent caregiving ability; and current sibling caregiving and involvement with the brother–sister with IDD.

Conclusions

Although most families engage in some future planning, performance varies widely within and across future planning domains. Future planning involves different considerations and interventions depending on whether one is considering legal, residential or family discussions.
Distilling agro‐extractivism: Agave and tequila production in Mexico
Authors: Tetreault Darcy , McCulligh Cindy , Lucio Carlos
Published: January 2021

This article seeks to challenge the notion that the concept of agro‐extractivism be restricted to crops destined for export with little or no processing. Based on a study of agave and tequila production in Mexico, it argues that the domestic processing of biomass does not change nor necessarily compensate for the negative social and environmental impacts of upstream agricultural activities; it can in fact add to them. We seek to demonstrate this to be the case for industrialized agave–tequila production by adopting an approach that traces the flows of materials, pollutants and money, taking into consideration the degree to which transnational companies control the agave–tequila value chain, the portion of tequila that is exported, technologies, company–farmer and company–worker relations, relevant public policy, and environmental and social impacts. We analyse the polluting consequences of industrialized tequila production and show how the expansion and intensification of agave production since the mid‐1990s has been characterized by increasing volumes of biomass extraction, the emergence or exacerbation of different forms of environmental degradation, the marginalization of small‐scale agave farmers, and deteriorating working conditions for agave‐field workers. In addition, we briefly discuss traditional mezcal production as a socially and ecologically sustainable alternative model.
DNA methylome profiling identifies novel methylated genes in epithelial ovarian cancer patients with platinum resistance
Authors: Hua Tian , Kang Shan , Li Xiao‐fei , Tian Yun‐jie , Li Yan
Published: January 2021

Aim

Platinum‐based chemotherapy is widely used for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). As high as 20–25% of EOC patients will not respond to the initial chemotherapy. Accumulated evidences have implied that DNA methylation may serve as a potential bio‐marker for chemotherapy‐resistant phenotypic screening; however, the pattern underlying primary platinum resistance remains unclear.

Methods

Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) analysis was performed to identify differences in methylation status between primary platinum‐resistant patients Progression free survival (PFS) (PFS < 6 months, n = 8) and extreme sensitive patients (PFS ≥ 24 months, n = 8). The Qubit 3.0 Fluorometer was used for the quantification of RRBS library. The RRBS library was sequenced on Illumina HiSeq2500 sequencer as 50 bp paired‐end reads.

Results

After screening, 94 valid hyper‐/hypo‐methylated regions were identified to be located within 94 gene promoter and exon regions (adjusted q ≤ 0.5), which were primarily associated with cell–cell adhesion, B cell activation and lymphocyte activation according to GO analysis. The 19 differentially methylated regions (DMR) located in the promoter region including TRC‐GCA11‐1, LOC105370912, ANO7P1, DHX4,MSH2, CDCP2, CCNL1, ARHGAP42P2, PRDM13, LOC101928344, USP29, ZIC5,IL1RAPL1, EVX2, ABR, MGRN1, UBALD1, LINC00261, and ISL2 were identified according to the order of P‐values from low to high, of which MSH2, LINC00261, MGRN1, ZIC5, EVX2, CCNL1, and DHX40 were presented to play a variety of roles in cancers process based on the previous studies.

Conclusion

DNA methylome profiling based on RRBS assay is an effective method for screening aberrantly methylated genes in primary platinum‐resistant patients, which may serve as a potential epigenetic bio‐marker for the prediction of primary platinum resistance.
Patients' need for information on permanent contraception during a cesarean section: A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey
Authors: Ida Tsutomu , Fujiwara Hiroyuki , Taniguchi Yoshimi , Kohyama Akira
Published: January 2021

Aim

The present study aimed to explore the need for information about permanent contraception in Japanese women with repeated cesarean sections (CS).

Methods

The present, cross‐sectional survey used a self‐administered questionnaire mailed to women with a second or later CS at Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center between March 2010 and December 2017. Those who were pregnant, had given birth less than 1 year before the survey or had an hysterectomy were excluded.

Results

The present study analyzed 284 patients (60 with permanent contraception, 224 without permanent contraception). Forty‐eight (80%) of women with permanent contraception, and 135 (60%) of women without permanent contraception believed that information on permanent contraception was needed before CS. Among women without permanent contraception, significantly fewer women obtained adequate information of permanent contraception from their healthcare workers before a CS compared with women with permanent contraception (8% vs. 71%, p < 0.001). A higher rate of unreliable contraceptive use (41%) and unintended pregnancies (4%) after the latest CS were found among the women without permanent contraception.

Conclusions

A large portion of the study cohort wished they had received information on permanent contraception before CS; however, the patients without permanent contraception had limited access to this information. Adequate information about permanent contraception should be provided to women planning a CS to enable them to make an informed decision with respect to the treatment.
Oxidative stress and the cholinergic system in non‐segmental vitiligo: Effect of narrow band ultraviolet b
Authors: Said Eman Raafat , Nagui Noha Abd El Rahim , Rashed Laila Ahmed , Mostafa Wedad Zoheir
Published: January 2021

Background

Despite exhaustive research, melanocyte disappearance and the evolution of vitiligo remain enigmatic, and although multi‐factorial, oxidative stress appears as a major player. The role of cutaneous cholinergic system in vitiligo pathogenesis has also been reported in some studies.

Objective

To evaluate and correlate the influence of phototherapy on cutaneous cholinergic system and oxidative stress in vitiligo.

Methods

Acetyl choline (ACh), its receptors; nicotinic (nAChR) and muscarinic (mAChR); acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and H2O2 levels were estimated in de‐pigmented and re‐pigmented lesions of 30 vitiligo patients before and after NB‐UVB phototherapy and in 30 controls. ACh and H2O2 levels were measured by colorimetry. AChE and acetylcholine receptors expression were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR.

Results

Mean ACh and H2O2 levels were significantly higher in vitiligo lesions before NB‐UVB (P < .001) whereas AChE enzyme level was significantly lower (P < .001) compared to both re‐pigmented and control skin. Additionally, mean mAChR was significantly higher and mean nAChR was significantly lower in vitiligo lesions before NB‐UVB versus controls and re‐pigmented skin (P < .001). Also, H2O2 and AChE showed negative correlation whereas ACh and mAChR showed significant positive correlation. Although all the studied parameters showed significant changes after treatment and subsequent re‐pigmentation, a significant difference continued to exist between all vitiligo skin and controls.

Conclusion

Cholinergic system is strongly involved in vitiligo pathogenesis through H2O2 inhibition of AChE which could be reversed by NB‐UVB. Moreover, the strong activation of mAChRs may reflect genetic and/or acquired errors, direct up‐regulation by ACh and H2O2 or both.
The impact of age and familiarity with the environment on categorical and coordinate spatial relation representations
Authors: Lopez Antonella , Caffò Alessandro O. , Bosco Andrea
Published: January 2021

Retrieving spatial information is a crucial everyday ability that is affected by age‐related changes. Previous research has shown that this change is mediated by familiarity with an environment. The present research uses a series of landmark location tasks to extend and deepen our understanding of the role of aging in spatial mental representations of more or less familiar environments, also disentangling the contribution of coordinate and categorical spatial relations. The study tested the following hypotheses: (1) younger adults only have an advantage over the elderly in less familiar environments; (2) the advantage for categorical over coordinate spatial relations is mainly found for less familiar environments; and finally; (3) interactions between age, familiarity, and spatial relations might reveal that the effects of age and familiarity take different trajectories for coordinate and categorical spatial relations. Results confirmed that: (1) young people outperform the elderly only in less familiar environments; (2) there is a reduction in the difference between coordinate and categorical accuracy with increasing familiarity with the environment; while (3) the interaction between age and level of familiarity did not significantly differentiate coordinate from categorical spatial relations. In conclusion, the present study provides new evidence for the role of familiarity with geographical areas and its impact on the representation of categorical and coordinate relations, with practical implications for the assessment of topographical disorientation in aging.
Development and evaluation of a quality control system based on transdermal electrical resistance for skin barrier function in vitro
Authors: Knoth Katharina , Zäh Ralf‐Kilian , Veldung Barbara , Burgio Dominic , Wiegand Birgit , Smola Hans , Bock Udo , Lehr Claus‐Michael , Hittinger Marius , Groß Henrik
Published: January 2021

Background

In vitro skin permeation experiments are highly relevant for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural developments, and regulatory evaluation. A key requirement is the skin barrier integrity, that is accompanied by an intact stratum corneum (SC) which implements high skin quality. A variety of integrity tests are currently available, for example, measurement of transepidermal water loss, monitoring the permeation of tritiated water and the measurement of transdermal electrical resistance (TER).

Materials and Methods

We aimed for a non‐destructive examination of barrier integrity as quality control system, based on TER. Therefore, the in‐house developed instrument SkinTER measures electrical resistance on excised human skin samples in a non‐invasive and easy‐to‐use pattern. In this proof of concept study, we compared three human in vitro skin models with focus on their TER and permeation properties. The skin integrity was impaired to mimic conditions of skin during age, lifestyle (eg, shaving) or diseases (eg, obesity, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis). The OECD permeation marker caffeine was correlated to the corresponding TER value.

Results

A correlation between both was obtained by having a Pearson coefficient of −0.830. Hereby, a minimum TER value for intact skin samples of ~1.77 kΩ*cm2 was suggested. Intact samples are significantly different (α = ≤0.05) to their impaired counterparts in flux and TER values.

Conclusion

The new SkinTER instrument gives a quick and non‐invasive feedback on skin quality before a permeation experiment.
Determining agreement between preoperative computed tomography lymphography and indocyanine green near infrared fluorescence intraoperative imaging for sentinel lymph node mapping in dogs with oral tumours
Authors: Wan Jennifer , Oblak Michelle L. , Ram Ann , Singh Ameet , Nykamp Stephanie
Published: January 2021

Lymphatic drainage from the head and neck is variable with significant crossover, therefore sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping can help ensure the appropriate lymph node(s) are sampled. To improve sensitivity, SLN mapping utilizing multiple modalities and a combination of preoperative computed tomography lymphography (CTL) and intraoperative near infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRF) with indocyanine green (ICG) +/− methylene blue (MB) dye has been suggested. The aim of this study was to describe a method for intraoperative ICG lymphography and determine agreement for SLN detection using preoperative CTL and intraoperative ICG NIRF + MB lymphography (IOL) in dogs with oral tumours. Fourteen client‐owned dogs were included. All dogs had preoperative CTL with iodinated contrast and intraoperative IOL with an exoscope. Lymph nodes with CTL contrast‐enhancement, blue staining or fluorescence were considered sentinel. The overall SLN identification rate was 100% when CTL and IOL were combined. A total of 57 SLNs were identified. Indocyanine green NIRF identified a greater proportion of SLNs (91%; 52/57) compared with MB (50.8%; 29/57) and CTL (42.1%; 24/57). Eighteen SLNs were identified by all three modalities with a fair level of agreement using Fleiss kappa. These findings suggest a combination of preoperative CTL with intraoperative SLN mapping techniques may greatly improve the ability to accurately detect the SLN in dogs with oral tumours.
Multiplex fluorescent immunocytochemistry for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis: Determining optimal storage conditions
Authors: Howell Margaret , Evans Samantha J. M. , Cornwall Michelle , Santangelo Kelly S.
Published: January 2021

Background

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease of cats that can be very difficult to definitively diagnose antemortem. Multiplex fluorescent immunocytochemical (MF‐ICC) assays are emerging as useful diagnostic tests in veterinary medicine, particularly for fluid samples.

Objective

We aimed to develop and optimize an MF‐ICC assay to detect feline coronavirus within macrophages, with the primary goal of determining the allowable/recommended sample storage conditions for clinical use of this assay.

Methods

A feline macrophage cell line was infected with the FIP virus. Following harvest into EDTA tubes (simulating typical clinical collection of effusion), cells were stored at 4℃, 22℃, and 37℃. For each temperature condition, slides for MF‐ICC were made at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 5 days post‐collection. To assess the stability of immunoreactivity following fixation, freshly harvested infected cells were fixed onto slides and maintained at 4℃ for 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks. All slides were analyzed by MF‐ICC for the presence of mononuclear cells with co‐expression of vimentin and coronaviral antigen.

Results

MF‐ICC confirmed that cells tested positive for coronavirus at 4℃ through 3 days post‐harvest, 22℃ through 48 hours post‐harvest, and 37℃ through 24 hours post‐harvest. The MF‐ICC assay was successfully performed on fixed slides through the 12‐week time point. This assay also demonstrated positive results on a clinical sample of abdominal fluid from a cat later confirmed to have FIP.

Conclusions

The MF‐ICC assay described here offers a potentially specific and relatively stable antemortem diagnostic test for feline infectious peritonitis. Evaluation of this assay in clinical samples is ongoing.
Observations of scatter from surface reflectors with Doppler sensitive probe signals
Authors: Richards Edward L. , Song H. C. , Hodgkiss W. S.
Published: January 2021

Previous analyses of surface scatter from the at-sea KAM11 experiment were made with linear frequency modulated waveforms that emphasized a single slope direction for arrivals in time-varying impulse response estimates. This analysis of Doppler sensitive waveform transmissions, made in the same geometry, resolves additional scatter arrivals with opposite slope. The different Doppler shifts in scatter observations are related to dispersed, naturally occurring, sea surface features that reflect the transmitted waveform to the receiver. The positions of these surface reflectors are estimated from the delay and Doppler shift of the observed arrivals without needing a receiving array with high spatial resolution.
Associations of Light, Moderate to Vigorous, and Total Physical Activity With the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in 4,652 Community-Dwelling 70-Year-Olds: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ballin Marcel , Nordström Peter , Nordström Anna
Published: January 2021

In this cross-sectional study, the authors investigated the associations of objectively measured physical activity (PA) with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in older adults. Accelerometer-derived light-intensity PA, moderate to vigorous PA, and steps per day were measured in (N = 4,652) 70-year-olds in Umeå, Sweden, during May 2012–November 2019. The MetS was assessed according to the American Heart Association/ National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute criteria. The prevalence of MetS was 49.3%. Compared with the reference, the odds ratios for MetS in increasing quartiles of light-intensity PA were 0.91 (0.77–1.09), 0.75 (0.62–0.89), and 0.66 (0.54–0.80). For moderate to vigorous PA, the corresponding odds ratios were 0.79 (0.66–0.94), 0.67 (0.56–0.80), and 0.56 (0.46–0.67). For steps per day, the odds ratios were 0.65 (0.55–0.78), 0.55 (0.46–0.65), and 0.45 (0.36–0.55). In summary, this study shows that greater amounts of PA, regardless of intensity, are associated with lower odds of MetS. With the limitation of being an observational study, these findings may have implications for the prevention of MetS in older adults.
The Believability of Exercise Blogs Among Young Adults
Authors: Ori Elaine M. , Berry Tanya R. , Yun Lira
Published: January 2021

It is unknown how lifelong digital media users such as young adult women perceive exercise information found online. A total of 141 women aged 18–30 years and residing in Canada were randomized to read either a factually incorrect or a factually correct blog article. Participants completed Go/No-Go tasks to measure automatically activated believability and evaluations and questionnaires to explicitly measure believability, affective evaluations, and intentions to exercise. Participants did not show evidence of automatically activated believability of the content found in either blog article. However, participants reading the factually correct article reported significantly greater explicit disbelief than those reading the factually incorrect article, though this did not predict intentions. Being factually correct may not be an important component of message believability. Exercise professionals need to remain aware of the content of popular online sources of information in an effort to curb misinformation.
Will warming make animals darker—or lighter?
Authors: Kean Sam
Published: January 2021

Long-standing belief that higher temperatures favor darker variants comes under fire.
The hole truth
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: January 2021

Now that black holes can be studied directly, scientists wonder whether they really are the strange beasts Albert Einstein's theory predicts.
Making sense of neural development by comparing wiring strategies for seeing and hearing
Authors: Sitko A. A. , Goodrich L. V.
Published: January 2021

Complex diversity from shared toolkits

Neural development builds diverse circuits out of a common toolkit, with shared mechanisms, transcription factors, and cellular signaling systems. Sitko and Goodrich compare and contrast the development of visual and auditory systems to parse the similarities in logic and the differences in sensory information processing.

Science
, this issue p.
eaaz6317
Coevolution of policy and science during the pandemic
Authors: Yin Yian , Gao Jian , Jones Benjamin F. , Wang Dashun
Published: January 2021

Recent, high-quality science is being heard, but unevenly
Multikingdom diffusion barrier control
Authors: Busch Wolfgang , Chory Joanne
Published: January 2021

Plant microbiomes modulate selective nutrient uptake by regulating diffusion barriers
Innovative partnerships
Authors: Panchanathan Sethuraman
Published: January 2021

When I became director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in June 2020, the world was in the midst of a pandemic that continues to reshape daily lives, work, education, and the research enterprise. As we enter 2021 with the promise of suppressing COVID-19, the world looks to the science and engineering community for solutions to speed global recovery. To generate the solutions needed from all sectors of science and engineering, the United States must create a vigorous culture of innovation nationwide, leverage public-private partnerships to tackle complex research questions, and align exploratory research with societal impacts.
Fostering student motivation towards community healthcare: a qualitative study
Authors: Yahata Shinsuke , Takeshima Taro , Kenzaka Tsuneaki , Okayama Masanobu
Published: January 2021

Objectives

This study investigated what kinds of experiences influence regional quota (chiikiwaku) medical students’ motivation to practice community healthcare (CH), and the mechanism of this influence, by focusing on their experiences in a community-based medical education (CBME) programme.

Design

A qualitative thematic analysis based on interviews.

Setting

Participants were recruited from the chiikiwaku students of Kobe University, Japan, using purposive sampling.

Participants

Fourteen students participated. The median (IQR) age of participants was 23 (23–24); half were sixth-year and half fifth-year students.

Analysis

From September to December 2018, the interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed according to the ‘Steps for Coding and Theorisation’ method. Our theoretical framework comprised three internal motives (ie, needs, cognitions and emotions) and their subordinate motivation theories self-determination theory, expectancy-value theories, and positive and negative emotions, respectively.

Results

Three mechanisms and corresponding experiences emerged. The first mechanism, envisioning and preparing for practising CH, included corresponding experiences—empathy for the community, grasping the demands for CH, understanding the practices of CH, finding a role model and diminishing the conflicts between personal life and career. The second mechanism, belonging to a supportive community, included the robust construction of students’ CH community and harmonisation with community residents. The third mechanism, psychological effects included the affect heuristic and framing effect. Student experiences brought about the changes and influences described in the presented mechanisms, and had both positive and negative impacts on their motivation towards CH. These results can be interpreted through the multifaceted lenses of motivation theories.

Conclusions

The authors revealed that motivation mechanisms of medical students towards CH derived from positive interaction with community residents, healthcare professionals and other students, and from exposure to attractive community environments and cultures. These experiences should be incorporated into CBME programmes to further encourage positive attitudes towards CH.
Octogenarian patients’ sleep and delirium experiences in hospital and four years after aortic valve replacement: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Amofah Hege Andersen , Broström Anders , Instenes Irene , Fridlund Bengt , Haaverstad Rune , Kuiper Karel , Ranhoff Anette Hylen , Norekvål Tone M.
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Sleep disturbances and delirium are frequently observed complications after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcutaneous aortic valve implantation (TAVI), especially in octogenarian patients. However, a knowledge gap exists on patient experiences of sleep and delirium. In particular, patients’ long-term sleep and delirium experiences are unknown. This article explores and describes how octogenarian patients suffering from delirium after aortic valve replacement experience their sleep and delirium situation.

Design

An explorative and descriptive design with a longitudinal qualitative approach was applied. Qualitative content analysis following the recommended steps of Graneheim and Lundman was performed.

Setting

Patients were included at a tertiary university hospital with 1400 beds. Delirium and insomnia screening was performed at baseline and five postoperative days after aortic valve treatment. For qualitative data, 10 patients were interviewed 6–12 months after treatment with focus on delirium. Five of these patients were reinterviewed 4 years after treatment, with focus on their sleep situation.

Participants

Inclusion criteria; age 80+, treated with SAVR or TAVI and had experienced delirium after treatment.

Results

For the initial interview, we included five men and five women, four following TAVI and six following SAVR, mean age 83. One overarching theme revealed from the content analyses; Hours in bed represented emotional chaos. Whereas three subthemes described the patients’ experiences with sleep and delirium, a cascade of distressful experiences disturbing sleep, the struggle between sleep and activity and elements influencing sleep. Four years after the treatment, sleep disturbances persisted, and patients still remembered strongly the delirium incidences.

Conclusions

For octogenarian patients, sleep disturbances and delirium are long-term burdens and need a greater attention in order to improve patient care.
Identification of North American softwoods via machine-learning
Authors: Lopes Dercilio Junior Verly , Bobadilha Gabrielly dos Santos , Burgreen Greg W. , Entsminger Edward D.
Published: January 2021

This manuscript reports the feasibility of a sequential convolutional neural network (CNN) machine-learning model that correctly identifies 11 North American softwood species from 14× magnified macroscopic end-grain images. The convolutional network contained a large kernel size, max pooling layers, and leaky rectified linear units to accelerate training. To reduce overfitting of training data, we employed L2 regularization, custom initialization, and stratified 5-fold cross-validation techniques. The database consisted of 1789 wood end-grain images. The training data set consisted of 1431 images, whereas the validation set had approximately 358 images. In both sets, the input image size was 227 pixels × 227 pixels. Data augmentation was performed on-the-fly by flipping, rotating, and zooming the images. We tested the performance of the CNN against precision, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and adjusted accuracy. The adjusted accuracy for the entire model was 94.0%. Confusion matrices indicated the lowest performance was in correctly classifying ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex P. Lawson & C. Lawson) and eastern spruce (Picea spp. A. Dietr.) group with an average sensitivity of 89.0% for each. Even though high validation accuracy (>94.0%) was achieved, we concluded that a much larger data set is needed for wood identification to obtain industrially accurate identification of softwoods, mainly due to their visual and macroscopic similarities.
Batched Computation of the Singular Value Decompositions of Order Two by the AVX-512 Vectorization
Authors: Novaković Vedran
Published: January 2021

In this paper a vectorized algorithm for simultaneously computing up to eight singular value decompositions (SVDs, each of the form [Formula: see text]) of real or complex matrices of order two is proposed. The algorithm extends to a batch of matrices of an arbitrary length [Formula: see text], that arises, for example, in the annihilation part of the parallel Kogbetliantz algorithm for the SVD of matrices of order [Formula: see text]. The SVD method for a single matrix of order two is derived first. It scales, in most instances error-free, the input matrix [Formula: see text] such that the scaled singular values cannot overflow whenever the elements of [Formula: see text] are finite, and then computes the URV factorization of the scaled matrix, followed by the SVD of the non-negative upper-triangular middle factor. A vector-friendly data layout for the batch is then introduced, where the same-indexed elements of each of the input and the output matrices form vectors, and the algorithm’s steps over such vectors are described. The vectorized approach is shown to be about three times faster than processing each matrix in the batch separately, while slightly improving accuracy over the straightforward method for the [Formula: see text] SVD.
Brownian fractal nature coronavirus motion
Authors: Mitic Vojislav , Lazovic Goran , Milosevic Dusan , Ristanovic Elizabeta , Simeunovic Dragan , Tsay Shwu-Chen , Milosevic Mimica , Vlahovic Branislav
Published: January 2021

The goal of our research is to establish the direction of coronavirus chaotic motion to control corona dynamic by fractal nature analysis. These microorganisms attaching the different cells and organs in the human body getting very dangerous because we don’t have corona antivirus prevention and protection but also the unpredictable these viruses motion directions what resulting in very important distractions. Our idea is to develop the method and procedure to control the virus motion direction with the intention to prognose on which cells and organs could attach. We combined very rear coronavirus motion sub-microstructures images from worldwide experimental microstructure analysis. The problem of the recording this motion is from one point of view magnification, but the other side in resolution, because the virus size is minimum 10 times less than bacterizes. But all these images have been good data to resolve by time interval method and fractals, the points on the motion trajectory. We successfully defined the diagrams on the way to establish control over Brownian chaotic motion as a bridge between chaotic disorder to control disorder. This opens a very new perspective to future research to get complete control of coronavirus cases.
Generic expansions by a reduct
Authors: d’Elbée Christian
Published: January 2021

Consider the expansion [Formula: see text] of a theory [Formula: see text] by a predicate for a submodel of a reduct [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text]. We present a setup in which this expansion admits a model companion [Formula: see text]. We show that some of the nice features of the theory [Formula: see text] transfer to [Formula: see text]. In particular, we study conditions for which this expansion preserves the [Formula: see text]-ness, the simplicity or the stability of the starting theory [Formula: see text]. We give concrete examples of new [Formula: see text] not simple theories obtained by this process, among them the expansion of a perfect [Formula: see text]-free [Formula: see text] field of positive characteristic by generic additive subgroups, and the expansion of an algebraically closed field of any characteristic by a generic multiplicative subgroup.
Fractal Higher-order Dispersions Model and Its Fractal Variational Principle Arising in the Field of Physcial Process
Authors: Khan Yasir
Published: January 2021

This paper introduces the fractal version of the higher-order dispersion model for the construction of novel soliton solutions through fractal variational technology. Higher-order dispersion model theoretical study of the soliton propagation dynamics is known in the absence of self-phase modulation. In the context of negligibly small group velocity dispersion, this model involves higher-order spatio-temporal dispersion and can be a core component of the telecommunications industry. Using the variational approach, the model effectively produces bright and dark soliton solutions. Essential novel conditions guaranteeing the existence of suitable solitons have been developed. The 3D, 2D and contour graphs of the computed effects are seen in the collection of the relevant parameter values. This study shows the significance and immense latency of variational technologies to the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation (DNLSE).