bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthetic analysis of the efficacy of the S-net system in tsunami forecasting
Authors: Mulia Iyan E. , Satake Kenji
Published: February 2021

The Seafloor Observation Network for Earthquakes and Tsunamis along the Japan Trench (S-net) is presently the world’s largest network of ocean bottom pressure sensors for real-time tsunami monitoring. This paper analyzes the efficacy of such a vast system in tsunami forecasting through exhaustive synthetic experiments. We consider 1500 hypothetical tsunami scenarios from megathrust earthquakes with magnitudes ranging fromMw 7.7–9.1. We employ a stochastic slip model to emulate heterogeneous slip patterns on specified 240 subfaults over the plate interface of the Japan Trench subduction zone and its vicinity. Subsequently, the associated tsunamis in terms of maximum coastal tsunami heights are evaluated along the 50-m isobath by means of a Green’s function summation. To produce tsunami forecasts, we utilize a tsunami inversion from virtually observed waveforms at the S-net stations. Remarkably, forecasts accuracy of approximately 99% can be achieved using tsunami data within an interval of 3 to 5 min after the earthquake (2-min length), owing to the exceedingly dense observation points. Additionally, we apply an optimization technique to determine the optimal combination of stations with respect to earthquake magnitudes. The results show that the minimum requisite number of stations to maintain the accuracy attained by the existing network configuration decreases from 130 to 90 when the earthquake size increases fromMw 7.7 to 9.1.
Comparison of seasonal and longitudinal variation of daytime MSTID activity using GPS observation and GAIA simulations
Authors: Sivakandan Mani , Otsuka Yuichi , Ghosh Priyanka , Shinagawa Hiroyuki , Shinbori Atsuki , Miyoshi Yasunobu
Published: February 2021

The total electron content (TEC) data derived from the GAIA (Ground-to-topside model of Atmosphere Ionosphere for Aeronomy) is used to study the seasonal and longitudinal variation of occurrence of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) during daytime (09:00–15:00 LT) for the year 2011 at eight locations in northern and southern hemispheres, and the results are compared with ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS)-TEC. To derive TEC variations caused by MSTIDs from the GAIA (GPS) data, we obtained detrended TEC by subtracting 2-h (1-h) running average from the TEC, and calculated standard deviation of the detrended TEC in 2 h (1 h). MSTID activity was defined as a ratio of the standard deviation to the averaged TEC. Both GAIA simulation and GPS observations data show that daytime MSTID activities in the northern and southern hemisphere (NH and SH) are higher in winter than in other seasons. From the GAIA simulation, the amplitude of the meridional wind variations, which could be representative of gravity waves (GWs), shows two peaks in winter and summer. The winter peak in the amplitude of the meridional wind variations coincides with the winter peak of the daytime MSTIDs, indicating that the high GW activity is responsible for the high MSTID activity. On the other hand, the MSTID activity does not increase in summer. This is because the GWs in the thermosphere propagate poleward in summer, and equatorward in winter, and the equatorward-propagating GWs cause large plasma density perturbations compared to the poleward-propagating GWs. Longitudinal variation of daytime MSTID activity in winter is seen in both hemispheres. The MSTID activity during winter in the NH is higher over Japan than USA, and the MSTID activity during winter in the SH is the highest in South America. In a nutshell, GAIA can successfully reproduce the seasonal and longitudinal variation of the daytime MSTIDs. This study confirms that GWs cause the daytime MSTIDs in GAIA and amplitude and propagation direction of the GWs control the noted seasonal variation. GW activities in the middle and lower atmosphere cause the longitudinal variation.
Comparison of dental caries (DMFT and DMFS indices) between asthmatic patients and control group in Iran: a meta-analysis
Authors: Elyassi Gorji Nadia , Nasiri Pegah , Malekzadeh Shafaroudi Ali , Moosazadeh Mahmood
Published: February 2021

Background

The association between caries index, which is diagnosed by Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT), and asthma has been assessed in several studies, which yielded contradictory results. Meta-analysis is the statistical procedure for combining data from multiple studies and reducing the differences among parameters due to the increased number of studies involved in the analysis process. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between dental caries using decayed, missing, filled teeth indices (DMFT, dmft, and DMFS indices) and asthma using meta-analysis.

Methods

Databases were searched using such keywords as “Asthma,” “Caries,” “DMFT,” “DMFS,” “Iran,” and OR operators, AND, and NOT. After the elimination of duplicate documentation, the articles which met the inclusion criteria were selected. Quality assessment was performed based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Checklist (NOS). After that, standardized mean difference (SMD) of DMFT, dmft, and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) indices were estimated.

Results

The number of 10 evidence was extracted out of nine studies in which mean oral health indices were compared between asthmatic patients and the control group. Out of 10 evidences that examined the association of DMFT, dmft, and DMFS with asthma, these indices were higher in asthmatic patients than the control group in seven cases. In three cases, these differences were statistically significant. The SMD of DMFT, dmft, and DMFS indices between asthmatic patients and the control group at the confidence level of 95% were reported as 0.29 (− 0.05, 0.62), 0.48 (− 0.20, 1.17), and − 0.05(− 0.30, 0.21), respectively.

Conclusion

According to the results, the prevalence of dental caries is higher among patients with asthma than in the control group. Therefore, having asthma could be considered a risk factor for the development of dental caries.
DEep VEin Lesion OPtimisation (DEVELOP) trial: protocol for a randomised, assessor-blinded feasibility trial of iliac vein intervention for venous leg ulcers
Authors: Aherne Thomas M. , Keohane Colm , Mullins Matthew , Zafar Adeel S. , Black Stephen A. , Tang Tjun Y. , O’Sullivan Gerard J. , Walsh Stewart R.
Published: February 2021

Background

Venous leg ulceration is a widespread, debilitating pathology with high recurrence rates. Conservative treatment using graduated compression dressings may be associated with unacceptable ulcer recurrence rates. Early superficial venous ablation encourages ulcer healing and reduces recurrence. However, many of this cohort display concomitant ilio-caval stenosis, which further contributes to lower limb venous hypertension and ulceration.

An approach that combines early superficial venous ablation with early treatment of ilio-caval stenotic disease may significantly improve ulcer healing and recurrence rates. We question whether early iliac vein interrogation with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), stenting of significant occlusive disease plus superficial venous ablation, in patients with active venous leg ulceration, will produce superior ulcer healing to standard therapy.

Methods

This is a prospective, multi-centre, randomised controlled, feasibility trial recruiting patients with lower limb venous ulceration and saphenous venous incompetence. Patients will be randomised to undergo either truncal ablation and compression therapy or truncal ablation, simultaneous iliac interrogation with intravascular ultrasound and stenting of significant (> 50%) iliac vein lesions plus compression therapy. The primary feasibility outcome will be the rate of eligible patient participation while the primary clinical outcomes will be ulcer healing and procedural safety. Secondary outcomes include time to healing, quality of life and clinical scores, ulcer recurrence rates and rates of post-thrombotic syndrome. Follow-up will be over a 5-year period. This feasibility trial is designed to include 60 patients. Should it be practicable a total of 594 patients would be required to adequately power the trial to definitively address ulcer-healing rates.

Discussion

This trial will be the first randomised trial to examine the role iliac interrogation and intervention in conjunction with standard operative therapy in the management of venous ulceration related to superficial truncal venous incompetence.

Ethical committee reference

C.A. 2111 Galway Clinical Research Ethics Committee

Registration

Clinical Trials.gov registration NCT03640689, Registered on 21 August 2018.
Identifying the key factors of subsidiary supervision and management using an innovative hybrid architecture in a big data environment
Authors: Hu Kuang-Hua , Hsu Ming-Fu , Chen Fu-Hsiang , Liu Mu-Ziyun
Published: February 2021

In a highly intertwined and connected business environment, globalized layout planning can be an effective way for enterprises to expand their market. Nevertheless, conflicts and contradictions always exist between parent and subsidiary enterprises; if they are in different countries, these conflicts can become especially problematic. Internal control systems for subsidiary supervision and management seem to be particularly important when aiming to align subsidiaries’ decisions with parent enterprises’ strategic intentions, and such systems undoubtedly involve numerous criteria/dimensions. An effective tool is urgently needed to clarify the relevant issues and discern the cause-and-effect relationships among them in these conflicts. Traditional statistical approaches cannot fully explain these situations due to the complexity and invisibility of the criteria/dimensions; thus, the fuzzy rough set theory (FRST), with its superior data exploration ability and impreciseness tolerance, can be considered to adequately address the complexities. Motivated by efficient integrated systems, aggregating multiple dissimilar systems’ outputs and converting them into a consensus result can be useful for realizing outstanding performances. Based on this concept, we insert selected criteria/dimensions via FRST into DEMATEL to identify and analyze the dependency and feedback relations among variables of parent/subsidiary gaps and conflicts. The results present the improvement priorities based on their magnitude of impact, in the following order: organizational control structure, business and financial information system management, major financial management, business strategy management, construction of a management system, and integrated audit management. Managers can consider the potential implications herein when formulating future targeted policies to improve subsidiary supervision and strengthen overall corporate governance.
The protean manifestations of central nervous system IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis: a report of two cases
Authors: Woo Peter Y. M. , Ng Ben C. F. , Wong June H. M. , Ng Oliver K. S. , Chan Timothy S. K. , Kwok Ngai-Fung , Chan Kwong-Yau
Published: February 2021

Background

IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a relative newly recognized and rare manifestation of IgG4-related disease, an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory tumefactive disorder. Fewer than 80 patients have been reported in the literature, and it can mimic common neurosurgical conditions. We describe the clinical presentation of two patients that were initially considered to have a subdural collection, tuberculous meningitis, and a cervical spinal meningioma, but were eventually diagnosed with this disease.

Case presentation

Two ethnic Chinese men, 86 and 62 years old, experienced a 4-week history of headache. Both patients had a history of autoimmune disease, namely glomerulonephritis and Grave’s disease, respectively. Magnetic resonance brain imaging revealed diffuse dural thickening with the latter patient exhibiting homogeneous and intense gadolinium-contrast enhancement. Since the 86-year-old patient also had progressive bilateral visual loss, giant cell arteritis was suspected and a 2-week course of glucocorticoid therapy was prescribed, but his symptoms failed to improve. The 62-year-old patient also had accompanying low-grade fever and was treated empirically as having tuberculous meningitis although there were no confirmatory microbiological findings. This patient further developed right hemiparesis, and additional imaging revealed a C4/5 intradural-extramedullary contrast-enhancing lesion resembling a meningioma causing cord compression. Both patients underwent neurosurgical intervention with the former undergoing a dural biopsy and the latter having the cervical lesion resected. The final diagnosis was IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis with the hallmark histological features of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. In addition, their serum IgG4 levels were elevated (i.e., > 135 mg/dL). Both patients received at least 6 months of glucocorticoid therapy while the latter also had azathioprine. Their symptoms improved significantly and recurrent lesions were not detected on follow-up imaging.

Conclusions

A high index of suspicion for this condition is suggested when a male patient with a history of autoimmune disease and compatible radiological findings, experiences subacute headache that is disproportionate to the degree of dural involvement. Neurosurgeons should consider early meningeal biopsy to establish a definitive histological diagnosis in order for early effective immunosuppressive treatment to be initiated and to avoid unnecessary morbidity.
Prescription characteristics of phosphate binders in a high pill burden for hemodialysis patients
Authors: Nagano Nobuo , Ito Kyoko , Ono Takashi , Ariyoshi Yuichi , Masima Soichiro , Kobayashi Hajime , Ando Tetsuo , Tsutsui Takaaki , Ogawa Tetsuya
Published: February 2021

Background

Dialysis patients have to take many oral drugs, causing a high pill burden. Phosphate binders (PBs) account for a large proportion of daily pill burden; however, the relationship between patient background and prescription status of PBs is not clear.

Methods

We clarified the characteristics of PBs in the total daily pill burden by analyzing the drugs prescribed for 533 chronic hemodialysis patients in our facility.

Results

An average of nine different types of oral drugs was prescribed for each patient. The mean and median values of total pill burden were 15.1 and 14.1 pills/day/patient, respectively. The total pill burden showed a significant negative correlation with age and a significant positive correlation with dialysis vintage. In addition, the total pill burden was significantly higher in males than in females. However, there was no difference in the pill burden between patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). PBs were prescribed to 409 patients (76.7%), and the mean pill burden derived from PBs was 6.44 pills/day/patient. This was by far the highest of all 35 different drug categories and accounted for 32.84% of all pills. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that independent predictors of total pill burden were age, dialysis vintage, DM, and serum phosphorus (P) levels, and all these variables, except DM, were also independent predictors of pill burden from PBs. These variables were also selected when considering the use of calcimimetics.

Conclusions

A high pill burden is more likely to occur in younger patients with longer dialysis vintage, DM, higher serum P levels, and prescription of calcimimetics. In addition, PB was the single largest contributor to the total pill burden that positively and linearly linked to serum P levels. Therefore, P management is a high-priority issue in the mitigation of high pill burdens in dialysis patients.
Decapod crustaceans associated with macroinvertebrates in Pacific Costa Rica
Authors: Salas-Moya Carolina , Vargas-Castillo Rita , Alvarado Juan José , Azofeifa-Solano Juan Carlos , Cortés Jorge
Published: February 2021

Decapod crustaceans are a diverse group that exploits various types of habitats in Costa Rica, where they represent 8.1% of the marine diversity of the country. This group includes families containing species with strictly symbiotic behavior, e.g., the Palaemonidae and Pinnotheridae. Despite the high diversity of decapods and the importance of symbionts in marine ecosystems, very little research has been done regarding symbiosis in Costa Rica and the Central American region. The objective of the present study is to present a check list of the species of decapods that are associated with macroinvertebrates in Pacific Costa Rica. The research was carried out using different sources, including a literature review, the Crustaceans Collection of the Zoology Museum of the University of Costa Rica, and field surveys between 1970 and 2019 along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and Isla del Coco, 500 km offshore. One-hundred associations are reported, of 74 species of symbiotic decapods with six host phyla. Seventy-four associated with Cnidaria, 15 with Echinodermata, four each with Annelida and Mollusca, two with Chordata, and one with Porifera. In total, there were 14 new reports of decapods occurring on Isla del Coco and four new reports of decapods for Costa Rica: Pseudocoutierea elegans, Raytheres clavapedatus, Tuleariocaris holthuisi, and Calyptraeotheres pepeluisi. These results highlight the need to conduct more detailed studies to determine the real diversity and ecological importance of the associations between marine organisms.
A scoping review of causal methods enabling predictions under hypothetical interventions
Authors: Lin Lijing , Sperrin Matthew , Jenkins David A. , Martin Glen P. , Peek Niels
Published: February 2021

Background

The methods with which prediction models are usually developed mean that neither the parameters nor the predictions should be interpreted causally. For many applications, this is perfectly acceptable. However, when prediction models are used to support decision making, there is often a need for predicting outcomes under hypothetical interventions.

Aims

We aimed to identify published methods for developing and validating prediction models that enable risk estimation of outcomes under hypothetical interventions, utilizing causal inference. We aimed to identify the main methodological approaches, their underlying assumptions, targeted estimands, and potential pitfalls and challenges with using the method. Finally, we aimed to highlight unresolved methodological challenges.

Methods

We systematically reviewed literature published by December 2019, considering papers in the health domain that used causal considerations to enable prediction models to be used for predictions under hypothetical interventions. We included both methodologies proposed in statistical/machine learning literature and methodologies used in applied studies.

Results

We identified 4919 papers through database searches and a further 115 papers through manual searches. Of these, 87 papers were retained for full-text screening, of which 13 were selected for inclusion. We found papers from both the statistical and the machine learning literature. Most of the identified methods for causal inference from observational data were based on marginal structural models and g-estimation.

Conclusions

There exist two broad methodological approaches for allowing prediction under hypothetical intervention into clinical prediction models: (1) enriching prediction models derived from observational studies with estimated causal effects from clinical trials and meta-analyses and (2) estimating prediction models and causal effects directly from observational data. These methods require extending to dynamic treatment regimes, and consideration of multiple interventions to operationalise a clinical decision support system. Techniques for validating ‘causal prediction models’ are still in their infancy.
Psychometric properties of a condition-specific PROM for the psychosocial consequences of Labelling hypertension by using Rasch analysis
Authors: Gyuricza János Valery , Christensen Karl Bang , d’Oliveira Ana Flávia Pires Lucas , Brodersen John
Published: February 2021

Background

A previous qualitative assessment of the psychosocial consequences of labelling hypertension describes the diagnosis of hypertension as a labelling event with potential unintended negative long-term psychosocial consequences (labelling effects). Until now, the benefits of diagnosing hypertension have been far more reported than the harms. To obtain the net result of the preventive interventions for cardiovascular disease, such as diagnosing and treating mild hypertension, assessing benefits and harms in the most comprehensive way possible is necessary, including the psychosocial consequences of labelling. When measuring psychosocial consequences of labelling hypertension, a questionnaire with high content validity and adequate psychometric properties is needed.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe the psychometric parameters of face and content-validated pool of items. Other objectives were also to screen the item pool by using Rasch model analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for identifying such items with sufficient fit to the hypothesised models.

Methods

We surveyed the pool of items as a draft questionnaire to Brazilians recruited via social networks, sending e-mails, WhatsApp® messages and posting on Facebook®. The inclusion criteria were to be older than 18 years old, to be healthy and to have only hypertension.

We used Rasch model analysis to screen the item pool, discarding items that did not fit the hypothesised domain. We searched for local dependence and differential item functioning. We used CFA to confirm the derived measurement models and complementarily assessed reliability using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha.

Results

The validation sample consisted of 798 respondents. All 798 respondents completed Part I, whereas 285 (35.7%)—those with hypertension—completed Part II. A condition-specific questionnaire with high content validity and adequate psychometric properties was developed for people labelled with hypertension. This measure is called ‘Consequences of Labelling Hypertension Questionnaire’ and covers the psychosocial consequences of labelling hypertension in two parts, encompassing a total of 71 items in 15 subscales and 11 single items.

Conclusion

We developed a tool that can be used in future research involving hypertension, especially in scenarios of screening, prevention, population strategies and in intervention studies. Future use and testing of the questionnaire may still be required.
Outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with abatacept: a UK multi-centre observational study
Authors: Choy Ernest , Groves Lara , Sugrue Daniel , Hurst Michael , Houghton John , Venkatachalam Srinivasan , Patel Yusuf I. , Maxwell James R. , Pollock Kevin G. , Henning Sadie
Published: February 2021

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes chronic synovitis, resulting in progressive joint destruction and functional disability and affects approximately 400,000 people in the UK. This real-world study aimed to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of patients who received abatacept in UK clinical practice.

Methods

This was a multi-centre, retrospective, observational study of patients with RA treated with abatacept at four UK centres between 01 January 2013 and 31 December 2017. Data were collected from medical records of each patient from the index date (date of first bDMARD initiation) until the most recent visit, death or end of study (31 December 2017).

Results

In total, 213 patients were included in the study. Patients received up to eight lines of therapy (LOTs). Treatment with abatacept, or any other bDMARD, was associated with reductions in DAS28-ESR and DAS28-CRP scores at 6 and 12 months. The distribution of EULAR responses (good/moderate/no response) tended to be more favourable for patients when receiving abatacept than when receiving other bDMARDs (22.8%/41.3%/35.9% versus 16.6%/41.4%/42.1% at 6 months, and 27.9%/36.1%/36.1% versus 21.2%/34.5%/44.2% at 12 months). Patients receiving abatacept at LOT1 (n = 68) spent significantly longer on treatment compared with patients receiving other bDMARDs (53.4 vs. 17.4 months; p< 0.01); a similar trend was observed for LOT2. Among patients who discontinued after 6 months, a greater proportion experienced infection requiring antibiotics when receiving other bDMARDs compared to those receiving abatacept.

Conclusions

RA patients who received bDMARDs, including abatacept, experienced reduced disease activity. When receiving abatacept as first or second line of therapy, patients persisted with treatment significantly longer than those receiving other bDMARDs.
Leiomyoadenomatoid tumor of uterus: two case reports with literature review
Authors: Adorno Flora Ávila , Coelho Karina Munhoz de Paula Alves , Bublitz Giuliano Stefanello , Stall Jaqueline , de França Paulo Henrique Condeixa
Published: February 2021

Background

Adenomatoid tumors (AT) are benign neoplasms of mesothelial origin that occur more frequently in the genital tracts. In uterus, AT are usually located in the subserosa of the cornual myometrium. Microscopically, it is characterized by interanastomosing pseudoglands or pseudovascular spaces and striking smooth-muscle hypertrophy is often present. In some cases, the prominence of smooth muscle component simulates a leiomyoma and the lesion is denoted as a leiomyoadenomatoid tumor. The microscopic appearance of the adenomatoid component (AC) may mimic a malignant tumor due to irregular pseudoinfiltration with tubular formations. Just 16 cases with this morphological presentation were found in the literature review.

Case presentations

The first case, a 38-year-old female, showed lower abdominal pain, menorrhagia, postcoital bleeding and previous history of uterin leiomyoma. The second case, a 26-year-old female, had clinical complaint of metrorrhagia and received diagnostic hypothesis of leiomyoma after ultrasound image. Both underwent myomectomy. Microscopically, the uterine masses showed intersecting smooth muscle bundles and gland like areas lined by cuboidal epithelioid cells that stained positive for WT1, D2–40 and calretinin in immunohistochemical analysis.

Conclusions

The cases were diagnosed as leiomyoadenomatoid tumor of the uterus. This is a benign and rare entity that may mimic malignant tumors due to the pseudo infiltrative appereance of the adenomatoid component, possibly leading to misdiagnosis.
Portable sterilizer with microbe content detection device
Authors: Banerjee Sreerup , Raghunathan Shriram , Banerjee Saubhik , Bandyopadhyay Boudhayan
Published: February 2021

Background

Infectious diseases, such as the latest COVID pandemic, caused by microorganisms like bacteria and virus, wreak havoc shaking human civilization with its rapid infection rate, and high number of mortalities. In case of a contagious disease, the virus can survive on any surface over a period of time and can be transferred to the human host through touching those surfaces unknowingly. Cleaning those possible surfaces to which these microorganisms can cling onto is one of the major ways to curb the spread. The aim of this study was to design a sterilizer which can clean such surfaces of daily used items easily within a certain period of time and can assess the cleaning efficacy by estimating the presence of microbes before and after sanitization.

Method development

To achieve this goal, we propose a portable sterilization unit that contains a sterilization chamber fitted with a microbe content detector. The sterilization chamber will cleanse the surfaces off the microbes using ultraviolet radiation. The chamber can be portable and at the same time big enough to accommodate items of daily use, like watch, wallet, clothes, utensils to even foods for single-house application. The microbe content detector will detect the success of the sterilization procedure by examining the time-lapse laser speckle images captured by a high-speed camera by mean of image processing algorithm, such that the user can determine whether further sterilization is required.

Conclusions

Microbe content detection device associated with the conventional sterilization procedure will give an assessment of the effectiveness of the sterilization. Successful implementation of sterilization for a wide variety of items of everyday use aided with microbe content detection technique is first of its kind and should be an effective tool for use in large communities, offices and public places for effective sterilization to help fight against the spread of infectious diseases.
Psychometric properties of the Porto Saudade Scale
Authors: Neto Félix
Published: February 2021

Saudade involves psychosocial reactions to several circumstances involving deprivation from loved people and/or familiar locations. This work concerns the development and preliminary validation of an instrument to assess general disposition to saudade, the Porto Saudade Scale (PSS). Three studies were conducted which indicated that the PSS has favorable psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis of the PSS demonstrated a single latent saudade factor. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the single latent model of the PSS is adequate and possesses good internal consistency. As expected, the data also supported the convergent, discriminant, and external validity of the PSS. Saudade was more frequently reported among females than among males. These results suggest the validity of the PSS and emphasize that it is a brief measure with strong psychometric evidence for assessing saudade.
The influence of density in population dynamics with strong and weak Allee effect
Authors: Keya Kamrun Nahar , Kamrujjaman Md. , Islam Md. Shafiqul
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we consider a reaction–diffusion model in population dynamics and study the impact of different types of Allee effects with logistic growth in the heterogeneous closed region. For strong Allee effects, usually, species unconditionally die out and an extinction-survival situation occurs when the effect is weak according to the resource and sparse functions. In particular, we study the impact of the multiplicative Allee effect in classical diffusion when the sparsity is either positive or negative. Negative sparsity implies a weak Allee effect, and the population survives in some domain and diverges otherwise. Positive sparsity gives a strong Allee effect, and the population extinct without any condition. The influence of Allee effects on the existence and persistence of positive steady states as well as global bifurcation diagrams is presented. The method of sub-super solutions is used for analyzing equations. The stability conditions and the region of positive solutions (multiple solutions may exist) are presented. When the diffusion is absent, we consider the model with and without harvesting, which are initial value problems (IVPs) and study the local stability analysis and present bifurcation analysis. We present a number of numerical examples to verify analytical results.
In vivo anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic activity and in vitro anti-proliferative activity of aqueous methanolic extract of Euphorbia granulata Forssk
Authors: Ghauri Mohsin Ahmad , Iqbal Liaqat , Raza Ali , Hayat Uzma , Atif Naveel , Javeed Aqeel
Published: February 2021

Background

Naturally occurring substances of plant origin have long been used in folk medicine for curing various ailments including fever, pain, and inflammation etc. After careful evaluation on scientific bases, a large number of those substances provides cheaper alternative to currently used synthetic or semi-synthetic agents. Thus, with an aim of discovering alternative medicine for treatment of such ailments, current study was carried out.Euphorbia granulataForssk. had long been used as a therapeutic agent against various morbid conditions, e.g., anthelmintic, snake bite, scorpion sting, purgative, and diuretic, and as blood purifying agent in folk medicine. The purpose of the current study was to determine the extended therapeutic use ofEuphorbia granulataForssk. based upon scientific evaluation, to explore the potential of its anti-proliferative, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities while using an aqueous methanol extract of the whole plant.

Results

In vivo study was performed on female rats of specieRattus norvegicusweighing (100–150 g). Anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extract was calculated against using carrageenan induced paw edema. Analgesic potential both central and peripheral was assessed by using Eddy’s hot plate method and acetic acid-induced writhing model, respectively. The antipyretic potential was appraised using brewer’s yeast suspension, injected under the nape of the neck, and body temperature was measured using a digital thermometer. The plant extract strengths used for in vivo experiments were 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg/kg (diluted in normal saline) and were administered through intra-peritoneal route. MTT assay was performed to estimate in vitro anti-proliferative potential. For this assay, a serial dilution of the plant extract was used with 100 μg/ml as the highest concentration. In vivo results demonstrated that plant extract at dose strength of 200 mg/kg, showed significant (p* < 0.05) anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities. In case of MTT assay, however, no significant anti-proliferative activity (p> 0.05) was observed up to 100 μg/ml dose strength.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that aqueous methanol extract of Euphorbia granulata (whole plant) have shown significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic activity in animal model. Therefore it can be a potential candidate, as a therapeutic alternative against treatment of algesia, pyrexia, and inflammation of various pathological origin. However, the plant extract did not demonstrate any significant anti-proliferation activity at doses used in this study.
Geographic influence on postoperative complications in children with complicated appendicitis: a single center study
Authors: Seqsaqa Mohammad , Rozeik Ahmed Ezzat , Khalifa Mohammed , Ashri Hazem Nour Abdellatif
Published: February 2021

Background

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal emergencies in children. Complicated appendicitis is much more common in pediatric age group than in adults due to probability of delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Geographic status has an influence on the clinical course of such surgical cases. This prospective comparative study was conducted at the pediatric surgery department in our hospital in Egypt during the period from December 2018 to August 2019, aiming to find the relation between residence of patients and occurrence of post-operative complications among patients in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Patients were divided into two groups: rural and urban. Data recorded included demographic data, preoperative assessment, operative findings, postoperative course, postoperative complications, and follow-up.

Results

Sixty patients were included in the study, 32 of them were from rural areas, and 28 were from urban areas. There was no significant difference between them regarding demographics. Duration of symptoms was significantly longer with rural group (3.7 ± 1.4 vs. 3.07 ± 0.92 days). Length of hospital stay was significantly longer with the rural group (4.7 ± 1.7 vs. 4.7 ± 1.7 days). The rate of wound infection was significantly higher with the rural group (34.37% vs. 10.7%), while other postoperative complications were increased with rural group, but that was not statistically significant. The regularity of follow-up was higher with the urban group.

Conclusions

Children with complicated appendicitis from rural areas are at higher risk for occurrence of postoperative complications and poor outcome, with less regularity in follow-up. This is because of many obstacles they faced, including difficulties of transportation, insufficient medical services, and low socioeconomic and educational statuses.
Geophysical pore type inversion in carbonate reservoir: Integration of cores, well logs, and seismic data (Yadana field, offshore Myanmar)
Authors: Teillet Thomas , Fournier François , Zhao Luanxiao , Borgomano Jean , Hong Fei
Published: February 2021

Detection of pore types and diagenetic features from seismic data is a major challenge for the evaluation of carbonate reservoirs in the subsurface. Based on a detailed petrographical and petrophysical analysis of carbonate rock using optical and scanning electron microscopy, mercury-injection measurements, digital image analysis, and well logs, we have determined the potential of the geophysical pore type ([Formula: see text]) inversion — a rock physics inversion scheme based on the differential effective medium theory—to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize the pore type distribution from acoustic data in the Yadana carbonate gas field (Early Miocene, offshore Myanmar). The geophysical pore type ([Formula: see text]) is revealed to be an upscalable parameter, whose depositional/diagenetic interpretation may be performed at well log and at seismic scales. We apply the inversion method on a 3D seismic data to map the reservoir-scale distribution and highlight the occurrence of laterally extended (100–1000 m) subseismic- to seismic-scale (thickness [Formula: see text]) geologic bodies. From this approach, two main reservoir geobodies are discriminated and interpreted in terms of depositional and diagenetic fabrics: (1) highly microporous, decameter-scale reservoir units (approximately 80% of the reservoir), mainly consisting of foraminiferal, red algae floatstone to rudstone with vuggy moldic porosity and characterized by moderate to high [Formula: see text] (0.11–0.20) and (2) thin, stratiform, cemented scleractinian floatstone/brecciated units (5–10 m; approximately 20% of the reservoir) with low microporosity and macroporosity and exhibiting low [Formula: see text] values ([Formula: see text]).
Five-Year Cancer Epidemiology at the National Referral Hospital: Hospital-Based Cancer Registry Data in Indonesia
Authors: Gondhowiardjo Soehartati , Christina Nadia , Ganapati Ngakan P.D. , Hawariy Salik , Radityamurti Fahmi , Jayalie Vito F. , Octavianus Steven , Prawira Putra Andre , Sekarutami Sri M. , Prajogi Gregorius B. , Giselvania Angela , Adham Marlinda , Hamid Agus R.A.H. , Widyastuti Endang , Prabowo Yogi , Aninditha Tiara , Purwoto Gatot , Aman Renindra A. , Siregar Trifona P. , Siswoyo Alvita Dewi , Handjari Diah R. , Atmakusuma Djumhana , Rajabto Wulyo , Mulansari Nadia A. , Ratna Nurul , Pitoyo Ceva W. , Panigoro Sonar Soni , Kartini Diani , Yulian Erwin D. , Andrisa Rossalyn S. , Jeo Wifanto S. , Wardhani Rizky K. , Tambunan Tresia F.U. , Agianda Feranindhya
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE

In 2016, there were 1,308,061 cases of cancer being treated in Indonesia, with 2.2 trillion rupiahs spent, amounting to $486,960,633 in US dollars (purchasing power parity 2016). The high burden of cancers in Indonesia requires a valid data collection to inform future cancer-related policies. The purpose of this study is to report cancer epidemiological data from 2008 to 2012 based on Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) data from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Indonesia.

METHODS

This was a descriptive study with cross-sectional design. Data were collected from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital HBCR 2008-2012. Demographical, diagnostic, stages of cancer, and histopathological types of cancer data were extracted.

RESULTS

After screening, 18,216 cases were included. A total of 12,438 patients were older than 39 years of age (68.3%), with a female-to-male ratio of 9:5. Most patients have cancers at advanced stages (stages III and IV, 10.2%). The most common sites of cancer were cervix uteri (2,878 cases, 15.8%), breast (2,459 cases, 13.5%), hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial systems (1,422 cases, 7.8%), nasopharynx (1,338 cases, 7.4%), and lymph nodes (1,104 cases, 6.1%).

CONCLUSION

From this HBCR, cancer incidence in female was almost twice the incidence in male, largely because of the burden of cervical and breast cancers. The cervix uteri as one of the top five cancer sites based on this HBCR, 2008-2012, are still approximately consistent with Global Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence 2018, which portrayed that Indonesia has been severely afflicted by cervical cancer cases more than any other Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries. The HBCR could serve as a robust database of epidemiological data for cancer cases in Indonesia.
Classification and Personalized Prognostic Assessment on the Basis of Clinical and Genomic Features in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: Bersanelli Matteo , Travaglino Erica , Meggendorfer Manja , Matteuzzi Tommaso , Sala Claudia , Mosca Ettore , Chiereghin Chiara , Di Nanni Noemi , Gnocchi Matteo , Zampini Matteo , Rossi Marianna , Maggioni Giulia , Termanini Alberto , Angelucci Emanuele , Bernardi Massimo , Borin Lorenza , Bruno Benedetto , Bonifazi Francesca , Santini Valeria , Bacigalupo Andrea , Voso Maria Teresa , Oliva Esther , Riva Marta , Ubezio Marta , Morabito Lucio , Campagna Alessia , Saitta Claudia , Savevski Victor , Giampieri Enrico , Remondini Daniel , Passamonti Francesco , Ciceri Fabio , Bolli Niccolò , Rambaldi Alessandro , Kern Wolfgang , Kordasti Shahram , Sole Francesc , Palomo Laura , Sanz Guillermo , Santoro Armando , Platzbecker Uwe , Fenaux Pierre , Milanesi Luciano , Haferlach Torsten , Castellani Gastone , Della Porta Matteo G.
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE

Recurrently mutated genes and chromosomal abnormalities have been identified in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We aim to integrate these genomic features into disease classification and prognostication.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 2,043 patients. Using Bayesian networks and Dirichlet processes, we combined mutations in 47 genes with cytogenetic abnormalities to identify genetic associations and subgroups. Random-effects Cox proportional hazards multistate modeling was used for developing prognostic models. An independent validation on 318 cases was performed.

RESULTS

We identify eight MDS groups (clusters) according to specific genomic features. In five groups, dominant genomic features include splicing gene mutations ( SF3B1, SRSF2, and U2AF1) that occur early in disease history, determine specific phenotypes, and drive disease evolution. These groups display different prognosis (groups with SF3B1 mutations being associated with better survival). Specific co-mutation patterns account for clinical heterogeneity within SF3B1- and SRSF2-related MDS. MDS with complex karyotype and/or TP53 gene abnormalities and MDS with acute leukemia–like mutations show poorest prognosis. MDS with 5q deletion are clustered into two distinct groups according to the number of mutated genes and/or presence of TP53 mutations. By integrating 63 clinical and genomic variables, we define a novel prognostic model that generates personally tailored predictions of survival. The predicted and observed outcomes correlate well in internal cross-validation and in an independent external cohort. This model substantially improves predictive accuracy of currently available prognostic tools. We have created a Web portal that allows outcome predictions to be generated for user-defined constellations of genomic and clinical features.

CONCLUSION

Genomic landscape in MDS reveals distinct subgroups associated with specific clinical features and discrete patterns of evolution, providing a proof of concept for next-generation disease classification and prognosis.
MosaicExplorerJ: Interactive stitching of terabyte-size tiled datasets from lightsheet microscopy
Authors: Tosi Sébastien , Bardia Lídia , Barallobre Maria Jose , Muñoz-Barrutia Arrate , Soto-Montenegro María Luisa , Colombelli Julien
Published: February 2021

We introduce MosaicExplorerJ, an ImageJ macro to stitch 3D tiles from terabyte-size microscopy datasets organized on a regular 2D grid. As opposed to existing software, stitching does not require any prior information on the actual positions of the tiles, or conversion of raw TIFF images to a multi-resolution format for interactive exploration and fast processing. MosaicExplorerJ was specifically designed to process lightsheet microscopy datasets from optically cleared samples. It can handle multiple fluorescence channels, dual-sided lightsheet illumination and dual-sided camera detection.
Timing of harvesting reverses the effect of cutting twice with ratoon rice
Authors: Oda Masato , Huynh Van Thao , Nguyen Huu Chiem
Published: February 2021

A new ratoon rice cropping method known as the SALIBU system, which uses the lower nodes of the stubble, is gradually spreading throughout the tropical regions. In a previous study, the technology package, ‘cutting twice’ has a large effect on the number of ratoons (tillers), and interestingly, the effect has a large positive effect under poor management conditions, but a medium negative effect under standard management conditions. The conditions included fertilizing, water management, and growth stage at harvesting; however, which of these conditions has the greatest effect on the effect of ‘cutting twice’ remains unclear. We performed a pot experiment focusing on fertilizer and timing of harvesting, to clarify which of the level of fertilizer or the delay of harvesting time affects the number of ratoons. The results showed that with a short delay in harvesting there were almost no ratoons, a long delay in harvesting resulted in many ratoons. This indicates the negative effect of cutting twice occur due to earlier harvesting. Generally, the growth of ratoons depends on the carbohydrate reserves of the stubble. Hence, in the case of a single harvest, the ratoons decrease with the delay in harvesting. On the other hand, cutting the stem increases dead buds in the nodes closer to the ground. Namely, the second cut will remove the high node buds and reduce the incidence of ratoons. As for adding fertilizer results in more ratoons steadily. Harvesting earlier (at the physiological maturation stage; 25% green husk) than normal is emphasized in the SALIBU technology package. However, our results show the ‘cutting twice’ reduces the number of ratoons when harvesting early.
rt-me-fMRI: a task and resting state dataset for real-time, multi-echo fMRI methods development and validation
Authors: Heunis Stephan , Breeuwer Marcel , Caballero-Gaudes César , Hellrung Lydia , Huijbers Willem , Jansen Jacobus F.A. , Lamerichs Rolf , Zinger Svitlana , Aldenkamp Albert P.
Published: February 2021

A multi-echo fMRI dataset (N=28 healthy participants) with four task-based and two resting state runs was collected, curated and made available to the community. Its main purpose is to advance the development of methods for real-time multi-echo functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-me-fMRI) analysis with applications in neurofeedback, real-time quality control, and adaptive paradigms, although the variety of experimental task paradigms supports a multitude of use cases. Tasks include finger tapping, emotional face and shape matching, imagined finger tapping and imagined emotion processing. This work provides a detailed description of the full dataset; methods to collect, prepare, standardize and preprocess it; quality control measures; and data validation measures. A web-based application is provided as a supplementary tool with which to interactively explore, visualize and understand the data and its derivative measures:https://rt-me-fmri.herokuapp.com/. The dataset itself can be accessed via a data use agreement on DataverseNL athttps://dataverse.nl/dataverse/rt-me-fmri. Supporting information and code for reproducibility can be accessed athttps://github.com/jsheunis/rt-me-fMRI.