bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of early postoperative hydrotherapy in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy
Authors: Mojarradi A. , De Decker S. , Bäckström C. , Bergknut N.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Hydrotherapy is a common part of the postoperative care after surgical treatment of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion in dogs. There are currently no guidelines on when to commence hydrotherapy after surgery. Early hydrotherapy may be associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications including surgical site infection and neurological deterioration. The goal of this study was to report the prevalence and types of postoperative complications in dogs receiving early hydrotherapy.

Materials and Methods

Eighty‐three dogs commencing hydrotherapy within 5 days after surgical treatment for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion were included in a retrospective descriptive study. All postoperative complications were recorded.

Results

Ten minor and 16 major complications were recorded in a total of 26 dogs. The majority of recorded complications were unlikely, but not excluded to be, caused by the initiation time of hydrotherapy. One dog developed a surgical site infection and one dog had a confirmed further extrusion of the originally operated intervertebral disc, which may have been influenced by early initiation of hydrotherapy.

Clinical Significance

Early hydrotherapy is possibly associated with occurrence of postoperative complications. Associations between the reported complications and early hydrotherapy, and possible benefits of early hydrotherapy, need to be further investigated before early initiation of hydrotherapy can be recommended.
Authoritarian Parenting Effect on Children's Executive Control and Individual Alpha Peak Frequency
Authors: Zhang Jiahe , Yan Zhixuan , Nan Wenya , Cai Dan
Published: August 2021

There is increasing evidence that the authoritarian parenting style has a negative effect on children's executive control, but little is known about the neurobiological mechanism behind this effect, especially the evidence of the resting‐state EEG related to children's brain function. The current study explored the relations between authoritarian parenting and children's executive control among 40 children aged 8–11 years old and examined associations between authoritarian parenting and individual alpha peak frequency (iAPF). Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that after controlling for children's age and parental socioeconomic status, authoritarian parenting style negatively predicts the children's executive control and iAPF in EEG. This study extends previous research on the effect of parenting styles on children's cognitive abilities and provides evidence at the level of neural mechanisms.
Measuring the contribution of evolution to community trait structure in freshwater zooplankton
Authors: Govaert Lynn , De Meester Luc , Rousseaux Sarah , Declerck Steven A. J. , Pantel Jelena H.
Published: August 2021

There are currently few predictions about when evolutionary processes are likely to play an important role in structuring community features. Determining predictors that indicate when evolution is expected to impact ecological processes in natural landscapes can help researchers identify eco‐evolutionary ‘hotspots', where eco‐evolutionary interactions are more likely to occur. Using data collected from a survey in freshwater cladoceran communities, landscape population genetic data and phenotypic trait data measured in a common garden, we applied a Bayesian linear model to assess whether the impact of local trait evolution in the keystone species Daphnia magna on cladoceran community trait values could be predicted by population genetic properties (within‐population genetic diversity, genetic distance among populations), ecological properties (Simpson's diversity, phenotypic divergence) or environmental divergence. We found that the impact of local trait evolution varied among communities. Moreover, community diversity and phenotypic divergence were found to be better predictors of the contribution of evolution to community trait values than environmental features or genetic properties of the evolving species. Our results thus indicate the importance of ecological context for the impact of evolution on community features. Our study also demonstrates one way to detect signatures of eco‐evolutionary interactions in communities inhabiting heterogeneous landscapes using survey data of contemporary ecological and evolutionary structure.
Virtues are excellences
Authors: Bloomfield Paul
Published: August 2021

One of the few points of unquestioned agreement in virtue theory is that the virtues are supposed to be excellences. One way to understand this is to claim that the virtues always yield correct moral action and that we cannot be “too virtuous”: the virtues cannot be had in excess or “to a fault”. If we take this seriously, however, it yields the surprising conclusion that many traits which have been traditionally thought of as “virtues” fail to make the grade. The most prominent solution to the problem, reminiscent of Aristotle's view, is found to generate more problems than it solves.
Modeling the dependence structure and systemic risk of all listed insurance companies in the Chinese insurance market
Authors: Cao Yufei
Published: August 2021

As a developing country, China's insurance market is already the second largest insurance market in the world, and its development is inseparable from the comprehensive development of insurance companies' business. At present, insurance companies are engaged in both traditional and nontraditional insurance businesses. Thus, to avoid extreme financial events, the insurance market requires more risk management. Hence, examining systemic risk in the insurance market in China is an interesting research topic. This paper studies the comovement between all listed insurance companies and the insurance market in China by modeling the average and extreme dependence structure using different copula specifications. Furthermore, it analyzes both downside and upside risk spillover effects from insurance companies to the insurance market by quantifying the following three market risk measures: the value‐at‐risk (VaR), the conditional VaR (CoVaR) and the delta CoVaR (ΔCoVaR). Finally, we test the significance of risk spillover effects and provide a formal ranking of the listed insurance companies with respect to their contribution to both the downside and upside systemic risk of the insurance market.
Social and Material Vulnerability in the Face of Seismic Hazard: An Analysis of the Italian Case
Authors: Didkovskyi Oleksandr , Azzone Giovanni , Menafoglio Alessandra , Secchi Piercesare
Published: August 2021

The assessment of the vulnerability of a community endangerd by seismic hazard is of paramount importance for planning a precision policy aimed at the prevention and reduction of its seismic risk. We aim at measuring the vulnerability of the Italian municipalities exposed to seismic hazard, by analysing the open data offered by the Mappa dei Rischi dei Comuni Italiani provided by ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics. Encompassing the Index of Social and Material Vulnerability already computed by ISTAT, we also consider as referents of the latent social and material vulnerability of a community, its demographic dynamics and the age of the building stock where the community resides. Fusing the analyses of different indicators, within the context of seismic risk we offer a tentative ranking of the Italian municipalities in terms of their social and material vulnerability, together with differential profiles of their dominant fragilities which constitute the basis for planning precision policies aimed at seismic risk prevention and reduction.
Lexize: A test to quickly assess vocabulary knowledge in Finnish
Authors: SALMELA ROSA , LEHTONEN MINNA , GARUSI STEFANO , BERTRAM RAYMOND
Published: August 2021

Proficiency in a language is strongly related to how well and how many words one knows. Vocabulary knowledge correlates with reading comprehension and general communication ability. Due to the increasing amount of research within the field of psycholinguistics and second language acquisition in Finnish, a standardized test to objectively measure Finnish vocabulary knowledge is called for. Lexize is such a test. It was modeled after LexTALE (Lemhöfer & Broersma, Behaviour Research Methods, 44:325–343, 2012), which was developed to measure vocabulary knowledge of English as a second language using visual lexical decision (VLD). Lexize is a VLD‐based online test for Finnish that consists of 102 items. By comparing performance of L1 and L2 speakers of Finnish, Lexize was validated, returning considerable differences between test scores in native and non‐native speakers. For non‐native speakers there was a large range of test scores, correlating strongly with exposure to Finnish and self‐ratings. In native speakers, test scores correlated with self‐ratings, Finnish school grades, and age. In this group, higher Lexize scores were associated with a higher education level. We conclude that Lexize is a useful tool to assess Finnish vocabulary knowledge for non‐native speakers and to some extent for native speakers. Lexize is available for free use athttps://psyk.abo.fi/LexizeWeb/#/.
Changes in attitudes, nothing remains quite the same: Absentee voting and public health
Authors: Owens Mark
Published: August 2021

Objective

This article examines how the rapid spread of COVID‐19 and political discourse framed absentee ballots as a solution to keep voters safe or a threat to the election's integrity. Did the increased attention to the use of absentee ballots in our elections encourage more people to participate absentee and support changes in Texas's election code to allow no‐excuse absentee voting?

Methods

Four surveys of Texas voters were conducted in April, June, September, and October to track voter attitudes about absentee voting during the election.

Results

Voters who were uncomfortable voting in person were more likely to vote absentee and support new reforms. However, voters exposed to messages by elected officials who negatively portrayed the use of absentee voting were less likely to vote absentee during the pandemic and more likely to oppose new reforms.

Conclusion

Despite the predicted effects of political information, the public's consideration of the health of others create a significant and lasting effect favoring the acceptance of expanding absentee ballots in a state with no‐excuse absentee voting.
Amateur hour: The dominance of purposive benefits among local political party chairs
Authors: Roscoe Douglas D. , Jenkins Shannon
Published: August 2021

Objective

Prevailing theories posit some party activists are amateurs, driven primarily by purposive benefits, while other activists are professionals, motivated mostly by material benefits. The decline of patronage and the rise of polarization suggest re‐examining the relevancy of this distinction.

Methods

The study uses data from a 2019 survey of 1,060 local party chairs in the United States, covering 49 states.

Results

Most respondents are motivated by purposive benefits, while career motivations are relatively rare. Those who do derive material benefits are only slightly more centrist than their peers and are no more pragmatic and no less likely to derive purposive benefits. A substantial segment of local chairs are interested in seeking elective office, but the motivations of these individuals with ambitions connected to party activism are dominated by purposive benefits as much as those of the unambitious.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates the professional–amateur typology no longer accurately characterizes local party activists.
Trade agreements and participation in global value chains: Empirical evidence from Latin America
Authors: Sanguinet Eduardo Rodrigues , Alvim Augusto Mussi , Atienza Miguel
Published: August 2021

The rise of global sourcing implies a heterogeneous relationship between buyers and suppliers regarding the liberalisation scenarios in emerging countries. This paper analyses the effect of regional trade agreements (RTAs) on participation in the Global Value Chains of Latin American countries between 1995 and 2015. We combine the framework of gravity equations with the trade in value‐added, applying a Pseudo Poisson Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator with panel data and fixed effects to deal with endogeneity and heteroscedasticity. Heterogeneous estimations show that the deepest RTAs reinforce the position of lower technology‐industry suppliers, driven by an extra‐regional strategy of Latin American trade policy. The geography of value chains has little effect on industrial upgrading in the region, reducing the development potential. The study concludes that the region's trade policy could reduce the dependent relationship between distant partners and pay more attention to creating shorter value chains as a strategy to generate local capacities to gain competitiveness in value chains.
FPGA IMPLEMENTATION OF CNN FOR DEFECT CLASSIFICATION ON CMP RING
Authors: Wai Kin Ng , Mohd Asaari Mohd Shahrimie , Rosdi Bakhtiar Affendi , Akbar Muhammad Firdaus
Published: August 2021

Defect inspection is a crucial part of industrial manufacturing. However, it relies heavily on human effort on manual visual inspection. Various machine vision techniques have been introduced to replace human labour and to improve inspection quality and efficiency. The limitation of these techniques is that the algorithms need to be engineered again with each different use case. In this work, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used to classify the defects of the Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) ring. The trained CNN model achieved an accuracy of 91% and the time taken for each inference process is around 1800 msec. To achieve computational efficiency, the CNN model is performed on the embedded device. The previous implementation of embedded CNN deploys OpenCL-based high-level synthesis accelerator on a high-end Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) board. In this work, the model inference is accelerated by PipeCNN FPGA implementation on Cyclone-VSE DE1-SoC, a low-end embedded FPGA board. Several configurations of hardware parameters are tested to search for the best setup of the FPGA resources. The hardware implementation has improved approximately seven times faster, as the inference time for each classification has improved from 1800 msec to 250 msec. However, the model implemented using the hardware is observed to produce lower inference accuracy as the accuracy drops from 91% to 81%.
MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATIONS OF LM6-AL/AL2O3 METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES PRODUCED BY STIR CASTING TECHNIQUE
Authors: Mahmoud Essam R. !. , Shaharoun A. , Khan S. Z. , Elmahroogy F. O. , Almohamadi H.
Published: August 2021

LM6-aluminum alloy based-metal matrix composites (MMC) reinforced with Al2O3 ceramic particles were fabricated through stir casting. Al2O3 particles with different weight content (5, 10, and 15%) were dispersed into the LM6 Al-Si alloy. The macro and microstructures, mechanical properties, fracture surface, hardness, and impact toughness of the resulted MMCs together with the plain LM6 alloy were evaluated. The results showed that the added 5 wt.% Al2O3 was distributed homogenously with good wettability. The addition of Al2O3 refined the constituents of the LM6 alloy; Al-Si dendrites and the α-Al grains. At 10 wt.% Al2O3, some localized clusters appeared with some granular cracks. Increasing the Al2O3 addition to 15 wt.% resulted in particle agglomerations with multiple cracks and porosity. Both the tensile strength and the 0.2 % proof strength of the produced MMCs were improved up to 10 wt.% Al2O3 and then reduced. The fracture surface of 5 wt.% MMC was brittle-ductile mixed-mode fracture dominated by brittle fracture. The other percentages were almost brittle fracture. The hardness of the produced MMCs was remarkably improved. The hardness value reaches to about 86 HV at 10 wt. % Al2O3 addition. The impact toughness of the resulted composite materials was decreased notably at higher addition of Al2O3.
Ecología integral: tres contribuciones para entender nuestras relaciones y la realidad de modo diferente
Authors: Farah Quijano María Adelaida
Published: August 2021

La serie Documentos para el Cuidado de la Casa Común reúne las reflexiones y disertaciones que reconocidos expertos nacionales e internacionales hacen de la carta encíclica Laudato si’ de S. S. el papa Francisco, a partir de sus lecturas desde diversas áreas de conocimiento, como los estudios ambientales, la economía o la educación. Estos aportes buscan facilitar la comprensión y el análisis del impacto que los planteamientos contenidos en la carta encíclica pueden tener en el mundo y en Colombia, particularmente con referencia a la paz y el desarrollo sostenible integral. Así, esta serie de textos afronta críticamente los desafíos del mundo actual con relación a las circunstancias que han propiciado la crisis socioambiental en un esfuerzo por corregir el rumbo de la humanidad en la Tierra, su casa común.
A Transmural Path Model Improves the Definition of the Orthotropic Tissue Structure in Heart Simulations
Authors: Holz David , Du'o'ng Minh Tuấn , Martonová Denisa , Alkassar Muhannad , Leyendecker Sigrid
Published: August 2021

In the past decades, the structure of the heart, human as well as other species, has been explored in a detailed way, e.g., via histological studies or diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. Nevertheless, the assignment of the characteristic orthotropic structure in a patient-specific finite element model remains a challenging task. Various types of rule-based models, which define the local fiber and sheet orientation depending on the transmural depth, have been developed. However, the correct assessment of the transmural depth is not trivial. Its accuracy has a substantial influence on the overall mechanical and electrical properties in rule-based models. The main purpose of this study is the development of a finite element-based approach to accurately determine the transmural depth on a general unstructured grid. Instead of directly using the solution of the Laplace problem as the transmural depth, we make use of a well-established model for the assessment of the transmural thickness. It is based on two hyperbolic first-order partial differential equations for the definition of a transmural path, whereby the transmural thickness is defined as the arc length of this path. Subsequently, the transmural depth is determined based on the position on the transmural path. Originally, the partial differential equations were solved via finite differences on structured grids. In order to circumvent the need of two grids and mapping between the structured (to determine the transmural depth) and unstructured (electromechanical heart simulation) grids, we solve the equations directly on the same unstructured tetrahedral mesh. We propose a finite-element-based discontinuous Galerkin approach. Based on the accurate transmural depth, we assign the local material orientation of the orthotropic tissue structure in a usual fashion. We show that this approach leads to a more accurate definition of the transmural depth. Furthermore, for the left ventricle, we propose functions for the transmural fiber and sheet orientation by fitting them to literature-based diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging data. The proposed functions provide a distinct improvement compared to existing rules from the literature.
A Compact Gas Liquid Separator for the Spallation Neutron Source Mercury Process Loop
Authors: Barbier Charlotte , Dominguez-Ontiveros Elvis , Weinmeister Justin , Slade Jeremy , Ottinger Dustin , Sangrey Robert
Published: August 2021

Upgrades at the spallation neutron source (SNS) accelerator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are underway to double its proton beam power from 1.4 to 2.8 MW. About 2 MW will go to the current first station while the rest will go to the future Second Target Station. The increase of beam power to the first target station is especially challenging for its mercury target. When the short proton beam hits the target, strong pressure waves are generated, causing cavitation erosion and challenging stresses for the target's weld regions. SNS has successfully operated reliably at 1.4 MW by mitigating the pressure wave with the injection of small Helium bubbles into the mercury. To operate reliably at 2 MW, more gas will be injected into mercury to mitigate the pressure wave further. However, the mercury process loop was not originally designed for gas injection, and the accumulation of gas in the pipes is a concern. Due to space constraints, a custom gas liquid separator (GLS) was designed to fit a 90-deg horizontal elbow space in the SNS mercury loop. Simulations and experiments were performed, and a successful design was developed that has the desired efficiency while keeping the pressure losses acceptable.
Internal and External Training Workload Quantification in 4 Experienced Paracanoeing Athletes
Authors: Ribeiro Neto Frederico , Alsamir Tibana Ramires , Rodrigues Dorneles Jefferson , Gomes Costa Rodrigo Rodrigues
Published: August 2021

Context: Paracanoeing is one of the adapted sports eligible for different motor impairments. The acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is an index between acute and chronic training workload. However, no studies have analyzed this variable in paracanoeing, relating it with training recovery markers. Objective: This study aimed to quantify the internal (session rating of perceived exertion) and external (distance traveled and total training time) training workloads in 4 experienced paracanoe athletes over 9 months and 5 canoeing events. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Paralympic Program. Participants: Four experienced paracanoe athletes participated in 36 weeks of training for 5 events. Main Outcomes Measures: The daily and weekly training workload, monotony, ACWR, distance, and total training time were described for all the training phases. The perceived recovery status scale (PRS) and medicine ball throw (MBT) were used to quantify recovery. Results: The average daily and weekly training workload varied from 213.1 to 239.3 and 767.3 to 1036.8 arbitrary units, respectively. Average ACWR results ranged from 0.96 to 1.10 in the 4 athletes, findings that were outside the safety zone in 38% of the training weeks. All the correlations between MBT and PRS were classified as weak (ρ between .20 and .39, P > .05). ACWR showed a very weak correlation with MBT and moderately and highly significant correlations with PRS in 2 athletes, respectively. Conclusions: The training workloads of 4 paracanoe athletes may serve as a comparison with other periodization models. Pretraining recovery assessments (MBT and PRS) exhibited a low, nonsignificant correlation. However, ACWR correlated significantly with PRS in 2 athletes and might be a suitable tool for daily training adjustments.
Muscle- and Region-Specific Associations Between Muscle Size and Muscular Strength During Hip Extension and Knee Flexion in the Hamstrings
Authors: Kawama Raki , Okudaira Masamichi , Maemura Hirohiko , Tanigawa Satoru
Published: August 2021

Context:Strength deficits of the hamstrings following sports injuries decrease athletic performance and increase the risk of injury recurrence. Previous studies have shown a high correlation between the muscular strength during hip-extension and knee-flexion and total muscle size of the hamstrings. However, it remains unclear which region of the individual hamstring muscles is closely associated with muscular strength.Objective:To investigate the relationship between the size of each region of the individual hamstring muscles and muscular strength during hip extension and knee flexion.Design:Within-subject repeated measures.Setting:University laboratory.Participants:Twenty healthy young male volunteers who regularly engaged in sports activities.Outcome Measures:Anatomical cross-sectional areas were acquired from the proximal, middle, and distal regions of the biceps femoris long head, biceps femoris short head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Hip-extension and knee-flexion strength were measured during maximal voluntary isometric and concentric contractions (angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s).Results:The anatomical cross-sectional area of the distal regions in biceps femoris long head (r = .525–.642) and semitendinosus (r = .567) were significantly correlated with hip-extension strength under all conditions and only at an angular velocity of 180°/s, respectively. Meanwhile, anatomical cross-sectional areas of the distal regions in biceps femoris short head (r = .587–.684) and semimembranosus (r = .569–.576) were closely associated with knee-flexion strength under all conditions.Conclusion:These results suggest that muscle size in the distal regions of biceps femoris long head and semitendinosus greatly contributes to the production of hip-extension strength, whereas that of biceps femoris short head and semimembranosus significantly contributes to the generation of knee-flexion strength. These findings could be useful for designing training and rehabilitation programs to efficiently improve strength deficits following sports injuries such as strain injury and anterior cruciate ligament tears.
Variability in the Application of Eccentric Force Using Different Rotary Inertia Devices May Influence the Treatment of Tendinopathy
Authors: Núñez Francisco Javier , Galiano Carlos , Muñoz-López Alejandro , Floria Pablo
Published: August 2021

High intraset variability has been considered as a potential aid in the treatment of tendinopathy by producing forces in variable and unpredictable contexts that allow the athlete to return to sport pain free. The aim of this study was to compare the intraset variability in force profiles between different rotational inertia devices (RIDs) during concentric and eccentric (ECC) phases of movement and between different moments of inertia. Thirty-nine men performed a half-squat incremental test on 2 different RIDs: a horizontal cylinder and a vertical cone-shaped axis. Intraset variabilities in vertical force and velocity were analyzed using average coefficients of variation. RID squat exercise produced force intraset variability. The ECC phase of the movement showed more intraset variability in force output than the concentric phase. ECC vertical cone-shaped shaft showed a higher intraset variability in force than ECC horizontal cylinder-shaped shaft. This study demonstrated that using an RID to provide resistance in squat training of athletes produced a high intraset variability in the application of force.
“If Britain Wants War on Africa, She Will Have It”: African Reprisals to the 1974 British Lions Rugby Tour of South Africa
Authors: Sikes Michelle M.
Published: August 2021

The Supreme Council for Sport in Africa announced that all independent African nations would boycott all British sport if the British Lions rugby team toured South Africa in 1974. Despite condemnation from segments of the British public, entreaties from government ministers, and African threats, the rugby tour went ahead. This article adds to a large body of scholarship on the struggle against apartheid in sport, within which the 1974 Lions tour has received little attention, and focuses on the transnational efforts to stop that tour led by Kenya and independent Africa. Calls for reprisals across the continent were not unanimous, and the disparity of African reactions challenges perceptions of the “Africa bloc” as a monolith guaranteed to maintain a united front on anti-apartheid sport activity. Reactions to the tour anticipated events two years later at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and this event became a test case for strategies designed to isolate South Africa through punitive actions against third-party nations that broke ranks.
The Strategic Revolution: Scottish Ideals and Transnational Exchange in Golf Course Architecture, c. 1860s–1930s
Authors: Goldstein Jordan , Thompson Graeme
Published: August 2021

Professional golf architects emerged in the early twentieth century across the English-speaking world. These new professionals coalesced around ideas that promoted a Scottish national conception of proper golf. When golf first migrated from the Scottish coasts inland, south into England, and across the oceans to the United States and the British Dominions in the latter half of the nineteenth century, no standardized form or set of ideals on Golf course architecture existed. Through their collective writings, professional golf architects from Britain, the United States, and Canada codified the values, design principles, and the romance of the ancient Scottish linksland courses as the standard way to design and construct golf courses. We therefore position golf courses as important sites of historical inquiry into the transmission of national styles. These Golden Age (1910–37) golf architects thus encouraged the transnational exchange of sport through the construction of golf courses in a peculiarly Scottish sense.
Identification and Characterization of Pleiotropic High-Persistence Mutations in the Beta Subunit of the Bacterial RNA Polymerase
Authors: Ostrer Lev , Ji Yinduo , Khodursky Arkady
Published: August 2021

Mutations conferring resistance to bactericidal antibiotics reduce the average susceptibility of mutant populations. It is unknown, however, how those mutations affect the survival of individual bacteria.
Core Genome Multilocus Sequence Typing and Prediction of Antimicrobial Susceptibility Using Whole-Genome Sequences of Escherichia coli Bloodstream Infection Isolates
Authors: Banerjee Ritu , Cunningham Scott A. , Beisken Stephan , Posch Andreas E. , Johnston Brian , Johnson James R. , Patel Robin
Published: August 2021

In total, 50
Escherichia coli
bloodstream isolates from the clinical laboratory and 12
E. coli
isolates referred for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were sequenced, assessed for clonality using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), and evaluated for genomic susceptibility predictions using ARESdb. Results of sequence typing using whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based MLST and sequence type (ST)-specific PCR were identical.
Case Commentary: Uncertainty in Evaluating Treatment Outcomes in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infections
Authors: Howard-Anderson Jessica , van Duin David
Published: August 2021

Carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
(CRAB) infections are challenging to treat and associated with poor clinical outcomes. In this issue, sulbactam-durlobactam, a novel β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor, was used with cefiderocol to successfully treat CRAB pneumonia.
Model-Based Exposure-Response Assessment for Spectinamide 1810 in a Mouse Model of Tuberculosis
Authors: Wagh Santosh , Rathi Chetan , Lukka Pradeep B. , Parmar Keyur , Temrikar Zaid , Liu Jiuyu , Scherman Michael S. , Lee Richard E. , Robertson Gregory T. , Lenaerts Anne J. , Meibohm Bernd
Published: August 2021

Despite decades of research, tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Spectinamides are a promising novel class of antituberculosis agents, and the lead spectinamide 1810 has demonstrated excellent efficacy, safety, and drug-like properties in numerous
in vitro
and
in vivo
assessments in mouse models of tuberculosis.
Activity of CcpA-Regulated GH18 Family Glycosyl Hydrolases That Contributes to Nutrient Acquisition and Fitness in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Keffeler Erica C. , Iyer Vijayalakshmi S. , Henderson Andrew J. , Huck Ian L. , Schwarting Nancy , Cortez Analaura , Hancock Lynn E.
Published: August 2021

Enterococcus faecalis
has emerged as a multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial pathogen that causes life-threatening health care-associated infections. Nutrient acquisition systems and immune evasion strategies are key factors that contribute to enterococcal colonization and influence the overall pathogenic potential of this organism.
VirB4- and VirD4-Like ATPases, Components of a Putative Type 4C Secretion System in Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Sorokina Julya , Sokolova Irina , Rybolovlev Ivan , Shevlyagina Natalya , Troitskiy Vasiliy , Zhukhovitsky Vladimir , Belyi Yury
Published: August 2021

C. difficile
is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium that causes life-threatening colitis in humans. Major virulence factors of the microorganism include the toxins TcdA, TcdB, and CDT.
A New Species of Snailfishes (Liparidae) of the Genus Careproctus from the Northern Slope of the Aleutin Basin (Bering Sea)
Authors: Chernova N. V. , Vedischeva E. V. , Datskii A. V.
Published: August 2021

Abstract—

A new species of snailfishes Careproctus schmidti sp. nov. from the northwestern part of the Bering Sea is described. The specimen was caught in the mesobenthal of the Aleutian Basin at a depth of 852–862 m (holotype ZIN no. 56 620—female TL 194 mm). It is distinguished from the majority of congeners of the North Pacific Ocean by a set of features: a large number of vertebrae (63) and rays in the fins (D 56, A 50, P 34, C 10), the presence of two pairs of pleural ribs, a relatively elongated (21% SL) pectoral fin with a notch and short lower lobe (12% SL), two suprabranchial pores, simple teeth, naked skin, and black peritoneum. In terms of meristic features, the new species is similar to three North Pacific species, but it differs from C. colletti in a short lower lobe of the pectoral fin, a flattened disc of triangular outlines, and a longer gill slit. It differs from C. roseofuscus by a lower body, a pectoral fin ventrally located and anus which opens immediately behind the disc. It differs from C. ambustus in purple-lilac color, fewer in number simple teeth with sharp apexes, in vertical and higher disposition of gill slit, shorter lower lobe of the pectoral fin, disc shape and position of the anus. The presence of an ovipositor may indicate existence of complicated reproductive behavior (such as carcinophilia or other types of reproductive commensalism). The northwestern slope of the Aleutian Basin, where a specimen of C. schmidti was caught, is located in the zone of influence of the Bering Slope Current and seasonal upwelling associated with the rise of deep waters. The composition of the ichthyocene in the area of ​​capture is given, including up to 20 species, dominated by Macrouridae.
Study of the N-Terminal Domain Homodimerization in Human Proteins with Zinc Finger Clusters
Authors: Fursenko D. V. , Georgiev P. G. , Bonchuk A. N.
Published: August 2021

CTCF belongs to a large family of transcription factors with clusters of C2H2-type zinc finger domains (C2H2 proteins) and is a main architectural protein in mammals. Human CTCF has a homodimerizing unstructured domain at the N-terminus which is involved in long-distance interactions. To test the presence of similar N-terminal domains in other human C2H2 proteins, a yeast two-hybrid system was used. In total, the ability of unstructured N-terminal domains to homodimerize was investigated for six human C2H2 proteins with an expression profile similar to CTCF. The data indicate the lack of the homodimerization ability of these domains. On the other hand, three C2H2 proteins containing the structured domain DUF3669 at the N-terminus demonstrated homo- and heterodimerization activity.
GRUSP, an Universal Stress Protein, Is Involved in Gibberellin-dependent Induction of Flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Gorshkova D. S. , Getman I. A. , Sergeeva L. I. , Kuznetsov Vl. V. , Pojidaeva E. S.
Published: August 2021

The effect of T-DNA insertion in the 3'-UTR region of Arabidopsis thaliana At3g58450 gene encoding the Germination-Related Universal Stress Protein (GRUSP) was studied. It was found that under a long-day condition this mutation delays transition to flowering of grusp-115 transgenic line that due to a reduced content of endogenous bioactive gibberellins GA1 and GA3 in comparison to the wild-type plants (Col-0). Exogenous GA accelerated flowering of both lines but did not change the time of difference in the onset of flowering between Col-0 and grusp-115. In addition to changes in GA metabolism, grusp-115 evidently has disturbances in realization of the signal that induces flowering. This is confirmed by the results of gene expression of the floral integrator FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), which are key flowering regulators and acting opposite. We hypothesize that the formation of grusp-115 phenotype can also be affected by a low expression level of FT due to up-regulated FLC expression.
Relapsing neuromyelitis optica in an adolescent girl
Authors: Gupta Vinita , Luthra Saurabh , Maheshwari Shrey , Das Shrutanjoy M
Published: August 2021

Early differentiation of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMO-SD) from multiple sclerosis (MS) is of paramount importance as NMO-SD (especially relapsing variant) has more severe morbidity than MS. We describe a case of an adolescent girl who presented with repeated episodes of optic neuritis over a period of 4 years with normal brain MRI scans. She was treated initially as relapsing remitting MS, before showing clinical evidence of transverse myelitis (TM), and eventually being diagnosed as NMO-SD. Pulse intravenous methyl prednisolone along with immunosuppressive therapy led to remission of her disease. However, delay in diagnosis as NMO-SD led to visual disability in the left eye. Therefore, in young patients with recurrent optic neuritis and normal brain MRI, it may be prudent to get spinal MRI done to look for TM, even when asymptomatic. In addition, we should keep a low threshold for requesting aquaporin-4 antibody testing in these patients.
Myasthenia gravis induced or exacerbated by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a rising concern
Authors: Hajihossainlou Behnam , Vasileva Alisa , Manthri Sukesh , Chakraborty Kanishka
Published: August 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors can cause immune side effects, with myasthenia gravis (MG) being relatively rare. With this review, we present 66-year-old man with melanoma treated with pembrolizumab who developed MG. With immuno-oncology (IO) single agent usage, 42 cases reported new-onset MG and 9 cases reported exacerbation of pre-existing MG. Among the patients who had new-onset MG after administration of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, 14 patients (38.8%) developed severe respiratory failure and required intubation and 10 patients (27.02%) died. Among the patients with exacerbation of pre-existing MG after receiving PD-1 inhibitors, 1 patient (11.1%) required intubation, and no death was reported. Combination IO therapy-induced MG was reported in seven cases, with at least two cases complicated by respiratory failure and one death. Our observations suggest a possible difference in the severity of the disease and outcome among different IO therapy options.
Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis: a rare pathology in children
Authors: Nasher Omar , Alizai Naved
Published: August 2021

Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis (ELP) is a rare pathology, usually seen in the adult population. The condition affects the venous vasculature of the intestine sparing the arteries and lymphatics. It is commonly identified histologically after surgical resection making the preoperative diagnosis a clinical challenge. As the condition can lead to intestinal ischaemia and necrosis, surgical resection of the affected segment is the treatment of choice. We report the case of a 9-year-old girl who presented with a 2-day history of lower abdominal pain and anorexia. The initial diagnosis of appendicitis was made clinically and the patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy . The appendix was macroscopically normal and there were no other obvious intra-abdominal pathologies to account for her presenting complaints . The appendix was removed, as per the preoperative discussion and consent from parents. She recovered well and was discharged home the following day. The histological examination of the appendix demonstrated ELP. We describe this rare clinical entity in a child especially in view of the scarce published literature in the paediatric population.
Severe case of Lemierre syndrome with multiple neurological and ophthalmological sequelae
Authors: Liu Alice , Taylor Jemma , Slavin Monica , Tong Steven
Published: August 2021

A 56-year-old man was admitted to intensive care with septic shock, multiple facial abscesses and thrombophlebitis of the right internal jugular vein with extensive intracranial extension. A diagnosis of Lemierre syndrome due toStreptococcus anginosuswas made and treatment initiated with high-dose ceftriaxone and metronidazole, along with surgical debridement. His admission was complicated by raised intraocular pressures and visual loss requiring bilateral canthotomies. Despite therapeutic anticoagulation with enoxaparin, he also developed an ischaemic basal ganglia infarct. After a prolonged and complex hospital stay, the patient was later readmitted with an intracerebral abscess requiring surgical excision and a second course of antibiotics. This case highlights the value of early recognition of this rare but potentially life-threatening condition, considerations around anticoagulation and antibiotic decisions, and the importance of close multidisciplinary follow-up even after discharge from hospital.
Atypical fibroxanthoma of hand
Authors: Kampalli Gowtham , Tripathy Satyaswarup , Nair Suraj , Sharma Ramesh Kumar
Published: August 2021

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a rare cutaneous ulcerative lesion with a good prognosis. Diagnosis is difficult and is usually made by exclusion from pleomorphic dermal sarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Definitive treatment varies from Mohs micrographic surgery to wide local excision. We present a case of 76-year-old woman with AFX over the dorsum of her left hand. The tumour was excised and the resulting defect was reconstructed with a local second dorsal metacarpal artery perforator flap.
Sibship size, birth order and risk of asthma and allergy: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lisik Daniil , Ioannidou Athina , Milani Gregorio , Nyassi Sungkutu , Özuygur Ermis Saliha Selin , Spolidoro Giulia C I , Goksör Emma , Wennergren Göran , Nwaru Bright I
Published: August 2021

Introduction

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that reduced exposure to microbes might have contributed to the increase in prevalence and incidence of asthma and allergy observed during the second half of the last century. Following this proposal, several studies have investigated the role of sibship size and birth order in the development of asthma and allergic diseases, but the underlying evidence is conflicting. The objective of the present systematic review will be to identify, critically appraise and synthesise previous primary studies investigating the association of sibship size and birth order with the risk of asthma and allergic diseases.

Methods and analysis

The following databases will be searched: AMED, CABI, CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar, OAIster, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, Open Grey, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, PsycINFO, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, Web of Science and WHO Global Index Medicus. Studies published up until 31 December 2020 will be eligible. There will be no restrictions by language and geographical location. Risk of bias in the included studies will be assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool. The produced evidence will be synthesised narratively, and studies that present comparable numerical data will be included in meta-analyses using random effects model.

Ethics and dissemination

Only data from the published literature will be included in this systematic review. Therefore, no ethical approval is required. The final review paper will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020207905.
Variable trajectory: a systematic review, analytic synthesis and construct domain consolidation of international measures of competence in doctors and medical students
Authors: Hodgson Kirsty L , Lamport Daniel J , Laville Allán
Published: August 2021

Background

Competence is assessed throughout a doctor’s career. Failure to identify and manage impaired competence can have critical consequences. Consistent conceptualisation and accurate measurement of this construct is imperative. Therefore, the objective of this review was to identify and evaluate measures used to assess competence in doctors and medical students.

Methods

A systematic search of the published literature was undertaken between December 2019 and February 2020 for articles reporting on the measurement of competence in doctors and/or medical students. Searches were conducted in the PsychSOURCE, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, MEDLINE (PubMed), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science electronic databases. Citation screening and forward citation tracking of included studies were carried out to identify any further relevant papers for inclusion. One thousand one hundred and thirty-six potentially relevant articles were screened. An analytic synthesis approach was implemented to the identification, organisation and interpretation of homogenous study and measure characteristics.

Results

Twelve competence domains were identified from the 153 identified measures. Knowledge and procedural competence domains were the dominant focus of publications reporting current medical practice, but less so in research-based studies which more frequently assessed interpersonal, psychological, physiological and ethical competencies. In the 105 included articles, the reporting of measurement instrument quality was varied, with comprehensive reporting only present in 53.6% of measures; validation for some of the measures was particularly limited.

Discussion

While this review included a considerable number of publications reporting the measurement of competence in doctors and medical students, the heterogeneity of the measures and variation of findings limit the ability to evaluate their validity and generalisability. However, this review presents a resource for researchers and medical educators which may inform operational practice and future research.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020162156.
Burden of tobacco in Nepal: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2017
Authors: Shrestha Gambhir , Phuyal Prabin , Gautam Rabin , Mulmi Rashmi , Pradhan Pranil Man Singh
Published: August 2021

Objective

This study systematically reviews the data extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study and sets out to assess the age-specific and sex-specific mortality and disability attributable to different forms of tobacco from 1990 to 2017, for Nepal.

Design

This cross-sectional study extracted data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease database, then was quantitatively analysed to show the trends and patterns of prevalence of tobacco use, deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributable to tobacco use from different diseases from the year 1990 to 2017 in Nepal.

Setting

Nepal.

Results

In between 1990 and 2015, the age-standardised prevalence of daily tobacco smoking decreased by 33% in males, 48% in females and 28% in both. By 2017, the age-standardised mortality rate and DALYs attributable to tobacco use, including any form, decreased by 34% and 41%, respectively, with tobacco smoking having the most contribution. However, the absolute number of deaths and DALYs increased by 39% and 3%, respectively. An increasing rate of deaths and DALYs attributable to tobacco was noted with an increase in age. Non-communicable diseases were responsible for most deaths and disabilities attributable to tobacco use.

Conclusion

The prevalence of smoking along with the age-standardised mortality rate and DALYs shows a decreasing trend. However, attention should be made to implement a strong plan to control all forms of tobacco including secondhand exposure.