bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in preterm infants: a double-blinded randomized controlled study
Authors: Cui Xuewei , Shi Yongyan , Gao Siyang , Xue Xindong , Fu Jianhua
Published: November 2019

Background

Preterm infants have immature gastrointestinal tracts and poor immunity. In this study, the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 first on early feeding tolerance, growth, and second on infection prevention in preterm infants were evaluated.

Methods

One hundred fourteen formula-fed preterm infants with a gestational age between 30 weeks and 37 weeks, and a birth weight between 1500 and 2000 g were enrolled; 57 in the intervention and 57 in the control group:the intervention group was given a dose of 1 × 108 colony-forming units (5 drops) of L. reuteri DSM 17938 once daily, beginning with the first feeding until discharge. The control group did not receive probiotics. Early feeding tolerance (as time to full enterla feeding and number of reflux), growth, incidences of sepsis, localized infection, NEC, and adverse effects were recorded for both groups.

Results

The number of Daily reflux episodes (times/d) was lower (2.18 ± 0.83 vs. 3.77 ± 0.66, P < 0.01) and time to full enteral feedings (120 mL/kg/d) (9.95 ± 2.46 d vs. 13.80 ± 3.47 d, P < 0.05) was shorter in the intervention group. Average daily weight gain (14.55 ± 3.07 g/d vs. 10.12 ± 2.80 g/d), head circumference increas e(0.0760 ± 0.0157 cm/d vs. 0.0681 ± 0.0108 cm/d), and body length increase (0.1878 ± 0.0151 cm/d vs. 0.1756 ± 0.0166 cm/d) of the intervention group were higher (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the incidences of sepsis (4.44% vs. 8.33%), localized infection (6.67% vs. 8.33%), or NEC (2.22% vs. 10.42%) between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The number of daily defecations (times/d) in the intervention group was higher (3.08 ± 0.33 vs. 2.29 ± 0.20, P < 0.01) and the length of hospital stay was shorter than that in the control group (20.60 ± 5.36 d vs. 23.75 ± 8.57 d, P < 0.05). No adverse effects were noted among the infants receiving L. reuteri.

Conclusion

L. reuteri may be an useful tool in improving early feeding tolerance in preterm infants, promoting growth, increasing the frequency of defecation, and shortening the length of hospital stay.

Trial registration

ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900025590. Registered 1 February 2019- Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/listbycreater.aspx.
Heterotopic pancreas in the gastrointestinal tract in children: a single-center experience and a review of the literature
Authors: Persano Giorgio , Cantone Noemi , Pani Elisa , Ciardini Enrico , Noccioli Bruno
Published: November 2019

Background

Heterotopic pancreas, that is the abnormal localization of a well-differentiated pancreatic tissue, is a rare occurrence in pediatric patients. Most lesions are found incidentally; in some circumstances, the presence of heterotopic pancreas may cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as obstructive symptoms or bleeding.

Patients and methods

The clinical notes of patients with histological diagnosis of heterotopic pancreas treated at Meyer Children’s Hospital between 2009 and 2017 have been retrospectively examined.

Four variables have been examined: clinical presentation, age at diagnosis, timing of surgery and localization of the heterotopic pancreas. Patients have been classified accordingly.

Results

Fourteen patients were diagnosed with heterotopic pancreas at a single institution. In half cases, heterotopic pancreas caused symptoms that warranted surgical exploration. Symptomatic patients were significantly older than patients in whom heterotopic pancreas was an incidental finding (mean age 9 years and 5 months vs 2 years and 9 months;p = 0.02). Heterotopic pancreas was more frequently found in patients who underwent urgent surgical procedure than in patients who underwent elective surgery (2.61% vs 0.22%;p < 0.0001). In all cases, foci of heterotopic pancreas were resected.

Conclusion

Heterotopic pancreas is usually discovered in the submucosa of the stomach, duodenum and small bowel. Heterotopic tissue may cause symptoms related to mechanical complications, bleeding from the surrounding intestinal mucosa or, occasionally, to the development of malignancy.

Heterotopic tissue is a rare but clinically relevant cause of gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence of heterotopic tissue should be considered in children with gastrointestinal symptoms of unclear origin and surgical resection is advisable.
Cortisol, leptin and free leptin index (FLI) in newborns in the first days of life and their importance for body weight programming
Authors: Kulik-Rechberger Beata , Bury Anna Maria , Rakuś-Kwiatosz Anna , Beń-Skowronek Iwona
Published: November 2019

Background

Birth weight and leptin seem to be the factors responsible for early programming of body weight in later life. A marker for leptin action is free leptin index (FLI), which depends on soluble leptin receptor (Ob-Re) (FLI = leptin/Ob-Re). In the present article, we suggest that FLI is modulated partly by cortisol variations observed in newborns in the first days of life and is connected with their postnatal weight loss.

Methods

The study group consisted of 44 full-term newborns. Leptin, cortisol and Ob-Re concentrations were determined in the umbilical cord blood (UCB) and in the newborns’ blood (NB) on the fourth day of life, free leptin index (FLI = leptin/Ob-Re) was calculated. Correlations between the assessed parameters and the somatic features of the newborns were examined.

Results

Birth weight, length and chest circumference of newborns were positively correlated with leptin concentration in the UCB but not with FLI in the UCB. Cortisol and leptin concentrations, as well as FLI values declined concomitantly with body weight, and were lower on the fourth day of life than on the first one; however, Ob-Re concentration increased (p < 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between the newborns’ birth weight loss percentage evaluated on the fourth day of life and FLI in newborns (R = 0.39;p < 0.01). Positive correlations between cortisol and Ob-Re in UCB (R = 0.35;p < 0.02) and in NB (R = 0.36;p < 0.01), as well as a negative correlation between cortisol and FLI (R = -0.32;p < 0.03) in NB were noted.

Conclusions

Our data suggest a possible relationship between cortisol and a soluble leptin receptor (Ob-Re), which changes free leptin index (FLI) and is connected with birth weight loss in newborns. Whether these observations are important for programming of future body weight of children requires further research.
Effect of acupuncture on lung cancer-related fatigue: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Zhaoqin , Li Shanshan , Wu Luyi , Qi Qin , Liu Huirong , Jin Xiaoming , Tian Jianhui , Zhang Ming , Ma Xiaopeng , Sun Deli , Xu Shifen , Wu Huangan
Published: November 2019

Background

Fatigue is one of the primary symptoms in lung cancer, with a prevalence of 88.0% in survivors of cancer, and an even higher prevalence post resection surgery. Effective fatigue control after lung cancer surgery is important for patient recovery and quality of life. Some studies have shown that acupuncture might be effective in treating cancer-related fatigue; however, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of suitable sample size are limited.

Method/design

This is a multi-center, patient-blinded RCT. A total of 320 eligible patients will be recruited in four centers and randomly assigned to either the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group in a 1:1 ratio. Treatment will be given twice per week for 12 sessions. Treatment will be given at acupoints GV20, GV29, CV12, CV6, CV4, and bilateral LI4, LR3, SP6, ST36. The primary outcome will be assessed using the Chinese version of The Brief Fatigue Inventory. The secondary outcomes will be measured using The European Organization for Research and The Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. The primary outcome will be assessed at all main points (baseline, the 3rd week, the 6th week, and at follow up time points) and the secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline and the 6th week. Intention-to-treat analysis will be used in this RCT.

Discussion

This trial protocol provides an example of the clinical application acupuncture treatment in the management of lung cancer-related fatigue. If the acupuncture treatment protocol confirms that acupuncture is an effective and safe option for lung cancer-related fatigue, it can be adopted as a standardized treatment.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900022831. Registered on 27 April 2019.

URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=37823
Evaluating CRoS-NDN: a comparative performance analysis of a controller-based routing scheme for named-data networking
Authors: Torres João Vitor , Alvarenga Igor Drummond , Boutaba Raouf , Duarte Otto Carlos Muniz Bandeira
Published: November 2019

The huge amount of content names available in Named-Data Networking (NDN) challenges both the required routing table size and the techniques for locating and forwarding information. Content copies and content mobility exacerbate the scalability challenge to reach content in the new locations. We present and analyze the performance of a proposed Controller-based Routing Scheme, named CRoS-NDN, which preserves NDN features using the same interest and data packets. CRoS-NDN supports content mobility and provides fast content recovery from copies that do not belong to the consumer-producer path because it splits identity from location without incurring FIB size explosion or supposing prefix aggregation. It provides features similar to Content Distribution Networks (CDN) in NDN, and improves the routing efficiency. We compare our proposal with similar routing protocols and derive analytical expressions for lower-bound efficiency and upper-bound latency. We also conduct extensive simulations to evaluate results in data delivery efficiency and delay. The results show the robust behavior of the proposed scheme achieving the best efficiency and delay performance for a wide range of scenarios. Furthermore, CRoS-NDN results in low use of processing time and memory for a growing number of prefixes.
Identifying new topoisomerase II poison scaffolds by combining publicly available toxicity data and 2D/3D-based virtual screening
Authors: Lovrics Anna , Pape Veronika F. S. , Szisz Dániel , Kalászi Adrián , Heffeter Petra , Magyar Csaba , Szakács Gergely
Published: November 2019

Molecular descriptor (2D) and three dimensional (3D) shape based similarity methods are widely used in ligand based virtual drug design. In the present study pairwise structure comparisons among a set of 4858 DTP compounds tested in the NCI60 tumor cell line anticancer drug screen were computed using chemical hashed fingerprints and 3D molecule shapes to calculate 2D and 3D similarities, respectively. Additionally, pairwise biological activity similarities were calculated by correlating the 60 element vectors of pGI50 values corresponding to the cytotoxicity of the compounds across the NCI60 panel. Subsequently, we compared the power of 2D and 3D structural similarity metrics to predict the toxicity pattern of compounds. We found that while the positive predictive value and sensitivity of 3D and molecular descriptor based approaches to predict biological activity are similar, a subset of molecule pairs yielded contradictory results. By simultaneously requiring similarity of biological activities and 3D shapes, and dissimilarity of molecular descriptor based comparisons, we identify pairs of scaffold hopping candidates displaying characteristic core structural changes such as heteroatom/heterocycle change and ring closure. Attempts to discover scaffold hopping candidates of mitoxantrone recovered known Topoisomerase II (Top2) inhibitors, and also predicted new, previously unknown chemotypes possessing in vitro Top2 inhibitory activity.
KLOSURE: Closing in on open–ended patient questionnaires with text mining
Authors: Spasić Irena , Owen David , Smith Andrew , Button Kate
Published: November 2019

Background

Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) is an instrument used to quantify patients’ perceptions about their knee condition and associated problems. It is administered as a 42-item closed-ended questionnaire in which patients are asked to self-assess five outcomes: pain, other symptoms, activities of daily living, sport and recreation activities, and quality of life. We developed KLOG as a 10-item open-ended version of the KOOS questionnaire in an attempt to obtain deeper insight into patients’ opinions including their unmet needs. However, the open–ended nature of the questionnaire incurs analytical overhead associated with the interpretation of responses. The goal of this study was to automate such analysis. We implemented KLOSURE as a system for mining free–text responses to the KLOG questionnaire. It consists of two subsystems, one concerned with feature extraction and the other one concerned with classification of feature vectors. Feature extraction is performed by a set of four modules whose main functionalities are linguistic pre-processing, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition and lexicon lookup respectively. Outputs produced by each module are combined into feature vectors. The structure of feature vectors will vary across the KLOG questions. Finally, Weka, a machine learning workbench, was used for classification of feature vectors.

Results

The precision of the system varied between 62.8 and 95.3%, whereas the recall varied from 58.3 to 87.6% across the 10 questions. The overall performance in terms of F–measure varied between 59.0 and 91.3% with an average of 74.4% and a standard deviation of 8.8.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the feasibility of mining open-ended patient questionnaires. By automatically mapping free text answers onto a Likert scale, we can effectively measure the progress of rehabilitation over time. In comparison to traditional closed-ended questionnaires, our approach offers much richer information that can be utilised to support clinical decision making. In conclusion, we demonstrated how text mining can be used to combine the benefits of qualitative and quantitative analysis of patient experiences.
Evolution of infectious bronchitis virus in the field after homologous vaccination introduction
Authors: Franzo Giovanni , Legnardi Matteo , Tucciarone Claudia Maria , Drigo Michele , Martini Marco , Cecchinato Mattia
Published: November 2019

Despite the fact that vaccine resistance has been typically considered a rare phenomenon, some episodes of vaccine failure have been reported with increasing frequency in intensively-raised livestock. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a widespread avian coronavirus, whose control relies mainly on extensive vaccine administration. Unfortunately, the continuous emergence of new vaccine-immunity escaping variants prompts the development of new vaccines. In the present work, a molecular epidemiology study was performed to evaluate the potential role of homologous vaccination in driving IBV evolution. This was undertaken by assessing IBV viral RNA sequences from the ORF encoding the S1 portion of viral surface glycoprotein (S) before and after the introduction of a new live vaccine on broiler farms in northern-Italy. The results of several biostatistics analyses consistently demonstrate the presence of a higher pressure in the post-vaccination period. Natural selection was detected essentially on sites located on the protein surface, within or nearby domains involved in viral attachment or related functions. This evidence strongly supports the action of vaccine-induced immunity in conditioning viral evolution, potentially leading to the emergence of new vaccine-escape variants. The great plasticity of rapidly-evolving RNA-viruses in response to human intervention, which extends beyond the poultry industry, is demonstrated, claiming further attention due to their relevance for animal and especially human health.
Silage fermentation and ruminal degradation of cassava foliage prepared with microbial additive
Authors: Li Mao , Zi Xuejuan , Zhou Hanlin , Lv Renlong , Tang Jun , Cai Yimin
Published: November 2019

To effectively utilize the tropical cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) foliage (CF) resources, the CF silages were prepared with microbial additives, including Chikuso-1 (CH1, Lactobacillus plantarum), Snow Lact L (SN, L. rhamnosus), Acremonium cellulase (CE), SN + CE and CH1 + CE. Silage fermentation, chemical composition and ruminal degradation were studied in Hainan, China. CF silages prepared with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and CE were well preserved, with a higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid, a lower (P < 0.05) pH value, butyric acid content and NH3-N ⁄ total-N compared with the controls. The additive-treated silages showed increased crude protein (CP) content, but decreased (P < 0.05) NDF and ADF contents. Meanwhile, the additive treatment improved relative feed value and ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM), CP, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. In addition, the combination of LAB and CE resulted in better fermentation quality and ruminal degradability compared with LAB or CE single treatment. The results demonstrated that the CF could be prepared as ruminant feed, and the combination of LAB and CE might exert beneficial synergistic effect on silage fermentation.
The best treatment option(s) for adult and elderly patients with chronic primary musculoskeletal pain: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Koechlin Helen , Whalley Ben , Welton Nicky J. , Locher Cosima
Published: November 2019

Background

Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain (CPMP) is one subcategory of the new classification of chronic primary pain for the upcoming ICD-11, defined as chronic pain in the muscles, bones, joints, or tendons that persists or recurs for more than 3 months and is associated with significant emotional distress or functional disability. An array of pharmacological, psychological, physical, complementary, and rehabilitative interventions is available for CPMP, for which previous research has demonstrated varying effect sizes with regard to effectiveness in pain reduction and other main outcomes. This highlights the need for the synthesis of all available evidence. The proposed network meta-analysis will compare all available interventions for CPMP to determine the best treatment option(s) with a focus on efficacy and safety of interventions.

Methods

We are interested in comparing interventions of the following types: psychological, pharmacological, physical, complementary, and rehabilitative interventions. We will include all randomized controlled trials that compare one intervention with another, or with a control group, in the treatment of CPMP. Primary efficacy outcomes will be pain intensity, emotional distress, and functional disability. Safety outcomes extracted will include proportion of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events, unwanted events, or drop-out rates due to side effects. Published and unpublished trials will be sought through the search of all relevant databases and trial registries. At least two independent reviewers of the team will select the references and extract data independently. We will assess the risk of bias of each individual study using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. We will conduct a network meta-analysis to synthesize all evidence for each outcome. We will fit our model primarily within a Bayesian framework.

Discussion

CPMP is a disabling condition for which several interventions exist. To our knowledge, this is the first network meta-analysis to systematically compare all available evidence. This is required by national health institutions to inform their decisions about the best available treatment option(s) with regard to efficacy and safety outcomes.

Systematic review registration

PROSPEROCRD42018096114
A new approach to multivalued nonlinear weakly Picard operators
Authors: Mukheimer Aiman , Vujaković Jelena , Hussain Azhar , Aydi Hassen , Radenović Stojan , Yaqoob Saman
Published: November 2019

The notion of nonlinear $(\mathcal{F}_{s}, \mathcal{L})$(Fs,L)-contractive multivalued operators is initiated and some related fixed point results are considered. We also give an example to show the validity of obtained theoretical results. Our results generalize many existing ones in the literature.
Stability of delay neural networks with uncertainties via delayed intermittent control
Authors: Tian Yujuan , Wang Fei , Wang Yao , Li Xiaodi
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we investigate the stability of neural networks with both time-varying delays and uncertainties. A novel delayed intermittent control scheme is designed to ensure the globally asymptotical stability of the addressed system. Some new delay dependent sufficient criteria for globally asymptotical stability results are derived in term of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by using free-weighting matrix techniques and Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional method. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
On the geothermal potential of crustal fault zones: a case study from the Pontgibaud area (French Massif Central, France)
Authors: Duwiquet Hugo , Arbaret Laurent , Guillou-Frottier Laurent , Heap Michael J. , Bellanger Mathieu
Published: November 2019

The present study aims to understand the potential of a new and novel type of geothermal play system for high temperature and electricity production: crustal fault zones (CFZ). According to geological and geophysical data, the Pontgibaud fault zone (French Massif Central) is suspected to host an active hydrothermal system at a depth of a few kilometers. The deep geometry of the fault zone and the permeability distribution are the main unknown parameters that are required to assess the geothermal potential of the Pontgibaud site. Structural and thin-section observations, laboratory permeability and connected porosity measurements and X-ray micro-tomography observations suggest that the hydrothermal system behaves like a double matrix-fracture permeability reservoir. Numerical modeling in which we varied the fault dip and the ratio between the fault zone permeability and host rock,R, was performed. Results indicate that three main convective regimes can be identified (weak convection, single cellular-type convection and bicellular convection). For a sufficiently high fault zone permeability (> 1 × 10−15 m2), buoyancy-driven flow creates a positive thermal anomaly of several tens of °C at a depth of 2–5 km. For a vertical fault zone, the thermal anomaly is larger for higherRvalues. Numerical models, then applied to the geologically constrained Pontgibaud fault zone, show that a temperature of 150 °C at a depth of 2500 m can be obtained for a fault zone permeability of 1.6 × 10−14m2. Based on a multi-disciplinary approach, this work establishes a potential predictive tool for future high-temperature geothermal operations within basement rocks hosting large-scale fault systems.
Surface creep rate distribution along the Philippine fault, Leyte Island, and possible repeating of Mw ~ 6.5 earthquakes on an isolated locked patch
Authors: Fukushima Yo , Hashimoto Manabu , Miyazawa Masatoshi , Uchida Naoki , Taira Taka’aki
Published: November 2019

Active faults commonly repeat cycles of sudden rupture and subsequent silence of hundreds to tens of thousands of years, but some parts of mature faults exhibit continuous creep accompanied by many small earthquakes. Discovery and detailed examination of creeping faults on land have been in a rapid progress with the advent of space-borne synthetic aperture radar interferometry. In this study, we measured the spatial variation of the creep rate along the Philippine fault on Leyte Island using ALOS/PALSAR data acquired between October 2006 and January 2011. Prominent creep of$$33\pm {11}$$33±11 mm/year was estimated in northern and central parts of the island except for a locked portion around latitude 11.08–11.20$$^\circ$$∘N. We compared the creep rate distribution along the fault with the slip distribution of the 2017$$M_w$$Mw6.5 Ormoc earthquake which occurred in northern Leyte, estimated from the displacements mapped by ALOS-2/PALSAR-2 interferometric data. The estimated slip of the 2017 earthquake amounted up to 2.5 m and to moment magnitude of 6.49, with the dominant rupture area coinciding with the locked portion identified from the interseismic coupling analysis. Teleseismic waveforms of the 2017 earthquake and another event that occurred in 1947 ($$M_s$$Ms6.9) exhibit close resemblance, indicating two ruptures of rather similar locations and magnitudes with a time interval of 70 years.
Burden of rheumatoid arthritis on patients’ work productivity and quality of life
Authors: Xavier Ricardo Machado , Zerbini Cristiano Augusto Freitas , Pollak Daniel Feldman , Morales-Torres Jorge Luis Alberto , Chalem Philippe , Restrepo José Fernando Molina , Duhau Javier Arnaldo , Amado Jacqueline Rodríguez , Abello Maurício , de la Vega Maria Celina , Dávila Adriana Pérez , Biegun Priscila Martin , Arruda Maysa Silva , Ramos-Remus Cesar
Published: November 2019

Background

To determine the burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on patients’ work productivity and health related quality of life (HRQoL), and examine the influence of several exposure variables; to analyze the progression of RA over 1 year and its impact on work productivity and HRQoL.

Methods

International multicenter prospective survey including patients in 18 centers in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico with diagnosis of RA and aged between 21-55 years. The following standard questionnaires were completed at baseline and throughout a 1-year follow-up: WPAI:RA, WALS, WLQ-25, EQ-5D-3 L and SF-36. Clinical and demographic variables were also collected through interview.

Results

The study enrolled 290 patients on baseline visit. Overall mean scores at baseline visit were: WPAI:RA (presenteeism) = 29.5% (SD = 28.8%); WPAI:RA (absenteeism) = 9.0% (SD = 23.2%); WPAI:RA (absenteeism and presenteeism) = 8.6% (SD = 22.6%); WALS = 9.0 (SD = 6.1); WLQ-25 = 7.0% (SD = 5.1%); SF-36 Physical Scale = 39.1 (SD = 10.3) and Mental Scale = 45.4 (SD = 11.3); EQ-5D-3 L VAS = 69.8 (SD = 20.4) and EQ-5D-3 L index = 0.67 (SD = 0.23). Higher educational levels were associated with better results in WLQ-25, while previous orthopedic surgeries reduced absenteeism results of WPAI:RA and work limitations in WLQ-25. Higher disease duration was associated with decreased HRQoL. Intensification of disease activity was associated with decreased work productivity and HRQoL, except in WLQ-25. In the longitudinal analysis, worsening in disease activity was associated with a decrease in both work productivity and HRQoL.

Conclusions

RA patients are dealing with workplace disabilities and limitations and loss in HRQoL, and multiple factors seems to be associated with this. Worsening of disease activity further decreased work productivity and HRQoL, stressing the importance of disease tight control.
Changes Over Time in Uric Acid in Relation to Changes in Insulin Sensitivity, Beta-Cell Function, and Glycemia
Authors: Volpe Alessandro , Ye Chang , Hanley Anthony J , Connelly Philip W , Zinman Bernard , Retnakaran Ravi
Published: November 2019

Context

Serum uric acid has been linked to risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but debate persists as to whether it plays a causal role. Indeed, it is unclear if changes in uric acid relate to the pathophysiologic determinants of T2DM (insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction), as would be expected if causal.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of changes in uric acid over 2 years on changes in insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and glycemia in women with and without recent gestational diabetes (GDM), a model of the early natural history of T2DM.

Design/Setting/Participants

At both 1 and 3 years postpartum, 299 women (96 with recent GDM) underwent uric acid measurement and oral glucose tolerance tests that enabled assessment of insulin sensitivity/resistance (Matsuda index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]), beta-cell function (insulin secretion-sensitivity index-2 [ISSI-2], insulinogenic index/HOMA-IR [IGI/HOMA-IR]), and glucose tolerance.

Results

Women with recent GDM had higher serum uric acid than their peers at both 1 year (281 ± 69 vs 262 ± 58 µmol/L, P = 0.01) and 3 years postpartum (271 ± 59 vs 256 ± 55 µmol/L, P = 0.03), coupled with lower insulin sensitivity, poorer beta-cell function, and greater glycemia (all P < 0.05). However, on fully adjusted analyses, neither uric acid at 1 year nor its change from 1 to 3 years was independently associated with any of the following metabolic outcomes at 3 years postpartum: Matsuda index, HOMA-IR, ISSI-2, IGI/HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, 2-hour glucose, or glucose intolerance.

Conclusion

Serum uric acid does not track with changes over time in insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, or glycemia in women with recent GDM, providing evidence against causality in its association with diabetes.
Assessing and managing patients with leg ulceration and oedema
Authors: Todd Marie
Published: November 2019

Leg ulcers are some of the most common wounds treated by the NHS. Ulceration is usually classified as being of venous or arterial origin. Arterial ulcers develop because of reduced arterial flow to the leg caused by peripheral arterial disease. Venous leg ulcers, the most common form, develop because of vein incompetence, with valve failure leading to pressure in the veins. Nurses working with patients with oedema find that chronic oedema can cause the limb affected to swell, causing skin to stretch and break and lead to ulceration. This is known as superficial ulceration. This article discusses the causes, assessment and management of these different types of leg ulcer.
Setting up an arthroplasty care practitioner-led virtual clinic for follow-up of orthopaedic patients
Authors: Ferdinandus Sharon , Smith Lindsay K , Pandit Hemant , Stone Martin H
Published: November 2019

This article provides an overview of the set up for an arthroplasty care practitioner (ACP)-led virtual orthopaedic clinic (VOC). Suitable patients attend a local hospital for an X-ray and complete a questionnaire, but do not physically attend a clinic. This has been running successfully in a university teaching hospital and has led to cost savings, a reduction in outpatient waiting times and high levels of patient satisfaction. Similar clinics have the potential to become normal practice across the NHS. This article outlines the steps necessary to implement a successful VOC. The lessons learnt during this exercise may be useful for other ACPs when setting up a VOC.
Assessing equine body condition and weight
Authors: Witherow Briony
Published: November 2019

Briony Witherow MSc RNutr. Practical Equine Nutrition, asks how can this be managed?
Meta-analysis: a critical appraisal of the methodology, benefits and drawbacks
Authors: Khan Shahjahan , Memon Breda , Memon Muhammed A
Published: November 2019

Meta-analysis has become an integral part of evidence-based decision-making processes and is being increasingly used in medical and non-medical disciplines. Aggregate data or summary statistics continue to be the mainstay of meta-analysis and are used by many professional societies to support clinical practice guidelines. Meta-analyses synthesize the summary statistics from independent trials by pooling them to estimate the underlying common effect size. The results represent the highest level of evidence but only if the chosen studies are of high quality and the selection criteria are fully satisfied. It is important to address the issues of defining an explicit and relevant question, exhaustively searching for the totality of evidence, meticulous and unbiased data transfer or extraction, assessment of between study heterogeneity and the use of appropriate statistical methods for estimating summary effect measures. This article reviews the methodology, benefits and drawbacks of performing a meta-analysis.
What are non-epileptic seizures, and why do people have them?
Authors: Grünewald Richard
Published: November 2019

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (dissociative seizures) are encountered commonly in emergency medicine and in acute medical wards. Although diagnosis is usually deferred to an expert in epilepsy, an understanding of the phenomenon is helpful in acute management of the patient and dealing with associated urgent safeguarding issues. This article describes a simple model of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures that is useful in clinical practice and helpful to staff, patients and their carers.
Closed-loop management of inpatient hyperglycaemia
Authors: Boughton CK , Hovorka R
Published: November 2019

The prevalence of diabetes in the inpatient setting is increasing, and suboptimal glucose control in hospital is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Attaining the recommended glucose levels is challenging with standard insulin therapy. Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia are common and diabetes management in hospital can be a considerable workload burden for health-care professionals.

Fully automated insulin delivery (closed-loop) has been shown to be safe, and achieves superior glucose control than standard insulin therapy in the hospital, including in those patients receiving haemodialysis and enteral or parenteral nutrition where glucose control can be particularly challenging. Evidence that the improved glucose control achieved using closed-loop systems can translate into improved clinical outcomes for patients is key to support widespread adoption of this technology.

The closed-loop approach has the potential to provide a paradigm shift in the management of inpatient diabetes, particularly in the most challenging inpatient populations, and may reduce staff work burden and the health-care costs associated with inpatient diabetes.
Lo que suena en Gaztea Irratia. Origen, evolución e influencia social de la emisora musical pública vasca
Authors: Del Amo Castro Ion Andoni
Published: November 2019

Este trabajo explora las transformaciones e influencia social de la emisora musical públic vasca Gaztea Irratia, mediante la combinación de datos cuantitativos (audiencias), cualitativos (entrevistas), observación y análisis de contexto. La evolución muestra cómo ejerce de mediación entre la producción y escenas locales y los productos de la industrial cultural global. El cambio en 2006 hacia una radio-fórmula comercial ha sido polémico: los discursos legitimadores apelan al incremento de la audiencia, mientras los críticos, por contra, aducen la falta de compromiso con la cultura local. La influencia social, con todo, aparece al alza, incluso en los espacios festivos más alternativos.PALABRAS CLAVE: EITB; jóvenes; lenguas minoritarias; Música; País Vasco; Radio.
Цифровое поколение: гражданская мобилизация и политический протест российской молодежи
Authors: Бродовская Елена Викторовна , Хуанг Тони
Published: November 2019

В статье представлен анализ базовых трактовок понятия «цифровое гражданство». Основной исследовательский вопрос на который ориентировались авторы: с чем в первую очередь связан высокий уровень протестного потенциала цифрового поколения, это внутренняя характеристика носителей культуры цифрового гражданства или скорее поведенческая стратегия, актуализированная мобилизационными эффектами социальных медиа? Отвечая на поставленный вопрос, авторы реализовали прикладное исследование, применяя метод массового опроса и процедуру онлайн-анкетирования. Полевой этап исследования прошел в июле-сентябре 2019 г. Выборочная совокупность составила 1000 респондентов, репрезентативна по полу, возрасту (в соответствии со статистическими данными о представленности в составе российской молодежи групп 15-19 лет, 20-24 лет и 25-29 лет) и территориальной принадлежности (в выборке воспроизведено соотношение численности молодежи во всех федеральных округах РФ). В рамках исследования были проанализированы основные гражданские и политические практики, востребованные молодыми российскими пользователями в онлайн- и офлайн-средах, масштаб протестной мобилизации в социальных сетях, репертуар протестных сообщений, протестные установки цифровых граждан. Подвергнув кластеризации массив данных опроса, авторы выделили четыре типа носителей разного уровня протестного потенциала в среде российской молодежи: «зрители», «вовлеченные», «активисты», «лидеры». В свою очередь, процедура многомерного шкалирования позволила зафиксировать дифференциацию ценностных профилей и стилей жизни носителей разного типа протестного потенциала. Ключевой вывод исследования заключается в том, что наибольший потенциал протестной активности проявляют вовсе не типичные представители цифрового поколения, а те, чей ценностный выбор и стратегии цифрового гражданства скорее отклоняются от общераспространенных.

Благодарность. Мы сердечно благодарим, прежде всего, авторов тематического выпуска «Цифровизация экономики, политики и гражданского общества». Огромное спасибо за новые идеи, свежие подходы, нестандартные выводы и вдохновение. Выпуск бы не состоялся без фантастической команды ВЦИОМ, энергии и трудолюбия ответственного редактора Анны Кулешовой. Мы очень признательны Дмитрию Чижову за идею выпуска. Мы говорим большое спасибо нашим коллегам Роману Пырме, Анне Домбровской, Артуру Азарову, Алексею Синякову, Дмитрию Карзубову, Лилии Рязановой за помощь в сборе, обработке и анализе материалов исследования.

Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ и АНО ЭИСИ в рамках научного проекта № 19-011-31-291 «Культура “цифрового гражданства” российской молодежи: акторы, технологии формирования, общественно-политические эффекты».
Speed Breakers, Road Marking Detection and Recognition Using Image Processing Techniques
Authors: Adeyemi Oladimeji , Irhebhude Martins , Kolawole Adeola
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a image processing technique for speed breaker, road marking detection and recognition. An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) algorithm was used to recognize traffic signs such as “STOP” markings and a Hough transform was used to detect line markings which serves as a pre-processing stage to determine when the proposed technique does OCR or speed breaker recognition. The stopline inclusion serves as a pre-processing stage that tells the system when to perform stop marking recognition or speed breaker recognition. Image processing techniques was used for the processing of features from the images. Local Binary Pattern (LBP) was extracted as features and employed to train the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier for speed breaker recognition. Experimental results shows 79%, 100% “STOP” sign and speed breaker recognitions respectively. The proposed system goes very well for the roads which are constructed with proper painting irrespective of their dimension.
Retrieval of Images using Combination of Features as Color, Color Moments and Hu Moments
Authors: RAJ RAJKUMAR , Sudhamani Dr. M V
Published: November 2019

In today’s digital era, several of the image retrieval systems focus on retrieving images using features from images themselves such as color, shape and textures and are referred as low-level features. In this proposed work, the features like color with HSV color space, color moments and Hu moments are employed to retrieve similar images. Various experimentations were conducted on Wang’s database images to test the combination of features for higher performance using precision, recall, accuracy and f-score. The results obtained are compared with one another and also with existing works. The retrieval performance is found to be high for proposed system against existing works.
An Improved Error Control Model in Packet Switched Wide Area Networks
Authors: Ogbimi Voke , Francis Emuejevoke
Published: November 2019

Error is an important problem in communication that occurs in shared networks when a packet fails to arrive at the destination or it arrives at the destination but some of the bits are in error or have been altered. In typical packet switched wide area networks, this can occur quite easily when output links are slower than inputs and multiple traffic sources competing for same output link at the same time. Typical for packet switched WAN, the packet transmit input/output buffer and queue of the network devices in their way towards the destination. Moreover, these networks are characterized by the fact that packets often arrive in “burst”. The buffers in the network devices are intended to assimilate these traffic hosts until they can be processed. Nevertheless, the available buffers in the network nodes may fill up rapidly if the network traffic is too high which in turn may lead to discarded packets. The situation cannot be avoided by increasing the size of the buffers, since unreasonable buffer size will lead to excessive end-to-end (e2e) delay. A typical scenario for congestion occurs where multiple incoming link feed into single outgoing link (e.g several Local Area Networks connected to Wide Area Networks). The routers of the networks are highly susceptible for traffic congestion because they are too small for the amount of traffic required to handle.

This paper presented  general concepts of Error Control and its mechanisms and its application to packet switched wide area networks An improved model was proposed with reduced error while transmitting packets from one channel to the other.

Simulating the model for reducing error control in packet switched wide area networks increased the number of messages, reduced response time used in transmitting and receiving packets, reduced network utilization.
Histoire et paysages dans quelques écritures de terrain contemporaines : Jean-Christophe Bailly, François Bon, Patrick Deville et Marie Richeux
Authors: Bernard Isabelle
Published: November 2019

This article reviews four works representative of current field writings and attempts to define their major characteristics. First it proposes to encircle in Paysage fer (2000) by François Bon, The Change of scenery. Travels in France (2011) by Jean-Christophe Bailly, Taba-Taba (2017) by Patrick Deville, and Climats de France (2017) by Marie Richeux a common modus operandi; then it identifies in these hybrid works a singular and original writing of the ego, made of biographical and autobiographical fragments, and finally, taking into account the contributions of geocritics, it suggests the viability of ‘egogeographies,’ kinds of own landscapes to each author that a content both testimonial and patrimonial impregnates strongly.
Die Bedeutung des Gelesenen: Eine komparatistische Studie über Rainer Maria Rilke und Marcel Proust
Authors: Slavtscheva Maria
Published: November 2019

The article discusses the hierarchical model of readers’ types outlined by Marcel Proust in his essay “Journées de lecture” and reconstructs Rainer Maria Rilke’s poetics of reading in accordance with the poems “Der Lesende” and “Der Leser” as well as the thematic relevant parts of the novel Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge. Based on the conclusions made thereby, it draws attention to the possibilities arising from a comparative reading of the description of the scene in which the young Marcel reads in the garden of Combray from Proust’s Du côté de chez Swann, and Rilke’s poem “Hebend die Blicke vom Buch”. Moreover, it is shown that in this short but complex poem, the German poet fulfills the ideal of a unity of reading and writing emphasized by the French author. Combining the motive of looking away from the book typical of his prose and poetry with Proust’s typical motive of the memory of a certain read, Rilke brings into being a poetic picture of reading, which triggers both the memory and the reflection, and an image of a reader that reveals his own productive reception.
Research on the Transition Section Length of the Mixed Workface Using Gangue Backfilling Method and Caving Method
Authors: Tai Yang , Guo Shuai , Fang Kun
Published: November 2019

Aiming at the problem of the sudden increase of the working resistance of the support in the transition section of the mixed workface, this paper adopts the physical simulation to study the fracture and movement characteristics of the overburden strata in the backfilling section and the caving section after analysis of the system layout of mixed workface. Then, the definition of the transition section of the mixed workface is given. Next, a numerical model of the transition section length is established based on the geological conditions of the Ji15-31010 mixed workface of Pingdingshan No.12 Coal Mine. In the numerical simulation, it is used to study the influence of the advancing length of the mixed workface and the length of the backfilling section on the transition section length. The results show that with the increase of the advancing length of the mixed workface and the decrease of the backfilling section length, the transition section length increases continuously and eventually stabilizes. The range of variation is 6.2~13.5 m, corresponding to 4~9 hydraulic supports with a width of 1.5 m. Based on the above conclusions and the price of transitional hydraulic supports, the 4 transitional hydraulic supports used in the transition section of the Ji15-31010 mixed workface is determined. Filed measurement shows that as the mixed workface is advanced from 10 m to 40 m, the transition section length increases from 2 supports to 4 supports, and decreases to 2 supports again when advanced to 60 m. This indicates that the main roof of the mixed workface between 40 and 60 m experiences the initial caving. The maximum length of the transition section is 6.0 m, corresponding to 4 hydraulic supports.
Rainfall erosivity and extreme precipitation in the Pannonian basin
Authors: Lukić Tin , Lukić Aco , Basarin Biljana , Ponjiger Tanja Micić , Blagojević Dragana , Mesaroš Minučer , Milanović Miško , Gavrilov Milivoj , Pavić Dragoslav , Zorn Matija , Komac Blaž , Miljković Ðurđa , Sakulski Dušan , Babić-Kekez Snežana , Morar Cezar , Janićević Sava
Published: November 2019

In order to assess the rainfall erosivity in the Pannonian basin, several parameters which describe distribution, concentration and variability of precipitation were used, as well as 9 extreme precipitation indices. The precipitation data is obtained from the European Climate Assessment and Dataset project for the period 1961-2014, for 8 meteorological stations in northern Serbia, 5 in Hungary and 1 in eastern Croatia. The extreme values of precipitation were calculated following the indices developed by the ETCCDI.RclimDexsoftware package was used for indices calculation. Based on statistical analysis and the calculated values, the results have been presented with Geographic Information System (GIS) to point out the most vulnerable parts of the Pannonian basin, with regard to pluvial erosion. This study presents the first result of combined rainfall erosivity and extreme precipitation indices for the investigated area. Results ofPCIindicate presence of moderate precipitation concentration (mean value 11.6). Trend analysis ofFI(mean value 22.7) andMFI(mean value 70.2) implies a shift from being largely in the low erosivity class, to being completely in the moderate erosivity class in the future, thus indicating an increase in rainfall erosivity for most of the investigated area (except in the northwestern parts). Furthermore, the observed precipitation extremes suggest that both the amount and the intensity of precipitation are increasing. The knowledge about the areas affected by strong soil erosion could lead to introducing effective measures in order to reduce it. Long term analysis of rainfall erosivity is a significant step concerning flood prevention, hazard mitigation, ecosystem services, land use change and agricultural production.