bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of microscopy, serology, circulating anodic antigen (CAA), and eosinophil counts for the follow-up of migrants with chronic schistosomiasis: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Tamarozzi Francesca , Ursini Tamara , Hoekstra Pytsje T. , Silva Ronaldo , Costa Cecilia , Gobbi Federico , Monteiro Gerardo B. , Motta Leonardo , van Dam Govert J. , Corstjens Paul L. , van Lieshout Lisette , Buonfrate Dora
Published: March 2021

Background

An accurate test for the diagnosis and post-treatment follow-up of patients with schistosomiasis is needed. We assessed the performance of different laboratory parameters, including the up-converting reporter particle technology lateral flow assay to detect circulating anodic antigen (UCP-LF CAA), for the post-treatment follow-up of schistosomiasis in migrants attending a dedicated outpatient clinic in a non-endemic country.

Methods

Routine anti-Schistosoma serology results and eosinophil counts were obtained of patients with positive urine/stool microscopy and/or PCR (confirmed cases) or only positive serology (possible cases), and at least one follow-up visit at 6 (T6) or 12 (T12) months after praziquantel treatment. All sera samples were tested with the UCP-LF CAA assay.

Results

Forty-eight patients were included, 23 confirmed and 25 possible cases. The percentage seropositivity and median antibody titers did not change significantly during follow-up. UCP-LF CAA was positive in 86.9% of confirmed and 20% of possible cases. The percentage positivity and median CAA levels decreased significantly post-treatment, with only two patients having positive CAA levels at T12.

Conclusions

The UCP-LF CAA assay proved useful for the diagnosis of active infection with Schistosoma spp. and highly valuable for post-treatment monitoring in migrants, encouraging the development of a commercial test.

Graphical Abstract
Direct detection of Helicobacter pylori from biopsies of patients in Lagos, Nigeria using real-time PCR—a pilot study
Authors: Ajayi A. , Jolaiya T. , Smith S. I.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Prompt diagnosis ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection is essential for proper treatment and eradication of the pathogen because prolonged infection could lead to gastric cancer. Sensitive and cost effective diagnostic methods are key to guiding treatment options that will reduce mortality. This study was aimed at detectingH. pylorifrom biopsies of peptic ulcer patients. Real-time PCR using TaqMan and EvaGreen assays targeting 16S rRNA andureAgenes were used to detectH. pyloriDNA extracted from 40 biopsy samples comprising 20 biopsies obtained from the antrum and 20 from the corpus of 20 patients undergoing endoscopy for duodenal ulcer investigation in Lagos, Nigeria.

Results

H. pyloriwas detected in 80% of the biopsy samples by combined cycle threshold (Ct) and melting temperature (Tm) values. MeanCtvalue forureAgene ranged from 21.40 to 37.53 and 22.71 to 35.44 for16SrRNAgene. Average melting temperatures (Tm) of 81.57 and 82.90 °C among amplicons ofureAand 16S rRNA were observed respectively.H. pyloriDNA was generally detected in biopsies collected from antrum and corpus. Real-time PCR in the diagnosis ofH. pylorican be considered a simple, low cost and efficient alternative or addition to the gold standard.
Prevalence of adult eczema, hay fever, and asthma, and associated risk factors: a population-based study in the northern Grassland of China
Authors: Wang Xiaoyan , Zhuang Yan , Chen Yanlei , Wang Hongtian , Wang Xueyan
Published: March 2021

Background

There has been research about the prevalence and risk factors of eczema, hay fever, and asthma in children, but little is known about these conditions in adults in China.

Objectives

To explore the prevalence of adult eczema/atopic dermatitis (AD) and its risk factors in northern China.

Methods

A cluster sampling randomized population-based survey was conducted using a face-to-face questionnaire combined with skin prick tests of ten common aeroallergens including nine pollen allergens and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinu (Dp) allergen. The questionnaire was designed by specialists and included questions on the prevalence of eczema, hay fever, and asthma, socioeconomic risk factors, family history of atopy and environmental exposures. The prevalence of eczema with asthma and/or hay fever (EAH) was applied as a proxy of AD in this study.

Results

Overall, 2096 subjects were enrolled and completed the study. The prevalence of eczema was 15.7% (95% CI 14.3–17.4), while the prevalence of hay fever and asthma were 20.6% (95% CI 18.9–22.4) and 6.5% (95% CI 5.5–7.6), respectively. In particular, the prevalence of EAH was 5.1% (95% CI 4.4–7.0). The prevalence of eczema and EAH was significantly associated with younger age, atopy family history, high education level, urbanization, and antibiotic overuse (P < 0.05, logistic regression). The sensitization rate was higher in EAH compared with eczema (48.2% vs 41.0%, P = 0.018), with weed pollen sensitization being the most common. Subjects with two or more concomitant allergic diseases had increased risk of eczema and EAH (P < 0.001). Allergen sensitization increased the risk of eczema and EAH (P < 0.001, both).

Conclusions

Adult eczema and EAH are prevalent in northern China under high pollen exposure. Socioeconomic and environmental factors affected the prevalence of adult AD in China. Dp had a particular impact on the prevalence of eczema/AD in the grassland region.
Emergent stenting after intravenous thrombolysis for isolated basilar artery dissection in a patient with acute ischemic stroke: a case report
Authors: Goda Toshiaki , Oyama Naoki , Iwamoto Takanori , Takai Hiroki , Matsubara Shunji , Uno Masaaki , Yagita Yoshiki
Published: March 2021

Background

Isolated basilar artery dissection (IBAD) is a rare but important cause of ischemic stroke. Anti-thrombotic therapy is often used to treat IBAD-related ischemic stroke, but selected cases might need more aggressive treatment. There is no previous report of emergent stenting for IBAD-related ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis.

Case presentation

A 53-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with disturbance of consciousness, right hemiplegia, severe dysarthria, and total gaze paralysis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed no ischemic lesion, but magnetic resonance angiography showed stenosis in the basilar artery. After initiation of intravenous thrombolysis, her neurological symptoms dramatically improved. Five hours later, however, her symptoms deteriorated again. Cerebral angiography showed IBAD. Emergent stenting was successfully performed. At 90 days after stroke onset, she had no significant disability, with a modified Rankin scale score of 1.

Conclusions

Emergent stenting can be an effective treatment for patients with IBAD-related ischemic stroke who are resistant to IV-rtPA.
Do we cause false positives? An experimental series on droplet or airborne SARS-CoV-2 contamination of sampling tubes during swab collection in a test center
Authors: Scheier Thomas , Shah Cyril , Huber Michael , Sax Hugo , Hasse Barbara , Günthard Huldrych F. , Trkola Alexandra , Schreiber Peter W.
Published: March 2021

The rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic urged immense testing capacities as one cornerstone of infection control. Many institutions opened outpatient SARS-CoV-2 test centers to allow large number of tests in comparatively short time frames. With increasing positive test rates, concerns for a possible airborne or droplet contamination of specimens leading to false-positive results were raised. In our experimental series performed in a dedicated SARS-CoV-2 test center, 40 open collection tubes placed for defined time periods in proximity to individuals were found to be SARS-CoV-2 negative. These findings argue against false-positive SARS-CoV-2 results due to droplet or airborne contamination.
The impact of climate smart agriculture on household welfare in smallholder integrated crop–livestock farming systems: evidence from Zimbabwe
Authors: Mujeyi Angeline , Mudhara Maxwell , Mutenje Munyaradzi
Published: March 2021

Background

Agriculture contributes significantly to the welfare of smallholder farmers, but it has become highly susceptible to climate change, due to its reliance on the increasingly erratic rainfall patterns. Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) offers important opportunities for enhancing food security and incomes through increased agriculture productivity. Technology evaluation through impact studies provides information on the effect of CSA on farmer welfare, thereby highlighting its potential in optimizing agriculture productivity. This paper analyses the impact of CSA adoption on food security and income of households, using cross-sectional survey data collected from 386 households across four districts in Zimbabwe. The analysis was done using the endogenous switching regression model which controls for selection bias and unobserved heterogeneity, a commonly used method in adoption impact analysis.

Results

The study found several agricultural and socio-economic factors which affect adoption and food security. The econometric results show that the status of soil fertility in fields, distance to input and output markets, ownership of communication assets, and Total Livestock Units (TLU) have a significant impact on the decision of farmers to adopt CSA. The Average Treatment Effects on the Treated (ATT) and Average Treatment Effects on the Untreated (ATU) were found to be positive and significant for adopters and non-adopters, indicating that CSA adoption has had a significantly positive impact on the welfare of the farmers. An analysis of the outcomes revealed that the characteristics of farmers and farms, as well as market factors, significantly affect the welfare of households. The household income, with reference to the adoption of CSA, was significantly affected by factors such as the education of household head, labour size, TLU, and asset index. Food security was influenced by factors such as the education of household head, TLU, access to sanitation, and arable land size.

Conclusions

The study concludes by giving policy recommendations centred on the access to inputs, sanitation, and encouraging investing in assets and TLU. The findings indicate that the adoption of CSA has a positive impact on the welfare of farmers. To exploit the full potential of these technologies, the study suggests that access to timely weather forecasts must be ensured, that sanitation must be promoted, and that incentives must be provided for agricultural input agro-dealers to decentralize to rural areas.
Canadian Rhinology Working Group consensus statement: Biologic therapies for chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Thamboo Andrew , Kilty S. , Witterick I. , Chan Y. , Chin C. J. , Janjua A. , Javer A. , Lee J. , Monterio E. , Rotenberg B. , Scott J. , Smith K. , Sommer D. D. , Sowerby L. , Tewfik M. , Wright E. , Desrosiers M.
Published: March 2021

Background

Recent evidence suggests that biologic therapy with targeted activity within the Type 2 inflammatory pathway can improve the clinical signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). There remains a population in CRSwNP that despite medical therapy and endoscopic sinus surgery have persistent signs and symptoms of disease. Therefore, biologics, monoclonal antibody agents, could be beneficial therapeutic treatments for these patients. There have been eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trails performed for CRSwNP targeted components of the Type 2 inflammatory pathway, notably interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13, IL-5R, IL-33, and immunoglobulin (Ig)E. However, there are no formal recommendations for the optimal use of biologics in managing Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) within the Canadian health care environment.

Methods

A Delphi Method process was utilized involving three rounds of questionnaires in which the first two were completed individually online and the third was discussed on a virtual platform with all the panelists. 17 fellowship trained rhinologists across Canada evaluated the 28 original statements on a scale of 1–10 and provided comments. A rating within 1–3 indicated disagreement, 8–10 demonstrated agreement and 4–7 represented being neutral towards a statement. All ratings were quantitively reviewed by mean, median, mode, range and standard deviation. Consensus was defined by removing the highest and lowest of the scores and using the “3 point relaxed system”.

Results

After three rounds, a total of 11 statements achieved consensus. This white paper only contains the final agreed upon statements and clear rationale and support for the statements regarding the use of biologics in patients with CRS.

Conclusion

This white paper provides guidance to Canadian physicians on the use of biologic therapy for the management of patients with CRS, but the medical and surgical regimen should ultimately be individualized to the patient. As more biologics become available and additional trials are published we will provide updated versions of this white paper every few years.

Graphical Abstract
The Grey-backed Shrike parents adopt brood survival strategy in both the egg and nestling phases
Authors: Fan Liqing , Gao Lifang , Zhu Zhenqin , Zhang Xiaodan , Zhang Wen , Zhang Haiyang , Li Jianchuan , Du Bo
Published: March 2021

Background

Great diversity exists in the parenting pattern of altricial birds, which has long been considered as an adaptive response to specific environmental conditions but not to their life-history style.

Methods

We examined the egg-laying and nestling-raising pattern of the Grey-backed Shrike (Lanius tephronotus) that breeds only once a year on the Tibetan Plateau. We compared the dietary composition to that of its sympatric competitor, the Brown-cheeked Laughing Thrush (Trochalopteron henrici) that breeds twice a year.

Results

Female Grey-backed Shrikes produced a fixed clutch size of five, with increasing egg size by their laying sequence. The last offspring in the brood is disadvantageous in the size hierarchy because it hatches later. However, they had the largest fledgling body mass. These findings indicate that Grey-backed Shrikes adopt the brood survival strategy in both the egg and nestling phases. Moreover, males and females exhibit no sexual division in providing parental care as they made an equal contribution to the total amount of food delivered to their brood. This parenting pattern of Grey-backed Shrikes, as well as their dietary items, differ significantly from those of the Brown-cheeked Laughing Thrush.

Conclusions

We suggest that the differentiation in life-history style between sympatric competitors, rather than a behavioral response to specific environmental conditions, plays a decisive role in driving avian parenting strategy diversification.
Comprehensive circRNA-microRNA-mRNA network analysis revealed the novel regulatory mechanism of Trichosporon asahii infection
Authors: Zhang Ming-Wang , Zhu Zhi-Hong , Xia Zhi-Kuan , Yang Xin , Luo Wan-Ting , Ao Jun-Hong , Yang Rong-Ya
Published: March 2021

Background

Invasive Trichosporon asahii (T. asahii) infection frequently occurs with a high mortality in immunodeficient hosts, but the pathogenesis of T. asahii infection remains elusive. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of endogenous noncoding RNA that participate in various disease processes. However, the mechanism of circRNAs in T. asahii infection remains completely unknown.

Methods

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to analyze the expression profiles of circRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs in THP-1 cells infected with T. asahii or uninfected samples. Some of the RNA-seq results were verified by RT-qPCR. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were used to analyze the differentially expressed mRNAs. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and overexpression experiments.

Results

A total of 46 circRNAs, 412 mRNAs and 47 miRNAs were differentially expressed at 12 h after T. asahii infection. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were primarily linked to the leukocyte migration involved in the inflammatory response, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and the TNF signaling pathway. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed with 5 differentially expressed circRNAs, 5 differentially expressed miRNAs and 42 differentially expressed mRNAs. Among them, hsa_circ_0065336 was found to indirectly regulate PTPN11 expression by sponging miR-505-3p.

Conclusions

These data revealed a comprehensive circRNA-associated ceRNA network during T. asahii infection, thus providing new insights into the pathogenesis of the T. asahii-host interactions.
Emergency 3-Dimensional–Printed Devices for Splitting Ventilators in Lungs With Different Compliances: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Frizzera-Borges Marcelo , Frizzera Fausto , Lemos Jório B. M. , Carraretto Antônio R.
Published: March 2021

Ventilator shortages occurred due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This in vitro study evaluated the effectiveness of 3-dimensional (3D)–printed splitters and 3D-printed air flow limiters (AFL) in delivering appropriate tidal volumes (TV) to lungs with different compliances. Groups were divided according to the size of the AFL: AFL-4 was a 4-mm device, AFL-5 a 5-mm device, AFL-6 a 6-mm device, and no limiter (control). A ventilator was split to supply TV to 2 artificial lungs with different compliances. The AFL improved TV distribution.
Racial Slurs and Whispers in Situated Testimonies of Dutch Imperial Fiction
Authors: Sears Laurie J.
Published: March 2021

Storytelling brings into vivid focus the emotions and affects that different classes and races of people experienced in the imperial Dutch Indies island worlds. The storyteller explored in this article is Maria Dermoût (1888–1962), a mixed-race Dutch woman (Indo) who was born and raised on Java in the Dutch East Indies and who spent more than thirty years there. This article argues that Dermoût is a key writer for understanding affective economies, because she devotes significant time and effort in her fiction to fleshing out Native characters, something that few writers of her time did. The novella Toetie, one of Dermoût’s last works, uncovers Indies and Dutch attitudes toward race and color, moving her work from the genre of Indies Letters, or Dutch colonial literature, to that of postcolonial critique, with an exploration of forms of servitude, affect, and the social relations of her time.
A single-plasmid approach for genome editing coupled with long-term lineage analysis in chick embryos
Authors: Gandhi Shashank , Li Yuwei , Tang Weiyi , Christensen Jens B. , Urrutia Hugo A. , Vieceli Felipe M. , Piacentino Michael L. , Bronner Marianne E.
Published: March 2021

An important strategy for establishing mechanisms of gene function during development is through mutation of individual genes and analysis of subsequent effects on cell behavior. Here, we present a single-plasmid approach for genome editing in chick embryos to study experimentally perturbed cells in an otherwise normal embryonic environment. To achieve this, we have engineered a plasmid that encodes Cas9 protein, gene-specific guide RNA (gRNA), and a fluorescent marker within the same construct. Using transfection- and electroporation-based approaches, we show that this construct can be used to perturb gene function in early embryos as well as human cell lines. Importantly, insertion of this cistronic construct into replication-incompetent avian retroviruses allowed us to couple gene knockouts with long-term lineage analysis. We demonstrate the application of our newly engineered constructs and viruses by perturbing β-catenin in vitro and Sox10, Pax6 and Pax7 in the neural crest, retina, and neural tube and segmental plate in vivo, respectively. Together, this approach enables genes of interest to be knocked out in identifiable cells in living embryos and can be broadly applied to numerous genes in different embryonic tissues.
Coronary blood flow influences tolerance to environmental extremes in fish
Authors: Morgenroth Daniel , McArley Tristan , Gräns Albin , Axelsson Michael , Sandblom Erik , Ekström Andreas
Published: March 2021

Approximately half of all fishes have, in addition to the luminal venous O2 supply, a coronary circulation supplying the heart with fully oxygenated blood. Yet, it is not fully understood how coronary O2 delivery affects tolerance to environmental extremes such as warming and hypoxia. Hypoxia reduces arterial oxygenation, while warming increases overall tissue O2 demand. Thus, as both stressors are associated with reduced venous O2 supply to the heart, we hypothesised that coronary flow benefits hypoxia and warming tolerance. To test this hypothesis, we blocked coronary blood flow (via surgical coronary ligation) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and assessed how in vivo cardiorespiratory performance and whole-animal tolerance to acute hypoxia and warming was affected. While coronary ligation reduced routine stroke volume relative to trout with intact coronaries, cardiac output was maintained by an increase in heart rate. However, in hypoxia, coronary-ligated trout were unable to increase stroke volume to maintain cardiac output when bradycardia developed, which was associated with a slightly reduced hypoxia tolerance. Moreover, during acute warming, coronary ligation caused cardiac function to collapse at lower temperatures and reduced overall heat tolerance relative to trout with intact coronary arteries. We also found a positive relationship between individual hypoxia and heat tolerance across treatment groups, and tolerance to both environmental stressors was positively correlated with cardiac performance. Collectively, our findings show that coronary perfusion improves cardiac O2 supply and therefore cardiovascular function at environmental extremes, which benefits tolerance to natural and anthropogenically induced environmental perturbations.
Effects of Na+ channel isoforms and cellular environment on temperature tolerance of cardiac Na+ current in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Haverinen Jaakko , Dzhumaniiazova Irina , Abramochkin Denis V. , Hassinen Minna , Vornanen Matti
Published: March 2021

Heat tolerance of heart rate in fish is suggested to be limited by impaired electrical excitation of the ventricle due to the antagonistic effects of high temperature on Na+ (INa) and K+ (IK1) ion currents (INa is depressed at high temperatures while IK1 is resistant to them). To examine the role of Na+ channel proteins in heat tolerance of INa, we compared temperature dependencies of zebrafish (Danio rerio, warm-dwelling subtropical species) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, cold-active temperate species) ventricular INa, and INa generated by the cloned zebrafish and rainbow trout NaV1.4 and NaV1.5 Na+ channels in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that zebrafish ventricular INa has better heat tolerance and slower inactivation kinetics than rainbow trout ventricular INa. In contrast, heat tolerance and inactivation kinetics of zebrafish and rainbow trout NaV1.4 channels are similar when expressed in the identical cellular environment of HEK cells. The same applies to NaV1.5 channels. These findings indicate that thermal adaptation of ventricular INa is largely achieved by differential expression of Na+ channel alpha subunits: zebrafish that tolerate higher temperatures mainly express the slower NaV1.5 isoform, while rainbow trout that prefer cold waters mainly express the faster NaV1.4 isoform. Differences in elasticity (stiffness) of the lipid bilayer and/or accessory protein subunits of the channel assembly may also be involved in thermal adaptation of INa. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that slow Na+ channel kinetics are associated with increased heat tolerance of cardiac excitation.
Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Presentation and Outcomes in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases Following Cytoreduction and Chemoperfusion: Persistent Inequalities in Outcomes at a High-Volume Center
Authors: Rieser Caroline J. , Hoehn Richard S. , Zenati Mazen , Hall Lauren B. , Kang Eliza , Zureikat Amer H. , Lee Andrew , Ongchin Melanie , Holtzman Matthew P. , Pingpank James F. , Bartlett David L. , Choudry M. Haroon A.
Published: March 2021

Background

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (CRS HIPEC) can offer significant survival advantage for select patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM). Low socioeconomic status (SES) is implicated in disparities in access to care. We analyze the impact of SES on postoperative outcomes and survival at a high-volume tertiary CRS HIPEC center.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining patients who underwent CRS HIPEC for CRPM from 2000 to 2018. Patients were grouped according to SES. Baseline characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and survival were examined between groups.

Results

A total of 226 patients were analyzed, 107 (47%) low-SES and 119 (53%) high-SES patients. High-SES patients were younger (52 vs. 58 years, p = 0.01) and more likely to be White (95.0% vs. 91.6%, p = 0.06) and privately insured (83% vs. 57%, p < 0.001). They traveled significantly further for treatment and had lower burden of comorbidities and frailty (p = 0.01). Low-SES patients more often presented with synchronous peritoneal metastases (48% vs. 35%, p = 0.05). Following CRS HIPEC, low-SES patients had longer length of stay and higher burden of postoperative complications, 90-day readmission, and 30-day mortality. Median overall survival following CRS HIPEC was worse for low-SES patients (17.8 vs. 32.4 months, p = 0.02). This disparity persisted on multivariate survival analysis (low SES: HR = 1.46, p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Despite improving therapies for CRPM, low-SES patients remain at a significant disadvantage. Even patients who overcome barriers to care experience worse short- and long-term outcomes. Improving access and addressing these disparities is crucial to ensure equitable outcomes and improve patient care.
Checklists for image-guided interventions: a systematic review
Authors: Alexander Harry C , McLaughlin Scott JP , Thomas Robert H , Merry Alan F
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Safety checklists have improved safety in patients undergoing surgery. Checklists have been designed specifically for use in image-guided interventions. This systematic review aimed to identify checklists designed for use in radiological interventions and to evaluate their efficacy for improving patient safety. Secondary aims were to evaluate attitudes toward checklists and barriers to their use.

Methods:

OVID, MEDLINE, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched using terms for “interventional radiology” and “checklist”. Studies were included if they described pre-procedural checklist use in vascular/body interventional radiology (IR), paediatric IR or interventional neuro-radiology (INR). Data on checklist design, implementation and outcomes were extracted.

Results:

Sixteen studies were included. Most studies (n = 14, 87.5%) focused on body IR. Two studies (12.5%) measured perioperative outcome after checklist implementation, but both had important limitations. Checklist use varied between 54 and 100% and completion of items on the checklists varied between 28 and 100%. Several barriers to checklist use were identified, including a lack of leadership and education and cultural challenges unique to radiology.

Conclusions:

We found few reports of the use of checklists in image-guided interventions. Approaches to checklist implementation varied, and several barriers to their use were identified. Evaluation has been limited. There seems to be considerable potential to improve the effective use of checklists in radiological procedures.

Advances in knowledge:

There are few reports of the use of checklists in radiological interventions, those identified reported significant barriers to the effective use of checklists.
Motivation and Incentives As the Main Tool for Retention of Personnel in the Organization
Authors: Mitrofanova Aleksandra , Manvelyan G.
Published: March 2021

The article examines the use of various motivation factors in order to retain personnel in the organization. The relevance of the research topic is due to the fact that the complexity of today's business environment is constantly changing the settings in which organizations compete for survival, with the result that special attention is paid to the acquisition and retention of quality employees, as this is seen as a key factor underlying organizational success. While many other resources are required to run a business, people are the most valuable resource that determines the success of every organization. The article considers rewards and compensation, career management, work-life balance, staff engagement, and job satisfaction as the main factors affecting staff retention. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that its results will help organizations use both modern and traditional methods of human resource management in order to retain employees.
Digital Transformation of the Corporate Training System
Authors: Kashtanova YEkatyerina , Zaharov D.
Published: March 2021

The paper examines the essence and trends of digital transformation currently observed in the corporate training system of companies. The authors note that at the moment, employee training should be less labor-intensive, preferably mobile and implemented in small parts, but at the same time remain effective and relevant to the current job responsibilities of a particular employee. The article provides convincing evidence that the digital transformation of the corporate employee training system is the answer to these modern requirements and helps employees improve their professional knowledge and skills without hindering business continuity and reducing productivity. As the main trends in the transformation of the corporate training system, the authors identify such as: changing the roles of training specialists, the transition to mobile platforms and micro-training, the widespread use of technologies based on the use of artificial intelligence in training. Considerable attention is paid to the stages of development of the corporate training system.
Development of a Model For the Formation of a Personal Brand of a Student / Young Specialist in the Field of Personnel Management
Authors: Mitrofanova Elena , Semenova A. , Savina Yu. , Orehova E. , Bodunova K. , Tanceva P. , Zhalalova L.
Published: March 2021

The article presents the results of research and development of a model for the formation and development of a personal HR brand - an interactive navigator that helps a student and a young specialist in the field of personnel management to correctly build a professional development strategy and increase their value in the labor market. The choice of this topic is primarily due to the urgency of the problem of employment: it is difficult for modern students and young specialists to fully reveal and use their potential, since, firstly, they are not known in the professional environment and, secondly, they do not know how to position themselves on the labor market as professionals. Thus, they are required to take targeted active actions in professional self-realization, one of the main tools for the implementation of which is a personal brand. Thus, the aim of the study is to increase the value and recognition of students in the labor market and in the professional environment and their employment in their specialty after graduating from the university based on the use of the model for the formation and development of a personal HR brand.
Team Orienteering with Time-Varying Profit
Authors: Yu Qinxiao , Adulyasak Yossiri , Rousseau Louis-Martin , Zhu Ning , Ma Shoufeng
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the team orienteering problem, where the arrival time and service time affect the collection of profits. Such interactions result in a nonconcave profit function. This problem integrates the aspect of time scheduling into the routing decision, which can be applied in humanitarian search and rescue operations where the survival rate declines rapidly. Rescue teams are needed to help trapped people in multiple affected sites, whereas the number of people who could be saved depends as well on how long a rescue team spends at each site. Efficient allocation and scheduling of rescue teams is critical to ensure a high survival rate. To solve the problem, we formulate a mixed-integer nonconcave programming model and propose a Benders branch-and-cut algorithm, along with valid inequalities for tightening the upper bound. To solve it more effectively, we introduce a hybrid heuristic that integrates a modified coordinate search (MCS) into an iterated local search. Computational results show that valid inequalities significantly reduce the optimality gap, and the proposed exact method is capable of solving instances where the mixed-integer nonlinear programming solver SCIP fails in finding an optimal solution. In addition, the proposed MCS algorithm is highly efficient compared with other benchmark approaches, whereas the hybrid heuristic is proven to be effective in finding high-quality solutions within short computing times. We also demonstrate the performance of the heuristic with the MCS using instances with up to 100 customers.

Summary of Contribution: Motivated by search and rescue (SAR) operations, we consider a generalization of the well-known team orienteering problem (TOP) to incorporate a nonlinear time-varying profit function in conjunction with routing and scheduling decisions. This paper expands the envelope of operations research and computing in several ways. To address the scalability issue of this highly complex combinatorial problem in an exact manner, we propose a Benders branch-and-cut (BBC) algorithm, which allows us to efficiently deal with the nonconcave component. This BBC algorithm is computationally enhanced through valid inequalities used to strengthen the bounds of the BBC. In addition, we propose a highly efficient hybrid heuristic that integrates a modified coordinate search into an iterated local search. It can quickly produce high-quality solutions to this complex problem. The performance of our solution algorithms is demonstrated through a series of computational experiments.
On Cluster-Aware Supervised Learning: Frameworks, Convergent Algorithms, and Applications
Authors: Chen Shutong , Xie Weijun
Published: March 2021

This paper proposes a cluster-aware supervised learning (CluSL) framework, which integrates the clustering analysis with supervised learning. The objective of CluSL is to simultaneously find the best clusters of the data points and minimize the sum of loss functions within each cluster. This framework has many potential applications in healthcare, operations management, manufacturing, and so on. Because CluSL, in general, is nonconvex, we develop a regularized alternating minimization (RAM) algorithm to solve it, where at each iteration, we penalize the distance between the current clustering solution and the one from the previous iteration. By choosing a proper penalty function, we show that each iteration of the RAM algorithm can be computed efficiently. We further prove that the proposed RAM algorithm will always converge to a stationary point within a finite number of iterations. This is the first known convergence result in cluster-aware learning literature. Furthermore, we extend CluSL to the high-dimensional data sets, termed the F-CluSL framework. In F-CluSL, we cluster features and minimize loss function at the same time. Similarly, to solve F-CluSL, a variant of the RAM algorithm (i.e., F-RAM) is developed and proven to be convergent to an [Formula: see text]-stationary point. Our numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed CluSL and F-CluSL can outperform the existing ones such as random forests and support vector classification, both in the interpretability of learning results and in prediction accuracy.

Summary of Contribution: Aligned with the mission and scope of the INFORMS Journal on Computing, this paper proposes a cluster-aware supervised learning (CluSL) framework, which integrates the clustering analysis with supervised learning. Because CluSL is, in general, nonconvex, a regularized alternating projection algorithm is developed to solve it and is proven to always find a stationary solution. We further generalize the framework to the high-dimensional data set, F-CluSL. Our numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed CluSL and F-CluSL can deliver more interpretable learning results and outperform the existing ones such as random forests and support vector classification in computational time and prediction accuracy.
Do People Understand the Benefit of Diversification?
Authors: Reinholtz Nicholas , Fernbach Philip M. , de Langhe Bart
Published: March 2021

Diversification—investing in imperfectly correlated assets—reduces volatility without sacrificing expected returns. Although the expected return of a diversified portfolio is the weighted average return of its constituent parts, the variance of the portfolio is less than the weighted average variance of its constituent parts. Our results suggest that very few people have correct statistical intuitions about the effects of diversification. The average person in our data sees no benefit of diversification in terms of reducing portfolio volatility. Many people, especially those low in financial literacy, believe diversification actually increases the volatility of a portfolio. These people seem to believe that the unpredictability of individual assets compounds when aggregated together. Additionally, most people believe diversification increases the expected return of a portfolio. Many of these people correctly link diversification with the concept of risk reduction but seem to understand risk reduction to mean greater returns on average. We show that these beliefs can lead people to construct investment portfolios that mismatch investors’ risk preferences. Furthermore, these beliefs may help explain why many investors are underdiversified.

This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, decision analysis.
What Is the Impact of Nonrandomness on Random Choice Models?
Authors: Wang Ruxian
Published: March 2021

Problem definition: This paper examines the impact of nonrandomness on random choice models and studies various operations problems under the new discrete choice models. Academic/practical relevance: The literature often assumes that the random utility components follow some independent and identically distributed distribution. This assumption is too restrictive in some real-world scenarios, because, for example, consumers may have known well about the attribute values for the product that they have repeatedly purchased. Methodology: We adopt the random utility maximization framework and characterize the choice probabilities when the utility of some alternative is deterministic. The log-likelihood function is jointly concave in the attribute coefficients under the linear utility-attribute assumption; an expectation-maximization algorithm is developed to overcome the missing data issue in estimation. Results: Surprisingly, if the utility of a particular product is deterministic, the assortment problem is still polynomial-time solvable, whereas if the utility of the no-purchase option is deterministic, the decision problem corresponding to the assortment optimization is NP-complete. We show that the price minus the reciprocal of price sensitivity is product invariant at optimality, which helps to simplify the multiproduct pricing problems. Managerial implications: Empirical study on real data shows that incorporating nonrandomness into random choice models can increase model fitting and prediction accuracy. Failure of accounting for the impact of nonrandomness may result in substantial losses.
A educação das famílias por Ofélia Boisson Cardoso: uma leitura da obra Problemas da Adolescência
Authors: De Almeida Orlando Evelyn , Estevam David Henllyger
Published: March 2021

O presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir a partir da análise da obra Problemas da adolescência, publicada em 1961, a contribuição da intelectual Ofélia Boisson Cardoso para a educação das famílias. Metodologicamente, buscamos ler a obra em sua materialidade e em seu conteúdo, visando compreender os saberes que a autora pretendia transmitir a seus leitores. A pesquisa se consolidou na perspectiva da História Cultural, tendo como metodologia a análise do livro como fonte documental privilegiada (LE GOFF, 1990). A partir da análise do impresso podemos concluir como os princípios cristãos, mais especificamente católicos, nortearam a problemática discutida pela autora, possibilitando que suas produções servissem também como instrumento de moralização das famílias brasileiras.
Higienismo e educação escolar na cidade da Parahyba durante a Primeira República
Authors: Cardoso Carlos Augusto Amorim , Calado Eliana , Sá Nirvana
Published: March 2021

Este artigo tem como principal objetivo discutir de que modo o discurso higienista se fez presente na educação escolar da cidade da Parahyba no período da Primeira República, em especial no que se refere ao conhecimento geográfico da cidade. Entende-se que o debate higiênico nas escolas, bem como a criação de cadeiras de higiene, contribuíram para uma reinvenção da cidade por meio do paradigma do moderno. Para tanto, a pesquisa vem sendo realizada a partir dos estudos e procedimentos metodológicos da Geografia Histórica, através de documentos históricos, primários e secundários, que possam contribuir com o estudo histórico do espaço.
Interseccionalidade e trabalho docente: desafios vividos por professoras negras da UFAC
Authors: Da Silva Sulamita Rosa , Rezende Machado Tânia Mara , Lopes de Oliveira Costa Ademárcia
Published: March 2021

A interseccionalidade analisa as discriminações raciais, de gênero, dentre outras opressões de forma sobrepostas na vida de mulheres negras. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar os desafios de como é ser mulher negra e professora universitária nos cursos de licenciatura da Universidade Federal do Acre/Campus Sede, refletindo sobre as discriminações raciais e de gênero na academia. Na metodologia, fez-se uso das pesquisas bibliográfica e de campo, por meio de entrevistas narrativas. Os traços negroides das docentes eram assemelhados com preconceitos alusivos as suas competências profissionais e titulações, naturalizando-se o racismo na academia.
Subwavelength grating waveguide filter based on cladding modulation with a phase-change material grating
Authors: Badri S. Hadi , Farkoush Saeid Gholami
Published: March 2021

Subwavelength engineering and utilizing phase-change materials with large contrast in their optical properties have become powerful design tools for integrated silicon photonics. Reversible phase-transition of phase-change materials such asGe2Sb2Te5(GST) provide a new degree of freedom and open up the possibility of adding new functionalities to the designed devices. We present an optical filter based on a silicon subwavelength grating (SWG) waveguide evanescently coupled to phase-change material loading segments arranged periodically around the SWG core. The effect of the GST loading segments’ geometry and their distance from the SWG core on the filter’s central wavelength and bandwidth are studied with three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations. The employment of GST in the structure adds a switching functionality with an extinction ratio of 28.8 dB. We also examine the possibility of using the proposed structure as a reconfigurable filter by controlling the partial crystallization of the GST offering a blueshift of more than 4 nm.
Enhanced absorption based on gap-plasmon resonance and Fabry–Perot resonance in a refractory metasurface
Authors: Huo Dewang , Su Hang , Wang Chao , Ma Xinyan , Zhao Hua
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we report a polarization-independent broadband metasurface perfect absorber based on tunable gap magnetic resonance and Fabry–Perot (FP) resonance in a structure with consecutive size variation. By using the finite-difference time-domain method, the effects of size parameters are investigated. Due to the coexistence of the FP-like resonance and gap magnetic resonance, the near-unit absorption reaches as high as 99.46% with nanocone morphology throughout the visible-to-near infrared regime where most solar radiation is located. The structure raised in this paper is less complex and more thermally stable due to abandoning the spacer layer in traditional tri-layer structures. This method can be developed for other refractory materials and has great potential in solar energy related optoelectronics applications.
Focusing characteristics of linearly polarized ultrashort pulses at the focal plane
Authors: Zheng Yali , Cai Xunming , Zhao Xin
Published: March 2021

The dynamic focusing characteristics of linearly polarized ultrashort pulses are studied. Both the complex source-sink model (CSSM) and the Richards–Wolf diffraction integral theory (RWT) are used to study the focusing phenomena. For the central focus spot, the descriptions of both the CSSM and the RWT are well consistent. Also, the CSSM can describe the super-resolution focused spot very conveniently, and only the beam waist parameters need to be changed. The dynamic convergence and divergence focusing phenomena of linearly polarized ultrashort pulse are studied by both the CSSM and RWT. The numerical simulation results of both the CSSM and the RWT are not consistent. In the convergent focusing process, there are dynamic focusing phenomena transitions from the halo to two light lobes to the elliptical focus spot. In the divergent defocusing process, the phenomena are the inverse process of the phenomena in the focusing process. The peak power of halos versus the beam convergence angles are studied. The specific angles corresponding to the significantly reduced peak powers of halos are given. These studies may be applied in the field of particle manipulation and acceleration.
Ultra-flat, low-noise, and linearly polarized fiber supercontinuum source covering 670–1390  nm
Authors: Genier Etienne , Grelet Sacha , Engelsholm Rasmus D. , Bowen Patrick , Moselund Peter M. , Bang Ole , Dudley John M. , Sylvestre Thibaut
Published: March 2021

We report an octave-spanning coherent supercontinuum (SC) fiber laser
with excellent noise and polarization properties. This was achieved by
pumping a highly birefringent all-normal dispersion photonic crystal
fiber with a compact high-power ytterbium femtosecond laser at
1049 nm. This system generates an ultra-flat SC spectrum from 670 to
1390 nm with a power spectral density higher than 0.4 mW/nm and a
polarization extinction ratio of 17 dB across the entire bandwidth. An
average pulse-to-pulse relative intensity noise down to 0.54% from 700
to 1100 nm was measured and found to be in good agreement with
numerical simulations. This highly stable broadband source could find
strong potential applications in biomedical imaging and spectroscopy
where an improved signal-to-noise ratio is essential.
Few-layer metamaterials for spontaneous emission enhancement: publisher’s note
Authors: Li Ling , Zhou Zhangyu , Min Changjun , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: March 2021

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett.
46, 190 (2021)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.413268.
Topological effects in integrated photonic waveguide structures [Invited]
Authors: Kremer Mark , Maczewsky Lukas J. , Heinrich Matthias , Szameit Alexander
Published: March 2021

We review recent advances of topological photonics in coupled waveguide systems. To this end, we discuss the various prevalent platforms, as well as various implementations in one- and two-dimensional systems, including driven, static, nonlinear and quantum systems.