bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects of flexible employment using in the Arctic zone, based on the experience of Saint-Petersburg’s enterprises
Authors: Razumov Alexander , Tsygankova Inga , Ivanova Natalia , Vakhitova Lidiya
Published: March 2021

The article confirms the importance of the Arctic region for the economic development of Russia. The main problems, existing on the labour market of the Arctic zone (shortage of personnel, workforce demand and supply imbalance), are formulated. The authors investigated the forms and models of flexible employment and identified the features of their using at Russian enterprises. The main results of the conducted by the authors in November-December 2019 research on the work flexible forms using at enterprises of St. Petersburg are presented. They belong to high-tech sectors of the economy, namely: the development of Russian software, design and scientific developments in the field of shipbuilding and air traffic control. The performed data indicate, that the employees of the examined enterprises, especially young ones, successfully use such forms of employment as work with flexible start and end of the working day, flexible part-time employment and distance work. The advantages of work flexible forms using for young people are revealed. Among them: the ability to combine work and training, having a stable source of income; obtaining practical skills at the stage of education in an educational institution; successful formation of professional competencies, required for a work in a certain position. Based on the experience of these enterprises, the expediency of employment flexible forms using for young people in the Arctic zone of Russia is proved, the main purpose of which is reducing the shortage of personnel and labour resources imbalance.
The economic basis for the preservation of the traditional economy and the original culture of the indigenous peoples of the North
Authors: Larchenko L V , Paranina A N , Churilina I N , Anisimov T U
Published: March 2021

The article reveals the current problems of the development of the indigenous peoples of the North. The problems are especially acute in places of intensive development of oil and gas resources of the Arctic zone of Russia. To preserve the indigenous peoples of the North, as an ethnic group, a prerequisite is the sustainable development of traditional industries in their traditional places of residence. The article proposes a differentiated approach to the formation of the most gentle mechanisms for preserving the traditional economy and the original culture of the indigenous peoples of the North in places of development of natural resources. For a population that has not lost its distinctive features in the economic structure and worldview, and does not want to change anything in its lifestyle, it would seem that the idea of creating ethnoparks would be suitable. The second, the main part of the population employed in the traditional economy, will live and work on the territories of patrimonial and communal lands. To enter the market (or coexist alongside it), it is necessary to develop efforts in two directions. The first is marketing, which includes the entire arsenal of tools necessary to identify, create, promote a northern product or service on the market. The second direction is production, containing the organization of production or services. In the production area, in this case, the role of factorories is obvious. For the third part of the ethnos not employed in the traditional economy, such activities are necessary that would be associated with the traditional economy, being its continuation, and thereby do not destroy the unity of the ethnos.
Restructuring of the economy of resource-extracting regions of the Russian North and the Arctic as a necessary condition for sustainable territorial development
Authors: Larchenko L V
Published: March 2021

The practice of developing foreign and Russian extractive northern and Arctic territories shows that many problems are based on the narrow-raw nature of the economy. A study of the dynamics of the sectoral structure of the oil and gas producing regions of the Russian North and the Arctic showed that the mono-industry orientation of the economy is growing, which makes the economic situation largely unpredictable and fraught with crisis phenomena. The article shows that already at an early stage of production it is necessary not only to predict, but also to take practical actions to solve the problem of the development of the territory. The authors proposed the main directions for the transition of the mining region from narrow-source specialization to diversified economy, including approaches to partial diversification and restructuring of the regional economy, the implementation of which will create the necessary prerequisites for sustainable integrated development of the region in the long term, including the time when raw materials will be exhausted . Diversification of raw materials industries is, first of all, expanding the sphere of activity in the extractive sector by creating deep processing industries for raw materials, as well as serving and auxiliary ones. Diversification should affect not only the raw materials industries, whose products are in demand on world markets, but also less profitable, but having a development base in the conditions of the raw materials orientation of the region. Restructuring of the region’s economy implies the emergence of new areas of specialization within the existing resource base, the development of high-tech and high-tech production, and the expansion of the service sector, including tourism, transport, computer science, communications.
Live, work or leave? Arctic youth survey results
Authors: Pitukhina Maria , Tolstoguzov Oleg , Ilyin Alexander
Published: March 2021

The article deals with arctic youth survey results analysis within the framework of international Russian-Finnish project “Live, Work or Leave! Youth – wellbeing and the viablity of (post) extractive Arctic industrial cities in Finland and Russia” focusing on youth well-being in the Arctic industrial cities. Sociological survey results of youth living in 3 Russian Arctic regions of the Russian Federation (Murmanskaya oblast, Yamalo-nenetsky autonomous district, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)) made it possible to assess the attractiveness of various industrial cities in the Arctic as places to live and work. There were 600 respondents aged from 14 to 30 years. The survey results have showed both arctic youth migratory trends as well as level of their happiness and well-being. Arctic youth survey results explore a number of positive perspectives - pursuit of happiness and opportunity, as today’s youth wants to get out of constant mode of survival. The survey results has showed that despite socio-economic difficulties faced by young people, the feeling of happiness is still common for all of them.
Ensuring Environmental Control During Soapstock Processing In The Arctic Climate
Authors: Marchenko Lyudmila , Shperber Elizar , Bokovikova Tatyana , Shperber David
Published: March 2021

This article is a comprehensive analysis of the Arctic legislation of the Russian Federation in the context of the implementation of the main geopolitical and socio-economic interests of the country in the Arctic region. The relevance of the presented research is determined by the need for further development of international legal norms regulating various aspects of the development of the Arctic region, as well as domestic legislation that defines Russia’s strategic interests in the Arctic zone and the competence of state authorities in the implementation of these interests, taking into account the basic principles and provisions of international public and private law and the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
Revision of the characteristics of oil spill response technologies for the Arctic seas
Authors: Moninets Sergey
Published: March 2021

The article attempts to re-evaluate the accepted methods for determining readiness in the event of an oil spill in the Arctic seas. The emphasis is on the need to take into account the natural processes of interaction between ice and oil in different seasons. The importance of testing technologies for oil harvesting in the conditions of its interaction with ice is proved. The article analyses the foreign experience of testing oil-recovery systems in order to determine their performance and efficiency. The author substantiates the claim that the existing test methods do not fully allow evaluating the efficiency of oil collection systems in ice conditions. The author gives a brief description of the methodology developed by him for testing oil-gathering equipment and the first results of its application at a specially created testing site. The conclusion of the article is that we need to change the approach to calculating the performance of oil recovery systems. Also, is necessary to continue the research of oil behaviour and response method implementation in the freezing seas conditions.
Can the Arctic be saved for the next generations? Study of examples and internships in Murmansk District
Authors: Huber Miłosz , Iakovleva Olga , Zhigunova Galina , Menshakova Marija , Gainanova Ramziya
Published: March 2021

This text highlights the environmental aspects of the Arctic in the Murmansk District. Its geographical, natural, geological, and historical characteristics are presented. Examples of environmental protection facilities have been shown and aspects of their features that make the region attractive for tourists have been indicated. Proposals for the development of tourist infrastructure were shown, models for the development of the cultural and industrial landscape of cities were proposed, as well as the exhibition of natural and post-industrial heritage in the context of the possibility of its protection and exhibition for visitors. The influence of social awareness of inhabitants and the role of their quality of life in the context of the possibility of effective nature protection was indicated. Examples are also shown that allow for the sustainable development of these areas also through the diversification of income with the participation of the tourism industry, economic recovery of post-industrial areas, and the possibility of further protection of the Arctic for future generations.
Gas and water content’s monitoring of crude oil in pipeline during production in Arctic shelf
Authors: Voytyuk Irina
Published: March 2021

The gradual depletion of onshore oil and gas fields and the aggravation of the global energy crisis lead to intensive development of oil and gas resources on the continental shelf, in particular, the Arctic shelf. When monitoring of oil production from wells in the conditions of Arctic shelf, it is necessary to measure free gas concentration and water content in oil-gas-water mixture in a pipeline. The paper discloses a method for non-contact monitoring of gas concentration and the water cut of products of oil wells in a pipeline, as well as presents the results of industrial studies of the interaction between gamma radiation and a flow of oil-gas-water mixture. Conclusions are formulated about the advantages of using and the feasibility of using this method for measuring the concentration of free gas and the water content in the oil-gas-water mixture during oil production.
Study of frequency dispersion of capacitance-voltage characteristics of boron-doped diamond Schottky diodes
Authors: Solomnikova Anna , Tylintsev Maksim , Lukashkin Vadim
Published: March 2021

A single-crystal diamond doped with boron was studied in this work. For electrical measurements an array of Schottky contacts and a large Ohmic contact were fabricated. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of the sample were obtained experimentally in wide temperature range and modeled. At high temperature (445 K) the slope of the C-V characteristics does not depend on the test signal frequency. The calculated concentration of free charge carriers is the same for all frequencies within the experimental error and approximately corresponds to the total boron concentration. At low temperatures (235 K), there is a significant difference in capacitances measured at different frequencies, the calculated concentration varies from 5·1017 cm-3 to 5·1015 cm-3 in the available frequency range. The reasons for the frequency dispersion of capacitance-voltage characteristics of boron-doped diamond diodes are discussed.
Revealing capacity fading in Sb-based anodes using symmetric sodium-ion cells
Authors: Tesfamhret Yonas , Carboni Marco , Asfaw Habtom Desta , Kullgren Jolla , Younesi Reza
Published: March 2021

The electrochemical performance of negative active materials employed in sodium-ion batteries is dependent on the amount of Na+ available in the test cells. As such, electrodes that exhibit long cycle-life and high coulombic efficiency (CE) in half-cells could suffer from fast capacity fading in full-cells as a result of unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and mechanical degradation leading to loss of active materials. In this work, the performance of Sb–graphite composite active materials prepared by extended ball-milling was evaluated in sodium half-cells and various types of symmetric cells (SCs). In half-cell tests, the composite electrodes provided specific capacities in the range 350–600 mAh g−1 at C/20 with initial CE of 82%. A stable capacity of 380 mAh g−1 was observed in the subsequent 100 cycles with the CE increasing to nearly 99%. However, self-discharge tests on half-cells and galvanostatic cycling of SCs revealed poor capacity retention as a result of parasitic reaction occurring through the SEI layer. Contrary to half-cells, the SCs revealed that Sb electrodes suffered from sharp capacity losses when a limited amount of Na+ ions was available in the cells. This is also characteristic of full-cells in which the sodium ions are supplied by the positive electrode.
GPU coprocessors as a service for deep learning inference in high energy physics
Authors: Krupa Jeffrey , Lin Kelvin , Acosta Flechas Maria , Dinsmore Jack , Duarte Javier , Harris Philip , Hauck Scott , Holzman Burt , Hsu Shih-Chieh , Klijnsma Thomas , Liu Mia , Pedro Kevin , Rankin Dylan , Suaysom Natchanon , Trahms Matt , Tran Nhan
Published: March 2021

In the next decade, the demands for computing in large scientific experiments are expected to grow tremendously. During the same time period, CPU performance increases will be limited. At the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), these two issues will confront one another as the collider is upgraded for high luminosity running. Alternative processors such as graphics processing units (GPUs) can resolve this confrontation provided that algorithms can be sufficiently accelerated. In many cases, algorithmic speedups are found to be largest through the adoption of deep learning algorithms. We present a comprehensive exploration of the use of GPU-based hardware acceleration for deep learning inference within the data reconstruction workflow of high energy physics. We present several realistic examples and discuss a strategy for the seamless integration of coprocessors so that the LHC can maintain, if not exceed, its current performance throughout its running.
Ways that Animal Wings Produce Sound
Authors: Clark Christopher J
Published: March 2021

Synopsis

There are at least eight ways that wings potentially produce sound. Five mechanisms are aerodynamic sounds, created by airflow, and three are structural sound created by interactions of solid surfaces. Animal flight is low Mach (M), meaning all animals move at <30% of the speed of sound. Thus in aerodynamic mechanisms the effects of air compressibility can be ignored, except in mechanism #1. Mechanism #1 is trapped air, in which air approaches or exceeds Mach 1 as it escapes a constriction. This mechanism is hypothetical but likely. #2 is Gutin sound, the aerodynamic reaction to lift and drag. This mechanism is ubiquitous in flight, and generates low frequency sound such as the humming of hummingbirds or insect wing tones. #3 is turbulence-generated atonal whooshing sounds, which are also widespread in animal flight. #4 are whistles, tonal sounds generated by geometry-induced flow feedback. This mechanism is hypothetical. #5 is aeroelastic flutter, sound generated by elasticity-induced feedback that is usually but not always tonal. This is widespread in birds (feathers are predisposed to flutter) but apparently not bats or insects. Mechanism #6 is rubbing sound (including stridulation), created when bird feathers or insect wings slide past each other. Atonal rubbing sounds are widespread in bird flight and insects; tonal stridulation is widespread in insects. #7 is percussion, created when two stiff elements collide and vibrate, and is present in some birds and insects. Mechanism #8 are tymbals and other bistable conformations. These are stiff elements that snap back and forth between two conformations, producing impulsive, atonal sound. Tymbals are widespread in insects but not birds or bats; insect cuticle appears predisposed to form tymbals. There are few examples of bat wing sounds: are bats intrinsically quiet, or just under-studied? These mechanisms, especially Gutin sound, whooshes, and rubbing (#2, #3, and #6) are prominent cues in ordinary flight of all flying animals, and are the “acoustic substrate” available to be converted from an adventitious sound (cue) into a communication signal. For instance, wing sounds have many times evolved into signals that are incorporated into courtship displays. Conversely, these are the sounds selected to be suppressed if quiet flight is selected for. The physical mechanisms that underlie animal sounds provide context for understanding the ways in which signals and cues may evolve.
Is the Yedikule-solitary pulmonary nodule malignancy risk score sufficient to predict malignancy? An internal validation study
Authors: Erdoğu Volkan , Çitak Necati , Yerlioğlu Aynur , Aksoy Yunus , Emetli Yasemin , Pekçolaklar Atilla , Saydam Özkan , Metin Muzaffer
Published: March 2021

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to develop a malignancy risk score model for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using the demographic, radiological and clinical characteristics of patients in our centre. The model was then internally validated for malignancy risk estimation.

METHODS

A total of 270 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for SPN between June 2017 and May 2019 were retrospectively analysed. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, cut-off values were determined for radiological tumour diameter, maximum standardized uptake value and the Brock University probability of malignancy (BU-PM) model. The Yedikule-SPN malignancy risk model was developed using these cut-off values and demographic, radiological and clinical criteria in the first 180 patients (study cohort) and internally validated with the next 90 patients (validation cohort). The Yedikule-SPN model was then compared with the BU-PM model in terms of malignancy prediction.

RESULTS

Malignancy was reported in 171 patients (63.3%). Maximum standardized uptake value and BU-PM scores were sufficient to predict malignancy (P < 0.001 for both), while the effectiveness of nodule size determined on thoracic computed tomography did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.09). When the Yedikule-SPN model developed with the study cohort was applied to the validation cohort, it significantly predicted malignancy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.883, 95% confidence interval: 0.827–0.957, P < 0.001). Comparison of patients in the validation group with Yedikule-SPN scores above (n = 53) and below (n = 37) the cut-off value of 65.75 showed that the malignancy rate was significantly higher among patients with Yedikule-SPN score over 65.75 (86.8% vs 21.6%, P < 0.001, odds ratio = 23.821, 95% confidence interval: 7.805–72.701). When compared with the BU-PM model in all patients, the Yedikule-SPN model tended to be a better predictor of malignancy (P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

The internally validated Yedikule-SPN model is also a good predictor of the malignancy of SPN(s). Prospective and multicentre external validation studies with large patients’ cohorts are needed.
A Characterization of Linearizability for Holomorphic ℂ*-Actions
Authors: Kutzschebauch Frank , Schwarz Gerald W
Published: March 2021

Let $G$ be a reductive complex Lie group acting holomorphically on $X=\mathbb{C}^n$. The (holomorphic) Linearization Problem asks if there is a holomorphic change of coordinates on $\mathbb{C}^n$ such that the $G$-action becomes linear. Equivalently, is there a $G$-equivariant biholomorphism $\Phi \colon X\to V$ where $V$ is a $G$-module? There is an intrinsic stratification of the categorical quotient $X/\!\!/G$, called the Luna stratification, where the strata are labeled by isomorphism classes of representations of reductive subgroups of $G$. Suppose that there is a $\Phi $ as above. Then $\Phi $ induces a biholomorphism ${\varphi }\colon X/\!\!/G\to V/\!\!/G$ that is stratified, that is, the stratum of $X/\!\!/G$ with a given label is sent isomorphically to the stratum of $V/\!\!/G$ with the same label. The counterexamples to the Linearization Problem construct an action of $G$ such that $X/\!\!/G$ is not stratified biholomorphic to any $V/\!\!/G$. Our main theorem shows that, for a reductive group $G$ with $\dim G\leq 1$, the existence of a stratified biholomorphism of $X/\!\!/G$ to some $V/\!\!/G$ is not only necessary but also sufficient for linearization. In fact, we do not have to assume that $X$ is biholomorphic to $\mathbb{C}^n$, only that $X$ is a Stein manifold.
Performance of 4 Automated SARS-CoV-2 Serology Assay Platforms in a Large Cohort Including Susceptible COVID-19–Negative and COVID-19–Positive Patients
Authors: Ward Matthew D , Mullins Kristin E , Pickett Elizabeth , Merrill VeRonika , Ruiz Mark , Rebuck Heather , Duh Show-Hong , Christenson Robert H
Published: March 2021

Background

Anti–SARS-CoV-2 serological responses may have a vital role in controlling the spread of the disease. However, the comparative performance of automated serological assays has not been determined in susceptible patients with significant comorbidities.

Methods

In this study, we used large numbers of samples from patients who were negative (n = 2030) or positive (n = 112) for COVID-19 to compare the performance of 4 serological assay platforms: Siemens Healthineers Atellica IM Analyzer, Siemens Healthineers Dimension EXL Systems, Abbott ARCHITECT, and Roche cobas.

Results

All 4 serology assay platforms exhibited comparable negative percentage of agreement with negative COVID-19 status ranging from 99.2% to 99.7% and positive percentage of agreement from 84.8% to 87.5% with positive real-time reverse transcriptase PCR results. Of the 2142 total samples, only 38 samples (1.8%) yielded discordant results on one or more platforms. However, only 1.1% (23/2030) of results from the COVID-19–negative cohort were discordant. whereas discordance was 10-fold higher for the COVID-19–positive cohort, at 11.3% (15/112). Of the total 38 discordant results, 34 were discordant on only one platform.

Conclusions

Serology assay performance was comparable across the 4 platforms assessed in a large population of patients who were COVID-19 negative with relevant comorbidities. The pattern of discordance shows that samples were discordant on a single assay platform, and the discordance rate was 10-fold higher in the population that was COVID-19 positive.
Field-Level Exposure of Bumble Bees to Fungicides Applied to a Commercial Cherry Orchard
Authors: Kuivila K M , Judd H , Hladik M L , Strange J P
Published: March 2021

Bumble bees, Bombus spp. (Apidae), are important native pollinators; however, populations of some species are declining in North America and agricultural chemicals are a potential cause. Fungicides are generally not highly toxic to bees, but little is known about sublethal or synergistic effects. This study evaluates bumble bee exposure to fungicides by quantifying concentrations of boscalid and pyraclostrobin in nectar and pollen collected by colonies of Bombus huntii Greene, 1860 (Hunt bumble bee) deployed in a commercial cherry Prunus avium L. orchard in the spring of 2016. Seven colonies were placed adjacent to an orchard block that was sprayed with a fungicide mixture of boscalid and pyraclostrobin and a control group of seven colonies was placed next to an unsprayed block of orchard 400 m away from the treated block. Nectar and pollen were collected daily, beginning 1 d before spray application and continuing for a total of 12 d, and analyzed for both fungicides. Fungicide concentrations varied spatially by colony and temporally by day. The highest concentrations in nectar occurred 1 and 3 d after spraying: up to 440 ng/g boscalid and 240 ng/g pyraclostrobin. Six days after application, pollen from cherry flowers contained the highest concentrations of the fungicides: up to 60,500 ng/g boscalid and 32,000 ng/g pyraclostrobin. These data can help to determine field-level fungicide concentrations in nectar and pollen and direct future work on understanding the effects of these compounds, including their interactions with important bumble bee pathogenic and beneficial symbionts.
What makes (hydroxy)chloroquine ineffective against COVID-19: insights from cell biology
Authors: Altulea Dania , Maassen Sjors , Baranov Maksim V , van den Bogaart Geert
Published: March 2021

Since chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can inhibit the invasion and proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 in cultured cells, the repurposing of these antimalarial drugs was considered a promising strategy for treatment and prevention of COVID-19. However, despite promising preliminary findings, many clinical trials showed neither significant therapeutic nor prophylactic benefits of CQ and HCQ against COVID-19. Here, we aim to answer the question of why these drugs are not effective against the disease by examining the cellular working mechanisms of CQ and HCQ in prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
A narrative review of regulatory governance factors that shape food and nutrition policies
Authors: Ngqangashe Yandisa , Goldman Sharni , Schram Ashley , Friel Sharon
Published: March 2021

Food composition, marketing restrictions, nutrition labeling, and taxation policies are recommended for preventing diet-related noncommunicable diseases. In view of the increasing but variable adoption of food policies globally, this narrative review examines the actors, regulatory frameworks, and institutional contexts that shape the development, design, and implementation of these policies. We found a diverse range of actors using various strategies, including advocacy, framing, and evidence generation to influence policy agendas. We identified diverse regulatory designs used in the formulation and implementation of the policies: command and control state regulation for taxes and menu labels, quasi-regulation for sodium reformulation, and co-regulation and industry self-regulation for food marketing policies. Quasi-regulation and industry self-regulation are critiqued for their voluntary nature, lack of independence from the industry, and absence of (or poor) monitoring and enforcement systems. The policy instrument design and implementation best practices highlighted in this review include clear policy goals and rigorous standards that are adequately monitored and enforced. Future research should examine how these combinations of regulatory governance factors influence policy outcomes.
Phytochrome-interacting factors interact with transcription factor CONSTANS to suppress flowering in rose
Authors: Sun Jingjing , Lu Jun , Bai Mengjuan , Chen Yeqing , Wang Weinan , Fan Chunguo , Liu Jinyi , Ning Guogui , Wang Changquan
Published: March 2021

As day-neutral (DN) woody perennial plants, the flowering time of roses (Rosa spp.) is assumed to be independent of the photoperiodic conditions; however, light responses of rose plants are not well understood. Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) plants were grown under two light intensities (low light [LL], 92 μmol·m−2·s−1; or high light [HL], 278 μmol·m−2·s−1), and either with or without an end-of-day far-red (EOD-FR) treatment. Flowering was significantly delayed in the LL condition compared with the HL, but was not affected by EOD-FR treatment. The time until flowering positively corresponded with the mRNA and protein levels of phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs; RcPIFs). The heterologous expression of RcPIF1, RcPIF3, or RcPIF4 in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) pifq quadruple mutant partially rescued the mutant’s shorter hypocotyl length. Simultaneous silencing of three RcPIFs in R. chinensis accelerated flowering under both LL and HL, with a more robust effect in LL, establishing RcPIFs as flowering suppressors in response to light intensity. The RcPIFs interacted with the transcription factor CONSTANS (RcCO) to form a RcPIFs–RcCO complex, which interfered with the binding of RcCO to the promoter of FLOWERING LOCUS T (RcFT), thereby inhibiting its expression. Furthermore, this inhibition was enhanced when RcPIFs were stabilized by LL, leading to delayed flowering under LL compared with HL. Our results not only revealed another layer of PIF functioning in the flowering of woody perennial plants, but also established a mechanism of light response in DN plants.
In the service of the Filipino: the role of Catholic higher education institutions in promoting COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines
Authors: Vicente Niku E , Cordero Dalmacito A
Published: March 2021

There has been a stigma and hesitancy regarding COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines. Many Filipinos are still hesitant to be vaccinated. This paper highlights the role of the Catholic Church as a powerful institution which can influence the people not only in spiritual aspect but also in promoting public health by motivating locals to get vaccinated. This task can be specifically done through the efforts of Catholic Higher Education Institutions (HEI) that place prominence and priority on social work and mission.
The First Episode Psychosis Services Fidelity Scale 1.0: Review and Update
Authors: Addington Donald
Published: March 2021

The First Episode Psychosis Fidelity Scale, first published in 2016, is based on a list of essential components identified by systematic reviews and an international consensus process. The purpose of this paper was to present the FEPS-FS 1.0 version of the scale, review the results of studies that have examined the scale and provide an up-to-date review of evidence for each component and its rating. The First Episode Psychosis Services Fidelity Scale 1.0 has 35 components, which rate access and quality of health care delivered by early psychosis teams. Twenty-five components rate service components, and 15 components rate team functioning. Each component is rated on a 1–5 scale, and a rating of 4 is satisfactory. The service components describe services received by patients rather than staff activity. The fidelity rater completes ratings based on administrative data, health record review, and interviews. Fidelity raters from two multicenter studies provided feedback on the clarity and precision of component definitions and ratings. When administered by trained raters, the scale demonstrated good to excellent interrater reliability. The selection of components can be adjusted to rate programs serving patients with bipolar disorder or an attenuated psychosis syndrome. The scale can be used to assess and improve the quality of individual programs, compare programs and program networks. Researchers can use the scale as an outcome measure for implementation studies and as a process measure for outcome studies. Future research should focus on demonstrating predictive validity.
Funding for few, anticipation among all: Effects of excellence funding on academic research groups
Authors: Scholten Wout , Franssen Thomas P , van Drooge Leonie , de Rijcke Sarah , Hessels Laurens K
Published: March 2021

In spite of the growing literature about excellence funding in science, we know relatively little about its implications for academic research practices. This article compares organizational and epistemic effects of excellence funding across four disciplinary fields, based on in-depth case studies of four research groups in combination with twelve reference groups. In spite of the highly selective nature of excellence funding, all groups employ dedicated strategies to maximize their chances of acquiring it, which we call strategic anticipation. The groups with ample excellence funding acquire a relatively autonomous position within their organization. While the epistemic characteristics of the four fields shape how excellence funding can be used, we find that in all fields there is an increase in epistemic autonomy. However, in fields with more individual research practices a longer time horizon for grants, beyond the usual 5 years, would fit better with the research process.
Effect of Naltrexone on Interleukins 2 and 4 in a Sample of Egyptian Patients With Heroin Use Disorder: A Prospective Case-control Study
Authors: Mesalhy Omnia A.E.A. , Ali Ola S.M. , ELhabiby Mahmoud M.M. , Hassan Fatma A.Z.M. , Elgamel Omayma A. , Aufa Ola M.M.
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Opiates, particularly heroin, have been used for centuries for their positive reinforcing properties that lead to addiction. Naltrexone (NTX), an opioid antagonist, is capable of reducing these positive reinforcing effects. Heroin affects the immune system through its action on the interleukins (ILs). This study aimed to determine changes in the level of IL-2 and IL-4 in patients with heroin use disorder compared with healthy controls.

Materials and Methods:

This was a prospective case-control study conducted on 25 patients with heroin use disorder and 20 cross-matched healthy controls. We compared the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 between patients and controls and determined the changes that occurred to IL-2 and IL-4 during 4 different stages (during active use, 1 mo after abstinence, 1 and 4 mo after NTX treatment). It also evaluated the effect of dose and duration of heroin use on the level of ILs before and after NTX treatment.

Results:

This study revealed that patients showed a significantly lower level of IL-2 and a higher level of IL-4 in the patients’ group compared with the control group during active use and 1 month after discontinuation while these significant differences disappeared after NTX treatment. Serum IL-4 level was affected by both heroin dose and duration of use.

Conclusion:

Heroin use negatively affects immunity by changing the level of IL-2 and IL-4 while NTX reversed this effect, so the study approved the beneficial use of NTX treatment on the immunity system in patients with heroin use disorder.
Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score predicts survival among advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma patients treated with anti-PD1 agents
Authors: Freitas Cláudia , Jacob Maria , Tavares Nuno , Cruz-Martins Natália , Souto-Moura Conceição , Araújo David , Novais-Bastos Hélder , Santos Vanessa , Fernandes Gabriela , Magalhães Adriana , Hespanhol Venceslau , Queiroga Henrique
Published: March 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors were approved for advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Despite improved survival, not all patients benefit from these agents. Here, the prognostic impact of pretreatment modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was assessed. From 77 patients included, 83.2% received at least one prior systemic therapy. Immune-related adverse events (irAE) occurred in 20 patients. A lower mGPS was associated with higher median overall survival (OS), and a lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), irAE and fewer metastatic sites with better survival. A trend towards greater OS and progression-free survival (PFS) was stated among patients with NLR <5. mGPS 0 was associated with better survival; ≥3 metastatic sites with worse PFS and OS; ECOG >2 with worse OS and irAE with better survival. Pretreatment mGPS seems to be useful for predicting survival among advanced NSCLC patients treated with anti-programmed cell death 1 drugs, with ECOG performance status, irAE occurrence, and number of metastatic sites acting as survival predictors.
Wounded Healers
Authors: Ziebarth Deborah Jean , Knighten Mary Lynne
Published: March 2021

Research regarding faith community nursing termination is scarce. Ziebarth (2018) surveyed faith community nurses (FCNs) who had experienced termination of their position. This article explores FCN feelings related to termination and provides an evidence-based practice component to translate the research into practice. Given that FCNs engage in deep relationships with clients, their feelings following termination express grief and lack of support. Support strategies as well as preemptive strategies that may be useful to prevent loss of an FCN position or ministry are presented.
A text mining study of topics and trends in health care management journals: 1998–2018
Authors: Zengul Ferhat D. , Oner Nurettin , O'Connor Stephen J. , Borkowski Nancy
Published: March 2021

Background

Advances in natural language processing and text mining provide a powerful approach to understanding trending themes in the health care management literature.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to introduce machine learning, particularly text mining and natural language processing, as a viable approach to summarizing a subset of health care management research. The secondary aim of the study was to display the major foci of health care management research and to summarize the literature’s evolution trends over a 20-year period.

Methodology/Approach

Article abstracts (N = 2,813), from six health care management journals published from 1998 through 2018 were evaluated through latent semantic analysis, topic analysis, and multiple correspondence analysis.

Results

Using latent semantic analysis and topic analysis on 2,813 abstracts revealed eight distinct topics. Of the eight, three leadership and transformation, workforce well-being, and delivery of care issues were up-trending, whereas organizational performance, patient-centeredness, technology and innovation, and managerial issues and gender concerns exhibited downward trending. Finance exhibited peaks and troughs throughout the study period. Four journals, Frontiers of Health Services Management, Journal of Healthcare Management, Health Care Management Review, and Advances in Health Care Management, exhibited strong associations with finance, organizational performance, technology and innovation, managerial issues and gender concerns, and workforce well-being. The Journal of Health Management and the Journal of Health Organization and Management were more distant from the other journals and topics, except for delivery of care, and leadership and transformation.

Conclusion

There was a close association of journals and research topics, and research topics evolved with changes in the health care environment.

Practice Implications

As scholars develop research agendas, focus should be on topics important to health care management practitioners for better informed decision-making.
Feasibility and Impact of the Combined Application of Coronary CT Angiography With the HEART Pathway in Patients With Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Matuskowitz Andrew J. , Obeid Jihad S. , Jennings Lindsey , Bayer Richard R. , Ramakrishnan Viswanathan , Schoepf U. Joseph , Jauch Edward C.
Published: March 2021

Background:

This study examines the feasibility and utility of integrating coronary computed tomography angiography and the HEART Pathway into a novel accelerated diagnostic protocol—called HEART-CT—and assesses its impact as an optional interactive decision support tool (smart form) in the electronic health record.

Methods:

This was a retrospective observational study performed in 2 adult emergency departments (ED) among patients evaluated for suspected acute coronary syndrome. Primary outcomes included the rate of discharge from the ED following HEART-CT Smart Form use, 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and ED length of stay (LOS). Hypothesis-generating outcomes included the rate of Smart Form use by ED providers and whether adhering to the HEART-CT recommendations was associated with improved outcomes.

Results:

The study included 672 subjects, 78.1% of whom were discharged from the ED. HEART-CT identified 76.7% of patients with increased risk HEAR scores as safe for discharge. No patients identified as low risk by HEART-CT had MACE within 30 days. Total mean ED LOS was 4.6 hours. ED providers used the HEART-CT smart form in 19.7% of eligible patients. ED providers who followed the HEART-CT recommendations had 3.41 times higher odds of ED discharging patients with increased risk HEAR scores than nonadherent providers (95% CI, 2.20-5.27).

Conclusions:

HEART-CT reclassified a large proportion of patients as safe for discharge, maintained a high sensitivity for detecting 30-day MACE, and had an acceptable ED LOS. Future studies should test the extent to which more automated clinical decision support improves provider adoption and clinical outcomes of HEART-CT.
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccination During Pregnancy and Risk of Pertussis in the Newborn in Publicly and Privately Insured Mother-infant Pairs in the United States
Authors: Mott Katrina , Huybrechts Krista F. , Glynn Robert J. , Mogun Helen , Hernández-Díaz Sonia
Published: March 2021

Background:

In the United States, pertussis circulation persists and primarily infects infants and children, despite routine vaccinations. To minimize infant morbidity and mortality from the disease before the first DTaP dose, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends maternal Tdap vaccination in weeks 27–36 of pregnancy.

Methods:

Cohorts of mother-infant pairs in the Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) (2010–2014) and IBM MarketScan (2011–2015) databases were analyzed to estimate the effectiveness of prenatal Tdap vaccination compared with no vaccination to prevent infant pertussis in the first 6 months. Hazard ratios were estimated with Cox proportional hazards models and adjusted for potential confounders via inverse probability weights. The impact of preterm delivery on the risk of pertussis was analyzed. Results from the 2 databases were pooled.

Results:

In MarketScan, women received Tdap vaccination before delivery in 114,067 (25.6%) of 445,638 pregnancies and in MAX, 33,286 (4.8%) of 695,262 pregnancies. Among pregnancies with preterm delivery, only 21.2% and 3.8% in MarketScan and MAX had been vaccinated. The risk of pertussis in unvaccinated term infants was 3.5 (MarketScan) and 17 (MAX) per 10,000; and in preterm infants, it was 8.4 (MarketScan) and 19.8 (MAX) per 10,000. The pooled hazard ratio for Tdap vaccination any time before delivery versus no vaccination was 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.41–1.00]. The hazard ratio was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.03–0.36) for preterm and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.48–1.29) for term infants vaccinated before 37 weeks. The incidence of pertussis was higher and the protective hazard ratio stronger during pertussis outbreaks.

Conclusions:

Prenatal Tdap vaccination reduces the risk of pertussis infections in the infants’ first 6 months by 36%. Vaccination soon after 27 weeks of pregnancy, before when deliveries began, ensures vaccination includes those born preterm, who are at highest risk for pertussis and benefit particularly from this vaccination.
Detection of postlaser vision correction ectasia with a new combined biomechanical index
Authors: Vinciguerra Riccardo , Ambrósio Renato , Elsheikh Ahmed , Hafezi Farhad , Yong Kang David Sung , Kermani Omid , Koh Shizuka , Lu Nanji , Padmanabhan Prema , Roberts Cynthia J. , Taneri Suphi , Trattler William , Eliasy Ashkan , Jum Ikhyun , Lopes Bernardo , Padmanaban Vasanthi , Rosetta Pietro , Rost Anika , Torres-Netto Emilio A. , Vinciguerra Paolo
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

To validate and evaluate the use of a new biomechanical index known as the Corvis biomechanical index–laser vision correction (CBI-LVC) as a method for separating stable post-LVC eyes from post-LVC eyes with ectasia.

Setting:

10 clinics from 9 countries.

Design:

Retrospective, multicenter, clinical study.

Methods:

The study was designed with 2 purposes: to develop the CBI-LVC, which combines dynamic corneal response (DCR) parameters provided by a high-speed dynamic Scheimpflug camera (CorVis ST; OCULUS Optikgeräte GmbH) and then to evaluate its ability to detect post-LVC ectasia. The CBI-LVC includes integrated inverse radius, applanation 1 (A1) velocity, A1 deflection amplitude, highest concavity and arclength, deformation amplitude ratio of 2 mm, and A1 arclength in millimeters. Logistic regression with Wald forward stepwise approach was used to identify the optimal combination of DCRs to create the CBI-LVC and then separate stable from LVC-induced ectasia. Eighty percentage of the database was used for training the software and 20% for validation.

Results:

736 eyes of 736 patients were included (685 stable LVC and 51 post-LVC ectasia). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.991 when applying CBI-LVC in the validation dataset and 0.998 in the training dataset. A cutoff of 0.2 was able to separate stable LVC from ectasia with a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 97.8%.

Conclusions:

The CBI-LVC was highly sensitive and specific in distinguishing stable from ectatic post-LVC eyes. Using CBI-LVC in routine practice, along with topography and tomography, can aid the early diagnosis of post-LVC ectasia and allow intervention prior to visually compromising progression.
Association of insulin resistance and leptin receptor gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Adiga Usha , Banawalikar Nandit , Mayur Sriprajna , Bansal Radhika , Ameera Nafeesath , Rao Sudhindra
Published: March 2021

Background:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease that is characterized by impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the pattern of leptin receptor gene polymorphism Gln223Arg in T2DM and to identify its association with the serum leptin and insulin levels as well as with insulin resistance in diabetes.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, genotyping of leptin receptor was done for Gln223Arg alleles by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 39 patients with type 2 diabetes. Serum leptin and insulin levels were assayed using enzyme linked sorbent assay in 39 cases and 45 nondiabetic controls. Insulin resistance was calculated by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) formula. Statistical analysis was performed with Graph pad Instat version 3.

Results:

Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium for the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene variants showed that alleles were in equilibrium. Leptin levels were insignificantly low in patients with diabetes compared to those in controls. Women in the control group showed significantly higher leptin levels (p < 0.05) compared with men. There was a significant difference in the serum insulin levels and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) among patients with different genotypes (p = 0.04 and p = 0.0378, respectively).

Conclusion:

Leptin receptor gene polymorphism affected glucose metabolism by altering insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cells. Thus, single-nucleotide polymorphism of LEPR may affect the pathogenesis of T2DM.