bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abscopal effect in pulmonary carcinoid tumor following ablative stereotactic body radiation therapy: a case report
Authors: Kareff Samuel A. , Lischalk Jonathan W. , Krochmal Rebecca , Kim Chul
Published: October 2020

Background

The abscopal effect was described as early as the 1950s, when untreated tumors demonstrated a response after radiation therapy was delivered to an untreated, distant site. The mechanisms underlying this global response to otherwise localized therapy remain unknown, though there is increasing evidence that increased antigen expression following ablative radiotherapy may play a role.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 69-year-old African American woman with a history of metastatic typical pulmonary carcinoid with multiple lung nodules who had a significant decrease in size of an untreated left upper lobe nodule after stereotactic body radiation therapy to an oligoprogressive left lower lobe lesion.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this report describes the first case of an abscopal effect in a typical pulmonary carcinoid. Further research is needed regarding the mechanisms responsible for this finding and the role of combining radiation therapy and cancer immunotherapy in patients with pulmonary carcinoid tumors.
Rockfall hazard in the Imja Glacial Lake, eastern Nepal
Authors: Khatiwada Durga , Dahal Ranjan Kumar
Published: October 2020

In Nepal, rockfall related studies are rarely conducted and are limited to the landslide study along with few case studies on rockfall events. Rockfall problems in Nepal are more frequent in the Higher Himalayan region than Midland and Lesser Himalayan regions. In the glaciated valley and glacial lakes, rockfall and associated tsunami like huge wave are a recently initiated research. In this context, a glacial lake of the Himalaya, named as Imja Glacial Lake situated in eastern Nepal has been selected to understand the rockfall problems and their possible consequences. The lake was formed at the end part of the Imja glacier. The northern valley slope of Imja Glacier Lake, i.e. southern slope of the Island Peak has serious problem of rockfall into the lake. Rockfall simulation was performed during this research with field data. Three different Plots were defined for simulation of rockfall. Among them, Plot III seems to be the most hazardous since the detached boulders on the higher elevation can enter into the lake with the maximum velocity of 40 m/s with pre-impact energy more than 3500 kJ. This can develop a surge in the lake water that can break moraine dam. This leads to a serious threat to the downstream communities. Moreover, this research confirms that the rockfall hazard in the higher mountain region of Nepal is critical to creating flash floods due to tsunamis like surge in the lake water and breaching of the dam.
Baseline sensitivity and resistance risk assessment of Valsa mali to pyraclostrobin
Authors: Feng Hao , Wang Shuai , Liu Zhaoyang , Miao Jianqiang , Zhou Mingxia , Huang Lili
Published: October 2020

Pyraclostrobin, a quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicide, has been registered to control apple tree Valsa canker (AVC) caused by Valsa mali in China. However, there is no data available regarding the resistance risk of V. mali to pyraclostrobin. In this study, the sensitivities of 120 V. mali isolates to pyraclostrobin were detected. The isolates were collected from apple orchards with no application of pyraclostrob at six provinces in China during 2013–2015, and showed similar sensitivity to pyraclostrobin. The EC50 values of these 120 V. mali isolates to pyraclostrobin ranged from 0.0014 to 0.0240 μg/mL, indicating an excellent inhibitory efficacy of pyraclostrobin to the pathogen. The EC50 values were distributed as a unimodal curve with a mean value of 0.0091 μg/mL, and the mean EC50 displayed correlation with geographic location. Meanwhile, three pyraclostrobin-resistant mutants (PR mutants) of V. mali were obtained using fungicide adaption method, with a resistance factor (RF) of 41.0, 56.8 and 22.0, respectively. The mutants showed a stable resistance to pyraclostrobin after 10 transfers on pyraclostrobin-free medium. Comparing with the corresponding parental isolates, the hyphal growth, mycelial dry weight and pathogenicity of PR mutants were significantly reduced, but the number of propagules showed no significant difference. More importantly, no cross-resistance of PR mutants to pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, imazalil and thiophanate-methyl was detected. In conclusion, V. mali showed a moderate risk to pyraclostrobin, and pyraclostrobin could be used as an alternative fungicide to control AVC in the field in China.
Analytic formulas for complete and incomplete first-order TEM moments below ground in a conductive half-space
Authors: Fullagar Peter K. , Schaa Ralf
Published: October 2020

In the resistive limit, discrete conductors give rise to magnetic dipole fields. Magnetostatic modeling of time integrals, or moments, of transient electromagnetic (TEM) data therefore offers a means for fast approximate 3D modeling and inversion of TEM data sets. In our approximate inversion scheme, the net TEM moment response is represented as the combination of discrete conductor and uniform host responses. The inversion algorithm first estimates a homogeneous host conductivity, and then it subtracts the host response and fits the residual moment data by adjusting the conductivities of cells comprising a 3D rectangular mesh. To expedite calculation of the host response, we have derived analytic formulas for first-order TEM moments produced on and under the ground by a horizontal electric dipole on the surface of a homogeneous conductive half-space. We present analytic expressions for idealized all-time “complete” moments, or resistive limits, as well as for realizable finite-time “incomplete” moments. The moments produced by an arbitrary horizontal polygonal loop are determined by combining contributions from appropriately oriented electric dipoles. Downhole TEM moments computed with the new expressions reveal substantial differences between incomplete and complete moments when early time data are excluded and between step and impulse response incomplete moments. The role of the formulas in the first stage of our moment-based 3D inversion scheme is illustrated via analysis of downhole TEM data recorded at Santander, Peru. The host conductivity of best fit for early time B-field moments is 2.40 mS/m, consistent with apparent conductivities derived from ground TEM data recorded in the same area.
Meta-Analysis of PD-L1 Expression As a Predictor of Survival After Checkpoint Blockade
Authors: Arfè Andrea , Fell Geoffrey , Alexander Brian , Awad Mark M. , Rodig Scott J. , Trippa Lorenzo , Schoenfeld Jonathan D.
Published: October 2020

PURPOSE

Programmed cell death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is the most studied biomarker to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but its clinical significance is controversial. We estimated the distribution of PD-L1 expression scores (ie, tumor proportion score or combined proportion score) and the relationship between PD-L1 levels and ICIs’ impact on overall survival (OS).

METHODS

We reconstructed, pooled, and analyzed individual-level data on 7,617 patients with cancer from 14 randomized clinical trials. The effects of ICIs were quantified using differences in 24-month restricted mean survival times (ΔRMSTs; ie, the increase in life expectancy truncated at 2 years associated with ICI therapy). In a simulation study, we compared standard randomized clinical trial designs with a trial design that leverages meta-analytic results like ours.

RESULTS

Approximately 93% of patients had a PD-L1 expression ≤ 5% (66% of patients) or > 50% (27% of patients). OS improves with ICIs regardless of PD-L1 expression level, which predicts the benefits’ magnitude. For patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ΔRMSTs ranged from 1.4 months (95% probability interval [PI], 0.7 to 2.2 months) for PD-L1 expression ≤ 1% to 4.1 months (95% PI, 3.2 to 5.2 months) for PD-L1 expression > 80%. For patients with non-NSCLC tumors, ΔRMSTs ranged from 0.8 months (95% PI, −0.1 to 1.7 months) to 2.3 months (95% PI, 1.3 to 4.4 months), again for PD-L1 expression levels of ≤ 1% and > 80%, respectively. Simulations suggested that designs tailored to meta-analytic results can detect the effects of ICIs in PD-L1 subgroups with higher probability (> 15%) than standard designs.

CONCLUSION

The practice of dichotomizing the range of PD-L1 expression scores is inadequate for patient stratification. Meta-analytic estimates of the distribution of PD-L1 scores and subgroup-specific treatment effects can improve the designs of future trials of ICIs.
FSHB  Transcription is Regulated by a Novel 5′ Distal Enhancer With a Fertility-Associated Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
Authors: Bohaczuk Stephanie C , Thackray Varykina G , Shen Jia , Skowronska-Krawczyk Dorota , Mellon Pamela L
Published: October 2020

The pituitary gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone, signal the gonads to regulate male and female fertility. FSH is critical for female fertility as it regulates oocyte maturation, ovulation, and hormone synthesis. Multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) link a 130 Kb locus at 11p14.1, which encompasses the FSH beta-subunit (FSHB) gene, with fertility-related traits that include polycystic ovary syndrome, age of natural menopause, and dizygotic twinning. The most statistically significant single nucleotide polymorphism from several GWAS studies (rs11031006) resides within a highly conserved 450 bp region 26 Kb upstream of the human FSHB gene. Given that sequence conservation suggests an important biological function, we hypothesized that the region could regulate FSHB transcription. In luciferase assays, the conserved region enhanced FSHB transcription and gel shifts identified a binding site for Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) contributing to its function. Analysis of mouse pituitary single-cell ATAC-seq demonstrated open chromatin at the conserved region exclusive to a gonadotrope cell-type cluster. Additionally, enhancer-associated histone markers were identified by immunoprecipitation of chromatin from mouse whole pituitary and an immortalized mouse gonadotrope-derived LβT2 cell line at the conserved region. Furthermore, we found that the rs11031006 minor allele upregulated FSHB transcription via increased SF1 binding to the enhancer. All together, these results identify a novel upstream regulator of FSHB transcription and indicate that rs11031006 can modulate FSH levels.
Anaesthetic management of patients undergoing deep brain simulation: A retrospective review of 8 cases from a tertiary care center of Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Usama , Shafiq Faraz , Kumar Dileep , Ahsan Khalid , Ghaffar Waleed Bin , Bari Ehsan
Published: October 2020

Objectives: To review anaesthesia related outcome, perioperative complications and overall length of stay (LOS) in hospital for patients who had deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Methods: The study was retrospective review of patients medical records diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD) and underwent DBS at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from 2017-2019. Data was reviewed from file notes and patient chart and recorded on predesigned Performa. Frequency and percentages were used to present the data.

Results: All patients were anaesthetized using Sleep-Awake-Sleep technique (SAS). Dexmedetomidine was mainly used for conscious sedation. Bispectral index monitor (BIS) was used to monitor the depth of sedation, and kept between 70-85 during sedative phase. All patients had successful intraoperative neurological monitoring, stimulation, and placement of electrodes. Total duration of anesthesia varied significantly in between the patients. Maximum duration was 600 minutes. None of our patient had any intraoperative event related to anaesthetic management. Overall five patients had some adverse events during ward stay. Mean LOS in hospital was four days.

Conclusion: Anaesthetic management of DBS is well-tolerated. It requires dedicated team. The SAS technique is excellent for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. Careful selection of sedative agents and monitoring depth of anaesthesia using BIS would be beneficial in terms of improving related outcomes.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2870

How to cite this:Ahmed U, Shafiq F, Kumar D, Ahsan K, Ghaffar W, Bari E. Anaesthetic management of patients undergoing deep brain simulation: A retrospective review of 8 cases from a tertiary care center of Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(7):1737-1741.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2870

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Η Βενετική Κύπρος στον Ελληνικό χώρο
Authors: Πλουμίδης Γεώργιος
Published: October 2020

no abstract available
Developing excellence in biostatistics leadership, training and science in Africa: How the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) training unites expertise to deliver excellence
Authors: Chirwa Tobias F. , Matsena Zingoni Zvifadzo , Munyewende Pascalia , Manda Samuel O. , Mwambi Henry , Kandala Ngianga-Bakwin , Kinyanjui Samson , Young Taryn , Musenge Eustasius , Simbeye Jupiter , Musonda Patrick , Mahande Michael Johnson , Weke Patrick , Onyango Nelson Owuor , Kazembe Lawrence , Tumwesigye Nazarius Mboma , Zuma Khangelani , Yende-Zuma Nonhlanhla , Omanyondo  Ohambe Marie-Claire , Kweku Emmanuel Nakua , Maposa Innocent , Ayele Birhanu , Achia Thomas , Machekano Rhoderick , Thabane Lehana , Levin Jonathan , Eijkemans Marinus J.C. , Carpenter James , Chasela Charles , Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin , Todd Jim
Published: October 2020

The increase in health research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has generated large amounts of data and led to a high demand for biostatisticians to analyse these data locally and quickly.  Donor-funded initiatives exist to address the dearth in statistical capacity, but few initiatives have been led by African institutions. The Sub-Saharan African Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) aims to improve biostatistical capacity in Africa according to the needs identified by African institutions, through (collaborative) masters and doctoral training in biostatistics. We describe the SSACAB Consortium, which comprises 11 universities and four research institutions- supported by four European universities. SSACAB builds on existing resources to strengthen biostatistics for health research with a focus on supporting biostatisticians to become research leaders; building a critical mass of biostatisticians, and networking institutions and biostatisticians across SSA.  In 2015 only four institutions had established Masters programmes in biostatistics and SSACAB supported the remaining institutions to develop Masters programmes. In 2019 the University of the Witwatersrand became the first African institution to gain Royal Statistical Society accreditation for a Biostatistics MSc programme. A total of 150 fellows have been awarded scholarships to date of which 123 are Masters fellowships (41 female) of which with 58 have already graduated. Graduates have been employed in African academic (19) and research (15) institutions and 10 have enrolled for PhD studies. A total of 27 (10 female) PhD fellowships have been awarded; 4 of them are due to graduate by 2020. To date, SSACAB Masters and PhD students have published 17 and 31 peer-reviewed articles, respectively. SSACAB has also facilitated well-attended conferences, face-to-face and online short courses. Pooling the limited biostatistics resources in SSA, and combining with co-funding from external partners is an effective strategy for the development and teaching of advanced biostatistics methods, supervision and mentoring of PhD candidates.
Development of the Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) for people with advanced dementia
Authors: Daniel Lai L.L. , Crutch Sebastian J. , West Julian , Harding Emma , Brotherhood Emilie V. , Takhar Rohan , Firth Nicholas , Camic Paul M.
Published: October 2020

Background: The current study sought to develop a valid, reliable and unobtrusive tablet computer-based observational measure to assess engagement of people with advanced dementia. The Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) was designed to enable the rating of moment-by-moment changes in engagement during an activity, which would be useful for both future research and current residential care.

Methods: An initial version of the VASE was tested. Face validity and content validity were assessed to validate an operational definition of engagement and develop an acceptable protocol for the scale. Thirty-seven non-professional and professional volunteers were recruited to view and rate level of engagement in music activities using the VASE.

Results: An inter-class coefficient (ICC) test gave a high level of rating agreement across professionals and non-professionals.  However, the ICC results of within-professionals were mixed. Linear mixed modelling suggested that the types of interventions (active or passive music listening), the particular intervention session being rated, time period of video and the age of raters could affect the ratings.

Conclusions: Results suggested that raters used the VASE in a dynamic fashion and that the measure was able to distinguish between interventions. Further investigation and adjustments are warranted for this to be considered a valid and reliable scale in the measurement of engagement of people with advanced dementia in a residential care setting.
The STORK dataset: Linked midwifery and delivery records of the mothers and index children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
Authors: Mummé Mark , Boyd Andy , Golding Jean , Macleod John
Published: October 2020

This data note describes the linked antenatal and delivery records of the mothers and index children of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort study. These records were extracted from the computerised maternity record system ‘STORK’ used by the two largest NHS trusts in the study catchment area. The STORK database was designed to be populated by midwives and other health professionals during a woman’s pregnancy and shortly after the baby’s birth. These early computer records were initiated in the early 1990s, shortly before the start of enrolment to ALSPAC. At this time the use of electronic medical record systems such as ‘STORK’ was very new, the accuracy of the records has been questioned and little contemporary detailed documentation is available. Small sample spot checks on the accuracy of the information in ‘STORK’ suggests extensive missingness and differences against gold-standard fieldworker abstracted information in some variables; yet high levels of completeness and agreement with gold-standard data in others. Software code was created using STATA (StataCorp LLC) to transform the original CSV (comma-separated values) files into a cohesive and consistent format which was reviewed for data-completeness for its potential use in future research. The cleaned ‘STORK’ records provide health, social and maternity data from the very earliest period of the ALSPAC study in an easily accessible format, which is particularly useful when other sources of data are missing.
Is marketing department important for companies?
Authors: Oliveira Daniel Max de Sousa , Luce Fernando Bins
Published: October 2020

In the present study, we sought to analyze the importance of the marketing department for companies by means of two guiding questions: (1) has the influence of the marketing department on company decisions decreased? (2) does the marketing department impact business performance? Through a systematic review of the literature, it was possible to identify that the marketing department has lost influence on the company's decisions, despite its significant impact on business performance. This result highlights the need to propose new ways of how the marketing function can be structured and practiced in companies.
Antecedentes do amor à marca: um estudo em fintechs
Authors: Neto Alexandre Rabêlo
Published: October 2020

Analisou-se a influência da Satisfação, da Confiança, Experiência e da Inovação da Marca sobre o Amor à Marca. Esse estudo é descritivo e quantitativo, mediante survey com 409 clientes de bancos digitais, baseando-se em modelagem de equações estruturais. A Satisfação, a Confiança, a Experiência com a marca e a Inovação da marca influenciaram positivamente no amor à marca. Esse estudo contribui, metodologicamente, ao validar, no contexto brasileiro, uma escala de Antecedentes do Amor à Marca em Bancos Digitais (fintechs). Gerencialmente, esse estudo contribui para que os gestores formulem estratégias a partir do conhecimento das variáveis influenciadoras do amor à marca.
Development of supply chain management models in rice production to improve food endurance and security in Demak Regency
Authors: Kurniawati Nurul Imani
Published: October 2020

Food is the main basic needs for human that must be fulfilling at all times. The right to obtain food is one of human right, as it stated in the article 27 of the 1945 Constitution and in the Rome Declaration (1996). The aim of this study is to find out and analyze the development of supply chain management models that are used to maximize rice production in order to improve food security and security in Demak Regency. The conclusion of this study is to increase the ratio of rice fulfillment and creates the efficiency in supply chain management.
Modeling of pedagogical support for self-development of adolescents in additional education in the context of the methodology of the reflexive-value approach
Authors: Ivanova Irina
Published: October 2020

The change in the social and educational situation in the country has actualized the development of subject-oriented models of pedagogical support for students, the search for effective ways to create conditions for the self-development of students. In modern school programs, as well as in educational programs of additional education for children, there are practically no special classes devoted to the construction and implementation of self-development projects by adolescents. The article proposes a model of pedagogical support for self-development of adolescents in additional education, methodologically based on the reflexive-value approach developed by the author within the framework of the scientific school of M.I. Rozhkov, and technologically based on the compilation and implementation of individual self-development projects by adolescents. The presented model can be considered as a pedagogical product and educational resource that allows solving a whole range of problems based on the personal and social needs of both adolescents themselves and society as a whole. The implementation of the presented model presupposes building the educational process in the additional education of children with a focus on the self-development of students, while accompaniment is considered as a special type of pedagogical interaction aimed at stimulating pupils' awareness of the meaning of their own life and its value components and building on their basis a project of their own life.

Acknowledgments: The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 20-013-00616.
Genius and talent: comparative analysis
Authors: Aronov A.
Published: October 2020

The article considers some characteristic features of genius personalities and, in particular, the attitude of unique people to work. In broad public circles, it has long been established and has become a stable idea that genius, especially in the field of artistic culture, everything is surprisingly easy, that in a certain sense of the word it is the spoils of fate. Sometimes people talk about scientists in a similar way. A well-known example is given with Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, who really had a dream about the periodic table of elements. However, for some reason it is forgotten that before this significant dream, an outstanding scientist for many years was engaged in the systematization of elements and at a certain stage, the quantity turned into quality.

The article continues the author's long-term research on the problem of genius, the results of which were presented in such works as: "Riddles of creativity" (1995), "Secrets and riddles of genius" (2012). The last work in an abridged version was published in 2016 in Germany. The problem of genius is revealed by Professor A. A. Aronov also in many articles.
The Impact of Coupons on the Visit-to-Purchase Funnel
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Arun , Park Young-Hoon
Published: October 2020

Using data from a field experiment, we find that mobile coupons lift revenue primarily by increasing visits to the website rather than through redemption.
Referral Reward Size and New Customer Profitability
Authors: Wolters Heike M. , Schulze Christian , Gedenk Karen
Published: October 2020

In referral reward programs, larger rewards increase the number of referred new customers but decrease the profitability of these customers.
On the Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Authors: Alsewailem Fares D. , Alsaygh Abdulhamid A. , Alqaflah Abdulmajeed M.
Published: October 2020

This research reports a visualization investigation of environmental stress cracking (ESC) of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) prepared in house and a commercial high-density polyethylene. The in house made HDPE showed an excellent resistance against ESC as none of the tested samples cracked under chemical solution and that was due to higher value of molecular weight and less percentage of chain branching. On the other hand, the commercial HDPE had poor resistance against ESC under chemical solution, as all tested samples was cracked and completely splitted up into two pieces. An interesting finding of this research was that the commercial HDPE of relatively lower molecular weight cracked when stressed within the environment of ordinary water. Finally, this research recommended a thorough investigation of the role of additives and fillers on the ESC resistant of Polyethylene.
Propagation of structured light through tissue-mimicking phantoms
Authors: Suprano Alessia , Giordani Taira , Gianani Ilaria , Spagnolo Nicoló , Pinker Katja , Kupferman Judy , Arnon Shlomi , Klemm Uwe , Gorpas Dimitris , Ntziachristos Vasilis , Sciarrino Fabio
Published: October 2020

Optical interrogation of tissues is broadly considered in biomedical applications. Nevertheless, light scattering by tissue limits the resolution and accuracy achieved when investigating sub-surface tissue features. Light carrying optical angular momentum or complex polarization profiles, offers different propagation characteristics through scattering media compared to light with unstructured beam profiles. Here we discuss the behaviour of structured light scattered by tissue-mimicking phantoms. We study the spatial and the polarization profile of the scattered modes as a function of a range of optical parameters of the phantoms, with varying scattering and absorption coefficients and of different lengths. These results show the non-trivial trade-off between the advantages of structured light profiles and mode broadening, stimulating further investigations in this direction.
Antibiotic resistance in Salmonella spp. isolated from poultry: A global overview
Authors: Castro-Vargas Rafael Enrique , Herrera-Sánchez María Paula , Rodríguez-Hernández Roy , Rondón-Barragán Iang Schroniltgen
Published: October 2020

Salmonella enterica is the most important foodborne pathogen, and it is often associated with the contamination of poultry products. Annually, Salmonella causes around 93 million cases of gastroenteritis and 155,000 deaths worldwide. Antimicrobial therapy is the first choice of treatment for this bacterial infection; however, antimicrobial resistance has become a problem due to the misuse of antibiotics both in human medicine and animal production. It has been predicted that by 2050, antibiotic-resistant pathogens will cause around 10 million deaths worldwide, and the WHO has suggested the need to usher in the post-antibiotic era. The purpose of this review is to discuss and update the status of Salmonella antibiotic resistance, in particular, its prevalence, serotypes, and antibiotic resistance patterns in response to critical antimicrobials used in human medicine and the poultry industry. Based on our review, the median prevalence values of Salmonella in broiler chickens, raw chicken meat, and in eggs and egg-laying hens were 40.5% ( interquartile range [IQR] 11.5-58.2%), 30% (IQR 20-43.5%), and 40% (IQR 14.2-51.5%), respectively. The most common serotype was Salmonella Enteritidis, followed by Salmonella Typhimurium. The highest antibiotic resistance levels within the poultry production chain were found for nalidixic acid and ampicillin. These findings highlight the need for government entities, poultry researchers, and producers to find ways to reduce the impact of antibiotic use in poultry, focusing especially on active surveillance and finding alternatives to antibiotics.
Industrial residues as substrate components for the production of Ilex paraguariensis seedlings
Authors: Gabira Monica Moreno , Gomes João Felipe Penteado , Kratz Dagma , Wendling Ivar , Stuepp Carlos André
Published: October 2020

Ilex paraguariensis is an important forest species in Brazil. Recently, the development of new products has increased seedlings demand and consequently, the interest in new products to use as substrates like residues from industries. We aimed to evaluate the viability of using industrial residues as substrates to produce yerba mate seedlings. We formulated thirteen substrates with coconut fiber, carbonized and decomposed yerba mate industrial residues in different ratios, which were compared to two commercial substrates, in a completely randomized design. The stratified seeds were placed in 110 cm³ tubes filled with the substrates. Plants were kept in a greenhouse for 135 days, shade house (70%) for 30 days, and rustification area in full sunlight for 15 days, under fertigation after 30 days of sowing. We evaluated montlhy the survival, height, and stem diameter, and at the end of the production period, we evaluated shoot and root dry mass. From the data obtained, we calculated the total dry mass and ‘Dickson quality index’. The substrates formulated with coconut fiber and decomposed yerba mate industrial residue can be used to produce yerba mate seedlings, but it depends on the ratio of the substrate components. Substrates with higher total porosity and microporosity provided seedlings with biometric characteristics similar to those produced in commercial substrates. The carbonized yerba mate residue reduced seedling growth when used in a percentage equal to or higher than 50% in the substrate.
Physiological characteristics of endive, lettuce and chicory seeds as a function of spectral quality
Authors: Pretto Matheus Milani , Fontana Daniele Cristina , Dos Santos Jullie , Mariotto Axel Bruno , Caron Braulio Otomar , Schmidt Denise
Published: October 2020

Seedling production is a critical step in the establishment of vegetables. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different spectral qualities on the germination and vigor of endive, lettuce, and chicory seeds. The experiment was carried out in three stages. The first stage, two cultivars of lettuce (‘Crespa Repolhuda’ and ‘Vera’) and six spectral qualities (blue LED, red LED, blue + red LED, white LED, fluorescent and dark) were evaluated; the second stage, two cultivars of chicory (‘Lisa Escarola’ and ‘Palla Rosa’) and the same spectral qualities were evaluated. In the third stage, the spectral quality of the endive cultivar ‘Pão de Açúcar’ was evaluated. The experiments were performed in a completely randomized design, with four replications of 50 seeds each. The evaluated parameters were: germination percentage, first count, germination speed index, seedling length, and fresh and dry mass. Endive, lettuce and chicory seeds germinated both in the presence or not of light so that they can be classified as neutral photos. A spectral LED of red quality fostered the development of the most significant volume of fresh mass on the endive, lettuce, and chicory. All the spectral qualities stimulated root growth. The dark, on the other hand, promoted the most significant length of the aerial part, promoting seedlings etiolation.
Comparison between non-parametric indexes in the selection of biofortified curly lettuce
Authors: Peixoto Joicy Vitória Miranda , Maciel Gabriel Mascarenhas , Siquieroli Ana Carolina Silva , Pereira Lucas Medeiros , Luz José Magno Queiroz , Marques Douglas José
Published: October 2020

Selection indexes can be applied to simultaneous analysis of traits, increasing the efficiency of breeding in choosing the genotypes that meet the needs of both the market and the consumer. While it is a technic applied to several cultures, there are few studies about it in lettuce lines. For this reason, the aim of this study was to comparate assess the efficiency of different selection indexes for selecting biofortifiedleaf lettuce lines with good agronomic traits. The experiment was carried out at the Estação Experimental de Hortaliças of Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), campus Monte Carmelo, in 2018. The experiment was designed in full randomized blocks of 3 repetitions with 25 leaf lettuce genotypes (22 lines from cultivars Pira 72 versus Uberlândia 10000 and 3 commercial cultivars – cv. Grand Rapids, UFU-Biofort and Uberlândia 10000). The lines are part of the UFU biofortified lettuce breeding program and were assessed for the total green mass (g), the stem diameter (cm), commercial leaves count, plant diameter (cm), foliar temperature (°C), SPAD index, anthocyanin content (mg 100g-1 sample), and bolting (days after sowing). To estimate selection gains, 10 genotypes were selected using both direct and indirect selection, as well as the traditional index, the sum of ranks index, Willians base index, and the multiplicative index. Mulamba and Mock sum of ranks index and Subandi multiplicative index provided the biggest total gains for the traits assessed in biofortified leaf lettuce. Both indexes were similar in selecting genotypes.
Glycemic Status, Insulin Resistance, and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer Mortality in Individuals With and Without Diabetes
Authors: Kim Nam Hee , Chang Yoosoo , Lee Sung Ryol , Ryu Seungho , Kim Hong Joo
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:

The impact of glycemic status and insulin resistance on the risk of pancreatic cancer in the nondiabetic population remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the association of glycemic status and insulin resistance with pancreatic cancer mortality in individuals with and without diabetes.

METHODS:

This is a cohort study of 572,021 Korean adults without cancer at baseline, who participated in repeat screening examinations which included fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and insulin, and were followed for a median of 8.4 years (interquartile range, 5.3 -13.2 years). Vital status and pancreatic cancer mortality were ascertained through linkage to national death records.

RESULTS:

During 5,211,294 person-years of follow-up, 260 deaths from pancreatic cancer were identified, with a mortality rate of 5.0 per 105 person-years. In the overall population, the risk of pancreatic cancer mortality increased with increasing levels of glucose and hemoglobin A1c in a dose-response manner, and this association was observed even in individuals without diabetes. In nondiabetic individuals without previously diagnosed or screen-detected diabetes, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia were positively associated with increased pancreatic cancer mortality. Specifically, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals) for pancreatic cancer mortality comparing the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance ≥75th percentile to the <75th percentile was 1.49 (1.08–2.05), and the corresponding hazard ratio comparing the insulin ≥75th percentile to the <75th percentile was 1.43 (1.05–1.95). These associations remained significant when introducing changes in insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and other confounders during follow-up as time-varying covariates.

DISCUSSION:

Glycemic status, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia, even in individuals without diabetes, were independently associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer mortality.
Dilation Modifies Association Between Symptoms and Esophageal Eosinophilia in Adult Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Authors: Safroneeva Ekaterina , Cotton Cary C. , Schoepfer Alain M. , Zwahlen Marcel , Woosley John T. , Dellon Evan S.
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:

We investigated whether dilation modifies the association between symptoms and esophageal eosinophilia (peak esophageal eosinophils/high-power field [eos/hpf]) in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis enrolled into a randomized trial comparing the efficacy of budesonide and fluticasone.

METHODS:

Baseline Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire and Eosinophilic Esophagitis Activity Index were available in 102 and 73 patients, respectively, of whom 56 and 39 underwent dilation at screening endoscopy before symptom assessment. The pair-wise relationship between Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire, Eosinophilic Esophagitis Activity Index, and eos/hpf was analyzed with nonparametric correlations.

RESULTS:

In nondilated patients, the association between baseline eos/hpf and symptoms was moderate and significant, although it was abolished in dilated patients.

DISCUSSION:

Dilation modifies association between symptoms and eos/hpf (clinicaltrials.gov NCT02019758).
Randomized Controlled Trial of Personalized Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment vs Education to Promote Screening Uptake
Authors: Yen Timothy , Qin FeiFei , Sundaram Vandana , Asiimwe Edgar , Storage Tina , Ladabaum Uri
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Risk stratification has been proposed as a strategy to improve participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, but evidence is lacking. We performed a randomized controlled trial of risk stratification using the National Cancer Institute's Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (CCRAT) on screening intent and completion.

METHODS:

A total of 230 primary care patients eligible for first-time CRC screening were randomized to risk assessment via CCRAT or education control. Follow-up of screening intent and completion was performed by record review and phone at 6 and 12 months. We analyzed change in intent after intervention, time to screening, overall screening completion rates, and screening completion by CCRAT risk score tertile.

RESULTS:

Of the patients, 61.7% of patients were aged <60 years, 58.7% female, and 94.3% with college or higher education. Time to screening did not differ between arms (hazard ratio 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52–1.18], P = 0.24). At 12 months, screening completion was 38.6% with CCRAT vs 44.0% with education (odds ratio [OR] 0.80 [95% CI 0.47–1.37], P = 0.41). Changes in screening intent did not differ between the risk assessment and education arms (precontemplation to contemplation: OR 1.52 [95% CI 0.81–2.86], P = 0.19; contemplation to precontemplation: OR 1.93 [95% CI 0.45–8.34], P = 0.38). There were higher screening completion rates at 12 months in the top CCRAT risk tertile (52.6%) vs the bottom (32.4%) and middle (31.6%) tertiles (P = 0.10).

DISCUSSION:

CCRAT risk assessment did not increase screening participation or intent. Risk stratification might motivate persons classified as higher CRC risk to complete screening, but unintentionally discourage screening among persons not identified as higher risk.
Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients With Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Northern Italy: A Single-Center Cohort Study
Authors: Schettino Mario , Pellegrini Lucienne , Picascia Desiree , Saibeni Simone , Bezzio Cristina , Bini Francesco , Omazzi Barbara F. , Devani Massimo , Arena Ilaria , Bongiovanni Marco , Manes Gianpiero , Della Corte Cristina Maria Rita
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:

The most typical presentation of COVID-19 is an acute respiratory syndrome whose most common symptoms include fever, cough, and dyspnea. However, gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and nausea/vomiting, are increasingly reported in patients affected by COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and time of onset of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients affected by COVID-19 and to find potential associations between gastrointestinal symptoms and clinical outcomes.

METHODS:

We performed a prospective single-center cohort study, enrolling patients who received diagnosis of COVID-19 at our institution between March 23, 2020, and April 5, 2020. We collected patient demographics and medical history, laboratory data, and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we used a specifically designed questionnaire, administered to patients at time of diagnosis, to obtain data on the presence and time of onset of fever, typical respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and other symptoms (fatigue, headache, myalgia/arthralgia, anosmia, ageusia/dysgeusia, sore throat, and ocular symptoms).

RESULTS:

In our cohort, 138 (69%) of 190 patients showed at least 1 gastrointestinal symptom at diagnosis; if excluding hyporexia/anorexia, 93 patients (48.9%) showed at least 1 gastrointestinal symptom. Gastrointestinal symptoms, in particular diarrhea, were associated with a lower mortality. At multivariate analysis, diarrhea was confirmed as independent predictive factor of lower mortality.

DISCUSSION:

Gastrointestinal symptoms are very frequent in patients with COVID-19 and may be associated with a better prognosis. These data suggest that, in some patients, the gastrointestinal tract may be more involved than the respiratory system in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, and this could account for the less severe course of disease.
Reading Differently: Exploring "The Power of the Real" in Literary Journalism
Authors: Morton Lindsay
Published: October 2020

This paper contends that previous research on the experience of reading literary journalism has predominantly been focused on the experience of the ideal, implied and/or interpellated reader. Scholarly discussions about the qualitative differences between reading fiction and non-fiction are usually theoretical or based on close readings where the analyses are projected on to a generalised readership. However, recent developments in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive narratology are opening avenues for qualitative and quantitative research into the experience of reading literary journalism. This article takes some tentative steps towards exploring the nature of "experientiality" for readers by asking questions of emerging research in order to further articulate the "power" of narrative non-fiction.
Dispositifs numériques et expérientialité
Authors: Le Maître Stéphanie
Published: October 2020

Le journalisme narratif, loin des codes contemporains de l’information, n’est plus aujourd’hui l’apanage du papier : le web est devenu un autre terrain d’expression de ce type de récit médiatique. Grâce aux outils qui s’y déploient les journalistes trouvent d’autres moyens de raconter leurs histoires et de créer une expérience par procuration pour leurs lecteurs. Cet article se propose d’interroger les stratégies déployées par les journalistes narratifs en termes d’expérientialité à l’aune des dispositifs numériques. Il s’agit ici de s’intéresser à la manière dont les professionnels construisent leurs récits sur le web et mettent à profit les différents formats numériques pour créer ou renforcer l’expérientialité du lecteur face au récit qui lui est donné à lire sur son écran.
PAC Natural Products: A Story Six Decades in the Making
Authors: Black David StC
Published: October 2020

In 2020, IUPAC celebrates the 60th anniversary of its scientific journal Pure and Applied Chemistry. The journal was established in part to record written accounts of plenary lectures presented at IUPAC-sponsored conferences. This brought back personal memories and prompted me to take a look in the archives in relation to the beginning of the Natural Products Symposium series. The inaugural IUPAC International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products was also held in 1960, from 15–25 August, in Australia, and was a veritable moving feast from Melbourne to Canberra and Sydney. It was a remarkable event that featured no fewer than five Nobel Laureates and two IUPAC Presidents, and set the stage for a wonderful series of conferences that continues still. Records of that event in Pure and Applied Chemistry are published in 1961, Volume 2, issue 3 [1].
Effect of laser beam trajectory on pocket geometry in laser micromachining
Authors: Witkowski Grzegorz , Tofil Szymon , Mulczyk Krystian
Published: October 2020

The article presents the problem of planning the laser beam trajectory for the laser micromachining process. The article concerns on the ablative laser micromachining issues. Different effects of laser beam trajectory on pocket geometry in laser micromachining were investigated. The results of experimental tests are presented. Based on the research, potential causes of different effects of the laser beam for various trajectories were formulated. Several different types of trajectories for the assumed shape were developed for the purposes of the research. Laser micromachining was performed with fixed parameters of the laser device using different trajectories. The article indicates the significant impact of the laser beam trajectory on the effect of interaction on matter during the laser milling process, which is not often mentioned in scientific reports. The article presents the basic geometrical measurements indicating the need to determine the leading of the laser beam. Studieswere conducted using the microscopic observation methods and interferometric methods for estimating the surface condition. The article indicates the need for extensive research focusing on the mechanism of the impact of the laser beam scan strategy on the effect on the material during ablative laser machining. The article summarizes the analysis and discussion of research results.
Genetic affinity of sunflower lines and cluster analysis by morphological traits
Authors: Vedmedeva Katerina
Published: October 2020

The purpose of the study is to identify the use of qualitative and quantitative morphological traits to ascertain genetic affinity and identification of sunflower lines. A collection of 39 sunflower lines was studied according to morphological qualitative traits described in the method of establishing differences, homogeneity, stability and quantitative traits (plant organ size, 1000 seeds weight, oil content). Several lines of unknown origin were identified to each other. The material of the collection of lines proved the possibility of clustering by the method of link analysis on a set of morphological features. Generalized data show that only three lines out of 39 do not correspond to known lineages in their clusters, which is 92% of the correct cluster definition. The results of clustering, identification and breeding records were compared. To be consistent with the breeding records classification, the number of distinguished traits that are not similar must exceed 20 names given to the score.