bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weibull-Exponential Distribution and Its Application in Monitoring Industrial Process
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Mohsin Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a new Weibull family of distributions. The compatibility of the newly developed class is justified through its application in the field of quality control using Weibull-exponential distribution, a special case of the proposed family. In this paper, an attribute control chart using Weibull-exponential distribution is developed. The estimations of the model parameters and the proposed chart parameters are performed through the methods of maximum likelihood and average run-length. The significance of the proposed model is demonstrated using a simulation study and real-life problems. The results of the monitoring process and quick detection are compared with exponential distribution.
Modeling of Shear Crack Propagation in Rock Masses Using Mesh‐Free LRPIM
Authors: Li Qingbo , Xu Nengxiong , Wan Weifeng , Li Yazhe
Published: March 2021

The modeling of shear cracks in materials is critical in various engineering applications, such as the safety analysis of concrete structures and stability analysis of rock slopes. Based on the idea of Goodman element, the elastic‐plastic constitutive model of the shear cracks is derived, and the elastic‐plastic analysis of shear crack propagation is realized in the local radial basis point interpolation method (LRPIM). This method avoids the loss of accuracy caused by the mesh in the analysis of fracture propagation, and the crack propagation of rock brittle material is simulated. The investigation indicates that (1) the LRPIM results are close to the FDM results, which demonstrates that it is feasible to analyze shear cracks in rock masses. (2) Compared with the results of the built‐in oblique crack model, when the LRPIM is used to analyze crack propagation, the results are close to the experimental results, showing that the LRPIM can model shear crack propagation in a rock mass. (3) The propagation path using the LRPIM is not sufficiently smooth, which can be explained as the crack tip stress and strain not being sufficiently accurate and still requiring further improvement.
Association between CT‐Quantified Body Composition and Recurrence, Survival in Nonmetastasis Colorectal Cancer Patients Underwent Regular Chemotherapy after Surgery
Authors: Ying Piaopaio , Jin Wenyi , Wu Xiaoli , Cai Weiyang
Published: March 2021

Background. Body mass index, measured at colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis has been associated with recurrence and survival outcomes. Computed tomography‐ (CT‐) defined body compositions accurately reflect body mass, but there was no consistent perspective on the influence of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and skeletal muscle mass (SM) on the prognosis of nonmetastasis CRC, especially in the patients underwent surgery and regularly standard chemotherapy. Methods. We investigated the associations of CT‐quantified body composition (VAT and SM) with CRC patients successively underwent surgery and regular 8‐12 of periods standard chemotherapy. All of the CT images were obtained at the level of the L3/4 spinal level. The prognostic value of the body compositions was analyzed using the Cox regression model, and precise clinical nomograms were established. Results. In XELOX‐treated patients, progression‐free survival (PFS) (P = 0.025) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.032) were lower in the high‐SM than in the low‐SM group. The univariate analysis demonstrated that compared with low‐SM patients, patients with high‐SM showed a strikingly poor prognosis in both OS (P = 0.0512) and PFS in the T4 subgroup (P = 0.0417), while contrary to the T2‐3 subgroup. Conclusions. CT‐quantified body compositions have a significant influence on CRC patients successively underwent curative resection and regularly standard chemotherapy with the endpoints of 1‐year, 3‐year, and 5‐year both OS and PFS. Patients with high‐SM showed a strikingly poor prognosis in OS and PFS in the T4 subgroup; however, the prognosis role of body composition was opposite in T2‐3 patients.
Controlled Attenuation Parameter for Quantification of Steatosis: Which Cut-Offs to Use?
Authors: Sirli Roxana , Sporea Ioan
Published: March 2021

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are a public health problem, even if frequently they are underdiagnosed. Hepatic steatosis (HS), encountered not only in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but also in chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, etc., plays an important role in fibrosis progression, regardless of CLD etiology; thus, detection and quantification of HS are imperative. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) feature, implemented in the FibroScan® device, measures the attenuation of the US beam as it passes through the liver. It is a noninvasive technique, feasible and well accepted by patients, with lower costs than other diagnostic techniques, with acceptable accuracy for HS quantification. Multiple studies have been published regarding CAP performance to quantify steatosis, but due to the heterogeneity of CLD etiologies, of steatosis prevalence, etc., it had widely variable calculated cut-off values, which in turn limited the day-to-day utility of CAP measurements in clinical practice. This paper reviews published studies trying to suggest cut-off values usable in clinical practice.
The Investigation on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Steam Condensation in Presence of Noncondensable Gas under Natural Convection
Authors: Ma Xizhen , Ma Jiang , Tong Heng , Jia Haijun
Published: March 2021

The NHR-200 reactor in China adopts the noncondensable gas self-stabilizing control and the noncondensable gas used for pressure stabilization control can weaken steam condensation heat transfer in the integrated steam-gas pressurizer. A condensation experimental system was established and the heat transfer characteristics of steam-nitrogen and steam-argon condensation under natural convection had been investigated. The pressure ranged from 0.516 to 5.10 MPa. The distributions of nitrogen and argon in the steam/gas mixture were obtained in the experiments, and the results showed that nitrogen and argon were evenly distributed in the steam under different pressure, respectively. The effects of heat transfer temperature difference had also been investigated and it is found that the total heat transfer coefficient difference had little influence on the total condensation heat transfer coefficient. However, the steam condensation heat transfer coefficient decreased with the increase of the degree of supercooling of the wall. The condensation heat transfer coefficient was reduced by approximately 0.11 kW/(m2·K) as the degree of supercooling of the wall changed from 14°C to 36°C. The condensation heat transfer coefficient also decreased with the mass/molar fraction of noncondensable gas increasing and a certain difference between the effect of the mass fraction of noncondensable gas and the effect of the molar fraction of noncondensable gas was discussed in this paper.
Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis in Cepstral Domain Using MFCC and Dimensionality Reduction with SVM Classifier
Authors: Rahman Atiqur , Rizvi Sanam Shahla , Khan Aurangzeb , Afzaal Abbasi Aaqif , Khan Shafqat Ullah , Chung Tae-Sun
Published: March 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common and serious neurological diseases. Impairments in voice have been reported to be the early biomarkers of the disease. Hence, development of PD diagnostic tool will help early diagnosis of the disease. Additionally, intelligent system developed for binary classification of PD and healthy controls can also be exploited in future as an instrument for prodromal diagnosis. Notably, patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) represent a good model as they develop PD with a high probability. It has been shown that slight speech and voice impairment may be a sensitive marker of preclinical PD. In this study, we propose PD detection by extracting cepstral features from the voice signals collected from people with PD and healthy subjects. To classify the extracted features, we propose to use dimensionality reduction through linear discriminant analysis and classification through support vector machine. In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we also developed ten different machine learning models. It was observed that the proposed method yield area under the curve (AUC) of 88%, sensitivity of 73.33%, and specificity of 84%. Moreover, the proposed intelligent system was simulated using publicly available multiple types of voice database. Additionally, the data were collected from patients under on-state. The obtained results on the public database are promising compared to the previously published work.
Planning and Design of a Full-Outer-Air-Intake Natural Air-Conditioning System for Medical Negative Pressure Isolation Wards
Authors: Weng Chien-Lun , Kau Lih-Jen
Published: March 2021

In the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic started to spread globally, causing panic to the lives of people around the world; many countries executed lockdown of cities or even total lockdown of the entire countries. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is transmitted via air droplets. In medical environments that use traditional hermetic ventilation systems, medical personnel who come in contact with patients are more susceptible to infection compared to regular staff; therefore, the air flow and air quality of hermetic negative pressure isolation wards are highly critical. For this purpose, the study proposes a full-outer-air-intake natural air-conditioning system for negative pressure isolation wards. This innovative system draws in large amounts of fresh external air to greatly improve the air exchange rate in wards; negative pressure environments can be implemented depending on requirements to solve the issue of nosocomial infections in traditional negative pressure isolation wards that draw air from within the hospital. This greatly reduces the probability of nosocomial infection and infection via air droplets; furthermore, the system’s intake and exhaust paths are completely isolated, solving the issue of air cross-contamination. Based on the results from the experiment site, this innovative system was designed and implemented based on the guidelines of hospital facilities and achieved air exchange per hour in excess of 12 times/hour, reaching a maximum of 54.5 times/hour. Indoor CO2 concentration was 576 ppm, negative pressure was −14 Pa, indoor temperature was 23.3°C, indoor humidity was 54.1%, and sensible heat exchange efficiency (ηs) was 105.88% which effectively reduced ventilation load. Therefore, this innovative full-outer-air-intake natural air-conditioning system can provide medical staff and patients with a safe and healthy environment that prevents cross-infection.
IFNα Augments Clinical Efficacy of Regulatory T-cell Depletion with Denileukin Diftitox in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Thibodeaux Suzanne R. , Barnett Brian B. , Pandeswara Srilakshmi , Wall Shawna R. , Hurez Vincent , Dao Vinh , Sun Lishi , Daniel Benjamin J. , Brumlik Michael J. , Drerup Justin , Padrón Álvaro , Whiteside Teresa , Kryczek Ilona , Zou Weiping , Curiel Tyler J.
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

Immunotherapy treats some cancers, but not ovarian cancer. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) impede anti-ovarian cancer immunity but effective human Treg-directed treatments are lacking. We tested Treg depletion with denileukin diftitox (DD) ± IFNα as ovarian cancer immunotherapy.

Patients and Methods:

Mice with syngeneic ID8 ovarian cancer challenge were treated with DD, IFNα, or both. The phase 0/I trial tested one dose-escalated DD infusion for functional Treg reduction, safety, and tolerability. The phase II trial added IFNα2a to DD if DD alone failed clinically.

Results:

DD depleted Tregs, and improved antitumor immunity and survival in mice. IFNα significantly improved antitumor immunity and survival with DD. IFNα did not alter Treg numbers or function but boosted tumor-specific immunity and reduced tumor Treg function with DD by inducing dendritic cell IL6. DD alone was well tolerated, depleted functional blood Tregs and improved immunity in patients with various malignancies in phase 0/I. A patient with ovarian cancer in phase 0/I experienced partial clinical response prompting a phase II ovarian cancer trial, but DD alone failed phase II. Another phase II trial added pegylated IFNα2a to failed DD, producing immunologic and clinical benefit in two of two patients before a DD shortage halt. DD alone was well tolerated. Adding IFNα increased toxicities but was tolerable, and reduced human Treg numbers in blood, and function through dendritic cell–induced IL6 in vitro.

Conclusions:

Treg depletion is clinically useful but unlikely alone to cure ovarian cancer. Rational treatment agent combinations can salvage clinical failure of Treg depletion alone, even when neither single agent provides meaningful clinical benefit.
L-Plastin Promotes Gastric Cancer Growth and Metastasis in a Helicobacter pylori cagA-ERK-SP1–Dependent Manner
Authors: Teng Yong-Sheng , Chen Wan-Yan , Yan Zong-Bao , Lv Yi-Pin , Liu Yu-Gang , Mao Fang-Yuan , Zhao Yong-Liang , Peng Liu-Sheng , Cheng Ping , Duan Mu-Bing , Chen Weisan , Wang Yu , Luo Ping , Zou Quan-Ming , Chen Jun , Zhuang Yuan
Published: March 2021

Actin cytoskeleton dynamic rearrangement is required for tumor cell metastasis and is a key characteristic of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected host cells. Actin cytoskeleton modulation is coordinated by multiple actin-binding proteins (ABP). Through Kyoto encyclopedia of gene and genomes database, GEPIA website, and real-time PCR data, we found that H. pylori infection significantly induced L-plastin, a key ABP, in gastric cancer cells. We further explored the regulation and function of L-plastin in H. pylori–associated gastric cancer and found that, mechanistically, H. pylori infection induced gastric cancer cells to express L-plastin via cagA-activated ERK signaling pathway to mediate SP1 binding to L-plastin promoter. Moreover, this increased L-plastin promoted gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro and facilitated the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer in vivo. Finally, we detected the expression pattern of L-plastin in gastric cancer tissues, and found that L-plastin was increased in gastric cancer tissues and that this increase of L-plastin positively correlated with cagA+ H. pylori infection status. Overall, our results elucidate a novel mechanism of L-plastin expression induced by H. pylori, and a new function of L-plastin–facilitated growth and metastasis of gastric cancer, and thereby implicating L-plastin as a potential therapeutic target against gastric cancer.

Implications:

Our results elucidate a novel mechanism of L-plastin expression induced by H. pylori in gastric cancer, and a new function of L-plastin–facilitated gastric cancer growth and metastasis, implicating L-plastin as a potential therapeutic target against gastric cancer.
A Parathyroid–Gut Axis: Hypercalcemia and the Pathogenesis of Gastrinoma in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 1
Authors: Hackeng Wenzel M. , Dreijerink Koen M.A. , Offerhaus G. Johan A. , Brosens Lodewijk A.A.
Published: March 2021

Patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 (MEN1) syndrome have a germline mutation in the MEN1 gene. Loss of the wild-type allele can initiate endocrine tumorigenesis. Microscopic and macroscopic pituitary, parathyroid, and pancreatic tumors (referred to as the 3 P's) show loss of the wild-type MEN1 allele up to 100%. In contrast, the duodenal gastrinoma pathogenesis in MEN1 syndrome follows a hyperplasia-to-neoplasia sequence. Gastrinomas have loss of heterozygosity of the MEN1 locus in <50%, and invariably coincide with linear, diffuse, or micronodular gastrin-cell hyperplasia. The factor initiating the gastrin-cell hyperplasia-to-neoplasia sequence is unknown. In this perspective, we argue that hypercalcemia may promote the gastrin-cell hyperplasia-to-neoplasia sequence through the calcium sensing receptor. Hypercalcemia is present in almost all patients with MEN1 syndrome due to parathyroid adenomas. We propose a parathyroid-gut axis, which could well explain why patients with MEN1 syndrome are regularly cured of duodenal gastrinoma after parathyroid surgery, and might cause MEN1 syndrome phenocopies in MEN1-mutation negative individuals with parathyroid adenomas. This perspective on the pathogenesis of the gastrin-cell hyperplasia and neoplasia sequence sheds new light on tumorigenic mechanisms in neuroendocrine tumors and might open up novel areas of gastrinoma research. It may also shift focus in the treatment of MEN1 syndrome-related gastrinoma to biochemical prevention.
Pharmacological Activity of Pyrazole Derivatives as an Anticonvulsant for Benefit against Epilepsy
Authors: Gao Meizhe , Qu Keli , Zhang Wenzhi , Wang Xueying
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Pediatric patients with epilepsy are prone to cognitive impairments during growth and long-term use of most antiepileptic drugs (AED). The affected children do not respond to conventional AED and may require novel drugs to manage the disease. Valproic acid, a first-line drug to treat epilepsy, is associated with serious side effects, which precludes its wider use. Thus, in the present study, we intended to develop novel substituted pyrazoles. Methods: The molecules were tested for anticonvulsive activity in Swiss albino mice via maximal electroshock seizure and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole assays. The most potent molecule among the class was further assayed for its effect on behavioral and CNS depressant activity. The effect of the most potent compounds was also analyzed on various indices of oxidative stress and inflammation in mice. Results: The designed compounds showed significant anticonvulsive activity in mice revealing 7h as the most potent anticonvulsive agent. The most potent anticonvulsant molecule 7h further showed no behavioral alteration and considerable CNS depressant activity. It also reduces the level of oxidative stress and inflammation in the mice. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated utility of pyrazole derivatives as anticonvulsants against epilepsy.
The COVID-19 Epidemic: Management and Outcomes of Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Smolander Jessica , Bruchfeld Annette
Published: March 2021

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has been associated with a high morbidity, mortality, and a risk of long-term sequelae, and patients with severe COVID-19 are at increased risk of acute kidney injury. CKD patients are at high risk of being exposed to COVID-19 and suffer complications and poor outcome. In Sweden, mitigation strategies did not include lockdown. During March–April of 2020, wide-spread infection occurred in Stockholm. Methods: Management and outcomes in forty hemodialysis (HD) patients and 4 peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, with symptomatic COVID-19 in greater Stockholm during March and April of 2020 are reported. Results: Twenty-four HD patients (60%) required medical care and hospitalization, whereas 16 patients (40%) were treated at home. Nine patients died (mortality rate of 22.5%), of whom 8 were men. The median age in non-survivors (78 years) was significantly higher than in survivors (p = 0.003). The median time in dialysis (11.5 years) was also significantly longer in non-survivors (p = 0.01). C-reactive protein (CRP) at diagnosis in 7 of non-survivors (median 213 mg/L, range 86–329 mg/L) was significantly higher than the CRP in 25 survivors (median 87 mg/L, range 1–328 mg/L) (p = 0.0003). Maximum CRP also indicated poorer outcome among hospitalized patients (p = 0.0004). The gender imbalance was striking with only men dying apart from 1 elderly woman. Only 4 PD patients were hospitalized with symptomatic COVID-19. One patient died, 2 were discharged, and 1 was treated at the intensive care unit and survived. Conclusion: HD patients >70 years were reported with longer dialysis vintage, higher CRP, and males were at an increased risk of dying from COVID-19, whereas those <70 years seemed to have a milder disease. Mitigation strategies to reduce rates of infection in high-risk populations remain essential. Follow-up focusing on long-term prognosis for extrapulmonary manifestations is likely to be important also in dialysis patients.
Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence in a Dichorionic Twin Pregnancy Leading to Severe Cerebral Injury in the Recipient
Authors: Tollenaar Lisanne S.A. , Prins Sandra A. , Beuger Sabine , Slaghekke Femke , Oepkes Dick , Lopriore Enrico
Published: March 2021

Twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is a form of chronic imbalanced feto-fetal transfusion through minuscule placental anastomoses leading to anemia in the TAPS donor and polycythemia in the TAPS recipient and has been reported only in monochorionic twins. We report a very unusual case of TAPS which developed in a dichorionic twin pair, born at a gestational age of 33+2. Twin 1 (recipient) was polycythemic and had a hemoglobin value of 22.4 g/dL, whereas twin 2 (donor) was anemic with a hemoglobin value of 9.8 g/dL and an increased reticulocyte count (72‰). Color dye injection of the placenta revealed the presence of a deep-hidden small veno-venous anastomosis. Dichorionicity was confirmed on histologic examination. Aside from respiratory distress syndrome, the donor twin had an uncomplicated neonatal course. The recipient twin developed a post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation requiring treatment with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and Rickham reservoir. This report shows that in dichorionic twins, placental anastomoses can be present, which can lead to the development of TAPS with severe consequences. Therefore, when a pale and plethoric dichorionic twin pair is born, a complete diagnostic work-up is required, including a full blood count with reticulocytes and placental injection, to investigate the presence and nature of potential underlying feto-fetal transfusion. Once the diagnosis of TAPS has been established, cerebral ultrasound, hearing screening, and long-term follow-up are strongly recommended as these twins have increased risk for severe cerebral injury, hearing loss, and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment.
Extrapulmonary Small Cell Cancer: A New Insight into a Rare Disease
Authors: Brazg Ferro Leora , Wolf Ido , Peleg Hasson Shira , Golomb Inbal , Osher Ester , Berlin Alla , Gutfeld Orit , Ospovat Inna , Soyfer Viacheslav
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Extrapulmonary small-cell cancer (EPSCC) is a relatively rare malignancy. The management of EPSCC is usually extrapolated from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In spite of the morphological similarity of the 2 malignancies, there are many differences in clinical features, prognosis, and recommendations of treatment of these disorders. The data on the correlation of clinical-pathological characteristics of EPSCC and treatment results is scarce. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of 41 consecutively treated patients diagnosed with EPSCC in 2015–2018 was performed in a tertiary medical center. The correlation between the clinical and pathological characteristics and the treatment outcome (response rate, disease-free interval, and overall medial survival) was done using the standard statistics, Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analyses. The stratification was done on the stage of the disease, Ki-67 proliferative index, the location of the tumor, and smoking. Results: Forty-one patients were included with a median age of 66.3 years. The most common primary site was the gastrointestinal tract (28, 68.3%) including the pancreas. The most common distant metastasis site was the liver (23, 56.1%). Only 2 patients (4.9%) had brain metastases. Unlike in SCLC, most patients did not have any history of smoking (23, 56.1%). Nineteen patients with metastatic disease received systemic treatment, mostly cisplatin-based chemotherapy, with a response rate of 57.9%. The results of treatment were significantly better in patients with disseminated EPSCC with Ki-67 <55%, while its role in limited disease was nonsignificant. Discussion: The results of our study show the unique entity of EPSCC. The rarity of brain metastases proves that prophylactic brain irradiation should not be recommended in practice. The provocative idea of prophylactic liver irradiation in limited-stage EPSCC of gastrointestinal origin can be evaluated in future studies. The predictive role of Ki-67 is important in metastatic EPSCC. There is probably no role of smoking in developing EPSCC.
Management of Significant Airway Bleeding during Robotic Assisted Bronchoscopy: A Tailored Approach
Authors: Fernandez-Bussy Sebastian , Abia-Trujillo David , Majid Adnan , Folch Erik E. , Patel Neal M. , Herth Felix J.F. , Reisenauer Janani S.
Published: March 2021

Robotic assisted bronchoscopy represents a major turning point in bronchoscopic history. The management strategies to address significant airway bleeding in this “robotic era” are not well documented, and further guidance is required. We present a case report that exemplifies our approach and management strategy using a combined and simultaneous flexible/robotic bronchoscopy if this complication is encountered.
Drinking Water and CKD of Unknown Etiology in Sri Lanka: A Community Perspective
Authors: de Silva M.W. Amarasiri
Published: March 2021

People’s belief that polluted drinking water is the principal medium through which environmental toxins are absorbed into the bodies of CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu) patients in the CKDu-endemic areas in Sri Lanka has been the subject of extensive epidemiological and medical research. This study examines (a) the people’s perception and experience that polluted drinking water is the cause of CKDu, (b) how the government responded to people’s demands for potable water, and (c) the impact of the use of alternative drinking water sources on the health of CKDu patients and their families, and on the progression of the disease in CKDu patients. Data were collected in 2013 and 2019 in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. People’s agitation, activism, and lobbying, together with the media’s work in bringing the issue of polluted water to the forefront of political discourse, have prompted the government, private sector agencies, and community organizations to supply clean water to affected communities. A massive change in drinking water behaviors has occurred following the government’s decision to supply reverse osmosis (RO) water to the affected communities. Informants perceived the provision of RO water as having brought about many positive outcomes in the health and disease progression of CKDu patients.
The Global Kidney Health Atlas: Burden and Opportunities to Improve Kidney Health Worldwide
Authors: Bharati Joyita , Jha Vivek , Levin Adeera
Published: March 2021

CKD is a growing public health problem. The Global Kidney Health Atlas (GKHA) is an important initiative of the International Society of Nephrology. The GKHA aims to improve the understanding of inter- and intranational variability across the globe, focusing on capacity for kidney care delivery. The GKHA survey was launched in 2017 and then again in 2019, using the same core data, supplemented by information about dialysis access and conservative care. Based on a WHO framework of the 6 building blocks essential for health care, the GKHA assesses capacity in 6 domains: information systems, services delivery, workforce, financing, access to essential medicines, and leadership/governance. In addition, the GKHA assesses the capacity for research in all regions of the world, across all domains (basic, translational, clinical, and health system research). The results of the GKHA have informed policy and been used to enhance advocacy strategies in different regions. In addition, through documentation of the disparities within and between countries and regions, initiatives have been launched to foster change. Since the first survey, there has been an increase in the number of countries which have registries to document the burden of CKD or dialysis. For many, information about the burden of disease is the first step toward addressing care delivery issues, including prevention, delay of progression, and access to services. Worldwide collaboration in the documentation of kidney health and disease is an important step toward the goal of ensuring equitable access to kidney health worldwide.
Use of Ventilation-Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography to Select the Target Lobe for Endobronchial Valve Lung Volume Reduction
Authors: Tee Vanessa Sze Theen , Nguyen Phan , Jersmann Hubertus , Grosser Dion , Crouch Benjamin , Lorraine Brett , Chew Chong Ghee
Published: March 2021

Background: Quantitative planar ventilation-perfusion (VQ) has a complementary role in target lobe selection for endobronchial valve lung volume reduction (EBV-LVR), especially in homogenous disease. We investigated a novel method of lung lobar quantitation using VQ single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with computed tomography (CT) to generate a parameter called the ventilation-perfusion differential index (VQDI). Aim: The aim of this study was to validate VQDI as a parameter for target lobe selection in EBV-LVR against the gold standard test of quantitative computed tomography (qCT). Methods: This study was a prospective, multi-centre, single-blinded, observational study of EBV-LVR patients. Baseline and 3-month post intervention VQ SPECT and qCT were performed. The target lobe was chosen using qCT and planar VQ report (CTTL) whilst blinded to VQDI. Post EBV-LVR, our nuclear physician, blinded to CTTL, selected a target lobe using deidentified VQDI (VQDITL). Inter-rater agreement between CTTL and VQDITL was calculated by Kappa statistic. Treatment outcomes were analysed with a linear mixed-effects model. Results: There was a high concordance between CTTL and VQDITL in 16 patients (89%, Kappa statistic = 0.85). Post EBV-LVR, our subjects showed significant changes in FEV1 (mean difference [MD] +150 mL, p < 0.001), target lobe volume reduction (MD −973 mL, p < 0.001), residual volume (MD −800 mL, p < 0.001), and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score (MD −11, p = 0.001). Improvements in 6-minute walk distances did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: In this study of treatment responders, EBV-LVR target lobe selection using VQDI concurs with qCT and thus supports its value for this purpose. It complements qCT and may potentially be of synergistic value especially in homogenous emphysema.
Decline of White-throated Bushchat Saxicola insignis Gray J.E. & J.R. Gray, 1847 (Aves: Passeriformes: Muscicapidae) in Nepal: implications on its global status
Authors: Baral Hem Sagar , Bhatt Tek Raj , Dhakal Bed Kumar , Chaudhary Dhiraj , Yadav Hemanta Kumar , Poudyal Laxman Prasad , Chaudhary Hathan , Joshi Pradeep Raj , Inskipp Carol , Amin Rajan
Published: March 2021

The White-throated Bushchat, also known as Hodgson’s Bushchat, is a long-distance migratory and specialist grassland bird categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.  In Nepal, White-throated Bushchat winters in the lowlands, and has been primarily recorded in large Phantas (=open plains of grassland).  We present the population status of the species in Shukla Phanta, the largest continuous lowland grassland in Nepal that is known to hold the largest wintering population of White-throated Bushchat in the Indian subcontinent. Our 2013–2014, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018 winter surveys for White-throated Bushchat followed the same method used in the 1997–1998 and 2007 surveys in Shukla Phanta for comparable assessment of the status of the species.  Our study provided overwhelming evidence that the species has undergone a steep decline over the last two decades (probability of 92% for a decline greater than 5% per year).  Shukla Phanta is dominated by the species’ preferred habitat of Imperata cylindrica, Narenga porphyrocoma, and Saccharum bengalensis.  Grassland patches managed through controlled burning leaving enough reeds for perches, grazed at medium level of intensity by wildlife and within close distance to water were found to support higher numbers of White-throated Bushchat.  Given the observed steep decline in the largest known wintering population of the species and similar declines observed in the wintering populations in India, its status warrants uplisting to Critically Endangered, and we recommend an urgent review of its global status.
A new species of braconid wasp Meteorus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Meteorinae) from India
Authors: Ahmed Zaheer , Hussain Mir Altaf , Shamim Mohammad
Published: March 2021

A new species of braconid wasp, Meteorus rubrum Ahmed & Shamim sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Meteorinae), is described from India.  The new species is closely related with M. dichomeridis (Wilkinson, 1930) and M. kotanni (Maeto, 1986).
Sandracottus vijayakumari (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae), a new aquatic beetle species from landslide hit area of Nelliyampathy Forest Range, Western Ghats, Kerala, India
Authors: Anand P.P. , Ashiq P.P. , Smitha M. , Adithya M. , Tibin T. , Suresh V.
Published: March 2021

The present study deals with the description of a new species Sandracottus vijayakumari from Nelliyampathy forest range, southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India with a comparative key of closely related species S. dejeani Aube, 1838.  Only one species is known from the genus Sandracottus Sharp, 1882, from southern Western Ghats, Kerala.  The Nelliyampathy forest areas are hilly and the altitude of the hills range 40–1,530 m.  The region experiences several types of landslides especially during the monsoon (August to September 2018).  The new species was discovered in one of the worst landslide hits area in Nelliyampathy forest, Kundrachola region.  The new aquatic beetle species is moderately large in size and often very attractively marked dorsally with complex maculations.  Additionally, the new species shows a strong synapomorphy along with Eretini, Hydaticini, and Aubehydrini tribes.
Freshwater medusae Limnocnida indica Annandale, 1911 in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubare Reserve Forest and Shivanasamudram in Karnataka, India, with a commentary note on the exotic Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, 1880
Authors: Sreenivasan Naren , Barton Joshua
Published: March 2021

Fifty years after the first report of freshwater medusae (Limnocnida indica) from Cauvery River in Krishanrajasagar Reservoir, there has been only one other published report of its occurrence in the Cauvery Basin at Hemavathi Reservoir, Kodagu District.  Recent interest in freshwater photography has revealed three more locations in the Cauvery Basin where medusae are found.  Medusae are often observed at these locations but are erroneously identified as invasive species.  According to published literature, this is true of Craspedacusta sowerbii, a cosmopolitan species with only three confirmed reports from India.  All these reports were from artificial structures such as ponds and aquaria.  The native Limnocnida and exotic Craspedacusta can be distinguished from each other visually and with respect to temporal variation in the occurrence of their free swimming medusae.  This short note is intended to shed light on the status, distribution, and field identification of L. indica, a species endemic to the Western Ghats of India.
A rapid assessment of waterbirds and the mangrove status in the Menabe Antimena Protected Area, Madagascar
Authors: Zöckler Christoph , Razanamahenina Solofo Ndrina , Markolf Matthias
Published: March 2021

Mangroves are of great ecological importance that provide multiple ecosystem services, shelter, and habitat for many threatened waterbird species.  The mangroves of the Menabe Antimena Protected Area (MANAP) in western Madagascar are among the most extensive remaining on the island.  The remaining dryland forests of the MANAP have been subjected to immense deforestation in recent years.  Although remote sensing studies indicate that the mangrove forest loss is considerably lower than the dryland forest loss, little is known about the mangroves’ degradation status.  Furthermore, detailed information on bird diversity and numbers is scattered, and previous surveys focused on northern parts of the MANAP, recently designated as the Wetlands of the Tsiribihina RAMSAR site.  This study aims to assess bird diversity and abundance, as well as the status of mangroves in the MANAP. We conducted a rapid survey using direct observations at three sites along the coastal regions of the MANAP from 24 Sep–2 Oct 2019.  We recorded 71 species of birds in the mangroves and coastal wetlands.  High numbers of individuals were counted for several species.  Numbers of the Madagascar Plover Charadrius thoracicus and the Madagascar Teal Anas bernieri fulfill criteria for important bird areas at single survey sites and the site is likely to be of importance for Madagascar Sacred Ibis Threskiornis bernieri; these three species are all globally threatened.  Mangrove degradation is still limited, but numerous threats to mangroves are present.  Our results highlight the importance of the mangroves of the MANAP for several endemic bird species in Madagascar.  We provide recommendations for conservation management and future research.
Structure-informed functional connectivity driven by identifiable and
state-specific control regions
Authors: Chiêm Benjamin , Crevecoeur Frédéric , Delvenne Jean-Charles
Published: March 2021

Describing how the brain anatomical wiring contributes to the emergence of coordinated neural activity underlying complex behavior remains challenging. Indeed, patterns of remote coactivations that adjust with the ongoing task-demand do not systematically match direct, static anatomical links. Here, we propose that observed coactivation patterns, known as functional connectivity (FC), can be explained by a controllable linear diffusion dynamics defined on the brain architecture. Our model, termed structure-informed FC, is based on the hypothesis that different sets of brain regions controlling the information flow on the anatomical wiring produce state-specific functional patterns. We thus introduce a principled framework for the identification of potential control centers in the brain. We find that well-defined, sparse, and robust sets of control regions, partially overlapping across several tasks and resting state, produce FC patterns comparable to empirical ones. Our findings suggest that controllability is a fundamental feature allowing the brain to reach different states.
KEPLER: A Unified Model for Knowledge Embedding and Pre-trained Language Representation
Authors: Wang Xiaozhi , Gao Tianyu , Zhu Zhaocheng , Zhang Zhengyan , Liu Zhiyuan , Li Juanzi , Tang Jian
Published: March 2021

Pre-trained language representation models (PLMs) cannot well capture factual knowledge from text. In contrast, knowledge embedding (KE) methods can effectively represent the relational facts in knowledge graphs (KGs) with informative entity embeddings, but conventional KE models cannot take full advantage of the abundant textual information. In this paper, we propose a unified model for Knowledge Embedding and Pre-trained LanguagERepresentation (KEPLER), which can not only better integrate factual knowledge into PLMs but also produce effective text-enhanced KE with the strong PLMs. In KEPLER, we encode textual entity descriptions with a PLM as their embeddings, and then jointly optimize the KE and language modeling objectives. Experimental results show that KEPLER achieves state-of-the-art performances on various NLP tasks, and also works remarkably well as an inductive KE model on KG link prediction. Furthermore, for pre-training and evaluating KEPLER, we construct Wikidata5M1 , a large-scale KG dataset with aligned entity descriptions, and benchmark state-of-the-art KE methods on it. It shall serve as a new KE benchmark and facilitate the research on large KG, inductive KE, and KG with text. The source code can be obtained from https://github.com/THU-KEG/KEPLER.
Practicing the Passion of Pentecost
Authors: Rice Monte Lee
Published: March 2021

Scholars are steadily situating pentecostal studies within the embodiment turn, recognizing its foci as imperative to ongoing twenty-first-century pentecostal/charismatic studies. Yet this enjoins greater movement beyond the earlier “linguistic turn,” which too often overlooked the crucial perspectival role of human flesh. For from the horizons of incarnation and Pentecost, Christian faith propagates God’s turn toward flesh. This suggest that pentecostal spirituality generates an eschatological urgency. Fostering this “urgency” into the twenty-first century, however, requires recasting its source and expression within pentecostal spirituality. Drawing from Acts 2:17 (“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”), this essay explores how this turn to the flesh might aptly ground and generate eschatological fervor. Doing so, however, exposes deficiencies with pentecostal sacramentality, recognizing links between it and eschatology. The essay addresses this by engaging Kearney’s “anatheistic sacramentality.” It concludes with several implications with particular attention to the violent tragedy of world hunger.
Different Levels of Ethnic Kinship: The Next Step in Cross-Border Minority Issues?
Authors: Ruda Darius
Published: March 2021

This article serves as a comprehensive literature review on cross-border minority issues in Europe, and after a thorough analysis, we discuss the role of ethnic kinship in such matters. After exploring the literature, we conclude that the theoretical frameworks deployed so far seem to be appropriate in cases of direct ethnic kinship (i.e. when the observed groups are, ethnologically speaking, the same, except for obvious regional differences), but they are insufficient for indirect ethnic kinship (i.e. when the observed groups are, ethnologically speaking, differentiated, but remain ideologically attached because of various reasons related to common history, linguistic background, identity or ancient ancestry). We provide some examples of indirect kinship, explain why the levels of political legitimation are different for all actors involved and present a new theoretical framework to study ethnic kinship not as binary, but as a phenomenon with different levels.
A Novel Risk Assessment Model Using Urinary System Contrast Blush Grading to Predict Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Low-Risk Profile Patients
Authors: Efe Süleyman Cagan , Keskin Melike , Toprak Ercan , Arslan Kürşat , Öz Ahmet , Güven Saadet , Altıntaş Mehmet Sait , Yüksel Yasin , Deger Seyda , Onal Cagatay , Karagöz Ali , Doğan Cem , Bayram Zübeyde , Karabağ Turgut , Ayca Burak , Kaymaz Cihangir , Ozdemir Nihal
Published: March 2021

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) can occur after coronary interventions despite protective measures. We evaluated the effect of urinary system contrast blush grading for predicting post-procedure CI-AKI in 486 patients with chronic coronary artery disease. Patient characteristics and blood samples were collected. Urinary system contrast blush grade was recorded during the coronary angiography and interventions. Post-procedure third to fourth day blood samples were collected for diagnosis of CI-AKI. The median age of the patients was 61 years (53-70, interquartile range), and 194 (39.9%) participants were female. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury occurred in 78 (16%) patients. By comparing full and reduced models with the likelihood ratio test, it was observed that in the reduced model, factors such as age, diabetes mellitus, body weight–adapted contrast media (CM), hemoglobin, and urinary system blush were associated with CI-AKI presence. The probability of CI-AKI presence increased slightly from grade 0 to 1 blush, but it increased sharply grade from 1 to 2 blush. According to our results, an increase in body weight–adapted CM and urinary blush grading were the main predictors of CI-AKI. These findings suggest that when body weight–adapted CM ratio exceeds 3.5 mL/kg and urinary contrast blush reaches grade 2, the patients should be followed up more carefully for the development of CI-AKI.
Vaping in the Context of Delinquency Among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Comparison Among Alcohol and Cigarette Use
Authors: Maynard Christian P.
Published: March 2021

Vaping has been increasing with Monitoring the Future, indicating nicotine vaping (2017–2018) having the largest single-year jump among any substance recorded in its 45-year history. Overall, research on vaping has been substantially limited, primarily in the context of vaping and delinquency. This study’s purpose is to examine how nicotine vaping compares with other common substances used by adolescents like alcohol and cigarettes within the context of delinquency. Using secondary data from Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of the Lifestyles and Values of Youth conducted in 2017, with a sample size of 8,467 participants, we find that ever-nicotine “vapers” were associated with less delinquency than ever-cigarette-using youth; however, these “vapers” were associated with more delinquency than ever-alcohol users. We interpret these results in the context of social bonding and social learning theory and policies to create awareness on the potential social implications of vaping.
Guiding and Evaluating Reflection: A Music Teacher’s Guide
Authors: Sanchez Adorno Sandra
Published: March 2021

The more critically one reflects on their teaching, the more conscious they becomes of the whys and hows associated with an experience. However, reflection and critical analysis are no easy feats. The structure provided by reflective frameworks can offer music educators guidance in understanding reflection, evaluating reflective thinking, and measuring growth in conjunction with or in the absence of a mentor.
Post-Truth Society? An Eliasian Sociological Analysis of Knowledge in the 21st Century
Authors: Malcolm Dominic
Published: March 2021

This article draws on Elias’s sociology of knowledge to delineate the social processes that have culminated in the development of the post-truth phenomenon. It argues that technological and social changes have led to a complex commingling of increased emotion and increasingly ‘rational’ debating techniques. These have been accompanied by an increasing human capacity to consider issues on multiple ‘levels’ and anticipate the varied ways in which different audiences could perceive particular propositions. While these changes explain the polarisation of views characteristic of post-truth, the theory of informalisation is invoked to explain the relative absence of shame at the public exposure of ‘untruths’. The article expands debates in communication and science and technology studies to locate post-truth as an emergent form of knowledge contingent upon new forms of communication, a re-structuring of social interdependencies and changes in modes of thinking. In so doing, it advances the sociological analysis of knowledge.
‘I can’t just go up to a person to ask what’s going on.’ How Dutch urbanites’ accounts of non-engagement enhance our understanding of urban care
Authors: Blonk Laurine , Trappenburg Margo , Bredewold Femmianne
Published: March 2021

In the context of increasing appeals to informal care in Western welfare state policies, questions concerning urban sociality acquire new significance. This paper aims to contribute to the emergent thinking on ‘urban care’ by situating it in policy debates concerning care responsibilities between citizens. We used small-scale focus groups among urban residents in The Hague (the Netherlands) to inquire into the accounts urbanites give of engaging or not engaging with perceived care needs of a stranger. Informed by Goffman’s ‘civil inattention’, we found that accounts of non-engagement highlight urbanites’ orientation towards maintaining friendly social interactions in the face of strange or worrisome situations. Urbanites feel that they should respect people’s choices even if these might hurt them. They fear that interference might be humiliating and they attribute to themselves the task of sticking to normality, while family members, friends or professionals might take on the task to intervene. This careful non-engagement, contrasted with long-standing accounts of urban indifference, enhances our understanding of urban care.