bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resultados de la inyección intracitoplasmática de espermatozoides en hombres con azoospermia no obstructiva: utilidad de la biopsia testicular previa
Authors: Arent Adriana , Teloken Claudio , Hartmann Antonio , Badalotti Mariangela , Pettraco Rafaella , Petracco Alvaro
Published: April 2020

Objetivo: evaluar el resultado de la inyección intracitoplasmática de espermatozoides (ICSI) en parejas cuyos hombres mostraron azoospermia no obstructiva en conformidad con el hallazgo histológico del testículo.Diseño: estudio retrospectivo con análisis transversal.Materiales y métodos: han sido estudiados los resultados de laboratorio y clínicos en 59 parejas (79 ciclos) sometidas a la ICSI. Los hombres han sido divididos en 3 grupos de acuerdo con el reporte histológico obtenido en biopsia previa a la fertilización (hipoespermatogénesis, detención de la maduración espermática y aplasia de las células germinativas) y los resultados han sido comparados entre los grupos.Resultados: el hallazgo principal fue la hipoespermatogénesis (61%), seguido por la detención de la maduración espermática (22%) y la aplasia de las células germinativas (17%). Los espermatozoides estuvieron presentes en 87,7% y la tasa de fertilización (58,8%) en los casos de hipoespematogenesis fue significativamente más grande (p < 0,001) en comparación con los de detención de la maduración (50 y 40,7%) y con la aplasia de células germinativas (21,4 y 36,8%). La primera división celular tuvo una tendencia superior en los pacientes con hipoespermatogenesis (95,9%) seguido de los pacientes con detención de la maduración (87,5%) y luego los con aplasia de las células germinativas (71,4%) (p = 0,001). La tasa total de embarazo clínico por ciclo iniciado y por transferencia fue de 25,3 y 37,7%, respectivamente.Conclusiones: la biopsia de testículo en hombres con azoospermia previa a la fertilización es una técnica fundamental para una orientación adecuada. Aunque los hombres con hipoespermatogénesis son quienes han obtenido los mejores resultados, es bien posible la obtención de espermatozoides, fertilización y embrazo en los pacientes cuya biopsia no ha evidenciado presencia de espermatozoides.
Exploración sobre los conocimientos del ácido fólico y sus beneficios en la salud reproductiva en una población universitaria colombiana
Authors: Ordoñez Adriana , Suárez Fernando
Published: April 2020

Objetivos: establecer los conocimientos que un grupo de mujeres universitarias tiene acerca del ácido fólico en relación a la prevención de defectos del tubo neural (DNT) y conocer algunos de los patrones alimentarios relacionados con la ingesta de folatos.Métodos: estudio de tipo descriptivo de corte transversal que indagó, a través de una encuesta auto-diligenciada, los conocimientos generales que un grupo de mujeres universitarias tenían sobre el ácido fólico, sus beneficios para la prevención de DNT, consumo diario de ácido fólico, consumo diario de multivitamínicos y patrones de consumo de alimentos ricos en folato.Resultados: de un total de 386 encuestadas, 189 (49%, IC 95% 43,02 – 52,98) habían escuchado o leído alguna información sobre el ácido fólico. Un total de 258 mujeres (66,8%, IC 95% 61,27 – 70,73) no habían oído y/o desconocían los beneficios del ácido fólico en relación a la prevención de DNT. Ninguna de las mujeres encuestadas consumía ácido fólico y un total de 96 mujeres (24,9%, IC 95% 19,74 – 28,26) consumían algún tipo de multivitamínico. Se presentó una menor frecuencia de consumo de alimentos ricos en folato en quienes desconocen la información sobre el ácido fólico.Conclusiones: un importante grupo de mujeres universitarias carece de información sobre el ácido fólico y su relación con la prevención de DNT.
Ruptura prematura de membranas fetales: de la fisiopatología hacia los marcadores tempranos de la enfermedad
Authors: López-Osma Fernando Augusto , Ordoñez-Sánchez Sergio Alexander
Published: April 2020

La ruptura prematura de membranas fetales se define como aquella que ocurre antes de haberse iniciado el trabajo de parto; puede ser previa a la semana 37 de gestación en cuyo caso recibe el nombre de ruptura prematura de membranas pretérmino, la cual aumenta la morbilidad y mortalidad tanto materna como perinatal. La evidencia actual sugiere que la RPM es un proceso multifactorial que puede ser afectado por factores bioquímicos, fisiológicos, patológicos y ambientales. Gracias a la identificación de las metaloproteinasas de la matríz, los inhibidores de tejido de metaloproteinasas y sus posibles mecanismos de acción se ha llegado a un mayor grado de comprensión de la fisiopatología de la enfermedad. Distintos factores han sido asociados con la ruptura prematura de membranas, siendo, hasta ahora, la infección intraamniótica la única causa reconocida de prematurez y de posible causa de ruptura prematura de membranas. Gracias a muchos estudios realizados en los últimos años, que han investigado distintos componentes fetales, maternos y de líquido amniótico que pudieran ser utilizados como marcadores tempranos, existe un futuro promisorio en la detección temprana de la misma y de sus complicaciones.
Fundamentos de criopreservación
Authors: Ávila-Portillo Luz Mábel , Madero José I. , López Claudia , León María Fernanda , Acosta Lucía , Gómez Claudia , Delgado Lucy Gabriela , Gómez Claudio , Lozano José Manuel , Reguero María T.
Published: April 2020

El entender y aplicar adecuadamente la criopreservación de material biológico es fundamental en laboratorios y bancos de células. Sin embargo aunque se han implementado protocolos para criopreservación, aún no se tienen los ideales en la mayoría de los casos.El objetivo de esta revisión es dar a conocer ciertos parámetros inherentes al proceso de criopreservación y la importancia de conocer ciertas características de la célula que pueden incidir con la viabilidad del producto congelado para lograr la técnica adecuada. Para alcanzar este propósito, el documento se basará en el conocimiento de las propiedades fisicoquímicas de la célula y/o el tejido, pues este proceso es afectado por diferentes variables como permeabilidad celular, volumen osmóticamente inactivo y relación superficie/área de la célula, la cual es variable de acuerdo a la especie, tipo y estadio de la célula a congelar. La estructura y composición de las membranas plasmáticas determinan los principales eventos celulares que tienen lugar durante los procesos de criopreservación; las bajas temperaturas afectan la difusión y ósmosis a través de las membranas y cada célula maneja su propio perfil biofísico el cual interactúa con diferentes criopreservantes celulares. El hallar el protocolo adecuado será lo que garantice la viabilidad y funcionabilidad celular.
Manejo del factor masculino leve a moderado con L-CARNITINA. Serie de casos
Authors: Mlayes Linda , Vergara Felipe , De la Hoz Luis , Gómez Alfredo , Amaya Irmgard , Vélez María del Carmen , Parra Guido
Published: April 2020

Objetivo: determinar la utilidad de la L-carnitina vía intramuscular de 1 gr como tratamiento para los casos de factor masculino leve a moderado.Materiales y métodos: participaron en el estudio doce sujetos a las cuales se les diagnosticó oligo–asteno-teratozospermia leve a moderada. Se les administró a un grupo L-cartinina a dosis de 1 gr IM cada 4 días por lo menos por 2 meses previo al procedimiento de reproducción asistida al que fueron sometidos junto con sus parejas. Tomamos como control los parámetros espermáticos el día en que se les realizaba el procedimiento.Resultados: en el grupo que utilizó L-carnitina se observó una mejoría significativa al momento de realizar el procedimiento de reproducción asistida en cuanto a los parámetros espermáticos de concentración y en la movilidad, logrando embarazo en un 50%.Conclusión: el uso de L-carnitina incrementa la concentración y la movilidad de los espermatozoides, mejorando la tasa de embarazo.
Editorial
Authors: Callejas Ivan Julio Apolonio
Published: April 2020

Editorial
Assessment of User Interface Usability in Terms of Tile Logic
Authors: Devyatkov V.V. , Tipsin E.A.
Published: April 2020

The paper presents methodological principles for a formal automated assessment of user interface usability. We chose tile logic as the mathematical tool for solving the problems pertaining to this formal check. The paper reviews previous publications in the field under consideration, explains the reasons behind selecting the method of tile logic, and considers the principles governing verification (proof) of user interface usability. We highlight the differences between the procedure developed and those known previously, and its advantages. We use a simple example to show the principles of formal automated assessment of user interface usability in terms of tile logic. We describe the development of the procedure proposed and the prospects of employing it
A Study of the Influence of the Bearing’s Flexibility on the Operation of a Cycloidal Gear Drive
Authors: Ermolaev M.M. , Sinitsyna Y.V.
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a study of the influence of the bearing’s flexibility on the operation of a cycloidal gear drive and highlights the importance of taking the bearing’s flexibility into account when performing calculations. It shows how flexibility affects force distribution across the pins and the displacement of the most loaded pin from the pitch point towards the gear’s axis of symmetry. A method of force calculation for the KHV and 2KV type gears taking into account the bearing’s flexibility is considered. Schematic diagrams of force distribution across the pins with and without taking the bearing’s flexibility into account are presented for two types of gearing. An experiment is performed that confirms the necessity of taking the bearing’s flexibility into account. The applicability of the method for calculating various types of cycloidal gear drives is analyzed.
About the possibility of using compact projectiles formed by an explosion to break through underwater barriers
Authors: Kolpakov V.I. , Ladov S.V. , Fedorov S.V.
Published: April 2020

The paper considers the possibility of using compact projectiles formed by an explosion to break through strong steel barriers of finite thickness protected by a layer of water. There is no problem in penetrating such barriers by high-gradient and high-speed shaped-charge jet of a small diameter formed by shaped charges with ‘high’ conical liners, however, the diameter of the through hole formed in the steel barrier is fairly small and does not meet the defeat criteria for corresponding barriers. To increase the diameter of a through hole in a steel barrier, shaped charges with ‘low’ conical or flat hemispherical liners (in the form of a meniscus) forming compact projectiles can be used, but the movement of such ‘shock cores’ in the water layer is sharply slowed down, up to a complete stop even before interacting with the main steel barrier. The purpose of the paper is to substantiate the possibilities of eliminating this disadvantage when using compact projectiles. Based on theoretical and experimental studies, the paper offers a technical solution related to the known fact of the formation of a cavern (gas cavity) during the movement of a shaped-charge jet in water, expanding as the jet penetrates in the radial direction. In this case, if a known tandem scheme of shaped charges placed one after the other along the axis of the explosive device is used, the first shaped charge, often called pre-charge, will penetrate the body in the head part of the explosive device to the water layer, then form in the latter a cavern up to the main penetrable barrier and the second shaped charge, often referred to as the primary, will form a compact projectile moving to penetrable barrier in the cavity formed by the penetration of shaped-precharge jet in the water. At the same time, due to selecting the necessary delay time between the pre-charge and main charge explosions as well as the design parameters of the pre-charge, the size of the expanding cavity must exceed the size of the compact projectile, excluding its interaction with water up to the approach to the penetrable steel barrier.
Misja ppłk. dypl. Jana Kowalewskiego w Portugalii (1940–1944)
Authors: Dubicki Andrzej , Dubicki Tadeusz
Published: April 2020

W ramach Akcji Kontynentalnej ppłk Jan Kowalewski prowadził działania mogące wydostać (wyprowadzić) z sojuszu z III Rzeszą: Włochy, Rumunię i Węgry. Była to działalność znana i popierana przez polskie Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych oraz stronę brytyjską, która ją finansowała. Centrala operacji znajdowała się w neutralnej Lizbonie. W odniesieniu do Rumunii ppłk Kowalewski miał szczególne możliwości działania – jako były attaché wojskowy RP w Bukareszcie. Docierał do różnych ugrupowań rumuńskich polityków, emigracji, opozycji krajowej i sfer rządowych. Propozycje polskie zawierały ofertę powojennej federacji państw Europy Środkowej. Ustalano warunki kapitulacji na froncie. Działalność ppłk. Kowalewskiego została przerwana na początku 1944 r. decyzją władz brytyjskich, które obawiały się reakcji władz sowieckich na próbę utworzenia bloku państw europejskich na bazie antykomunistycznej.
Utilizing a Life Course Approach to Examine HI V Risk for Black Adolescent Girls and Young Adult Women in the United States: A Systematic Review of Recent Literature
Authors: Taggart Tamara , Milburn Norweeta G. , Nyhan Kate , Ritchwood Tiarney D.
Published: April 2020

Objective: Black female youth have been disproportionately burdened by the HIV epidemic. Emerging literature suggests that individual and social-structural factors may uniquely increase HIV risk within this popu­lation during key developmental periods, namely adolescence (ages 10-17 years) and emerging adulthood (ages 18-25 years). Few studies, however, have compared drivers of risk within and between these key develop­mental periods. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of recent literature to characterize and identify important gaps in our understanding of the individual, psycho­social, and social-structural determinants of HIV risk among Black adolescent girls and emerging adult women.Design: Using a replicable strategy, we searched electronic databases for articles and abstracts published between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2019 in which the primary focus was on HIV prevention among Black adolescent girls and emerging adults in the United States.Results: In total, 21 studies met the inclu­sion criteria. Most of the studies on Black adolescent girls assessed family functioning, parental monitoring, and parent-adolescent communication as determinants of HIV-related behaviors. However, equivalent studies were lacking for Black emerging adult women. Moreover, few studies as­sessed neighborhood characteristics, social networks, or other community-level factors as determinants of HIV-related behaviors, which are known drivers of HIV disparities.Conclusions: Our findings highlighted several gaps in the literature, including failure to recognize the ethnic and cultural differences among Black women that may contribute to behavioral differences within this population and insufficient acknowledg­ment of the role of HIV protective factors (eg, resilience and community assets). Implications and future directions are discussed.  Ethn Dis. 2020;30(2):277-286; doi:10.18865/ed.30.2.277
Writing Accountability Groups Are a Tool for Academic Success: The Obesity Health Disparities PRIDE Program
Authors: Thorpe, Jr., PhD Roland J. , Beech Bettina M. , Norris Keith C. , Heitman Elizabeth , Bruce Marino A.
Published: April 2020

Introduction: The current hypercompeti­tive extramural funding environment in the United States emphasizes the critical need for effective research training programs that focus not only on grantsmanship, but on skill development across the full range of research activities, culminating in writing re­search results for publication. Using Writing Accountability Groups (WAG), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funded Obesity Health Disparities (OHD) PRIDE is one of the few research training and mentoring programs that places an equal focus on scientific writing and grant writing. This article reports on the utility of WAGs for OHD PRIDE mentees.Method: Participants included 14 of 26 individuals who were fellows in the OHD PRIDE research training and mentoring program. A typical WAG has between four and eight members who meet for one hour each week over a 10-week period and com­mit a priori to attend at least 70% of the sessions. Summary statistics were produced to characterize number of peer-reviewed publications, grants, years in academic rank, and category of current academic rank, bar­riers to frequency of writing, and duration of writing. Results from pre- and post-WAG surveys were compared to determine the overall impact of the WAG. The study period discussed in this article took place between January and December 2017 and included data from three 10-week cycles beginning in February, May, and September.Results: Fifty-three percent of OHD PRIDE participants successfully completed at least one 10-week WAG cycle. The WAGs did not have a statistically significant impact on either the frequency of writing or the dura­tion of writing. However, the majority of the participants who successfully completed at least one WAG cycle reported that they either maintained or increased their fre­quency or duration of writing.Conclusion: By providing a structured approach to developing and/or enhancing a practice of consistent writing, time man­agement skills, and collaborative relation­ships, the WAG has promise for enhancing scientific writing skills for many trainees and early-career faculty. Longer term follow-up is needed to more fully assess the potential impact of WAGs. Ethn Dis. 2020;30(2):295- 304; doi:10.18865/ed.30.2.295
Do the Same Central Anthropometric Variables that Best Predict Blood Pressure in European Americans also Best Predict Blood Pressure in African Americans?
Authors: Brandon L. Jerome , Proctor Larry D.
Published: April 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if central anthropometric vari­ables that best estimate blood pressure risks in European Americans also best estimate blood pressure risks in African Americans.Design: The participants were 357 nor­motensive African and European American volunteers with a mean age of 32.6 ± 12.4 years. Participants were evaluated for central adiposity with dual energy X-ray ab­sorptiometry, abdomen and thigh skinfolds, waist and hip circumferences, waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio, body mass index, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Descriptive statistics, partial correlations, ANOVA and stepwise regressions were used to analyze the data.Results: Central adiposity anthropometric indices made different contributions to blood pressure in African and European American men and women. When weight was held constant, waist circumference shared stronger partial relationships with blood pressure in African Americans (r = .30 to .47) than in European Americans (r = .11 to .32). Waist circumference in com­bination with other indices was a predictor of systolic and diastolic blood pressures in European American men (P<.05) but only a predictor for diastolic blood pressure in African American men and women (P<.01). Hip circumference was the only predic­tor for systolic blood pressure (P<.01) in African American men and women.Conclusions: Further research on the rela­tive contributions of central anthropometric indices to blood pressure in African and European Americans is warranted. A better understanding of this relationship may help reduce hypertensive morbidity and mortali­ty disparities between African and European Americans. Ethn Dis. 2020;30(2):349-356; doi:10.18865/ed.30.2.349
Testicular Cancer Incidence and Mortality in New Mexico
Authors: Taylor Zachariah D. , McLeod Elizabeth , Gard Charlotte C. , Woods Michael E.
Published: April 2020

Objective: To examine incidence and survival of testicular cancer in New Mexico, overall and separately for border and non-border counties.Methods: Incidence and 5-year survival rates for testicular cancer were obtained from the SEER18 database using the SEER*Stat program following established NCI protocols. Incidence data were com­pared using Student’s t-test. Age-adjusted 5-year survival and Kaplan-Meier method were used to estimate survival. Log-rank tests were used to compare survival for New Mexico to the remaining17 geographi­cal areas of the SEER 18 and for the New Mexico border counties to the New Mexico non-border counties. Odds ratios were used to compare testicular stage at diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to account for race/ethnicity, and border status.Results: From 2000-2015, New Mexico had a testicular cancer incidence rate of 6.3 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than SEER18 (P<.001). The 5-year survival rate in New Mexico did not differ signifi­cantly from the SEER18 (P=.3). Border His­panics had a lower survival rate than border non-Hispanic populations (P=.03). From 2000-2018, New Mexico had a significantly higher proportion of distant cancers than the SEER18 (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.53, P=.005).Conclusions: The higher incidence of testicular cancer in New Mexico does not appear to have a clear explanation based on the current understanding of risk factors; however, the increased incidence in New Mexico does not appear to be associated with increased mortality. The higher propor­tion of advanced testicular cancers in New Mexico may represent a delay in diagnosis. The increased mortality rate seen in Hispan­ic border populations may be due in part to barriers to care.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(2):357- 364; doi:10.18865/ed.30.2.357
Avaliação de indicadores de ciência, tecnologia e inovação do Brasil e da Espanha: estudo comparativo
Authors: Silva Elaine da , Valentim Marta Lígia Pomim , La Mano González Marta de
Published: April 2020

Partindo dos pressupostos de que os indicadores de ciência, tecnologia e inovação de uma nação têm a função de mensurar e monitorar a atividade inovativa, e de que o conhecimento constitui elemento fundamental para a geração de inovação, o presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar os indicadores de ciência, tecnologia e inovação do Brasil e da Espanha em relação a processos de produção e compartilhamento de conhecimento científico. Para tanto foi realizado um estudo comparativo entre os indicadores dos dois países selecionados. Para a análise dos dados, aplicou-se o método de pesquisa Análise de Conteúdo, mais especificamente a técnica Análise Categorial. Como resultado, observou-se que apenas parte das inferências estabelecidas pelas categorias cultura de inovação enfocando o conhecimento, ação integrada de agentes de sistemas de inovação e produção de conhecimento no âmbito de sistemas de inovação estavam presentes nos indicadores brasileiros e espanhóis. Os conjuntos de indicadores dos dois países não apresentaram em suas variáveis questões relacionadas às categorias: sistematização do conhecimento no âmbito de sistemas de inovação, fluxos de conhecimento no âmbito de sistemas de inovação, e apropriação e uso de conhecimento no contexto de sistemas de inovação. Portanto, conclui-se que os indicadores de ciência, tecnologia e inovação, tanto brasileiros quanto espanhóis, poderiam ser ampliados de maneira a cobrir outros aspectos relacionados à produção e ao compartilhamento de conhecimento científico para a inovação.
Cambrian - Ordovician - Silurian lithostratigraphic units (Belgium)
Authors: VERNIERS Jacques , HERBOSCH Alain , VANGUESTAINE Michel , GEUKENS Fernand , DELCAMBRE Bernard , PINGOT Jean-Louis , BELANGER Isabelle , HENNEBERT Michel , DEBACKER Timothy , SINTUBIN Manuel , DE VOS Walter
Published: April 2020

The National Subcommission on the Stratigraphy of the Lower Palaeozoic of Belgium has evaluated the previous and present definitions of the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian lithostratigraphical units (groups, formations and members) and presents in this paper the results of this evaluation. Some of these units described in published or unpublished documents are considered to be junior synonyms of previously described units. Other units were given a higher or lower ranking. Units that are too thin or too thick were abandoned. The Subcommission reached agreement on the validity and usefulness of all the units that are described below.
For each of them, a lithological and sedimentological description is given, the area of distribution and possible facies changes, the thickness of the unit, the arguments for the age determination, some remarks about the history of the definitions, and the names of units considered to be junior synonyms. In the Brabant Massif 32 formations are (re) defined and described, in the Condroz inlier 18 formations, in the Stavelot Massif 3 groups, 8 formations and 8 members, with an additional formation with an unspecified Mid Ordovician-earliest Devonian age, in the Rocroi Massif 3 groups, 7 formations and 2 members, in the Givonne Inlier 4 formations and in the Serpont Inlier 2 formations. The formations are shown in chronostratigraphical tables with a colour encoding the dominant lithology or sedimentology.
HEMODİYALİZ HASTALARINDA ÜREMİK KULAK KAŞINTISI: PREVELANS VE ŞİDDET ANALİZİ
Authors: KARGIN KAYTEZ Selda , ÖÇAL Ramazan , ÇELİK Hatice , KESİCİ Gülin Gökçen , BAL Zeynep
Published: April 2020

AMAÇ: Kulak kaşıntısı, dış kulak yolunda hissedilen ve çok yaygın görülen bir rahatsızlık hissidir. Bu çalışmada, hemodiyaliz replasman tedavisi alan hastalarda kulak kaşıntısı prevelansını ve şiddetini normal popülasyon ile karşılaştırmak amaçlanmıştır.GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Bu çalışmada toplam 123 hasta değerlendirildi (grup I; (hemodiyaliz hastaları) 71 hasta, grup II; (kontrol) 52 hasta). Hastalara otoskopik muayene yapıldıktan sonra, kulak kaşıntısının varlığı ve şiddeti sözel değerlendirme ölçeğine göre sorgulandı, dış kulak yolunda ksreozis varlığına bakıldı, hastaların mevcut klinik ve laboratuvar tetkikleri incelendi.BULGULAR: Kulak kaşıntısı; grup I’de 13 hastada (%18,3) hafif şiddette, grup II’de 10 hastada (%19,2) hafif şiddette, 2 hastada (%3,8) orta şiddette tespit edildi. Kserozis varlığı sadece grup I’de 2 hastada (%2,8) saptandı. Kulak kaşıntısı prevelansı, şiddeti, ve kserozis varlığı açısından her iki grupta istatiksel anlamlı bir fark tespit edilmedi (p<0,529, p<0,491, p<0,304). Laboratuvar tetkiklerinden Grup I’de glikoz, kan üre nitrojen , kreatin değerlerinin Grup II’ye göre anlamlı derecede yüksek olduğu (p<0,001), Ca (p<0,001), hemoglobin (p<0,048) değerlerinin anlamlı derecede düşük olduğu saptandı.SONUÇ: Hemodiyaliz replasman tedavisi alan hastalarda, üremik kaşıntı vücutta çok yaygın olarak gözlenebilmesine rağmen kulakta tespit edilmemiştir. Üremik kaşıntının kulakta gözlenmemesi, dış kulak yolunun kendini temizleyebilmesi ve serumen sekresyonunun dış kulak yolunda koruma ve yağlama yapmasından kaynaklanabilir.
Beware the brown marmorated stink bug!
Authors: Streito Jean-Claude , Chartois Marguerite , Pierre Éric , Rossi Jean-Pierre
Published: April 2020

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) is a hemipteran insect in the Pentatomidae family native to eastern Asia. This extremely polyphagous species is spreading rapidly worldwide. It is responsible for important economic damage to various agricultural crops, including wine grapes. Available data suggest that the current range of the BMSB is likely to expand in the near future which calls for more research and exploration of management options and biocontrol. Citizen science is a promising way forward on monitoring the BMSB expansion.
Exploiting Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances in Subwavelength Spiral Disks for THz Thin Film Sensing
Authors: Gerasimov Vasily V. , Hafizov Ruslan R. , Kuznetsov Sergei A. , Lazorskiy Pavel A.
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we study the sensing performance of metasurfaces comprised by spiral-disk-shaped metallic elements patterned on polypropylene substrates, which exhibit localized surface plasmon resonances in the low-frequency region of the THz spectrum (0.2-0.5 THz). Optimal designs of spiral disks with C-shaped resonators placed near the disks were determined and fabricated. The experimentally measured transmittance spectra of samples coated with very thin photoresistive layers (d ~ 10-4-10-3 λ) showed good agreement with simulations. The resonance frequency shift Δf increases with increasing d, while saturating near d = 50 µm. The narrow-band magnetic dark modes excited on symmetrical spiral disks with a 90⁰-C-resonator demonstrated very high FOM values reaching 1670 [RIU·mm]-1 at 0.3μm-thick analyte. The hybrid high order resonances excited on asymmetrical densely packed spiral disks showed about two times larger FOM values (up to 2950 [RIU·mm]-1) as compared to symmetrical distantly spaced spirals that resembles the best FOM results found in literature for metasurfaces fabricated with a similar technique. The demonstrated high sensing performance of spiral disks is evaluated to be promising for bio-sensing applications in the THz range.
A Scalable Method for Ultraviolet C Disinfection of Surgical Facemasks Type IIR and Filtering Facepiece Particle Respirators 1 and 2
Authors: Lede Ivar , Nolte Karina , Kroes René
Published: April 2020

Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic a shortage of personal protective equipment, including surgical facemasks and Filtering Facepiece Particle Respirators has occurred. SARS-CoV-2 has a 79,5-82% homology to SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV UVC sensitivity is described in literature. We have performed UVC transmission measurements of surgical facemasks and respirators. In addition, we performed UVC disinfection experiments of S. aureus with surgical facemasks and respirators. Results show that we can achieve an 8-log reduction of S. aureus in the inner layers of FFP1 respirators and the exterior of surgical facemasks. Furthermore, we showed a 7-log reduction of S. aureus in the inner layers of FFP2 respirators. We conclude that UVC disinfection is an effective, safe and scalable method for reuse of surgical facemask and respirators.
NCoV–Based Considerations on Online- English Teaching and Traditional Classroom-English Teaching in China
Authors: Cuiqiong Pan
Published: April 2020

Facing the Novel Coronal Virus (NCoV) in China, teachers, and students are required to realize the idea “Class-stop means not stopping learning” so that all schools in China start the online teaching. This paper, from the view of NCoV , based on the educational principles and features of online English teaching and traditional classroom English teaching, contrastively discusses what goes on in these two teaching ways and attempts to prove that online English teaching is only used as a kind of teaching aids and cannot be considered as the equal status as the classroom English teaching, which may offer the sign both for design the teaching software and for the reform of our country’s education system.
Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering for Adolescent Scoliosis with Growth Remaining
Authors: Hoernschemeyer Daniel G. , Boeyer Melanie E. , Robertson Madeline E. , Loftis Christopher M. , Worley John R. , Tweedy Nicole M. , Gupta Sumit U. , Duren Dana L. , Holzhauser Christina M. , Ramachandran Venkataraman M.
Published: April 2020

Background:

Anterior vertebral body tethering (VBT) is an early treatment option for progressive scoliosis in pediatric patients, allowing for continued deformity correction during normal growth. We report postoperative radiographic and clinical outcomes for patients treated with VBT.

Methods:

This clinical and radiographic retrospective review of 31 consecutive patients included an analysis of preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative details, including the Lenke classification; Cobb angle measurements of the proximal thoracic, main thoracic, and lumbar curves; the sagittal profile; and skeletal maturity. Successful outcomes were defined by a residual curve of ≤30° in skeletally mature patients who did not undergo a posterior spinal fusion (PSF).

Results:

Of the 31 patients treated, 29 met the inclusion criteria, and 2 were lost to follow-up. The mean patient age (and standard deviation) at the time of the surgical procedure was 12.7 ± 1.5 years (range, 10.2 to 16.7 years), with most patients classified as Risser grade 0 or 1 (52%) and Sanders stage 3 (32%). A mean of 7.2 ± 1.4 vertebral levels were instrumented, with a minimum preoperative Cobb angle of 42°. At the latest follow-up, 27 patients had reached skeletal maturity (Sanders stage ≥7) and 20 patients exhibited a curve magnitude ≤30°, for a success rate of 74%. A suspected broken tether occurred at ≥1 level in 14 patients (48%). Two patients underwent PSF and 4 had tether revision. The overall revision rate was 21% (6 of 29).

Conclusions:

This study shows the success and revision rates as well as the impact of a suspected broken tether on the procedural success of VBT. Despite our patient population being slightly more mature at the time of the surgical procedure compared with previous studies, we had a higher success rate and a lower revision rate. A PSF was avoided in 93% of patients, indicating that VBT may be a reliable treatment option for adolescent scoliosis in skeletally immature individuals.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Comparative Time to Improvement in Nonoperative and Operative Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Song Amos , DeClercq Joshua , Ayers Gregory D. , Higgins Laurence D. , Kuhn John E. , Baumgarten Keith M. , Matzkin Elizabeth , Jain Nitin B.
Published: April 2020

Background:

Comparative time to recovery after operative and nonoperative treatment for rotator cuff tears is an important consideration for patients. Hence, we compared the time to achieve clinically meaningful reduction in shoulder pain and function after treatment.

Methods:

From February 2011 to June 2015, a multicenter cohort of patients with rotator cuff tears undergoing operative or nonoperative treatment was recruited. After propensity score weighting, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the time to achieve a minimal clinically important difference (MCID), >30% reduction, and >50% reduction in the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores. (In our analysis, both ASES and SPADI were coded such that a lower number corresponded to a better outcome; thus, the word “reduction” was used to indicate improvement in both ASES and SPADI scores.) A 2-stage test was conducted to detect a difference between the 2 groups.

Results:

In this cohort, 96 patients underwent nonoperative treatment and 73 patients underwent a surgical procedure. The surgical treatment group and the nonoperative treatment group were significantly different with respect to SPADI and ASES scores (p < 0.05). The maximum difference between groups in achievement of the MCID for the SPADI scores was at 3.25 months, favoring the nonoperative treatment group. The probability to achieve the MCID was 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00 to 0.12) for the surgical treatment group compared with 0.40 (95% CI, 0.29 to 0.50) for the nonoperative treatment group. The surgical treatment group had a greater probability of achieving >50% reduction in SPADI scores at 15.49 months (0.20 [95% CI, 0.12 to 0.29] for the surgical treatment group compared with 0.04 [95% CI, 0.00 to 0.09] for the nonoperative treatment group). The surgical treatment group had a greater probability of achieving >50% reduction in ASES scores at 24.74 months (0.96 [95% CI, 0.84 to 0.99] for the surgical treatment group compared with 0.66 [95% CI, 0.53 to 0.75] for the nonoperative treatment group). The differences for >30% reduction in SPADI and ASES scores and the MCID for ASES scores were not significant.

Conclusions:

Patients undergoing nonoperative treatment had significantly better outcomes in the initial follow-up period compared with patients undergoing a surgical procedure, but this trend reversed in the longer term. These data can be used to inform expectations for nonoperative and operative treatments for rotator cuff tears.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Percepción del espacio urbano de Tánger en las novelas españolas del siglo XXI
Authors: López Lara Enrique Javier
Published: April 2020

El artículo presenta un análisis de la percepción del espacio urbano de Tánger que la literatura española contemporánea proyecta en las dos primeras décadas del siglo XXI. La ciudad norteafricana, en los últimos 20 años, ejerce una fuerte atracción como escenario de novelas por diversas causas entre las que cabe destacar su condición geoestratégica (fronteriza, portuaria, encrucijada), su historia (en especial, época del Estatuto Internacional), sus valores económico-comerciales (Zonas Francas, Puerto Tánger-Med) y las condicionantes socio-culturales (puerta de la inmigración africana, convivencia de culturas). El estudio cuyo método reside en la detección y ordenación de los elementos geográficos percibidos en el espacio urbano en las novelas españolas del siglo XXI ha dado lugar a la elaboración de mapas de percepción: de puntos (nodos e hitos), de líneas (sendas) y de áreas (barrios y bordes). La percepción literaria del escenario urbano describe una realidad asociada a elementos característicos y emblemáticos.
Co-regulation role of endogenous hormones and transcriptomics profiling under cold stress in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum
Authors: Peng Xin , Qiu Wenyu , Li Mingjie , Wu Hao , Chen Hongjiang , Zhang Zhongyi
Published: April 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.
Tillage practices and residue management manipulate soil bacterial and fungal assembly and co-occurrence network patterns in maize agroecosystem
Authors: Yang Wei , Guan Yupeng , Zhai Cheng , Du Lin , Wu Yanxiang , Wang Jing , Li Yuhang , Yang Jiayu , He Jinxi , Gu Siyu
Published: April 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.
Evaluating plant residue decline data with KinGUII and TREC: results from case studies involving also non-SFO kinetic models
Authors: Ebeling Markus , Hammel Klaus
Published: April 2020

Background: Foliage residue decline data are used to refine the risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals foraging in fields treated with plant protection products. For evaluation, current EFSA guidance has a clear focus on single-first order (SFO) kinetic models. However, other kinetic models are well established in other areas of environmental risk evaluations (eg, soil residue assessment), and easy-to-use calculation tools have become available now. We provide case studies with 6 fungicides how such evaluations can be conducted with two of these tools (KinGUII and TREC) that have been developed by Bayer.Results: SFO kinetics provided the best fits only for 12 of 36 residue decline studies conducted in a standardized design under field conditions. Biphasic models (double first order in parallel, hockey stick) were often superior and sometimes more conservative for risk assessment. The additional effort is manageable when using KinGUII and TREC, and appears justified by the more reliable outcome of the evaluations.Conclusions: Further research would be useful to better assess the extent to which non-SFO better fits foliage residue decline, but our study suggests that it may be a significant proportion. Therefore we encourage the use of biphasic models in the regulatory risk assessment for herbivorous birds and mammals, in the ongoing revision of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance document from 2009.
Are Patients on Oral Anticoagulation Therapy Aware of its Effects? A Cross-sectional Study from Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Zahid Ibrahim , Hassan Syed Wajih Ul , Bhurya Nida Sehar , Alam Sheena Nadeem , Shah Bakht Hussain , Fatima Fasiha Bakhtawar , Hasan Choudhary Ahmed , Ahmed Ayesha , Hassan Syed Sabih Ul , Hayat Javeria , Zulfiqar Aqsa , Sheikh Rija , Aziz Momin , Siddiqi Rabbia , Fatima Kaneez , Khan Muhammad Shahzeb
Published: April 2020

Objective:
Oral anticoagulants are one of the most frequently used medications. However, these drugs have a range of side effects including potential life-threatening complications. Little is known regarding the awareness of its side effect profile amongst the patients in Pakistan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of oral anticoagulant therapy and its side effects among its users.
Results:
The mean age was 48.9 ± 15.2 years. Mean scores of the participants for knowledge regarding oral anticoagulants and knowledge specific to warfarin were 49.9 ± 16.2% and 14.6 ± 16.4% respectively. Most notably, the majority of the patients (65.7%) did not know what side effects to be wary of or how to reduce their occurrence; and most of them were unaware of the interaction between oral anticoagulant drugs and over-the-counter substances such as aspirin, herbal medicines and alcohol. Knowledge of International Normalised Ratio (INR) was extremely poor with more than 75% of the population not being aware of the target INR range during warfarin therapy. Higher level of education was significantly associated with better knowledge scores. On the whole, knowledge of oral anticoagulant therapy and INR monitoring is extremely poor among oral anticoagulant users.
Development and optimization of the demineralization process for the extraction of chitin from Omani Portunidae segnis
Authors: Shaqsi Noura Hamed Khalifa Al , Hoqani Horiya Ali Said Al Hoqani Al , Hossain Md. Amzad , Sibani Mohammed Abdullah Al
Published: April 2020

Background: Chitin is an organic polymer and it is rich marine natural polysaccharide after the cellulose. The main natural sources of chitin are exoskeletons of insects, mollusks, the cell walls of certain fungi and crustaceans such as crabs, shrimps and lobsters. The waste of these marine exoskeletons are pollutant for the environment continuously, but this raw material could be used for the production of commercial chitin. The chitin is an important raw material used for water treatment, agricultural, biomedicinal, biotechnological purposes, food and paper industry and cosmetics. Based on the variety of importance, the present targets of this study is to i. optimize the demineralization process for the removal of calcium and phosphorus from the waste of Portunidae segnis (P. segnis) by using acid at ambient temperature ii. characterize the isolated demineralized sample as well as the percentage of remaining calcium and phosphorus by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results: The coarse powder samples of P. segnis were demineralized with seven different concentrations of hydrochloric acid at ambient temperature for 1 hour. All the demineralization samples at different concentrations were analysed by using sensitive ICP-OES. The results based on ICP-OES showed that among the seven different concentrations wused in the demineralization process for the isolation of chitin, the best was 2M of HCl concentration for the production of chitin. Conclusion: The develop optimized demineralization process could be used commercially for the isolation of chitin for the preparation of agriculture, biomedicine, biotechnological purposes.
Predictive value of monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio for the estimation of diabetes mellitus risk: Insights from a general population
Authors: Qian Hao , Wang Haoyu , Du Zhi , Guo Xiaofan , Zheng Liqiang , Li Zhao , Yang Hongmei , Yu Shasha , Zhou Ying , Sun Yingxian
Published: April 2020

BackgroundMonocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) is a novel inflammatory marker of inflammation and oxidative stress and has been used to predict multiple inflammation-related diseases, but data relative to diabetes mellitus are lacking. Hence, our study aimed to explore the impact of MHR on diabetes and its value to improve the risk stratification and prevention of diabetes in a large cohort of general Chinese population.MethodThis study selected 8142 (males: 45.76%) participants who participated in the rural cardiovascular health research in Northeast China between 2012 and 2013. MHR was defined as blood monocyte count ratio to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrationResultsThe prevalence of diabetes is 10.7%. By correcting for potential confounding factors, per SD increase of MHR caused a 11.2% additional risk for diabetes, in addition, the top quartile of MHR increased the risk of diabetes by 33.1% over the bottom quartile.Furthermore, smooth curve fitting showed a linear and strong correlation between MHR and diabetes. Finally, Category-free net reclassification improvement (0.085, 95% CI: 8 0.016-0.155, P = 0.016) and integrated discrimination improvement (0.001, 95% CI: 0.000-0.0024, P = 0.018) also demonstrated significant improvementsConclusionsOur study revealed an independent and robust correlation between MHR and prevalent diabetes mellitus in general population. Furthermore, our results suggest the importance of simultaneous inflammation and lipids control in the prevention of diabetes mellitus, highlighting the value of MHR to optimize the risk stratification and prevention of diabetes mellitus. These findings have implications for the prevention of diabetes and its adverse outcomes.
Parental willing to take invasive diagnosis after Expanded Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (expanded NIPT) in a cohort of 24768 cases
Authors: Ge Yunsheng , Li Jia , Zhuang Jianlong , Zhang Jian , Huang Yanru , Tan Meihua , Li Wei , Sung Pi-lin , Chen Jiayan , Zhou Yulin
Published: April 2020

BackgroundThe main aims of the study were to investigate the performance of expanded noninvasive prenatal test (expanded NIPT) in screening for common trisomies, sex chromosomal aneuploidies (SCAs), rare autosomal aneuploidies (RATs) and copy number variations (CNVs) and parental willing to taking invasive prenatal diagnosis after expanded NIPT in China.ResultsOf the 24,736 cases, successful follow-up was conducted in 92.2% (411/446) cases. The sensitivity of expanded NIPT test was 98.61%,90.91% and 100% and specificity was 99.91%,99.95% and 99.87% for the detection of trisomies 21, 18 and 13 respectively. Expanded NIPT detected 45, XO, 47, XXX, 47, XXY, XYY syndrome, RATs and CNVs with positive predictive values of 57.39%, 19.61%, 75%, 79.41%, 77.78%, 10% and 56.25% respectively. The women carrying fetuses with T21/T18/T13 underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis and terminated their pregnancies at higher rates than those positive for SCAs, RATs and CNVs.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that the expanded NIPT detects fetal trisomies 21,18 and 13 with high sensitivity and specificity. The accuracy of detecting SCAs, RATs and CNVs is still relatively poor and needed to be improved. With a positive expanded NIPT result, the women at high risk for common trisomies are more willing to take invasive prenatal diagnosis and terminate their pregnancies.* the first two authors contribute equally to this study.