bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimized scaling of translational factors in oncology: from xenografts to RECIST
Authors: Baaz Marcus , Cardilin Tim , Lignet Floriane , Jirstrand Mats
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Tumor growth inhibition (TGI) models are regularly used to quantify the PK–PD relationship between drug concentration and in vivo efficacy in oncology. These models are typically calibrated with data from xenograft mice and before being used for clinical predictions, translational methods have to be applied. Currently, such methods are commonly based on replacing model components or scaling of model parameters. However, difficulties remain in how to accurately account for inter-species differences. Therefore, more research must be done before xenograft data can fully be utilized to predict clinical response.

Method

To contribute to this research, we have calibrated TGI models to xenograft data for three drug combinations using the nonlinear mixed effects framework. The models were translated by replacing mice exposure with human exposure and used to make predictions of clinical response. Furthermore, in search of a better way of translating these models, we estimated an optimal way of scaling model parameters given the available clinical data.

Results

The predictions were compared with clinical data and we found that clinical efficacy was overestimated. The estimated optimal scaling factors were similar to a standard allometric scaling exponent of − 0.25.

Conclusions

We believe that given more data, our methodology could contribute to increasing the translational capabilities of TGI models. More specifically, an appropriate translational method could be developed for drugs with the same mechanism of action, which would allow for all preclinical data to be leveraged for new drugs of the same class. This would ensure that fewer clinically inefficacious drugs are tested in clinical trials.
Long-term efficacy and safety of inotersen for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: NEURO-TTR open-label extension 3-year update
Authors: Brannagan Thomas H. , Coelho Teresa , Wang Annabel K. , Polydefkis Michael J. , Dyck Peter J. , Berk John L. , Drachman Brian , Gorevic Peter , Whelan Carol , Conceição Isabel , Plante-Bordeneuve Violaine , Merlini Giampaolo , Obici Laura , Plana Josep Maria Campistol , Gamez Josep , Kristen Arnt V. , Mazzeo Anna , Gentile Luca , Narayana Arvind , Olugemo Kemi , Aquino Peter , Benson Merrill D. , Gertz Morie ,   for the NEURO-T. T. R. Open-Label Extension Investigators
Published: July 2022

Background

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR/ATTRv) results from the deposition of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) throughout the body, including peripheral nerves. Inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of hepatic TTR production, demonstrated a favorable efficacy and safety profile in patients with the polyneuropathy associated with hATTR in the NEURO-TTR (NCT01737398) study. We report longer-term efficacy and safety data for inotersen, with a median treatment exposure of 3 years.

Methods

Patients who satisfactorily completed NEURO-TTR were enrolled in its open-label extension (OLE) study. Efficacy assessments included the modified Neuropathy Impairment Score + 7 (mNIS + 7), Norfolk Quality of Life–Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QoL-DN) questionnaire total score, and the Short Form 36 (SF-36v2) Health Survey Physical Component Summary score. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. Efficacy is reported for patients living in Europe and North America (this cohort completed the study approximately 9 months before the remaining group of patients outside these regions); safety is reported for the full safety dataset, comprising patients living in Europe, North America, and Latin America/Australasia. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02175004.

Results

In the Europe and North America cohort of the NEURO-TTR study, 113/141 patients (80.1%) completed the study, and 109 patients participated in the OLE study. A total of 70 patients continued to receive inotersen (inotersen–inotersen) and 39 switched from placebo to inotersen (placebo–inotersen). The placebo–inotersen group demonstrated sustained improvement in neurological disease progression as measured by mNIS + 7, compared with predicted worsening based on projection of the NEURO-TTR placebo data (estimated natural history). The inotersen–inotersen group demonstrated sustained benefit, as measured by mNIS + 7, Norfolk QoL-DN, and SF-36v2, compared with estimated natural history as well as compared with the placebo–inotersen group. With a maximum exposure of 6.2 years, inotersen was not associated with any additional safety concerns or increased toxicity in the OLE study. Platelet and renal monitoring were effective in reducing the risk of severe adverse events in the OLE study.

Conclusion

Inotersen treatment for > 3 years slowed progression of the polyneuropathy associated with hATTR, and no new safety signals were observed.
Efficacy of a loading dose of IV salbutamol in children with severe acute asthma admitted to a PICU: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Boeschoten Shelley A. , Buysse Corinne M. P. , de Winter Brenda C. M. , van Rosmalen Joost , de Jongste Johan C. , de Jonge Rogier C. , Heisterkamp Sabien G. J. , van Woensel Job B. , Kneyber Martin C. J. , van Zwol Annelies , Boehmer Annemie L. M. , de Hoog Matthijs ,   on behalf of the Dutch collaborative PICU research network (SKIC)
Published: August 2022

The optimal dose regimen for intravenous (IV) treatment in children with severe acute asthma (SAA) is still a matter of debate. We assessed the efficacy of adding a salbutamol loading dose to continuous infusion with salbutamol in children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with SAA. This multicentre, placebo-controlled randomized trial in the PICUs of four tertiary care children’s hospitals included children (2–18 years) with SAA admitted between 2017 and 2019. Children were randomized to receive either a loading dose IV salbutamol (15 mcg/kg, max. 750 mcg) or normal saline while on continuous salbutamol infusion. The primary outcome was the asthma score (Qureshi) 1 h after the intervention. Analysis of covariance models was used to evaluate sensitivity to change in asthma scores. Serum concentrations of salbutamol were obtained. Fifty-eight children were included (29 in the intervention group). Median baseline asthma score was 12 (IQR 10–13) in the intervention group and 11 (9–12) in the control group (p = 0.032). The asthma score 1 h after the intervention did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.508, β-coefficient = 0.283). The median increase in salbutamol plasma levels 10 min after the intervention was 13 μg/L (IQR 5–24) in the intervention group and 4 μg/L (IQR 0–7) in the control group (p = 0.001). Side effects were comparable between both groups.

Conclusion: We found no clinical benefit of adding a loading dose IV salbutamol to continuous infusion of salbutamol, in children admitted to the PICU with SAA. Clinically significant side effects from the loading dose were not encountered.

What is Known:• Pediatric asthma guidelines struggle with an evidence-based approach for the treatment of SAA beyond the initial steps of oxygen suppletion, repetitive administration of inhaled β2-agonists, and systemic steroids.• During an SAA episode, effective delivery of inhaled drugs is unpredictable due to severe airway obstruction.

What is New:• This study found no beneficial effect of an additional loading dose IV salbutamol in children admitted to the PICU.• This study found no clinically significant side effects from the loading dose.
Manufacturing of Integrated Cooling Channels by Directed Energy Deposition for Hot Stamping Tools with Ball Burnished Surfaces
Authors: Komodromos Anna , Kolpak Felix , Tekkaya A. Erman
Published: August 2022

Hot stamping tools require cooling channels, preferably with a high positioning flexibility. Conventionally, these are machined. This represents a disadvantage because of the limited accessibility for milling tools and the low flexibility. By means of the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process, a flexible design of the cooling channels is possible. Different geometries of cooling channels can be manufactured by DED in order to control the heat balance in the hot stamping tool. In this context an agreement between the additive producibility and the surface fraction of the cooling channels, which contributes to the effective heat at the tool surface, is important. Experimental and numerical analyses demonstrate that a possible configuration in this field is the drop shaped cooling channel. To reduce the surface roughness after the DED process, the tool surfaces are ball burnished subsequently. The resulting roughness and the waviness of the tool surface are reduced but not leveled completely. Texturing of the surface can be applied to in fluence the material flow in the hot stamping process which is implemented by DED. The combination of the described methods allows for manufacturing hot stamping tools with near-surface cooling channels and a global or local adjustment of the surface properties of the tools.
Medizinethische Stellungnahme des Klinischen Ethikkomitees (KEKo) zum Urteil des Verfassungsgerichtshofs G 139/2019 vom 11. Dezember 2020 aus der Sichtweise einer öffentlich-rechtlichen Krankenanstalt
Authors: Brunner Jürgen ,   Klinisches Ethikkomitee (KEKo), Anegg Hildegard , Baubin Michael , Bellmann Romuald , Brunner Jürgen , Doppler Thomas , Ganner Michael , Hoffmann-Weltin Yvonne , Lintner Martin M. , Pfausler Bettina , Pölzl Gerhard , Quitterer Josef , Riccabona Ursula , Stühlinger Verena , Swoboda Ulrike , Weyrer Walpurga , Walzel Markus , Weiskopf Michael , Wildt Ludwig
Published: August 2022

In der Medizinethischen Stellungnahme des Klinischen Ethikkomitees (KEKo) Innsbruck zum Urteil des Verfassungsgerichtshofs G 139/2019 vom 11.12.2020 werden aus der Sichtweise einer öffentlich-rechtlichen Krankenanstalt die Auswirkungen zum assistierten Suizid auf Kliniken und Angehörige von Gesundheitsberufen diskutiert, und zwar aus juristischer, philosophischer, ethischer und seelsorgerlicher Sichtweise. Mögliche Lösungen für drohende Dilemmata für Kliniken und Angehörige von Gesundheitsberufen nach dem vorliegenden Entwurf des Sterbeverfügungsgesetzes werden aufgezeigt.
Production of artificial aggregates by granulation and carbonation of recycled concrete fines
Authors: Kursula Kalle , Perumal Priyadharshini , Ohenoja Katja , Illikainen Mirja
Published: August 2022

There is a growing need to find ways to reuse fine concrete waste from the construction industry. In this study, recycled concrete fines were granulated and used as lightweight aggregates. Ladle slag, a steel industry residue, was used as a co-binder in different ratios (0, 10, 20, and 30%). The materials were blended and granulated, and then the granules were cured in three conditions: ambient condition, humidity chamber, and carbonation chamber. The results showed that the ladle slag content of 30% cured in a humidity chamber produced the strongest granules, with a crushing strength of 127 N, which was 135% greater than a commercial lightweight aggregate. The granules generally had satisfactory density and water absorption with a higher ladle slag content. Carbonation increased the granule strength with a low ladle slag content and decreased the granules’ water absorption. The improved physical and mechanical properties of carbonated granules are attributed to the formation of calcium carbonate during the carbonation process. The granules produced in this study show good potential for use as lightweight aggregates in the construction industry.

Graphical abstract
Consensus Head Acceleration Measurement Practices (CHAMP): Origins, Methods, Transparency and Disclosure
Authors: Arbogast Kristy B. , Caccese Jaclyn B. , Buckley Thomas A. , McIntosh Andrew S. , Henderson Kyvory , Stemper Brian D. , Solomon Gary , Broglio Steven P. , Funk James R. , Crandall Jeff R.
Published: August 2022

The use of head kinematic measurement devices has recently proliferated owing to technology advances that make such measurement more feasible. In parallel, demand to understand the biomechanics of head impacts and injury in sports and the military has increased as the burden of such loading on the brain has received focused attention. As a result, the field has matured to the point of needing methodological guidelines to improve the rigor and consistency of research and reduce the risk of scientific bias. To this end, a diverse group of scientists undertook a comprehensive effort to define current best practices in head kinematic measurement, culminating in a series of manuscripts outlining consensus methodologies and companion summary statements. Summary statements were discussed, revised, and voted upon at the Consensus Head Acceleration Measurement Practices (CHAMP) Conference in March 2022. This manuscript summarizes the motivation and methods of the consensus process and introduces recommended reporting checklists to be used to increase transparency and rigor of future experimental design and publication of work in this field. The checklists provide an accessible means for researchers to apply the best practices summarized in the companion manuscripts when reporting studies utilizing head kinematic measurement in sport and military settings.
Attrition from Care Among Men Initiating ART in Male-Only Clinics Compared with Men in General Primary Healthcare Clinics in Khayelitsha, South Africa: A Matched Propensity Score Analysis
Authors: Cassidy Tali , Cornell Morna , Makeleni Bubele , Horsburgh C. Robert , Duran Laura Trivino , de Azevedo Virginia , Boulle Andrew , Fox Matthew P.
Published: July 2022

Men have higher rates of attrition from antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs than women. In Khayelitsha, a high HIV prevalence area in South Africa, two public sector primary healthcare clinics offer services, including HIV testing and treatment, exclusively to men. We compared attrition from ART care among men initiating ART at these clinics with male attrition in six general primary healthcare clinics in Khayelitsha. We described baseline characteristics of patients initiating ART at the male and general clinics from 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2018. We used exposure propensity scores (generated based on baseline health and age) to match male clinic patients 1:1 to males at other clinics. The association between attrition (death or loss to follow-up, defined as no visits for nine months) and clinic type was estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Follow-up time began at ART initiation and ended at attrition, clinic transfer, or dataset closure. Before matching, patients from male clinics (n = 784) were younger than males from general clinics (n = 2726), median age: 31.2 vs 35.5 years. Those initiating at male clinics had higher median CD4 counts at ART initiation [Male Clinic 1: 329 (IQR 210–431), Male Clinic 2: 364 (IQR 260–536), general clinics 258 (IQR 145–398), cells/mm3]. In the matched analysis (1451 person-years, 1568 patients) patients initiating ART at male clinics had lower attrition (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.60–0.85). In separate analyses for each of the two male clinics, only the more established male clinic showed a protective effect. Male-only clinics reached younger, healthier men, and had lower ART attrition than general services. These findings support clinic-specific adaptations to create more male-friendly environments.
Psychosis Early Intervention Across the Life Span: A Service Perspective
Authors: Taylor Kathryn M. , Orucu Ela , Nandha Sunil , Cella Matteo
Published: August 2022

Previously youth-orientated, UK early intervention in psychosis (EI) services expanded care in 2016 to adults of any age. To compare EI care offering, clinical characteristics, and potential benefits for under-35s and over-35s, an observational study considering anonymised data for users of London-based EI services between April 2016 and December 2019 was conducted. Descriptive statistics and between groups comparisons are reported. The analysis considered 692 service users (32.5% over-35). Over-35s were more likely to be female, of poorer physical health, with severer problems at intake (Health of the Nation Outcome Scale, HoNOS). Under-35s had poorer appointment attendance, required increased use of inpatient facilities, and demonstrated greater risks to themselves and others. At discharge, HoNOS ratings indicated improvements for both groups. Over-35s constitute a considerable proportion of EI service-users, their care may involve less crisis management, more recovery-oriented intervention and physical health needs consideration. Care offering should reflect these needs.
Violent and Nonviolent Terrorist Suspects: a Comparative Analysis Based on Data from the Netherlands
Authors: Thijs Fabienne , Rodermond Elanie , Kleemans Edward R. , van de Weijer Steve G. A.
Published: August 2022

What are similarities and differences between violent and nonviolent terrorist suspects? Our study aims to answer this question by comparing violent terrorist suspects (VTS) (n = 57) to nonviolent terrorist suspects (NVTS) (n = 292) in the Netherlands. Guided by social control theories and using register data from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, Statistics Netherlands, and the Research and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Justice and Security, we investigated the 2 years leading up to the terrorist suspicion by examining demographic characteristics, household composition, socioeconomic factors, and criminal background. Findings demonstrate more similarities than differences between the groups. Nonetheless, VTS were significantly more often male and had more often a (violent) criminal background. For NVTS, we found possible preventive effects of living with parents and employment. Furthermore, the differences in socioeconomic status (SES) we found urge us to develop a better understanding of the socioeconomic environment VTS and NVTS are part of and whether and how their perception of this environment influences their behavior. Notwithstanding the limitations in our study (e.g., potential police bias in register data, small sample sizes), the analyses provide insight into what factors, and potential underlying mechanisms, need further investigation to understand violent and nonviolent outcomes.
Online water quality monitoring based on UV–Vis spectrometry and artificial neural networks in a river confluence near Sherfield-on-Loddon
Authors: Zhang Hongming , Zhang Lifu , Wang Sa , Zhang LinShan
Published: August 2022

Water quality monitoring is very important in agricultural catchments. UV–Vis spectrometry is widely used in place of traditional analytical methods because it is cost effective and fast and there is no chemical waste. In recent years, artificial neural networks have been extensively studied and used in various areas. In this study, we plan to simplify water quality monitoring with UV–Vis spectrometry and artificial neural networks. Samples were collected and immediately taken back to a laboratory for analysis. The absorption spectra of the water sample were acquired within a wavelength range from 200 to 800 nm. Convolutional neural network (CNN) and partial least squares (PLS) methods are used to calculate water parameters and obtain accurate results. The experimental results of this study show that both PLS and CNN methods may obtain an accurate result: linear correlation coefficient (R2) between predicted value and true values of TOC concentrations is 0.927 with PLS model and 0.953 with CNN model, R2 between predicted value and true values of TSS concentrations is 0.827 with PLS model and 0.915 with CNN model. CNN method may obtain a better linear correlation coefficient (R2) even with small number of samples and can be used for online water quality monitoring combined with UV–Vis spectrometry in agricultural catchment.
Hints for a formal language inspired by Lewis structures
Authors: Longo Savino
Published: August 2022

In this work we elaborate on the idea of a formal theory for a limited but important part of structural chemistry, that described by Lewis’ methods and VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion). For this purpose, recursive functions and propositional functions are defined, that apply to formal expressions of the structure, based on a finite set of symbols. This approach allows for the expression of numerous questions of chemical interest. The formalization of basic structural chemistry based on Lewis/VSEPR method is potentially useful for the automation of the related procedures, but possibly also of some use as complementary material in teaching and as a heuristic tool in structural chemistry.
Glimepiride mitigates tauopathy and neuroinflammation in P301S transgenic mice: role of AKT/GSK3β signaling
Authors: Zaki Mennatallah O. , El-Desouky S. , Elsherbiny Doaa A. , Salama Mohamed , Azab Samar S.
Published: August 2022

Background and objective

Tauopathy is a group of neurodegenerative diseases in which the pathogenesis processes are related to tau protein. The imbalances between the activities of kinases and phosphatases of tau protein lead to tau hyperphosphorylation and subsequent neurodegeneration. Numerous studies suggest a strong linkage between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, finding a drug with a dual therapeutic activity against T2D and neuroprotective will be a promising idea. Hence, the potential neuroprotective effect of Glimepiride (GPD) against tauopathy was evaluated in the current study.

Methods

P301S mice model was employed for tauopathy and C57BL/6 wild type mice (WT) was used as control. Phosphorylated and acetylated tau protein levels was assessed in cortex and hippocampus by western blot. Effect of GPD on tauopathy related enzymes, neuroinflammation, apoptotic markers were evaluated. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects against anxiety like behavior and motor impairment was analyzed using Parallel rod floor and Open field tests.

Results

GPD significantly ameliorates motor impairment, anxiety like behavior and neurodegeneration in P301S mice. Phosphorylated tau and acetylated tau were significantly decreased in both cortex and hippocampus of P301S mice via decreasing GSK3β, increasing ratio of phosphorylated-AKT to total-AKT, increasing PP2A and normalization of CDK5 levels. Furthermore, GPD treatment also decreased neuroinflammation and apoptosis by reducing NF-kB, TNF-α and caspase 3 levels.

Conclusion

The current data suggests that GPD exerts a protective effect against tauopathy, behavioural consequences, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and apoptosis. GPD is therefore a promising agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with tauopathy.

Graphical abstract
Multi-Trajectories of Conduct Problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, and Peer Problems Across Childhood: Results from the Growing Up in Scotland Birth Cohort
Authors: Morales María Francisca , MacBeth Angus , Swartzman Samantha , Girard Lisa-Christine
Published: August 2022

Using a person-centred approach, this study inspected multi-trajectories of conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and peer problems, and associated risk factors for group membership. The sample included 3,578 children (50.8% males) from a population birth cohort in Scotland (Growing Up in Scotland). The parental version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used when children were 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 years old. Antecedent factors at the perinatal, child, and family levels were collected using parental reports, observation, and standardised assessments at 10, 24, and 36 months. A group-based multi-trajectory analysis was employed. Findings showed that a six-group model best fit the data. Identified groups included non-engagers, normative, decreasing externalising/low peer problems, low externalising/moderate peer problems, moderate externalising/increasing peer problems and multimorbid moderate-high chronic. Findings suggest multimorbidity between externalising behaviours and peer problems in the more elevated groups. Two common protective factors emerged across all groups: caregiver mental health and parent-infant attachment. Identified risk factors were specific to group membership. Risk factors for the most elevated group included single-parent status, social deprivation, previous neonatal intensive care unit admission, child sex, whilst children’s expressive language was a protective factor. Taken together, findings contribute to the emerging literature modelling trajectories of externalising behaviours and peer problems simultaneously and have important practical implications for prevention of problems in childhood, by identifying targets at the perinatal, child, and family levels.
Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic health conditions: self-guided versus team-guided
Authors: Mehta S. H. , Nugent M. , Peynenburg V. , Thiessen D. , La Posta G. , Titov N. , Dear B. F. , Hadjistavropoulos H. D.
Published: August 2022

There is growing interest in offering Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) to individuals with chronic health conditions, with this process often being guided by a single clinician. Due to lack of full time personnel, it is sometimes necessary to have multiple clinicians offer guidance or for no guidance to be offered. In this randomized trial, we compared team-guided ICBT (n = 90) to self-guided ICBT (n = 88). Participants completed measures at pre-, post-, and 3-months post-ICBT. Both groups showed similar rates of treatment completion and large improvements on depression and anxiety at post-treatment and follow-up. Unexpectedly, more participants in the self-guided versus team-guided condition showed clinically significant improvement on depression at post-treatment (76.5% vs 49.2%) and follow-up (70% vs 45.6%). Thus, team-guided ICBT may not provide significant benefits compared to self-guided ICBT. However, it may be an alternative approach to consider among a population of high risk individuals that wants or requires closer monitoring of symptoms.

Trail registration TRN: NCT03500237; Date: April 18, 2018.
Tech-based Prototypes in Climate Governance: On Scalability, Replicability, and Representation
Authors: Leiter Andrea , Petersmann Marie
Published: July 2022

‘[T]he “mainstream” of global governance has changed course’ and in so doing, might well have ‘outrun the standard tools of critical, progressive, and reform-minded international lawyers’, Fleur Johns wrote in 2019. It is especially the critical tools of ‘appeals to history, context, language [and] the grassroots’ in response to universalist planning that Johns sees absorbed in the turn to prototyping as a new ‘style’ of governance. In this article, we take on this observation and explore how the ‘lean start-up mentality’ that Johns described has taken hold of tech-based climate governance. We base our reflections on the ‘Tech for Our Planet’ challenge that took place over 2021 and was showcased at the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow. While a turn ‘from planning to prototypes’ is observable, we question how exactly this ‘change of course’ affects the high modernist style of global governance and its critique by international lawyers. The ‘digital solutions for climate challenges’ that were showcased in Glasgow are indeed based on localized experiments with data science, thereby seemingly overcoming high modernist impulses towards universalist ideals. Yet, these experimental prototypes are developed with the ambition of being replicable and scaled up, to become a stack of tools deployable in any given scenario. This form of scaling up neither breaks with modernist aspirations based on technologically-mediated replicability—of moving the same logic inscribed in code to different sites and contexts—nor with a modernist understanding of knowledge as universal in its application. In our analysis, the determining feature is then not so much a matter of planning or prototyping in ideal type forms, but of replicability of knowledge production and scalability of technological know-how that underpin both planning and prototyping. Prototyping in the start-up space does not depart from, but rather reinscribes, a modernist representation of the human subject that forces its epistemological lens onto a world of nonhuman objects amenable to governance. Critical international lawyers’ toolkits must therefore be reconfigured with a focus on a governance style of disembodied knowledge production that runs through both planning and prototyping.
Practical Approaches for Promoting Health Equity in Communities
Authors: Calancie Larissa , Batdorf-Barnes Ann , Verbiest Sarah , White Nevillene , Lich Kristen Hassmiller , Corbie Giselle , Mullenix Amy , Cilenti Dorothy
Published: August 2022

The Maternal and Child Health workforce, public health practitioners, researchers, and other groups need clear, practical guidance on how to promote health equity in the communities they serve. The National Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center’s Health Equity Team synthesized eight approaches for promoting health equity that drew on their experience working with public health practitioners and communities. The approaches are to: Expand the understanding of the drivers of health and work across sectors; Take a systems approach; Reflect on your own organization; Follow the lead of communities who experience injustices; Work with community members, decision-makers, and other stakeholders to prioritize action; Foster agency within individuals and collective action within groups; Identify and collect data to show where health inequities currently exist to inform equitable investment of resources; and Be accountable to outcomes that reflect real improvements in people’s lives. The fields of maternal and child health and public health more broadly is already engaged in the complex work of promoting equity and social justice, and in doing so, should refine, challenge, add to, and build upon these approaches.
The significance of Emmanuel Levinas’ ethics of responsibility for medical judgment
Authors: Benaroyo Lazare
Published: July 2022

At a time when the practice of medicine is subject to technical and biopolitical imperatives that give rise to defensive bioethics, it is essential to revitalize the ethical dimensions of care at the very heart of the clinic, in order to give new meaning to the moral responsibility that inhabits it. This contribution seeks to meet this challenge by drawing on the ethical resources of the work of Emmanuel Levinas. In Levinas’ view, ethical responsibility is the response to the injunction, the interpellation, of the other’s face, and humaneness is conceived entangled in the other’s face. Against this background, I suggest that Levinas’ philosophical insight constitutes a turning point from a traditional to a new conception of responsibility that may bear great significance to a renewed understanding of an hermeneutics and an ethics of care. By drawing on this aspect of Levinas’ thought, I would like to reveal the ethical core of an ethics of clinical care that shapes a new insight on medical judgment.
Short and sweet: an analysis of the length of parasite species names
Authors: Poulin Robert , de Angeli Dutra Daniela , Presswell Bronwen
Published: August 2022

In its advice to taxonomists, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) recommends that scientific species names should be compact, memorable, and easy to pronounce. Here, using a dataset of over 3000 species of parasitic helminths described in the past two decades, we investigate trends in the length of Latin specific names (=epithets) chosen by taxonomists. Our results reveal no significant temporal change in the length of species epithets as a function of year of description, with annual averages fluctuating around the overall average length of just over 9 letters. We also found that lengths of species epithets did not differ among the various host taxa from which the parasites were recovered, however acanthocephalan species have been given longer species epithets than other helminth taxa. Finally, although species epithets were shorter than genus names for three-quarters of the species in our dataset, we detected no relationship between the length of species epithets and that of genus names across all species included, i.e., there was no evidence that shorter species epithets are chosen to compensate for long genus names. We conclude by encouraging parasite taxonomists to follow the recommendations of the ICZN and choose species epithets that are, as much as possible, compact and easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
Can videos affect learning outcomes? Evidence from an actual learning environment
Authors: Tani Massimiliano , Manuguerra Maurizio , Khan Samia
Published: August 2022

We examine the effect of an innovation in an educational context, a class of 500 + first-year economics students at a well-known Australian university. We study whether introducing content in the form of a multimedia presentation has a detectable effect on specific categories of student knowledge. The multimedia presentation has a narrator presenting concepts with images, words, and worked examples. Our key outcome measure is the probability of answering questions correctly on a mid-term test. A quasi-experimental design is followed to offer a causal interpretation of the results. We find that the multimedia presentation markedly increases students’ academic outcomes on the test compared to those that did not view the presentation, especially in regards to procedural and evaluative knowledge. An additional survey reveals gains in students’ metacognitive knowledge. These findings suggest that multimedia presentations contribute to improved student learning outcomes and offer valuable options at a time of increased online course delivery. The findings also highlight the relevance of investing in education and resources to develop the necessary design skills among academics and staff.
Trends in osteoporosis care patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Oliveira T. , Brown J. , Juby A. G. , Schneider P. , Wani R. J. , Packalen M. , Avcil S. , Li S. , Farris M. , Graves E. , McMullen S. , Kendler D. L.
Published: August 2022

Purpose/introduction

The objective of this study was to describe osteoporosis-related care patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Alberta, Canada, relative to the 3-year preceding.

Methods

A repeated cross-sectional study design encompassing 3-month periods of continuous administrative health data between March 15, 2017, and September 14, 2020, described osteoporosis-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and treatment patterns. Outcomes included patients with osteoporosis-related healthcare encounters, physician visits, diagnostic and laboratory test volumes, and treatment initiations and disruptions. The percent change between outcomes was calculated, averaged across the control periods (2017–2019), relative to the COVID-19 periods (2020).

Results

Relative to the average control March to June period, all HCRU declined during the corresponding COVID-19 period. There was a reduction of 14% in patients with osteoporosis healthcare encounters, 13% in general practitioner visits, 9% in specialist practitioner visits, 47% in bone mineral density tests, and 13% in vitamin D tests. Treatment initiations declined 43%, 26%, and 35% for oral bisphosphonates, intravenous bisphosphonates, and denosumab, respectively. Slight increases were observed in the proportion of patients with treatment disruptions. In the subsequent June to September period, HCRU either returned to or surpassed pre-pandemic levels, when including telehealth visits accounting for 33–45% of healthcare encounters during the COVID periods. Oral bisphosphonate treatment initiations remained lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the COVID-19 pandemic and corresponding public health lockdowns further heightened the “crisis” around the known gap in osteoporosis care and altered the provision of care (e.g., use of telehealth and initiation of treatment).

Osteoporosis has a known substantial care and management disparity, which has been classified as a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic created additional burden on osteoporosis patient care with healthcare encounters, physician visits, diagnostic and laboratory tests, and treatment initiations all declining during the initial pandemic period, relative to previous years.
Spectrum of Large- and Medium-Vessel Vasculitis in Adults: Neoplastic, Infectious, Drug-Induced, Autoinflammatory, and Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
Authors: Lötscher Fabian , Pop Roxana , Seitz Pascal , Recher Mike , Seitz Luca
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

To provide a comprehensive review of drugs and neoplastic, infectious, autoinflammatory, and immunodeficiency diseases causing medium- to large-vessel vasculitis in adults with emphasis on information essential for the initial diagnostic process.

Recent Findings

Entities with medium- to large-vessel vasculitis as clinical manifestations have been described recently (e.g., adenosine deaminase-2 deficiency, VEXAS-Syndrome), and vasculitis in established autoinflammatory or immunodeficiency diseases is increasingly being identified.

In the diagnostic process of medium- to large-vessel vasculitis in adults, a large variety of rare diseases should be included in the differential diagnosis, especially if diagnosis is made without histologic confirmation and in younger patients. Although these disorders should be considered, they will undoubtedly remain rare in daily practice.
Late diagnosis of autism: exploring experiences of males diagnosed with autism in adulthood
Authors: Lupindo Bomikazi M. , Maw Anastasia , Shabalala Nokuthula
Published: August 2022

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder associated with qualitative impairments in social interaction, social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviour (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Symptoms of ASD are first evident in infancy and childhood. However, individuals presenting with less overt ASD symptomatology may only be diagnosed in adulthood, when the expectation of independence and productivity results in a growing crisis for the individual. This study applied an exploratory qualitative research design to explore first-hand experiences of ten adult males (25 years and above) who were diagnosed with autism during their adulthood. Purposive sampling was used to select participants through the Neurodiversity Centre, Cape Town, South Africa. In-depth one-on-one interviews, guided by a semi-structured interview schedule were conducted. The thematic analysis technique and NVivo 12 qualitative analysis software were used to organise the data and identify themes. Three key themes emerged: failure to diagnose ASD in childhood despite signs and symptoms, ramifications of missed/misdiagnosis in childhood and adulthood on psychological well-being and the impact of receiving a diagnosis of ASD in adulthood. Missed/misdiagnosis had serious implications for psychological well-being throughout childhood and into adulthood. Late diagnosis resulted in missed opportunities for early intervention to address impairments associated with ASD. Receiving a diagnosis provided an explanation for long standing difficulties, offered a way forward in terms of developing coping strategies and allowed for self-acceptance. The implications of these findings for the development of better early screening and assessment for ASD are discussed and future research pathways suggested.
The parallelism of cognitive economy and physiological economy: A rationality-based dual process theory
Authors: Khalil Elias L. , Amin Azzam
Published: August 2022

Researchers recognize the affinity of habits-as-heuristics and habits-as-routines. This paper argues that the affinity should not be surprising, as both kinds of habits are the outcome of rational choice. The paper finds that the dual process theory, once reconstructed as based on rational choice, reveals that the affinity runs deep, as three-fold parallelism: i) the cognitive economy responsible for habits-as-heuristics parallels what this paper calls the “physiological economy” responsible for habits-as-routines; ii) the occasional slipup of heuristics generated by the cognitive economy parallels the occasional slipup of routines of the physiological economy; and iii) the breakdown of heuristics of the cognitive economy parallels the breakdown of routines of the physiological economy. The rationality-based dual process theory can explain—whereas the single process theory cannot—why slipups do not induce the decision makers to abandon the pertinent habit, but breakdowns do.
Rational Manipulation of Intermediates on Copper for CO2 Electroreduction Toward Multicarbon Products
Authors: Jiang Guangyi , Han Daliang , Han Zishan , Gao Jiachen , Wang Xinyu , Weng Zhe , Yang Quan-Hong
Published: August 2022

Excess greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), have caused major environmental concerns worldwide. The electroreduction of CO2 into valuable chemicals using renewable energy is an ecofriendly approach to achieve carbon neutrality. In this regard, copper (Cu) has attracted considerable attention as the only known metallic catalyst available for converting CO2 to high-value multicarbon (C2+) products. The production of C2+ involves complicated C–C coupling steps and thus imposes high demands on intermediate regulation. In this review, we discuss multiple strategies for modulating intermediates to facilitate C2+ formation on Cu-based catalysts. Furthermore, several sophisticated in situ characterization techniques are outlined for elucidating the mechanism of C–C coupling. Lastly, the challenges and future directions of CO2 electroreduction to C2+ are envisioned.
Molecular phylogeny and morphological comparison of the deep-sea genus Alloptilella Li, Zhan & Xu, 2021 (Octocorallia, Pennatulacea)
Authors: López-González Pablo J.
Published: August 2022

A previously described species and a new one belonging to the recently described sea pen genusAlloptilellaLi, Zhan & Xu, 2021, are here described and illustrated based on a morphological and molecular study of materials collected in the Tasman Sea (SW Pacific) and at Puerto Rico (Caribbean Sea), respectively. The species,Alloptilella moseleyicomb. nov. (Kölliker, 1880) andAlloptilella williamsisp. nov., are in overall agreement with the generic diagnosis ofAlloptilella., based on the type species,Alloptilella splendidaLi, Zhan & Xu, 2021. A single relatively large colony (55 to 95 cm in total length) is known for each of the threeAlloptilellaspecies. The transferred and the new species differ from the type species in having an opposite, rather than alternate, placement of polyp leaves along the rachis, colouration of autozooids, and mesozooids (in the case ofA. moseleyicomb.nov.), and spicular features (e.g. maximum sizes in different parts of the colony, presence/absence of tentacular sclerites).Alloptilella williamsisp. nov. is the first species of the genus recorded so far from the Atlantic Ocean, all other described species being western Pacific. A molecular comparison based on a set of concatenated sequences of four markers (three mitochondrial genes (mtMutS,ND2, andCOI) and a nuclear segment (28S)) relates the species here studied to the published sequences ofAlloptilella splendida, within the named Clade II of previous general phylogenetic studies on the octocoral Order Pennatulacea.Alloptilellais a monophyletic grouping, sister group of the genusScytaliumHerklots, 1858. The available molecular information of the genusPtilellaGray, 1870, is reinforced with sequences (mtMutS,ND2and28S) from specimens ofPtilella inflata(Kükenthal, 1910) collected off the Namibian coast (SE Atlantic).
Faecal DNA-based genetic survey of a relict Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) population (Sila Massif, S Italy)
Authors: Balestrieri Alessandro , Gariano Pasquale , Grandinetti Maria , Verduci Francesca , Gianfranceschi Luca , Gatti Emanuele , Mucci Nadia , Mengoni Chiara , Tremolada Paolo
Published: August 2022

Faecal DNA-based genetic analysis is a suitable tool for assessing both population size and genetic diversity of threatened and elusive species. We applied microsatellite analysis and mtDNA sequencing for investigating the southernmost Italian (Sila Massif, Calabria Region) population of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). This relict population, filed as extinct in the mid-1980s, is currently expanding but still quite isolated. On the two main rivers hosting otters permanently since 2014, we collected 47 spraints, out of which 24 (51.1%) were successfully genotyped (on average 2.0 alleles per locus). Thirteen individuals were identified: seven females and three males (sex identification success of 76.9%). Population size was assessed as 16 individuals (13–22), corresponding to a density of 0.15 (0.13–0.21) ind/km. Successfully amplified mtDNA samples (N = 16) confirmed the occurrence of a haplotype—H10—which had been previously reported only for Southern Italy, bringing new evidence of the unicity of the Italian otter population. Although density values complied with those reported for the core area of otter Italian range, the small size and genetic isolation of this population require special attention. To assist the ongoing re-colonisation of the Sila Massif, habitat management should aim to enhance fish availability and connectivity with the core area.
Simple analytical considerations on a thermal-flow operating parameters of a heat storage tank
Authors: Dolna Oktawia , Wiśniewska Weronika
Published: July 2022

A heat storage tank (HST), described in this paper, may be applied to numerous systems used for thermal energy generation and storage. Working principle and heat-flow processes of the HST remain the same and are independent of the systems in which the HST is being used. This paper presents a thermal-flow analysis of a heat storage tank (HST) operating in an air compressor heat pump (ACHP) and a dry cooler (DC) combined cycle. The HST is operated under transient conditions for four different ACHP steady states. The HST was analysed using lumped capacitance method. The heating power of a single coil varied from 2.2 to 3.2 kW. 50% increase in mass flow rate of heating water in the coils increased the HST water mean temperature by 5.6 °C. A differential equation for the HST water temperature variation was solved analytically and it was presented with the use of dimensionless numbers. The presented solution is of a general form. An important parameter such as number of the coils may be varied easily. Additionally, a Mathcad computational program was proposed for the estimation of HST-ACHP-DC system thermodynamic and thermal-flow parameters. System dynamics was studied using MATLAB/Simulink. An optimal operating parameters of the HST were found and are presented in the paper. The aforementioned parameters are as follows: mass flow rates of heating and cooling media in all three coils, mass flow rate of freshwater supplying the HST, number of loops in coils and resulting heat transfer area, diameter of the loops of the coils, diameter of the coils, time after which water in the HST reaches a steady value, time period within which the HST may fulfil demand for central heating and domestic hot water (DHW) preparation without being charged simultaneously. The presented analytical model was validated based on the available data in the field literature and a high compliance was reached. For this purpose theoretical model results were compared to results of HST computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The temperature calculated using the presented model differed from the one obtained by the CFD analysis by 2.96 K.