bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding antibiotic use for pig farming in Thailand: a qualitative study
Authors: Lekagul Angkana , Tangcharoensathien Viroj , Liverani Marco , Mills Anne , Rushton Jonathan , Yeung Shunmay
Published: January 2021

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), recognised as a serious and growing threat to global health, is promoted by multiple drivers, including antibiotic use in the livestock sector. Thus, understanding factors influencing antibiotic use in livestock production is essential to the design and implementation of effective interventions to reduce AMR. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences and views of the key actors associated with the use of antibiotics for pig farming in Thailand, from local farmers to officers in central government institutions.

Methods

A total of 31 in-depth interviews were conducted with different categories of actors: pig farmers (n = 13), drug retailers (n = 5), veterinarians (n = 7), government officers (n = 3) and representatives of animal and human health associations (n = 2). Themes emerging from the interviews were identified and explored using thematic analysis. In addition, direct observations were conducted in the pig farms.

Results

The findings highlight the multi-faceted nature of the views and practices that may contribute to misuse or overuse of antibiotics in the study locations, including misconceptions about the nature of antibiotics and AMR (particularly among smallholders), lack of facilities and financial means to establish an antibiotic-free farm, lack of sufficient training on AMR and antibiotic prescribing for veterinarians, the profit motive of pharmaceutical companies and their ties to farm consultants, and lack of sufficient regulatory oversight.

Conclusions

Our study indicates a clear need to improve antibiotic use for pig production in Thailand. Farmers need better access to veterinary services and reliable information about animal health needs and antibiotics. Innovative investments in biosecurity could improve farm management and decrease reliance on antibiotics, although the cost of these interventions should be low to ensure wide uptake in the livestock sector. Lastly, further development of professional training and clinical guidelines, and the establishment of a code of conduct, would help improve antibiotic dispensing practices.
Economic burden of antibiotic resistance in China: a national level estimate for inpatients
Authors: Zhen Xuemei , Stålsby Lundborg Cecilia , Sun Xueshan , Zhu Nina , Gu Shuyan , Dong Hengjin
Published: January 2021

Background

Antibiotic resistance (AR) threats public health in China. National-level estimation of economic burden of AR is lacking. We aimed to quantify the economic costs of AR in inpatients in China.

Methods

We performed a multicentre and retrospective cohort study including 15,990 patient episodes at four tertiary hospitals in China from 2013 to 2015 to assess the impact of AR on hospital mortality, length of stay, and costs. We estimated the societal economic burden of AR using findings from the cohort study and secondary data from national surveillance hubs and statistical reports.

Results

Patients with multi-drug resistant (MDR) infection or colonisation caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii experienced higher individual patient cost ($3391, 95% uncertainty interval (UI) $3188–3594), longer hospital stay (5.48 days, 95% UI 5.10–5.87 days), and higher in-hospital mortality rates (1.50%, 95% UI 1.29–1.70%). In China, 27.45% of bacterial infection or colonisation that occurred in inpatients were resistant, of which 15.77% were MDR. A societal economic burden attributed to AR was estimated to be $77 billion in 2017, which is equivalent to 0.37% of China’s yearly gross domestic product, with $57 billion associated with MDR.

Conclusions

This is the first study to estimate national-level economic burden of AR in China. AR places a significant burden on patient health and healthcare systems. Estimation of economic costs of resistant infection or colonisation is the essential step towards building an economic case for global and national actions to combat AMR.
Association between the social support for mothers of patients with eating disorders, maternal mental health, and patient symptomatic severity: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Yamada Atsurou , Katsuki Fujika , Kondo Masaki , Sawada Hanayo , Watanabe Norio , Akechi Tatsuo
Published: January 2021

Background

Although caregivers of patients with eating disorders usually experience a heavy caregiving burden, the effects of social support on caregivers of patients with eating disorders are unknown. This study aimed to investigate how social support for mothers who are caregivers of patients with an eating disorder improves the mothers’ mental status and, consequently, the symptoms and status of the patients.

Methods

Fifty-seven pairs of participants were recruited from four family self-help groups and one university hospital in Japan. Recruitment was conducted from July 2017 to August 2018. Mothers were evaluated for social support using the Japanese version of the Social Provisions Scale-10 item (SPS-10), self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale, loneliness using the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, listening attitude using the Active Listening Attitude Scale, family functioning using the Family Assessment Device, depression symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (Second Edition), and psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Patients were evaluated for self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, assertion using the Youth Assertion Scale, and their symptoms using the Eating Disorder Inventory. We divided the mothers and patients into two groups based on the mean score of the SPS-10 of mothers and compared the status of mothers and patients between the high- and low-scoring groups.

Results

High social support for mothers of patients with eating disorders was significantly associated with lower scores for loneliness and depression of these mothers. We found no significant differences in any patient scores based on mothers’ level of social support.

Conclusions

For patients with eating disorders, social support for a caregiver cannot be expected to improve their symptoms, but it may help prevent caregiver depression and loneliness.
Querying knowledge graphs in natural language
Authors: Liang Shiqi , Stockinger Kurt , de Farias Tarcisio Mendes , Anisimova Maria , Gil Manuel
Published: January 2021

Knowledge graphs are a powerful concept for querying large amounts of data. These knowledge graphs are typically enormous and are often not easily accessible to end-users because they require specialized knowledge in query languages such as SPARQL. Moreover, end-users need a deep understanding of the structure of the underlying data models often based on the Resource Description Framework (RDF). This drawback has led to the development of Question-Answering (QA) systems that enable end-users to express their information needs in natural language. While existing systems simplify user access, there is still room for improvement in the accuracy of these systems. In this paper we propose a new QA system for translating natural language questions into SPARQL queries. The key idea is to break up the translation process into 5 smaller, more manageable sub-tasks and use ensemble machine learning methods as well as Tree-LSTM-based neural network models to automatically learn and translate a natural language question into a SPARQL query. The performance of our proposed QA system is empirically evaluated using the two renowned benchmarks-the 7th Question Answering over Linked Data Challenge (QALD-7) and the Large-Scale Complex Question Answering Dataset (LC-QuAD). Experimental results show that our QA system outperforms the state-of-art systems by 15% on the QALD-7 dataset and by 48% on the LC-QuAD dataset, respectively. In addition, we make our source code available.
Predictive CT features for the diagnosis of primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma: comparison with squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas
Authors: Ban Xiaohua , Shen Xinping , Hu Huijun , Zhang Rong , Xie Chuanmiao , Duan Xiaohui , Zhou Cuiping
Published: January 2021

Background

To determine the predictive CT imaging features for diagnosis in patients with primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinomas (PMECs).

Materials and methods

CT imaging features of 37 patients with primary PMECs, 76 with squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 78 with adenocarcinomas were retrospectively reviewed. The difference of CT features among the PMECs, SCCs and adenocarcinomas was analyzed using univariate analysis, followed by multinomial logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

CT imaging features including tumor size, location, margin, shape, necrosis and degree of enhancement were significant different among the PMECs, SCCs and adenocarcinomas, as determined by univariate analysis (P < 0.05). Only lesion location, shape, margin and degree of enhancement remained independent factors in multinomial logistic regression analysis. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve of the obtained multinomial logistic regression model was 0.805 (95%CI: 0.704–0.906).

Conclusion

The prediction model derived from location, margin, shape and degree of enhancement can be used for preoperative diagnosis of PMECs.
Radiomic signature based on CT imaging to distinguish invasive adenocarcinoma from minimally invasive adenocarcinoma in pure ground-glass nodules with pleural contact
Authors: Jiang Yining , Che Siyu , Ma Shuangchun , Liu Xinyan , Guo Yan , Liu Ailian , Li Guosheng , Li Zhiyong
Published: January 2021

Background

Pure ground-glass nodules (pGGNs) with pleural contact (P-pGGNs) comprise not only invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC), but also minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA). Radiomics recognizes complex patterns in imaging data by extracting high-throughput features of intra-tumor heterogeneity in a non-invasive manner. In this study, we sought to develop and validate a radiomics signature to identify IAC and MIA presented as P-pGGNs.

Methods

In total, 100 patients with P-pGGNs (69 training samples and 31 testing samples) were retrospectively enrolled from December 2012 to May 2018. Imaging and clinical findings were also analyzed. In total, 106 radiomics features were extracted from the 3D region of interest (ROI) using computed tomography (CT) imaging. Univariate analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for IAC. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method with 10-fold cross-validation was used to generate predictive features to build a radiomics signature. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the radiomics signature. Decision curve analyses (DCA) were also conducted to evaluate whether the radiomics signature was sufficiently robust for clinical practice.

Results

Univariate analysis showed significant differences between MIA (N = 47) and IAC (N = 53) groups in terms of patient age, lobulation signs, spiculate margins, tumor size, CT values and relative CT values (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed, when MIA was identified from IAC, that the critical value of tumor length diameter (TLD) was1.39 cm and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.724 (sensitivity = 0.792, specificity = 0.553). The critical CT value on the largest axial plane (CT-LAP) was − 597.45 HU, and the AUC was 0.666 (sensitivity = 0.698, specificity= 0.638). The radiomics signature consisted of seven features and exhibited a good discriminative performance between IAC and MIA, with an AUC of 0.892 (sensitivity = 0.811, specificity 0.719), and 0.862 (sensitivity = 0.625, specificity = 0.800) in training and testing samples, respectively.

Conclusions

Our radiomics signature exhibited good discriminative performance in differentiating IAC from MIA in P-pGGNs, and may offer a crucial reference point for follow-up and selective surgical management.
Politics of citizenship during the COVID-19 pandemic: what can educators do?
Authors: Arshad-Ayaz Adeela , Naseem M. Ayaz
Published: January 2021

As a once in a 100 years emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in repercussions for the economy, the polity, and the social. Also, the ongoing pandemic is as much a teaching moment as it to reflect on the lack of critical citizenship education. The fault lines of the health system have become visible in terms of infection and death rates; the fault lines of the educational system are now apparent in the behavior of the citizens who are flouting the public health guidelines and, in certain cases, actively opposing these guidelines. The main objective of this commentary is to initiate a dialogue on the social contract between the state and the subjects and to see how education and educators can respond to the challenge of the new normal. It is contended that education under the new normal cannot afford to keep educating for unbridled productivity education under the new normal. It must have welfare, human connections, ethical relationships, environmental stewardship, and social justice front and center.
Community health workers for non-communicable diseases prevention and control in Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Authors: Rawal Lal , Jubayer Shamim , Choudhury Sohel R. , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful , Abdullah Abu S.
Published: January 2021

Background

The increasing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh underscores the importance of strengthening primary health care systems. In this study, we examined the barriers and facilitators to engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) for NCDs prevention and control in Bangladesh.

Methods

We used multipronged approaches, including a. Situation analyses using a literature review, key personnel and stakeholders’ consultative meetings, and exploratory studies. A grounded theory approach was used for qualitative data collection from health facilities across three districts in Bangladesh. We conducted in-depth interviews with CHWs (Health Inspector; Community Health Care Provider; Health Assistant and Health Supervisor) (n = 4); key informant interviews with central level health policymakers/ managers (n = 15) and focus group discussions with CHWs (4 FGDs; total n = 29). Participants in a stakeholder consultative meeting included members from the government (n = 4), non-government organisations (n = 2), private sector (n = 1) and universities (n = 2). Coding of the qualitative data and identification of themes from the transcripts were carried out and thematic approach was used for data analyses.

Results

The CHWs in Bangladesh deliver a wide range of public health programs. They also provide several NCDs specific services, including screening, provisional diagnosis, and health education and counselling for common NCDs, dispensing basic medications, and referral to relevant health facilities. These services are being delivered from the sub-district health facility, community clinics and urban health clinics. The participants identified key challenges and barriers, which include lack of NCD specific guidelines, inadequate training, excessive workload, inadequate systems-level support, and lack of logistics supplies and drugs. Yet, the facilitating factors to engaging CHWs included government commitment and program priority, development of NCD related policies and strategies, establishment of NCD corners, community support systems, social recognition of health care staff and their motivation.

Conclusion

Engaging CHWs has been a key driver to NCDs services delivery in Bangladesh. However, there is a need for building capacity of CHWs, maximizing CHWs engagement to NCD services delivery, facilitating systems-level support and strengthening partnerships with non-state sectors would be effective in prevention and control efforts of NCDs in Bangladesh.
Suitability of five plant species extracts for their compatibility with indigenous Beauveria bassiana against Aphis gossypii Glov. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)
Authors: Sayed Samy , Elarnaouty Sayed-Ashraf , Ali Esmat
Published: January 2021

Background

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glov. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major insect pest on a wide range of plants that causes high damage and transmits plant viruses. This study was carried out to evaluate an indigenous isolate, Beauveria bassiana (Bb), and extracts of 5 plant species: Psiadia penninervia, Pulicaria crispa, Euryops arabicus, Salvia officinalis, and Ochradenus baccatus against A. gossypii, as individual and combined treatments to estimate their compatibility under laboratory conditions. Also, the antifungal activity of these plant extracts against B. bassiana was evaluated.

Results

LC50 value was 8.64 × 104 spores/ml of Bb against A. gossypii, while LC50 values of the tested 5 plant extracts on A. gossypii were 103.64, 879.92, 747.90, 783.28, and 262.42 μg/ml for P. penninervia, P. crispa, E. arabicus, S. officinalis, and O. baccatus, respectively. Both P. penninervia and O. baccatus extracts had the highest antifungal activities against Bb and were significantly different from the other 3 plant extracts. After 24 h of treatment with the combination of Bb and each extract, no effect for these combinations on A. gossypii mortality was recorded. Meanwhile, 5 days after treatment, the combined treatments between Bb and each plant extract achieved a significant increase in mortality than that of the single treatment with Bb or plant extract, except for P. penninervia extract, which did not achieve a significant mortality increase when combined with B. bassiana than that of its single treatment.

Conclusion

P. penninervia extract was not compatible with B. bassiana, but the other tested 4 plant extracts were compatible with B. bassiana. These 4 plant extracts could be used to control aphids in combinations with B. bassiana. Further laboratory and field investigations are needed to examine the effects of these plant extracts on other insect pests or associated beneficial insects.
Biological control of nematodes infecting eggplant in Egypt
Authors: Abd-Elgawad Mahfouz M. M.
Published: January 2021

Background

Eggplant is of great renown in Egypt and worldwide as it is favorable and high value vegetable crop. Yet, many plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) can penetrate the roots of this plant and feed on it, causing heavy losses in its yield. Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot nematodes, RKNs) and Rotylenchulus reniformis rank high among these parasites in Egypt.

Main body of the abstract

This review compiles PPN ecology, biology and economic value from the pest management point of view. Applying production practices and other preventive methods against PPNs should be a priority. Accelerating and unprecedented public concern about excessive use of chemical nematicides leading to health problems, development of pest resistance, and environmental contamination, has boosted interest in developing eco-friendly biologicals as safe substitutional materials. Hence, safe biological control agents (BCAs) are reviewed herein to prove that they are quintessential to nematode control on eggplant in Egypt. Thus, BCAs should reliably operate with other agricultural inputs in integrated pest management programs against eggplant nematodes.

Short conclusion

A few paradigms are shown herein which foster BCA practical use via additive or synergistic relation with compatible inputs such as compost, chemicals, and manure. Upgrading their delivery techniques, beneficial interaction and persistence in fields with nematode-infected eggplants should be broadly tested and greatly disseminated.
Biosynthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoaggregates using aqueous extract from Anacardium occidentale leaf: comparative study of different precursors
Authors: Droepenu Eric Kwabena , Asare Ebenezer Aquisman , Wee Boon Siong , Wahi Rafeah Binti , Ayertey Frederick , Kyene Michael Odoi
Published: January 2021

Background

Various parts of Anacardium occidentale plant possess curative qualities like antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant. Aqueous extract of this plant leaf was used in biosynthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoaggregates using two precursors of zinc salt (zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH3COO)2∙2H2O] and zinc chloride [ZnCl2]). The synthesized ZnO samples were used in a comparative study to investigate the antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbes [Staphylococcus aureus, Exiguobacterium aquaticum (Gram +ve) and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii (Gram −ve)]. The synthesized ZnO nanoaggregates from the two precursors were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques.

Results

Micrographs of SEM and TEM confirmed nanoparticles agglomerated into aggregates. While spherical nanoaggregates were identified in samples prepared from Zn(CH3COO)2∙2H2O, flake-like structures were identified in samples synthesized from ZnCl2. Particle size determined by TEM was 107.03 ± 1.54 nm and 206.58 ± 1.86 nm for zinc acetate dihydrate and zinc chloride precursors respectively. ZnO nanoaggregate synthesized using zinc acetate as precursor gave higher antibacterial activity than its counterpart, zinc chloride with K. pneumonia recording the highest inhibition zone of 2.08 ± 0.03 mm (67.53%) whereas S. aureus recorded the least inhibition zone of 1.06 ± 0.14 mm (34.75%) for ZnO nanoaggregate from zinc chloride precursor. Also, antibacterial activity increases with increasing concentration of the extract in general. However, A. baumannii, E. aquaticum, and K. pneumoniae did not follow the continuity trend with regards to the 250 ppm and 500 ppm concentrations.

Conclusion

Biosynthesis of ZnO nanoaggregates using aqueous extract of A. occidentale leaf from zinc acetate dihydrate and zinc chloride as precursors was successful with the formation of nanospheres and nanoflakes. The study suggested that A. occidentale sp. could be an alternative source for the production of ZnO nanoparticles and are efficient antibacterial compounds against both Gram +ve and Gram −ve microbes with its promising effect against infectious bacteria.
Patient-Reported Symptom Burden as a Predictor of Emergency Department Use and Unplanned Hospitalization in Head and Neck Cancer: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study
Authors: Noel Christopher W. , Sutradhar Rinku , Zhao Haoyu , Delibasic Victoria , Forner David , Irish Jonathan C. , Kim Jonathan , Husain Zain , Mahar Alyson , Karam Irene , Enepekides Danny J. , Chan Kelvin K. W. , Singh Simron , Hallet Julie , Coburn Natalie G. , Eskander Antoine
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE:

To determine the association between patient-reported symptom burden and subsequent emergency department use and unplanned hospitalization (ED/Hosp) in a head and neck cancer (HNC) patient population.

METHODS:

This was a population-based study of patients diagnosed with HNC who had completed at least one outpatient Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) assessment between January 2007 and March 2018 in Ontario, Canada. Logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between outpatient ESAS scores and subsequent 14-day ED/Hosp use. A generalized estimating equation approach with an exchangeable correlation structure was incorporated to account for patient-level clustering

RESULTS:

There were 11,761 patients identified, completing a total of 73,282 ESAS assessments and experiencing 5,203 ED/Hosp events. Six of the nine ESAS symptom scores were positively associated with ED/Hosp use, with pain, appetite, shortness of breath, and tiredness demonstrating the strongest associations. A global ESAS score was calculated by selecting the highest individual symptom score (h-ESAS). Among patients reporting a maximum h-ESAS score of 10, 15.1% had an ED/Hosp event within 14 days compared with 1.5% for those with the lowest possible score of zero. In adjusted analysis, the odds of ED/Hosp use increased with h-ESAS (1.23 per one-unit increase [95% CI, 1.22 to 1.25]). When treated as a categorical variable, patients with the maximum h-ESAS score of 10 had 9.23 (95% CI, 7.22 to 11.33) higher odds of ED/Hosp use, relative to the minimum score of zero.

CONCLUSION:

ESAS scores are strongly associated with subsequent ED/Hosp events in patients with HNC. Clinician education around how ESAS data might inform patient care may enhance symptom detection and management.
Chemotherapy in Combination With Radiotherapy for Definitive-Intent Treatment of Stage II-IVA Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: CSCO and ASCO Guideline
Authors: Chen Yu-Pei , Ismaila Nofisat , Chua Melvin L. K. , Colevas A. Dimitrios , Haddad Robert , Huang Shao Hui , Wee Joseph T. S. , Whitley Alexander C. , Yi Jun-Lin , Yom Sue S. , Chan Anthony T. C. , Hu Chao-Su , Lang Jin-Yi , Le Quynh-Thu , Lee Anne W. M. , Lee Nancy , Lin Jin-Ching , Ma Brigette , Morgan Thomas J. , Shah Jatin , Sun Ying , Ma Jun
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE

The aim of this joint guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations to practicing physicians and other healthcare providers on definitive-intent chemoradiotherapy for patients with stage II-IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODS

The Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and ASCO convened an expert panel of radiation oncology, medical oncology, surgery, and advocacy representatives. The literature search included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published from 1990 through 2020. Outcomes of interest included survival, distant and locoregional disease control, and quality of life. Expert panel members used this evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 108 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline. Five overarching clinical questions were addressed, which included subquestions on radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy sequence, and concurrent, induction, and adjuvant chemotherapy options.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Evidence-based recommendations were developed to address aspects of care related to chemotherapy in combination with RT for the definitive-intent treatment of stage II to IVA NPC. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/head-neck-cancer-guidelines .
Recommendations to Streamline and Standardize Clinical Trial Site Feasibility Assessments: An ASCO Research Statement
Authors: Kurbegov Dax , Hurley Patricia , Waterhouse David M. , Robert Nicholas J. , Nowakowski Grzegorz S. , Thompson Michael A. , Bruinooge Suanna S. , Schilsky Richard L. , Byatt Leslie , Dempsey Kandie , Dawson Casey , Hofacker Janie , Liu Jane , MacDougall A. Kate , Kim Edward S.
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE:

Feasibility assessments (FAs) are important to establish site capabilities to conduct clinical trials and their suitability for specific trials. However, current FA methods used by biotechnology and pharmaceutical (biotech-pharma) trial sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs) are costly, inefficient, unnecessarily burdensome, and resource intensive. These methods delay trial start-up, act as a barrier to site participation, and ultimately reduce timely patient access to clinical trials and novel treatments.

METHODS:

An ASCO Task Force was convened to assess the specific burdens and challenges with FAs and to develop recommendations to improve their efficiencies and effectiveness. Stakeholders (including trial sites, biotech-pharma sponsors, and CROs) provided insights into challenges and offered solutions through two surveys and an in-person meeting. The Task Force used the feedback to formulate consensus recommendations to improve FAs for oncology clinical trials.

RESULTS:

Three key recommendations were identified for application across all biotech-pharma sponsored trials: (1) implement a streamlined and uniform FA process across trials and sponsors; (2) minimize and standardize questions; and (3) leverage technology to centralize FAs, facilitate communications, and reduce redundancies.

CONCLUSION:

There is an urgency to improve the current FA process, which is costly, inconsistent, inefficient, labor intensive, and of uncertain effectiveness. All stakeholders stand to benefit from implementing these recommendations, which aim to minimize burdens and ensure that more trial sites and patients have timely access to oncology clinical trials. To have meaningful impact, adoption and consistent execution of these recommendations across all trials, sponsors, CROs, and sites are essential.
Age, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, and radiographic assessment of the quantity of lung edema (RALE) score to predict in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Sensusiati Anggraini Dwi , Amin Muhammad , Nasronudin Nasronudin , Rosyid Alfian Nur , Ramadhan Nanda Aulya , Lathifah Rofida , Puspitasari Eva , Wahyuningtyas Ria Indah , Soebakti Erika
Published: January 2021

Background: Available data suggest that case fatality rate of COVID-19 patients in Surabaya is higher than global cases. Thus, it is important to identify risk factors to prevent the mortality. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients, and develop a prediction score based on these findings.

Methods: We analyzed 111 patients, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 based on reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The following patient characteristics were obtained from records: age, gender, type of symptoms, onset of symptoms, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute lymphocyte count, chest x-ray abnormalities, lung involvement, type of lesion, radiographic assessment of the quantity of lung edema (RALE) score, and mortality. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0.

Results Multivariate analysis showed that age >50 years (p=0.043), NLR score >5.8 (p=0.016) and RALE score >2 (p=0.002) can predict the mortality of COVID-19 patients in the hospital. ROC curve analysis of the score ability to predict mortality showed an area under the curve of 0.794. The cut-off point is 4.5, with a sensitivity of 96.7% and specificity of 49.4% to predict the mortality of COVID-19 patient in the hospital.

Conclusions Age, NLR score and RALE score were associated with mortality of COVID-19 patients in the hospital and might be used as a predictor for mortality of COVID-19 patients in health care centre where radiologists are available. The prediction score may be useful for frontline physicians to effectively manage patients with a higher score to prevent mortality.
Exploring 12-Year trends in childhood obesity prevalence for the Republic of Ireland – a national study using survey data from 2002 and 2014
Authors: Millar Seán R. , Harding Mairead , McCarthy Laura E. , Kelleher Virginia , Harrington Janas M. , James Patrice , Whelton Helen , Perry Ivan J.
Published: January 2021

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children may have reached a plateau in some developed countries, including Ireland. The aim of this study was to examine 12-year trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary-school-aged children in the Republic of Ireland between 2002 and 2014.

Methods: Two large-scale oral health cross-sectional surveys of primary-school-aged children aged 4–13 years were conducted 12 years apart in 2002 (n=14,055; response rate=68%) and 2014 (n=5,223; response rate=67%). Both surveys included standardised and calibrated height and weight measures. Ownership of a means-tested medical card determined economic status. Standard International Obesity Task Force criteria were applied to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Results: The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity among 4–13-year-olds significantly decreased from 26% (95% CI: 25.1%–26.5%) in 2002 to 24% (95% CI: 22.4%–24.7%) in 2014. Among boys and girls aged 4–13 years, the significant decrease was from 23% (95% CI: 22.1%–24.1%) to 20% (95% CI: 18.9%–22.0 and 28% (95% CI: 27.4%–29.5%) to 27% (95% CI: 25.0%–28.4%), respectively. Among 5-year-old children, the overall prevalence of overweight and obesity significantly decreased from 25% (95% CI: 23.7%–26.2%) to 22% (95% CI: 19.9%–23.4%). In 2002, the estimated prevalence of overweight/obesity was similar in children with and without medical cards, whereas in 2014, overall prevalence was higher in those with medical cards. 

Conclusions: Results suggest a fall in the prevalence of overweight/obesity between 2002 and 2014, and may suggest a favourable cohort effect. Despite this fall, the overall prevalence remains high and socioeconomic disparities have increased.
THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDY OF CORPORATE ETHICS
Authors: Korolovych Oksana
Published: January 2021

The article examines some approaches to the understanding of the concept of corporate ethics. The author interprets corporate ethics as a set of moral principles and standards of corporate relations. Corporate ethics is the key element that unites all members of the corporation in a single social organism. Corporate ethics acts as a form of social consciousness inherent in both entrepreneurs and employees who share common goals of their professional activities. It is a non-economic factor having an effective impact on corporation activities. The author analyzes why large organizations characterized by anonymous relations (corporations) establish ethical regulation with all its structural elements (code, ethical committees, etc.). The author makes a distinction between the direct immediate duties of the employee and his/her discretionary duties. Corporate ethics does not hinder efficiency, and it can inspire workers to achieve the organization's main goal. Also, corporate ethics implements in the corporation such functions as the function of protecting the moral prestige of the corporation, the function of defending the interests of members of the corporation, the function of coordinating competing interests, the ambitions of the members of the corporation to ensure cohesion, unity of the group. The implementation of the above functions of corporate ethics can be a competitive advantage for the organization. The author concludes that it is important for the organization to create such a system of moral regulation (structures, institutions) that motivate employees to act morally, in which it would be beneficial to be socially responsible, but that would simultaneously take into account and protect the interests of workers
COVID-19 AND LABOR MIGRATION OF NEED, DESPAIR, POVERTY FROM UKRAINE TO EUROPE
Authors: Koshulko Oksana , Dzholos Sergii
Published: January 2021

The article presents the results of research concerning the current issues of Ukrainian labor migrants to Poland and other European countries before and during the pandemic, as well as results of the analysis of the actions of the current Ukrainian Government’s attempts to stop migration flows from Ukraine. Primary and secondary sources of information have been used in the process of preparing the article. Primary data was collected using qualitative case studies conducted among labor migrants in Poland and Ukraine from 2018 to 2020. Secondary data was taken from Ukrainian, Polish, and other international sources of information. In particular, the secondary data of information was taken from open publications and open sources. Also, in the article, the four categories of need, which pushed Ukrainian labor migrants to work abroad, have been identified and characterized. Besides, an evaluation has been given of the Ukrainian Government’s performance, at the time when it was attempting to stop the migration flows from Ukraine to other countries of Europe but left no alternatives for its workers within the country. In general, analysis of challenges of Ukrainian labor migration to other countries of Europe during the international COVID-19 pandemic is a topical and timely subject for research.
FINANCIAL LITERACY OF THE MANAGEMENT STUDENTS – CZECH AND SLOVAK EXPERIENCE
Authors: Kozubik Ales
Published: January 2021

Financial literacy is becoming one of the key competencies in the 21st century. In its absence, it is virtually impossible to navigate the market for financial products and services and thus ensure financial stability throughout the whole life. The author presents the results of a survey of the financial literacy of young future managers who are currently university students. Based on a questionnaire survey among full-time and part-time students, the author detects the positive impact of the practical experience of external students on their financial literacy. The author uses an innovative metric in the form of a personal finance index to assess financial literacy. In addition to overall success, this approach also makes it possible to analyze knowledge from the eight components of financial literacy. By comparing the results in individual areas, the author reveals that risk management is Achyla's heel of financial literacy. In addition to the knowledge component, the author also deals with the respondents' access to information sources. Based on these findings, the author formulates conclusions for the content of financial education. There is a need for a stronger link between the development of probabilistic thinking and the development of general numeracy with practical financial subjects. An important part of financial education is also the recognition of credible information sources.
General stigmatic surfaces
Authors: González-Acuña Rafael G. , Chaparro-Romo Héctor A. , Gutiérrez-Vega Julio C.
Published: January 2021

Given an arbitrary input wavefront, we derive the analytical refractive surface that refracts the wavefront into a single image point. The derivation of the surface is fully analytical without paraxial or numerical approximations. We evaluate the performance of the surface with several cases, and the results were as expected.
Langevin noise approach for lossy media and the lossless limit
Authors: Hanson George W. , Lindel Frieder , Buhmann Stefan Yoshi
Published: January 2021

The Langevin noise approach for quantization of macroscopic electromagnetics for three-dimensional, inhomogeneous environments is compared with normal-mode quantization. Recent works on the applicability of the method are discussed, and several examples are provided showing that for closed systems the Langevin noise approach reduces to the usual cavity mode expansion method when loss is eliminated.
Pump RIN coupling to frequency noise of a polarization-maintaining 2 µm single frequency fiber laser
Authors: Zhang Qian , Hou Yubin , Song Weihua , Wang Xi , Blair Carl , Chen Xu , Li Ju , Zhao Chunnong , Wang Pu
Published: January 2021

We investigated the frequency noise coupling mechanism of a 2 μm polarization-maintaining single frequency fiber laser (SFFL) theoretically and experimentally. The coupling of pump’s relative intensity noise (RIN) to frequency noise of a single-frequency high-gain silica fiber laser is shown experimentally to be consistent with a theoretical model where thermal expansion and thermo-optic effect mediate the coupling. The measured and theoretical frequency noise of the 2 μm SFFL with three pump sources is compared. We find using a 1550 nm single frequency laser pump source produces the lowest frequency noise, less than 100

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Polarization-dependent and tunable absorption of terahertz waves based on anisotropic metasurfaces
Authors: Li Jie , Zheng Chenglong , Li Jitao , Zhao Hongliang , Hao Xuanruo , Xu Hang , Yue Zhen , Zhang Yating , Yao Jianquan
Published: January 2021

Metamaterial absorbers can achieve high-efficiency electromagnetic absorption in a specific band, which have been used in biochemical sensing, photoelectric detection, imaging and other fields. Tunable metamaterial absorbers provide more possibilities for the development of multifunctional electromagnetic absorption devices. Here we propose a tunable and polarization-dependent terahertz metamaterial absorber which can work for both linearly and circularly polarized waves. By introducing single layer graphene and vanadium dioxide (VO2), switching between the two working states and wide-range tuning of the absorption efficiency are realized. When VO2 is in insulating state, the absorber shows different tunable absorption performance for the x- or y-polarized terahertz waves, in which the maximum absorption rate is close to 100%. When VO2 is in metallic state, the metasurface behaves as a chiral absorber, and the maximum absorption difference between the two circular polarizations is about 0.45, while the tuning efficiency reaches 86.3%. Under the two working conditions, the absorber can maintain efficient absorption with a large incident angle. In addition, as an application exploration of the absorber, we demonstrated its application in tunable and polarization multiplexed near-field image display.
Doubly mirror-induced electric and magnetic anapole modes in metal-dielectric-metal nanoresonators
Authors: Yao Jin , Li Bin , Cai Guoxiong , Liu Qing Huo
Published: January 2021

Anapole mode is a nonradiative resonance originating from the destructive interference between co-excited Cartesian electric dipole and toroidal dipole moments. With at least two symmetric circulating currents, the anapole mode in all-dielectric nanoresonators provides the opportunity to operate the double perfect electric conductor (PEC) mirror effects. In this work, unlike the conventional metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) nanostructure generating a plasmonic magnetic resonance, two metal components are employed to produce the fictitious images of the middle dielectric, and the whole system can thus excite the doubly mirror-induced anapole mode. Electric anapole mode and its magnetic counterpart are, respectively, investigated in two types of MDM configurations according to their own symmetric characteristics. Benefiting from the double PEC mirror effects, the doubly mirror-induced electric and magnetic anapole modes possess the larger average electric-field enhancement factors (9 and 56.9 folds compared with those of the conventional ones, respectively), as well as the narrower line widths. This work will pave a new way for tailoring and boosting anapole modes in metal-dielectric hybrid nanoresonators and open up new opportunities for many significant applications in nonlinear and quantum nanophotonics.
Improving probabilistic infectious disease forecasting through coherence
Authors: Gibson Graham Casey , Moran Kelly R. , Reich Nicholas G. , Osthus Dave
Published: January 2021

With an estimated $10.4 billion in medical costs and 31.4 million outpatient visits each year, influenza poses a serious burden of disease in the United States. To provide insights and advance warning into the spread of influenza, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) runs a challenge for forecasting weighted influenza-like illness (wILI) at the national and regional level. Many models produce independent forecasts for each geographical unit, ignoring the constraint that the national wILI is a weighted sum of regional wILI, where the weights correspond to the population size of the region. We propose a novel algorithm that transforms a set of independent forecast distributions to obey this constraint, which we refer to as probabilistically coherent. Enforcing probabilistic coherence led to an increase in forecast skill for 79% of the models we tested over multiple flu seasons, highlighting the importance of respecting the forecasting system’s geographical hierarchy.
Computational modeling suggests binding-induced expansion of Epsin disordered regions upon association with AP2
Authors: Jagannathan N. Suhas , Hogue Christopher W. V. , Tucker-Kellogg Lisa
Published: January 2021

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are prevalent in the eukaryotic proteome. Common functional roles of IDRs include forming flexible linkers or undergoing allosteric folding-upon-binding. Recent studies have suggested an additional functional role for IDRs: generating steric pressure on the plasma membrane during endocytosis, via molecular crowding. However, in order to accomplish useful functions, such crowding needs to be regulated in space (e.g., endocytic hotspots) and time (e.g., during vesicle formation). In this work, we explore binding-induced regulation of IDR steric volume. We simulate the IDRs of two proteins from Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) to see if their conformational spaces are regulated via binding-induced expansion. Using Monte-Carlo computational modeling of excluded volumes, we generate large conformational ensembles (3 million) for the IDRs of Epsin and Eps15 and dock the conformers to the alpha subunit of Adaptor Protein 2 (AP2α), their CME binding partner. Our results show that as more molecules of AP2α are bound, the Epsin-derived ensemble shows a significant increase in global dimensions, measured as the radius of Gyration (RG) and the end-to-end distance (EED). Unlike Epsin, Eps15-derived conformers that permit AP2α binding at one motif were found to be more likely to accommodate binding of AP2α at other motifs, suggesting a tendency toward co-accessibility of binding motifs. Co-accessibility was not observed for any pair of binding motifs in Epsin. Thus, we speculate that the disordered regions of Epsin and Eps15 perform different roles during CME, with accessibility in Eps15 allowing it to act as a recruiter of AP2α molecules, while binding-induced expansion of the Epsin disordered region could impose steric pressure and remodel the plasma membrane during vesicle formation.
Phase-related differences in egg production of the migratory locust regulated by differential oosorption through microRNA-34 targeting activinβ
Authors: Zhao Lianfeng , Guo Wei , Jiang Feng , He Jing , Liu Hongran , Song Juan , Yu Dan , Kang Le
Published: January 2021

Outbreaks of locust plagues result from the long-term accumulation of high-density egg production. The migratory locust,Locusta migratoria, displays dramatic differences in the egg-laid number with dependence on population density, while solitarious locusts lay more eggs compared to gregarious ones. However, the regulatory mechanism for the egg-laid number difference is unclear. Herein, we confirm that oosorption plays a crucial role in the regulation of egg number through the comparison of physiological and molecular biological profiles in gregarious and solitarious locusts. We find that gregarious oocytes display a 15% higher oosorption ratio than solitarious ones. Activinβ (Actβ) is the most highly upregulated gene in the gregarious terminal oocyte (GTO) compared to solitarious terminal oocyte (STO). Meanwhile,Actβincreases sharply from the normal oocyte (N) to resorption body 1 (RB1) stage during oosorption. The knockdown ofActβsignificantly reduces the oosorption ratio by 13% in gregarious locusts, resulting in an increase in the egg-laid number. Based on bioinformatic prediction and experimental verification, microRNA-34 with three isoforms can targetActβ. The microRNAs display higher expression levels in STO than those in GTO and contrasting expression patterns ofActβfrom the N to RB1 transition. Overexpression of each miR-34 isoform leads to decreasedActβlevels and significantly reduces the oosorption ratio in gregarious locusts. In contrast, inhibition of the miR-34 isoforms results in increasedActβlevels and eventually elevates the oosorption ratio of solitarious locusts. Our study reports an undescribed mechanism of oosorption through miRNA targeting of a TGFβ ligand and provides new insights into the mechanism of density-dependent reproductive adaption in insects.