bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interventions and symptom relief in hospital palliative cancer care: results from a prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Thronæs Morten , Løhre Erik Torbjørn , Kvikstad Anne , Brenne Elisabeth , Norvaag Robin , Aalberg Kathrine Otelie , Moen Martine Kjølberg , Jakobsen Gunnhild , Klepstad Pål , Solberg Arne , Solheim Tora Skeidsvoll
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To study the use of interventions and symptom relief for adult patients with incurable cancer admitted to an acute palliative care unit providing integrated oncology and palliative care services.

Methods

All admissions during 1 year were assessed. The use of interventions was evaluated for all hospitalizations. Patients with assessments for worst and average pain intensity, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, appetite, dyspnea, depression, anxiety, well-being, constipation, and sleep were evaluated for symptom development during hospitalization. Descriptive statistics was applied for the use of interventions and the paired sample t-test to compare symptom intensities (SIs).

Results

For 451 admissions, mean hospital length of stay was 7.0 days and mean patient age 69 years. More than one-third received systemic cancer therapy. Diagnostic imaging was performed in 66% of the hospitalizations, intravenous rehydration in 45%, 37% received antibiotics, and 39% were attended by the multidisciplinary team. At admission and at discharge, respectively, 55% and 44% received oral opioids and 27% and 45% subcutaneous opioids. For the majority, opioid dose was adjusted during hospitalization. Symptom registrations were available for 180 patients. Tiredness yielded the highest mean SI score (5.6, NRS 0–10) at admission and nausea the lowest (2.2). Significant reductions during hospitalization were reported for all assessed SIs (p ≤ 0.01). Patients receiving systemic cancer therapy reported symptom relief similar to those not on systemic cancer therapy.

Conclusion

Clinical practice and symptom relief during hospitalization were described. Symptom improvements were similar for oncological and palliative care patients.
Composite detection rate as an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy quality measure correlating with detection of neoplasia
Authors: Romańczyk Marcin , Ostrowski Bartosz , Marek Tomasz , Romańczyk Tomasz , Błaszczyńska Małgorzata , Budzyń Krzysztof , Bugajski Maciej , Koziej Mateusz , Kajor Maciej , Januszewski Krzysztof , Zajęcki Wojciech , Waluga Marek , Hartleb Marek
Published: May 2021

Background

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is commonly used diagnostic method with no widely accepted quality measure. We assessed quality indicator—composite detection rate (CDR)—consisting of detection of at least one of the following: cervical inlet patch, gastric polyp and post-ulcer duodenal bulb deformation. The aim of the study was to validate CDR according to detection rate of upper gastrointestinal neoplasms (UGN).

Methods

It was a multicenter, prospective, observational study conducted from January 2019 to October 2019. The endoscopic reports from 2896 symptomatic patients who underwent diagnostic EGD were analyzed. The EGDs were performed in three endoscopy units located in tertiary university hospital, private outpatient clinic and local hospital.

Results

64 UGNs were detected. The mean CDR was 21.9%. The CDR correlated with UGN detection rate (R = 0.49, p = 0.045). Based on CDR quartiles, operators were divided into group 1 with CDR < 10%, group 2 with CDR 10–17%, group 3 with CDR 17.1–26%, and group 4 with CDR > 26%. Detection rate of UGN was significantly higher in the group 4 in comparison to group 1 (OR 4.4; 95% CI 2.2 − 9.0). In the multivariate regression model, patient age, male gender and operator’s CDR > 26% were independent risk factors of UGN detection (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01 − 1.05, OR 2; 95% CI 1.2 − 3.5, and OR 5.7 95% CI 1.5 − 22.3, respectively).

Conclusions

The CDR is associated with the detection of upper gastrointestinal neoplasms. This parameter may be a useful quality measure of EGD to be applied in general setting.
Patient-specific statistical shape modeling for optimal spinal sagittal alignment in lumbar spinal fusion
Authors: Furrer Pascal R. , Caprara Sebastiano , Wanivenhaus Florian , Burkhard Marco D. , Senteler Marco , Farshad Mazda
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The present study compared patients developing ASD after L4/5 spinal fusion with a control group using a patient-specific statistical shape model (SSM) to find alignment-differences between the groups.

Methods

This study included patients who had undergone spinal fusion at L4/5 and either remained asymptomatic (control group; n = 25, follow-up of > 4 years) or required revision surgery for epifusional ASD (n = 22). Landmarks on preoperative and postoperative lateral radiographs were annotated, and the optimal spinal sagittal alignment was calculated for each patient. The two-dimensional distance from the SSM-calculated optimum to the actual positions before and after fusion surgery was compared.

Results

Postoperatively, the additive mean distance from the SSM-calculated optimum was 86.8 mm in the ASD group and 67.7 mm in the control group (p = 0.119). Greater differences were observed between the groups with a larger distance to the ideal in patients with ASD at more cranial levels. Significant difference between the groups was seen postoperatively in the vertical distance of the operated segment L4. The patients with ASD (5.69 ± 3.0 mm) had a significant greater distance from the SSM as the control group (3.58 ± 3.5 mm, p = 0.034).

Conclusion

Patients with ASD requiring revision after lumbar spinal fusion have greater differences from the optimal spinal sagittal alignment as an asymptomatic control group calculated by patient-specific statistical shape modeling. Further research might help to understand the value of SSM, in conjunction with already established indexes, for preoperative planning with the aim of reducing the risk of ASD.

Level of evidence I

Diagnostic: individual cross-sectional studies with consistently applied reference standard and blinding
Shared decision-making in neurosurgery: a scoping review
Authors: Corell Alba , Guo Annie , Vecchio Tomás Gómez , Ozanne Anneli , Jakola Asgeir S.
Published: May 2021

Background

In modern neurosurgery, there are often several treatment alternatives, with different risks and benefits. Shared decision-making (SDM) has gained interest during the last decade, although SDM in the neurosurgical field is not widely studied. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to present the current landscape of SDM in neurosurgery.

Methods

A literature review was carried out in PubMed and Scopus. We used a search strategy based on keywords used in existing literature on SDM in neurosurgery. Full-text, peer-reviewed articles published from 2000 up to the search date February 16, 2021, with patients 18 years and older were included if articles evaluated SDM in neurosurgery from the patient’s perspective.

Results

We identified 22 articles whereof 7 covered vestibular schwannomas, 7 covered spinal surgery, and 4 covered gliomas. The other topics were brain metastases, benign brain lesions, Parkinson’s disease and evaluation of neurosurgical care. Different methods were used, with majority using forms, questionnaires, or interviews. Effects of SDM interventions were studied in 6 articles; the remaining articles explored factors influencing patients’ decisions or discussed SDM aids.

Conclusion

SDM is a tool to involve patients in the decision-making process and considers patients’ preferences and what the patients find important. This scoping review illustrates the relative lack of SDM in the neurosurgical literature. Even though results indicate potential benefit of SDM, the extent of influence on treatment, outcome, and patient’s satisfaction is still unknown. Finally, the use of decision aids may be a meaningful contribution to the SDM process.
Modelling mobile-based technology adoption among people with dementia
Authors: Chaurasia Priyanka , McClean Sally , Nugent Chris D. , Cleland Ian , Zhang Shuai , Donnelly Mark P. , Scotney Bryan W. , Sanders Chelsea , Smith Ken , Norton Maria C. , Tschanz JoAnn
Published: May 2021

The work described in this paper builds upon our previous research on adoption modelling and aims to identify the best subset of features that could offer a better understanding of technology adoption. The current work is based on the analysis and fusion of two datasets that provide detailed information on background, psychosocial, and medical history of the subjects. In the process of modelling adoption, feature selection is carried out followed by empirical analysis to identify the best classification models. With a more detailed set of features including psychosocial and medical history information, the developed adoption model, using kNN algorithm, achieved a prediction accuracy of 99.41% when tested on 173 participants. The second-best algorithm built, using NN, achieved 94.08% accuracy. Both these results have improved accuracy in comparison to the best accuracy achieved (92.48%) in our previous work, based on psychosocial and self-reported health data for the same cohort. It has been found that psychosocial data is better than medical data for predicting technology adoption. However, for the best results, we should use a combination of psychosocial and medical data where it is preferable that the latter is provided from reliable medical sources, rather than self-reported.
In vivo parameter identification in arteries considering multiple levels of smooth muscle activity
Authors: Gade Jan-Lucas , Thore Carl-Johan , Sonesson Björn , Stålhand Jonas
Published: May 2021

In this paper an existing in vivo parameter identification method for arteries is extended to account for smooth muscle activity. Within this method a continuum-mechanical model, whose parameters relate to the mechanical properties of the artery, is fit to clinical data by solving a minimization problem. Including smooth muscle activity in the model increases the number of parameters. This may lead to overparameterization, implying that several parameter combinations solve the minimization problem equally well and it is therefore not possible to determine which set of parameters represents the mechanical properties of the artery best. To prevent overparameterization the model is fit to clinical data measured at different levels of smooth muscle activity. Three conditions are considered for the human abdominal aorta: basal during rest; constricted, induced by lower-body negative pressure; and dilated, induced by physical exercise. By fitting the model to these three arterial conditions simultaneously a unique set of model parameters is identified and the model prediction agrees well with the clinical data.
Reconstruction of low-rank aggregation kernels in univariate population balance equations
Authors: Ahrens Robin , Le Borne Sabine
Published: May 2021

The dynamics of particle processes can be described by population balance equations which are governed by phenomena including growth, nucleation, breakage and aggregation. Estimating the kinetics of the aggregation phenomena from measured density data constitutes an ill-conditioned inverse problem. In this work, we focus on the aggregation problem and present an approach to estimate the aggregation kernel in discrete, low rank form from given (measured or simulated) data. The low-rank assumption for the kernel allows the application of fast techniques for the evaluation of the aggregation integral ($\mathcal {O}(n\log n)$
O
(
n
log
n
)
instead of $\mathcal {O}(n^{2})$
O
(

n

2

)
where n denotes the number of unknowns in the discretization) and reduces the dimension of the optimization problem, allowing for efficient and accurate kernel reconstructions. We provide and compare two approaches which we will illustrate in numerical tests.
Lack of specialist nidicoles as a characteristic of mite assemblages inhabiting nests of the ground-nesting wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes)
Authors: Napierała Agnieszka , Maziarz Marta , Hebda Grzegorz , Broughton Richard K. , Rutkowski Tomasz , Zacharyasiewicz Michał , Błoszyk Jerzy
Published: May 2021

Bird and mammal nests provide microhabitats that support a range of other species, including invertebrates. However, the variation between communities of nest-dwelling invertebrates in different nests is poorly understood. The major aim of this study was to analyze the assemblage structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) and from superfamily Crotonioidea (Acari: Oribatida) inhabiting nests of the wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Aves: Passeriformes), located on a forest floor in Białowieża Forest, in eastern Poland. We also assessed the correlation between the nest material used by the birds with the assemblage structure of Uropodina mites, and compared the results with published studies of the nests of other birds and a mammal (common mole, Talpa europaea), and also with communities of mites inhabiting the soil. The field research was conducted in the strict nature reserve of the Białowieża National Park, a near-primeval European temperate forest. In 2019, immediately after the breeding period, 69 wood warbler nests and 439 soil samples were collected. Analyses revealed assemblages of Uropodina mites inhabiting the nests that consisted of 14 species, mostly common soil species. Only five species of oribatid mites from superfamily Crotonioidea were present in the nest material. Analyzed nests had a high percentage of tree leaves and grass blades, whereas moss was the least frequent component of the nest material. The Uropodina mites were more abundant in the nests that had greater amounts of grass blades, but similar relationships were insignificant for the nests with varying amounts of tree leaves or moss. The assemblages of Uropodina mites inhabiting wood warbler nests were very similar to those found in soil and nests of the common mole, but they lacked typical nest-dwelling species of Uropodina (i.e., specialized nidicoles).
The Influence of Quantum Physics on Philosophy
Authors: Muller F. A.
Published: May 2021

We ponder the question whether quantum physics has had any influence on philosophy, and if not, whether it ought to have had any. Answers to these questions are provided, and they turn out to depend onwhichbranch of the tree of philosophy we sweep, sway and swing, and evenwhichtwig of the branch we touch when we sweep, sway and swing.
Optimization-driven framework to understand health care network costs and resource allocation
Authors: Bravo Fernanda , Braun Marcus , Farias Vivek , Levi Retsef , Lynch Christine , Tumolo John , Whyte Richard
Published: May 2021

In the last several decades, the U.S. Health care industry has undergone a massive consolidation process that has resulted in the formation of large delivery networks. However, the integration of these networks into a unified operational system faces several challenges. Strategic problems, such as ensuring access, allocating resources and capacity efficiently, and defining case-mix in a multi-site network, require the correct modeling of network costs, network trade-offs, and operational constraints. Unfortunately, traditional practices related to cost accounting, specifically the allocation of overhead and labor cost to activities as a way to account for the consumption of resources, are not suitable for addressing these challenges; they confound resource allocation and network building capacity decisions. We develop a general methodological optimization-driven framework based on linear programming that allows us to better understand network costs and provide strategic solutions to the aforementioned problems. We work in collaboration with a network of hospitals to demonstrate our framework applicability and important insights derived from it.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD): Symptomatology of the Norwegian Patient Population and Parents’ Experiences of Patient Regression
Authors: Ellis Martin John , Larsen Kenneth , Havighurst Sophie Seychelle
Published: May 2021

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) is a rare and little researched developmental disorder characterised by regression in language and social skills after a period of seemingly normal development until at least the age of 2 years. The study contacted all parents of CDD patients in Norway to assess patient symptomatology and parents’ experiences of regression via questionnaire or interview. There were 12 participants. Symptomatology was in-line with previous studies, with universal regression in language and social skills and onset predominantly at 2–4 years. Regression was connected to feelings of ‘loss’ and uncertainty over the prognosis for CDD patients. The study supported CDD diagnostic criteria and showed that CDD patient regression has profound implications for parental well-being.
STAT3 Hyper-IgE Syndrome—an Update and Unanswered Questions
Authors: Tsilifis Christo , Freeman Alexandra F. , Gennery Andrew R.
Published: May 2021

The hyper-IgE syndromes (HIES) are a heterogeneous group of inborn errors of immunity sharing manifestations including increased infection susceptibility, eczema, and raised serum IgE. Since the prototypical HIES description 55 years ago, areas of significant progress have included description of key disease-causing genes and differentiation into clinically distinct entities. The first two patients reported had what is now understood to be HIES from dominant-negative mutations in signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3-HIES), conferring a broad immune defect across both innate and acquired arms, as well as defects in skeletal, connective tissue, and vascular function, causing a clinical phenotype including eczema, staphylococcal and fungal skin and pulmonary infection, scoliosis and minimal trauma fractures, and vascular tortuosity and aneurysm. Due to the constitutionally expressed nature of STAT3, initial reports at treatment with allogeneic stem cell transplantation were not positive and treatment has hinged on aggressive antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment to prevent the development of end-organ disease such as pneumatocele. Research into the pathophysiology of STAT3-HIES has driven understanding of the interface of several signaling pathways, including the JAK-STAT pathways, interleukins 6 and 17, and the role of Th17 lymphocytes, and has been expanded by identification of phenocopies such as mutations in IL6ST and ZNF341. In this review we summarize the published literature on STAT3-HIES, present the diverse clinical manifestations of this syndrome with current management strategies, and update on the uncertain role of stem cell transplantation for this disease. We outline key unanswered questions for further study.
Coupled diffusion and phase transition: Phase fields, constraints, and the Cahn–Hilliard equation
Authors: Duda Fernando P. , Sarmiento Adel F. , Fried Eliot
Published: May 2021

We develop a constrained theory for constituent migration in bodies with microstructure described by a scalar phase field. The distinguishing features of the theory stem from a systematic treatment and characterization of the reactions needed to maintain the internal constraint given by the coincidence of the mass fraction and the phase field. We also develop boundary conditions for situations in which the interface between the body and its environment is structureless and cannot support constituent transport. In addition to yielding a new derivation of the Cahn–Hilliard equation, the theory affords an interpretation of that equation as a limiting variant of an Allen–Cahn type diffusion system arising from the unconstrained theory obtained by considering the mass fraction and the phase field as independent quantities. We corroborate that interpretation with three-dimensional numerical simulations of a recently proposed benchmark problem.
Sentiment analysis of popular-music references to automobiles, 1950s to 2010s
Authors: Wu Chenyang , Le Vine Scott , Bengel Elizabeth , Czerwinski Jason , Polak John
Published: May 2021

In recent years, there has been a scholarly debate regarding the decrease in automobile-related mobility indicators (car ownership, driving license holding, VMT, etc.). Broadly speaking, two theories have been put forward to explain this trend: (1) economic factors whose impacts are well-understood in principle, but whose occurrence among young adults as a demographic sub-group had been overlooked, and (2) less well-understood shifts in cultural mores, values and sentiment towards the automobile. This second theory is devilishly difficult to study, due primarily to limitations in standard data resources such as the National Household Travel Survey and international peer datasets. In this study we first compiled a database of lyrics to popular music songs from 1956 to 2015 (defined by inclusion in the annual “top 40”), and subsequently identified references to automobiles within this corpus. We then evaluated whether there is support for theory #2 above within popular music, by looking at changes from the 1950s to the 2010s. We demonstrate that the frequency of references to automobility tended for many years to increase over time, however there has more recently been a decline after the late 2000s (decade). In terms of the sentiment of popular music lyrics that reference automobiles, our results are mixed as to whether the references are becoming increasingly positive or negative (machine analysis suggests increasing negativity, while human analysis did not find a significant association), however a consistent observation is that sentiment of automobile references have over time become more positive relative to sentiment of song lyrics overall. We also show that sentiment towards automobile references differs systematically by genre, e.g. automobile references within ‘Rock’ lyrics are in general more negative than similar references to cars in other music genres). The data generated on this project have been archived and made available open access for use by future researchers; details are in the full paper.
Quantification of NAD(P)H in cyanobacterial cells by a phenol extraction method
Authors: Tanaka Kenya , Shimakawa Ginga , Tabata Hiro , Kusama Shoko , Miyake Chikahiro , Nakanishi Shuji
Published: May 2021

In photosynthetic organisms, it is recognized that the intracellular redox ratio of NADPH is regulated within an appropriate range for the cooperative function of a wide variety of physiological processes. However, despite its importance, there is large variability in the values of the NADPH fraction [NADPH/(NADPH + NADP+)] quantitatively estimated to date. In the present study, the light response of the NADPH fraction was investigated by applying a novel NADP(H) extraction method using phenol / chloroform / isoamyl alcohol (PCI) in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The light response of NADP(H) observed using PCI extraction was qualitatively consistent with the NAD(P)H fluorescence time course measured in vivo. Moreover, the results obtained by PCI extraction and the fluorescence-based methods were also consistent in a mutant lacking the ability to oxidize NAD(P)H in the respiratory chain, and exhibiting a unique NADPH light response. These observations indicate that the PCI extraction method allowed quantitative determination of NADP(H) redox. Notably, the PCI extraction method showed that not all NADP(H) was oxidized or reduced by light–dark transition. Specifically, the fraction of NADPH was 42% in the dark-adapted cell, and saturated at 68% in light conditions.
Evaluate and control service and transaction dependability of complex IoT systems
Authors: Niedermaier Sina , Zelenik Thommy , Heisse Stefan , Wagner Stefan
Published: May 2021

Observing and controlling the dependability of service provision of complex IoT systems is challenging. In practice, many organizations struggle to derive consumer needs related to quality and to observe and quantify the service provision in the context of the dynamic behavior of a complex distributed system. In this paper, we present an approach to define and evaluate the dependability of complex IoT systems. Our approach is an adaptation of the ISO/IEC 25040, an international standard for the evaluation process for system and software quality, which is part of the systems and software quality requirements and evaluation (SQuaRE) series. Our approach was designed and evaluated with action research in an industrial study at Robert Bosch GmbH. Based on the framework of the SQuaRE series, we integrated different elements of site reliability engineering (SRE) and combined them with distributed tracing as a promising measurement method. Our approach introduces the IoT transaction concept to reduce modeling and observation efforts while increasing operationalization to measure performance against dependability targets. Our adaption was effectively applied, consumer-centricity along different system stakeholders were enhanced, and negative consequences of organizational silos were reduced. This has improved the dependability evaluation of service provision to enable fast feedback cycles for service performance control and improvement.
An integrated assessment of the impacts of PM2.5 and black carbon particles on the air quality of a large Brazilian city
Authors: Gidhagen Lars , Krecl Patricia , Targino Admir Créso , Polezer Gabriela , Godoi Ricardo H. M. , Felix Erika , Cipoli Yago A. , Charres Isabella , Malucelli Francisco , Wolf Alyson , Alonso Marcelo , Segersson David , Castelhano Francisco J. , Amorim Jorge H. , Mendonça Francisco
Published: May 2021

Data on airborne fine particle (PM2.5) emissions and concentrations in cities are valuable for traffic and air quality managers, urban planners, health practitioners, researchers, and ultimately for legislators and decision makers. Emissions and ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) were assessed in the city of Curitiba, southern Brazil. The methodology combined a month-long monitoring campaign with both fixed and mobile instruments, development of emission inventories, and dispersion model simulations on different scales. The mean urban background PM2.5 concentrations during the campaign were 7.3 μg m−3 in Curitiba city center, but three- to fourfold higher (25.3 μg m-3) in a residential area on the city’s outskirts, indicating the presence of local sources, possibly linked to biomass combustion. BC concentrations seemed to be more uniformly distributed over the city, with mean urban background concentrations around 2 μg m−3, half of which due to local traffic emissions. Higher mean BC concentrations (3–5 μg m-3) were found along busy roads. The dispersion modeling also showed high PM2.5 and BC concentrations along the heavily transited ring road. However, the lack of in situ data over these peripheral areas prevented the verification of the model output. The vehicular emission factors for PM2.5 and BC from the literature were found not to be suitable for Curitiba’s fleet and needed to be adjusted. The integrated approach of this study can be implemented in other cities, as long as an open data policy and a close cooperation among regional, municipal authorities and academia can be achieved.
The Cytoskeletal Elements MAP2 and NF-L Show Substantial Alterations in Different Stroke Models While Elevated Serum Levels Highlight Especially MAP2 as a Sensitive Biomarker in Stroke Patients
Authors: Mages Bianca , Fuhs Thomas , Aleithe Susanne , Blietz Alexandra , Hobusch Constance , Härtig Wolfgang , Schob Stefan , Krueger Martin , Michalski Dominik
Published: May 2021

In the setting of ischemic stroke, the neurofilament subunit NF-L and the microtubule-associated protein MAP2 have proven to be exceptionally ischemia-sensitive elements of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Since alterations of the cytoskeleton have been linked to the transition from reversible to irreversible tissue damage, the present study investigates underlying time- and region-specific alterations of NF-L and MAP2 in different animal models of focal cerebral ischemia. Although NF-L is increasingly established as a clinical stroke biomarker, MAP2 serum measurements after stroke are still lacking. Therefore, the present study further compares serum levels of MAP2 with NF-L in stroke patients. In the applied animal models, MAP2-related immunofluorescence intensities were decreased in ischemic areas, whereas the abundance of NF-L degradation products accounted for an increase of NF-L-related immunofluorescence intensity. Accordingly, Western blot analyses of ischemic areas revealed decreased protein levels of both MAP2 and NF-L. The cytoskeletal alterations are further reflected at an ultrastructural level as indicated by a significant reduction of detectable neurofilaments in cortical axons of ischemia-affected areas. Moreover, atomic force microscopy measurements confirmed altered mechanical properties as indicated by a decreased elastic strength in ischemia-affected tissue. In addition to the results from the animal models, stroke patients exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of MAP2, which increased with infarct size, whereas serum levels of NF-L did not differ significantly. Thus, MAP2 appears to be a more sensitive stroke biomarker than NF-L, especially for early neuronal damage. This perspective is strengthened by the results from the animal models, showing MAP2-related alterations at earlier time points compared to NF-L. The profound ischemia-induced alterations further qualify both cytoskeletal elements as promising targets for neuroprotective therapies.
What We Can Learn From Literary Authors
Authors: Voltolini Alberto
Published: May 2021

That we can learn something from literature, as cognitivists claim, seems to be a commonplace. However, when one considers matters more deeply, it turns out to be a problematic claim. In this paper, by focusing on general revelatory facts about the world and the human spirit, I hold that the cognitivist claim can be vindicated if one takes it as follows. We do not learn such facts from literature, if by “literature” one means the truth-conditional contents that one may ascribe to textual sentences in their fictional use, i.e., in the use in which one makes believe that things unfold in a certain way. What we improperly call learning from literature amounts to knowing actually true conversational implicatures concerning the above facts as meant by literary authors. So, in one and the same shot, we learn both a general revelatory fact and the fact that such a fact is meant via a true conversational implicature by an author. The author draws that implicature from the different truth-conditional content a sentence possesses when the sentence is interpreted in a fictional context, meant as Kaplan’s (1989) narrow context, i.e., a set of circumstantial parameters (agent, space, time, and world).
Human Papillomavirus, Related Diseases, and Vaccination: Knowledge and Awareness Among Health Care Students and Professionals in Nepal
Authors: Suhaila Khawla , Mukherjee Amrita , Maharjan Bipu , Dhakal Amrit , Lama Mingma , Junkins Anna , Khakurel Uddhav , Jha Alok Nath , Jolly Pauline E. , Lhaki Pema , Shrestha Sadeep
Published: May 2021

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted disease worldwide. While burden of HPV-associated cancers and mortality is higher in low-income countries, there is limited data about knowledge of it among health care students and professionals. We assessed awareness and knowledge of HPV, its related diseases, and HPV vaccine among 333 participants, composed of 146 medical students (MSs) and professionals (MPs) and 187 nursing students (NSs) and professionals (NPs) using a 40-question survey between July 2018 and February 2019. Surveys were conducted in English language using both paper and an online version. Most participants reported that they had heard of HPV and cervical cancer. However, 91.76% of MPs and 77.97% of MSs, but only 41.11% of NPs and 36.17% NSs reported knowing that HPV types 16 and 18 caused cervical cancer. Likewise, about two-thirds of MPs and MSs reported having the knowledge that HPV 6 and 11 caused genital warts versus only a little over one-fourth of NPs and NSs. Only 55.91% of NPs and 51.61% of NSs were aware that HPV could cause cancer in both men and women, whereas 42.35% of MPs, 64.41% of MSs, 41.76% of NPs, and 40.66% of NSs were aware that the vaccine could be given to both boys and girls. While medical professionals were relatively more knowledgeable about HPV and related diseases, overall, knowledge about the HPV vaccine was low among all groups. This knowledge gap is concerning and warrants further attention to fight HPV-related public health burden in Nepal.
Dehydroaromatization of methane over noble metal loaded Mo/H-ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts
Authors: Tshabalala Themba E. , Coville Neil J. , Anderson James A. , Scurrell Michael S.
Published: May 2021

Dehydroaromatization of methane (MDA) reaction was investigated over platinum modified Mo/H-ZSM-5 catalysts which were pre-carbided at 750 °C. The influence of platinum on the catalytic performance and product selectivity of Mo/H-ZSM-5 catalysts for the MDA reaction at 700 °C were studied. The presence of platinum led to a slight decrease in methane conversion from 7.5 to 4.2%. Aromatic selectivities above 90% were obtained with catalysts containing low platinum loadings (0.5 and 1.0 wt.%), with benzene being the most prominent product. A decrease in coke selectivity and coke deposits was noted with the platinum modified Mo/H-ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts. A comparative study was performed to compare platinum, palladium and ruthenium promoted Mo/H-ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts with un-promoted Mo/H-ZSM-5. The ruthenium promoted catalyst proved to be superior in catalytic performance, with a higher methane conversion obtained than that found for platinum promoted and palladium promoted Mo/H-ZSM-5 catalysts. Benzene selectivity of about 60% was obtained for ruthenium and palladium promoted Mo/H- ZSM-5 catalysts and the total aromatic selectivity was maintained at 90%. TGA results showed a total reduction of 50% by weight of carbon deposited on the promoted Mo/H-ZSM-5 catalyst.

Graphic abstract
Biochar and wheat straw affecting soil chemistry and microbial biomass carbon countrywide
Authors: Shokuhifar Younes , Ghahsareh Ahmad Mohammadi , Shahbazi Karim , Tehrani Mohammad Mehdi , Besharati Hossein
Published: May 2021

Indicating how different sources of organic matter (OM) may affect the properties of a wide range of soil types, at varying soil moisture (SM), is of significance in the agricultural fields. A large dataset of soil samples (0–30 cm) was collected from different parts of Iran (21 different agricultural regions, with a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological properties) to determine the effects of OM and varying SM on soil chemical (pH, salinity, and organic carbon) and biological (microbial biomass carbon, MBC) properties. The collected soil samples were incubated (9-month period) with the experimental treatments including OM (control (M1), 2% wheat straw (WS) (M2), and 2% biochar (BI) (M3)), at different SM levels (0.2 field capacity, FC (V1), 0.7 variable FC (V2), 0.7 constant FC (V3), and saturated moisture (V4)). Wheat straw was pyrolyzed (at 500°C) to produce BI, and their chemical properties were determined. BI salinity (3.1 dS/m) was significantly higher than WS (2.8 dS/m). The organic treatments, especially BI, significantly increased soil OM and MBC compared with the control treatment. The two sources of organic fertilization increased soil pH, OM, and MBC, though such effects were functions of varying soil moisture (drying and rewetting cycles). Due to higher C percentage (61%), the effects of BI, significantly affected by soil moisture, were more pronounced on soil parameters. The tested sources of organic matter (WS and BI), acting as functions of soil moisture, can strongly affect soil chemical and biological properties and contribute to higher efficiency of agricultural fields.
Naturally Occurring Terpenes: A Promising Class of Organic Molecules to Address Influenza Pandemics
Authors: Al-Salihi Suhad A. A. , Alberti Fabrizio
Published: May 2021

Since the olden times, infectious diseases have largely affected human existence. The newly emerged infections are excessively caused by viruses that are largely associated with mammal reservoirs. The casualties of these emergencies are significantly influenced by the way human beings interact with the reservoirs, especially the animal ones. In our review we will consider the evolutionary and the ecological scales of such infections and their consequences on the public health, with a focus on the pathogenic influenza A virus. The nutraceutical properties of fungal and plant terpene-like molecules will be linked to their ability to lessen the symptoms of viral infections and shed light on their potential use in the development of new drugs. New challenging methods in antiviral discovery will also be discussed in this review. The authors believe that pharmacognosy is the “wave of future pharmaceuticals”, as it can be continually produced and scaled up under eco-friendly requirements. Further diagnostic methods and strategies however are required to standardise those naturally occurring resources.
A derivative free globally convergent method and its deformations
Authors: Singh Manoj Kumar , Singh Arvind K.
Published: May 2021

The motive of the present work is to introduce and investigate the quadratically convergent Newton’s like method for solving the non-linear equations. We have studied some new properties of a Newton’s like method with examples and obtained a derivative-free globally convergent Newton’s like method using forward difference operator and bisection method. Finally, we have used various numerical test functions along with their fractal patterns to show the utility of the proposed method. These patterns support the numerical results and explain the compactness regarding the convergence, divergence and stability of the methods to different roots.
CFD-based modelling of phase transformation in laser welded low-carbon steel
Authors: Siwek Aleksander
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a numerical model of the laser welding of steel, taking into account the heat and mass flows, as well as thermal effects associated with phase transformations. It was assumed that the heat source is a laser with a symmetrical power distribution of the TEM10beam in two welding condition variants: a stationary heat source and a source moving at a constant speed along the sample. After reaching the melting temperature, the movement of the liquid phase was forced by the Marangoni effect acting on the surface of the welding pool. For the laser power applied, the surface of the welding pool was assumed to be flat. It was proposed an algorithm for the forecasting of the phase changes during heating and cooling. Diffusive phase transformations during cooling were modelled using Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) equations. Diffusionless transformations occurring when cooling rates exceed the critical ones were modelled using Koistinen-Marburger (KM) equations. Calculations were made for a rectangular sample welded in air and cooled spontaneously in the atmosphere. The boundary conditions were simulated assuming a constant coefficient of heat exchange and radiation to the environment. The start and end time of the changes occurring in the cooling phase were calculated based on the average cooling rate in the temperature range 800–500°C (v8/5). The model was tested for the test material: S355J2 steel.
Comorbidities in dementia during the last years of life: a register study of patterns and time differences in Finland
Authors: Vargese Saritha Susan , Halonen Pauliina , Raitanen Jani , Forma Leena , Jylhä Marja , Aaltonen Mari
Published: May 2021

Background

Comorbidities have major implications for the care of people with dementia.

Aim

To investigate the patterns of comorbidities in dementia in the last five years of life and how these patterns differed between three cohorts.

Methods

The study included people who died at age 70 and above in 2001 (n = 13,717), 2007 (n = 34,750) and 2013 (n = 38,087) in Finland. ICD-10 morbidity data for a five-year period prior to death were extracted from national registers. Principal component analysis was employed to identify patterns for several morbidities. The associations of principal component scores with dementia were analysed using binary logistic regression. Linear regression was used to examine changes in the number of morbidities in patterns over time.

Results

The morbidity patterns identified in the last years of life were (1) cardiometabolic disorders, (2) neurological, (3) cerebrovascular diseases and (4) musculoskeletal, thyroid and psychiatric disorders. Among the patterns, neurological and musculoskeletal, thyroid and psychiatric disorders were associated with dementia. The number of diagnoses in the cerebrovascular pattern increased and those in the musculoskeletal, thyroid and psychiatric pattern decreased over time.

Discussion

Comorbidity patterns identified in this nationwide register study are largely in line with previous evidence. Time difference in these patterns provide crucial information for service planning.

Conclusions

Comorbidities in dementia in the last years of life occur in patterns and change over time. More systematic monitoring and updated clinical guidelines are needed for the care of comorbidities with dementia.
Comparison of Recreational Fish Consumption Advisories Across the USA
Authors: Cleary Brittany M. , Romano Megan E. , Chen Celia Y. , Heiger-Bernays Wendy , Crawford Kathryn A.
Published: May 2021

Purpose of Review

Our comparative analysis sought to understand the factors which drive differences in fish consumption advisories across the USA — including exposure scenarios (acute and chronic health risk, non-cancer and cancer health endpoints), toxicity values (reference dose, cancer slope factor, acute tolerance level), and meal size and bodyweight assumptions.

Recent Findings

Fish consumption provides essential nutrients but also results in exposure to contaminants such as PCBs and methylmercury. To protect consumers from the risks of fish contaminants, fish consumption advisories are established, most often by state jurisdictions, to estimate the amount of a certain fish species a person could consume throughout their lifetime without harm. However, inconsistencies in advisories across the USA confuse consumers and undermine the public health goals of fish advisory programs. To date, no rigorous comparison of state and national fish consumption advisories has been reported.

Our work identifies discrepancies in key assumptions used to derive risk-based advisories between US states, reflecting differences in the interpretation of toxicity science. We also address the implications for these differences by reviewing advisories issued by contiguous states bordering two waterbodies: Lake Michigan and the Lower Mississippi River. Our findings highlight the importance of regional collaboration when issuing advisories, so that consumers of self-caught fish are equipped with clear knowledge to make decisions to protect their health.
Salivary gland tissues and derived primary and metastatic neoplasms: unusual pitfalls in the work-up of sellar lesions. A systematic review
Authors: Feola T. , Gianno F. , De Angelis M. , Colonnese C. , Esposito V. , Giangaspero F. , Jaffrain-Rea M.-L.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Salivary gland (SG) tissue and derived neoplasms may occur in the sellar region. As the current literature is mostly limited to case reports, the puzzling case of an inflammatory SG removed by transsphenoidal surgery (TS) and mimicking a prolactinoma prompted us to perform the first systematic review of these unusual conditions.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Forty-four individual cases—non-neoplastic enlarged salivary glands (NNESG, n = 15), primary benign (n = 7) and malignant (n = 8) ectopic salivary tumours (ST) and sellar metastasis from eutopic primary ST (n = 14)—were suitable for the analysis of clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics. Therapeutic outcome was reviewed as a secondary endpoint.

Results

All cases were diagnosed after surgery. NNESG commonly affected young and/or female patients, typically leading to headaches and hyperprolactinemia and originating close to the neurohypophysis. Submucosal SG should be excluded before concluding to an intrasellar NNESG after TS. No gender or age predominance was found for primary ectopic ST, which present as large tumors, with histological phenotypes similar to common ST. Hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus were more frequent in ST than in NNESG. NNESG and benign ectopic ST rarely recur. Malignant ectopic ST should be distinguished from secondary localizations of eutopic ST reaching the sella by contiguity or metastatic spread; both share a frequent unfavorable outcome.

Conclusion

Sellar neoplasms derived from SG are rare but misleading conditions and pituitary dysfunction is likely to be more common than currently reported. Appropriate pathological evaluation and multidisciplinary approach are required.
Lane detection under artificial colored light in tunnels and on highways: an IoT-based framework for smart city infrastructure
Authors: Ghanem Safwan , Kanungo Priyadarshi , Panda Ganapati , Satapathy Suresh Chandra , Sharma Rohit
Published: May 2021

Lane detection (LD) under different illumination conditions is a vital part of lane departure warning system and vehicle localization which are current trends in the future smart cities. Recently, vision-based methods are proposed to detect lane markers in different road situations including abnormal marker cases. However, an inclusive framework for driverless cars has not been introduced yet. In this work, a novel LD and tracking method is proposed for the autonomous vehicle in the IoT-based framework (IBF). The IBF consists of three modules which are vehicle board (VB), cloud module (CM), and the vehicle remote controller. The LD and tracking are carried out initially by the VB, and then, in case of any failure, the whole set of data is passed to CM to be processed and the results are sent to the VB to perform the appropriate action. If the CM detects a lane departure, then the autonomous vehicle is driven remotely and the VB would be restarted. In addition to the proposed framework, an illumination invariance method is presented to detect lane markers under different light conditions. The simulation results with real-life data demonstrate lane-keeping rates of 95.3% and 95.2% in tunnels and on highways, respectively. The approximate processing time of the proposed method is 31 ms/frame which fulfills the real-time requirements.