bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of land use change on the waterbird community of Sihwa Lake, Republic of Korea
Authors: Lee Eunjae , Sagong Junghee , Lee Yohan
Published: September 2020

Background

Land use and development alter mudflat and wetland habitat availability, although mudflats and wetlands provide important stopover habitats for shorebirds during the spring and autumn migrations and support communities of ducks and geese during the winter months in the Republic of Korea. This study investigated land use changes around Sihwa Lake (Republic of Korea) and evaluated the effect of these changes on waterbird community characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a land-use-change analysis at the medium-resolution level using land cover maps for 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2014. Also, a tidal stream survey was conducted in Sihwa Lake and the surrounding reclaimed mudflats every season for 10 years (2003–2012) to identify the seasonal and interannual variations in waterbird species composition. To determine the total annual waterbird species and population counts, species diversity index, and interspecies variations, a TRIM (trends and indices for monitoring data) analysis was used.

Results

Wetland area decreased more than 10% while agricultural land, barren land, and grassland area increased more than 10% due to continuous reclamation activities around Sihwa Lake. Barren land later turned into agricultural land or other land use. Sixty-three species and 566,623 individuals were recorded. The number of species, population size, and species diversity index by year and by species showed decreasing trends that were more marked in spring and summer. Furthermore, seasonal and annual variations in waterbird species composition showed decreasing trends in dabbling ducks, herons, grebes, and shorebirds but diving ducks displayed increasing trends. In particular, shorebirds were reduced to a greater extent than other waterbird species because of the reduction and simplification of the intertidal zone, and shallow waters caused by reclamation and road construction.

Conclusions

Increased development and construction around Sihwa Lake has altered migratory shorebird populations with a general decline in species diversity and population size. The greatest decline was observed in wading birds, while diving duck populations showed increasing trends.
Selective logging enhances ecosystem multifunctionality via increase of functional diversity in a Pinus yunnanensis forest in Southwest China
Authors: Huang Xiaobo , Li Shuaifeng , Su Jianrong
Published: September 2020

Background

The impacts of selective logging on ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the response of nine variables related to four ecosystem functions (i.e. nutrient cycling, soil carbon stocks, decomposition, and wood production) to five selective logging intensities in a Pinus yunnanensis-dominated forest. We included a control group with no harvest to evaluate the potential shifts in EMF of the P. yunnanensis forests. We also assessed the relationship between above- and belowground biodiversity and EMF under these different selective logging intensities. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on EMF using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.

Results

Individual ecosystem functions (EFs) all had a significant positive correlation with selective logging intensity. Different EFs showed different patterns with the increase of selective logging intensity. We found that EMF tended to increase with logging intensity, and that EMF significantly improved when the stand was harvested at least twice. Both functional diversity and soil moisture had a significant positive correlation with EMF, but soil fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) had a significant negative correlation with EMF. Based on SEM, we found that selective logging improved EMF mainly by increasing functional diversity.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that selective logging is a good management technique from an EMF perspective, and thus provide us with potential guidelines to improve forest management in P. yunnanensis forests in this region. The functional diversity is maximized through reasonable selective logging measures, so as to enhance EMF.
Prognostic benefit of conversion surgery for HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer; a case series study of eleven patients treated with trastuzumab-based chemotherapy
Authors: Hayano Koichi , Watanabe Hiroki , Ryuzaki Takahiro , Sawada Naoto , Ohira Gaku , Kano Masayuki , Uesato Masaya , Matsubara Hisahiro
Published: September 2020

Background

Since the ToGA trial, trastuzumab-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer. However, it is not yet clear whether surgical resection after trastuzumab-based chemotherapy (conversion surgery) can improve survival of HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic benefit of conversion surgery in HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer patients.

Case presentation

We retrospectively investigated the medical records of the patients with HER2 positive (IHC3(+) or IHC2(+)/FISH(+)) stage IV gastric cancer treated with trastuzumab-based chemotherapy as the first line treatment. Overall survival (OS) was compared between patients with conversion surgery and without. Eleven HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer patients treated with trastuzumab-based chemotherapy as the first line treatment were evaluated. Response rate was 63.6%, and 6 of 11 patients could receive conversion surgery. R0 resection was achieved in four patients. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, patients who received conversion surgery showed significantly better OS than those without surgery (3-year survival rate, 66.7% vs. 20%, P = 0.03). The median OS of patients who achieved R0 resection is 51.8 months.

Conclusions

Conversion surgery might have a survival benefit for HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer patients. If curative surgery is technically possible, conversion surgery could be a treatment option for HER2 positive stage IV gastric cancer.
A comparison of a ketogenic diet with a LowGI/nutrigenetic diet over 6 months for weight loss and 18-month follow-up
Authors: Vranceanu Maria , Pickering Craig , Filip Lorena , Pralea Ioana Ecaterina , Sundaram Senthil , Al-Saleh Aseel , Popa Daniela-Saveta , Grimaldi Keith A.
Published: September 2020

Background

Obesity and its related metabolic disturbances represent a huge health burden on society. Many different weight loss interventions have been trialled with mixed efficacy, as demonstrated by the large number of individuals who regain weight upon completion of such interventions. There is evidence that the provision of genetic information may enhance long-term weight loss, either by increasing dietary adherence or through underlying biological mechanisms.

Methods

The investigators followed 114 overweight and obese subjects from a weight loss clinic in a 2-stage process. 1) A 24-week dietary intervention. The subjects self-selected whether to follow a standardized ketogenic diet (n = 53), or a personalised low-glycemic index (GI) nutrigenetic diet utilising information from 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms (n = 61). 2) After the 24-week diet period, the subjects were monitored for an additional 18 months using standard guidelines for the Keto group vs standard guidelines modified by nutrigenetic advice for the low-Glycaemic Index nutrigenetic diet (lowGI/NG) group.

Results

After 24 weeks, the keto group lost more weight: − 26.2 ± 3.1 kg vs − 23.5 ± 6.4 kg (p = 0.0061). However, at 18-month follow up, the subjects in the low-GI nutrigenetic diet had lost significantly more weight (− 27.5 ± 8.9 kg) than those in the ketogenic diet who had regained some weight (− 19.4 ± 5.0 kg) (p < 0.0001). Additionally, after the 24-week diet and 18-month follow up the low-GI nutrigenetic diet group had significantly greater (p < 0.0001) improvements in total cholesterol (ketogenic − 35.4 ± 32.2 mg/dl; low-GI nutrigenetic − 52.5 ± 24.3 mg/dl), HDL cholesterol (ketogenic + 4.7 ± 4.5 mg/dl; low-GI nutrigenetic + 11.9 ± 4.1 mg/dl), and fasting glucose (ketogenic − 13.7 ± 8.4 mg/dl; low-GI nutrigenetic − 24.7 ± 7.4 mg/dl).

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that the ketogenic group experienced enhanced weight loss during the 24-week dietary intervention. However, at 18-month follow up, the personalised nutrition group (lowGI/NG) lost significantly more weight and experienced significantly greater improvements in measures of cholesterol and blood glucose. This suggests that personalising nutrition has the potential to enhance long-term weight loss and changes in cardiometabolic parameters.

Trial registration

NCT04330209, Registered 01/04/2020, retrospectively registered.
IMA Genome - F13
Authors: Wilken P. Markus , Aylward Janneke , Chand Ramesh , Grewe Felix , Lane Frances A. , Sinha Shagun , Ametrano Claudio , Distefano Isabel , Divakar Pradeep K. , Duong Tuan A. , Huhndorf Sabine , Kharwar Ravindra N. , Lumbsch H. Thorsten , Navathe Sudhir , Pérez Carlos A. , Ramírez-Berrutti Nazaret , Sharma Rohit , Sun Yukun , Wingfield Brenda D. , Wingfield Michael J.
Published: September 2020

Draft genomes of the fungal speciesAmbrosiella cleistominuta,Cercospora brassicicola, C. citrullina, Physcia stellaris,andTeratosphaeria pseudoeucalyptiare presented.Physcia stellarisis an important lichen forming fungus andAmbrosiella cleistominutais an ambrosia beetle symbiont.Cercospora brassicicolaandC. citrullinaare agriculturally relevant plant pathogens that cause leaf-spots in brassicaceous vegetables and cucurbits respectively.Teratosphaeria pseudoeucalypticauses severe leaf blight and defoliation ofEucalyptustrees. These genomes provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular processes in these economically important fungi.
Role of MRI in the diagnosis of adult traumatic and obstetric brachial plexus injury compared to intraoperative findings
Authors: Gad Doria Mohammed , Hussein Mostafa Thabet , Omar Nagham Nabil Mahmoud , Kotb Mohamed Mostafa , Abdel-Tawab Mohamed , Yousef Hazem Abu Zeid
Published: September 2020

Background

Brachial plexus injury occurs following birth trauma or adult trauma as well, surgical repair is important to regain upper limb function, and preoperative evaluation with MRI is important and considered the accurate and safe imaging modality.

Thirty-seven patients with clinically suspected obstetric (15 patients) or adult traumatic (22 patients) brachial plexus injury were included in our study; all of them underwent MRI examination including T1WI, T2WI, STIR, DWIBS, 3D STIR SPACE, and MR myelography sequences.

Results

In obstetric cases, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for preganglionic injury were 63%, 89%, and 82%, respectively, while for postganglionic lesions, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 60%, 99%, and 95%, respectively. In adult cases, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for preganglionic injury were 96%, 95%, and 95% respectively, while for postganglionic injury, MRI sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 60%, 100%, and 99%, respectively.

Conclusion

MRI represents a safe, non-invasive, diagnostic modality having the multiplanar capability and better soft tissue characterization.
The role of motivation in the diffusion of innovations in Canada’s long-term care sector: a qualitative study
Authors: MacEachern Lauren , Cranley Lisa , Curran Janet , Keefe Janice
Published: September 2020

Background

Long-term care facilities offer shelter and care for Canadian seniors; however, there are great variances in the quality of care that is provided to older adults across facilities. One factor that could contribute to this variation in quality is the diffusion and implementation of advice and innovations within this sector. This study sought to understand the motivations of identified opinion leaders within the Canadian long-term care sector to disseminate advice within their social networks. Research questions addressed specific drivers of motivation and the potential outcomes of having motivated opinion leaders present within interpersonal advice-seeking networks with respect to diffusion and implementation of innovations in the Canadian long-term care sector.

Methods

This secondary analysis study analyzed semi-structured qualitative interviews with opinion leaders (n = 13) and advice seekers of opinion leaders (n = 13) from a national, social network study, Advice Seeking Networks in Long Term Care (Cranley et al. 2019; Dearing et al. 2017). Constant comparison analysis was used and supported by a theoretical framework developed from diffusion of innovation theory and the COM-B framework.

Results

The motivations of opinion leaders in the Canadian long-term care sector were represented across seven themes: obligations of the position, value of education, systemness, relationships, supportiveness, passion, and caring nature.

Conclusions

This research provides further evidence that opinion leaders in the long-term care sector are motivated individuals and that they are using this motivation as a driver to create change and improve care practices. As residents of the long-term care sector continue to increase in number and complexity, the presence of motivated opinion leaders represents a promising outlook for the future through achieving specific outcomes such as the diffusion and implementation of innovations, an increased sense of community within the network, and increased readiness for the future.
The Price of Violence
Authors: Greenfield Jerome
Published: September 2020

Much of the nature of French imperialism in Algeria can be explained through an analysis of its financial underpinnings, a subject generally neglected by historians. This article recounts the creation of a colonial fiscal system during the period of the French conquest of Algeria from the 1830s to the 1850s. It argues that money played a decisive role in shaping relations between metropolitan officials and the military leaders who comprised the “men on the spot.” While the French presence in Algeria was to an extent rationalized in terms of imparting “civilization,” the need for money exacerbated the army's tendency to rule through violence. This brutality alienated metropolitan elites, pushing the government to exert greater control over Algerian affairs. Here, money provided crucial leverage, given Algeria's financial dependence on the metropole. In this manner, finance decisively shaped the formation of the French state in Algeria.

Souvent négligée par les historiens, l'étude des finances est essentielle pour comprendre l'impérialisme français en Algérie. Cet article traite de l'essor du système fiscal colonial pendant la conquête de l'Algérie. Il souligne le rôle que l'argent a joué dans les relations entre les fonctionnaires métropolitains et les commandants de l'armée en Afrique, « les hommes sur place ». Alors que la présence française en Algérie était en partie justifiée par le projet de « civilisation », les besoins financiers ont exacerbé la disposition de l'armée à gouverner par la violence. Cette brutalité a désenchanté les élites métropolitaines, encourageant le gouvernement à exercer plus de contrôle en Algérie, et pour cela l'argent était indispensable, compte tenu de la dépendance financière de la colonie sur la métropole. Les finances ont donc exercé une influence décisive sur le développement de l'Etat français en Algérie.
Interventions to improve linear growth during exclusive breastfeeding life-stage for children aged 0-6 months living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review with network and pairwise meta-analyses
Authors: Park Jay J. H. , Siden Ellie , Harari Ofir , Dron Louis , Mazoub Reham , Jeziorska Virginia , Zannat Noor-E , Gadalla Heather , Thorlund Kristian , Mills Edward J.
Published: September 2020

Background:Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first six months of life is critical for child’s linear growth. While there is strong evidence in favor of EBF, the evidence with regards to other interventions for linear growth is unclear. We evaluated intervention domains of micronutrients, food supplements, deworming, maternal education, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and kangaroo care, for their comparative effectiveness on linear growth.

Methods:For this review, we searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of the interventions provided to infants aged 0-6 months and/or their breastfeeding mothers in low- and middle-income countries reporting on length-for-age z-score (LAZ), stunting, length, and head circumference. We searched for reports published until September 17th, 2019 and hand-searched bibliographies of existing reviews. For LAZ and stunting, we used network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the effects of all interventions except for kangaroo care, where we used pairwise meta-analysis to compare its effects versus standard-of-care. For length and head circumference, we qualitatively summarized our findings.

Results:We found 29 RCTs (40 papers) involving 35,119 mother and infant pairs reporting on the effects of aforementioned interventions on linear growth outcomes. Our NMA on LAZ found that compared to standard-of-care, multiple micronutrients administered to infants (MMN-C) improved LAZ (mean difference: 0.20; 95% credible interval [CrI]: 0.03,0.35), whereas supplementing breastfeeding mothers with MMN did not (MMN-M, mean difference: -0.02, 95%CrI: -0.18,0.13). No interventions including MMN-C (relative risk: 0.74; 95%CrI: 0.36,1.44) reduced risk for stunting compared to standard-of-care. Kangaroo care, on the other hand, improved head circumference (mean difference: 0.20 cm/week; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.09,0.31 cm/week) and length (mean difference: 0.23 cm/week; 95%CI: 0.10,0.35 cm/week) compared to standard-of-care.  

Conclusion:Our study found important improvements for kangaroo care, but we did not find sufficient evidence for other interventions.

Registration:PROSPEROCRD42018110450; registered on 17 October 2018.
Approaches to minimising the epidemiological impact of sources of systematic and random variation that may affect biochemistry assay data in UK Biobank
Authors: Allen Naomi E. , Arnold Matthew , Parish Sarah , Hill Michael , Sheard Simon , Callen Howard , Fry Daniel , Moffat Stewart , Gordon Mark , Welsh Samantha , Elliott Paul , Collins Rory
Published: September 2020

Background: UK Biobank is a large prospective study that recruited 500,000 participants aged 40 to 69 years, between 2006-2010.The study has collected (and continues to collect) extensive phenotypic and genomic data about its participants. In order to enhance further the value of the UK Biobank resource, a wide range of biochemistry markers were measured in all participants with an available biological sample. Here, we describe the approaches UK Biobank has taken to minimise error related to sample collection, processing, retrieval and assay measurement.

Methods: During routine quality control checks, the laboratory team observed that some assay results were lower than expected for samples acquired during certain time periods. Analyses were undertaken to identify and correct for the unexpected dilution identified during sample processing, and for expected error caused by laboratory drift of assay results.

Results: The vast majority (92%) of biochemistry serum assay results were assessed to be not materially affected by dilution, with an estimated difference in concentration of less than 1% (i.e. either lower or higher) than that expected if the sample were unaffected; 8.3% were estimated to be diluted by up to 10%; very few samples appeared to be diluted more than this. Biomarkers measured in urine (creatinine, microalbumin, sodium, potassium) and red blood cells (HbA1c) were not affected. In order to correct for laboratory variation over the assay period, all assay results were adjusted for date of assay, with the exception of those that had a high biological coefficient of variation or evident seasonal variability: vitamin D, lipoprotein (a), gamma glutamyltransferase, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor.

Conclusions: Rigorous approaches related to sample collection, processing, retrieval, assay measurement and data analysis have been taken to mitigate the impact of both systematic and random variation in epidemiological analyses that use the biochemistry assay data in UK Biobank.
Effectiveness of Rotarix® vaccine in Africa in the first decade of progressive introduction, 2009-2019: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Murunga Nickson , P. Otieno Grieven , Maia Marta , N. Agoti Charles
Published: September 2020

Background: Randomized controlled trials of licensed oral rotavirus group A (RVA) vaccines, indicated lower efficacy in developing countries compared to developed countries. We investigated the pooled effectiveness of Rotarix® in Africa in 2019, a decade since progressive introduction began in 2009.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies that investigated the effectiveness of routine RVA vaccination in an African country between 2009 and 2019. A meta-analysis was undertaken to estimate pooled effectiveness of the full-dose versus partial-dose of Rotarix® (RV1) vaccine and in different age groups. Pooled odds ratios were estimated using random effects model and the risk of bias assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE.

Results: By December 2019, 39 (72%) countries in Africa had introduced RVA vaccination, of which 34 were using RV1. Thirteen eligible studies from eight countries were included in meta-analysis for vaccine effectiveness (VE) of RVA by vaccine dosage (full or partial) and age categories. Pooled RV1 VE against RVA associated hospitalizations was 44% (95% confidence interval (CI) 28-57%) for partial dose versus 58% (95% CI 50-65%) for full dose. VE was 61% (95% CI 50-69%), 55% (95% CI 32-71%), 56% (95% CI 43-67%), and 61% (95% CI 42-73%) for children aged <12 months, 12-23 months, <24 months and 12-59 months, respectively.

Conclusion: RV1 vaccine use has resulted in a significant reduction in severe diarrhoea in African children and its VE is close to the efficacy findings observed in clinical trials. RV1 VE point estimate was higher for children who received full dose than those who received partial dose, and its protection lasted beyond the first year of life.
Daily Tutor Scheduling Support at Hopeful Journeys Educational Center
Authors: Bailey Matthew D. , Waddell Lucas A.
Published: September 2020

Hopeful Journeys Educational Center faces a daily task of assigning tutors to students subject to myriad complex rules and restrictions. The organization’s mission, which is to provide individualized education to students with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, as well as its limited operating budget and day-to-day resource/demand variability, makes this a uniquely challenging scheduling problem. When we first communicated with Hopeful Journeys, the organization was in critical need of an efficient methodology for producing daily schedules to replace its existing time-consuming and error-prone manual approach. This paper describes the fully open-source, Excel-based optimization tool we developed to support Hopeful Journeys’ mission. Our work illustrates the potential to use freely available operations research tools within a “rapid prototyping” approach to provide immediate impact to organizations that lack the resources to utilize commercial software or professional consultants.
The articularis genu muscle and its relevance in oncological surgical margins
Authors: Caterson Jessica , Williams Matthew A , McCarthy Catherine , Athanasou Nicholas , Temple H Thomas , Cosker Thomas , Gibbons Max
Published: September 2020

Aims

The aticularis genu (AG) is the least substantial and deepest muscle of the anterior compartment of the thigh and of uncertain significance. The aim of the study was to describe the anatomy of AG in cadaveric specimens, to characterize the relevance of AG in pathological distal femur specimens, and to correlate the anatomy and pathology with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of AG.

Methods

In 24 cadaveric specimens, AG was identified, photographed, measured, and dissected including neurovascular supply. In all, 35 resected distal femur specimens were examined. AG was photographed and measured and its utility as a surgical margin examined. Preoperative MRIs of these cases were retrospectively analyzed and assessed and its utility assessed as an anterior soft tissue margin in surgery. In all cadaveric specimens, AG was identified as a substantial structure, deep and separate to vastus itermedius (VI) and separated by a clear fascial plane with a discrete neurovascular supply. Mean length of AG was 16.1 cm ( ± 1.6 cm) origin anterior aspect distal third femur and insertion into suprapatellar bursa. In 32 of 35 pathological specimens, AG was identified (mean length 12.8 cm ( ± 0.6 cm)). Where AG was used as anterior cover in pathological specimens all surgical margins were clear of disease. Of these cases, preoperative MRI identified AG in 34 of 35 cases (mean length 8.8 cm ( ± 0.4 cm)).

Results

AG was best visualized with T1-weighted axial images providing sufficient cover in 25 cases confirmed by pathological findings.These results demonstrate AG as a discrete and substantial muscle of the anterior compartment of the thigh, deep to VI and useful in providing anterior soft tissue margin in distal femoral resection in bone tumours.

Conclusion

Preoperative assessment of cover by AG may be useful in predicting cases where AG can be dissected, sparing the remaining quadriceps muscle, and therefore function. Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:585–593.
Daytime radiative cooler using porous TiO2: new approach
Authors: Zahir Mounir , Benlattar Mourad
Published: September 2020

Passive daytime radiative cooling remains a topic of intense interest that has gained great attention recently, mainly due to its important applications, such as electronic heat dissipation, solar cells, and photo-thermal technologies. In order to achieve the daytime radiative cooling for thermal management applications, a new smart shield should be designed to have both a low absorptivity in the solar range of 0.3–2.5 µm and high emissivity in the atmospheric transparency windows of 8–13 µm and 16–26 µm. In this work, we propose and analyze a new, inexpensive, and highly scalable double-layer coating to reach an efficient passive daytime radiative cooling. Double-layer coatings consisting of a top

T
i
O

2

porous adsorbent layer and a bottom providing excellent transmittance in the solar spectrum are achieved properly by borosilicate-crown glass (BK7). We have shown that the proposed device preserves an average absorptivity/emissivity well below 7% in the entire solar spectrum and almost 95% in the atmospheric transparency windows. Besides, our design allows for sub-ambient temperature drops of 45° and diurnal cooling power output of

133

W

/

m

2

, even in the case of solar irradiance up to

1000

W

/

m

2

. The cooling performance persists under high humidity, even when taking the non-radiative heat exchange progress into account. The results revealed that the proposed design can be easily applied to a large area and promotes a significant step towards achieving large scale application in solar cells and related systems.
Imaging of PD-L1 in single cancer cells by SERS-based hyperspectral analysis
Authors: Zhang Wei , Rhodes Jake S. , Moon Kevin R. , Knudsen Beatrice S. , Nokolova Linda , Zhou Anhong
Published: September 2020

We developed a hyperspectral imaging tool based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes to determine the expression level and visualize the distribution of PD-L1 in individual cells. Electron-microscopic analysis of PD-L1 antibody - gold nanorod conjugates demonstrated binding the cell surface and internalization into endosomal vesicles. Stimulation of cells with IFN-γ or metformin was used to confirm the ability of SERS probes to report treatment-induced changes. The multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) analysis of spectra provided a greater signal-noise ratio than single peak mapping. However, single peak mapping allowed a systematic subtraction of background and the removal of non-specific binding and endocytic SERS signals. The mean or maximum peak height in the cell or the mean peak height in the area of specific PD-L1 positive pixels was used to estimate the PD-L1 expression levels in single cells. The PD-L1 levels were significantly up-regulated by IFN-γ and inhibited by metformin in human lung cancer cells from the A549 cell line. In conclusion, the method of analyzing hyperspectral SERS imaging data together with systematic and comprehensive removal of non-specific signals allows SERS imaging to be a quantitative tool in the detection of the cancer biomarker, PD-L1.
Improving the performance of a DF relay-aided FSO system with an additional source–relay mmWave RF backup
Authors: Bag Banibrata , Das Akinchan , Bose Chayanika , Chandra Aniruddha
Published: September 2020

Atmospheric turbulence and pointing errors are major hindrances behind the proliferation of free-space-optics (FSO) technology in next-generation fronthaul networks. This paper investigates the effect of a decode-and-forward relay in overcoming these impairments and how an additional source-to-relay millimeter-wave (mmWave) radio-frequency (RF) backup link improves the performance of the relay-aided FSO system further; i.e., we study the performance of a hybrid FSO/(FSO-FSO)/(RF-FSO) system. Generalized Málaga distribution is adopted to model atmospheric turbulence in FSO links, whereas the fading statistics of the mmWave RF link is modeled by Nakagami-mdistribution. The performance of the hybrid system is studied on the basis of analytical expressions derived for metrics such as outage probability, bit error rate, and ergodic capacity, and the results show the supremacy of the proposed hybrid FSO system. The improvement is, however, dependent on factors such as turbulence location and signal-to-noise ratio per bit, and not all performance metrics exhibit equal improvement.
Comparison of domain adaptation and active learning techniques for quality of transmission estimation with small-sized training datasets [Invited]
Authors: Azzimonti Dario , Rottondi Cristina , Giusti Alessandro , Tornatore Massimo , Bianco Andrea
Published: September 2020

Machine learning (ML) is currently being investigated as an emerging technique to automate quality of transmission (QoT) estimation during lightpath deployment procedures in optical networks. Even though the potential network-resource savings enabled by ML-based QoT estimation has been confirmed in several studies, some practical limitations hinder its adoption in operational network deployments. Among these, the lack of a comprehensive training dataset is recognized as a main limiting factor, especially in the early network deployment phase. In this study, we compare the performance of two ML methodologies explicitly designed to augment small-sized training datasets, namely, active learning (AL) and domain adaptation (DA), for the estimation of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an unestablished lightpath. This comparison also allows us to provide some guidelines for the adoption of these two techniques at different life stages of a newly deployed optical network infrastructure. Results show that both AL and DA permit us, starting from limited datasets, to reach a QoT estimation capability similar to that achieved by standard supervised learning approaches working on much larger datasets. More specifically, we observe that a few dozen additional samples acquired from selected probe lightpaths already provide significant performance improvement for AL, whereas a few hundred samples gathered from an external network topology are needed in the case of DA.
Pautas de tratamiento del tumor inflamatorio de Pott. Revisión bibliográfica
Authors: Salom-Coveñas Carmen , Benito-Navarro Juan Ramón , Gutiérrez-Gallardo Ana , Porras-Alonso Eulalia
Published: September 2020

Introducción y objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es proporcionar una revisión actualizada del tratamiento médico y quirúrgico en pacientes con abscesos subperiósticos secundarios a la osteomielitis del hueso frontal. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda en la base de datos PubMed, BVS (biblioteca virtual en salud España) y Scopus de las distintas opciones terapéuticas del tumor de Pott. La revisión se realizó siguiendo los criterios PRISMA. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 20 artículos en la búsqueda bibliográfica. Un total de 30 pacientes (24 varones, con media de edad de 27 años) fueron revisados. En un 90% la causa fue una rinosinusitis crónica, seguida por traumatismos locales. En la mayoría de los casos se realizó un drenaje endoscópico tipo Draf 2 (60%), 5 pacientes fueron sometidos a un Draf 3, tres a un Draf 1 y sólo uno a un Draf 2B. Un paciente fue tratado con sinuplastia con balón y otro con craneotomía externa aislada. Todos los pacientes tenían antibióticos orales o intravenosos de duración variable; aunque predomina el esquema terapéutico de vancomicina y ceftriaxona endovenosa durante 6 semanas. No hubo más complicaciones después de la intervención endoscópica sinusal. La presencia de fístulas, cicatrizaron sin necesidad de desbridamiento quirúrgico o cierre. Discusión: el tumor inflamatorio de Pott es una patología muy infrecuente. Debido a la rareza de la patología, muchos casos han sido infradiagnosticados desembocando en complicaciones intracraneales. El abordaje externo ha sido el tratamiento de elección durante años; actualmente se aboga por un abordaje endonasal guiada en ocasiones por neuronavegador sumado a la antibioticoterapia correspondiente durante un largo periodo de tiempo. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los casos de tumor inflamatorio de Pott pueden manejarse endoscópicamente. La disponibilidad de instrumentos en ángulo motorizados, videos de alta definición y sistemas de guía de imágenes han proporcionado a los otorrinolaringólogos una alternativa creíble a las técnicas tradicionales. Además, la biodisponibilidad mejorada de los antibióticos puede obviar la necesidad de una craneotomía y drenajes externos.
Prevalencia de tumores metastásicos en la glándula tiroides. Revisión sistemática y metanálisis.
Authors: Rodrigo-Gómez Lucía , Pardal-Refoyo José Luis , Batuecas-Caletrío Ángel
Published: September 2020

Introducción y objetivo: Los tumores metastásicos en la glándula tiroides complican el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y el pronóstico del paciente. El objetivo es conocer la prevalencia de las metástasis en la glándula tiroides referida en la literatura médica y los tumores primarios que con más frecuencia metastatizan en la glándula tiroides. Método: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sistemática en las bases de datos de PubMed, La Biblioteca Cochrane y Scopus. Los artículos seleccionados se dividieron en dos grupos, series clínicas de pacientes en los que se hallaron metástasis en tiroides (grupo A) y series de hallazgos de metástasis en tiroides en autopsias (grupo B). Se realizó metanálisis de prevalencia para cada grupo de artículos siguiendo el modelo de efectos aleatorios. Resultados: La prevalencia en cada grupo con su índice de confianza al 95% fue 0.00479 (0.002-0.007) para el grupo A y 0.0362 (0.014-0.059) para el grupo B. La prevalencia de metástasis halladas en autopsias fue 7,58 veces mayor que en los estudios clínicos. En el grupo A la edad media fue 60.82 y en el grupo B 57.20. En ambos grupos las metástasis halladas en tiroides fueron más frecuentes en el sexo femenino. La localización del tumor primario fue diferente en ambos grupos, en el grupo A fue el cáncer de riñón y en el grupo B el cáncer de mama. La variabilidad de la prevalencia de metástasis en tiroides en los diferentes artículos de ambos grupos hace que este estudio tuviese una alta heterogeneidad (índice I2 y Q). Los funnel plot de ambos grupos indicaron alto sesgo de publicación. Discusión: La diferente prevalencia entre series clínicas y autopsias puede implicar que la detección de metástasis en tiroides en la clínica está infradiagnosticada. La razón de esto podría ser que las metástasis intratiroideas se presentan de forma asintomática siendo diagnosticadas como hallazgo casual en autopsias. En otras ocasiones se presentan como un nódulo tiroideo años después del tumor primario, lo que condiciona el diagnóstico. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de metástasis en tiroides es superior en las series de autopsias que en series clínicas (hasta 6.67 veces más frecuente en nuestro estudio). Las metástasis intratiroideas probablemente están infradiagnosticadas por cursar sin clínica siendo diagnosticadas como hallazgo casual en autopsias. Los tumores primarios más frecuentes fueron el riñón (series clínicas) y la mama (series de autopsias).
Colgajo de pectoral mayor para reconstrucción de defectos faríngeos. Descripción de un caso
Authors: Sanz-Sánchez Cristina Isabel , Kraemer-Baeza Else , Flores-Carmona Eva , Aguilar-Conde Maria Dolores , Cazorla-Ramos Oscar Emilio
Published: September 2020

Introducción: La fístula faringocutánea post-laringectomía total (LT) continúa siendo una complicación frecuente luego de esta intervención especialmente tras tratamiento radioterápico. Cuando fracasan las medidas conservadoras, es necesario recurrir a cirugía reconstructiva. En nuestro centro se utiliza el colgajo miocutáneo de pectoral mayor (CMPM), que asegura un flujo sanguíneo adecuado para el tratamiento fístulas post-irradiación. Descripción: Presentamos un paciente con una fístula faringocutánea tras LT que requirió una amplia reconstrucción mediante CMPM asimismo discutiremos el importante papel que juega el tratamiento con oxígeno hiperbárico en el manejo de las consecuencias post-radioterapia. Conclusión: En la era de la reconstrucción microvascular, el PMMC puede ser utilizado para la reconstrucción de grandes defectos de cabeza y cuello, consiguiendo una adecuada cobertura tras protocolos de preservación de órgano o pacientes con historia de enfermedad vascular.
Neighborhood hotspot and community awareness: The double role of social network sites in local communities
Authors: Meulenaere Jonas De , Baccarne Bastiaan , Courtois Cédric , Ponnet Koen
Published: September 2020

There is a tendency in the literature on local digital media use and neighborhood outcomes to conceptualize Social Network Sites (SNSs) as mere transmission channels, thereby ignoring SNSs’ dynamics and limiting the understanding of their role in neighborhood life. Informed by Communication Infrastructure Theory and social media literature, we propose and test a model to investigate the association between the use of SNSs, appropriated as online neighborhood networks, and neighborhood sense of community. We administered a survey to Flemish online neighborhood network users (n = 590) and found that active localized SNS use brings about an online sense of community and community awareness, which both independently lead to a neighborhood sense of community. Based on these findings, we argue that SNSs, appropriated as online neighborhood networks, function simultaneously as neighborhood hotspots in a neighborhood’s communication action context as well as community awareness media in a neighborhood’s storytelling network.
Temperature effects on electrospun chitosan nanofibers
Authors: Van-Pham Dan-Thuy , Thi Bich Quyen Tran , Van Toan Pham , Nguyen Chanh-Nghiem , Ho Ming Hua , Van Hong Thien Doan
Published: September 2020

Effects of the temperature of chitosan (CS) solutions as well as the temperature of the chamber on an electrospinning process were investigated. CS with a low molecular weight was dissolved in the solvent of trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane (70/30 v/v) at a concentration of 80 mg/mL for electrospinning. Both CS solution and chamber temperatures strongly affected the morphology of electrospun CS nanofibers. At the solution temperature and chamber temperature of 32°C, uniform CS nanofibers with an average diameter of 200 nm could be obtained. Although the chamber temperature is generally regarded as an unimportant parameter in the electrospinning of polymers, the experimental results demonstrated its critical effect on the electrospinning of CS.
FromMotiontoDesire: The Grammaticalization of a Change of Location Unaccusative Construction in Romanian
Authors: Dragomirescu Adina , Nicolae Alexandru
Published: September 2020

This paper documents the steps and analyses the processes by which a concrete change of location unaccusative construction based on a venitive verb grammaticalizes in Romanian as a modal construction exhibiting a variety of desiderative meanings, the most prominent of which is theurge-type of desiderative meaning. This diachronic change is atypical: the venitive verb underwent desemanticization but does not show any detectable morphophonological erosion or decategorialization. Furthermore, the desiderative meaning arises only when the venitive verb is accompanied by a dative clitic (originally, a goal of motion) and a subjunctive CP.
14,15-Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Alleviates Pathology in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Chen Wenjun , Wang Mengyao , Zhu Minzhen , Xiong Wenchao , Qin Xihe , Zhu Xinhong
Published: September 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of late-onset dementia, and there exists an unmet medical need for effective treatments for AD. The accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques contributes to the pathophysiology of AD.EPHX2encoding soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH)—a key enzyme for epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) signaling that is mainly expressed in lysosomes of astrocytes in the adult brain—is cosited at a locus associated with AD, but it is unclear whether and how it contributes to the pathophysiology of AD. In this report, we show that the pharmacologic inhibition of sEH with 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl- 3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU) or the genetic deletion ofEphx2reduces Aβ deposition in the brains of both male and female familial Alzheimer's disease (5×FAD) model mice. The inhibition of sEH with TPPU or the genetic deletion ofEphx2alleviated cognitive deficits and prevented astrocyte reactivation in the brains of 6-month-old male 5×FAD mice. 14,15-EET levels in the brains of these mice were also increased by sEH inhibition. In cultured adult astrocytes treated with TPPU or 14,15-EET, astrocyte Aβ clearance was increased through enhanced lysosomal biogenesis. Infusion of 14,15-EET into the hippocampus of 5×FAD mice prevented the aggregation of Aβ. Notably, a higher concentration of 14,15-EET (200 ng/ml) infusion into the hippocampus reversed Aβ deposition in the brains of 6-month-old male 5×FAD mice. These results indicate that EET signaling, especially 14,15-EET, plays a key role in the pathophysiology of AD, and that targeting this pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThere are limited treatment options for Alzheimer's disease (AD).EPHX2encoding soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is located at a locus that is linked to late-onset AD, but its contribution to the pathophysiology of AD is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that sEH inhibition orEphx2deletion alleviates pathology in familial Alzheimer's disease (5×FAD) mice. Inhibiting sEH or increasing 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) enhanced lysosomal biogenesis and amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance in cultured adult astrocytes. Moreover, the infusion of 14,15-EET into the hippocampus of 5×FAD mice not only prevented the aggregation of Aβ, but also reversed the deposition of Aβ. Thus, 14,15-EET plays a key role in the pathophysiology of AD and therapeutic strategies that target this pathway may be an effective treatment.
BioProspecting of the Adriatic Sea
Authors: Kranjac Marina , Jerković Igor , Jokić Stela , Marijanović Zvonimir , Radonić Ani , Zekić Marina
Published: September 2020

Istraživanja predstavljena u ovom preglednom radu doprinose poznavanju isparljivih organskih spojeva iz morskih organizama, posebno iz makroalgi Jadranskog mora. Za izolaciju isparljivih spojeva iz svježih i/ili na zraku osušenih uzoraka primijenjene su komplementarne metode: mikroekstrakcija vršnih para na čvrstoj fazi (HS-SPME) i/ili hidrodestilacija (HD). Dobiveni izolati analizirani su vezanim sustavom plinske kromatografije-spektrometrije masa (GC-MS). U vršnim parama i isparljivim uljima makroalgi Halopteris filicina, Flabellia petiolata, Dictyota dichotoma, Taonia atomaria, Padina pavonica, Codium bursa i morskoj cvjetnici Posidonia oceanica pronađeno je mnoštvo različitih spojeva, uglavnom seskviterpena, diterpena i alifatskih spojeva. Alifatski spojevi male molekulske mase, poput dimetil-sulfida (DMS), tribrommetana, 1-jodpentana, 3-metilbut-2-enala, heksanala i pent-1-en-3-ona, nađeni su u kemijskim profilima vršnih para. Također su identificirani i alifatski C8- i C11-spojevi (npr. oktan-l-ol, oktanal, okt-1-en-3-ol, 6-metilhept-5-en-2-on, fukoseraten i diktioptereni). Zajedno s višim acikličkim ugljikovodicima, također pronađenim u vršnim parama (npr. heptadekan), u ispitivanim isparljivim uljima identificirani su i viši alifatski alkoholi (npr. (Z)-oktadec-9-en-1-ol, heksadekan-1-ol, (Z,Z)-oktadeka-3,13-dien-1-ol) i esteri (npr. diizooktil-ftalat, dibutil-ftalat). Fenilpropanski derivati (npr. benzaldehid, benzil-alkohol) i C13-norizporenoidi (npr. α-jonon i β-jonon) također su pronađeni u isparljivim profilima, kao i mnoštvo seskviterpena (npr. germakren D, biciklogermakren, δ-kadinen, epizonaren, epibicikloseskvifelandren, β-kubeben, gleenol, (E)-β-farnezen). Isparljivi organski spojevi identificirani u morskim algama mogu poslužiti u kemotaksonomskim istraživanjima.
A White, Jewish, Rap-Infused Desire for Blackness: David Burd's Lil Dicky
Authors: Sabourin Ethan
Published: September 2020

Known by his moniker Lil' Dicky, David Burd has been making rap music with an exceedingly Jewish twist for several years. This paper examines the Jewish and racial implications, and especially the intersections between the two, in Burd's lyrics and videos. Using James Baldwin's commentary on the Jewish-American condition in "On Being 'White' and Other Lies" as a starting point, I consider how Burd utilizes Jewish identity markers as a stand-in for Blackness in order to give his rap a unique ethnic position. Through three of his songs, I analyze the ways that Burd's relationship with race has evolved, culminating in his 2018 single "Freaky Friday" where Lil' Dicky and Chris Brown 'switch bodies'. In this song Dicky is able to say the N-word by having been placed by Burd into a Black body. Burd's music reflects a piece of contemporary, White, Male, Jewish consciousness and has implications for those who see themselves reflected in it.
Marxist Commodity Fetishization Encoded In Illusory Environmental Policy
Authors: Balaranjan Sarun
Published: September 2020

The realm of environmental policy is riddled with issues with regards to method of approach and execution. This contemporary form of environmental policy is demystified through the utilization of a Marxist framework. In particular, the concept of commodity fetishism can be used to illustrate the manner in which modern environmental policy fetters the Global South to the economic survival of the Global North.