bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmented reality battleship board game with holographic display
Authors: Fadzli F E , Ismail A W , Rosman M F A , Suaib N M , Rahim M S M , Ismail I
Published: November 2020

The board game is a game that played on the board, and the Battleship board game is one of the examples. While developing the virtual board game, multi-user interaction is essential as a board game played by more than one people. To enhance the user experience, the board game has been implemented with Augmented Reality (AR) technology. AR can superimpose it into the real-world since it has the capabilities to overlay the virtual game on the top of the real world. However, AR handheld has limited perspective viewing for the viewers to see the battleship game. Therefore, this project aims to develop an AR battleship board game with a holographic display. Three phases have been carried out, first is to study the multi-user interaction for the AR battleship board game and holographic display with a different perspective. Second is to develop the multi-user interaction for AR Battleship board game. Finally, the third phase is to integrate the AR Battleship board game with a pyramid holographic display. The evaluation has been performed, and the result is based on the usability and user acceptance have been recorded. Based on the result, this project has successfully produced AR Battleship board game with holographic display application and significantly enhance the user experience.
Virtual reality learning environments for vocational education: a comparative study with conventional instructional media on two-stroke engine
Authors: Sholichin F , Suaib N M , Irawati D A , Sutiman  , Solikin M , Yudantoko A , Yudianto A , Adiyasa I W , Sihes A J , Sulaiman H A
Published: November 2020

Virtual reality technology has been adopted as a modern learning media in vocational education. Nowadays, the practical learning needs complete equipment and tools to achieve the goal study. However, the conventional media requirement is a challenge for academician for learning process, specifically in automotive and machine areas. Virtual reality provides a solution for this problem, but still needs proper analysis on the impact of usability between conventional and VR media to which each learning objective is achieved. The case study used in this research is a two-stroke engine, which is currently a rare item in the real world. We replicated this two-stroke engine in the developed VR system using Unity game engine and Oculus quest. A comparison on the usability effectiveness on conventional and virtual reality methods was conducted using cognitive walkthrough, which follows the four steps of learning objective training. The result shows that three out of four learning objectives are similar with conventional objective training. One of the process on preparation for disassembly machine has slight difference with conventional training; faulty engine due from environment elements (liquid, rusty iron) was not included.
Mobile based augmented reality for flexible human height estimation using touch and motion gesture interaction
Authors: Ismail N A , Tan C W , Mohamed S E , Salam M S , Ghaleb F A
Published: November 2020

Human height measurement can be achieved by using contact or non-contact techniques. Contact technique is the traditional measuring method which required human resources to perform the measurement. In contrast, for non-contact technique, several kinds of research for measurement have been conducted, mostly with image-processing methods and only a few with the Augmented Reality (AR) approach. The current measuring approaches mostly required external hardware such as laser pointer or artificial fiducial such as 2D markers. In this paper, the world tracking technique and Visual Inertial Odometry is the method used to estimate the human height. The main aim of this paper is to accurately estimate the human height using augmented reality (non-contacted measurements). The methodology used the Apple ARKit plugin, which is the software development tools to build an augmented reality application for IOS device. An algorithm was designed by using Golden Ratio rules to estimate human height from the lower part of human knee; The estimation result is displayed using AR technology to allow the justification of the accuracy of the result. The application is tested with four different measuring methods. The normal full-height measurement result had a 1.13cm (0.73%) bias and a 1.34cm (0.88%) Root Mean Square Error (RMSE); the self-full height measurement had a result of 0.89cm (0.58%) bias and a 1.27cm (0.83%) RMSE; the normal height estimation from the lower part of knee measurement had a result of 0.12cm (0.06%) bias and a 1.34cm (0.89%) RMSE; the self-height estimation from the lower part of knee measurement had a result of 0.15cm (0.09%) bias and a 1.04cm (0.66%) RMSE. The results show that the mobile phone with VIO can be a potential tool for obtaining accurate measurements of human height.
Interactive mobile games development for children to learn about money
Authors: Zamri M N H , Ismail N A F , Ali A , Suaib N M , Sadimon S
Published: November 2020

Money notes and coins are used for transactions and are essential in daily human life. Children need to be exposed to enough knowledge about the purposes of money notes, and the most important is to identify the money correctly. Children begin to expose to identifying the money at school in standard one. However, depending on formal education is not enough because the children easily get bored, and they did not fully engage with formal education. The use of mobile games for learning purposes is becoming increasingly popular because they are interactive and able to attract students. Therefore, this research aims to develop mobile games to identify and learn about money. Three main phases have been carried out, and the first phase is preliminary research on the learning approach for children and data collection in money Malaysia Ringgit. The second phase is to design and develop mobile games. Three mini-games have been proposed, and the first game is to identify the money notes and coins. The second game is to learn about counting the money and coins, and the third game is to learn to use the money for purchasing purposes. After these three mini-games have been developed in the second phase, the third phase is the evaluation phase. The usability result shows the users agree the mobile games help them to identify money, calculate the value of money, and to perform basic purchasing activities. Based on the user acceptance results show that the mobile game works more effectively with adult or parental guidance. Overall, this research has successfully produced a mobile game that can help the children to learn to identify, count, and use money.
Early Mobilization in Older Adults with Acute Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Goldfarb Michael , Semsar-kazerooni Koorosh , Morais José A , Dima Diana
Published: November 2020

Background

Early mobilization (EM) is beneficial in critical care units and in older hospitalized patients, but little is known about EM in older adults with acute cardiovascular disease.

Methods

Consecutive admissions of adults ≥80 years old to a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) prior to and following implementation of a nurse-driven EM program were reviewed. Mobility was measured using the Level of Function (LOF) Mobility Scale, which ranges from 0 (bed immobile) to 5 (able to walk >20 meters). The primary outcome was discharge home.

Results

There were 412 patients included (N = 234, intervention; N = 178, preintervention). There was no difference in age between groups (overall 86.3 ± 4.8 years old) or sex (overall female N = 215, 52.2%). In the intervention group, functional impairment was present in 89 patients (38.0%) prehospitalization and in 209 patients (89.3%) on admission. Nearly half of patients (N = 107; 45.7%) improved their LOF by ≥1 during admission. Mobilization occurred during nearly all opportunities (838/850; 98.6%), and most mobility activities were completed (2,207/2,553; 86.4%). Adverse events were rare (5/2,207 activities [0.2% adverse event rate]) and transient. Patients in the intervention group were more likely than patients in the preintervention group to be discharged home (74.4 vs. 65.7%, P = 0.047, respectively) and had a lower rate of in-hospital death (6.4 vs. 14.6%, P = 0.006, respectively). There was no difference in mean length of hospital stay, 30-day emergency department visit or hospital re-admission.

Conclusion

EM is safe in older adults in the CICU and is associated with reduced discharge to healthcare facility and in-hospital mortality.
The Four Black Deaths
Authors: Green Monica H.
Published: November 2020

The Black Death, often called the largest pandemic in human history, is conventionally defined as the massive plague outbreak of 1346 to 1353 c.e. that struck the Black Sea and Mediterranean, extended into the Middle East, North Africa, and western Europe, and killed as much as half the total population of those regions. Yet genetic approaches to plague’s history have established that Yersinia pestis, the causative organism of plague, suddenly diverged in Central Asia at some point before the Black Death, splitting into four new branches—a divergence geneticists have called the “Big Bang.” Drawing on a “biological archive” of genetic evidence, I trace the bacterial descendants of the Big Bang proliferation, comparing that data to historical human activities in and around the area of plague’s emergence. The Mongols, whose empire emerged in 1206, unwittingly moved plague through Central Eurasia in the thirteenth, not the fourteenth, century. Grain shipments that the Mongols brought with them to several sieges, including the siege of Baghdad, were the most likely mechanism of transmission. The fourteenth century plague outbreaks represent local spillover events out of the new plague reservoirs seeded by the military campaigns of the thirteenth century.
Are Citizens Causally Responsible for Voting Outcomes?
Authors: Nick Christina
Published: November 2020

Can we hold citizens causally responsible for the outcomes of their voting decisions? They could stand in the causal relationship required for such responsibility either collectively or individually. Recent accounts ascribing responsibility to citizens have primarily taken the collective route because of a major obstacle to using an individualistic approach, namely, the problem of overdetermination: the actions of each citizen do not make an individual difference to, and therefore cannot be a cause of, the overall political outcome. I suggest, drawing on Parfit (1984) and Wright (1985), that we should allow for the idea that individuals can be causally responsible in virtue of making a difference to an outcome not only as an individual, but also as part of a set of agents. I conclude that we can therefore overcome the problem of overdetermination for the individualistic approach and that it merits further investigation.
Key residues influencing binding affinities of 2019-nCoV with ACE2 in different species
Authors: Fang Senbiao , Zheng Ruoqian , Lei Chuqi , Wang Jianxin , Zheng Ruiqing , Li Min
Published: November 2020

The Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become an international public health emergency, which poses the most serious threat to the human health around the world. Accumulating evidences have shown that the new coronavirus could not only infect human beings, but also can infect other species which might result in the cross-species infections. In this research, 1056 ACE2 protein sequences are collected from the NCBI database, and 173 species with >60% sequence identity compared with that of human beings are selected for further analysis. We find 14 polar residues forming the binding interface of ACE2/2019-nCoV-Spike complex play an important role in maintaining protein–protein stability. Among them, 8 polar residues at the same positions with that of human ACE2 are highly conserved, which ensure its basic binding affinity with the novel coronavirus. 5 of other 6 unconserved polar residues (positions at human ACE2: Q24, D30, K31, H34 and E35) are proved to have an effect on the binding patterns among species. We select 21 species keeping close contacts with human beings, construct their ACE2 three-dimensional structures by Homology Modeling method and calculate the binding free energies of their ACE2/2019-nCoV-Spike complexes. We find the ACE2 from all the 21 species possess the capabilities to bind with the novel coronavirus. Compared with the human beings, 8 species (cow, deer, cynomys, chimpanzee, monkey, sheep, dolphin and whale) present almost the same binding abilities, and 3 species (bat, pig and dog) show significant improvements in binding affinities. We hope this research could provide significant help for the future epidemic detection, drug and vaccine development and even the global eco-system protections.
Takotsubo syndrome after mitral valve surgery: a case report
Authors: Devesa Ana , Hernández-Estefanía Rafael , Tuñón José , Aceña Álvaro
Published: November 2020

Background

Takotsubo syndrome is a frequent entity; however, it has never been described after a mitral valve surgery.

Case summary 

We present the case of a 79-year-old woman, with background of atrial fibrillation and a left atrial appendage closure device, who was admitted for elective mitral valve replacement, because of asymptomatic severe primary mitral regurgitation. Biologic mitral valve was implanted without incidences, but in the postoperative, she developed cardiogenic shock. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed inverted T waves in precordial leads and an echocardiography showed severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with mid to distal diffuse hypokinesis, and better contractility in basal segments. Troponin levels were mildly elevated. With the suspicion of a postoperative acute coronary syndrome, a coronary angiography was performed and showed no significant coronary lesions. The haemodynamic situation was compromised for the next 48 h, in which vasoactive support and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation were implemented. After 48 h, the haemodynamic situation suddenly improved. The ECG was normalized, and a control echocardiogram showed partial recovery of the LV function with resolution of regional wall motion abnormalities. The patient could be discharged at 1 week. The clinical picture was interpreted as a stress cardiomyopathy after mitral valve surgery.

Discussion 

Takotsubo syndrome is a threatening condition; complications in acute phase could lead to a fatal outcome. Mitral valve surgery has to be considered as a trigger for this entity, after excluding coronary involvement, specially of left circumflex artery.
Severe multivessel coronary artery spasm detected by computed tomography: a case report
Authors: Jin Cai De , Kim Moo Hyun , Jo Su-A , Lim Kyunghee
Published: November 2020

Background

Ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest caused by multivessel coronary artery spasm (CAS) is rare. Although coronary angiography (CAG) with provocation testing is the diagnostic gold standard in current vasospastic angina guidelines, it can cause severe procedure-related complications. Here, we report a novel technique involving dual-acquisition coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to detect multivessel CAS in a patient who survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Case summary

A 58-year-old healthy Korean male survived OHCA caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), experiencing seven episodes of defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and was referred to the Emergency Room. Vital signs were stable and physical examination, electrocardiogram, chest, and brain CT did not show any abnormal findings, except elevated hs-Troponin I levels (0.1146 ng/mL). Echocardiogram revealed a regional wall motion abnormality in the inferior wall, with a low normal left ventricular ejection fraction (50%). A multivessel CAS (both left and right) was detected using a dual-acquisition CCTA technique (presence and absence of intravenous nitrate). During CAG with the 2nd injection of ergonovine, a prolonged and refractory total occlusion in the proximal-ostial right coronary artery was completely relieved after a seven-cycle intracoronary injection regimen of nitroglycerine. The patient was discharged with the recommendation of smoking and alcohol cessation. Nitrate and calcium channel blockers were also prescribed. The patient had no further events at 3 months of follow-up after discharge.

Discussion

Dual-acquisition CCTA is a promising tool to detect multivessel CAS.
Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in children under 5 years of age with Kawasaki disease: a case series
Authors: Shimahara Yusuke , Fukushima Satsuki , Tadokoro Naoki , Tsuda Etsuko , Hoashi Takaya , Kitamura Soichiro , Kobayashi Junjiro , Fujita Tomoyuki
Published: November 2020

Background

Although persistent coronary artery aneurysm of Kawasaki disease (KD) is rare, some patients develop a life-threatening myocardial infarction. In paediatric coronary artery bypass surgery (PCABS), the internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft is a reliable graft with favourable coronary outcomes. However, few studies have reported the outcomes and technical considerations of PCABS using bilateral ITAs in small children who have multivessel disease.

Case summary

We present the cases of three children under 5 years of age who underwent PCABS utilizing bilateral ITAs. All three patients had known bilateral giant coronary aneurysms associated with KD. Paediatric coronary artery bypass surgery was indicated after confirming multiple coronary lesions with myocardial ischaemia. One child underwent emergency PCABS because of circulatory collapse. The arterial anastomoses were performed under cardioplegic arrest. The left ITA was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) or the circumflex artery. The right ITA was anastomosed to the right coronary artery or the LAD. Post-operative coronary angiography revealed patent bilateral ITA grafts with an excellent run-off in all patients, and none of them have suffered any subsequent coronary event.

Discussion

Bilateral ITA grafting is a feasible procedure with favourable coronary outcomes for treating small children with multivessel disease, even in the setting of circulatory collapse.
Type A acute aortic dissection with ≥40-mm aortic root: results of conservative and replacement strategies at long-term follow-up
Authors: Vendramin Igor , Lechiancole Andrea , Piani Daniela , Deroma Laura , Tullio Annarita , Sponga Sandro , Milano Aldo D , Onorati Francesco , Bortolotti Uberto , Livi Ugolino
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the long-term results of aortic root (AR) preservation and replacement in patients operated on for acute type A aortic dissection.

METHODS

Out of 302 patients discharged after repair of acute aortic dissection (1977–2019), 124 patients had an AR ≥40 mm, which was preserved in 84 (68%, group A) patients and replaced in 40 (32%, group B) patients. Group B patients were younger (mean age 57 ± 12 vs 62 ± 11 years, P = 0.07), with a mean AR of 47 vs 43 mm and ≥moderate aortic insufficiency in 65% vs 30%. Survival, causes of death and reoperations were analysed at mean follow-up of 9 ± 8 years (6 months to 40 years).

RESULTS

Actuarial survival of discharged patients at 5, 10 and 15 years was 97% (0.89–0.99), 78% (0.67–0.90) and 75% (0.64–0.88) in group A, and 85% (0.71–0.95), 62% (0.44–0.78) and 57% (0.39–0.76) in group B (log-rank test P = 0.2). Nine patients in group A (7 patients for aortic insufficiency and dilatation of the root and 2 patients for pseudoaneurysm) and 1 patient of group B (pseudoaneurysm of the right coronary button) required proximal reoperation without deaths. At 5, 10 and 15 years, the cumulative incidence of proximal aortic reoperations was 5%, 9% and 25% in group A, and 0%, 3% and 3% in group B (P = 0.02). At multivariable analysis AR >45 mm [hazard ratio (HR) 6.8, P = 0.026] and age (HR 0.9, P = 0.016) were independently associated with proximal reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS

AR preservation in acute type A dissection showed acceptable long-term outcomes. Nevertheless, a more aggressive approach appears a valid option, especially in patients with AR diameter >45 mm.
The evolution of cardiac resynchronization therapy and an introduction to conduction system pacing: a conceptual review
Authors: Herweg Bengt , Welter-Frost Allan , Vijayaraman Pugazhendhi
Published: November 2020

In chronic systolic heart failure and conduction system disease, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is the only known non-pharmacologic heart failure therapy that improves cardiac function, functional capacity, and survival while decreasing cardiac workload and hospitalization rates. While conventional bi-ventricular pacing has been shown to benefit patients with heart failure and conduction system disease, there are limitations to its therapeutic success, resulting in widely variable clinical response. Limitations of conventional CRT evolve around myocardial scar, fibrosis, and inability to effectively simulate diseased tissue. Studies have shown endocardial stimulation in closer proximity to the specialized conduction system is more effective when compared with epicardial stimulation. Several observational and acute haemodynamic studies have demonstrated improved electrical resynchronization and echocardiographic response with conduction system pacing (CSP). Our objective is to provide a systematic review of the evolution of CRT, and an introduction to CSP as an intriguing, though experimental physiologic alternative to conventional CRT.
Accreditation in 2030
Authors: Nicklin Wendy , Engel Carsten , Stewart Jacqui
Published: November 2020

With the rapid acceleration of changes being experienced throughout the world and in particular within health and health and social care, accreditation programmes must keep pace or go the way of the dinosaur. While accreditation has deep roots in some countries, in the past 30 years, it has spread to a considerably larger range of countries in a mix of mandatory and voluntary systems. Accreditation is a tool to improve the quality of healthcare and social care, and in particular, there is recent recognition of its value in low- and middle-income countries, with promotion by the World Health Organization (WHO). The challenge is that with the rapid pace of change, how does accreditation reframe and reposition itself to ensure relevance in 2030? Accreditation must adapt and be relevant in order to be sustainable. This article outlines the fundamental principles, reviews the global trends’ impact on accreditation and the challenges with the existing model and, through the lens of living in 2030, outlines how accreditation programmes will be structured and applied 10 years from now.
Verification of a pseudocryptic species in the commercially important tiger prawnPenaeus monodonFabricius, 1798 (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from Aceh Province, Indonesia
Authors: Chan Tin-Yam , Muchlisin Zainal Abidin , Hurzaid Amirah
Published: November 2020

A pseudocryptic form of the commercially important prawn Penaeus monodon  Fabricius, 1798 from Aceh Province, Indonesia was recently named Penaeus acehensis  Sektiana, Tahang, Andriyono, Alam & Kim, 2018 based solely on coloration, number of rostral teeth, and unspecified mitochondrial genome sequence differences from P. monodon and other species of Penaeus sensu lato. Penaeus acehensis, however, is unavailable on account of not fulfilling the numerous provisions of Articles 8 and 16 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Comparisons between the Aceh form and an extensive series of P. monodon from various Indo-West Pacific localities revealed that the former is morphologically distinct in having a relatively longer rostrum, shorter adrostral carina, and longer hepatic carina. Barcoding genetic analysis also supports the specific status of the Aceh form. By examining the types or topotypic material of all the synonyms in P. monodon, and selecting a lectotype for Penaeus caeruleus  Stebbing, 1905 and neotypes for P. Manilensis de Procé, 1822 and P. durbani  Stebbing, 1917, no available name is applicable to the Aceh species, which is named. The Aceh species is hereby named Penaeus simplex  sp. nov. for its body lacking a banded color pattern, which is very characteristic compared to the closely related species, P. monodon.
Spontaneous bladder diverticulum rupture due to a squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder: a case report
Authors: Sahnoun Wajih , Ben Rhouma Sami , Kacem Aziz , Mrad Dali Khaireddine , Rekik Issam , Chelly Beya , Messaoudi Yosri , Ouanes Yassine , Sellami Ahmed , Nouira Yassine
Published: November 2020

While bladder rupture is most of the time secondary to external injury such as trauma or iatrogenic events, spontaneous bladder rupture (SBR) is a rare condition which is mostly associated with bladder cancer, neurologic bladder or radiotherapy. We report a case of a 63-year-old patient with an invasive squamous cell bladder carcinoma who presented acute peritonitis caused by a SBR while being prepared for radical surgery. CT-scan helped to confirm diagnosis and emergency cystectomy was performed. SBR should be considered in differential diagnosis of peritonitis. On time diagnosis and adequate surgery could improve its prognosis.
A synthetic Roman Space Telescope High-Latitude Imaging Survey: simulation suite and the impact of wavefront errors on weak gravitational lensing
Authors: Troxel M A , Long H , Hirata C M , Choi A , Jarvis M , Mandelbaum R , Wang K , Yamamoto M , Hemmati S , Capak P
Published: November 2020

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman) mission is expected to launch in the mid-2020s. Its weak lensing program is designed to enable unprecedented systematics control in photometric measurements, including shear recovery, point spread function (PSF) correction, and photometric calibration. This will enable exquisite weak lensing science and allow us to adjust to and reliably contribute to the cosmological landscape after the initial years of observations from other concurrent Stage IV dark energy experiments. This potential requires equally careful planning and requirements validation as the mission prepares to enter its construction phase. We present a suite of image simulations based on galsim that are used to construct a complex, synthetic Roman weak lensing survey that incorporates realistic input galaxies and stars, relevant detector non-idealities, and the current reference 5-yr Roman survey strategy. We present a first study to empirically validate the existing Roman weak lensing requirements flowdown using a suite of 12 matched image simulations, each representing a different perturbation to the wavefront or image motion model. These are chosen to induce a range of potential static and low- and high-frequency time-dependent PSF model errors. We analyse the measured shapes of galaxies from each of these simulations and compare them to a reference, fiducial simulation to infer the response of the shape measurement to each of these modes in the wavefront model. We then compare this to existing analytic flowdown requirements, and find general agreement between the empirically derived response and that predicted by the analytic model.
Influenza virus infection induces widespread alterations of host cell splicing
Authors: Ashraf Usama , Benoit-Pilven Clara , Navratil Vincent , Ligneau Cécile , Fournier Guillaume , Munier Sandie , Sismeiro Odile , Coppée Jean-Yves , Lacroix Vincent , Naffakh Nadia
Published: November 2020

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) use diverse mechanisms to interfere with cellular gene expression. Although many RNA-seq studies have documented IAV-induced changes in host mRNA abundance, few were designed to allow an accurate quantification of changes in host mRNA splicing. Here, we show that IAV infection of human lung cells induces widespread alterations of cellular splicing, with an overall increase in exon inclusion and decrease in intron retention. Over half of the mRNAs that show differential splicing undergo no significant changes in abundance or in their 3′ end termination site, suggesting that IAVs can specifically manipulate cellular splicing. Among a randomly selected subset of 21 IAV-sensitive alternative splicing events, most are specific to IAV infection as they are not observed upon infection with VSV, induction of interferon expression or induction of an osmotic stress. Finally, the analysis of splicing changes in RED-depleted cells reveals a limited but significant overlap with the splicing changes in IAV-infected cells. This observation suggests that hijacking of RED by IAVs to promote splicing of the abundant viral NS1 mRNAs could partially divert RED from its target mRNAs. All our RNA-seq datasets and analyses are made accessible for browsing through a user-friendly Shiny interface (http://virhostnet.prabi.fr:3838/shinyapps/flu-splicing or https://github.com/cbenoitp/flu-splicing).
Infant feeding practices and later parent-reported feeding difficulties: a systematic review
Authors: Bąbik Katarzyna , Patro-Gołąb Bernadeta , Zalewski Bartłomiej M , Wojtyniak Katarzyna , Ostaszewski Paweł , Horvath Andrea
Published: November 2020

Context

Early feeding practices may influence the acceptance of new foods and contribute to the development of feeding difficulties later in childhood.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the association of breastfeeding duration, timing of complementary feeding introduction, and feeding techniques with feeding difficulties or their subtypes, namely picky or fussy eating, food refusal, and food neophobia, in children older than 1 year of age.

Data Sources

Guidance from the Cochrane Collaboration and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination was followed. MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched up to December 2019. Additionally, references from included articles were screened.

Study Selection

Interventional and observational studies were eligible. Of the 3653 records obtained after the search strategy was applied, 21 observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional), many with important methodological limitations, and 1 randomized controlled trial were included.

Data Extraction

Three authors extracted data independently.

Results

Results were synthesized narratively. Twelve observational studies assessed the association of breastfeeding duration with parent-reported feeding difficulties. Longer duration of breastfeeding tended to be associated with fewer childhood feeding problems in the majority of studies, but the differences were often small and not significant. Eight observational studies that examined the timing of complementary feeding introduction in relation to parent-reported feeding difficulties showed inconsistent results. Baby-led weaning, as compared with spoon-feeding, was significantly associated with less fussiness at age 12 to 36 months in 1 of 5 studies.

Conclusions

This review showed no strong evidence to support the hypothesis that early feeding practices contribute significantly to specific parent-reported feeding difficulties in children older than 1 year of age. Additional methodologically rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration number CRD42018115792.
Primary Care and Mental Health Prescribers, Key Clinical Leaders, and Clinical Pharmacist Specialists’ Perspectives on Opioids and Benzodiazepines
Authors: Hawkins Eric J , Lott Aline M , Danner Anissa N , Malte Carol A , Hagedorn Hildi J , Berger Douglas , Donovan Lucas M , Sayre George G , Mariano Anthony J , Saxon Andrew J
Published: November 2020

Objective

Due to increased risks of overdose fatalities and injuries associated with coprescription of opioids and benzodiazepines, healthcare systems have prioritized deprescribing this combination. Although prior work has examined providers’ perspectives on deprescribing each medication separately, perspectives on deprescribing patients with combined use is unclear. We examined providers’ perspectives on coprescribed opioids and benzodiazepines and identified barriers and facilitators to deprescribing.

Design

Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Setting

One multisite Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system in the United States of America.

Subjects

Primary care and mental health prescribers, key clinical leaders, clinical pharmacist specialists (N = 39).

Methods

Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Themes were identified iteratively, through a multidisciplinary team-based process.

Results

Analyses identified four themes related to barriers and facilitators to deprescribing: inertia, prescriber self-efficacy, feasibility of deprescribing/tapering, and promoting deprescribing, as well as a fifth theme, consequences of deprescribing. Results highlighted the complexity of deprescribing when multiple prescribers are involved, a need for additional support and time, and concerns about patients’ reluctance to discontinue these medications. Facilitators included agreement with the goal of deprescribing and fear of negative consequences if medications are continued. Providers spoke to how deprescribing efforts impaired patient-provider relationships and informed their decisions not to start patients on these medications.

Conclusions

Although providers agree with the goal, prescribers’ belief in a limited deprescribing role, challenges with coordination among prescribers, concerns about insufficient time and patients’ resistance to discontinuing these medications need to be addressed for efforts to be successful.
Groundwork for a Fallibilist Account of Mathematics
Authors: De Toffoli Silvia
Published: November 2020

According to the received view, genuine mathematical justification derives from proofs. In this article, I challenge this view. First, I sketch a notion of proof that cannot be reduced to deduction from the axioms but rather is tailored to human agents. Secondly, I identify a tension between the received view and mathematical practice. In some cases, cognitively diligent, well-functioning mathematicians go wrong. In these cases, it is plausible to think that proof sets the bar for justification too high. I then propose a fallibilist account of mathematical justification. I show that the main function of mathematical justification is to guarantee that the mathematical community can correct the errors that inevitably arise from our fallible practices.
Consequences of prefrontal tDCS on inhibitory control and reactive aggression
Authors: Weidler Carmen , Habel Ute , Wallheinke Paul , Wagels Lisa , Hofhansel Lena , Ling Shichun , Blendy Julie A , Clemens Benjamin
Published: November 2020

Increased aggression and impulsivity represent a key component of several psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorder, which is often associated with deficient prefrontal brain activation. Thus, innovative tools to increase cognitive control are highly warranted. The current study investigates the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a tool to modulate cortical activation and to increase cognitive control in individuals with a high potential for impulsive and aggressive behavior. In a double-blind, sham-controlled study, we applied anodal tDCS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in an all-male sample of alcohol-dependent patients (AD), tobacco users (TU) and healthy controls (HC), who completed the Taylor Aggression Paradigm and Stop Signal Reaction Time Task twice. While there were no observable effects of tDCS in controls, the results revealed altered aggressive behavior in AD following active stimulation. Specifically, these individuals did not show the standard increase in aggression over time seen in the other groups. Furthermore, improved response inhibition was found in AD and TU following active but not sham stimulation. Our study demonstrates that prefrontal tDCS improves our laboratory measure of impulse control in at-risk groups, illustrating the importance of sample characteristics such as nicotine intake and personality traits for understanding the effects of brain stimulation.
Cattle and carcass performance, and life cycle assessment of production systems utilizing additive combinations of growth promotant technologies
Authors: Webb Megan J , Block Janna J , Harty Adele A , Salverson Robin R , Daly Russell F , Jaeger John R , Underwood Keith R , Funston Rick N , Pendell Dustin P , Rotz Clarence A , Olson Kenneth C , Blair Amanda D
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of beef production systems utilizing additive combinations of growth promotant technologies on animal and carcass performance and environmental outcomes. Crossbred steer calves (n =120) were stratified by birth date, birth weight, and dam age and assigned randomly to one of four treatments: 1) no technology (NT; control), 2) antibiotic treated (ANT; NT plus therapeutic antibiotics and monensin and tylosin), 3) implant treated (IMP; ANT plus a series of 3 implants, and 4) beta-agonist treated (BA; IMP plus ractopamine-HCl for the last 30 d prior to harvest). Weaned steers were fed in confinement (dry lot) and finished in an individual feeding system to collect performance data. At harvest, standard carcass measures were collected and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Yield Grade and Quality Grade were determined. Information from the cow-calf, growing, and finishing phases were used to simulate production systems using the USDA Integrated Farm System Model, which included a partial life cycle assessment of cattle production for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fossil energy use, water use, and reactive N loss. Body weight in suckling, growing, and finishing phases as well as hot carcass weight was greater (P < 0.05) for steers that received implants (IMP and BA) than non-implanted steers (NT and ANT). The average daily gain was greater (P < 0.05) for steers that received implants (IMP and BA) than non-implanted steers during the suckling and finishing phases, but no difference (P = 0.232) was detected during the growing phase. Dry matter intake and gain:feed were greater (P < 0.05) for steers that received implants than non-implanted steers during the finishing phase. Steers that received implants responded (P < 0.05) with a larger loin muscle area, less kidney pelvic and heart fat, advanced carcass maturity, reduced marbling scores, and a greater percentage of carcasses in the lower third of the USDA Choice grade. This was offset by a lower percentage of USDA Prime grading carcasses compared with steers receiving no implants. Treatments did not influence (P > 0.05) USDA Yield grade. The life cycle assessment revealed that IMP and BA treatments reduced GHG emissions, energy use, water use, and reactive nitrogen loss compared to NT and ANT. These data indicate that growth promoting technologies increase carcass yield while concomitantly reducing carcass quality and environmental impacts.
Back in the saddle: student response to remote online equine science classes
Authors: Merson Courtney , Navas Gonzalez Francisco Javier , Orth Emma , Adams Anneli , McLean Amy
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professors and students of all disciplines to adjust quickly to remote online teaching and education platforms. In this new era of remote teaching, a greater challenge has been presented in the field of equine science; how to effectively share knowledge that is most often demonstrated by providing students access to live, in-person animal examples. Historically, students and teachers believed skill sets, which are vital for future careers in the industry (e.g., veterinarian) must be learned through hands-on experience. However, in-person methods were not available, so students were taught through the Zoom platform. Students enrolled in various levels of equine science classes were invited to complete a short voluntary questionnaire measuring their response and perception to equine courses taught in an entirely online remote setting by the same professor. One group was comprised of undergraduates majoring in the field (n = 44) in upper level equine science courses, Advanced Equine Reproduction Physiology and/or Equine Enterprise. These students, 41 females and 3 males, ranged in age from 20 to 25 yr, were provided a voluntary questionnaire seeking responses related to the perceived effectiveness and individual preferences of in-class lectures and in-person labs vs. remote online teaching practices. A similar questionnaire was offered on a volunteer basis to precollege students (n = 17). These students, female, high-school students from freshman to senior status (14–18 yr of age), were interested in equine science as a major at UC Davis in the future. This questionnaire evaluated their response to a 2-week remote synchronous online equine science course, which included multiple teaching methods, including lectures, mini labs, and full labs. Responses from both populations suggested that equine courses were perceived as effective when offered as online, remote courses. Live (synchronous) classes and labs offered on Zoom increased engagement and interaction, but students also appreciated the opportunity to access recorded materials. Students responded positively to online remote teaching and found courses to be effective for increasing their knowledge about equine science in an engaging manner, despite their continued preference for in-person instruction.
The first laboratory-confirmed imported infections of SARS-CoV-2 in Sudan
Authors: Aljak Elham R , Eldigail Mawahib , Mahmoud Iman , Elhassan Rehab M , Elduma Adel , Ibrahim Abubakr A , Ali Yousif , Weaver Scott C , Ahmed Ayman
Published: November 2020

Background

The rapidly growing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged health systems globally. Here we report the first identified infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; aetiology of COVID-19) among recent international arrivals to Sudan and their contacts.

Methods

Suspected cases were identified clinically and/or epidemiologically. Samples from suspected cases and their contacts were tested in the National Influenza Centre following World Health Organization protocols. Two real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were used to detect and confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results

Seven cases of COVID-19, including two deaths, were confirmed in Sudan between 27 February and 30 March 2020. Suspected cases were identified and tested. As of 30 March, no local transmission was yet reported in the country. Fifty-nine percent of the suspected cases were international travellers coming from areas with current COVID-19 epidemics. Cough and fever were the major symptoms, presented by 65% and 60% of the suspected cases, respectively. By early April, an additional seven cases were confirmed through limited contact tracing that identified the first locally acquired infections in recent contact with imported cases.

Conclusions

The high mortality rate of COVID-19 cases in Sudan might be due to limitations in test and trace and case management services. Unfortunately, infections have spread further into other states and the country has no capacity for mass community screening to better estimate disease prevalence. Therefore external support is urgently needed to improve the healthcare and surveillance systems.
RibBX of Bradyrhizobium ORS285 Plays an Important Role in Intracellular Persistence in Various Aeschynomene Host Plants
Authors: Nouwen Nico , Arrighi Jean-Francois , Gully Djamel , Giraud Eric
Published: November 2020

Bradyrhizobium ORS285 forms a nitrogen-fixating symbiosis with both Nod factor (NF)-dependent and NF-independent Aeschynomene spp. The Bradyrhizobium ORS285 ribBA gene encodes for a putative bifunctional enzyme with 3,4-dihydroxybutanone phosphate (3,4-DHBP) synthase and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cyclohydrolase II activities, catalyzing the initial steps in the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway. In this study, we show that inactivating the ribBA gene does not cause riboflavin auxotrophy under free-living conditions and that, as shown for RibBAs from other bacteria, the GTP cyclohydrolase II domain has no enzymatic activity. For this reason, we have renamed the annotated ribBA as ribBX. Because we were unable to identify other ribBA or ribA and ribB homologs in the genome of Bradyrhizobium ORS285, we hypothesize that the ORS285 strain can use unconventional enzymes or an alternative pathway for the initial steps of riboflavin biosynthesis. Inactivating ribBX has a drastic impact on the interaction of Bradyrhizobium ORS285 with many of the tested Aeschynomene spp. In these Aeschynomene spp., the ORS285 ribBX mutant is able to infect the plant host cells but the intracellular infection is not maintained and the nodules senesce early. This phenotype can be complemented by reintroduction of the 3,4-DHBP synthase domain alone. Our results indicate that, in Bradyrhizobium ORS285, the RibBX protein is not essential for riboflavin biosynthesis under free-living conditions and we hypothesize that its activity is needed to sustain riboflavin biosynthesis under certain symbiotic conditions.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Symptomatic hyponatremia induced by low-dose cyclophosphamide in patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Chen Jiali , Jin Yuebo , Li Chun , Li Zhanguo
Published: November 2020

Rationale:

Cyclophosphamide (CY) is an alkylating agent used widely to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Hyponatremia is a common adverse effect of high-dose and moderate-dose of intravenous CY, but is rare in patients treated with low-dose (<15 mg/kg).

Patient concerns:

A 52-year-old woman with new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was treated with low-dose cyclophosphamide (8 mg/kg, CY), but showed sudden headaches, disorientation and weakness. Laboratory examinations revealed severe isovolumic hyponatremia along with low-serum osmolality and high urine osmolality.

Diagnosis:

The acute hyponatremia was consistent with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and was an adverse event of low-dose CY, with no evidence of endocrine, cancer, pulmonary, or cerebral abnormalities relevant to the SIADH.

Intervention:

The hyponatremia was resolved after the supplementation of NaCl solution.

Outcomes:

The hyponatremia was resolved without any complications.

Lessons:

Hyponatremia induced by low-dose CY should be recognized as an underlying life-threatening complication in clinical practice.