bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A method for transformation from dynamic fault tree to binary decision diagram
Authors: Yu Haiyue , Wu Xiaoyue
Published: December 2020

Dynamic fault tree (DFT) is a powerful modeling approach for reliability analysis of complex system with dynamic failure behaviors. In reality, the tree structure may be highly coupled either by shared basic events or by the high-level dynamic gates. Currently, the application of sequential binary decision diagram (SBDD)-based method for quantitative analysis of such highly coupled DFTs is mainly limited to DFTs whose dynamic gates locate in the bottom of the tree. Moreover, there is no efficient way dealing with the dependencies among different nodes of a SBDD 1-path. This paper makes an improvement to the SBDD-based approach. A generation procedure is proposed to directly construct the binary decision diagram (BDD) model for a DFT with arbitrary tree structure. During the construction, the sequential-dependent information of the tree is derived as several BDD nodes, each indicates a binary-sequential event representing the sequence of two occurred basic events. A topological sorting is applied on each 1-path of the resultant BDD to obtain its contained disjoint cut sequences. Based on this, both qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed on the DFT with no limitations on tree structure, and its minimal cut sequence set (CSS) is obtained as disjoint. Examples are provided for verification and comparison, and the results illustrate the merits of the proposed approach.
A Bayesian Belief Network method for bridge deterioration detection
Authors: Vagnoli Matteo , Remenyte-Prescott Rasa , Andrews John
Published: December 2020

Bridges are one of the most important assets of transportation networks. A closure of a bridge can increase the vulnerability of the geographic area served by such networks, as it reduces the number of available routes. Condition monitoring and deterioration detection methods can be used to monitor the health state of a bridge and enable detection of early signs of deterioration. In this paper, a novel Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) methodology for bridge deterioration detection is proposed. A method to build a BBN structure and to define the Conditional Probability Tables (CPTs) is presented first. Then evidence of the bridge behaviour (such as bridge displacement or acceleration due to traffic) is used as an input to the BBN model, the probability of the health state of whole bridge and its elements is updated and the levels of deterioration are detected. The methodology is illustrated using a Finite Element Model (FEM) of a steel truss bridge, and for an in-field post-tensioned concrete bridge.
Susceptibility of primary human airway epithelial cells to Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin in two- and three-dimensional culture conditions
Authors: Bianchi Maria , Sivarajan Rinu , Walles Thorsten , Hackenberg Stephan , Steinke Maria
Published: December 2020

The human pathogen Bordetella pertussis targets the respiratory epithelium and causes whooping cough. Its virulence factor adenylate cyclase toxin (CyaA) plays an important role in the course of infection. Previous studies on the impact of CyaA on human epithelial cells have been carried out using cell lines derived from the airways or the intestinal tract. Here, we investigated the interaction of CyaA and its enzymatically inactive but fully pore-forming toxoid CyaA-AC– with primary human airway epithelial cells (hAEC) derived from different anatomical sites (nose and tracheo-bronchial region) in two-dimensional culture conditions. To assess possible differences between the response of primary hAEC and respiratory cell lines directly, we included HBEC3-KT in our studies. In comparative analyses, we studied the impact of both the toxin and the toxoid on cell viability, intracellular cAMP concentration and IL-6 secretion. We found that the selected hAEC, which lack CD11b, were differentially susceptible to both CyaA and CyaA-AC–. HBEC3-KT appeared not to be suitable for subsequent analyses. Since the nasal epithelium first gets in contact with airborne pathogens, we further studied the effect of CyaA and its toxoid on the innate immunity of three-dimensional tissue models of the human nasal mucosa. The present study reveals first insights in toxin–cell interaction using primary hAEC.
A sectorial fuzzy consensus algorithm for the formation flight of multiple quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Ollervides-Vazquez E Javier , Rojo-Rodriguez Erik G , Garcia-Salazar Octavio , Amezquita-Brooks Luis , Castillo Pedro , Santibañez Victor
Published: December 2020

This paper presents an algorithm based on fuzzy theory for the formation flight of the multi-quadrotors. For this purpose, the mathematical model of N-quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles is presented using the Newton-Euler formulation. The strategy of the formation flight is based on a structure composed by a sectorial fuzzy controller and the linear systems whose state variables are the position and velocity of the ith quadrotor. The stability analysis is described as a generalized form for N-quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles and it is based on the Lyapunov theory. This analysis demonstrates that the closed-loop system is globally asymptotically stable so that the quadrotors unmanned aerial vehicles reach the consensus. Numerical simulation demonstrates the robustness of the proposed scheme for the formation flight even in the presence of disturbances. Finally, experimental results show the feasibility of the proposed algorithm for the formation flight of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles.
Show Me the Evidence: COVID-19 and School Nursing in the 21st Century
Authors: Maughan Erin D. , Johnson Kathleen H. , Gryfinski Juanita , Lamparelli Wendy , Chatham Shaylene , Lopez-Carrasco Jeana
Published: December 2020

The emergence of COVID-19 and how to control its spread has highlighted the importance of understanding and applying evidence-based decisions into school nursing practice. This is the fifth and final article in NASN’s series on how the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing PracticeTM is a mind-set that can be applied to everyday school nursing practice and will focus on the principle of Standards of Practice, and particularly how evidence-based practice decisions are made during COVID-19.
An exploration of strategic public relations management in Ghana
Authors: Anani-Bossman Albert Adjei
Published: December 2020

The study examines the current state of public relations practice in Ghana. The study applied the four principle of generic public relations theory to determine whether PR practice in Ghana was strategic. A mixed mode of survey and in-depth interviews were used to gather data from 108 respondents and 15 interviewees respectively. Findings show PR in Ghana is seldom managed strategically, is practiced more at the technician level than managerial, and is bound to cultural norms of the country.
The populist style and public diplomacy: kayfabe as performative agonism in Trump’s Twitter posts
Authors: Surowiec Paweł , Miles Christopher
Published: December 2020

This article theorises the interplay between public diplomacy and populism. Building on Baudrillard’s simulacra, we advance the hybridity approach to soft power statecraft by analysing a cultural shift in US presidential public diplomacy. Using discourse analysis, we uncover how, rather than aiding the building of relationship with foreign publics, Donald Trump has brought to the field cultural codes alien to public diplomacy, imploding the meanings central to the endogenous norms of diplomacy and turning towards an agonistic relational dynamic with foreign publics. This article reveals how digitalisation affords the expansion of Donald Trump’s populist style, and makes the populist cultural shift highly visible on his Twitter. To reveal this dynamic in granular detail, we propose ‘kayfabe’ as an epistemic lens for the interpretation of the populist style in the conduct of Trump’s ‘simulated public diplomacy’, a defining feature of the current US global leadership. As well as considering socialities re-shaping relational dynamics, this article unpacks tensions stemming from the expansion of populist style into presidential public diplomacy. Finally, we reflect on the epistemic crisis of US public diplomacy within the strategic landscape of political uncertainties associated with the proliferation of populism in the field.
Training School Teachers to Deliver a Mindfulness Program: Exploring Scalability, Acceptability, Effectiveness, and Cost-effectiveness
Authors: Crane Catherine , Ganguli Poushali , Ball Susan , Taylor Laura , Blakemore Sarah-Jayne , Byford Sarah , Dalgleish Tim , Ford Tamsin , Greenberg Mark , Kuyken Willem , Lord Liz , Montero-Marin Jesus , Sonley Anna , Ukoumunne Obioha C , Williams J Mark G
Published: December 2020

Background

There is growing research support for the use of mindfulness training (MT) in schools, but almost no high-quality evidence about different training models for people wishing to teach mindfulness in this setting. Effective dissemination of MT relies on the development of scalable training routes.

Objective

To compare 4 training routes for school teachers wishing to deliver MT differing in intensity and potential scalability, considering teaching competency, training acceptability, and cost-effectiveness.

Methods

Schools were randomized to an existing route comprising an 8-session instructor-led personal mindfulness course, combined with 4-day MT program training, or 1 of 3 more scalable, lower intensity, alternatives: an instructor-led personal mindfulness course combined with 1-day MT program training, a self-taught personal mindfulness course (delivered through a course book) combined with 4-day MT program training, and a self-taught personal mindfulness course combined with 1-day MT program training.

Results

Attrition from training was substantial across all routes. The instructor-led course was more effective than the self-taught course in increasing teachers’ personal mindfulness skills. Even the most intensive (existing) training route brought only 29% of the teachers commencing training, and 56% of those completing the study protocol, to the required minimum competency threshold (an advanced beginner rating on an adapted version of the Mindfulness-based Interventions Teaching Assessment Criteria). The differences in levels of competency achieved by existing training compared with the more scalable alternatives were modest, with economic evaluation suggesting that the existing route was both more expensive and more effective than lower intensity alternatives, but with no statistically significant differences between routes.

Conclusions

This research questions the move toward abbreviating teacher training to increase scalability and suggests instead that many teachers require additional support to ensure competency from first delivery of MT in the classroom.
Agrarian Relations, Landlessness and Inequality: Case Study of Irrigated and Unirrigated Regions of Undivided Kalahandi
Authors: Patel Ramya Ranjan
Published: December 2020

In rural areas, agriculture is the primary source of income, and the income depends on the primary factor of production, land. The higher the productivity of the land, the higher the income and general prosperity and lower the levels of poverty. However, it may not always be true if the benefit from the higher productivity accrues to a certain section of large farmers, bypassing the small ones. The study found that, the introduction of irrigation in a poverty-stricken region has promoted advanced capitalist farming and raised the level of output per unit of land. On the other hand, it has led to greater landlessness and inequality among various farm size groups. The benefit is concentrated among few farmers. In this process, there is greater ‘proletarianisation’, which needs to be stopped from worsening the situation further.
Clinical Outcomes of Nonoperative Treatment for Rotator Cuff Retears and Analysis of Factors That Affect Outcomes
Authors: Shim Jae Woo , Lee Young Keun , Yoo Jae Chul
Published: December 2020

Background:

Patients who sustain a rotator cuff retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are generally considered to have worse clinical outcomes compared with patients with an intact rotator cuff. However, some patients have good clinical outcomes, even with a retorn rotator cuff.

Purpose:

To report the clinical outcomes of nonoperative treatment for rotator cuff retears and analyze the factors affecting clinical outcomes after a retear.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2011 and 2017 were reviewed, and those with a full-thickness retear on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in this study. According to their pre- and postoperative scores on the pain visual analog scale (pVAS) and functional visual analog scale (fVAS), the patients were divided into 3 groups: (1) mild group (pVAS ≤ 1 and fVAS ≥ 8), (2) moderate group (pVAS ≤ 1 and fVAS ≤ 7 or pVAS 2-3 and fVAS ≥ 8), and (3) severe group (pVAS ≥ 3 and fVAS ≤ 7). Preoperative data (dominant hand involvement, heavy labor) and tear size on 6-month postoperative MRI were analyzed as factors affecting clinical outcomes.

Results:

A total of 712 patients were reviewed, and a retear was observed in 62 patients (8.7%). Of the patients with retears, 52 were included in this study: 25 men and 27 women with a mean age of 62.6 years (range, 49-80 years) and mean follow-up period of 40 months (range, 24-88 months). According to the pVAS and fVAS scores, 25 patients (48.1%) were classified into the mild group, 9 (17.3%) into the moderate group, and 18 (34.6%) into the severe group. There were no significant differences in preoperative data among the 3 groups. The tear size in the coronal and sagittal planes decreased by 5.1 and 6.6 mm, respectively, in the mild group but increased by 2.8 and 1.4 mm, respectively, in the severe group.

Conclusion:

In patients with retears, 48.1% had only mild symptoms at a mean of 40 months postoperatively. Patients with severe symptoms tended to have an increased tear size on postoperative MRI.
The Impact of Pediatric Basal Ganglia Stroke on Mental Health in Children: Report of 2 Cases
Authors: Badar Sidrah A. , Radhakrishnan Rupa , Golomb Meredith R.
Published: December 2020

Background:

The impact of basal ganglia stroke on mental health is better described in adults than in children. We report 2 children with significant mental health issues after basal ganglia stroke.

Case Reports:

Patient 1, an 8-year-old boy, had mild anxiety before his left basal ganglia stroke. Post-stroke, he developed severe anxiety, obsessions, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to a right hemiplegia and some mild chorea. He gradually improved over 3 years with psychiatric care and medication but continued to have residual symptoms. Patient 2, a 10-year-old boy, had no history of mental health issues before his right basal ganglia stroke. Post-stroke, he developed significant anxiety and mild depression, along with a left hemiplegia. He improved over 9 months and returned to his mental health baseline.

Conclusions:

Mental health issues after basal ganglia stroke in children can be significant, and recovery can take months to years.
Relationships Between Pain, Life Stress, Sociodemographics, and Cortisol: Contributions of Pain Intensity and Financial Satisfaction
Authors: Mickle Angela M. , Garvan Cynthia , Service Chelsea , Pop Ralisa , Marks John , Wu Stanley , Edberg Jeffrey C. , Staud Roland , Fillingim Roger B. , Bartley Emily J. , Sibille Kimberly T.
Published: December 2020

Objective

The relationship between psychosocial stress and chronic pain is bidirectional. An improved understanding regarding the relationships among chronic pain, life stress, and ethnicity/race will inform identification of factors contributing to health disparities in chronic pain and improve health outcomes. This study aims to assess relationships between measures of clinical pain, life stress, sociodemographics, and salivary cortisol levels.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis involving data from 105 non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) participants aged 45–85 years old with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Data included sociodemographics, clinical pain, psychosocial stress, and salivary cortisol across five time points over an approximate 12-hour period. Non-parametric correlation analysis, sociodemographic group comparisons, and regression analyses were performed.

Results

Clinical pain and psychosocial stress were associated with salivary cortisol levels, particularly morning waking and the evening to morning awakening slope. With the inclusion of recognized explanatory variables, the Graded Chronic Pain Scale characteristic pain intensity and financial satisfaction were identified as the primary pain and psychosocial measures associated with cortisol levels. Sociodemographic group differences were indicated such that NHB participants reported higher pain-related disability, higher levels of discrimination, lower financial and material satisfaction, and showed higher evening salivary cortisol levels compared to NHW participants. In combined pain and psychosocial stress analyses, greater financial satisfaction, lower pain intensity, and lower depression were associated with higher morning waking saliva cortisol levels while greater financial satisfaction was the only variable associated with greater evening to morning awakening slope.

Conclusion

Our findings show relationships among clinical pain, psychosocial stress, sociodemographic factors, and salivary cortisol levels. Importantly, with inclusion of recognized explanatory variables, financial satisfaction remained the primary factor accounting for differences in morning waking cortisol and evening to morning awakening cortisol slope in an ethnic/racially diverse group of middle aged and older adults with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis.
Web-based interactive mapping from data dictionaries to ontologies, with an application to cancer registry
Authors: Tao Shiqiang , Zeng Ningzhou , Hands Isaac , Hurt-Mueller Joseph , Durbin Eric B. , Cui Licong , Zhang Guo-Qiang
Published: December 2020

Background

The Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) is a central cancer registry for the state of Kentucky that receives data about incident cancer cases from all healthcare facilities in the state within 6 months of diagnosis. Similar to all other U.S. and Canadian cancer registries, KCR uses a data dictionary provided by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) for standardized data entry. The NAACCR data dictionary is not an ontological system. Mapping between the NAACCR data dictionary and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Thesaurus (NCIt) will facilitate the enrichment, dissemination and utilization of cancer registry data. We introduce a web-based system, called Interactive Mapping Interface (IMI), for creating mappings from data dictionaries to ontologies, in particular from NAACCR to NCIt.

Method

IMI has been designed as a general approach with three components: (1) ontology library; (2) mapping interface; and (3) recommendation engine. The ontology library provides a list of ontologies as targets for building mappings. The mapping interface consists of six modules: project management, mapping dashboard, access control, logs and comments, hierarchical visualization, and result review and export. The built-in recommendation engine automatically identifies a list of candidate concepts to facilitate the mapping process.

Results

We report the architecture design and interface features of IMI. To validate our approach, we implemented an IMI prototype and pilot-tested features using the IMI interface to map a sample set of NAACCR data elements to NCIt concepts. 47 out of 301 NAACCR data elements have been mapped to NCIt concepts. Five branches of hierarchical tree have been identified from these mapped concepts for visual inspection.

Conclusions

IMI provides an interactive, web-based interface for building mappings from data dictionaries to ontologies. Although our pilot-testing scope is limited, our results demonstrate feasibility using IMI for semantic enrichment of cancer registry data by mapping NAACCR data elements to NCIt concepts.
Detecting missing IS-A relations in the NCI Thesaurus using an enhanced hybrid approach
Authors: Zheng Fengbo , Abeysinghe Rashmie , Sioutos Nicholas , Whiteman Lori , Remennik Lyubov , Cui Licong
Published: December 2020

Background

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Thesaurus provides reference terminology for NCI and other systems. Previously, we proposed a hybrid prototype utilizing lexical features and role definitions of concepts in non-lattice subgraphs to identify missing IS-A relations in the NCI Thesaurus. However, no domain expert evaluation was provided in our previous work. In this paper, we further enhance the hybrid approach by leveraging a novel lexical feature—roots of noun chunks within concept names. Formal evaluation of our enhanced approach is also performed.

Method

We first compute all the non-lattice subgraphs in the NCI Thesaurus. We model each concept using its role definitions, words and roots of noun chunks within its concept name and its ancestor’s names. Then we perform subsumption testing for candidate concept pairs in the non-lattice subgraphs to automatically detect potentially missing IS-A relations. Domain experts evaluated the validity of these relations.

Results

We applied our approach to 19.08d version of the NCI Thesaurus. A total of 55 potentially missing IS-A relations were identified by our approach and reviewed by domain experts. 29 out of 55 were confirmed as valid by domain experts and have been incorporated in the newer versions of the NCI Thesaurus. 7 out of 55 further revealed incorrect existing IS-A relations in the NCI Thesaurus.

Conclusions

The results showed that our hybrid approach by leveraging lexical features and role definitions is effective in identifying potentially missing IS-A relations in the NCI Thesaurus.
Missing lateral relationships in top-level concepts of an ontology
Authors: Zheng Ling , Chen Yan , Min Hua , Hildebrand P. Lloyd , Liu Hao , Halper Michael , Geller James , de Coronado Sherri , Perl Yehoshua
Published: December 2020

Background

Ontologies house various kinds of domain knowledge in formal structures, primarily in the form of concepts and the associative relationships between them. Ontologies have become integral components of many health information processing environments. Hence, quality assurance of the conceptual content of any ontology is critical. Relationships are foundational to the definition of concepts.Missing relationship errors(i.e., unintended omissions of important definitional relationships) can have a deleterious effect on the quality of an ontology. An abstraction network is a structure that overlays an ontology and provides an alternate, summarization view of its contents. One kind of abstraction network is called anarea taxonomy, and a variation of it is called asubtaxonomy. A methodology based on these taxonomies for more readily finding missing relationship errors is explored.

Methods

Thearea taxonomyand thesubtaxonomyare deployed to help reveal concepts that have a high likelihood of exhibiting missing relationship errors. A specific top-level grouping unit found within the area taxonomy and subtaxonomy, when deemed to be anomalous, is used as an indicator that missing relationship errors are likely to be found among certain concepts. Two hypotheses pertaining to the effectiveness of our Quality Assurance approach are studied.

Results

Our Quality Assurance methodology was applied to theBiological Processhierarchy of the National Cancer Institute thesaurus (NCIt) and SNOMED CT’sEye/vision findingsubhierarchy within itsClinical findinghierarchy. Many missing relationship errors were discovered and confirmed in our analysis. For both test-bed hierarchies, our Quality Assurance methodology yielded a statistically significantly higher number of concepts with missing relationship errors in comparison to a control sample of concepts. Two hypotheses are confirmed by these findings.

Conclusions

Quality assurance is a critical part of an ontology’s lifecycle, and automated or semi-automated tools for supporting this process are invaluable. We introduced a Quality Assurance methodology targeted at missing relationship errors. Its successful application to the NCIt’sBiological Processhierarchy and SNOMED CT’sEye/vision findingsubhierarchy indicates that it can be a useful addition to the arsenal of tools available to ontology maintenance personnel.
Lameness in fattening pigs – Mycoplasma hyosynoviae, osteochondropathy and reduced dietary phosphorus level as three influencing factors: a case report
Authors: Wegner B. , Tenhündfeld J. , Vogels J. , Beumer M. , Kamphues J. , Hansmann F. , Rieger H. , grosse Beilage E. , Hennig-Pauka I.
Published: December 2020

Background

Multiple diagnostic procedures, their results and interpretation in a case with severe lameness in fattening pigs are described. It is shown that selected diagnostic steps lead to identification of various risk factors for disease development in the affected herd. One focus of this case report is the prioritization of diagnostic steps to verify the impact of the different conditions, which finally led to the clinical disorder. Assessing a sufficient dietary phosphorus (P) supply and its impact on disease development proved most difficult. The diagnostic approach based on estimated calculation of phosphorus intake is presented in detail.

Case presentation

On a farrow-to-finishing farm, lameness occurred in pigs with 30–70 kg body weight. Necropsy of three diseased pigs revealed claw lesions and alterations at the knee and elbow joints. Histologic findings were characteristic of osteochondrosis. All pigs were positively tested forMycoplasma hyosynoviaein affected joints.Pvalues in blood did not indicate a P deficiency, while bone ashing in one of three animals resulted in a level indicating an insufficient mineral supply. Analysis of diet composition revealed a low phosphorus content in two diets, which might have led to a marginal P supply in individuals with high average daily gains with respect to development of bone mass and connective tissue prior to presentation of affected animals. Finally, the impact of dietary factors for disease development could not be evidenced in all submitted animals in this case.

Conclusions

Mycoplasma(M.)hyosynoviaewas identified to be an important etiologic factor for disease. Other, non-infectious factors, such as osteochondrosis and claw lesions might have favored development of lameness. In addition, a relevant marginal P supply for pigs was found in a limited time period in a phase of intense growing, but the potential interaction with infection byM. hyosynoviaeis unknown.

The presented case of severe lameness in fattening pigs revealed that three different influences presumably act in pathogenesis. Focusing only on one factor and ignoring others might be misleading regarding subsequent decision-making for prevention and therapy. Finally, clinical symptoms disappeared after some changes in diet composition and anti-inflammatory treatment of individual animals.
Vielfalt and diversité: how local actors in France and Germany evaluate immigration and socio-cultural heterogeneity
Authors: Schiller Maria , Lang Christine , Schönwälder Karen , Moutselos Michalis
Published: December 2020

In both Germany and France, perceptions of immigration, diversity and their societal consequences have undergone important transformations in the past two decades. However, existing research has only partially captured such processes. The “grand narratives” of national approaches, while still influential, no longer explain contemporary realities. Further, analyses of national politics and discourses may not sufficiently reflect the realities across localities and society more broadly. While emerging in different national contexts, little is known about how diversity is actually perceived by political stakeholders at the urban level. Given the key role of immigration and diversity in current conflicts over Europe’s future, it is imperative to assess present-day conceptualisations of migration-related diversity among important societal actors.

This article investigates perceptions and evaluations of socio-cultural heterogeneity by important societal actors in large cities. We contribute to existing literature by capturing an unusually broad set of actors from state and civil society. We also present data drawn from an unusually large number of cities. How influential is the perception of current society as heterogeneous, and what forms of heterogeneity are salient? And is socio-cultural and migration-related heterogeneity evaluated as threatening or rather as beneficial? Based on an original data set, this study explores the shared and contested ideas, the cognitive roadmaps of state and non-state actors involved in local politics.

We argue that, in both German and French cities, socio-cultural heterogeneity is nowadays widely recognized as marking cities and often positively connoted. At the same time, perceptions of the main features of diversity and of the benefits and challenges attached to it vary. We find commonalities between French and German local actors, but also clear differences. In concluding, we suggest how and why national contexts importantly shape evaluations of diversity.
Inflammatory cytokine and plasma C-reactive protein response to ketoacidosis in adults with type 1 diabetes: Egyptian multicenter study
Authors: Mohamed Ghada A. , Abd-Elrahman Mohamed Z. , Bahriz Rania , Albehairy Ahmed
Published: December 2020

Background

In adults with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), high plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) were reported to be sensitive markers of infection. However, elevation of both CRP and the pro-inflammatory cytokines which regulate CRP are probable without infection and may act as indicator of systemic inflammatory response (SIR). So, we wanted to determine if increased plasma CRP levels occur in young patients with severe DKA who do not have clinical evidence of infection and to relate observed changes in CRP level to the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

Results

Upon admission of 30 DKA patients with age ranging from 17 to 40 years, we found significant elevation of CRP (P = 0.001) and IL-6 (P = 0.001) in DKA patients than control group. After resolution of DKA, there was significant reduction in CRP and IL-6 compared to before DKA correction (P value = 0.054 and 0.001), respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between CRP after correction of DKA and RBCs (P = 0.042), and serum K (P = 0.021) and between CRP prior to DKA correction and PH (P = 0.025).

Conclusions

Patients with DKA without infection had increased levels of CRP and inflammatory cytokines. Intensive insulin therapy has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect that, at the time of DKA improvement, can normalize levels of CRP and inflammatory cytokines, and this beneficial effect is greater for IL-6 than CRP.
Metabolic Impact of Intermittent Fasting in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Interventional Studies
Authors: Borgundvaag Emily , Mak Jessica , Kramer Caroline K
Published: December 2020

Context

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been proposed as a weight-loss strategy with additional cardiometabolic benefits in individuals with obesity. Despite its growing popularity, the effect of IF in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) remains unclear.

Objective

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the metabolic impact of IF compared to standard diet in patients with T2DM.

Methods

Embase, PubMed, and clinicaltrials.gov between 1950 and August 12, 2020 were searched for randomized, diet-controlled studies evaluating any IF intervention in adults with T2DM. We examined the impact of IF on weight loss and glucose-lowering by calculating pooled estimates of the absolute differences in body weight and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) compared to a control group using a random-effects model.

Results

Seven studies (n = 338 participants; mean body mass index [BMI] 35.65, mean baseline HbA1c 8.8%) met our inclusion criteria. IF induced a greater decrease in body weight by –1.89 kg (95% CI, –2.91 to –0.86 kg) compared to a regular diet, with no significant between-study heterogeneity (I2 21.0%, P = .28). The additional weight loss induced by IF was greater in studies with a heavier population (BMI > 36) (–3.43 kg [95% CI, –5.72 to –1.15 kg]) and in studies of shorter duration (≤ 4 months) (–3.73 kg [95% CI, –7.11 to –0.36 kg]). IF was not associated with further reduction in HbA1c compared to a standard diet (HbA1c –0.11% [95% CI, –0.38% to 0.17%]).

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests that IF is associated with greater weight loss in patients with T2DM compared with a standard diet, with a similar impact on glycemic control.
Development of Phthalocyanine-Based Functional Molecules with Tunable Optical and Chiroptical Properties
Authors: Muranaka Atsuya , Uchiyama Masanobu
Published: December 2020

Phthalocyanines and related compounds with extensive π-conjugation have interesting physical properties that have led to a wide range of applications, from conventional dyes and pigments to advanced functional materials. In this account, we briefly introduce our work on the development of phthalocyanine-based functional molecules that exhibit near-infrared (NIR) absorption or circularly polarized luminescence (CPL).
Image analysis method for heterogeneity and porosity characterization of biomimetic hydrogels
Authors: Jamshidi Maryam , Falamaki Cavus
Published: December 2020

This work presents an image processing procedure for characterization of porosity and heterogeneity of fully hydrated hydrogels based on the analysis of cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) images. An algorithm consisting of different filtering, morphological transformation, and thresholding steps to denoise the image whilst emphasizing the hydrogel fibres edges for extracting the pores features is explained. Finally, the information of hydrogel porosity and heterogeneity is presented in form of pore size distribution, spatial contours maps and kernel density dot plots. The obtained results reveal that a non-parametric kernel density plot effectively determines the spatial heterogeneity and porosity of the hydrogel.
Spillover Effect of Consumer Awareness on Third Parties’ Selling Strategies and Retailers’ Platform Openness
Authors: Song Wen , Chen Jianqing , Li Wenli
Published: December 2020

Global e-commerce sales have experienced unprecedented growth for the past years and have reached over $2 trillion annually. One interesting phenomenon along with this remarkable growth is that giant online retailers, such as Amazon.com in the United States and JD.com in China, open their platforms and allow third-party sellers to offer products there, thus inviting competition. We explore why an online retailer would open its platform and why a third-party seller would join the platform. We highlight the role of a spillover effect that, when the third-party seller joins the retailer’s platform, more consumers become aware of the third-party seller’s existence and its products which are not even listed on the retailer’s platform. We characterize how the third-party seller’s optimal selling strategies should vary with and how the retailer’s openness decision should be determined by the extent of the spillover effect and the retailer’s initial awareness advantage. Compared with the case without a spillover effect, the spillover effect makes the retailer less likely to open its platform, but it makes the third-party seller more likely to sell identical products on an open retailer platform; the spillover effect always (weakly) benefits the third-party seller, but it does not necessarily hurt the retailer.
A Simple and Approximately Optimal Mechanism for a Buyer with Complements
Authors: Eden Alon , Feldman Michal , Friedler Ophir , Talgam-Cohen Inbal , Weinberg S. Matthew
Published: December 2020

Recent literature on approximately optimal revenue maximization has shown that in settings where agent valuations for items are complement free, the better of selling the items separately and bundling them together guarantees a constant fraction of the optimal revenue. However, most real-world settings involve some degree of complementarity among items. The role that complementarity plays in the trade-off of simplicity versus optimality has been an obvious missing piece of the puzzle. In “A Simple and Approximately Optimal Mechanism for a Buyer with Complements,” the authors show that the same simple selling mechanism—the better of selling separately and as a grand bundle—guarantees a $\Theta(d)$ fraction of the optimal revenue, where $d$ is a measure of the degree of complementarity. One key modeling contribution is a tractable notion of “degree of complementarity” that admits meaningful results and insights—they demonstrate that previous definitions fall short in this regard.
Delays Impair Learning and Can Drive Convergence to Inefficient Strategies
Authors: Rahmandad Hazhir , Gary Michael Shayne
Published: December 2020

With so many possible choices, why do managers adopt the strategies they do? We identify delays between adopting a strategy and observing the full implications of that choice as a critical factor influencing strategic choices. Using a simulation of a service firm, we conduct two behavioral experiments to investigate how delays interact with outcome uncertainty to shape learning, strategy adaptation, and performance outcomes. Two mechanisms emerge from how different subject groups perceive, react to, and learn in the presence of delayed feedback and uncertainty. First, when multiple viable strategies exist, longer delays lead both general participants and experienced managers toward alternatives that have rapid returns. When those alternatives are suboptimal, delays may strengthen convergence to inefficient strategies. Second, delays and uncertainty may also induce learners to persist with their a priori strategies. Managers show larger confidence in their priors and thus underperform general participants when the underlying task structure diverges from those priors. Both mechanisms can undermine performance. Moreover, delays and uncertainty may reduce heterogeneity in strategies and performance in more dynamic, uncertain environments, leading to convergence as tasks grow more complex and where decision makers possess similar priors.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory.

Funding: Funding from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UNSW Business School supported this research.

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2020.1405 .
O registro de vulnerabilidade social de acordo com os códigos da classificação estatística internacional de doenças e problemas relacionados à saúde (CID-10) nos prontuários eletrônicos dos residentes de primeiro ano de Medicina de Família e Comunidade do Centro Municipal de Saúde Hélio Pellegrino.
Authors: Deusdara Rodolfo , Cariello Thadeu Felix , Gouveia Marília Cesca
Published: December 2020

Na Atenção Primária à Saúde, o registro de situações de vulnerabilidade é fundamental para planejar ações e serviços em saúde específicos para a resolução de problemas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade dos registros de vulnerabilidade dos prontuários de residentes de primeiro ano de medicina de família e comunidade do CMS Hélio Pellegrino vinculados a UERJ. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de caráter transversal, quantitativo, exploratório e retrospectivo. Foram estudados alguns códigos da CID-10 referentes ao grupo “Pessoas com riscos potenciais a saúde relacionadas com circunstâncias socioeconômicas e psicossociais”. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram o reduzido aparecimento dos códigos da CID-10 relacionados a vulnerabilidade no prontuário eletrônico dos residentes do primeiro ano de Medicina de Família e Comunidade vinculados a UERJ da clínica Hélio Pellegrino. Conclusão: As fragilidades no registro podem apontar caminhos para a capacitação com vistas a melhora da qualidade dos registros e na formação do próprio residente. Novos estudos são necessários para avaliar os residentes também no segundo ano da residência e com maior amostra de prontuários. A baixa qualidade dos registros é um importante problema na Atenção Primária, uma vez que as informações geradas são relevantes para o planejamento local das ações e serviços em saúde.
Relato de práticas educativas em extensão com trabalhadores de restaurantes para promoção de alimentação saudável
Authors: Aguiar Odaleia Barbosa de , Padrão Susana Moreira
Published: December 2020

Trata-se de um relato de experiências desenvolvido por um projeto de extensão, sobre práticas educativas realizadas com trabalhadores de restaurantes. A abordagem do projeto é de natureza metodológica qualitativa e as ações educativas tiveram como base a educação baseada nos princípios de Paulo Freire, que tem como pressupostos a mediação entre educador e educando e a valorização do conhecimento que o educando detém. O diálogo é um o principal protagonista desse método, o que possibilita que o aluno/educando participe mais ativamente do processo de aprendizagem e da produção de conhecimento. Essa iniciativa busca ser transformadora à medida que as práticas educativas propiciaram ultrapassar e colocar em questão a proposta usual dos processos educativos em saúde, inscritos em uma perspectiva de transmissão de um conhecimento especializado e técnico, baseado em uma concepção hegemônica e na ideia de que quem monopoliza o conhecimento é o educador, onde o saber e o modo de viver dos educandos podem ser secundarizados e ignorados no processo de aprendizagem. Adentrar no universo da alimentação a partir da percepção dos trabalhadores é o objetivo desse projeto. Entender a compreensão do trabalhador sobre alimentação saudável e o direito humano à alimentação adequada pode promover a reflexão e a transformação da realidade onde o trabalhador está inserido, no ambiente da casa e do trabalho.
Programa de certificação sustentável do município de Salvador: análise dos critérios e benefícios do "IPTU verde" em sua perspectiva ecológica / Sustainable certification program of the city of Salvador: analysis of the green IPTU criteria and benefits on its ecological perspective
Authors: Azevedo Tânia Cristina , Portella André Alves
Published: December 2020

ResumoO objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar os critérios e benefícios do Programa de Certificação Sustentável denominado “IPTU VERDE”. Como estratégia de condução da pesquisa, recorreu-se ao estudo de caso, suportado por pesquisa bibliográfica, pesquisa documental e análise de conteúdo. Os resultados da investigação apontaram que o modelo aplicado no munícipio de Salvador foi inspirado no padrão internacional de certificação denominado Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™). Conclui-se que embora seja uma iniciativa válida para os padrões brasileiros de benefícios tributários, em Salvador há limitações para o contribuinte ter acesso ao mesmo, pois tende a priorizar segmentos específicos ou determinadas categorias de negócios.Palavras-chave: Certificação sustentável. Extrafiscalidade. Incentivo fiscal verde. Política urbana.Tributação ecológica. AbstractThe objective of this research was to analyze the conditions and benefits of the Sustainable Certification Program called GREEN IPTU. As a strategy for conducting the research, we used the case study, supported by bibliographic research, documentary research and content analysis Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™). The results of the investigation showed that the model applied in the municipality of Salvador was inspired by the international certification standard called.Keywords: sustainable certification. Extrafiscality. Green tax incentive. Urban policy. Ecological taxation
Comunicação e mediação no processo de revisão do Plano Diretor participativo de Porto Velho - RO / Communication and mediation in the review process of the participatory Director Plan Porto Velho-RO
Authors: Zuin Aparecida Luzia Alzira , Dias Mariana Lira
Published: December 2020

ResumoO objetivo deste artigo é discutir os modos como as comunidades e outros atores sociais participaram do processo de revisão do Plano Diretor Participativo de Porto Velho-RO, e demonstrar os mecanismos de comunicação utilizados pela gestão municipal para convocar a população a discutir a política pública inerente aos interesses da comunidade, e depois aprovar as deliberações durante o processo. Para os estudos foi realizada uma breve apresentação sobre o Plano Diretor e suas bases jurídicas, para em seguida proceder com a explanação sobre o processo de revisão e as etapas propostas, bem como a metodologia utilizada pela equipe responsável pela convocação e participação das comunidades. Dentre algumas premissas iniciais sobre o trabalho, o processo de revisão do Plano Diretor de Porto Velho (2018-2019) foi um exercício importante para os moradores, pois possibilitou melhores relações intersubjetivas entre o sujeito e a gestão municipal conforme previsto no Estatuto da Cidade, bem como no modelo de Educação Cidadã (Freire, Gadotti), para desenvolver o senso crítico dos cidadãos.Palavras-chave: Comunicação. Educação. Mediação. Plano Diretor. Participação Popular. AbstractThe purpose of this article is to discuss the ways in which the communities and other social actors have participated in the review process of the Participatory Master Plan of Porto Velho –state of Rondônia (Brazil), and to demonstrate how the communication mechanisms were used by municipal management to convene the population to discuss the public policy inherent to the community’s interests, and then to approve the deliberations during its process. For the studies, a brief presentation about the Master Plan and its legal bases is made, then an explanation of the review process and the proposed stages, as well as the methodology used by the team responsible for the invitation and participation of communities. Amongst some initial assumptions about the work, the review process of the Porto Velho Master Plan (2018-2019) was an important exercise for the inhabitants, because it enabled better inter-subjective relations between the subject and the municipal management (City Statute), as well as in the model of Citizen Education (Freire, Gadotti), in order to develop the critical sense of citizens.Keywords: Communication; Education; Mediation; Master Plan; Popular Participation.