bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studying and imparting moisture absorption qualities of the new wood based bio-composite material
Authors: Belchinskaya L , Zhuzhukin K , Dmitrenkov A , Roessner F
Published: December 2020

The paper reviews the method of creating a new bio-composite material based on birch wood and describes the mechanism of interaction of used motor oil with birch wood by infrared spectroscopy involved. It also provides data on the moisture absorption of the newly obtained composite. Used motor oil has high hydrophobic and antiseptic properties. The main chemical changes in oils occur as a result of its oxidation during engine operation under the temperature influence. However, the spectrum of spent engine oil is distinguished by the appearance of three new peaks: the wide peak of 3600-3000 cm−1, which is formed during characteristic vibrations of the OH group, indicating water cut in the engine oil, a narrow peak of 1740 cm−1, characteristic of stretching vibrations of the carbonyl group (C = O). In addition to these peaks, the other peak was detected at the 1150 cm−1 frequency and, yet, another weakly pronounced peak of 970 cm−1, which correspond to stretching vibrations of the peroxide group (C-O-O). The mechanism for impregnating wood with used engine oil has been developed. The moisture absorption of wood impregnated with spent engine oil is 3 times less than that of natural wood.
Theoretical studies of filtration movement of moisture in capillaries of woody plants
Authors: Korablev R A , Belokurov V P , Belokurov S V
Published: December 2020

The article presents theoretical studies of filtration transport of moisture through capillaries of woody plants that is determined by humidity gradients. The emerging humidity fields and the magnitude of the gradients significantly affect the growth and development of woody plants biomass. The aim of theoretical research was to use mathematical tools of operational calculus that provide an opportunity to consider the filtration of moisture through the capillaries of wood materials using a third-kind boundary condition, when the substance is exchanged with the environment at the considered boundary. As a result of the use of Laplace transform a mathematical model for studying the movement of moisture in the capillaries of woody vegetation through filtration transport has been obtained. Modelling of a moisture transport process in wood materials is an important tool in theoretical and experimental studies. This is particularly important for conducting long-term experimental studies of the site quality of stand of trees from the technogenic impact of vehicles on roadside ecological systems.
A proposed technology to ensure high-precision aerial seeding of certified seeds
Authors: Vovchenko N , Novikov A , Sokolov S , Tishchenko E
Published: December 2020

The research to which this article is devoted relates to forestry and agriculture, in particular, to methods that provide accurate seeding in areas that are inaccessible or ineffective for ground-based mechanization. The existing approaches today have a number of significant drawbacks that do not allow to implement the stated tasks with sufficient accuracy. The main ones are: the presence of a mechanical system for creating air pressure, which significantly complicates the sowing process, without ensuring, at the same time, its sufficient accuracy; the impossibility of ensuring also accurate seeding due to the lack of control of the rotational speed of the auger feeder, depending on the speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) itself. The result of this study was a developed technology that has no analogues in the world, which greatly simplifies the process of sowing from the air, does not require energy costs and additional equipment, and also increases the accuracy of seeding due to its uniformity at various values of the UAV speed.
Application of electro reflexotherapy in bronchopneumonia of calves against background of necrobacteriosis management
Authors: Ostyakova M , Malkova N
Published: December 2020

One of the main reasons for the high incidence of young cattle of bronchopneumonia is the low level of the immunological response due to the imperfect immune system of the young organism, as well as the ill-being of livestock farming with one or a number of diseases caused by pathogens related to opportunistic and/or stationary microflora. To obtain a positive result of the treatment of bronchopneumonia, it is necessary to provide the first line of nonspecific protection of the calves’ body, as well as reducing the effects of the infectious and inflammatory stressor on the sick organism. The object of the study was young cattle with florid clinical signs of catarrhal bronchopneumonia. Three groups were formed from the selected calves: control and two experienced. In the control, a generally accepted treatment regimen for bronchopneumonia was used, and in the experiment, electroreflexotherapy was additionally used. Combination treatment of catarrhal bronchopneumonia of calves with the use of electroreflexotherapy contributes to: activation of the inflammatory process, stimulation of specific and non-specific immunobiological surveillance, providing direct and indirect bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects and has some antiadrenergic effect.
Factors of influence on the innovative activity of agricultural enterprises
Authors: Korolkova A , Marinchenko T , Goryacheva A
Published: December 2020

The aim of the study is to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of budgetary and extra-budgetary support and stimulation of innovative activity in agriculture. Using the methods of complex and struc-tural-dynamic analysis, expert assessments and some others, studies of do-mestic and foreign scientists, statistical data, materials of state programs have been analyzed. This article discusses the main indicators of innovative activities of agricultural. The study showed that the level of innovative activity in the industry remains low due to the lack of finance from manufacturers; it depends on the level of government support. Small and medium-sized enterprises are most dependent on government support; incentive measures and the amount of government support should be long-term. It is proposed to create a center of competence, the purpose of which will be to stimulate innovative activity and reduce the influence of obstacles. To solve the problem of lack of financial resources for the implementation of innovative activities, an operator is needed, such functions can be taken over by Russian Venture Company (RVC) or the National technology initiative (NTI) project office.
The effect of antimicrobials agents on the antilysocyme activity of enterobacteria in vitro
Authors: Shulga I S , Ostyakova M E , Shulga N N , Zhelyabovskaya D A
Published: December 2020

The fight against infectious animal diseases has resulted in a change in the etiological structure of infectious agents. This is associated with the variability of bacteria and the involvement of opportunistic microorganisms in the infectious process. The emergence and development of the pathological process are largely determined by the reduction in the colonization resistance of the gastrointestinal tract shell and the persistent properties of microorganisms. This paper aims to study the antilysozyme activity of enterobacteria isolated from sick calves with signs of acute intestinal disorders and evaluate the effect of antimicrobial drugs on the antilysozyme activity of enterobacteria in vitro. For this purpose, the suspension of an enterobacteria culture was incubated together with the studied antibiotic, followed by the determination of the anti-lysozyme activity and statistical data processing. Data analysis showed that the anti-lysozyme activity of enterobacteria, when exposed to antimicrobial agents, depended on the agent under study and was determined by the specific characteristics of the microorganism. Most of the studied antibiotics had a predominantly inhibitory effect on the antilysozyme activity of Escherichia coli, and the persistent potential of bacteria of the Proteus genus was enhanced by the same antimicrobial agents.
Protein content in milk of holstein black-and-white cows
Authors: Ignatieva N L , Yu Nemtseva E
Published: December 2020

The most optimal method to solve the problem for cow’s milk and protein content increase is to carry out zootechnical and breeding activities. The goal was to study the milk protein structure and content of the Holsteinized black-and-white breed cows of different genotypes, as well as to establish the relationship nature between the activity of transamination enzymes and the milk protein content of cows. For this purpose, 4 groups of experimental cows (15 heads in each) were formed according to the principle of father’s belonging to the countries of origin (daughters of seed bulls of Canadian, Danish selection, Dutch and domestic selection). The superiority of cows-daughters of foreign breeding bulls in terms of milk protein content was established. Moreover, the milk of cows born from foreign producers contents high level of casein - the most important fraction from the technological point of view. Electrophoretic analysis of milk proteins isolated 16 fractions, including 9 casein and 7 whey ones. The highest content was found in such fractions as αs1-, β-, αs2-, κ-caseins and β-Lg. The calculated correlation coefficients between the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and the milk protein activity of cows showed a direct relationship between them in cows of the studied groups. This is a favorable factor for increasing the cows milk protein content.
Wolbachia Across Social Insects: Patterns and Implications
Authors: Ramalho Manuela de O , Kim Zoe , Wang Steven , Moreau Corrie S
Published: December 2020

Wolbachia is one of the most common intracellular symbionts among insects, but the function of this infection and its effects on the host still remain largely unknown for many taxa. In the case of many social insects, living in colonies results in close interactions, facilitating the dispersion of the symbiont. However, having only one caste responsible for reproduction (queens) could restrict infections. Several groups of social insects have been reported to be highly infected with these symbionts. However, Wolbachia associations across social and closely related non-social insects in a comparative framework has not been examined to date, which may help us understand the role social behavior, geography, and ecology plays in structuring this association. Since 2006 the Multi-Locus Sequencing Type (MLST) approach has been shown to be appropriate for diversity studies, which consists of sequencing five genes spread across the Wolbachia genome. Over the past 15 yr, studies using this approach have been conducted worldwide and have generated large volumes of data. In this review article, we intend to produce a meta-analysis by combining MLST data from across social insects (ants, bees, termites, wasps) and beyond, together with their closest relatives to better elucidate the patterns behind the diversity of this symbiotic interaction. Our main findings reveal that the diversity of Wolbachia (supergroups) is correlated with the host insect taxonomy, biogeography, and social/solitary behavior. In addition, solitary insects such as bees and wasps can interact with a greater diversity of Wolbachia supergroup compared to their social representatives.
Investigating the Effect of Fatigue and Psychological Distress on Information Processing Speed in the Postacute Period After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Premorbidly Healthy Adults
Authors: Anderson Jacqueline F I , Cockle Emily
Published: December 2020

Impairments in processing speed under conditions of increasing cognitive load have been reported in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In other conditions that are also associated with white matter disruption, both psychological distress and fatigue have been shown to underlie this impairment.

Objective: the current study aimed to investigate whether slowing of processing abilities under conditions of greater cognitive load is independent of fatigue and psychological status in premorbidly healthy individuals with subacute mTBI.

Method: using a prospective observational design, we examined 84 individuals with mTBI approximately 8 weeks after injury and 47 healthy control (HC) participants. They were assessed with the Symbol Digit Modality Test, an n-back task and a rate of gain of information choice reaction time task that conforms to Hick’s law. Participants were also assessed with measures of fatigue and psychological status.

Results: as expected, findings revealed no group differences on simple reaction time tasks, but as task complexity increased, the mTBI group performed more slowly than the HC group. This group difference occurred independently of fatigue and psychological distress levels and was associated with a moderate effect size.

Conclusions: during the subacute period after mTBI, premorbidly healthy individuals demonstrate impairment in their ability to rapidly process information as the cognitive load of the task increases beyond simple reaction time requirements. Examination of whether these changes affect resumption of premorbid roles is warranted.
The status of causality in biological databases: data resources and data retrieval possibilities to support logical modeling
Authors: Touré Vasundra , Flobak Åsmund , Niarakis Anna , Vercruysse Steven , Kuiper Martin
Published: December 2020

Causal molecular interactions represent key building blocks used in computational modeling, where they facilitate the assembly of regulatory networks. Logical regulatory networks can be used to predict biological and cellular behaviors by system perturbations and in silico simulations. Today, broad sets of causal interactions are available in a variety of biological knowledge resources. However, different visions, based on distinct biological interests, have led to the development of multiple ways to describe and annotate causal molecular interactions. It can therefore be challenging to efficiently explore various resources of causal interaction and maintain an overview of recorded contextual information that ensures valid use of the data. This review lists the different types of public resources with causal interactions, the different views on biological processes that they represent, the various data formats they use for data representation and storage, and the data exchange and conversion procedures that are available to extract and download these interactions. This may further raise awareness among the targeted audience, i.e. logical modelers and other scientists interested in molecular causal interactions, but also database managers and curators, about the abundance and variety of causal molecular interaction data, and the variety of tools and approaches to convert them into one interoperable resource.
Application of learning to rank in bioinformatics tasks
Authors: Ru Xiaoqing , Ye Xiucai , Sakurai Tetsuya , Zou Quan
Published: December 2020

Over the past decades, learning to rank (LTR) algorithms have been gradually applied to bioinformatics. Such methods have shown significant advantages in multiple research tasks in this field. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize and discuss the application of these algorithms so that these algorithms are convenient and contribute to bioinformatics. In this paper, the characteristics of LTR algorithms and their strengths over other types of algorithms are analyzed based on the application of multiple perspectives in bioinformatics. Finally, the paper further discusses the shortcomings of the LTR algorithms, the methods and means to better use the algorithms and some open problems that currently exist.
Viral Cultures for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infectivity Assessment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jefferson Tom , Spencer Elisabeth A , Brassey Jon , Heneghan Carl
Published: December 2020

Background

We aimed to review the evidence from studies relating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) culture with the results of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and other variables that may influence the interpretation of the test, such as time from symptom onset.

Methods

We searched LitCovid, medRxiv, Google Scholar, and the World Health Organization coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) database for COVID-19 up to 10 September 2020. We included studies attempting to culture or observe SARS-CoV-2 in specimens with RT-PCR positivity. Studies were dual-extracted and the data summarized narratively by specimen type. Where necessary, we contacted corresponding authors of included papers for additional information. We assessed quality using a modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS 2) risk-of-bias tool.

Results

We included 29 studies reporting attempts at culturing, or observing tissue infection by, SARS-CoV-2 in sputum, nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal, urine, stool, blood, and environmental specimens. The quality of the studies was moderate with lack of standardized reporting. The data suggest a relationship between the time from onset of symptom to the timing of the specimen test, cycle threshold (Ct), and symptom severity. Twelve studies reported that Ct values were significantly lower and log copies higher in specimens producing live virus culture. Two studies reported that the odds of live virus culture were reduced by approximately 33% for every 1-unit increase in Ct. Six of 8 studies reported detectable RNA for >14 days, but infectious potential declined after day 8 even among cases with ongoing high viral loads. Four studies reported viral culture from stool specimens.

Conclusions

Complete live viruses are necessary for transmission, not the fragments identified by PCR. Prospective routine testing of reference and culture specimens and their relationship to symptoms, signs, and patient co-factors should be used to define the reliability of PCR for assessing infectious potential. Those with high Ct are unlikely to have infectious potential.
The effects of daily mitotane or diazepam treatment on the formation of chronic stress symptoms in newly captured wild house sparrows
Authors: Fischer Clare P , Romero L Michael
Published: December 2020

Wild animals brought into captivity frequently experience chronic stress and typically need a period of time to adjust to the conditions of captivity (restraint, artificial lighting, altered diet, human presence, etc.), to which they may never fully acclimate. Changes in mass, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and heart rate parameters have been observed over the first week in newly captive house sparrows (Passer domesticus). In this study, we tested the effects of two drugs, diazepam and mitotane, in preventing the chronic stress symptoms caused by captivity, compared with oil-injected control animals. Diazepam is an anxiolytic that is widely prescribed in humans and other animals and has been shown in some cases to reduce physiological stress. Mitotane is an agent that causes chemical adrenalectomy, reducing the body’s capacity to produce glucocorticoid hormones. Our mitotane treatment did not cause the expected change in corticosterone concentrations. Baseline corticosterone was higher after a week in captivity regardless of the treatment group, while stress-induced corticosterone did not significantly increase above baseline after a week in captivity in any treatment group. However, mitotane treatment did have some physiological effects, as it reduced the resting heart rate and the duration of the heart rate response to a sudden noise. It also prevented the increase in nighttime activity that we observed in control animals. There was no effect of diazepam on corticosterone, resting heart rate, activity or heart rate response to a sudden noise, and no effect of either treatment on the sympathetic vs parasympathetic control of the resting heart rate. Together, these data suggest that mitotane, but not diazepam, can have a modest impact on helping house sparrows adapt to captive conditions. Easing the transition to captivity will likely make conservation efforts, such as initiating captive breeding programs, more successful.
Sugarcane Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Sorghum. I. Population Characteristics and Dispersion Patterns in Relation to Different Sample Unit Sizes
Authors: Yang Yubin , Reay-Jones Francis P F , Reagan Thomas E , Beuzelin Julien M , Wilson Blake E , Davis Jeffrey A , Wang Jing
Published: December 2020

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), has emerged as a serious pest of sorghum in the United States. Field trials were conducted in Louisiana and South Carolina in 2016–2018 to investigate its population characteristics and distribution patterns in relation to four sample unit sizes (three circular and one leaf based). Sugarcane aphid populations usually progressed through a phase of rapid rise followed by a phase of rapid decline within a span of 5–6 wk, with peak density determined by sorghum cultivars and climatic conditions. Peak population densities for susceptible cultivars were 1.9–14.9× that for resistant cultivars on a per plant basis. Melanaphis sacchari tended to concentrate on the lower green leaf nodes early in the infestation, with the distribution shifting toward higher green leaf nodes as the infestation progressed. Aphid densities per cm2 at the basal and middle sections were about twice as high as at the distal section of leaves. The proportions of infested sample units were fitted to the Wilson–Room binomial model that incorporates the effect of density on clumping pattern. For a specific sample unit size, clumping patterns were similar across cultivars, years, and leaf positions, but varied across infestation stages. For a fixed aphid density per sample unit, the proportion of infested sample units decreased with increasing sample unit size. For a fixed aphid density per cm2, proportion infested increased with increasing sample unit size, indicating less clumping with a larger sample unit size. Field sampling time and efficiency between samplers were quantified.
Echocardiographic evaluation of patients undergoing cancer therapy
Authors: Frey Maria Klara , Bergler-Klein Jutta
Published: December 2020

As advances in oncology therapies lead to significant improvement in life expectancy of many cancer entities, short-, and long-term cardiac side effects of oncology treatments gain increasing importance. In search of new screening modalities, echocardiography currently presents the best established and clinically easily feasible tool to detect cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing cancer therapy. This review focusses on the most commonly used oncology therapies and aims to give a practical approach to guide clinicians caring for this growing number of patients.
Analytical methodology to measure periodontal bone morphometry following orthodontic tooth movement in mice
Authors: Fleissig Omer , Hazan-Molina Hagai , Chaushu Stella , Aizenbud Dror , Klein Yehuda , Zini Avraham , Gabet Yankel
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Basic research in orthodontics is commonly conducted in rodents. However, experimental studies on orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) lack a standard method to examine OTM and periodontal changes. This study describes a unifying protocol for the analysis of OTM and associated bone microarchitectural changes in mice using microcomputed tomography (µCT).

Methods

Mice (10 animals/group) were divided into control and OTM groups. OTM was generated by anchoring a nickel–titanium closed-coil spring to the upper incisors to pull the upper left first molar. A third group of TNFα −/− mice was added since these are known to have slower OTM. Using µCT, we implemented and tested a number of methods to measure OTM distance and examine 3D bone morphometric parameters associated with OTM in mice.

Results

In total, we tested five methods to measure the OTM distance in mice. The results indicated that measuring the intermolar diastema, and assessing tooth movement relative to the anterior root of the zygomatic arch, displayed the lowest standard deviation and enabled optimal detection of intergroup differences. We also developed two protocols for µCT analysis of the periradicular bone that yielded no false-positive results. Our results revealed that including the width of the periodontal ligament rather than excluding it from the region of interest in mice detected more statistically significant differences in the morphometric parameters between the OTM and control sides and between WT and TNFα −/− mice despite more subtle differences.

Conclusions

We, therefore, propose new guidelines for a standardized μCT-based method to analyse OTM and the extent of the periradicular bone structural changes in mice.
Immigrant workforce and agriculture productivity: evidence from Italian farm-level data
Authors: Baldoni Edoardo , Coderoni Silvia , Esposti Roberto
Published: December 2020

This paper investigates the farm-level relationship between total factor productivity (TFP) and presence and composition of immigrant workers. A theoretical model expressing how immigrant workforce influences productivity is developed and an explicit and consistent representation of the so-called ‘diversity hypothesis’ is derived. A dynamic panel specification is estimated, and the respective econometric issues are discussed. The analysis is applied to a balanced panel of Italian professional farms extracted from the Farm Accountancy Data Network over the period 2008–2015. The use of micro-level data in such assessment allows to take the wide heterogeneity across farms into account. Results suggest that, when productivity dynamics and farm heterogeneity are accounted for, empirical support to the diversity hypothesis can be found in Italian professional agriculture.
Synthetic biology approaches to copper remediation: bioleaching, accumulation and recycling
Authors: Giachino Andrea , Focarelli Francesca , Marles-Wright Jon , Waldron Kevin J
Published: December 2020

One of the current aims of synthetic biology is the development of novel microorganisms that can mine economically important elements from the environment or remediate toxic waste compounds. Copper, in particular, is a high-priority target for bioremediation owing to its extensive use in the food, metal and electronic industries and its resulting common presence as an environmental pollutant. Even though microbe-aided copper biomining is a mature technology, its application to waste treatment and remediation of contaminated sites still requires further research and development. Crucially, any engineered copper-remediating chassis must survive in copper-rich environments and adapt to copper toxicity; they also require bespoke adaptations to specifically extract copper and safely accumulate it as a human-recoverable deposit to enable biorecycling. Here, we review current strategies in copper bioremediation, biomining and biorecycling, as well as strategies that extant bacteria use to enhance copper tolerance, accumulation and mineralization in the native environment. By describing the existing toolbox of copper homeostasis proteins from naturally occurring bacteria, we show how these modular systems can be exploited through synthetic biology to enhance the properties of engineered microbes for biotechnological copper recovery applications.
Physical Function and All-Cause Mortality in Older Adults Diagnosed With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ezzatvar Yasmin , Ramírez-Vélez Robinson , Sáez de Asteasu Mikel L , Martínez-Velilla Nicolás , Zambom-Ferraresi Fabricio , Izquierdo Mikel , García-Hermoso Antonio
Published: December 2020

Background

Physical function is an independent predictor of numerous chronic diseases, but its association with all-cause mortality in older adults diagnosed with cancer has received little attention. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prospective association between physical function and all-cause mortality in older adults diagnosed with cancer.

Methods

Two authors systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SPORTDiscus databases. Prospective studies reporting associations of baseline physical function with all-cause mortality in patients aged 60 years or older diagnosed with any type of cancer were included. Hazard ratios (HR) with associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were extracted from studies for all-cause mortality, and pooled HRs were then calculated using the random-effects inverse-variance model with the Hartung–Knapp–Sidik–Jonkman adjustment.

Results

Data from 25 studies with 8109 adults diagnosed with cancer aged 60 and older were included in the study. Higher levels of physical function (short physical performance battery, HR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.29–0.67; I2 = 16.0%; timed up and go, HR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.31–0.53; I2 = 61.9%; gait speed, HR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.17–0.96; I2 = 73.3%; handgrip strength: HR = 0.61 95% CI 0.43–0.85, I2 = 85.6%; and overall, HR = 0.45 95% CI 0.35–0.57; I2 = 88.6%) were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to lower levels of functionality. Neither age at baseline nor length of follow-up had a significant effect on the HR estimates for lower all-cause mortality risk.

Conclusion

Physical function may exert an independent protective effect on all-cause mortality in older adults diagnosed with cancer.
Efficiency of using a neurofeedback device in determining ischaemic early electroencephalography indicators in rabbits with acute brain ischaemia
Authors: Oğuz Sonay
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVES

Continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring is a useful method in surgical procedures in which brain circulation is at risk. Providing this function using neurofeedback devices reduced to small dimensions may provide ease of use in the early diagnosis of brain ischaemia. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the efficiency of using a neurofeedback device in determining the early EEG indicators of ischaemia in a rabbit model of acute brain ischaemia.

METHODS

Three randomized groups—carotid ischaemia (CI), global ischaemia (GI) and a sham group—each comprising 8 rabbits, were created. In the CI group, the bilateral main carotid artery was clamped; in the GI group, the bilateral subclavian and main carotid arteries were clamped and brain ischaemia was created for 15 min. Brain reperfusion was then achieved for 30 min. In the sham group, the same surgical preparation was performed but no ischaemia occurred. The brain EEG wave activities of all subjects were recorded during the experiment. At the end of the procedure, all brain tissue was removed and apoptotic indexes were determined by histopathological examination. The statistical significance of the histopathological results and the EEG wave activities among the groups was examined.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the sham, CI and GI average amplitude ratios, delta (1.02, 0.69, 0.16; P < 0.001) and total wave (0.99, 0.78, 0.49; P < 0.001), respectively. There was no significant difference between the sham and CI groups in delta (sham, CI, 1.01, 0.87; P = 0.1), total wave (sham, CI, 1.22, 0.98; P = 0.2) and amplitude standard deviation rates. However, there was a significant difference in the GI group (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between all groups in apoptotic index (sham, 17.88; CI, 40.75; GI, 55.88; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant EEG wave changes resulting from experimental brain ischaemia were analysed with the use of a neurofeedback device. The results indicated that the change in the delta and the total wave standard deviations may be an additional indicator in the formation of permanent brain damage.
A partitioned finite element method for power-preserving discretization of open systems of conservation laws
Authors: Cardoso-Ribeiro Flávio Luiz , Matignon Denis , Lefèvre Laurent
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a structure-preserving spatial discretization method for distributed parameter port-Hamiltonian systems. The class of considered systems are hyperbolic systems of two conservation laws in arbitrary spatial dimension and geometries. For these systems, a partitioned finite element method (PFEM) is derived, based on the integration by parts of one of the two conservation laws written in weak form. The non-linear one-dimensional shallow-water equation (SWE) is first considered as a motivation example. Then, the method is investigated on the example of the non-linear two-dimensional SWE. Complete derivation of the reduced finite-dimensional port-Hamiltonian system (pHs) is provided and numerical experiments are performed. Extensions to curvilinear (polar) coordinate systems, space-varying coefficients and higher-order pHs (Euler–Bernoulli beam equation) are provided.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2–Induced Immune Activation and Death of Monocyte-Derived Human Macrophages and Dendritic Cells
Authors: Zheng Jian , Wang Yuhang , Li Kun , Meyerholz David K , Allamargot Chantal , Perlman Stanley
Published: December 2020

Studies of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–infected patients and experimentally infected animals indicate a critical role for augmented expression of proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines in severe disease. Here, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection of human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) and monocyte-derived dendritic cells was abortive, but induced the production of multiple antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines (interferon-α, interferon-β, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukins 1β, 6, and 10) and a chemokine (CXCL10). Despite the lack of efficient replication in MDMs, SARS-CoV-2 induced profound interferon-mediated cell death of host cells. Macrophage activation and death were not enhanced by exposure to low levels of convalescent plasma, suggesting that antibody-dependent enhancement of infection does not contribute to cell death. Together, these results indicate that infection of macrophages and dendritic cells potentially plays a major role in coronavirus disease 2019 pathogenesis, even in the absence of productive infection.
Police Perspectives of Problem Solving in the Context of Audience Legitimacy
Authors: Phillips Scott W
Published: December 2020

This study examines the police officer’s contemporary views of dealing with minor order-maintenance problems. Their views of problem-solving go beyond situational, neighbourhood and individual variables. Officers might also consider ‘audience legitimacy’ when forming their opinion of problem-solving. A quasi-experimental vignette research design was used to gauge a police officer’s views of rudimentary order-maintenance activity. Police officers of various ranks, and from a range of different sized police agencies, responded to an online survey, resulting in an N of 473. The dependent variable asked respondents their level of agreement with the actions of an officer described in a vignette. Respondents disagreed with an officer’s decision to ignore an order-maintenance problem. The neighbourhood crime characteristics were not related to their judgements about the decisions of the vignette officer. The type of nuisance crime event described in the vignette was related to the respondent’s level of agreement, but only at the 0.10 level. The respondent’s audience legitimacy score was correlated with several officer characteristics, but the relationship disappeared in the regression analysis. The findings are discussed in relation to prior research, and suggestions are made for multidimensional policing research.
Causes of attrition among frontline health workers in rural areas of Bauchi and Cross River States of Nigeria
Authors: Okech M , Okoroafor S C , Ojo O , Mohammed B
Published: December 2020

Background

The situation of frontline health workers in the rural areas of Bauchi and Cross River States has been classified as critical regarding the shortages due to attrition. This affects health service delivery and outcomes.

Methods

We targeted 402 participants, and 389 frontline health workers (nurses, midwives, nurse/midwives, community health officers and community health extension workers) responded. They were drawn from 42 public primary healthcare centers: 23 from Cross River and 19 from Bauchi States. Five focused-group discussions were conducted with 42 facilities in-charges to identify what they perceived as the main causes of attrition in the rural areas.

Results

Our findings indicate that the reasons that had potential to cause attrition of the frontline health workers were either voluntary or involuntary. Out of the 81 nurses in the study, 66 (81 percent) would voluntarily exit the workforce while 15 (19 percent) would leave involuntarily. From a total number of 81 nurses, midwives and nurse/midwives from the two states, 75% would exit due to resignations in search of better prospects in the urban areas. Ninety-nine percent of the community health worker’s attrition had very low intentions of exit, and it would mainly be due to retirements and deaths.

Conclusion

Implementation of tailor-made strategies that reflect their needs is imperative in the two states to reduce attrition among frontline health workers and improve health service outcomes.
Retention and motivation of health workers in remote and rural areas in Cross River State, Nigeria: a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Okoroafor S C , Ongom M , Salihu D , Mohammed B , Ahmat A , Osubor M , Nyoni J , Nwachukwu C , Bassey J , Alemu W
Published: December 2020

Background

Cross River State is making investments geared towards ensuring equitable distribution and improved retention of its frontline health workforce in remote and rural areas. This informed the conduct of a discrete choice experiment to determine the motivating factors supporting the retention of healthcare workers.

Methods

Study participants were 198 final year students of nursing, midwifery and community health and frontline health workers. Eight focus group discussions and 38 key informant interviews were conducted to obtain information about the dimensions of the work conditions that are important to frontline health workers when choosing to take up posting or stay in their rural work locations.

Results

Health workers are 2.7 times more likely to take up a rural posting or continue to stay in their present rural duty posts if they receive a salary increment. They are also four times more likely to take a rural job posting if a basic housing or a housing allowance is provided.

Conclusion

Improving working conditions of frontline health workers in terms of adequate staff strength, good skills mix and equipment, etc., as well as improving opportunities for career advancement will support retention in rural health posts.
The first fossil Microweiseini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from the Eocene of Europe and its significance for the reconstruction of the evolution of ladybird beetles
Authors: Szawaryn Karol
Published: December 2020

Molecular studies on the evolution of ladybird beetles date their origin somewhere in the Cretaceous, but no fossils are known from that period. The oldest representatives come from the Eocene, with the richest diversity found in Baltic amber. Until now, representatives of only three tribes (from around 40 known) have been recognized. Recent investigation of Baltic amber have revealed representatives of the fourth tribe (Microweiseini), which are described here as Baltosidis gen. nov. with three new species: B. damgaardi sp. nov., B. damzeni sp. nov. and B. szadziewskii sp. nov. In order to test the systematic placement of this extinct genus, a phylogenetic analysis of Microweiseinae was conducted. The results place Baltosidis in a cluster with four modern genera of Microweiseini distributed exclusively in the New World. Such a distribution pattern is surprising because no close relatives of the newly described fossil genus are known from Europe or even from the Palaearctic region. Analysis of the distribution of Microweiseini genera leads to the conclusion of a possible Gondwanan origin of the tribe. Further comparison of the diversity of the ladybird beetles from modern ecosystems with those known from Baltic amber suggests substantial differences between these communities and a recent radiation of modern fauna.
Leveraging Telehealth and Medical Student Volunteers to Bridge Gaps in Education Access for Providers in Limited-Resource Settings
Authors: McLeod Megan E. , Oladeru Oluwadamilola T. , Hao Jinxuan , Malhotra Sameeksha H. , Chang Betty T. , Li Benjamin C.
Published: December 2020

Problem

High-quality training opportunities for providers in limited-resource settings are often scarce or nonexistent. This can lead to a dearth of boots-on-the-ground workers capable of translating knowledge into effective action. The tested telehealth education model of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) can help address this disparity. However, the planning and logistical coordination required can be limiting.

Approach

Medical student volunteers interested in health disparities and global health can be leveraged to reduce the costs of administration for Project ECHO programs. From mid-2018 to present (2020), student organizations have been formed at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. These organizations have recruited and trained volunteers, who play an active role in assessing the needs of local clinics and providers, developing curricula, and coordinating the logistical aspects of programs.

Outcomes

In the first 4 student-coordinated Project ECHO cohorts (2019–2020), 25 clinics in 14 countries participated, with a potential impact on over 20,000 cancer patients annually. Satisfaction with the telehealth education programs was high among local clinicians and expert educators. Students’ perceived ability to conduct activities important to successfully orchestrating a telehealth education program was significantly greater among students who had coordinated one or more Project ECHO programs than among students who had yet to participate for 7 of 9 competencies. There also appears to be an additive effect of participating in additional Project ECHO programs on perceived confidence and career path intentions.

Next Steps

The student-led model of coordinating telehealth education programs described here can be readily expanded to medical schools across the nation and beyond. With continued expansion, efforts are needed to develop assessments that provide insights into participants’ learning, track changes in patient outcomes, and provide continuing medical education credits to local clinicians.
Incidence of radiographic findings of femoroacetabular impingement in a healthy Egyptian population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdelazeem Ahmed Hazem , Akef Amr Houssien , El Hadiedy Talaat , Fahmy Mahmoud
Published: December 2020

Background:

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a unique pathological problem affecting young adults. It can be defined as the impingement between the proximal femur and the acetabular rim. Although clinical presentation usually is hip pain, it can be asymptomatic. Radiographic FAI findings are quite common in a population of healthy young adults and must be correlated to the clinical presentation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of radiographic findings of FAI among a cohort of healthy Egyptian participants.

Methods:

From March 2017 to April 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted among a cohort of 160 Egyptians (100 men and 60 women) from 20 to 40 yr old. Anteroposterior and frog-leg lateral views were obtained for 320 hips. By using computer software (ICONICO Screen Protractor, ICONICO, Inc., New York, NY), we measured central edge crossover sign alpha angle and the acetabular index.

Results:

Pincer type FAI was found in 86 hips on the right side (53.27%) and in 104 hips on the left side (65%). Cam type of FAI was found in 54 hips on the right side (34.2%) and in 54 hips on the left side (34.2%). Mixed type was found in 26 hips on the right side (16.25%) and in 32 hips on the left side (20%).

Conclusions:

Radiographic FAI findings are quite common in Egyptian healthy young adults who have no hip symptoms. Clinical diagnosis is necessary for FAI and must be correlated with the radiographic data.

Level of Evidence:

Level II.
Predictors of outcome after total talectomy: a retrospective case series
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Pooya , James Loren , Stirton Jacob , Hamilton Hunter , Minaie Arya , Muchow Ryan D. , Iwinsky Henry J. , Talwalkar Vishwas R. , Walker Janet L. , Milbrandt Todd A.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Talectomy has been used as a salvage procedure to correct severe and rigid foot deformities in patients with underlying neuromuscular conditions. Previous clinical reports have failed to compare outcomes based on the underlying condition. We report predictors of outcomes in patients who were treated with talectomy over 23 yr.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent total talectomy from 1987 to 2010. Clinical results were graded as “good” and “poor” depending on postoperative pain, degree of equinus, skin findings, and the ability to brace. Postoperative lateral radiographs of the ankle were reviewed to determine tibiocalcaneal angle and retained talus. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate the effect of underlying diagnosis and tibiocalcaneal angle on the clinical outcome.

Results:

Thirty-eight patients (58 feet) were included in the study. The average length of follow-up was 5.1 yr. Fifty operated feet (86.2%) had a “good” outcome. Average tibiocalcaneal angle was 73.92 degrees in patients with outcomes categorized as good compared to 99.75 degrees in patients with outcomes categorized as poor (P=0.012). Of the feet with myelomeningocele, 96.3% (26 feet) had outcomes categorized as good compared to 75% of feet (9 of 12) with arthrogryposis. The clinical outcome was significantly better in patients with myelomeningocele compared to patients with arthrogryposis (P=0.04).

Conclusions:

Talectomy can be used as a salvage procedure to achieve a pain-free, plantigrade, and braceable foot in patients with a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. A tibiocalcaneal angle of less than 90 degrees at final follow-up and a diagnosis of myelomeningocele correlated with “good” clinical outcomes, aiding clinicians in preoperative stratification based on underlying diagnosis.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.