bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining parenting and economic strengthening programmes to reduce violence against children: a cluster randomised controlled trial with predominantly male caregivers in rural Tanzania
Authors: Lachman Jamie , Wamoyi Joyce , Spreckelsen Thees , Wight Daniel , Maganga Jane , Gardner Frances
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Parenting programmes may reduce the risk of violence against children and improve child well-being. However, additional economic support may be necessary in highly deprived rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, delivering programmes within farmer groups may increase male caregiver recruitment and engagement.

Methods

A parallel cluster randomised controlled trial examined the combined and separate effects of parenting and economic strengthening programmes on reducing violence against children aged 0–18 years in farming communities in Tanzania (n=248 families; 63% male caregivers). Eight villages were randomly assigned to four conditions (2:2:2:2): (1) 12-session parenting programme (n=60); (2) agribusiness training (n=56); (3) parenting and agribusiness combined (n=72); (4) control (n=60). Parent-report, child-report and early childhood observation assessments were conducted at baseline, mid-treatment and post-treatment. Primary outcomes were child maltreatment and parenting behaviour. Secondary outcomes included corporal punishment endorsement, parenting stress, parent/child depression, child behaviour, economic well-being and child development.

Results

At post-treatment, parents and children receiving the combined interventions reported less maltreatment (parents: incidence rate ratio (IRR=0.40, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.65; children: IRR=0.40, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.92). Parents reported reduced endorsement of corporal punishment (Dw=−0.43, 95% CI −0.79 to 0.07) and fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=−0.41, 95% CI −0.77 to 0.05). Parents in parenting-only villages reported less abuse (IRR=0.36, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.63) and fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=−0.47, 95% CI −0.84 to 0.11). Parents in agribusiness-only villages reported fewer child behaviour problems (Dw=−0.43, 95% CI −0.77 to 0.08) and greater household wealth (Dw=0.57, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.06). However, children in agribusiness-only villages reported increased physical abuse (IRR=2.26, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.12) and less positive parenting (Dw=−0.50, 95% CI −0.91 to 0.10). There were no other adverse effects.

Conclusion

Parent training may be the active ingredient in reducing maltreatment in farmer groups with majority male caregivers, while agribusiness training programmes may have unintended negative consequences on children when delivered alone. Locating parenting support in existing farmer groups can engage much higher proportions of fathers than stand-alone programmes.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02633319
Prospective study to explore changes in quality of care and perinatal outcomes after implementation of perinatal death audit in Uganda
Authors: Kirabira Victoria Nakibuuka , Aminu Mamuda , Dewez Juan Emmanuel , Byaruhanga Romano , Okong Pius , van den Broek Nynke
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess the effects of perinatal death (PND) audit on perinatal outcomes in a tertiary hospital in Kampala.

Design

Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis.

Setting

Nsambya Hospital, Uganda.

Participants

Live births and stillbirths.

Interventions

PND audit.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Primary outcomes: perinatal mortality rate, stillbirth rate, early neonatal mortality rate. Secondary outcomes: case fatality rates (CFR) for asphyxia, complications of prematurity and neonatal sepsis.

Results

526 PNDs were audited: 142 (27.0%) fresh stillbirths, 125 (23.8%) macerated stillbirths and 259 (49.2%) early neonatal deaths. The ITS analysis showed a decrease in perinatal death (PND) rates without the introduction of PND audits (incidence risk ratio (IRR) (95% CI) for time=0.94, p<0.001), but an increase in PND (IRR (95% CI)=1.17 (1.0 to –1.34), p=0.0021) following the intervention. However, when overdispersion was included in the model, there were no statistically significant differences in PND with or without the intervention (p=0.06 and p=0.44, respectively). Stillbirth rates exhibited a similar pattern. By contrast, early neonatal death rates showed an overall upward trend without the intervention (IRR (95% CI)=1.09 (1.01 to 1.17), p=0.01), but a decrease following the introduction of the PND audits (IRR (95% CI)=0.35 (0.22 to 0.56), p<0.001), when overdispersion was included. The CFR for prematurity showed a downward trend over time (IRR (95% CI)=0.94 (0.88 to 0.99), p=0.04) but not for the intervention. With regards CFRs for intrapartum-related hypoxia or infection, no statistically significant effect was detected for either time or the intervention.

Conclusion

The introduction of PND audit showed no statistically significant effect on perinatal mortality or stillbirth rate, but a significant decrease in early neonatal mortality rate. No effect was detected on CFRs for prematurity, intrapartum-related hypoxia or infections. These findings should encourage more research to assess the effectiveness of PND reviews on perinatal deaths in general, but also on stillbirths and neonatal deaths in particular, in low-resource settings.
Variability in hospital treatment costs: a time-driven activity-based costing approach for early-stage invasive breast cancer patients
Authors: Roman Erin , Cardoen Brecht , Decloedt Jan , Roodhooft Filip
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Using a standardised diagnostic and generic treatment path for breast cancer, and the molecular subtype perspective, we aim to measure the impact of several patient and disease characteristics on the overall treatment cost for patients. Additionally, we aim to generate insights into the drivers of cost variability within one medical domain.

Design, setting and participants

We conducted a retrospective study at a breast clinic in Belgium. We used 14 anonymous patient files for conducting our analysis.

Results

Significant cost variations within each molecular subtype and across molecular subtypes were found. For the luminal A classification, the cost differential amounts to roughly 166%, with the greatest treatment cost amounting to US$29 780 relative to US$11 208 for a patient requiring fewer medical activities. The major driver for these cost variations relates to disease characteristics. For the luminal B classification, a cost difference of roughly 242% exists due to both disease-related and patient-related factors. The average treatment cost for triple negative patients amounted to US$26 923, this is considered to be a more aggressive type of cancer. The overall cost for HER2-enriched is driven by the inclusion of Herceptin, thus this subtype is impacted by disease characteristics. Cost variability across molecular classifications is impacted by the severity of the disease, thus disease-related factors are the major drivers of cost.

Conclusions

Given the cost challenge in healthcare, the need for greater cost transparency has become imperative. Through our analysis, we generate initial insights into the drivers of cost variability for breast cancer. We found evidence that disease characteristics such as severity and more aggressive cancer forms such as HER2-enriched and triple negative have a significant impact on treatment cost across the different subtypes. Similarly, patient factors such as age and presence of gene mutation contribute to differences in treatment cost variability within molecular subtypes.
Provision of medical assistance in dying: a scoping review
Authors: Zworth Max , Saleh Carol , Ball Ian , Kalles Gaelen , Chkaroubo Anatoli , Kekewich Mike , Miller Paul Q , Dees Marianne , Frolic Andrea , Oczkowski Simon
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to map the characteristics of the existing medical literature describing the medications, settings, participants and outcomes of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in order to identify knowledge gaps and areas for future research.

Design

Scoping review.

Search strategy

We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL and CENTRAL), clinical trial registries, conference abstracts and professional guidelines from jurisdictions where MAID is legal, up to February 2020. Eligible report types included technical summaries, institutional policies, practice surveys, practice guidelines and clinical studies that describe MAID provision in adults who have provided informed consent for MAID.

Results

163 articles published between 1989 and 2020 met eligibility criteria. 75 studies described details for MAID administered by intravenous medications and 50 studies provided data on oral medications. In intravenous protocols, MAID was most commonly administered using a barbiturate (34/163) or propofol (22/163) followed by a neuromuscular blocker. Oral protocols most often used barbiturates alone (37/163) or in conjunction with an opioid medication (7/163) and often recommended using a prokinetic agent prior to lethal drug ingestion. Complications included prolonged duration of the dying process, difficulty in obtaining intravenous access and difficulty in swallowing oral agents. Most commonly, the role of physicians was prescribing (83/163) and administering medications (75/163). Nurses’ roles included administering medications (17/163) and supporting the patient (16/163) or family (13/163). The role of families involved providing support to the patient (17/163) and bringing medications from the pharmacy for self-administration (4/163).

Conclusions

We identified several trends in MAID provision including common medications and doses for oral and parenteral administration, roles of healthcare professionals and families, and complications that may cause patient, family and provider distress. Future research should aim to identify the medications, dosages, and administration techniques and procedures that produce the most predictable outcomes and mitigate distress for those involved.
A/C study protocol: a cross-sectional study of HIV epidemiology among African, Caribbean and Black people in Ontario
Authors: Mbuagbaw Lawrence , Tharao Wangari , Husbands Winston , Nelson Laron E , Aden Muna , Arnold Keresa , Baidoobonso Shamara , Dabone Charles , Dryden OmiSoore , Etowa Egbe , Hamid Jemila , Jackson-Best Fatimah , Kohoun Bagnini , Lawson Daeria O , Lofters Aisha K , Luyombya Henry , Mbulaheni Tola , Mkandawire Paul , Ndungu Mary , Nyambi Agatha , Obiorah Suzanne , Ongoiba Fanta , Ongolo-Zogo Clémence , Oraka Chinedu , Shahin Rita , Yaya Sanni , Hendricks Andrew , Gebremeskel Aster , Inoua Haoua , Etowa Josephine
Published: July 2020

Introduction

African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities are disproportionately infected by HIV in Ontario, Canada. They constitute only 5% of the population of Ontario yet account for 25% of new diagnoses of HIV. The aim of this study is to understand underlying factors that augment the HIV risk in ACB communities and to inform policy and practice in Ontario.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a cross-sectional study of first-generation and second-generation ACB adults aged 15–64 in Toronto (n=1000) and Ottawa (n=500) and collect data on sociodemographic information, sexual behaviours, substance use, blood donation, access and use of health services and HIV-related care. We will use dried blood spot testing to determine the incidence and prevalence of HIV infection among ACB people, and link participant data to administrative databases to investigate health service access and use. Factors associated with key outcomes (HIV infection, testing behaviours, knowledge about HIV transmission and acquisition, HIV vulnerability, access and use of health services) will be evaluated using generalised linear mixed models, adjusted for relevant covariates.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been reviewed and approved by the following Research Ethics Boards: Toronto Public Health, Ottawa Public Health, Laurentian University; the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto. Our findings will be disseminated as community reports, fact sheets, digital stories, oral and poster presentations, peer-reviewed manuscripts and social media.
Integrated strategies to prevent intradialytic hypotension: research protocol of the DialHypot study, a prospective randomised clinical trial in hypotension-prone haemodialysis patients
Authors: Peyronel Francesco , Parenti Elisabetta , Fenaroli Paride , Benigno Giuseppe Daniele , Rossi Giovanni Maria , Maggiore Umberto , Fiaccadori Enrico
Published: July 2020

Introduction

In patients on maintenance haemodialysis (HD), intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a clinical problem that nephrologists and dialysis nurses face daily in their clinical routine. Despite the technological advances in the field of HD, the incidence of hypotensive events occurring during a standard dialytic treatment is still very high. Frequently recurring hypotensive episodes during HD sessions expose patients not only to severe immediate complications but also to a higher mortality risk in the medium term. Various strategies aimed at preventing IDH are currently available, but there is lack of conclusive data on more integrated approaches combining different interventions.

Methods and analysis

This is a prospective, randomised, open-label, crossover trial (each subject will be used as his/her own control) that will be performed in two distinct phases, each of which is divided into several subphases. In the first phase, 27 HD sessions for each patient will be used, and will be aimed at the validation of a new ultrafiltration (UF) profile, designed with an ascending/descending shape, and a standard dialysate sodium concentration. In the second phase, 33 HD sessions for each patient will be used and will be aimed at evaluating the combination of different UF and sodium profiling strategies through individualised dialysate sodium concentration.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial protocol has been reviewed and approved by the local Institutional Ethics Committee (Comitato Etico AVEN, prot. 43391 22.10.19). The results of the trial will be presented at local and international conferences and submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03949088).
Service evaluation of faecal immunochemical testing introduced for use in North East London for patients at low risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Ayling Ruth M , Machesney Michael
Published: July 2020

Aims

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Following National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) (DG30), we introduced a service for the measurement of faecal haemoglobin (fHb) in symptomatic patients in line with the 2017 update of the NG12 guidance. The purpose of this study was to audit the use of FIT, focussing on the indication for request and referral for diagnostic tests as recommended in NICE guidance.

Methods

Testing was rolled out after careful introduction with extensive education led by the local Cancer Alliance and reinforced by the laboratory. After 6 months, the outcomes of all patients tested were reviewed.

Results

1203 samples were received, of which 894 (74.3%) were suitable for analysis. Of these, 482 (53.9%) actually met the criteria for FIT analysis stipulated in our patient pathway. Eight patients were diagnosed with CRC; fHb was detectable in all and was ≥200 µg/g in seven and <10 µg/g in one. 217 patients underwent gastrointestinal investigations, and the sensitivity and specificity of FIT for CRC were found to be 87.5% (95% CI 46.6% to 99.7%) and 52.6% (95% CI 45.6% to 59.6%), respectively. Patients with anaemia were more likely to have fHb ≥10 µg/g.

Conclusions

These findings suggest benefits from the introduction of FIT in terms of more efficient use of diagnostic investigations, while revealing initial problems relating to familiarity with a new test. This merits further intervention with education and awareness programmes for Primary Care and further audit.
Impact of ectogenesis on the medicalisation of pregnancy and childbirth
Authors: Adkins Victoria
Published: July 2020

The medicalisation of pregnancy and childbirth has been encouraged by the continuing growth of technology that can be applied to the reproductive journey. Technology now has the potential to fully separate reproduction from the human body with the prospect of ectogenesis—the gestation of a fetus outside of the human body. This paper considers the issues that have been caused by the general medicalisation of pregnancy and childbirth and the impact that ectogenesis may have on these existing issues. The medicalisation of pregnancy and childbirth is criticised for its impact on the relationship between doctors and pregnant women and the way in which doctors treat fetuses. It is argued that ectogenesis may cause more imbalance in the doctor and intended parent relationship and may result in an increased lack of clarity regarding a doctor’s duty to the fetus. This paper finds that extensive guidance and revised legislation will be necessary to minimise the impact of ectogenesis on the existing issues caused by the medicalisation of reproduction.
Risk, double effect and the social benefit requirement
Authors: Hughes Robert C
Published: July 2020

Many ethicists maintain that medical research on human subjects that presents no prospect of direct medical benefit must have a prospect of social benefit to be ethical. Payment is not the sort of benefit that justifies exposing subjects to risk. Alan Wertheimer has raised a serious challenge to this view, pointing out that in industry, social value is not considered necessary to make dangerous jobs ethical. This article argues that Wertheimer was correct to think that the ethics of hazard pay should be the same in medical research and in business. Nevertheless, a qualified social benefit requirement should apply in both fields. For a study or a job with significant net physical risk to be ethical, it must have social value beyond the satisfaction of ordinary preferences, including the preference for money. The requirement derives from a non-absolutist version of the doctrine of double effect. If a risky study or a dangerous job has no distinctive social value, and hazard pay is subjects' or workers’ only reason to undergo risks, the very fact that they undergo risk is intended as a means to a financial end. Inviting people to enrol in such a study or to take such a job wrongfully treats people as mere means. By contrast, if a study or a job has social value, people can participate with a primary end other than money, even if they accept compensation. Researchers or employers do not intend but merely foresee risks to subjects or workers.
Effect of sex differences on prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis: data from the Thrombolysis Implementation and Monitor of Acute Ischemic Stroke in China (TIMS-China)
Authors: Zhou Hongyu , Chen Weiqi , Pan Yuesong , Suo Yue , Meng Xia , Li Hao , Wang Yongjun
Published: July 2020

Background and purpose

Previous studies have reported conflicting results as to whether women have poorer functional outcome than men after thrombolytic therapy. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sex differences and the prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis in Chinese patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods

The patients enrolled in this study were from the Chinese Acute Ischemic Stroke Thrombolysis Monitoring and Registration study. The primary outcome was poor functional outcome, defined as a 3-month modified Rankin score of 3–6. The safe outcome was symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (SICH) and mortality within 7 days and 90 days. Multiple Cox regression model was used to correct the potential covariates to evaluate the association between sex disparities and prognosis. Furthermore, the interaction of preonset Rankin scores, baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) types was statistically analysed.

Results

A total of 1440 patients were recruited, including 541 women and 899 men. The baseline information indicated that women were older at the time of onset (66.2±11.2 years vs 61.0±11.3 years, p<0.001), and more likely to have a history of atrial fibrillation (25.3% vs 11.2%, p<0.001), and had a higher NIHSS score on admission (12.3±6.8 vs 11.6±6.7, p=0.04). According to the prognosis analysis of unsatisfactory functional recovery, there was no significant difference between women and men (45.9% vs 37.1%; adjusted OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.37). As for the safe outcome, the proportion of SICH and mortality in women is relatively high but did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant interaction with sex, age, preonset Rankin score, NIHSS score, TOAST classification and the prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis.

Conclusions

For Chinese patients with ischaemic stroke, although women are older and more severe at the time of onset, the prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis is not significantly different from men.
Soil science at the University of Alberta: a century of service to science and society
Authors: Leskiw Leonard A. , Coen Gerald M. , Kryzanowski Len M. , Macyk Terry M. , Penney Doug C. , Wayne Pettapiece W. , Robertson James A.
Published: July 2020

This paper highlights major activities and achievements in soil science by professors at the University of Alberta (U of A), which provide incredible benefits to society, provincially, nationally, and globally. Evolution of the soils profession in Alberta commenced in 1919 with the hiring of F.A. Wyatt, who developed the Department of Soil Science (DSS) and initiated a soil survey program in Alberta. J.D. Newton joined the department in 1922, teaching and supporting soil surveys that led to a fertilizer program greatly benefitting agriculture. With time, opportunities and problems were encountered with utilization of soils. U of A soil scientists conducted inventories, conducted innovative research, developed superior management techniques, and through evolving education and extension, continuously helped bring improvements to how we utilized and managed soil resources. The DSS 100 yr evolution is chronicled under the themes of pedology (including soil survey), soil fertility, soil sustainability (conservation, land reclamation, and contaminant remediation), with embedded specialized studies within these themes.
Dynamics of charged particles in fractal media
Authors: Klepikov V. F. , Novikov V. E. , Kruchinin D. S.
Published: July 2020

We consider the influence of the fractality of a medium on the dynamics of charged particles in the external magnetic field and show a significant increase in the sensitivity to weak effects with the fractality of a medium. The dynamical processes in the nonequilibrium nonconservative medium are analyzed in the framework of the Tsallis nonextensive thermodynamics with the use of Jackson’s derivatives.
Staleness Control for Edge Data Analytics
Authors: Aral Atakan , Erol-Kantarci Melike , Brandić Ivona
Published: July 2020

A new generation of cyber-physical systems has emerged with a large number of devices that continuously generate and consume massive amounts of data in a distributed and mobile manner. Accurate and near real-time decisions based on such streaming data are in high demand in many areas of optimization for such systems. Edge data analytics bring processing power in the proximity of data sources, reduce the network delay for data transmission, allowlargescale distributed training, and consequently help meeting real-time requirements. Nevertheless, the multiplicity of data sources leads to multiple distributed machine learning models that may suffer from sub-optimal performance due to the inconsistency in their states. In this work, we tackle the insularity, concept drift, and connectivity issues in edge data analytics to minimize its accuracy handicap without losing its timeliness benefits. Thus, we propose an efficient model synchronization mechanism for distributed and stateful data analytics. Staleness Control for Edge Data Analytics (SCEDA) ensures the high adaptability of synchronization frequency in the face of an unpredictable environment by addressing the trade-off between the generality and timeliness of the model.
Forecasting with Alternative Data
Authors: Fleder Michael , Shah Devavrat
Published: July 2020

We consider the problem of forecasting fine-grained company financials, such as daily revenue, from two input types: noisy proxy signals a la alternative data (e.g. credit card transactions) and sparse ground-truth observations (e.g. quarterly earnings reports). We utilize a classical linear systems model to capture both the evolution of the hidden or latent state (e.g. daily revenue), as well as the proxy signal (e.g. credit cards transactions). The linear system model is particularly well suited here as data is extremely sparse (4 quarterly reports per year). In classical system identification, where the central theme is to learn parameters for such linear systems, unbiased and consistent estimation of parameters is not feasible: the likelihood is non-convex; and worse, the global optimum for maximum likelihood estimation is often non-unique.
Generalized Sketch Families for Network Traffic Measurement
Authors: Zhou You , Zhang Youlin , Ma Chaoyi , Chen Shigang , Odegbile Olufemi O.
Published: July 2020

Traffic measurement provides critical information for network management, resource allocation, traffic engineering, and attack detection. Most prior art has been geared towards specific application needs with specific performance objectives. To support diverse requirements with efficient and future-proof implementation, this paper takes a new approach to establish common frameworks, each for a family of traffic measurement solutions that share the same implementation structure, providing a high level of generality, for both size and spread measurements and for all flows. The designs support many options of performance-overhead tradeoff with as few as one memory update per packet and as little space as several bits per flow on average. Such a family-based approach will unify implementation by removing redundancy from different measurement tasks and support reconfigurability in a plug-n-play manner. We demonstrate the connection and difference in the design of these traffic measurement families and perform experimental comparisons on hardware/software platforms to find their tradeoff, which provide practical guidance for which solutions to use under given performance goals.
Reward Contributions to Serotonergic Functions
Authors: Liu Zhixiang , Lin Rui , Luo Minmin
Published: July 2020

The brain serotonin systems participate in numerous aspects of reward processing, although it remains elusive how exactly serotonin signals regulate neural computation and reward-related behavior. The application of optogenetics and imaging techniques during the last decade has provided many insights. Here, we review recent progress on the organization and physiology of the dorsal raphe serotonin neurons and the relationships between their activity and behavioral functions in the context of reward processing. We also discuss several interesting theories on serotonin's function and how these theories may be reconciled by the possibility that serotonin, acting in synergy with coreleased glutamate, tracks and calculates the so-called beneficialness of the current state to guide an animal's behavior in dynamic environments.
The Effects of Activation Energy and Thermophoretic Diffusion of Nanoparticles on Steady Micropolar Fluid along with Brownian Motion
Authors: Sabir Zulqurnain , Ayub Assad , Guirao Juan L. G. , Bhatti Saira , Shah Syed Zahir Hussain
Published: July 2020

The present study is related to the effects of activation energy and thermophoretic diffusion on steady micropolar fluid along with Brownian motion. The activation energy and thermal conductivity of steady micropolar fluid are also discussed. The equation of motion, angular momentum, temperature, concentration, and their boundary conditions are presented for the micropolar fluid. The detail of geometry reveals the effects of several parameters on the parts of the system. The nonlinear partial differential equations are converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equations, and a famous shooting scheme is used to present the numerical solutions. The comparison of the obtained results by the shooting technique and the numerical bvp4c technique is presented. The behavior of local skin friction numbers and couple stress number is tabulated for different parameters, and some figures are plotted to present the different parameters. For uplifting the values of AE for parameter λA, the concentration profile is increased because of the Arrhenius function, and AE increases with the reduction of this function. The increasing values of the parameter of rotation G show the decrement in velocity because of the rotation of the particle of the fluid, so the linear motion decreases. Thermophoresis is responsible for shifting the molecules within the fluid, and due to this, an increment in boundary layer thickness is found, so by a greater value of Nt, the concentration profile decreases and temperature profile goes down.
Coordinated Headway-Based Control Method to Improve Public Transit Reliability considering Control Points Layout
Authors: Zhang Hu , Liang Shidong , Zhao Jing , He Shengxue , Zhao Tianyu
Published: July 2020

The headway-based control method is usually used to regulate the bus headways and improve reliability of public transit. In general, the holding control strategy is applied at the control point, because enough space for dwell longer at the control point is required, while the stop-skipping control strategy can be used at any bus stop. However, in the headway-based control method, too much stop-skipping will bring longer waiting time and make the passengers impatient. The number and distribution of control points for stop-skipping are not considered in previous self-equalizing bus headway control works. Therefore, in this paper, the control points selection rules for stop-skipping involving their number and distribution on the bus route are discussed. A second by second discrete system is formulated to describe the bus operation. In the proposed control method, the threshold value for activating stop-skipping strategy is raised, avoiding provoking much additional waiting time because of boarding rejected. In the numerical analysis, a set of cases are conducted to evaluate the performance of control method under different number and distribution of control points for stop-skipping. The numerical results show that distribution of control points for stop-skipping has a greater influence on the public transit than the number.
Quercitrin, the Main Compound in Wikstroemia indica, Mitigates Skin Lesions in a Mouse Model of 2,4‐Dinitrochlorobenzene‐Induced Contact Hypersensitivity
Authors: Jegal Jonghwan , Park No-June , Lee So-Yeon , Jo Beom-Geun , Bong Sim-Kyu , Kim Su-Nam , Yang Min Hye
Published: July 2020

Hapten‐induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is widely utilized to induce immune activation in animal models of allergic contact dermatitis. Our previous findings suggested that the 95% EtOH extract of Wikstroemia indica (L.) C. A. Mey. has antiallergic and anti‐inflammatory effects in DNCB‐treated CHS SKH‐1 hairless mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of compounds isolated from the EtOAc fraction of W. indica in RBL‐2H3 cells and 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene‐ (DNCB‐) induced CHS mice. Of eight compounds in W. indica, that is, umbelliferone, daphnoretin, wikstrocoumarin, (+)‐syringaresinol, tricin, (+)‐lariciresinol, erythro‐guaiacylglycerol‐β‐coniferyl ether, and quercitrin, quercitrin exhibited the most antiallergic activity against antigen‐induced β‐hexosaminidase release and IL‐4 mRNA expression, which are markers of degranulation in RBL‐2H3 cells. After a 7‐sensitizing period, 14 days of DNCB treatment with or without topical pimecrolimus (1%) or quercitrin (0.5%) treatment, quercitrin was found to suppress DNCB‐induced increases in serum IL‐4 and IgE concentrations and transepidermal water loss. These results indicate that quercitrin has therapeutic potential for treatment of allergies and allergy‐related contact dermatitis.
Optimizing High-Dimensional Functions with an Efficient Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Li Guoliang , Sun Jinhong , Rana Mohammad N.A. , Song Yinglei , Liu Chunmei , Zhu Zhi-yu
Published: July 2020

The optimization of high-dimensional functions is an important problem in both science and engineering. Particle swarm optimization is a technique often used for computing the global optimum of a multivariable function. In this paper, we develop a new particle swarm optimization algorithm that can accurately compute the optimal value of a high-dimensional function. The iteration process of the algorithm is comprised of a number of large iteration steps, where a large iteration step consists of two stages. In the first stage, an expansion procedure is utilized to effectively explore the high-dimensional variable space. In the second stage, the traditional particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to compute the global optimal value of the function. A translation step is applied to each particle in the swarm after a large iteration step is completed to start a new large iteration step. Based on this technique, the variable space of a function can be extensively explored. Our analysis and testing results on high-dimensional benchmark functions show that this algorithm can achieve optimization results with significantly improved accuracy, compared with traditional particle swarm optimization algorithms and a few other state-of-the-art optimization algorithms based on particle swarm optimization.
Haptoglobin Phenotypes Are Associated with the Postload Glucose and Insulin Levels in Pediatric Obesity
Authors: Ricotti Roberta , De Feudis Marilisa , Peri Caterina , Corazzari Marco , Genoni Giulia , Giordano Mara , Mancioppi Valentina , Agosti Emanuela , Bellone Simonetta , Prodam Flavia
Published: July 2020

Purpose. Haptoglobin (Hp) is a protein involved in the acute-phase reaction of inflammation. Humans have three major phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2). Several studies have shown altered Hp regulation in adults with obesity and metabolic alterations. The Hp2-2 phenotype is associated with a high cardiovascular risk. Our aim was to investigate if Hp levels and the Hp2-2 phenotype are associated with glucose metabolism in pediatric obesity. Methods. We retrospectively studied 192 participants (92 males and 100 females), aged 4–18 years. Clinical and biochemical data were collected. The Hp phenotype (Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2) was identified through Western immunoblot. Results. Subjects carrying Hp1-1, Hp1-2, and Hp2-2 phenotypes were 13.6, 50.8, and 35.6%, respectively. Hp serum, fasting glucose, and insulin levels, as well as HOMA-IR, were similar among groups. Postload glucose and insulin levels (as insulin AUC) were progressively higher from the Hp1-1 to Hp2-2 phenotype. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first study on Hp phenotypes conducted in a pediatric population with obesity. We showed that the presence of Hp2 allele is associated with a worse response of glucose load in terms of both glucose and insulin levels. Thus, the Hp2-2 phenotype could predispose in pediatrics, at the same degree of obesity, to a worse glycemic and insulinemic compensation.
Precision Detection Technology: Equipping Precision Oncology with Wings
Authors: Bai Rilan , Lv Zheng , Chen Xiao , Guo Hanfei , Bai Ling , Tian Huimin , Li Wei , Cui Jiuwei
Published: July 2020

In recent years, precision medical detection techniques experienced a rapid transformation from low-throughput to high-throughput genomic sequencing, from multicell promiscuous detection to single-cell precision sequencing. The emergence of liquid biopsy technology has compensated for the many limitations of tissue biopsy, leading to a tremendous transformation in precision detection. Precision detection techniques contribute to monitoring disease development more closely, evaluating therapeutic effects more scientifically, and developing new targets and new drugs. In the future, the role of precision detection and the joint detection in epigenetics, rare gene detection, individualized targeted therapy, and multigene targeted drug combination therapy should be extensively explored. This article reviews the changes in precision medical detection technology in the era of precision medicine, as well as the development, clinical application, and future challenges of liquid biopsy.
The Diagnosis Performance of the TCM Syndromes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Gastroenterologists Based on Modified Simple Criteria Compared to TCM Practitioners: A Prospective, Multicenter Preliminary Study
Authors: Song Jun , Yang Ling , Su Shuai , Piao Mei-Yu , Li Bao-Li , Liang Lie-Xin , Zuo Guo-Wen , Tang Zhi-Min , Long Yan-qin , Chen Xiao-Li , Dai Ning , Mo Jian-Ling , Yu Yue , Yu Wen-Yong , Zhang Mei , Wang Rong-Quan , Chen Jing , Hou Xiao-Hua
Published: July 2020

Purpose. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including Chinese patent medicine has been widely used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Syndrome differentiation is the essence of TCM. However, the diagnostic ability of gastroenterologists to detect TCM syndromes in IBS in China remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of gastroenterologists to diagnose the TCM syndromes of IBS based on modified simple criteria compared with TCM practitioners. Methods. Patients meeting the Rome III criteria for IBS‐D or IBS‐C were recruited from six tertiary referral centers between January 2016 and December 2017. After learning the diagnosis criteria of the TCM syndromes in IBS, gastroenterologists first diagnosed the syndromes of the enrolled patients. Subsequently, the patients were diagnosed by TCM practitioners. The rate of agreement between the gastroenterologists and TCM practitioners was analyzed. In addition, demographic data and the distribution of TCM syndrome types in IBS were also analyzed. Results. A total of 178 patients (93 males and 85 females), including 131 patients with IBS‐D and 47 patients with IBS‐C, were enrolled in this study. The rate of agreement of the syndrome diagnosis between the gastroenterologists and TCM practitioners was 84.3%. The diagnosis consistency rates among IBS‐D patients and IBS‐C patients were 87.0% and 76.5%, respectively. The most common TCM syndrome type in IBS‐D patients was liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome (27.5%), followed by spleen‐yang deficiency syndrome (19.8%). Dryness and heat in intestine syndrome was the most common TCM syndrome in IBS‐C patients (57.4%). Conclusions. Gastroenterologists had good diagnostic agreement with TCM practitioners for diagnosing TCM syndrome types in IBS after learning the diagnostic criteria. This knowledge can aid gastroenterologists in selecting suitable Chinese patent medicine to treat IBS.
Low-Level Nanog Expression in the Regulation of Quiescent Endothelium
Authors: Baruah Jugajyoti , Chaudhuri Suhnrita , Mastej Victoria , Axen Cassondra , Hitzman Ryan , Ribeiro Isabella M.B. , Wary Kishore K.
Published: July 2020

Objective:

Nanog is expressed in adult endothelial cells (ECs) at a low-level, however, its functional significance is not known. The goal of our study was to elucidate the role of Nanog in adult ECs using a genetically engineered mouse model system.

Approach and Results:

Biochemical analyses showed that Nanog is expressed in both adult human and mouse tissues. Primary ECs isolated from adult mice showed detectable levels of Nanog, Tert (telomerase reverse transcriptase), and eNos (endothelial nitric oxide synthase). Wnt3a (Wnt family member 3A) increased the expression of Nanog and hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) in ECs and increased telomerase activity in these cells. In a chromatin immunoprecipitation experiment, Nanog directly bound to the
hTERT
and
eNOS
promoter/enhancer DNA elements, thereby regulating their transcription. Administration of low-dose tamoxifen to
ROSA

mT/mG

::Nanog

fl/+

::Cdh5

CreERT2

mice induced deletion of a single
Nanog
allele, simultaneously labeling ECs with green fluorescent protein and resulting in decreased Tert and eNos levels. Histological and morphometric analyses of heart tissue sections prepared from these mice revealed cell death, microvascular rarefaction, and increased fibrosis in cardiac vessels. Accordingly, EC-specific
Nanog
-haploinsufficiency resulted in impaired EC homeostasis and angiogenesis. Conversely, re-expression of cDNA encoding the
hTERT
in Nanog-depleted ECs, in part, restored the effect of loss of Nanog.

Conclusions:

We showed that low-level Nanog expression is required for normal EC homeostasis and angiogenesis in adulthood.
Utility-Weighted Modified Rankin Scale Scores for the Assessment of Stroke Outcome
Authors: Wang Xia , Moullaali Tom J. , Li Qiang , Berge Eivind , Robinson Thompson G. , Lindley Richard , Zheng Danni , Delcourt Candice , Arima Hisatomi , Song Lili , Chen Xiaoying , Yang Jie , Chalmers John , Anderson Craig S. , Sandset Else Charlotte
Published: July 2020

Background and Purpose:

Patient-centered care prioritizes patient beliefs and values towards wellbeing. We aimed to map functional status (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores) and health-related quality of life on the European Quality of Life 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D) to derive utility-weighted (UW) stroke outcome measures and test their statistical properties and construct validity.

Methods:

UW-mRS scores were derived using linear regression, with mRS as a discrete ordinal explanatory response variable in 8 large international acute stroke trials. Linear regression models were used to validate UW-mRS scores by assessing differences in mean UW-mRS scores between the treatment groups of each trial. To explore the variability in EQ-5D between individual mRS categories, we generated receiver operator characteristic curves for EQ-5D to differentiate between sequential mRS categories and misclassification matrix to classify individual patients into a matched mRS category based on the closest UW-mRS value to their observed individual EQ-5D value.

Results:

Among 22 946 acute stroke patients, derived UW-mRS across mRS scores 0 to 6 were 0.96, 0.83, 0.72, 0.54, 0.22, −0.18, and 0, respectively. Both UW-mRS and ordinal mRS scores captured divergent treatment effects across all 8 acute stroke trials. The sample sizes required to detect the treatment effects using UW-mRS scores as a continuous variable were almost half that required in trials for a binary cut point on the mRS. Area under receiver operator characteristic curves based on EQ-5D utility values varied from 0.66 to 0.81. Misclassification matrix showed moderate agreement between actual and matched mRS scores (kappa, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.67–0.68]).

Conclusions:

Medical strategies that target avoiding dependency may provide maximum benefit in terms of poststroke health-related quality of life. Despite variable differences with mRS scores, the UW-mRS provides efficiency gains as a smaller sample size is required to detect a treatment effect in acute stroke trials through use of continuous scores.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT00226096, NCT00716079, NCT01422616, NCT02162017, NCT00120003, NCT02123875. URL:
http://ctri.nic.in
; Unique identifier: CTRI/2013/04/003557. URL:
https://www.isrctn.com
; Unique identifier: ISRCTN89712435.
A unified approach for characterizing static/dynamic connectivity frequency profiles using filter banks
Authors: Faghiri Ashkan , Iraji Armin , Damaraju Eswar , Turner Jessica , Calhoun Vince D.
Published: July 2020

Static and dynamic functional network connectivity (FNC) are typically studied separately, which makes us unable to see the full spectrum of connectivity in each analysis. Here, we propose an approach called filter-banked connectivity (FBC) to estimate connectivity while preserving its full frequency range and subsequently examine both static and dynamic connectivity in one unified approach.

First, we demonstrate that FBC can estimate connectivity across multiple frequencies missed by a sliding-window approach. Next, we use FBC to estimate FNC in a resting-state fMRI dataset including schizophrenia patients (SZ) and typical controls (TC). The FBC results are clustered into different network states. Some states showed weak low-frequency strength and as such were not captured in the window-based approach. Additionally, we found that SZs tend to spend more time in states exhibiting higher frequencies compared with TCs who spent more time in lower frequency states. Finally, we show that FBC enables us to analyze static and dynamic connectivity in a unified way. In summary, FBC offers a novel way to unify static and dynamic connectivity analyses and can provide additional information about the frequency profile of connectivity patterns.
Description of the male of Misetus strumiai Di Giovanni, Scaramozzino & Diller, 2018 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae, Phaeogenini) from Italy
Authors: GIOVANNI FILIPPO DI , SCARAMOZZINO PIER LUIGI , DILLER ERICH
Published: July 2020

The genus Misetus Wesmael, 1845 is a small taxon of the subfamily Ichneumoninae, tribe Phaeogenini. The genus can be distinguished from other genera of the tribe by having mandible with two teeth, clypeus with more or less developed median apical tooth, genae short and sublinearly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view; males are characterized by thyridia large and placed far off the base of metasomal tergite II; females are easily recognized by metasoma elongate and compressed apically, apical margin of last metasomal tergite more or less concave and ovipositor short and bent upwards (Selfa & Diller 1994, 1995, Di Giovanni et al. 2018). Misetus includes seven known species, six of which occur in Europe (Wesmael 1845, Kusigemati 1974, Kolarov 1985, Selfa & Diller 1995, Di Giovanni et al. 2018) and one in Japan and South Korea (Kwon et al. 2011; Yu et al. 2012). Misetus strumiai Di Giovanni, Scaramozzino & Diller, 2018 was described recently from females known only from the island of Montecristo (Italy, Tuscany) (Di Giovanni et al. 2018, Di Giovanni & Scaramozzino 2019). Here we described the male of this species and provide a comparative diagnosis with other known males of European members of the genus.