bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auxiliary Piers on Long‐Span Specially Shaped Mixed Steel Structure Main Tower Cable‐Stayed Bridge: Research on the Impact on the Dynamic Performance
Authors: Guo Shanshan , Cui Deyong , Ma Shaokun
Published: October 2021

This study investigates the influence of auxiliary piers on the natural frequency, deformation characteristics, displacements of the related parts, and internal forces of a long‐span heterogeneous steel‐structured main tower cable‐stayed bridge. Taking the Guohe Third Bridge in Anhui Province as an example, the software ANSYS was used to establish a three‐dimensional finite element model of a cable‐stayed bridge, and the dynamic characteristics of a long‐span specially shaped hybrid steel structure main tower cable‐stayed bridge with auxiliary piers added to single span and double spans were analysed. The results show that when one or three pairs of auxiliary piers are added to a single span, the changes in the natural frequency and deformation characteristics are smaller than those when there are no auxiliary piers. When one or three pairs of auxiliary piers are added to each of the two spans, the natural frequency and deformation characteristics are relatively low. Auxiliary piers induce relatively large changes; the changes with 3 pairs of auxiliary piers for a single span is compared with those with 1 pair for a single span, and 3 pairs and 1 pair of auxiliary piers are added to both spans for comparison. The natural vibration frequency and deformation characteristics exhibit relatively small changes; the presence or absence of auxiliary piers and the number of auxiliary piers have a greater influence on the vertical displacement of the main girder and less influence on the vertical displacement of the main tower. An appropriate number of auxiliary piers are beneficial to the seismic resistance of a cable‐stayed bridge, and if the number of auxiliary piers is too large, the seismic capacity of the bridge is reduced; it is recommended that a pair of auxiliary piers be added to both spans to optimize the overall dynamic performance of a cable‐stayed bridge. This research method can be used on similar cable‐stayed bridges to optimize their dynamic characteristics by setting a certain number of auxiliary piers.
FRGAN: A Blind Face Restoration with Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Wei Tongxin , Li Qingbao , Chen Zhifeng , Liu Jinjin
Published: October 2021

Recent works based on deep learning and facial priors have performed well in superresolving severely degraded facial images. However, due to the limitation of illumination, pixels of the monitoring probe itself, focusing area, and human motion, the face image is usually blurred or even deformed. To address this problem, we properly propose Face Restoration Generative Adversarial Networks to improve the resolution and restore the details of the blurred face. They include the Head Pose Estimation Network, Postural Transformer Network, and Face Generative Adversarial Networks. In this paper, we employ the following: (i) Swish-B activation function that is used in Face Generative Adversarial Networks to accelerate the convergence speed of the cross-entropy cost function, (ii) a special prejudgment monitor that is added to improve the accuracy of the discriminant, and (iii) the modified Postural Transformer Network that is used with 3D face reconstruction network to correct faces at different expression pose angles. Our method improves the resolution of face image and performs well in image restoration. We demonstrate how our method can produce high-quality faces, and it is superior to the most advanced methods on the reconstruction task of blind faces for in-the-wild images; especially, our 8 × SR SSIM and PSNR are, respectively, 0.078 and 1.16 higher than FSRNet in AFLW.
Multiple Cranial Nerve Palsies in a Pediatric Case of Lemierre’s Syndrome due to Streptococcus viridans
Authors: Novotny Samantha , Serrano Kenneth , Bazer Danielle , Manganas Louis
Published: October 2021

Background. Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare condition of internal jugular vein thrombosis following oropharyngeal infection. While it usually results from Fusobacterium necrophorum infection, atypical cases associated with other pathogens have been reported. Objective. To describe a unique case of pediatric Lemierre’s syndrome with Streptococcus viridans infection resulting in cavernous sinus thrombosis and oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerve palsies. Case Report. A 14-year-old female initially presented after six days of fever, myalgias, and sore throat and was admitted for hyperbilirubinemia and acute kidney injury. She developed a fixed, dilated pupil with complete ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, and severe pain. Imaging revealed retromandibular space abscess, external and internal jugular vein thrombosis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, internal carotid artery stenosis, pulmonary embolism, and bilateral pneumonia. She was diagnosed with Lemierre’s syndrome with cultures positive for Streptococcus viridans and treated with a combination of antibiotics and anticoagulation. Conclusion and Relevance. Both antibiotics and anticoagulation were effective management for this Lemierre’s syndrome patient with cavernous sinus thrombosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of Lemierre’s syndrome is essential. A multidisciplinary treatment team is beneficial for managing the sequelae of this condition.
Faber Polynomial Coefficient Bounds form-Fold Symmetric Analytic and Bi-univalent Functions Involvingq-Calculus
Authors: Jia Zeya , Khan Shahid , Khan Nazar , Khan Bilal , Asif Muhammad
Published: October 2021

In our present investigation, by applyingq-calculus operator theory, we define some new subclasses ofm-fold symmetric analytic and bi-univalent functions in the open unit diskU=z∈ℂ:z<1and use the Faber polynomial expansion to find upper bounds ofamk+1and initial coefficient bounds for

a

m

+

1

anda2m+1as well as Fekete-Szego inequalities for the functions belonging to newly defined subclasses. Also, we highlight some new and known corollaries of our main results.
Intrasinusoidal Hodgkin Lymphoma; A Mimic of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Krause John R. , Fowler James , Gill Javed I.
Published: October 2021

The distinction between classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is not problematic in most instances. In rare situations, HL may present with a sinusoidal infiltrative pattern that may mimic ALCL. It is important to use a battery of immunohistochemical stains to differentiate between these two entities as therapy and clinical behavior are different. We present a case of a young woman who presents with the very unusual intrasinusoidal infiltrative pattern.
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Patient with Granulomatosis with Polyangitis
Authors: Madan Nikhil , Patel Vipul
Published: October 2021

Granulomatosis with polyangitis (GPA) is characterized by a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis of small arteries and veins. It most commonly affects the upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. However, other organs including the gastrointestinal tract can be affected. Gastrointestinal manifestations of GPA are rare and can include ischemia, bowel infarction, and perforation. Hemorrhage is an extremely rare presentation of GPA. We present a case of a woman with GPA and pulmonary renal syndrome on treatment who presents with severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Impact of Immune-Related Adverse Events on Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ng Kennedy Yao Yi , Tan Sze Huey , Tan Jack Jie En , Tay Desiree Shu Hui , Lee Ailica Wan Xin , Ang Andrea Jing Shi , Wong Lawrence Wen Jun , Choo Su Pin , Tai David Wai-Meng , Lee Joycelyn Jie Xin
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) has been associated with enhanced efficacy with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). It remains unknown whether such an association exists in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). This study aims to evaluate the association between irAEs and ICI efficacy in patients with aHCC. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients with aHCC who received at least one dose of an ICI between May 2015 and November 2019 at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. The primary study objectives were to compare the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between patients with and without irAEs. Complementary multivariable landmark analyses were performed at the 6-week and 12-week landmarks. Data cutoff was December 31, 2020. Results: One hundred and sixty-eight patients were included. Median age was 69 years, 85.7% were male, 57.7% had hepatitis B infection, 60.7% had ECOG 0, and 78.0% had Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis. 82.7% received ICI monotherapy, while 17.3% received ICI in combination. Development and severity of irAE were correlated with survival. The median PFS for grade ≥3 irAE versus grades 1–2 irAE versus no irAE was 8.5 versus 3.6 versus 1.3 mths (p < 0.001). The median OS for grade ≥3 irAE versus grades 1–2 irAE versus no irAE was 26.9 versus 14.0 versus 4.6 mths (p < 0.001). Patients with ≥2 irAEs had a significantly longer OS on multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]0.35, p < 0.001). The presence of grade ≥3 irAEs was associated with a significantly longer OS on the multivariable analysis at the 6-week landmark (aHR0.34, p = 0.030) and 12-week landmark (aHR0.28, p = 0.011). The use of systemic corticosteroids in patients with irAE was associated with a trend toward a longer OS (20.7 vs. 14.3 mths, p = 0.064). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the presence of all-grade irAEs may be a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with aHCC treated with ICI. Patients with more severe irAEs and multisystem involvement have better prognosis. The prompt use of systemic corticosteroids to treat patients with irAEs is key to ensure the best long-term outcomes for these patients.
Diplopia as the First Sign of Gastric Carcinoma
Authors: Roohé Suzanna L. , Gan Ivan M. , van der Weerd Kim , Lopuhaä Boaz , Verdijk Robert M. , Paridaens Dion
Published: October 2021

Orbital metastasis may be the initial manifestation of a malignancy of unknown origin. The primary locations of orbital metastasis are usually the lung, prostate, gastrointestinal tract, skin, kidney, eye, or thyroid gland. Metastasis of gastric carcinoma to an extraocular eye muscle is extremely rare. A solitary thickening in an extraocular eye muscle with no inflammatory features is suspect for a tumor. Symptoms such as diplopia, proptosis, ptosis, vision loss, or pain may be associated with an orbital malignancy. Our patient, a 67-year-old man known with radically resected prostate cancer, presented with complaints of vertigo with a tendency to fall, headache, and diplopia when looking to the right. As a coincidental finding, swelling of the rectus lateralis muscle of the left eye was observed on imaging. Extensive additional investigations showed that a gastric carcinoma with intraorbital and leptomeningeal metastasis was the cause. In conclusion, a solitary thickened extraocular eye muscle should be recognized in time and examined further.
Support vector machine based fault section identification and fault classification scheme in six phase transmission line
Authors: Naresh kumar A , Kumar M Suresh , Ramesha M , Gururaj Bharathi , Srikanth A
Published: October 2021

The higher complexity of a six phase transmission system (SPTS) construction and the large number of possible faults makes the protection task challenging. Moreover, the reverse & forward path faults in SPTS cannot be detected by traditional relay as it becomes under-reach. In this paper, a support vector machine (SVM) method including Haar wavelets for SPTS fault section identification and fault classification is focused. The positive-sequence component phase angle and currents at middle two buses are used to formulate a suggested method. Feasibility of suggested SVM is tested with a 138 kV, 300 km, 60 Hz, SPTS in MATLAB based Simulink platform. Several major parameters including far end and near end location conditions are taken to investigate the reach setting and accuracy of proposed SVM. This relaying method can detect the existence of fault in reverse & forward path in 1 ms time.
Distributed parking management architecture based on multi-agent systems
Authors: El Khalidi Nihal , Benabbou Faouzia , Sael Nawal
Published: October 2021

With the increase of the number of vehicles on the road, several traffic congestion problems arise in the big city, and this has a negative impact on the economy, environment and citizens. The time spent looking for a parking space and the traffic generated contributes to mobility and traffic management problems. Hence the need for smart parking management to help drivers to find vacant spaces in a car park in a shorter time. Today, researchers are considering scenarios in which a large amount of services can be offered and used by drivers and authorities to improve the management of the city's car parks and standards of quality of life. Based on literature on smart parking management system (SPMS), we have established the most important services needed such as reservation, orientation, synchronization, and security. The dynamic distributed and open aspect of the problem led us to adopt a multi-agent modeling to ensure continuous evolution and flexibility of the management system. In this conceptual paper, we propose to structure those services on a multi-agent system (MAS) that covers the whole functions of a distributed SPMS. Each service is provided as an autonomous agent, able to communicate and collaborate with the others to propose optimized parking space to customers.
First report of Scipinia horrida (Stål) (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) from Assam, with comments on related genus Irantha Stål
Authors: Anjana Singha Naorem  , Saikia Santana , Buragohain Anandita , Rubina Azmeera Begum  , Boyane Swapnil S. , Ghate Hemant V.
Published: October 2021

Presence of reduviid bugs Scipinia horrida (Stål, 1861) and Irantha sp., belonging to the family Reduviidae and subfamily Harpactorinae, is reported here for the first time from Guwahati, Assam. We provide images and comparative comments on these two bugs.
Global Religious History
Authors: Maltese Giovanni , Strube Julian
Published: October 2021

Understandings of religion have been fundamentally transformed since the nineteenth century. The respective contradictions, ambiguities, continuities, and ruptures can be most comprehensively grasped when viewed against the background of global entanglements. For this purpose, the approach of global religious history proposes a range of theoretical and methodological tools. Its theoretical repertoire is largely informed by a critical engagement with poststructuralist epistemology and postcolonial perspectives embedded in a consistent genealogical approach. At the outset, it aims at bridging divisions, including those between postcolonial and global history, between disciplines such as religious studies and history, as well as between different area studies. This implies a theoretically robust reflexion of the question of what global entanglements mean in global religious history, along with the question of how to distinguish global religious history from approaches usually qualified by the prefix trans as, for example, in “transregional.” In this introduction, we offer an in-depth discussion of the theoretical foundations and methodological implications of global religious history.
How Others See Us: Anthropologists, WikiLeaks, and the Vertical Slice
Authors: Price David H.
Published: October 2021

Drawing on Laura Nader’s concept of the vertical slice, this article reviews the hundreds of instances where the work of anthropologists, or anthropologists themselves appear in the leaked US State Department documents known as the “Manning Cables” published by WikiLeaks. The analysis of these documents shows anthropologists engaging with the US government in various ways, including in advisory capacities or bringing cultural or political knowledge from peripheral geographical regions to the core. Ethical, political, and disciplinary dimensions of these interactions are discussed, and Nader’s conception of the vertical slice is used to distinguish political dimensions of these anthropological engagements with state power.
Responding to COVID-19 in social work field education in Australia, New Zealand and the United States
Authors: Fronek Patricia , Briggs Lynne , Rondon-Jackson Renie , Hay Kathryn , Maidment Jane , Medina-Martinez Kai
Published: October 2021

This descriptive article reports immediate responses to COVID-19 by social work field education faculty in four universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Moving swiftly to online innovations, tele-supervision, teaching remote practice methods, and establishing alternative placements allowed students to meet required competencies while supporting students during the immediate crisis. Collaboration between field education faculty teams, professional bodies and agencies and clear communication with students and supervisors enabled all stakeholders to be open to flexible placement options. To conclude, COVID-19 brought opportunities to reflect on responses and explore new possibilities for field education in a post-COVID-19 world.
Revisiting strategies to incorporate gender-responsiveness into maize breeding in southern Africa
Authors: Cairns Jill E , Baudron Frédéric , Hassall Kirsty L. , Ndhlela Thokozile , Nyagumbo Isaiah , McGrath Steve P. , Haefele Stephan M
Published: October 2021

In sub-Saharan Africa there is increasing focus on identifying women’s trait preferences within crop breeding to enable gender-responsive product development. In the case of maize, breeding programs are ready to incorporate specific traits to increase gender-responsiveness but lack guidance on what these specific traits might be. We propose an inductive approach to determine a pathway towards increasing gender-responsiveness within maize breeding. A survey of 306 farmers was conducted to determine gender differences in maize varieties used together with key agronomic practices. Variety was a significant predictor of the gender of the plot manager and of the household head in contrast to previous surveys conducted in researcher-led on-farm trials. On-farm trials are conducted using pre-defined agronomic management practices and preferences identified at harvest are likely to centre around yield. This study highlighted significant differences in several agronomic practices used by female plot managers and female household heads. Although further studies are required to understand preferences associated with varietal choice, our results suggest that current researcher-led on-farm trials may not identify gender-specific trait preferences driving varietal choice. Furthermore, a trait-specific approach is not the only avenue towards increasing gender-responsiveness in maize breeding in southern Africa. The scope for increasing gender-intentionality in maize breeding could be expanded to incorporate selection environments more relevant to agronomic management practices used by female plot managers and households at advanced stages of the breeding pipeline. This approach could provide an immediate entry point to increase gender-intentional maize breeding in southern Africa.
Further evidence on the extent and time course of repeat missing incidents involving children: A research note
Authors: Galiano López Clara , Hunter Jane , Davies Toby , Sidebottom Aiden
Published: October 2021

This study examines the extent and time course of repeat missing incidents involving children. Using data from one UK police force (n = 2,251), we find (1) that the majority (65%) of missing incidents are repeats, (2) that a small group of repeatedly missing children (n = 43; 6%) account for a sizable proportion of all missing incidents (n=739, 33%) and (3) that the likelihood of a child going missing repeatedly is elevated in the weeks immediately following a previous missing incident. The implications of our findings for future research and for the prevention of missing incidents are discussed.
A Comparison of Executions and Death to Life Commutations in Kentucky, 1901–2019
Authors: Monahan Ed , Vito Anthony G. , Vito Gennaro F.
Published: October 2021

This study examines the administration of capital punishment in Kentucky. Comparing execution and death to life commutation cases from 1901–2019, we consider the purpose of the commutation process and its utilization considering offender-victim relationships and the severity of the homicide as determined by the Barnett Scale. While a higher score on the Barnett Scale predicted execution, there remained a pattern of racial discrimination between the two decisions.
Development and criterion validity of the COVID-19 anxiety and fear assessment scale: a cross sectional study
Authors: Gómez-Salgado Juan , Allande-Cussó Regina , Rodríguez-Domínguez Carmen , Domínguez-Salas Sara , Camacho-Martín Selena , Romero Ruiz Adolfo , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: October 2021

Background:

The emergence of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes COVID-19 disease, has been a major public health challenge and an increase in the feeling of uncertainty of the population, who is also experiencing an increase in levels of anxiety and fear regarding the COVID-19 disease.

Objective:

The objective of the study was the construct and criterion validation of the Escala de evaluación de la Ansiedad y MIedo a COVID-19 (AMICO, for its acronym in Spanish) to measure both constructs in the general Spanish population

Methods:

Descriptive study of psychometric validation. A field study was carried out to execute univariate and bivariate analyses, in addition to the exploratory and confirmatory factorial analysis of the scale. For the criteria validity study, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI) and sensitivity and specificity values were calculated.

Results:

The study sample was composed of 1036 subjects over 18 years of age, who resided in Spain, where 56.3% were women with a mean age of 48.11 years (SD = 15.13). The study of construct validity reported two factors and 16 items, with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.92. The scale was concurrently valid with the used gold standard and obtained sensitivity values of 90.48% and specificity values of 76%.

Conclusions:

The AMICO scale is valid and reliable for assessing the level of anxiety and fear of COVID-19 in the adult Spanish population and is highly sensitive.
Eliminating Human Agency: Why Does Japan Abandon Predictive Simulations?
Authors: Sugawara Shin-etsu
Published: October 2021

Prediction plays a vital role in every branch of our contemporary lives. While the credibility of quantitative simulations through mathematical modeling may seem to be universal, how they are perceived and embedded in policy processes may vary by society. Investigating the ecology of quantitative prediction tools, this article articulates the cultural specificity of Japanese society through the concept of Jasanoff’s “civic epistemology.” Taking COVID-19 and nuclear disasters as examples, this article examines how predictive simulations are mobilized, contested, and abandoned. In both cases, current empirical observation eventually replaces predictive future simulations, and mechanical application of preset criteria substitutes political judgment. These analyses suggest that the preferred register of objectivity in Japan—one of the constitutive dimensions of civic epistemology—consists not in producing numerical results, but in precluding human judgment. Such public calls to eliminate human agency both in knowledge and in policy-making can be a distinct character of Japanese civic epistemology, which may explain why Japan repeatedly withdraws from predictive simulations. It implies the possibility that Western societies’ faith in human judgment should not be taken for granted, but explained.
The Role of Sample Size to Attain Statistically Comparable Groups – A Required Data Preprocessing Step to Estimate Causal Effects With Observational Data
Authors: Kolar Ana , Steiner Peter M.
Published: October 2021

Background: Propensity score methods provide data preprocessing tools to remove selection bias and attain statistically comparable groups - the first requirement when attempting to estimate causal effects with observational data. Although guidelines exist on how to remove selection bias when groups in comparison are large, not much is known on how to proceed when one of the groups in comparison, for example, a treated group, is particularly small, or when the study also includes lots of observed covariates (relative to the treated group's sample size). Objectives: This article investigates whether propensity score methods can help us to remove selection bias in studies with small treated groups and large amount of observed covariates. Measures: We perform a series of simulation studies to study factors such as sample size ratio of control to treated units, number of observed covariates and initial imbalances in observed covariates between the groups of units in comparison, that is, selection bias. Results: The results demonstrate that selection bias can be removed with small treated samples, but under different conditions than in studies with large treated samples. For example, a study design with 10 observed covariates and eight treated units will require the control group to be at least 10 times larger than the treated group, whereas a study with 500 treated units will require at least, only, two times bigger control group. Conclusions: To confirm the usefulness of simulation study results for practice, we carry out an empirical evaluation with real data. The study provides insights for practice and directions for future research.
Variable selection with missing data in both covariates and outcomes: Imputation and machine learning
Authors: Hu Liangyuan , Joyce Lin Jung-Yi , Ji Jiayi
Published: October 2021

Variable selection in the presence of both missing covariates and outcomes is an important statistical research topic. Parametric regression are susceptible to misspecification, and as a result are sub-optimal for variable selection. Flexible machine learning methods mitigate the reliance on the parametric assumptions, but do not provide as naturally defined variable importance measure as the covariate effect native to parametric models. We investigate a general variable selection approach when both the covariates and outcomes can be missing at random and have general missing data patterns. This approach exploits the flexibility of machine learning models and bootstrap imputation, which is amenable to nonparametric methods in which the covariate effects are not directly available. We conduct expansive simulations investigating the practical operating characteristics of the proposed variable selection approach, when combined with four tree-based machine learning methods, extreme gradient boosting, random forests, Bayesian additive regression trees, and conditional random forests, and two commonly used parametric methods, lasso and backward stepwise selection. Numeric results suggest that, extreme gradient boosting and Bayesian additive regression trees have the overall best variable selection performance with respect to the [Formula: see text] score and Type I error, while the lasso and backward stepwise selection have subpar performance across various settings. There is no significant difference in the variable selection performance due to imputation methods. We further demonstrate the methods via a case study of risk factors for 3-year incidence of metabolic syndrome with data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation.
Identifying Circular RNAs in HepG2 Expressing Genotype IV Swine Hepatitis E Virus ORF3 Via Whole Genome Sequencing
Authors: Jiao Hanwei , Zhao Yu , Zhou Zhixiong , Li Wenjie , Li Bowen , Gu Guojing , Luo Yichen , Shuai Xuehong , Fan Cailiang , Wu Li , Chen Jixuan , Huang Qingzhou , Wang Fengyang , Liu Juan
Published: October 2021

Swine hepatitis E (SHE) is a new type of zoonotic infectious disease caused by swine hepatitis E virus (SHEV). Open reading frame 3 (ORF3) is a key regulatory and virulent protein of SHEV. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a special kind of non-coding RNA molecule, which has a closed ring structure. In this study, to identify the circRNA profile in host cells affected by SHEV ORF3, adenovirus ADV4-ORF3 mediated the overexpression of ORF3 in HepG2 cells, whole genome sequencing was used to investigate the differentially expressed circRNAs, GO and KEGG were performed to enrichment analyze of differentially expressed circRNA-hosting gene, and Targetscan and miRanda softwares were used to analyze the interaction between circRNA and miRNA. The results showed adenovirus successfully mediated the overexpression of ORF3 in HepG2 cells, 1,105 up-regulation circRNAs and 1,556 down-regulation circRNAs were identified in ADV4-ORF3 infection group compared with the control. GO function enrichment analysis of differentially expressed circRNAs-hosting genes classified three main categories (cellular component, biological process and molecular function). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis scatter plot showed the pathway term of top20. The circRNAs with top10 number of BS sites for qRT-PCR validation were selected to confirmed, the results indicated that the up-regulated hsa_circ_0001423 and hsa_circ_0006404, and down-regulated of hsa_circ_0004833 and hsa_circ_0007444 were consistent with the sequencing data. Our findings first preliminarily found that ORF3 protein may affect triglyceride activation (GO:0006642) and riboflavin metabolism (ko00740) in HepG2 cells, which provides a scientific basis for further elucidating the effect of ORF3 on host lipid metabolism and the mechanism of SHEV infection.
Non-agreement between 2 serologic techniques for detecting antibody to Brucella ovis in naturally infected sheep
Authors: Barreto José V. P. , Oliveira Patrícia A. M. , Pertile Simone F. N. , Sbizera Maria C. R. , Rego Fabiola C. A. , Queiroz Gustavo R. , Cunha Filho Luiz F. C.
Published: October 2021

Brucella ovis is the causative agent of ovine brucellosis, which is an important infectious disease in sheep farming worldwide and is responsible for economic losses because of its negative effect on the reproductive system of rams and ewes. Serologic tests are the main tools for detection of infection; however, these tests commonly yield a high frequency of false-negative results. We compared 2 serologic tests, agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and ELISA, for the detection of anti– B. ovis antibodies in naturally infected sheep. Of the 728 serum samples analyzed, 0.3% were positive by AGID and 9.2% by ELISA. Positive results were obtained for different animals and flocks. There was no statistical difference between the detection frequency of the 2 methods ( p = 0.674), and the kappa test indicated low concordance (κ = 0.005). The lack of agreement between results obtained using AGID and ELISA, associated with the absence of clinical signs, makes it difficult to detect ovine brucellosis efficiently, and demonstrates the need for effective tests for the definitive detection of B. ovis infection.
The Effects of Progressive Time Delay to Teach Social Problem-Solving to Preschoolers
Authors: Korba Jarrah , Hemmeter Mary Louise , Golden Adrienne K. , Nuhring Kate
Published: October 2021

A multiple probe design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of progressive time delay (PTD) during small group instruction to teach social problem-solving to preschoolers and to assess generalization to novel contexts. PTD was used to teach children to both name and use a variety of problem-solving solutions. Target participants, all of whom exhibited challenging behavior or were at risk for social skill deficits, were paired with a typically developing peer for small group instructional sessions. During sessions, children were presented with scenarios involving simple social problems and were asked, “What could you do?” After naming an appropriate solution, participants were prompted to use the solution. Results indicate the use of PTD during small group instruction was effective for teaching social problem-solving to preschoolers, generalized to novel contexts and maintained following the withdrawal of the intervention. Limitations, areas for future research, and implications for practice are discussed.
Plexiform Cellular Schwannoma in Infancy and Childhood: A Clinicopathological Study of Seven Cases of an Underrecognized Nerve Sheath Tumor with a Tendency Toward Local Recurrence
Authors: Sun Meng , Shao Mengyuan , Liu Jiahan , Zhao Lu , Weng Lao I , Yu Lin , Wang Jian
Published: October 2021

Plexiform cellular schwannoma (PCS) is very rare, and it is not completely understood. We present our experience with 7 additional cases of PCS in infancy and childhood to further characterize its distinctive clinicopathological features. There were 5 females and 2 males with a mean age of 28 months (ranging, 2 months to 8 years). The involved sites included the left forearm ( n = 2), sacrococcygeal region ( n = 2), retroperitoneum ( n = 1), thoracic spinal canal and thoracic cavity ( n = 1), and neck ( n = 1). Tumor sizes ranged from 3 to 13 cm in maximum diameter (mean, 7.1 cm). Histologically, all tumors consisted of abundant spindle cells arranged in a multinodular or plexiform growth pattern, possessing elongated, hyperchromatic nuclei and pale eosinophilic cytoplasm with indistinct cell margins. Mitotic figures were easily identified, with a mean count of 4 per 10 consecutive high power fields (HPF). Immunohistochemically, all tumors were strongly and diffusely positive for S100 protein, SOX10 and H3K27me3. The Ki-67 index ranged from 5% to 30% (mean, 15%). Follow-up (available in 6 cases) revealed that 5 patients experienced local recurrence and were treated by re-excision. There was no evidence of recurrence and metastasis in 3 patients, and the other 2 were alive with the disease. In conclusion, PCS is an uncommon nerve sheath tumor predominantly occurring in infants and children, featuring a plexiform or multinodular growth pattern and exhibiting a tendency toward local recurrence. PCS is easily mistaken as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) due to its locally aggressive behaviors and worrisome features, including hypercellularity, hyperchromatism and high proliferative activity. Increased awareness of its potential occurrence and greater familiarity with its characteristic features are helpful for both clinicians and pathologists to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary overtreatment.
Differences in Sociodemographic Correlates of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Survival in the United States
Authors: Osazuwa-Peters Nosayaba , Simpson Matthew C. , Rohde Rebecca L. , Challapalli Sai D , Massa Sean T. , Adjei Boakye Eric
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers account for about 9% of the cancer mortality burden in the United States; however, survival differs among sociodemographic factors. We determine sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with HPV-associated cancer survival.

Methods

Data derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 cancer registry were analyzed for a cohort of adult patients diagnosed with a first primary HPV-associated cancer (anal, cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers), between 2007 and 2015. Multivariable Fine and Gray proportional hazards regression models stratified by anatomic site estimated the association of sociodemographic and clinical variables and cancer-specific survival.

Results

A total of 77 774 adults were included (11 216 anal, 27 098 cervical, 30 451 oropharyngeal, 2221 penile, 1176 vaginal, 5612 vulvar; average age = 57.2 years). The most common HPV-associated cancer was cervical carcinoma (58%) for females and oropharyngeal (81%) for male. Among patients diagnosed with anal/rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), males had a higher risk of death than females. NonHispanic (NH) blacks had a higher risk of death from anal/rectal SCC, oropharyngeal SCC, and cervical carcinoma; and Hispanics had a higher risk of death from oropharyngeal SCC than NH whites. Marital status was associated with risk of death for all anatomic sites except vulvar. Compared to nonMedicaid insurance, patients with Medicaid and uninsured had higher risk of death from anal/rectal SCC, oropharyngeal SCC, and cervical carcinoma.

Conclusions

There exists gender (anal) and racial and insurance (anal, cervical, and oropharyngeal) disparities in relative survival. Concerted efforts are needed to increase and sustain progress made in HPV vaccine uptake among these specific patient subgroups, to reduce cancer incidence.
On the interest of a semi-empirical model for the tooth friction coefficient in gear transmissions
Authors: Quiban Romain , Grenet De Bechillon Nicolas , Touret Thomas , Navet Pierre , Diab Yasser , Cavoret Jérôme , Ville Fabrice , Changenet Christophe
Published: October 2021

Accurate modelling of friction coefficient is of primary importance in efficiency, vibration and failure analyses of enclosed gear drives. After showing the influence of surface/lubricant interactions on friction, the authors used a semi-empirical model which can take all these aspects into account. Lubricant is modelled as an Eyring–Reynolds fluid and rough surfaces are described with two parameters via a stochastic approach. A specific two-disc machine is used to perform series of friction measurements on smooth and rough discs. Smooth discs allow to operate under full film lubrication and to measure a reference shear stress of lubricant, whereas rough discs reproduce gear tooth roughness and generate a representative value of friction on asperities. The purpose of this present paper is to describe calculations of this physical-based friction coefficient model and to present the experimental process. On the basis of new results, the impact of a surface finishing process is assessed as well as the consequence of calculating friction coefficient based on oil injection instead of local bulk temperature.
STEAM education: An opportunity to transcend gender and disciplinary norms in early childhood?
Authors: Areljung Sofie , Günther-Hanssen Anna
Published: October 2021

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education is currently gaining ground in many parts of the world, particularly in higher stages of the educational system. Foreseeing a development of STEAM policy and research also in the early years, this colloquium seeks to bring questions of gendering processes to the table. The authors aspire to prevent the development of a gender-blind STEAM discourse for early childhood education. Instead, they encourage practitioners and researchers to make use of STEAM education to recognise and transcend gendered norms connected to children’s being and learning in the arts, STEM and STEAM.
Do Institutions Matter in Student Engagement? A Comparison in Engagement Between Two Universities in Different Contexts
Authors: Sainz Sujet Paola
Published: October 2021

Academic engagement has been studied for several years because of its influence on student attrition. According to Tinto, engagement is the most important predictor for student dropout, which makes it relevant to understand how the environment influences engagement. Yet very few studies have addressed this relationship outside higher income countries. The results of a 2 × 2 factorial multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) suggest significant differences in engagement means between students from one American and one Bolivian university.
Patient Adherence With At-Home Hand and Wrist Exercises: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Video Versus Handout Format
Authors: Toci Gregory R. , Green Anna , Mubin Nailah , Imbergamo Casey , Sirch Francis , Varghese Bobby , Aita Daren , Fletcher Daniel , Katt Brian M.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Patient adherence is important for maximizing patient outcomes. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine patient adherence and confidence in home therapy exercises of the hand and wrist at multiple time points when distributed by either paper handout or video.

Methods:

Patients were prospectively enrolled and randomized in orthopedic clinics to either the handout or video exercise group. Exclusion criteria included patients less than 18 years old. Questionnaires were electronically distributed each week for 4 weeks following enrollment. Questionnaires assessed the frequency of exercise performance, percentage of exercises utilized, and confidence in performing the exercises correctly. The handout and video groups were compared via 2-sample t tests for continuous data and χ2 tests for categorical data.

Results:

Of the 89 patients enrolled, 71 patients responded to the initial follow-up survey (80% of randomized patients), and 54 of these patients (76%) completed all surveys at each time point. The handout group (37 patients) and the video group (34 patients) had no differences in response rate or demographics. There were no differences in frequency, exercise utilization rate, or confidence in performing exercises between groups at week 1. However, the video group reported higher exercise utilization and confidence than the handout group at subsequent time points.

Conclusions:

Video-format distribution of home therapy exercises is superior to that of paper handout distribution for the distal upper extremity rehabilitation. Patients in the video group utilized more exercises and had higher confidence in completing them correctly following initiation of the exercise program.
A new coumarin from pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim
Authors: Chai Tian , Zhang Wen-Han , Jiao Hui , Qiang Yin
Published: October 2021

A new coumarin, 7-oxo-7 H-furo-[3,2-g]chromen-9-yl dimethylcarbamate, is isolated from a methanol extract of Zanthoxylum bungeanum pericarps. The structure of this compound 1 is elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis, including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry. This new compound is also synthesized by a simple acylation reaction with dimethylcarbamoyl chloride. The inhibitory activity of the isolated compound against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines is described. The protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity against HeLa and HepG2 cancer cells and the sirtuin 1 inhibitory activity against HepG2 cancer cells are also evaluated.
Beware the rebound effect: regional anesthesia increases opioid utilization after humerus fracture surgery
Authors: Cunningham Daniel J. , LaRose Micaela A. , Zhang Gloria X. , Paniagua Ariana R. , Klifto Christopher S. , Gage Mark J.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Regional anesthesia (RA) is used reduce pain in proximal humerus and humeral shaft fracture surgery. The study hypothesis was that RA would decrease opioid demand in patients undergoing fracture surgery.

Materials and methods

Opioid demand was recorded in all patients ages 18 and older undergoing proximal humerus or humeral shaft fracture surgery at a single, Level I trauma center from 7/2013 – 7/2018 (n = 380 patients). Inpatient opioid consumption from 0–24, 24–48, and 48–72 h and outpatient opioid demand from 1-month pre-operative to 90-days post-operative were converted to oxycodone 5-mg equivalents (OE's). Unadjusted and adjusted models were constructed to evaluate the impact of RA and other factors on opioid utilization.

Results

Adjusted models demonstrated increases in inpatient opioid consumption in patients with RA (6.8 estimated OE's without RA vs 8.8 estimated OE's with RA from 0–24 h post-op; 10 vs 13.7 from 24–48 h post-op; and 8.7 vs 11.6 from 48–72 h post-op; all p < 0.05). Estimated cumulative outpatient opioid demand was significantly higher in patients with RA at all timepoints.

Discussion

In proximal humerus and humeral shaft fracture surgery, RA was associated with increased inpatient and outpatient opioid demand after adjusting for baseline patient and treatment characteristics.
A Gut-Centric Model of Metabolic Homeostasis
Authors: Rajagopalan Harith , Lopez-Talavera Juan Carlos , Klonoff David C. , Cherrington Alan D.
Published: October 2021

Modern changes in diet and lifestyle have led to an explosion of insulin resistance and metabolic diseases around the globe which, if left unchecked, will become a principal driver of morbidity and mortality in the 21st century. The nature of the metabolic homeostatic shift within the body has therefore become a topic of considerable interest. While the gut has long been recognized as an acute nutrient sensor with signaling mechanisms to the other metabolic organs of the body, its role in regulating the body’s metabolic status over longer periods of time has been underappreciated. Recent insights from bariatric surgery and intestinal nutrient stimulation experiments provide a window into the adaptive role of the intestinal mucosa in a foregut/hindgut metabolic balance model that helps to define metabolic parameters within the body—informing the metabolic regulation of insulin resistance versus sensitivity, hunger versus satiety, energy utilization versus energy storage, and protection from hypoglycemia versus protection from hyperglycemia. This intestinal metabolic balance model provides an intellectual framework with which to understand the distinct roles of proximal and distal intestinal segments in metabolic regulation. The model may also aid in the development of novel disease-modifying therapies that can correct the dysregulated metabolic signals from the intestine and stem the tide of metabolic diseases in society.
Retreatment with Hyaluronic Acid Viscosupplementation in Knee Osteoarthritis: Agreement between EUROVISCO Guidelines and Current Medical Practice
Authors: Henrotin Yves , Tits Cedric , Paul Jérôme , Gramme Pierre , Helleputte Thibault , Migliore Alberto , Richette Pascal , Chevalier Xavier , Monfort Jordi , Diracoglu Demirhan , Bard Hervé , Jerosch Jörg , Baron Dominique , Raghu Raman , Conrozier Thierry
Published: October 2021

Objectives

This work studied if and how current clinical practice agrees with European Viscosupplementation Consensus Group (EUROVISCO) recommendations and how this agreement might be different according to physician’s specialization. In addition, this work aimed to identify key decision factors that practitioners consider in their decision to retreat or not a patient with hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation.

Methods

Practitioners have been invited by e-mail to participate in an online exercise on viscosupplementation retreatment. They received a fictional patient case at random among a set of predefined fictional cases. The platform asked the practitioner if he/she would retreat the patient with viscosupplementation or not. To take a decision, the practitioner could select questions among a list of predefined questions. Among them, some were related to criteria used in the EUROVISCO decision tree and others served as confounding factors.

Results

A total of 506 practitioners participated to the exercise, of which 399 gave their decision about the case assigned to them by the platform. The observed agreement between practitioner decisions and EUROVISCO recommendations was 58.89 ± 4.95% (95% confidence interval [CI]). Overall, the decision to retreat was taken in 47.87% of the cases, while the EUROVISCO guidelines follow-up would have led to 55.89% retreatment for the same cases ( P = 0.03).

Conclusions

In current practice, physicians tended to reinject their patients less than recommended, although EUROVISCO guidelines for viscosupplementation retreatment consider decision criteria that clearly correspond to those of practitioners in real life. These include the patients’ willingness to be treated or the patients’ perception of the effectiveness of the treatment.