bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defective angles of localized retinal nerve fiber layer reflect the severity of visual field defect- a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Chen Alexander , Lai Ing-Chou , Cho Wan-Hua , Lai Hung-Yin , Lin Pei-Wen , Wu Pei-Chang , Kuo Ming-Tse
Published: April 2020

Background

In order to detect glaucomatous optic nerve damages early on and evaluate the severity of glaucoma, a previously developed analytic method based on photographic retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) angle defect was proposed. However, the correlation between these defective angles and the severity of visual field defect has not been verified. This study aimed to confirm the correlation described above.

Methods

We reviewed a total of 227 glaucomatous eyes (38 enrolled, 189 excluded) during an interval of 5 years. The angles of all eyes were measured on RNFL photograph, of which angle α is the angular width between the macula center and the proximity of RNFL defect, and angle β (+c) is the sum of angular width(s) of localized RNFL defect. The severity of visual field defect was determined by mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and visual field index (VFI). Correlation analysis was performed on angle α and angle β (+c) with the presence of central scotoma and visual field defect parameters, respectively.

Results

Angle β (+c) showed significant correlation with MD (P = 0.007), PSD (P = 0.02), VFI (P = 0.03), and average RNFL thickness (P = 0.03). No correlation was found between angle α and the presence of central scotoma.

Conclusions

In conclusion, measuring the angular width of localized RNFL defect is a viable method for determining the severity of visual field defect.
Development of a brief learning environment measure for use in healthcare professions education: the Healthcare Education Micro Learning Environment Measure (HEMLEM)
Authors: Isba R. , Rousseva C. , Woolf K. , Byrne-Davis L.
Published: April 2020

Background

The learning environment impacts many aspects of healthcare education, including student outcomes. Rather than being a single and fixed phenomenon, it is made up of multiple micro learning environments. The standard clinical learning environment measurement tools do not consider such diversity and may fail to adequately capture micro learning environments.

Moreover, the existing tools are often long and may take a prohibitive amount of time to complete properly. This may have a negative impact on their usefulness in educational improvement strategies. In addition, there is no universal tool available which could be utilised across several healthcare student groups and placement settings.

Aim

To create an evidence-based measurement tool for assessing clinical micro learning environments across several healthcare profession student groups.

Methods

The measurement tool was developed through a step-wise approach: 1) literature review with iterative analysis of existing tools; 2) generation of new items via thematic analysis of student experiences; 3) a Delphi process involving healthcare educators; 4) piloting of the prototype; and 5) item reduction.

Results

The literature review and experiential data from healthcare students resulted in 115 and 43 items respectively. These items were refined, leaving 75 items for the Delphi process, which produced a prototype with 57 items. This prototype was then completed by 257 students across the range of healthcare professions, with item reduction resulting in a 12-item tool.

Conclusion

This paper describes a mixed methods approach to developing a brief micro learning environment measurement tool. The generated tool can be used for measuring student perceptions of clinical environments across several healthcare professions. Further cross-cultural and cross-professional validation studies are needed to support widespread use, possibly through mobile application.
Ethnic inequalities in child stunting and feeding practices: results from surveys in thirteen countries from Latin America
Authors: Gatica-Domínguez Giovanna , Mesenburg Marilia Arndt , Barros Aluisio J. D. , Victora Cesar G.
Published: April 2020

Background

Although the prevalence of child stunting is falling in Latin America, socioeconomic inequalities persist. However, there is limited evidence on ethnic disparities. We aimed to describe ethnic inequalities of stunting and feeding practices in thirteen Latin American countries using recent nationally representative surveys.

Methods

We analyzed national surveys carried out since 2006. Based on self-reported ethnicity, skin color or language, children were classified into three categories: indigenous/ afrodescendant/reference group (European or mixed ancestry). Stunting was defined as height (length)-for-age < − 2 standard deviations relative to WHO standards. Family wealth was assessed through household asset indices. We compared mean length/height-for-age and prevalence of stunting among the three ethnic groups.

Results

Thirteen surveys had information on indigenous and seven on afrodescendants. In all countries, the average length/height-for-age was significantly lower for indigenous, and in eleven countries there were significant differences in the prevalence of stunting: the pooled crude stunting prevalence ratio between indigenous and the reference group was 1.97 (95% CI 1.89; 2.05); after adjustment for wealth and place of residence, prevalence remained higher among indigenous (PR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.28; 1.39) in eight countries. Indigenous aged 6–23 months were more likely to be breastfed, but with poor complementary feeding, particularly in terms of dietary diversity. Afrodescendants showed few differences in height, and in two countries tended to be taller compared to the reference group.

Conclusions

In all Latin American countries studied, indigenous tended to be shorter and afrodescendants presented few differences with relation to the reference group. In order to reach the SDG’s challenge of leaving no one behind, indigenous need to be prioritized.
Comparing the performance of the EQ-5D-3 L and the EQ-5D-5 L in an elderly Chinese population
Authors: You Ruxu , Liu Jinyu , Yang Zhihao , Pan Chenwei , Ma Qinghua , Luo Nan
Published: April 2020

Background

This study was conducted to compare the validity and discriminative power of both the EQ-5D-3 L and EQ-5D-5 L in an elderly Chinese population with multiple chronic and acute conditions.

Methods

A total of 648 retired people from China (mean ± standard deviation: 73.3 ± 6.4 years; male: 55.7%) were recruited and randomized to complete the 3 L or 5 L questionnaire. The 3 L and 5 L were compared in terms of distribution properties, ceiling effects, informativity, validity and discriminatory performance. Convergent validity between the 3 L and 5 L was tested by spearman’s rank-order correlation. Discriminatory power was conducted by relative efficiency as assessed by the F statistics.

Results

Most participants answered to “no problems” on both versions of EQ-5D. The 5 L trended towards a slightly lower ceiling compared with the 3 L. The Shannon index improved with the 5 L while the Shannon’s Evenness index tended to be similar. Convergent validity was confirmed by the moderate to strong correlation for both 3 L and 5 L. Relative efficiency suggested that 5 L had a higher absolute discriminatory power than the 3 L version in terms of the presence conditions, especially for osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions

Both the 3 L and 5 L are demonstrated to be valid based HRQoL instruments in Chinese elderly population. The 5 L system may be preferable to the 3 L, as it demonstrated superior performance with respect to lower ceiling effect and better discriminatory power. Further research is needed to examine the responsiveness of the two EQ-5D instruments in this population.
Adaptation and validation of the Iowa infant feeding attitude scale and the breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire for use in an Ethiopian setting
Authors: Abdulahi Misra , Fretheim Atle , Argaw Alemayehu , Magnus Jeanette H.
Published: April 2020

Background

Validated instruments to assess breastfeeding knowledge and attitude are non-existent in Africa including Ethiopia. We aimed to adapt and validate the Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire (BFKQ) and the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) for use in Afan Oromo (AO), the most widely spoken language in Ethiopia.

Methods

After forward-backward translation into Afan Oromo, the instruments were reviewed for content validity by a panel of a nutritionist and pediatricians, and pretested on a sample of 30 mothers. Then, a cross-sectional study involving 468 pregnant women in their second and third trimester was conducted between May and August 2017 in the Manna district, Southwest Ethiopia, using the final versions of the adapted questionnaires. We used exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to assess the construct validity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the predictive validity and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients to assess internal consistency.

Results

Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), nine domains containing 34 items were extracted from the BFKQ-AO. A confirmatory factor analysis of the constructs from EFA confirmed construct validity of the instrument (χ2/df = 2.11, RMSEA = 0.049, CFI = 0.845, TLI = 0.823). In factor analysis of the IIFAS, the first factor explained 19.7% of the total variance and the factor loadings and scree plot test suggested unidimensionality of the tool. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.79 for the BFKQ-AO and 0.72 for IIFAS-AO suggesting an acceptable internal consistency of both instruments. For the sensitivity and specificity in predicting intention of breastfeeding for ≥24 months, the area under the curve (AUC) was 82% for IIFAS score and 79% for BFKQ score.

Conclusions

Here we present the first study that reported the use of the BFKQ and the IIFAS in Ethiopia. Our results showed that both BFKQ-AO and IIFAS-AO can be reliable and valid tools for measuring maternal breastfeeding knowledge and attitude in the study population, showing the potential for adapting these tools for application in a wider Ethiopian context.
From pairs of most similar sequences to phylogenetic best matches
Authors: Stadler Peter F. , Geiß Manuela , Schaller David , López Sánchez Alitzel , González Laffitte Marcos , Valdivia Dulce I. , Hellmuth Marc , Hernández Rosales Maribel
Published: April 2020

Background

Many of the commonly used methods for orthology detection start from mutually most similar pairs of genes (reciprocal best hits) as an approximation for evolutionary most closely related pairs of genes (reciprocal best matches). This approximation of best matches by best hits becomes exact for ultrametric dissimilarities, i.e., under the Molecular Clock Hypothesis. It fails, however, whenever there are large lineage specific rate variations among paralogous genes. In practice, this introduces a high level of noise into the input data for best-hit-based orthology detection methods.

Results

If additive distances between genes are known, then evolutionary most closely related pairs can be identified by considering certain quartets of genes provided that in each quartet the outgroup relative to the remaining three genes is known.A prioriknowledge of underlying species phylogeny greatly facilitates the identification of the required outgroup. Although the workflow remains a heuristic since the correct outgroup cannot be determined reliably in all cases, simulations with lineage specific biases and rate asymmetries show that nearly perfect results can be achieved. In a realistic setting, where distances data have to be estimated from sequence data and hence are noisy, it is still possible to obtain highly accurate sets of best matches.

Conclusion

Improvements of tree-free orthology assessment methods can be expected from a combination of the accurate inference of best matches reported here and recent mathematical advances in the understanding of (reciprocal) best match graphs and orthology relations.

Availability

Accompanying software is available athttps://github.com/david-schaller/AsymmeTree.
DNA of Theileria orientalis, T. equi and T. capreoli in stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans)
Authors: Hornok Sándor , Takács Nóra , Szekeres Sándor , Szőke Krisztina , Kontschán Jenő , Horváth Gábor , Sugár László
Published: April 2020

Background

From a veterinary-medical point of view, the stable fly,Stomoxys calcitrans, is perhaps the economically most important blood-sucking muscoid fly species (Diptera: Muscidae), owing to its worldwide occurrence, frequently high local abundance, direct harm caused to livestock, pet animals and humans, as well as its vector role. Considering the latter in the context of protozoan parasites, the stable fly is a mechanical vector of trypanosomes andBesnoitia besnoiti. However, its role as a vector of piroplasms appears to be seldom studied, despite old data suggesting mechanical transmission of babesiae by dipteran flies.

Methods

In this study 395 stable flies (and oneHaematobia stimulans) were collected at a cattle farm with known history of bovine theileriosis, and at further nine, randomly chosen locations in Hungary. These flies were separated according to sex (30 of them also cut into two parts: the head with mouthparts and the thorax-abdomen), followed by individual DNA extraction, then screening for piroplasms by PCR and sequencing.

Results

In stable flies,Theileria orientalis andT. capreoliwere identified at the cattle farm andT. equiwas identified in three other locations. At the cattle farm, significantly more male stable flies carried piroplasm DNA than females. There was no significant difference between the ratio of PCR-positive flies between the stable (void of cattle for at least two hours) and the pen on the pasture with cattle at the time of sampling. Among dissected flies (29S. calcitransand 1H. stimulans), exclusively the thoracic-abdominal parts were PCR-positive, whereas the head and mouthparts remained negative.

Conclusions

TheileriaDNA is detectable in stable flies, in the case ofT. orientalisat least for two hours after blood-feeding, and in the case ofT. capreolialso in the absence of infected hosts (i.e. roe deer). Male flies rather than females, and thoracic-abdominal (most likely crop) contents rather than mouthparts may pose a risk of mechanical transmission. These data suggest that it is worth to study further the vector role of stable flies in the epidemiology of theilerioses, in which not the immediate, but rather the delayed type transmission seems possible.
Six new species of Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) from the gills of cichlids (Teleostei: Cichliformes) from the Lomami River Basin (DRC: Middle Congo)
Authors: Geraerts Mare , Muterezi Bukinga Fidel , Vanhove Maarten P. M. , Pariselle Antoine , Chocha Manda Auguste , Vreven Emmanuel , Huyse Tine , Artois Tom
Published: April 2020

Background

Monogenea van Beneden, 1858 is a group of parasitic flatworms, commonly found infecting bony fish. Several genera, such asCichlidogyrusPaperna, 1960, are reported to include potential pathogenic species that can negatively impact aquaculture fish stocks. They can switch from introduced to native fish and vice versa. In Africa (and all over the world), fish species belonging to Cichlidae are often kept in aquaculture and represent a major source of food. Thus, research on the biodiversity and occurrence of monogenean species on these fish is of importance for aquaculture and conservation. The present study is a survey of the diversity of species ofCichlidogyrusin the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on three cichlid species:Orthochromissp. ‘Lomami’,Serranochromiscf.macrocephalus, andTilapia sparrmaniiSmith, 1840.

Methods

Specimens ofCichlidogyruswere isolated from the gills and mounted on glass slides with Hoyer’s medium. The genital and haptoral hard parts were measured and drawn using interference contrast.

Results

In total, six species ofCichlidogyruswere found, all new to science:C. bulbophallusn. sp. andC. pseudozambezensisn. sp. onS.cf.macrocephalus,C. flagellumn. sp. andC. lobusn. sp. onT. sparrmanii,C. ranulan. sp. onS.cf.macrocephalusandOrthochromissp. ‘Lomami’, andC. maeandern. sp. found onOrthochromissp. ‘Lomami’ andT. sparrmanii. The first four species are considered to be strict specialists,C. ranulan. sp. an intermediate generalist andC. maeandern. sp. a generalist. These parasite species show morphological similarities to species found in the Lower Guinea and Zambezi ichthyofaunal provinces, which might be explained by past river capture events between river systems of the Congo Province and both these regions.

Conclusions

Serranochromiscf.macrocephalusandOrthochromissp. ‘Lomami’ can harbour respectively three and two species ofCichlidogyrus, all described in this study.Tilapia sparrmaniican harbour seven species, of which three are described in the present study. These results highlight the species diversity of this parasite genus in the Congo Basin.
Enteric etiological surveillance in acute diarrhea stool of United States Military Personnel on deployment in Thailand, 2013–2017
Authors: Lurchachaiwong Woradee , Serichantalergs Oralak , Lertsethtakarn Paphavee , Ruamsap Nattaya , Srijan Apichai , Oransathid Wirote , Khemnu Nuanpan , Vesely Brian A. , Demons Samandra T. , Waters Norman C. , Crawford John M. , Swierczewski Brett E.
Published: April 2020

Background

Diarrhea remains a major public health problem for both civilian and military populations. This study describes the prevalence of acute diarrheal illness etiological agents, their antibiotic resistance distribution patterns, the resulting impact upon military force health protection, and potential prevention and treatment strategies.

Results

Forty-eight acute diarrhea stool samples from US military personnel deployed to Thailand from 2013–2017 were screened for enteric pathogens using ELISA, the TaqMan Array Card (TAC), and conventional microbiological methods. These isolates were also evaluated using antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) against ampicillin (AMP), azithromycin (AZM), ceftriaxone (CRO), ciprofloxacin (CIP), nalidixic acid (NA), erythromycin (ERY), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) using commercial methodology. Susceptibility results were interpreted following the CLSI and NARM guidelines. Questionnaire data obtained from 47/48 volunteers indicated that 89.4% (42/47) reported eating local food and the most common clinical symptoms were nausea and abdominal pain (51%; 24/47). Multiple bacterial species were identified from the 48 stool samples with diarrhea etiological agents being detected in 79% (38/48) of the samples distributed as follows: 43.8% (21/48) Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter species, 42% (20/48) diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, and 23% (11/48) Salmonella. Co-infections were detected in 46% (22/48) of the samples. All C. jejuni isolates were resistant to CIP and NA. One C. jejuni isolate exhibited resistance to both AZM and ERY. Lastly, an association between exposure to poultry and subsequent detection of the diarrhea-associated pathogens E. coli and P. shigelloides was significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The detection of Campylobacter isolates with CIP, AZM and ERY resistance has critical force health protection and public health implications, as these data should guide effective Campylobacteriosis treatment options for deployed military members and travelers to Southeast Asia. Additional research efforts are recommended to determine the association of pathogen co-infections and/or other contributing factors towards diarrheal disease in military and traveler populations. Ongoing surveillance and AST profiling of potential disease-causing bacteria is required for effective disease prevention efforts and treatment strategies.
A hybrid interface preconditioner for monolithic fluid–structure interaction solvers
Authors: Mayr Matthias , Noll Maximilian H. , Gee Michael W.
Published: April 2020

We propose a hybrid interface preconditioner for the monolithic solution of surface-coupled problems. Powerful preconditioning techniques are crucial when it comes to solving large monolithic systems of linear equations efficiently, especially when arising from coupled multi-physics problems like in fluid–structure interaction. Existing physics-based block preconditioners have proven to be efficient, but their error assessment reveals an accumulation of the error at the coupling surface. We address this issue by combining them with an additional additive Schwarz preconditioner, whose subdomains span across the interface on purpose. By performing cheap but accurate subdomain solves that do not depend on the separation of physical fields, this error accumulation can be reduced effectively. Numerical experiments compare the performance of the hybrid preconditioner to existing approaches, demonstrate the increased efficiency, and study its parallel performance.
Geographic variation in composition of metazoan parasite infracommunities in Galaxias maculatus Jenyns 1842 (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in southern Chile (38-47° S)
Authors: George-Nascimento Mario , López-Rodríguez Ruby , Górski Konrad
Published: April 2020

Galaxias maculatusis an abundant freshwater fish species in Chilean continental waters where it plays important ecological functions, yet few parasitological records of this species exist in Chile and all of them cover a very limited geographic range. The objective of this study was to assess large scale geographic variation in composition of parasite infracommunities ofGalaxias maculatus.Specifically, parasite infracommunities of this species were compared among 11 locations across 9 degrees of latitude and 3 ecosystem types (lake, river and estuary). Most taxa found had been previously reported in Chile and Argentina. However, this is the first report forTylodelphyssp. in this host in Chile. Furthermore, the cranial parasiteTylodelphyssp. had the highest overall prevalence and abundance compared to other parasite species. Despite the fact that the abundance ofTylodelphyssp. was not significantly correlated with Fulton’s condition factor of fish, infected fish seem to have a better body condition compared to uninfected ones. The most important source of variation in composition of infracommunities was the sampling location. Furthermore, fish from lakes have a different composition of parasite infracommunities mainly due to higher abundances ofTylodelphyssp.
Investigating the professional agency of secondary school English teachers in South Korea
Authors: Namgung Wook , Moate Josephine , Ruohotie-Lyhty Maria
Published: April 2020

This qualitative study examines the professional agency of secondary English teachers in Midwestern South Korea. Specifically, it investigates how secondary English teachers in South Korea understand their professional agency and what mediates their professional agency. The ecological approach in this study recognises that agency encompasses both individual and environmental dimensions and is formed through the constant interplay between the individual and the environment. The dataset for this study comprises 15 semi-structured interviews with secondary English teachers in South Korea. The thematic analysis highlights a significant gap between Korean English teachers’ espoused agency and realisable agency, as well as three levels of legitimation that teachers have to negotiate. These levels are individual, collegial and sociocultural. The findings from this study suggest that the participating teachers censored their own pedagogical behaviours due to their own sense of inadequacy and in response to structural requirements as well as the external evaluation of parents and high-stakes test scores. This study concludes with implications for English teachers in South Korea, theorisation on teacher agency and future research.
Omega-3 fatty acids as feed supplement modulates blood formation and body weight in Rattus norvegicus model
Authors: Nnamonu Emmanuel I. , Mgbenka Bernard O. , Ezewudo Bede I. , Mbegbu Edmund C. , Ezechukwu Chiemekam S. , Ugwu Godwin C.
Published: April 2020

Background

Omega-3 fatty acids’ inclusion as feed supplement in the diets of both human and animals has been found to play a significant role in body metabolism. The aim of this present study was to evaluate the effects of graded doses of omega-3 fatty acids on haematology and body weight of adult male and femaleRattus norvegicus(Wistar albino rats) as a model animal.

Methods

A total of seventy-two adult male and female albino rats were randomly assigned into two experimental units. Each unit was grouped into three and received different treatment diets. Blood erythrocytes and weight were sampled on days 0, 14 and 28 to evaluate haematological parameters and body weight.

Results

Results showed concentration- and time-dependent significant increases (p< 0.05) in the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBCs), mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and non-significant change (p> 0.05) in the red blood cells (RBCs) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in male rats after day 0. In female rats, significant increases (p< 0.05) were recorded in the PCV, Hb, MCV and MCH, whereas no significant increase was observed in the RBCs. Activities of WBCs and MCHC showed mixed trend in female rats. The results of the body weight recorded non-significant increases (p> 0.05) in both experimental units.

Conclusion

Our findings depict that the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the diets of both male and female rats produced a dose-dependent effect on blood formation while its role in controlling weight gain was observed. Hence, its intake in both animal and human diets should be rightly prescribed.
Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against the cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) infesting cabbage under field conditions
Authors: Askary Tarique Hassan , Ahmad Mohammad Jamal
Published: April 2020

Experiments were conducted to test the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematode,Heterorhabditis pakistanensisalone and in combination with the chemical insecticides, viz., Dichlorvos and Quinalphos and Neem product, viz., Azadirachtin against the cabbage butterfly,Pieris brassicae(L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) infesting cabbage plants under laboratory and field conditions. In laboratory test, inoculum level of 200 infective juveniles (IJs) was most effective causing mortality to both 3rd and 4th instars larvae at 48 h. Nematode multiplication rate in insect cadaver was inversely proportional to the size of initial inoculum level of IJs, whereas IJs yield was directly proportional to the size of larva. The 4th instar larva resulted in a highest yield of IJs, followed by 3rd, 2nd, and 1st instars larvae at all the inoculum levels used in the study. IJs were found compatible with the chemical insecticides and Neem product at lower than half of the optimum single dose. The cumulative mean survival percentage of IJs recorded the highest (77.5%) in the combination of 100 IJs + Azadirachtin (0.25%) and lowest (70.6%) in 100 IJs + Dichlorvos 76 EC (0.05%). Under field conditions,H. pakistanensis(3.0 lakh IJs/m2) + Dichlorvos 76 EC (0.025%) resulted to the highest larval mortality (79.65%), followed byH. pakistanensis(3.0 lakh IJs/m2) + Azadirachtin (0.25%), where it was 76.22%. The larval mortality was the least (61.16%) in case ofH. pakistanensis(3.0 lakh IJs/m2) when applied alone.H. pakistanensis+ Dichlorvos resulted to the highest increase (31.42%) in cabbage yield over untreated control.
President's Page
Authors: Ebrom Dan
Published: April 2020

SEG has addressed the challenges of meeting the needs of a global membership with the opening of regional offices in the Middle East, China, and Malaysia. The China office is now financially self-supporting, and the Middle East office is running a positive net budget with multiple events each year. The success of these offices in addressing the needs of our membership and our profession has led us to look at Houston. Ironically, in Houston, where the SEG was founded and which continues to serve as a technical and organizational center for many oil companies and geophysical service companies, there is only a minimal permanent SEG presence.
Patient-Reported Cognitive Impairment Among Women With Early Breast Cancer Randomly Assigned to Endocrine Therapy Alone Versus Chemoendocrine Therapy: Results From TAILORx
Authors: Wagner Lynne I. , Gray Robert J. , Sparano Joseph A. , Whelan Timothy J. , Garcia Sofia F. , Yanez Betina , Tevaarwerk Amye J. , Carlos Ruth C. , Albain Kathy S. , Olson John A. , Goetz Matthew P. , Pritchard Kathleen I. , Hayes Daniel F. , Geyer Charles E. , Dees E. Claire , McCaskill-Stevens Worta J. , Minasian Lori M. , Sledge George W. , Cella David
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is common during adjuvant chemotherapy and may persist. TAILORx provided a novel opportunity to prospectively assess patient-reported cognitive impairment among women with early breast cancer who were randomly assigned to chemoendocrine therapy (CT+E) versus endocrine therapy alone (E), allowing us to quantify the unique contribution of chemotherapy to CRCI.

METHODS

Women with a 21-gene recurrence score of 11 to 25 enrolled in TAILORX were randomly assigned to CT+E or E. Cognitive impairment was assessed among a subgroup of 552 evaluable women using the 37-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) questionnaire, administered at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. The FACT-Cog included the 20-item Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI) scale, our primary end point. Clinically meaningful changes were defined a priori and linear regression was used to model PCI scores on baseline PCI, treatment, and other factors.

RESULTS

FACT-Cog PCI scores were significantly lower, indicating more impairment, at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months compared with baseline for both groups. The magnitude of PCI change scores was greater for CT+E than E at 3 months, the prespecified primary trial end point, and at 6 months, but not at 12, 24, and 36 months. Tests of an interaction between menopausal status and treatment were nonsignificant.

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant CT+E is associated with significantly greater CRCI compared with E at 3 and 6 months. These differences abated over time, with no significant differences observed at 12 months and beyond. These findings indicate that chemotherapy produces early, but not sustained, cognitive impairment relative to E, providing reassurance to patients and clinicians in whom adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated to reduce recurrence risk.
Randomized Double-Blind Phase II Study of Maintenance Pembrolizumab Versus Placebo After First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Cancer
Authors: Galsky Matthew D. , Mortazavi Amir , Milowsky Matthew I. , George Saby , Gupta Sumati , Fleming Mark T. , Dang Long H. , Geynisman Daniel M. , Walling Radhika , Alter Robert S. , Kassar Mohamad , Wang Jue , Gupta Shilpa , Davis Nancy , Picus Joel , Philips George , Quinn David I. , Haines G. Kenneth , Hahn Noah M. , Zhao Qianqian , Yu Menggang , Pal Sumanta K.
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE

Platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of metastatic urothelial cancer is typically administered for a fixed duration followed by observation until progression. “Switch maintenance” therapy with PD-1 blockade at the time of chemotherapy cessation may be attractive for mechanistic and pragmatic reasons.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with metastatic urothelial cancer achieving at least stable disease on first-line platinum-based chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned double-blind 1:1 to switch maintenance pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously once every 3 weeks versus placebo for up to 24 months. Patients with disease progression on placebo could cross over to pembrolizumab. The primary objective was to determine the progression-free survival. Secondary objectives included determining overall survival as well as treatment outcomes according to PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS).

RESULTS

Between December 2015 and November 2018, 108 patients were randomly assigned to pembrolizumab (n = 55) or placebo (n = 53). The objective response rate was 23% with pembrolizumab and 10% with placebo. Treatment-emergent grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 59% receiving pembrolizumab and 38% of patients receiving placebo. Progression-free survival was significantly longer with maintenance pembrolizumab versus placebo (5.4 months [95% CI, 3.1 to 7.3 months] v 3.0 months [95% CI; 2.7 to 5.5 months]; hazard ratio, 0.65; log-rank P = .04; maximum efficiency robust test P = .039). Median overall survival was 22 months (95% CI, 12.9 months to not reached) with pembrolizumab and 18.7 months (95% CI, 11.4 months to not reached) with placebo. There was no significant interaction between PD-L1 CPS ≥ 10 and treatment arm for progression-free survival or overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Switch maintenance pembrolizumab leads to additional objective responses in patients achieving at least stable disease with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and prolongs progression-free survival in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer.
Emerging Roles for Noncoding RNAs in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Authors: Yin Liang , Zeng Chong , Yao Jie , Shen Jie
Published: April 2020

Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is one of the most frequent autoimmune disorders. However, the pathogenesis of AITD has not been fully elucidated. Recently, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that abnormal expression of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) is closely related to the etiopathogenesis of AITD. microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are 3 major groups of ncRNAs that are attracting increasing attention. Herein, we summarized our present knowledge on the role of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in AITD. This review focused on the importance of ncRNAs in development of the most prevalent AITD, such as Hashimoto disease and Graves’ diseases. Altogether, the main purpose of this review is to provide new insights in the pathogenesis of AITD and the possibility of developing novel potential therapeutic targets.
Family Business Group Expansion Through IPOs: The Role of Internal Capital Markets in Financing Growth While Preserving Control
Authors: Masulis Ronald W. , Pham Peter K. , Zein Jason
Published: April 2020

Using data from 44 countries, we document a new channel through which a family business group’s internal capital market supports its members. We find that groups use internal capital to incubate difficult-to-finance projects, making it feasible for them to rapidly scale up, thus facilitating their initial public offering (IPO) market access. This IPO support role is particularly valuable when groups find capital-raising through seasoned equity offerings less attractive because of control-retention concerns and in capital markets with high new-firm financing barriers. Unlike carve-outs employed as a corporate restructuring strategy, group-affiliated IPOs primarily appear to serve a group’s expansion goals rather than its liquidation needs.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
An Invitation Control Policy for Proactive Service Systems: Balancing Efficiency, Value, and Service Level
Authors: Yom-Tov Galit B. , Yedidsion Liron , Xie Yueming
Published: April 2020

Problem definition : We study the problem of designing a dynamic invitation policy for proactive service systems with finite customer patience under scarce capacity. In such systems, prior knowledge regarding customer value or importance is used to decide whether the company should offer service or not. Academic/practical relevance : Proactive service systems are becoming more popular, as data availability and machine-learning techniques are developed to forecast customer needs. However, very little is known about the efficient use of such tools to promote and manage service systems. Methodology : We use fluid approximation and the Filippov convex method to analyze system dynamics and develop approximations for important performance measures. Results : We show that whereas prioritizing customers in descending order of their r-μ ranking (as long as there are idle servers in the system) is optimal on the fluid level, refinements are necessary in the presence of abandonment on the stochastic level. We propose an r-μ-N policy to account for customer patience. Managerial implications : Our policy can be used to promote service effectivenes and allow decision makers the means to trade off service level against costs in such systems explicitly. Using a case study of a transportation service provider, we show that such a policy can triple revenue compared with random arrivals (nonproactive policy).
Ilse Fusková. O corpo como arquivo
Authors: Bidaseca Karina
Published: April 2020

Este projeto se inscreve em uma linha de investigação transdisciplinar sobre processos de arquivo de artistas feministas e novas tecnologias, iniciado no Programas pós- colonialidade fronteiriço e transfronteiriço nos estudos feministas com sede em IDAES/UNSAM. Uma teoria de arquivo entendida como política de leitura é uma política de intervenção cultural e de democratização do conhecimento, como uma prática de memória viva. Abordaremos a investigação sobre a obra da fotógrafa, repórter e artivista  argentina Ilse Fusková – primeira feminista e depois assumidamente lésbica-, nascida no ano 1929 em Buenos Aires, a partir da teoria feminista e queer . Sua presença na cena cultural portenha nos anos de 1950, vedada para as mulheres, lhe permitiu, como para as leitoras das revistas nas quais escrevia, abrir a possibilidade de perfurar a ordem da dominação patriarcal. Seu corpo é o arquivo vivo de nossa história feminista e dissidente. Tradução de: Christiane Costa
Quantitative multiple-element simultaneous analysis of seaweed fertilizer by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Lin Qingyu , Yin Pengkun , Duan Yixiang , Wang Ying , Zhang Lin , Wang Xiaohui
Published: April 2020

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, coupled with advanced chemometric methods, was used to quantitate multiple elements in a seaweed-based fertilizer. The influence of important parameters was determined using partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector regression (SVR) and random forest (RF) optimizations. Optimal results for Mg, K and P were obtained using PLSR, whereas RF yielded the best results for Mn, Cu, Sr and Ca. The best predictions for Ba levels were obtained with SVR. The lowest root mean square errors in the prediction sets for Mn, Cu, Sr, Ba, Mg, K, P and Ca were 48.27 µg/g, 36.90 µg/g, 0.37 mg/g, 40.32 µg/g, 1.99 mg/g, 2.03 mg/g, 4.81 mg/g and 14.08 mg/g, respectively, with average relative standard deviations of 13.65%, 2.68%, 19.80%, 5.17%, 3.32%, 2.98%, 1.82% and 5.81%. The results showed that the optimal multivariate model depended on the specific element being analyzed. The proposed method provides a rapid means of determining multielement concentrations in seaweed-based fertilizers.
Optically-thick 300 nm GaAs solar cells using adjacent photonic crystals
Authors: Buencuerpo Jeronimo , Steiner Myles A. , Tamboli Adele C.
Published: April 2020

Ultra-thin photovoltaics offer the potential for increasing efficiency
while minimizing costs. However, a suitable light trapping strategy is
needed to reach the optically thick regime for otherwise thin-film
structures. III-V materials can benefit from simple adjacent light
trapping structures, if correctly designed. Here we present three
strategies for a 300 nm thick GaAs cell using front photonic crystals,
back photonic crystals, and both front and back combined, predicting a
maximum photocurrent, Jsc=29.9
mA/cm2 under the radiative limit, including an enhanced
absorption in the Urbach-tail. We analyze the increased absorption
isolating the Fabry-Perot resonances, the single pass absorption and
the scattered contribution from the incident light.
High-power repetition rate- and pulse width-tunable 589 nm versatile laser for adaptive optical systems
Authors: Bian Qi , Bo Yong , Zuo Jun-wei , Yuan Lei , Chen Hong-bin , Peng Qin-jun , Xu Zu-yan
Published: April 2020

Compact high-power yellow laser is a critical part for sodium beacon adaptive optical systems. A narrow-linewidth quasi-continuous-wave (QCW) solid-state 589 nm laser with high-power and high beam quality simultaneously is investigated here, operating in hundreds-microsecond pulse duration with a tunable repetition rate of 400 to 1 kHz, which is flexible to allow the telescope to move in observing direction. The laser source is based on employing sum-frequency generation between 1319 and 1064 nm QCW Nd:YAG amplifiers. For a 100 µs pulse duration and 400 Hz repetition rate, the yellow laser provides a highest output power of 86.1 W with beam quality M2 = 1.37. The central wavelength can be precisely tuned to sodium-D2a line at 589.159 nm with a ∼440 MHz linewidth. This is the maximum power-reported for all-solid-state sodium guide star laser demonstrated to date. The result represents a key step toward solving the requirement of multi-conjugate adaptive optics for large adaptive optical telescopes.
Discourse of Yemeni TV broadcasters and the dilemma of regime criticism, 2015–19
Authors: Almahfali Mohammed
Published: April 2020

The discourse of the Yemeni TV broadcasters has undergone major changes since the Arab Spring in 2011. Moreover, since the outbreak of Civil War in 2015, this discourse has been diverse and has become a clear reflection of the contexts in which it is produced. This article analyses Yemeni media discourse by analysing the titles of news reports published on YouTube by five Yemeni TV channels belonging to five diversified discourses in terms of political, ideological, cultural and social orientation. The article adopts discourse framing as a methodological tool, with which we can address media discourse and thus reveal its social, political and cultural contexts. The article concludes that Yemeni TV broadcasters’ discourse depends on a limited number of keywords that have a cognitive and cultural balance in Yemeni society, words originally taken from cultural, religious and social backgrounds in the collective memory of Yemen. Knowing these keywords can be employed in different dimensions. While it can contribute to developing the recipient awareness, it can also help to raise the degree of professionalism in media performance in Yemen, especially in the stage of peace-building and post-war.
Uma abordagem geral dos principais fatores influenciadores no desempenho de geocompostos argilosos
Authors: Miguel Gustavo Dias , Benetti Mozara , Heineck Karla Salvagni
Published: April 2020

Geocompostos argilosos para barreira impermeabilizante (GCL, do inglês: Geosynthetic clay liners) apresentaram-se como uma alternativa a Camadas de Argila Compactada (CCL, do inglês: Compacted Clay Liners). Um produto manufaturado apresenta benefícios em comparação àqueles que se utilizam apenas de produtos naturais. Entretanto, um manejo inadequado destes produtos pode fazer com que estes se tornem inaptos a sua utilização. Se tornando, na verdade, um inconveniente onde aplicado. Assim sendo, algumas considerações básicas devem serem levadas em conta quando de sua utilização. Com isto, aspectos como principais benefícios, resultados de pesquisas, particularidades de sua utilização que prolonguem ou afetem a vida útil e desempenho, são discutidas no presente trabalho. Ao final, é realizada uma breve comparação entre as duas técnicas correlatas, GCLs e CCLs, ambas utilizadas como barreiras impermeabilizantes.
Manejo de macrófitas proveniente de infestação em ambientes naturais como suplemento para produção da microalga de interesse econômico Scenedesmus acuminatus
Authors: Militão Frederico Pacheco , Krettle Raissa Hirle , Brêda-Alves Fernanda , Dias Júnior Camilo , Teramoto Erico Tadao , Machado Levi Pompermayer , Fernandes Valéria De Oliveira
Published: April 2020

Este estudo avaliou a influência de seis meios de cultura alternativos (um a base  de  NPK, dois  contendo  extrato  de  Pistia  stratiotes  e  Eichhornia  crassipes enriquecido  de  NPK,  e  outros  três  com  diferentes  diluições  de  extrato  puro  de  E. crassipes, (Eic 40, Eic 85, Eic 130) em comparação ao meio de cultura comercial ASM-1, no desenvolvimento da microalga Scenedesmus acuminatus. Foram avaliados taxa de crescimento (K), densidade, volume celular, biovolume e qualidade nutricional dos meios de cultura. Os meios de culturas testados apresentaram concentração de nutrientes suficiente para o crescimento da microalga. As taxas de crescimento de ASM-1 (0,439) foram similares (p>0,05) a NPK, Pis + NPK e Eic + NPK. Eic 85 e Eic 130 apresentaram os valores mais baixos (0,201; 0,150, respectivamente) e similares entre si. Os volumes dos tratamentos não diferiram de ASM-1 (135,427 μm3), somente o Eic NPK e Eic 130 apresentaram valores menores (86,780 e 100,401 μm3, respectivamente). O maior biovolume e densidade celular foram encontrados em Eic NPK (1,273 mm3.L-1 e 1047 x 104 cél.mL-1). Os tratamentos apresentaram capacidade de nutrição muito similar ao ASM-1, podendo substitui-lo no cultivo de S. acuminatus, em especial Eic + NPK que apresentou maior densidade e biovolume. Os tratamentos com extrato puro, apesar de apresentarem resultados mais baixos, ainda assim possibilitaram o desenvolvimento da alga.
Quantitative Analysis of the Acetic Acid Content in Substances Used by Athletes for the Possible Prevention and Alleviation of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps
Authors: Hooper Marosek Stephanie E. , Antharam Vijay , Dowlatshahi Katayoon
Published: April 2020

Marosek, SEH, Antharam, V, and Dowlatshahi, K. Quantitative analysis of the acetic acid content in substances used by athletes for the possible prevention and alleviation of exercise-associated muscle cramps. J Strength Cond Res 34(6): 1539–1546, 2020—Athletes regularly consume commercially available food and sports shot products, carbohydrate beverages, and water to improve their physical exertion and to possibly prevent or relieve exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMCs)—often experienced during practice, training, or competition. Acetic acid, a component of interest within these products, has been recognized for its potential role in cramp reduction. Acetic acid is postulated to mitigate cramping by decreasing alpha motor neuron activity through oropharyngeal stimulation and inhibitory neurotransmitter production, while aiding in the role acetylcholine plays in muscle contraction and relaxation. The purpose of this research is to analytically assess the most viable sources of acetic acid from substances that athletes ingest before or when experiencing these cramps. The range of samples investigated were based on their widespread use in the athletic world: dill and sweet pickle juices, yellow mustard, sweet relish, apple cider vinegar, Hot Shot, PJ Shot, PJ Sport, E-Lyte Sport, Powerade, Gatorade, Smartwater, and Propel (with electrolytes). As hypothesized, pH and enzymatic assay or spectroscopic analyses revealed that yellow mustard, sweet relish, all pickle juices, and the pickle juice products were composed of moderate amounts of acetic acid. Based on established studies resulting in EAMC relief, acetic acid consumption, and the appropriate serving size, the yellow mustard, PJ Shot, and all pickle juices would be the most practical and palatable sources of acetic acid for strength and conditioning professionals to recommend that athletes consume for the possible prevention or alleviation of muscle cramps.