bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID‐19 in kidney transplant recipients: A multicenter experience in Istanbul
Authors: Demir Erol , Uyar Murathan , Parmaksiz Ergun , Sinangil Ayse , Yelken Berna , Dirim Ahmet Burak , Merhametsiz Ozgur , Yadigar Serap , Atan Ucar Zuhal , Ucar Ali Riza , Demir Mehmet Emin , Mese Meral , Akin Emin Baris , Garayeva Nurana , Safak Seda , Oto Ozgur Akin , Yazici Halil , Turkmen Aydin
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Management of COVID‐19 in kidney transplant recipients should include treatment of the infection, regulation of immunosuppression, and supportive therapy. However, there is no consensus on this issue yet. This study aimed to our experiences with kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID‐19.

Material and Methods

Kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID‐19 from five major transplant centers in Istanbul, Turkey, were included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were classified as having moderate or severe pneumonia for the analysis. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. The secondary endpoints were acute kidney injury, the average length of hospital stay, admission to intensive care, and mechanical ventilation.

Results

Forty patients were reviewed retrospectively over a follow‐up period of 32 days after being diagnosed with COVID‐19. Cough, fever, and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms in all patients. The frequency of previous induction and rejection therapy was significantly higher in the group with severe pneumonia compared to the moderate pneumonia group. None of the patients using cyclosporine A developed severe pneumonia. Five patients died during follow‐up in the intensive care unit. None of the patients developed graft loss during follow‐up.

Discussion

COVID‐19 has been seen to more commonly cause moderate or severe pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients. Immunosuppression should be carefully reduced in these patients. Induction therapy with lymphocyte‐depleting agents should be carefully avoided in kidney transplant recipients during the pandemic period.
Delayed type III hypersensitivity reaction with acute kidney injury in two dogs following administration of concentrated human albumin during treatment for hypoalbuminemia secondary to septic peritonitis
Authors: Mazzaferro Elisa M. , Balakrishnan Anusha , Hackner Susan G. , Forman Marnin , Foster JD , Calabro Janine , Cianciolo Rachel E.
Published: July 2020

Objective

To describe 2 dogs with acute kidney injury secondary to type III hypersensitivity reaction to 25% human serum albumin (HSA).

Case series summary

Two dogs were presented with evidence of septic peritonitis. The dogs were hospitalized following definitive surgical correction of a jejunal laceration following routine ovariohysterectomy, and removal of a jejunal foreign body. In the postoperative period, both dogs developed hypoalbuminemia and received 25% HSA. At the time of initial discharge, both dogs were doing well clinically and had normal renal parameters. Eleven and 18 days after HSA infusion, respectively, both dogs were re‐presented with clinical signs of inappetence, vomiting, and lameness that progressed to urticaria, peripheral and angioedema, and petechiae, consistent with a delayed type III hypersensitivity reaction. Treatment for the type III hypersensitivity reaction to HSA included administration of diphenhydramine and glucocorticoids. Despite partial resolution of edema and joint swelling, both dogs developed progressive azotemia together with hypoalbuminemia and proteinuria. One dog developed an anuric acute kidney injury (AKI). Both dogs were humanely euthanized. Histopathology of the kidneys of both dogs was consistent with immune complex deposition and vasculitis.

New or unique information

Severe type III hypersensitivity reactions have been documented in healthy dogs and clinical patients following the administration of HSA. This report describes the first documented delayed type III hypersensitivity reaction in 2 dogs with septic peritonitis that resulted in AKI, glomerulonephritis, and oligo‐ to anuria in clinical patients following administration of 25% HSA.
COVID‐19 Pandemic – blood supply challenges and approaches in AATM member countries
Authors: Choudhury Nabajyoti , Mathur Ankit , Smit Sibinga Cees Th ,   & On behalf of AATM
Published: July 2020

With the COVID‐19 outbreak, AATM took an early initiative to provide the membership instructive recommendations and informative aide mémoire. Optimizing membership support a survey was sent to 25 pandemic affected member countries, to collect challenges and approaches on blood supply and transfusion.

Approach

Survey sent to AATM country representatives. Five questions focused on in‐country blood collection and pandemic situation, diagnosis, treatment and personal protection equipment (PPE), including a snapshot question on disease magnitude; and 2 descriptive questions on challenges and responses to overcome challenges. Country classification – 2018 UNDP statistical update Human Development Indices/Indicators (HDI). Basic metric statistics.

Results

Response rate: 92%; HDI classification: Low – 1; Medium – 9; High – 9 and Very High – 4 countries; population range: 540 544–1 380 000 000; blood collection/1000: 2·4–36·1. Ranges/1000: hospital beds, intensive care/isolation beds and ventilators respectively: 0·5–8·2; 0·019–1·8; 0·0007–1·11. All countries had quarantine facilities. Sufficient PPE: all but three countries. Testing facilities: all but three countries. All but one country listed challenges and responses. Most common challenges and approaches were, respectively, shortages in blood donors and supply (19/22), staff safety (13/22); and mass media education and awareness campaigns (21/22), staff education on safety practices and universal precautions (18/22).

Conclusion

High response from Medium and High HDI countries. Major challenges reported: effects of pandemic on blood donors and blood supply, where most countries already were suffering from shortages due to their development state. Key approaches: staff education to prevent infection; focused public awareness campaigns to convince donors to keep coming to support the nation’s blood availability during crisis.
Development of an Operational Planning Tool for Geothermal Plants With Heat and Power Production
Authors: Irl Matthäus , Lambert Jerry , Wieland Christoph , Spliethoff Hartmut
Published: July 2020

A short-term operational planning tool for geothermal plants with heat and power production connected to large district heating systems is developed. The software tool contains, among other features, a heat demand forecasting model for district heating systems. Two options, such as linear regression and artificial neural networks, are compared. As the result shows, artificial neural networks with the Bayesian Regularization Backpropagation Algorithm have a high generalization capability and are suitable to forecast the heat demand of large district heating systems with high accuracy. Data from a district heating system with about 70-MW load supplied by a geothermal plant in the south of Munich (Germany) are used for comparison and assessment of all methods. After developing a suitable heat forecast, the heat and power production site is modeled by using mixed-integer linear programming. Mixed-integer linear programming has proven to be a suitable method to model the operation of geothermal plants with heat and power production as well as to solve the planning optimization problem. As the results show, the short-term operational planning tool can optimize the operation of single components as well as of the overall geothermal plant with regard to various objective functions. The tool maximizes the revenues from the sold heat and electricity minus the costs for the boiler fuel and the heat purchased from a connected adjacent geothermal plant. A retro perspective operation investigation has proven that the profitability of the considered geothermal plant could be significantly increased by using the developed software.
Quantitative Assessment of Shoulder Rehabilitation Using Digital Motion Acquisition and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Vitali Andrea , Maffioletti Federico , Regazzoni Daniele , Rizzi Caterina
Published: July 2020

Motion capture (Mocap) is applied to motor rehabilitation of patients recovering from a trauma, a surgery, or other impairing conditions. Some rehabilitation exercises are easily tracked with low-cost technologies and a simple Mocap setup, while some others are extremely hard to track because they imply small movements and require high accuracy. In these last cases, the obvious solution is to use high performing motion tracking systems, but these devices are generally too expensive in the rehabilitation context. The aim of this paper is to provide a Mocap solution suitable for any kind of exercise but still based on low-cost sensors. This result can be reached embedding some artificial intelligence (AI), in particular a convolutional neural network (CNN), to gather a better outcome from the optical acquisition. The paper provides a methodology including the way to perform patient's tracking and to elaborate the data from infra-red sensors and from the red, green, blue (RGB) cameras in order to create a user-friendly application for physiotherapists. The approach has been tested with a known complex case concerning the rehabilitation of shoulders. The proposed solution succeeded in detecting small movements and incorrect patient behavior, as for instance, a compensatory elevation of the scapula during the lateral abduction of the arm. The approach evaluated by medical personnel provided good results and encouraged its application in different kinds of rehabilitation practices as well as in different fields where low-cost Mocap could be introduced.
Toward Harmonized Treadmill-Based Validation of Step-Counting Wearable Technologies: A Scoping Review
Authors: Moore Christopher C. , McCullough Aston K. , Aguiar Elroy J. , Ducharme Scott W. , Tudor-Locke Catrine
Published: July 2020

Background: The authors conducted a scoping review as a first step toward establishing harmonized (ie, consistent and compatible), empirically based best practices for validating step-counting wearable technologies. Purpose: To catalog studies validating step-counting wearable technologies during treadmill ambulation. Methods: The authors searched PubMed and SPORTDiscus in August 2019 to identify treadmill-based validation studies that employed the criterion of directly observed (including video recorded) steps and cataloged study sample characteristics, protocol details, and analytical procedures. Where reported, speed- and wear location–specific mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values were tabulated. Weighted median MAPE values were calculated by wear location and a 0.2-m/s speed increment. Results: Seventy-seven eligible studies were identified: most had samples averaging 54% (SD = 5%) female and 27 (5) years of age, treadmill protocols consisting of 3 to 5 bouts at speeds of 0.8 (0.1) to 1.6 (0.2) m/s, and reported measures of bias. Eleven studies provided MAPE values at treadmill speeds of 1.1 to 1.8 m/s; their weighted median MAPE values were 7% to 11% for wrist-worn, 1% to 4% for waist-worn, and ≤1% for thigh-worn devices. Conclusions: Despite divergent study methodologies, the authors identified common practices and summarized MAPE values representing device step-count accuracy during treadmill walking. These initial empirical findings should be further refined to ultimately establish harmonized best practices for validating wearable technologies.
Chapter 3: Genesis and Change in Physical Educators’ Use of Social Media for Professional Development and Learning
Authors: Harvey Stephen , Carpenter Jeffrey P.
Published: July 2020

Purpose: This descriptive study investigates the genesis and change in physical educators’ social media use for professional development and learning. Method: Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 48 physical educators who had actively used various social media professionally for an extended period of time. The data were analyzed inductively and aligned to the basic psychological needs defined by self-determination theory: relatedness, autonomy, and competence. Results: Building relationships with a trusted network of people and opportunities to express their autonomy were important drivers in the participants’ genesis and continued use of social media. Developing competence at both the start and throughout their social media journey was also critical. Discussion/Conclusions: The findings provide a starting point for in-depth research on the motivational characteristics underpinning physical educators’ reasons for starting and continuing to use social media for professional development and learning, and how these might change over time based on different psychological needs.
What is the Minimum Step Rate Required to Achieve Moderate-Intensity Walking Overground in Adolescent Girls?
Authors: MacDonald Mhairi J. , Fawkner Samantha G. , Niven Ailsa G.
Published: July 2020

Background: In order to promote walking, researchers have sought to identify the required step rate to maintain a health-enhancing walking intensity However, there is limited evidence regarding the stepping rate required to promote moderate-intensity walking in adolescent girls. Purpose: To identify the step rate equivalent to moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) in adolescent girls and to explore the influence that different anthropometric measures may have on the step rate equating to MPA in this population. Methods: A total of 56 adolescent girls (mean age = 13.8[0.7] y) were recruited to the study. Anthropometric variables and resting metabolic rate were assessed, followed by 3 overground walking trials on a flat surface at approximately 2, 3, and 4 mph, each lasting a minimum of 4 minutes. Oxygen uptake was assessed using a portable gas analyzer and subsequently converted into metabolic equivalents (METs). Step count was assessed by real-time direct observation hand tally. Results: Employing the linear regression between step rate and METs (r2 = .20, standard error of estimates = 0.003) suggests that 120 steps per minute was representative of an MPA (3 METs) equating to 7200 steps in 60 minutes. Multiple regression and mixed-model regression confirmed weight-related variables and maturity were significant predictors of METs (P < .01). Conclusion: The results suggest that, at population level, a step rate of 120 steps per minute may be advocated to achieve MPA in adolescent girls; although, due to the small sample size used, caution should be applied. At an individual level, other factors, such as age and weight, should be considered.
Structural basis of a shared antibody response to SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Yuan Meng , Liu Hejun , Wu Nicholas C. , Lee Chang-Chun D. , Zhu Xueyong , Zhao Fangzhu , Huang Deli , Yu Wenli , Hua Yuanzi , Tien Henry , Rogers Thomas F. , Landais Elise , Sok Devin , Jardine Joseph G. , Burton Dennis R. , Wilson Ian A.
Published: July 2020

A common theme in antibody responses

In the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), antibodies are a key tool, both as potential therapeutics and to guide vaccine development. Yuan
et al.
focused on finding shared antibody responses, in which multiple individuals develop antibodies against the same antigen using the same genetic elements and modes of recognition. The authors identified the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region 3-53 gene as the most frequently used among 294 antibodies that target the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein. These antibodies have few somatic mutations, and crystal structures of two neutralizing antibodies bound to the RBD show that mostly germline-encoded residues are involved in binding. The minimal affinity maturation and high potency of these antibodies is promising for vaccine design.

Science
, this issue p.
1119
Nonhuman Primate Testing of the Impact of Different Regulatory T Cell Depletion Strategies on Reactivation and Clearance of Latent Simian Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Sivanandham Ranjit , Kleinman Adam J. , Sette Paola , Brocca-Cofano Egidio , Kilapandal Venkatraman Sindhuja Murali , Policicchio Benjamin B. , He Tianyu , Xu Cuiling , Swarthout Julia , Wang Zhirui , Pandrea Ivona , Apetrei Cristian
Published: July 2020

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can decisively contribute to the establishment and persistence of the HIV reservoir, since they harbor high levels of HIV/SIV, increase the pool of resting CD4
+
T cells by reversing their immune activation status, and impair CD8
+
T cell function, favoring HIV persistence. We tested multiple Treg depletion strategies and showed that all of them are at least partially successful in depleting Tregs. As such, Treg depletion appears to be a valid intervention toward an HIV cure, reducing the size of the reservoir, reactivating the virus, and boosting cell-mediated immune responses. Yet, when Treg depletion was attempted in ART-suppressed animals, the treatment had to be discontinued due to high toxicity and lymphopenia. Therefore, while Treg targeting as a strategy for HIV cure cannot be discarded, the methodology for Treg depletion has to be revisited.
The Frequency of Sex: Population Genomics Reveals Differences in Recombination and Population Structure of the Aflatoxin-Producing Fungus Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Drott Milton T. , Satterlee Tatum R. , Skerker Jeffrey M. , Pfannenstiel Brandon T. , Glass N. Louise , Keller Nancy P. , Milgroom Michael G.
Published: July 2020

Differences in the relative frequencies of sexual and asexual reproduction have profound implications for the accumulation of deleterious mutations (Muller’s ratchet), but little is known about how these differences impact the evolution of ecologically important phenotypes.
Aspergillus flavus
is the main producer of aflatoxin, a notoriously potent carcinogen that often contaminates food. We investigated if differences in the levels of production of aflatoxin by
A. flavus
could be explained by the accumulation of deleterious mutations due to a lack of recombination. Despite differences in the extent of recombination, variation in aflatoxin production is better explained by the demography and history of specific populations and may suggest important differences in the ecological roles of aflatoxin among populations. Furthermore, the association of aflatoxin production and populations provides a means of predicting the risk of aflatoxin contamination by determining the frequencies of isolates from low- and high-production populations.
New Multidrug Efflux Inhibitors for Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Marshall Robert L. , Lloyd Georgina S. , Lawler Amelia J. , Element Sarah J. , Kaur Jaswant , Ciusa Maria Laura , Ricci Vito , Tschumi Andreas , Kühne Holger , Alderwick Luke J. , Piddock Laura J. V.
Published: July 2020

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria pose a serious threat to human and animal health. Molecules that inhibit multidrug efflux offer an alternative approach to resolving the challenges caused by antibiotic resistance, by potentiating the activity of old, licensed, and new antibiotics. We have developed, validated, and implemented a high-throughput screen and used it to identify efflux inhibitors from two compound libraries selected for their high chemical and pharmacological diversity. We found that the new high-throughput screen is a valuable tool to identify efflux inhibitors, as evidenced by the 43 new efflux inhibitors described in this study.
Supplemental Material: Subannual stable isotope records reveal climate warming and seasonal anoxia associated with two extinction intervals across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary on Seymour Island, Antarctica
Authors: Mohr Rachel , al. et
Published: July 2020

Supplemental Figures S1–S9, Table S1, Tables S2–S4 as raw data in Excel file, and additional methodological text.
Supplemental Material: Airblasts caused by large slope collapses
Authors: Penna Ivanna M. , al. et
Published: July 2020

Figure S1. Sequence of satellite images showing the evolution of Yumthang rock avalanche; Figure S2. (A) View of the detachment zone of the Yumthang rock avalanche. Main discontinuities are indicated. (B) Hillshade with indication of the main sets of iscontinuities. The arrows indicate the downstream direction of the valleys. (C) Stereographic plots (Equal angle, lower hemisphere) with the kinematic analysis overlain. (D) General hillshade and satellite image showing the location of the detachment zone at the confluence of two valleys; Figure S3. Picture and schematic illustration of airblast interacting with the tree trunk on the distal part of the Yumthang airblast damage area; Table S1. Main discontinuities affecting the granite at the Yumthang headscarp.
Treatment after ACL injury: Panther Symposium ACL Treatment Consensus Group
Authors: Diermeier Theresa Anita , Rothrauff Ben B , Engebretsen Lars , Lynch Andrew , Svantesson Eleonor , Hamrin Senorski Eric Andrew , Meredith Sean J , Rauer Thomas , Ayeni Olufemi R , Paterno Mark , Xerogeanes John W , Fu Freddie H , Karlsson Jon , Musahl Volker
Published: July 2020

Treatment strategies for ACL injuries continue to evolve. Evidence supporting best practice guidelines to manage ACL injury is largely based on studies with low-level evidence. An international consensus group of experts was convened determine consensus regarding best available evidence on operative versus non-operative treatment for ACL injury. The purpose of this study is to report the consensus statements on operative versus non-operative treatment of ACL injuries developed at the ACL Consensus Meeting Panther Symposium 2019. Sixty-six international experts on the management of ACL injuries, representing 18 countries, convened and participated in a process based on the Delphi method of achieving consensus. Proposed consensus statements were drafted by the Scientific Organising Committee and Session Chairs. Panel participants reviewed preliminary statements prior to the meeting and provided initial agreement and comments on the statement via online survey. During the meeting, discussion and debate occurred for each statement, after which a final vote was then held. Eighty per cent agreement was defined a priori as consensus. A total of 11 of 13 statements on operative versus non-operative treatment of ACL injury reached consensus during the Symposium. Nine statements achieved unanimous support, two reached strong consensus, one did not achieve consensus, and one was removed due to redundancy in the information provided. In highly active patients engaged in jumping, cutting and pivoting sports, early anatomical ACL reconstruction is recommended due to the high risk of secondary meniscus and cartilage injuries with delayed surgery, although a period of progressive rehabilitation to resolve impairments and improve neuromuscular function is recommended. For patients who seek to return to straight plane activities, non-operative treatment with structured, progressive rehabilitation is an acceptable treatment option. However, with persistent functional instability, or when episodes of giving way occur, anatomical ACL reconstruction is indicated. The consensus statements derived from international leaders in the field may assist clinicians in deciding between operative and non-operative treatment with patients after an ACL injury. Level of evidence: Level V
Effect of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions alone and combined with nutrition on child growth in low and middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bekele Tolesa , Rawstorne Patrick , Rahman Bayzidur
Published: July 2020

Objective

This study aimed to provide clarification on the benefits of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) alone separately and combined with nutrition in improving child growth outcomes.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Science Direct were searched in May 2018 and last updated in April 2019. We included studies that reported WASH interventions alone separately or combined with nutrition. Fixed and random-effects models were used to estimate pooled effect in mean difference (MD). Heterogeneity and publication bias statistics were performed.

Results

A total of 18 studies were included: 13 cluster randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 non-randomised controlled trials (non-RCTs). Non-RCTs showed effect of WASH interventions alone on height-for-age z-score (HAZ) (MD=0.14; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.21) but RCTs did not. WASH alone of non-RCTs and RCTs that were delivered over 18–60 months indicated an effect on HAZ (MD=0.04; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.08). RCTs showed an effect for children <2 years (MD=0.07; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.13). Non-RCTs of WASH alone and those that included at least two components, improved HAZ (MD=0.15; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.23) but RCTs did not. WASH alone of non-RCTs and RCTs separately or together showed no effect on weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and weight-for-height z-score (WHZ). Combined WASH with nutrition showed an effect on HAZ (MD=0.13; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.17) and on WAZ (MD=0.09; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.13) and was borderline on WHZ.

Conclusions

WASH interventions alone improved HAZ when delivered over 18–60 months and for children <2 years. Combined WASH with nutrition showed a strong effect on HAZ and WAZ and a borderline effect on WHZ. Integrated WASH with nutrition interventions may be effective inimproving child growth outcomes.
Occupational and environmental risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Australia: case–control study
Authors: Abramson Michael J , Murambadoro Tsitsi , Alif Sheikh M , Benke Geza P , Dharmage Shyamali C , Glaspole Ian , Hopkins Peter , Hoy Ryan F , Klebe Sonja , Moodley Yuben , Rawson Shuli , Reynolds Paul N , Wolfe Rory , Corte Tamera J , Walters E Haydn
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lung disease of unknown cause characterised by progressive scarring, with limited effective treatment and a median survival of only 2–3 years. Our aim was to identify potential occupational and environmental exposures associated with IPF in Australia.

Methods

Cases were recruited by the Australian IPF registry. Population-based controls were recruited by random digit dialling, frequency matched on age, sex and state. Participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, smoking, family history, environmental and occupational exposures. Occupational exposure assessment was undertaken with the Finnish Job Exposure Matrix and Australian asbestos JEM. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe associations with IPF as ORs and 95% CIs, adjusted for age, sex, state and smoking.

Results

We recruited 503 cases (mean±SD age 71±9 years, 69% male) and 902 controls (71±8 years, 69% male). Ever smoking tobacco was associated with increased risk of IPF: OR 2.20 (95% CI 1.74 to 2.79), but ever using marijuana with reduced risk after adjusting for tobacco: 0.51 (0.33 to 0.78). A family history of pulmonary fibrosis was associated with 12.6-fold (6.52 to 24.2) increased risk of IPF. Occupational exposures to secondhand smoke (OR 2.1; 1.2 to 3.7), respirable dust (OR 1.38; 1.04 to 1.82) and asbestos (OR 1.57; 1.15 to 2.15) were independently associated with increased risk of IPF. However occupational exposures to other specific organic, mineral or metal dusts were not associated with IPF.

Conclusion

The burden of IPF could be reduced by intensified tobacco control, occupational dust control measures and elimination of asbestos at work.
Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of standardised packaging and minimum excise tax on tobacco sales and industry revenue in the UK
Authors: Hiscock Rosemary , Augustin Nicole H , Branston J Robert , Gilmore Anna B
Published: July 2020

Background

Standardised packaging for factory-made cigarettes (FM) and roll-your-own tobacco (RYO), and a minimum excise tax (MET) were fully implemented in the UK in May 2017 following a 12-month transition period. This paper is the first to examine effects on tobacco sales volumes and company revenues.

Methods

Analysis of UK commercial supermarket and convenience store electronic point of sale data on tobacco sales. FM and RYO products' data (May 2015–April 2018) yielded 107 572 monthly observations. Expected values from additive mixed modelling were used to calculate trends in: (1) volumes of tobacco sold overall, by cigarette type (FM and RYO) and by seven market segments; and (2) company net revenues. A 10-month period (June 2015–March 2016) before the transition to standardised packs was compared with a 10-month period after the introduction of the MET and full implementation of standardised packs (June 2017–March 2018).

Results

Postimplementation, the average monthly decline in stick sales was 6.4 million (95% CI 0.1 million to 12.7 million) sticks faster than prelegislation, almost doubling the speed of decline. Sales of cheap FM brands, previously increasing, plateaued after implementation. Company monthly net revenues declined from a stable £231 million (95% CI £228 million to £234 million), prelegislation, to £198 million (95% CI £191 million to £206 million) in April 2018.

Conclusions

The concurrent introduction of standardised packaging and MET in the UK was associated with significant decline in sales and in tobacco industry revenues, and the end of the previous growth in cheap cigarette brands that appeal to young and price conscious smokers.
Pushing boundaries of video review in trauma: using comprehensive data to improve the safety of trauma care
Authors: Nolan Brodie , Hicks Christopher M , Petrosoniak Andrew , Jung James , Grantcharov Teodor
Published: July 2020

Adverse events and lapses in safety are identified after the fact and often discussed through postevent review. These rounds rely on personal recollection, information from patient charts and incident reports that are limited by retrospective data collection. This results in recall bias and inaccurate or insufficient detail related to timeline, incidence and nature adverse events. To better understand the interplay of the complex team and task-based challenges in the trauma bay, we have developed a synchronized data capture and analysis platform called the Trauma Black Box (Surgical Safety Technologies, Toronto). This system continuously acquires audiovisual, patient physiological and environmental data from a sophisticated array of wall-mounted cameras, microphones and sensors. Expert analysts and software-based algorithms then populate a data timeline of case events from start to finish, retaining a handful of anonymized video clippings to supplement the review. These data also provide a consistent and reliable method to track specific quality metrics, such as time to trauma team assembly or time to blood product arrival. Furthermore, data can also be linked to patients’ electronic medical records to explore relationships between initial trauma resuscitation and downstream patient-oriented outcomes. A video capture and data analysis system for the trauma bay overcomes the inherent deficiencies in the current standard for evaluating patient care in the trauma bay and offers exciting potential to enhance patient safety through a comprehensive data collection system.
Turbulent characteristics of flow in the vicinity of mid-channel braid bar
Authors: Amir Khan Mohammad , Sharma Nayan , PANDEY MANISH , Qamar Mohd Obaid
Published: July 2020

The impact of a mid-channel bar on the turbulent flow structure has been investigated in this research. A new Dominance Function S_(i,H) is proposed in this study as a measure of the relative dominance of ejection and sweep events in turbulent flow structure. Occurrence of the kolk-boil phenomenon is observed due to interaction of ejection and sweep events.. A new parameter Movement Ratio is formulated in this study which is found to faithfully reflect the fluvial processes of sedimentation and scouring on the channel bed.. Acceleration of flow is seen to occur at adjoining regions close to the upstream end of the bar. Due to the presence of the bar, the flow area in its proximity decreases which has caused increment in the velocity at sections located near the upstream end of the mid-channel bar. For model runs with bars, a distinct bulge in the turbulent intensity graph is observed.
A framework to incorporate environmental effects into stock assessments informed by fishery-independent surveys: a case study with American lobster (Homarus americanus)
Authors: Hodgdon Cameron T. , Tanaka Kisei R. , Runnebaum Jocelyn , Cao Jie , Chen Yong
Published: July 2020

Stock assessments for a majority of the world’s fisheries often do not explicitly consider the effects of environmental conditions on target species, which can raise model uncertainty and potentially reduce forecasting quality. Model-based abundance indices were developed using a delta generalized linear mixed model that incorporates environmental variability for use in stock assessment to understand how the incorporation of environmental variability impacts our understanding of population dynamics. For this study, multiple model-based abundance indices were developed to test the incorporation of environmental covariates in a length-structured assessment of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) stock in the Gulf of Maine – Georges Bank on the possible improvement of stock assessment quality. Comparisons reveal that modelled indices with environmental covariates appear to be more precise than traditional indices, but model performance metrics and hindcasted fishery statuses revealed that these improvements to indices may not necessarily mean an improved assessment. Model-based abundance indices are not intrinsically better than design-based indices and should be tested for each species individually.
Renormalization of a model for spin-1 matter fields
Authors: Rivero-Acosta Ailier , Vaquera-Araujo Carlos A.
Published: July 2020

In this work, the one-loop renormalization of a theory for fields transforming in the $$(1,0)\oplus (0,1)$$(1,0)⊕(0,1) representation of the Homogeneous Lorentz Group is studied. The model includes an arbitrary gyromagnetic factor and self-interactions of the spin 1 field, which has mass dimension one. The model is shown to be renormalizable for any value of the gyromagnetic factor.
CAUSES OF HAZE AND ITS HEALTH EFFECTS IN SINGAPORE: A REPLICATION STUDY
Authors: KIVIET JAN F.
Published: July 2020

Intermittently, Singapore suffers from severe air pollution in periods of intense forest and peatland fires on neighboring South-Asian islands. A recent American Economic Review article modeled the causal relationships between fire intensity in Indonesia and air pollution (PSI) in Singapore, and between PSI and health clinic visits in Singapore. We find serious flaws in the quantitative assessment of these relationships. Attempts are made to repair these using the same classic methodology and data, but also by alternative methods requiring less speculative assumptions. Although actually more detailed data are required, there are some results produced which seem more credible.
GEODESICS IN THE SIERPINSKI CARPET AND MENGER SPONGE
Authors: BERKOVE ETHAN , SMITH DEREK
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we study geodesics in the Sierpinski carpet and Menger sponge, as well as in a family of fractals that naturally generalize the carpet and sponge to higher dimensions. In all dimensions, between any two points we construct a geodesic taxicab path, namely a path comprised of segments parallel to the coordinate axes and possibly limiting to its endpoints by necessity. These paths are related to the skeletal graph approximations of the Sierpinski carpet that have been studied by many authors. We then provide a sharp bound on the ratio of the taxicab metric to the Euclidean metric, extending Cristea’s result for the Sierpinski carpet. As an application, we determine the diameter of the Sierpinski carpet taken over all rectifiable curves. For other members of the family, we provide a lower bound on the diameter taken over all piecewise smooth curves.
Pairs of nontrivial solutions to concave-linear-convex type elliptic problems
Authors: Candito Pasquale , Marano Salvatore A. , Perera Kanishka
Published: July 2020

We obtain a pair of nontrivial solutions for a class of concave-linear-convex type elliptic problems that are either critical or subcritical. The solutions we find are neither local minimizers nor of mountain pass type in general. They are higher critical points in the sense that they each have a higher critical group that is nontrivial. This fact is crucial for showing that our solutions are nontrivial. We also prove some intermediate results of independent interest on the localization and homotopy invariance of critical groups of functionals involving critical Sobolev exponents.
Modal Identification from Non-Stationary Responses of High-Rise Buildings by Variational Mode Decomposition and Direct Interpolation Techniques
Authors: Sun Meng-Meng , Li Qiu-Sheng , Zhou Kang , He Ying-Hou , Zhi Lun-Hai
Published: July 2020

For high-rise buildings subjected to ambient excitations such as typhoons and earthquake actions, their structural responses may include non-stationary features. Under such conditions, traditional modal identification methods may not be applicable due to the violation of the stationary assumption of the response signals. To deal with this issue, a novel modal identification method is presented in this paper based on combination of the variational mode decomposition (VMD) and direct interpolation (DI) techniques. Through numerical simulation study of a three-story frame structure, the effectiveness and accuracy of the combined VMD-DI method for modal identification of the structure are validated for the case of the structural responses containing non-stationary properties and high-level noise. Moreover, the novel method is further applied to the field measurements of acceleration responses of a 600[Formula: see text]m high skyscraper during a typhoon. The identified results verify the applicability and accuracy of the combined VMD-DI method in field measurements. This paper aims to provide an effective tool for modal identification from non-stationary structural responses of high-rise buildings.
Lateral Buckling of Cantilevered Circular Arches Under Various End Moments
Authors: Yang Y. B. , Liu Y. Z.
Published: July 2020

Lateral buckling of cantilevered circular arches under various end moments is studied using an analytical approach. Three types of conservative moments are considered, i.e. the quasi-tangential moments of the 1st and 2nd kinds, and the semi-tangential moment. The induced moments associated with each of the moment mechanisms undergoing three-dimensional rotations are included in the Newman boundary conditions. Using the differential equations available for the out-of-plane buckling of curved beams, the analytical solutions are derived for a cantilevered circular arch, which can be used as the benchmarks for calibration of other methods of analysis.
Results of space experiments and effect of torsion
Authors: Wanas M. I. , Kamal Mona M. , Sherif A. M. , Abdelsalam Sarah S.
Published: July 2020

The results of two space experiments, around the world clocks and gravity probe B, are analyzed theoretically using a field theory. The field equations of this theory are reduced to those of general relativity outside material distribution, while its equations of motion are not a geodesic one. This equation violates the weak equivalence principle because of the non-vanishing torsion in the geometry used. The predictions of the theory give rise to the time dilation measured by the first experiment and to the geodetic and frame drag effects measured by the second experiment. Furthermore, we show that these predictions are affected by the torsion of space-time. The torsion term, in the equation of motion, is connected to other effects through a coupling parameter. This parameter is called the “spin-torsion” coupling if the moving test particle is elementary one with non-vanishing quantum spin. We call this parameter “rotation-torsion” coupling if the moving test particle is a gyroscope. In the first case, the coupling parameter is well defined and confirmed by terrestrial experiment, while in the second case the parameter still needs further investigation and discussion.
Australian Veterans of the Middle East Conflicts 2001–2010: Select Reproductive Health Outcomes Part 1 — Maternal and Paternal Outcomes
Authors: Warner Rachelle , Avery Jodie C. , Neuhaus Susan , Davies Michael J.
Published: July 2020

Background: Anecdotally, infertility concerns among serving female Australian Defense Force (ADF) members and veterans are perceived to be prevalent, but precise data are lacking. This is the first of two papers that identify reproductive, pregnancy, and infant outcomes in an exclusively Australian military cohort. This initial paper aims to describe maternal and paternal occupation and fertility characteristics of a group of ADF members who deployed to the Middle East during the period 2001–2010.

Methods: Utilizing the Middle East Area of Operations Census Study data set, a descriptive analysis was performed on the demographic and clinical variables of the cohort, where data were reported. Descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, percentiles) were used to describe the population. Sociodemographic data and clinical data, including maternal/paternal outcomes, were reported.

Results: The self-reported infertility rate was 9%, which was significantly lower than the reported infertility rate in the comparative Australian (non-military) population. All other outcomes were comparable to the Australian population and within normal limits.

Conclusions: This survey presents a generally reassuring picture of reproductive health for men and women serving in the ADF with regard to the risk of infertility, pregnancy loss, and perinatal outcomes, although the basis for fertility concerns requires further investigation.
Performance Analysis of IQI Impaired Cooperative NOMA for 5G-Enabled Internet of Things
Authors: Guo Hui , Guo Xuejiao , Deng Chao , Zhao Shangqing
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates the joint effects of in-phase and quadrature-phase imbalance (IQI) and imperfect successive interference cancellation (ipSIC) on the cooperative Internet of Things (IoT) nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) networks where the Nakagami-m fading channel is taken into account. The closed-form expressions of outage probability for the far and near IoT devices are derived to evaluate the outage behaviors. For deeper insights of the performance of the considered system, the approximate outage probability and diversity order in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime are obtained. In addition, we also analyze the throughput and energy efficiency to characterize the performance of the considered system. The simulation results demonstrate that, compared with IQI, ipSIC has a greater impact on the outage performance for the near-IoT-device of the considered system. Furthermore, we also find that the outage probabilities of IoT devices can be minimized by selecting a specific power allocation scheme.
Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Adult Bilateral Lung Transplant Patients: A Single Institution Experience and Literature Review
Authors: Christiansen Eric , Singh Nisha , Trahan Amy , Tokman Sofya , Row David , Kalinkin Olga
Published: July 2020

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a radiologic finding which is characterized by the accumulation of gas within the bowel wall. This radiologic finding is traditionally thought of in the sense of intestinal ischemia. An uncommon cause of this finding is post organ transplantation. We did an institutional and literature review of this finding to demonstrate its distinct imaging features and benign nature. It was observed to occur in approximately 5.2% of patients post lung transplant (23/442). On imaging, it displays an expansile/bubbly appearance of gas within the bowel wall that is distinct from the traditional findings seen in intestinal ischemia. Clinical review showed that posttransplant patients with PI can be successfully managed conservatively with early enteral nutrition, oxygen, antibiotics, and limited follow-up imaging. With the increasing use of organ transplantation, PI is being diagnosed with increased frequency. It is important to let clinicians know of this entity and its potential outcomes.
Solutions of Nonlinear Operator Equations by Viscosity Iterative Methods
Authors: Aibinu Mathew , Thakur Surendra , Moyo Sibusiso
Published: July 2020

Finding the solutions of nonlinear operator equations has been a subject of research for decades but has recently attracted much attention. This paper studies the convergence of a newly introduced viscosity implicit iterative algorithm to a fixed point of a nonexpansive mapping in Banach spaces. Our technique is indispensable in terms of explicitly clarifying the associated concepts and analysis. The scheme is effective for obtaining the solutions of various nonlinear operator equations as it involves the generalized contraction. The results are applied to obtain a fixed point of λ-strictly pseudocontractive mappings, solution of α-inverse-strongly monotone mappings, and solution of integral equations of Fredholm type.
M-Type SrFe12O19 Ferrite: An Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of Amino Alcohols under Solvent-Free Conditions
Authors: Laayati Mouhsine , Hasnaoui Ali , Abdallah Nayad , Oubaassine Saadia , Fkhar Lahcen , Mounkachi Omar , El Houssame Soufiane , Ait Ali Mustapha , El Firdoussi Larbi
Published: July 2020

Magnetically separable strontium hexaferrite SrFe12O19 was prepared using the chemical coprecipitation method, and the nanostructured material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and BET analysis. The SEM images showed the homogeneity of the chemical composition of SrFe12O19 and uniform distribution of size and morphology. The pore size of the nanomaterial and its specific area were determined by BET measurements. Strontium hexaferrite SrFe12O19 exhibited a strong magnetic field, which is highly suitable in the heterogeneous catalysis as it can be efficiently separated from the reaction. The magnetic nanocatalyst showed high activity and environmentally benign heterogeneous catalysts for the epoxide ring-opening with amines affording β-amino alcohols under solvent-free conditions. When unsymmetrical epoxides were treated in the presence of aromatics amines, the regioselectivity was influenced by the electronic and steric factors. Total regioselectivity was observed for the reactions performed with aliphatic amines. The magnetically SrFe12O19 nanocatalyst showed excellent recyclability with continuously good catalytic activities after four cycles.