bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OCT-Angiography as a reliable prognostic tool in laser-treated proliferative diabetic retinopathy: The RENOCTA Study
Authors: Lupidi Marco , Gujar Ramkailash , Cerquaglia Alessio , Chablani Jay , Fruttini Daniela , Muzi Alessio , Corbucci Roberta , Fiore Tito , Coscas Florence , Coscas Gabriel , Parravano Mariacristina , Cagini Carlo
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To quantitatively assess retinal neovascularizations (RNVs) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) before and after photocoagulative laser treatment (PLT) using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A).

Methods:

Consecutive patients with PDR were examined with fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT-A before and after PLT. Baseline and after-treatment FA images were quantitatively analyzed to assess both the RNVs area and leakage area. On OCT-A RNVs area, vascular perfusion density (VPD), vessel length density (VLD) and fractal dimension were computed. VPD of the full-retina OCT-A underneath the RNV was determined to evaluate potential laser-induced changes in vascular perfusion.

Results:

Fifteen eyes of 13 patients with PDR were enrolled. The mean area of the RNVs was 0.47 ± 0.50 mm2 in the baseline OCT-A and 0.32 ± 0.40 mm2 in the post-treatment assessment ( p = 0.0002). The mean RNV VPD of RNV was 2% ± 4% in pre-treatment and 1% ± 1% for the post-treatment ( p = 0.0001). The mean VLD of RNV was 7.26 ± 1.53 at baseline and 6.64 ± 1.65 in the post treatment ( p = 0.0002). A significant difference in terms of mean RNVs area and VPD reduction between eyes that needed additional treatment and those that did not (~40% vs ~20%; p < 0.05), was observed. Mean VPD of full-retinal thickness OCT-angiogram was 55% ± 10% for the pre-treatment and 53% ± 8% for the post treatment scan ( p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

The quantitative OCT-A assessment of laser-induced changes of RNVs can be a useful non-invasive approach for determining treatment efficacy. A reduction of RNVs area or VPD ⩾ 40% might reveal those eyes that won’t require additional treatment. Retinal perfusion impairment seemed to progress independently from the treatment.
Pseudopemphigoid: Sarcoidosis presenting as cicatricial conjunctivitis with symblepharon
Authors: Charles Norman C , Chen Dinah K , Lazzaro Douglas R , Belinsky Irina
Published: November 2020

Conjunctival involvement in sarcoidosis is commonly characterized by epibulbar nodules or follicular conjunctivitis. The authors describe an apparently healthy woman who developed extensive monocular cicatricial conjunctivitis with symblepharon. The array of conditions presenting with cicatricial conjunctivitis was considered, with mucous membrane pemphigoid leading the diagnostic possibilities. Conjunctival biopsy disclosed the non-infectious, non-caseating granulomas of sarcoidosis and a systemic evaluation disclosed pulmonary nodules and hilar lymphadenopathy. As the patient had no respiratory symptoms and an old history of hepatic steatosis, oral hydroxychloroquine and topical cyclosporin were chosen for therapy rather than systemic corticosteroids.
Efficacy of ropivacaine versus bupivacaine in preventing peribulbar block failure: A meta-analysis
Authors: Miranda Denismar B , Bastos Marcela MA , Govêia Catia S , Silva Rodrigo E , Rodrigues Francisco W
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

Peribulbar block is considered a standard of care in ophthalmological practice due to its easy execution and minor complications. There is a paucity of studies confirming efficacy between ropivacaine and bupivacaine for this specific technique. We evaluated the efficacy of ropivacaine or bupivacaine in preventing total or partial peribulbar block failure in ophthalmic surgeries.

Methods:

Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, comparing patients submitted to ophthalmic surgeries under peribulbar anesthesia with ropivacaine and bupivacaine. We searched in different databases for articles published until March, 2018. Data on patients, anesthesia, procedures and akinesia were tabulated. After calculating the chi-square of heterogeneity, we adopted a random-effects model with DerSimonian-Laird test, as well as an odds ratio and a 95% confidence interval.

Results:

From the 310 articles identified, 21 studies were selected. The use of ropivacaine was considered a protective factor for ocular akinesia failure in peribulbar block when compared to bupivacaine (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.35–0.81 and p value = 0.003).

Conclusions:

In ophthalmic surgeries, ropivacaine in peribulbar anesthesia is associated with lower rate of block failure when compared to bupivacaine.
The mental health impact of caste and structural inequalities in higher education in India
Authors: Komanapalli Vignapana , Rao Deepa
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to identify how mental health practice and policy in India can better address the needs of Dalit women and men in Indian institutions of higher education. Left unexamined, psychiatric and mental health practices and policies have become complicit in a legal and political network that actively denies the reality of caste discrimination in modern India. Frequently, Dalit students who choose to end their lives are described as having personal problems and depression, which enables institutional authorities to circumvent legal justice against caste discrimination and violence. Using an anthropological methodology of close readings of Dalit biographies and a review of ethnographic research, government reports, and online documentaries on the experiences of Dalit men and women, this study suggests that mental health practice and policy can change confidentiality laws, decriminalize student support groups, and build networks of institutional and policy support for Dalit students.
Psychosocial impacts of training to provide professional help: Harm and growth
Authors: Ball Jacqueline , Watsford Clare , Scholz Brett
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Research has consistently demonstrated professionals in helping roles (“helping professionals”) experience vicarious trauma, moral injury, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout. Vicarious post-traumatic growth has also been identified in the literature. This article aimed to contribute to understanding the experiences of these constructs of trainee helping professionals. Emphasis was placed on how to foster vicarious post-traumatic growth.

Methods

A qualitative semi-structured interview was designed to enable the researchers to explore the experiences of 14 trainee psychologists from an Australian Master of Clinical Psychology program.

Results

It was identified that burnout, and beginning stages of vicarious trauma, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress might occur during psychologists’ training. Five elements underpin vicarious post-traumatic growth, four of which were reflected in this article. A need and suggestions for how to further develop vicarious post-traumatic growth are discussed.

Conclusion

This research could go on to be applied to curriculum development and practice policy, ultimately leading to improved early-intervention and ongoing systems of support for helping professionals. This, in turn, would improve quality of care in communities.
Is citizen journalism dead? An examination of recent developments in the field
Authors: Mutsvairo Bruce , Salgado Susana
Published: November 2020

The reliance on untrained reporters with limited or no understanding of journalistic standards has become increasingly widespread particularly in less democratic environments and these practices have impacted news gathering and reporting. There however has been some debate about the conceivability, capacity, reliability and acceptability of citizen journalists due to the lack of the professional standards associated with the profession. Even so, diverse forms of citizen journalism continue to emerge and develop in several countries in the Global South, such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique, examined in-depth in our study of the current frameworks, trends, practices and principles of citizen journalism in Africa. Buoyed by what appears like a slump in global citizen journalism research, we identify specific cases to rethink the concept, seeking to theoretically contribute to new directions on the phenomenon’s role in African societies. Our analysis suggests that a reconceptualization of citizen journalism is imperative thanks to several factors, including improved access to the Internet and changing attitudes toward political dissent and participation, citizen journalism in Africa is taking new directions.
Polyvinyl fibers as outperform candidature in the solid polymer electrolytes
Authors: Solangi Muhammad Yameen , Aftab Umair , Ishaque Muhammad , Bhutto Aqeel , Nafady Ayman , Ibupoto Zafar Hussain
Published: November 2020

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are the best choice to replace liquid electrolytes in supercapacitors, fuel cells, solar cells and batteries. The main challenge in this filed is the ionic conductivity and thermal stability of SPEs which is still not up to mark, therefore more investigations are needed to address these issues. In this study, PVA/salt based SPEs was fabricated using both solution cast and electro-spinning methods to probe the effect of different salts such as (NaCl, KCl and KI) and their concentrations on the ionic conductivity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) x and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) have been employed to study the morphology as well as the different functional groups of SPEs, respectively. It was noted that small addition of NaCl, KCl and KI salts in SPEs dramatically increased the ionic conductivity to 5.95×10−6, 5.31×10−6 and 4.83×10−6 S/cm, respectively. Importantly, the SPEs obtained with NaCl via electro-spinning have higher ionic conductivity (5.95×10−6 S/cm) than their casted SPEs (1.87×10−6 S/cm). Thermal stability was also studied at two different temperatures i.e. 80 °C and 100 °C. The weight loss percentage of electrospun SPEs have zero percent weight loss than the solution based SPEs. The combined results clearly indicated that the nature of salt, concentration and fabrication process play a vital role in the ionic conductivity. Also, the NaCl salt with low molecular weight at low concentrations shows an enhanced ionic conductivity.
Clinical Manifestation of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Following a Mechanical Trauma
Authors: Busch Dorothee , Bogdan Christian , Erfurt-Berge Cornelia
Published: November 2020

Unusual skin ulcers frequently represent a diagnostic challenge. When the most common disease entities such as arterial, venous or diabetic ulcers have been excluded, the question of further differential diagnoses and procedures arises. Other possible causes include chronic inflammatory diseases, neoplasia, self-inflicted wounds, primary infectious diseases and physical/chemical damage to the skin. To narrow down the differential diagnoses, a detailed history of the patient is essential, which also needs to include events further back in time.
Agrin Involvement in Synaptogenesis Induced by Exercise in a Rat Model of Experimental Stroke
Authors: Zhang Pengyue , Yang Liqiang , Li Guangxiang , Jin Yaju , Wu Danli , Wang Qing Mei , Huang Peidong
Published: November 2020

Background

Agrin is a proteoglycan that aggregates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on neuromuscular junctions and takes part in synaptogenesis in the development of the central nervous system. However, its effects on neural repair and synaptogenesis after stroke are still unclear.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effects of agrin on neural repair and synaptogenesis after stroke and the effects of exercise on this process in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

Exercise with gradually increased intensity was initiated at 1 day after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for a maximum of 14 days. Neurological deficit scores and foot fault tests were used to assess the behavioral recovery. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopic images were used to detect the expression of agrin, synaptogenesis-related proteins, and synaptic density in vivo. In vitro, the ischemic neuron model was established via oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The lentivirus overexpressed agrin and CREB inhibitor were used to investigate the mechanism by which agrin promoted synaptogenesis.

Results

Exercise promoted behavioral recovery and this beneficial role was linked to the upregulated expression of agrin and increased synaptic density. Overexpressed agrin promoted synaptogenesis in OGD neuron, CREB inhibitor downregulated the expression of agrin and hampered synaptogenesis in cultured neurons.

Conclusions

These results indicated that exercise poststroke improved the recovery of behavioral function after stroke. Synaptogenesis was an important and beneficial factor, and agrin played a critical role in this process and could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of stroke and other nervous system diseases.
Preparation and Characterization of magnetic PLA/Fe3O4-g-PLLA composite melt blown nonwoven fabric for air filtration
Authors: Sun Hui , Peng Siwei , Wang Mingjun , Zhu Feichao , Bhat Gajanan , Yu Bin
Published: November 2020

A kind of magnetic poly (lactic acid) (PLA) melt blown nonwoven fabric (MB) was fabricated by the introduction of ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles to improve its air filtration performances. In view of the poor compatibility of two components, the poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) molecular chains was firstly grafted onto the Fe3O4 nanoparticles surface via the ring opening polymerization (ROP). Then, PLA/Fe3O4-g-PLLA composite masterbatches with different mass ratios were prepared by melt-blending method and processed into the corresponding composite MB. The structures and performances of PLA/Fe3O4-g-PLLA composite masterbatches and their MB were investigated. The results showed that the addition of Fe3O4-g-PLLA nanohybrids hardly influenced the glass transition, cold crystallization and melting behaviors of the composite masterbatches. Though the melt fluidity of the composite masterbatches reduced with the Fe3O4-g-PLLA content increasing, the composite masterbatches still could present the appropriate processability in the range of 210°C to 230°C. Fe3O4-g-PLLA could be uniformly dispersed in PLA matrix and had a good interfacial compatibility with the matrix. Compared with pure PLA MB, the fiber surface of the composite MB became slightly rough, the pore size and distribution of the fiber web increased. The addition of Fe3O4-g-PLLA endowed PLA MB with magnetism. With the increasing of Fe3O4-g-PLLA content, the air permeability of the composite MB was improved and their filtration resistance obviously reduced. When the content of Fe3O4-g-PLLA was 0.5 wt%, the filtration efficiency of the composite MB reached the maximum. Moreover, the composite MB have higher longitudinal tensile strength and elongation at break than those of pure PLA MB.
Statistical Learning and Language Impairments: Toward More Precise Theoretical Accounts
Authors: Bogaerts Louisa , Siegelman Noam , Frost Ram
Published: November 2020

Statistical-learning (SL) theory offers an experience-based account of typical and atypical spoken and written language acquisition. Recent work has provided initial support for this view, tying individual differences in SL abilities to linguistic skills, including language impairments. In the current article, we provide a critical review of studies testing SL abilities in participants with and without developmental dyslexia and specific language impairment and discuss the directions that this field of research has taken so far. We identify substantial vagueness in the demarcation lines between different theoretical constructs (e.g., “statistical learning,” “implicit learning,” and “procedural learning”) as well as in the mappings between experimental tasks and these theoretical constructs. Moreover, we argue that current studies are not designed to contrast different theoretical approaches but rather test singular confirmatory predictions without including control tasks showing normal performance. We end by providing concrete suggestions for how to advance research on SL deficits in language impairments.
Heart rate monitoring improves clinical assessment during 6‐min walk
Authors: Lachant Daniel J. , Light Allison , Offen Melissa , Adams Jamie , White R. James
Published: November 2020

Right ventricular (RV) function is a predictor of outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The 6‐min walk test (6MWT) is likely an indirect measure of RV function during exercise, but changes in absolute walk distance can also be influenced by factors like effort and musculoskeletal disease. Paired 6MWT with continuous electrocardiogram monitoring was performed in stable PAH patients, patients adding PAH therapies, and healthy controls. Heart rate expenditure (HRE) was calculated (integrating pulse during 6MWT) and then divided by walk distance (HRE/d). We also evaluated changes in peak heart rate, time above age‐adjusted maximum predicted heart rate, and heart rate at 6 min. HRE/d was compared to invasive hemodynamic measures in patients who had right heart catheterization performed within seven days, WHO functional class assessment, and Emphasis 10 questionnaire. We measured two 6MWT in 15 stable PAH patients, 13 treatment intensification patients, and 8 healthy controls. HRE/d was reproducible in the stable PAH group (median difference, −0.79%), while it decreased (median difference, 23%, p = 0.0001) after adding vasodilator therapy. In 11 patients with right heart catheterization, HRE/d correlated strongly with stroke volume, r = −0.72, p = 0.01. Peak heart rate decreased after adding vasodilator therapy. HRE/d also correlated with WHO functional class and Emphasis 10 score. Continuous heart rate monitoring during 6MWT provides valuable physiologic data accounting for effort. HRE/d appears to enhance test reproducibility in stable patients while detecting change after adding therapy as compared to walk distance alone.
Assessment of the REPLACE study composite endpoint in riociguat‐treated patients in the PATENT study
Authors: Simonneau Gérald , Ghofrani Hossein‐Ardeschir , Corris Paul A. , Rosenkranz Stephan , Grünig Ekkehard , White Jim , McLaughlin Vallerie V. , Langleben David , Meier Christian , Busse Dennis , Kleinjung Frank , Benza Raymond L.
Published: November 2020

The goal of treatment in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension is to achieve a low risk status, indicating a favorable long‐term outcome. The REPLACE study investigated the efficacy of switching to riociguat in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and an insufficient response to phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors. In this post hoc analysis, we applied the REPLACE composite endpoint of clinical improvement to the placebo‐controlled PATENT‐1 study of riociguat in pulmonary arterial hypertension and its long‐term extension, PATENT‐2. Clinical improvement was defined as ≥2 of the following in patients who completed the study without clinical worsening: ≥10% or ≥30 m improvement in 6‐minute walking distance; World Health Organization functional class I or II; ≥30% decrease in N‐terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide. At PATENT‐1 Week 12, patients treated with riociguat were more likely to achieve the composite endpoint vs. placebo (P < 0.0001), with similar results in pretreated (P = 0.0189) and treatment‐naïve (P < 0.0001) patients. Achievement of the composite endpoint at Week 12 was associated with a 45% reduction in relative risk of death and a 19% reduction in relative risk of clinical worsening in PATENT‐2. Overall, these data suggest that use of the REPLACE composite endpoint in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension is a valid assessment of response to treatment.
Social media and the spread of fake news during a social movement: The 2019 Anti-ELAB protests in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Francis LF
Published: November 2020

This article summarizes the author’s observations and preliminary research findings about the politics of fake news and rumors during the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill movement in Hong Kong. The fake news phenomenon is understood as grounded in the social-psychological needs of people in times of uncertainty, a political culture marked by polarization and normative disinhibition, and a mediascape that facilitates the fragmentation and privatization of public communication. The 2019 Hong Kong movement shows that, in the context of contentious politics, fake news and rumors can be used by political power to delegitimize a protest movement, but they can also be used by a protest movement to pressurize the political power and to sustain itself. It is argued that the roles, consequences, and normative desirability of fake news and rumors need to be examined in terms of how they are embedded in the power relationships and interactional dynamics of the movement concerned.
Yulu: Moving Towards a Sustainable Future
Authors: Upadhyay Deepika , Purswani Geetanjali , Jain Pooja
Published: November 2020

The rapidly rising rate of urbanization, which is closely linked to economic growth, has exposed the world to several challenges such as inequality, environmental degradation, traffic congestion, infrastructural concerns and social conflicts. Therefore, urban sustainability has emerged as one of the most debatable discussions across the world. The existing network of transportation can no longer keep up with the growing demand in metropolitan cities. Short distance travel has become an unresolved issue for daily commuters. The case presents how MMVs have emerged as an alternative mode of transport for resolving issues of daily commuters regarding the first-mile connectivity, last-mile connectivity and short distance travel to reach their final destination. MMVs are basically light-weight vehicles which occupy less space on road. These vehicles include bicycles, e-bikes, skateboards, hoverboards and other battery-operated vehicles. The case narrates the journey of Yulu, a dockless bike-sharing venture which promoted the concept of green consumerism among the daily commuters at affordable rates. The venture initially started in the IT city of Bangalore and later expanded its operations to other cities such as Pune, Navi Mumbai, Gurugram and Bhubaneswar. The speciality of this venture is that it offers a sustainable solution to ever-increasing problems of traffic congestion and aggravating air pollution issues in metropolitan cities.

Dilemma: How to offer a sustainable solution to the ever-increasing problem of traffic congestion and aggravating air pollution due to rising vehicular traffic?

How to make short distance travel affordable and more convenient for daily commuters?

Theory: Three pillars of sustainable development.

Type of Case: Problem solving applied case.

Protagonist: Present.

Discussion and Case Questions:

What strategies should be employed by the start-up to make it a more popular form of commute?

How can the increasing rate of damage to the vehicles be brought down?

How does organization structure and cluster management practices of Yulu help it to become more sustainable?

How can the regulatory bodies and government promote and adopt such start-ups in their urban planning projects?
One size does not fit all: How construal fit determines the effectiveness of organizational brand communication
Authors: Herhausen Dennis , Henkel Sven , Kipfelsberger Petra
Published: November 2020

While increasing the organizational identification of employees has been described as the ultimate goal of internal marketing and internal branding, one of its most common practices is to communicate organizational values both internally and externally. However, very little is known about the relative effectiveness of different types of organizational brand communication. Drawing from construal level theory, this research investigates whether the degree of construal fit, defined as the extent to which the construal of communication matches an employee’s construal of headquarters, determines the relative impact of organizational brand communication. A series of studies consisting of two cross-industrial multilevel field studies and a lab experiment provide evidence that organizational brand communication with low-level (high-level) construal is more effective to target employees with low (high) social distance to headquarters. These findings suggest that construal fit qualifies the effectiveness of organizational communication.

JEL CLASSIFICATION: M3 Marketing and Advertising
Pandemic Politics: Political Worldviews and COVID-19 Beliefs and Practices in an Unsettled Time
Authors: Shepherd Hana , MacKendrick Norah , Mora G. Cristina
Published: November 2020

How do individuals form new health beliefs and act in the context of unprecedented uncertainty? Drawing on a unique data set of registered California voters collected a month into stay-at-home orders that allows for an individual-level analysis, we examine the impact of political worldviews on trust in public health institutions and beliefs about the threat of COVID-19, effective methods for preventing the disease, and leaving home during the pandemic. Although all measures of political worldviews are strongly associated with trust in public health institutions and perceptions of threat, beliefs about effective prevention measures, and behavior, we find that Trump approval is particularly associated with COVID-19 risk perception and beliefs, beyond political party affiliation or life circumstances that shape exposure to COVID-19. We discuss the theoretical implications of these findings for understanding how political worldviews bear on embodied practices and shape the relationship between beliefs and action in unsettled times.
Modernising Anatomy Teaching: Which Resources Do Students Rely On?
Authors: Leung Billy C , Williams Matthew , Horton Christopher , Cosker Thomas DA
Published: November 2020

The way in which we learn anatomy has changed exponentially over the decades and students now have access to lecture notes, textbooks, computer-assisted programmes, and a wide variety of internet based information. This study explored which resources were the most (and least) useful for a group of first year, undergraduate, medical students, with minimal prior content exposure (aged 18 and 19 years old, n = 76), over an 18 month period. Anatomy websites were found to be the most useful (30%), followed by tutorials (20%) and lectures (19%). A total of 13% found the university computer-assisted learning (CAL) platform least useful. We subsequently enhanced our ‘urogenital’ CAL anatomy module, with inclusion of new and updated images, videos and tutorials, as well as, digital and printed 3D-models. A post-intervention survey (n = 81) showed an increase from 12% to 27% for CAL as being most useful, and a decrease from 13% to 3% as being least useful. Our results provided a snapshot of students’ preferences in studying anatomy, and highlighted the importance of digital platforms and the need for evaluating our own learning resources. We must be mindful that there is an increasing tendency for students to rely on the Internet for information, which may expose them to unfiltered and unreliable content. We conclude that educators must be aware of the spectrum of learning resources used by students, to ensure that our own Institutional eLearning platforms are optimised to meet the diverse needs of learners.
The environmental product variety and retail rents on central urban shopping areas: A multi-stage spatial data mining method
Authors: Yuo Tony Shun-Te , Tseng Tzuhui Angie
Published: November 2020

This study examines the relationship between various measures of environmental product variety and retail rents in central urban shopping areas. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based detailed survey database, this research identified 34 layers of environmental product variety in the most representative single-centred shopping areas of the six largest cities in Taiwan. This research extracted layers of product variety and other measures of product variety, such as the number of layers of product variety above each point of interest, the density, the Core/Periphery factor scores, the Shannon entropy index, the Simpson diversity index and the Herfindahl–Hirschman index of each street line buffer area. The proposed method was used to generate three-dimensional maps of the rent gradient and the extracted core and periphery layers of product variety. Thus, a tool was developed for examining the variety features from various angles. The results showed that, in general, the higher the product variety, the higher the rents. Nevertheless, the scores for the core and periphery of the environmental product variety were the dominant determinants; street line buffer areas can only have lower rents if they lacked the correct (i.e. the core layers) environmental product variety, even if they have higher measurements of other variety features.
An open-source tool to extract natural continuity and hierarchy of urban street networks
Authors: Tripathy Pratyush , Rao Pooja , Balakrishnan Krishnachandran , Malladi Teja
Published: November 2020

Urban streets exhibit a hierarchical structure. From a network analysis perspective, continuity of streets based on the interior angle between street segments can be used to define ‘natural streets’ or ‘strokes’. The length of these ‘strokes’ can then be used to generate a hierarchy of street network. While researchers have described methods for defining such strokes and released tools that enable such analysis, the existing tools are dependent on proprietary applications and only an outline of the algorithm is available in the literature. This paper addresses these limitations and advances past approaches by (a) describing an efficient algorithm ‘COINS’ for conducting street continuity and hierarchy analysis and (b) releasing the python script and QGIS plugin which will enable users to implement this analysis independent of proprietary software and enable automation to process multiple datasets. The paper demonstrates the application of this tool using street network data from OpenStreetMap for 10 Indian cities and two international ones. Results indicate that our algorithm can detect the skeletal structure of a city which is visually very similar to the OpenStreetMap user-generated hierarchy, both at the city level and at the neighbourhood level. Analysing the results from 10 Indian cities using log–log plots of stroke length and stroke rank, we find that the strokes appear to follow Zipf’s law, but only in the mid-range of stroke lengths. Consistent with existing literature, we see that in our sample of Indian cities also there is a strong deviation from Zipf’s law for strokes that are approximately 100 m or lower.
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia With Premature Coronary Artery Disease: A Case Report
Authors: Sunehra Chandramukhi , Raghu Krishnaswamy
Published: November 2020

A young, 18-year-old lady presented with history of chest pain on exertion typical of angina. General examination revealed multiple tendon xanthomas. Systemic examination was unremarkable. Electrocardiogram showed segment (ST) depression in inferior and lateral leads. Echocardiogram revealed normal left ventricular systolic function and no left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities. Diastolic flow turbulence was noted in the left main coronary artery and proximal left anterior descending artery on color Doppler interrogation across the coronary arteries. Lipid profile showed unusually high total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Subsequent evaluation with coronary angiogram revealed triple vessel coronary artery disease. The patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and is on antiplatelet and lipid-lowering drug therapy.
Correction to: binomialRF: interpretable combinatoric efficiency of random forests to identify biomarker interactions
Authors: Zaim Samir Rachid , Kenost Colleen , Berghout Joanne , Chiu Wesley , Wilson Liam , Zhang Hao Helen , Lussier Yves A.
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Causes of death in a nationwide cohort of community-dwellers with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Tolppanen Anna-Maija , Taipale Heidi , Koponen Marjaana , Tiihonen Jari , Hartikainen Sirpa
Published: November 2020

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is related to higher mortality but it is not entirely evident which causes of death explain this. The objective of this study was to assess the causes of death in a nationwide cohort of clinically verified AD cases and compare the causes to a matched comparison cohort without AD.

Methods

Cohort of all community-dwellers with clinically verified AD residing in Finland on 31 December 2005 (n = 27,948) and a matched comparison cohort without AD (n = 27,948). Mortality (2006–2012,n = 30,641, 54.8%) and causes of death were obtained from register. Cause of death was ascertained with clinical examination (87.3% of deaths), forensic (8.0%) or medical autopsy (4.7%).

Results

In AD cohort, the most common causes were diseases of the nervous system (49.9%), circulatory system (31.7%) and neoplasms (7.7%), while diseases of circulatory system (53.5%), neoplasms (19.1%) and mental and behavioral disorders (7.3%) contributed for majority of deaths in the comparison cohort. There were no sex-wise differences. People with AD were over 20 times more likely to die due to diseases of the nervous system (OR, 95% CI 22.06, 19.87–24.25) than the comparison cohort, while other causes, e.g., diseases of the circulatory system (0.40, 0.38–0.42), neoplasms (0.35, 0.33–0.38), mental and behavioral disorders (0.27, 0.24–0.30) and external causes of morbidity and mortality (0.72, 0.62–0.81) were less common in the AD cohort.

Conclusions

Although half of the people with AD died due to diseases of the nervous system, cancers and especially cardio/cerebrovascular diseases were still important contributors to the overall mortality among them. This should be acknowledged when planning their terminal care.
Risk prediction models to guide antibiotic prescribing: a study on adult patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections in an emergency department
Authors: Wong Joshua Guoxian , Aung Aung-Hein , Lian Weixiang , Lye David Chien , Ooi Chee-Kheong , Chow Angela
Published: November 2020

Background

Appropriate antibiotic prescribing is key to combating antimicrobial resistance. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common reasons for emergency department (ED) visits and antibiotic use. Differentiating between bacterial and viral infections is not straightforward. We aim to provide an evidence-based clinical decision support tool for antibiotic prescribing using prediction models developed from local data.

Methods

Seven hundred-fifteen patients with uncomplicated URTI were recruited and analysed from Singapore’s busiest ED, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, from June 2016 to November 2018. Confirmatory tests were performed using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for respiratory viruses and point-of-care test for C-reactive protein. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were extracted from the hospital electronic medical records. Seventy percent of the data was used for training and the remaining 30% was used for validation. Decision trees, LASSO and logistic regression models were built to predict when antibiotics were not needed.

Results

The median age of the cohort was 36 years old, with 61.2% being male. Temperature and pulse rate were significant factors in all 3 models. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) on the validation set for the models were similar. (LASSO: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.62–0.77], logistic regression: 0.72 [95% CI: 0.65–0.79], decision tree: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.59–0.74]). Combining the results from all models, 58.3% of study participants would not need antibiotics.

Conclusion

The models can be easily deployed as a decision support tool to guide antibiotic prescribing in busy EDs.
New vision on the mental problems of Vincent van Gogh; results from a bottom-up approach using (semi-)structured diagnostic interviews
Authors: Nolen Willem A. , van Meekeren Erwin , Voskuil Piet , van Tilburg Willem
Published: November 2020

Background

On July 29, 1890 at the age of 37 years, the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh died from the consequences of a suicide attempt with a gun 2 days earlier. Since then many medical and psychological theories were suggested about what had happened to Van Gogh.

Aim

To present an overview of the history of the mental problems of Van Gogh and the most likely diagnoses.

Method

(Semi-)structured diagnostic interviews were applied to three art historians who are very familiar with Van Gogh from his correspondence and other sources as well as a neuropsychiatric examination to evaluate whether the symptoms might be explained by a medical condition.

Results

Several previously suggested diagnoses could be excluded as being highly unlikely, while other diagnoses could be classified as more of less likely.

Conclusion

Most likely Van Gogh suffered from comorbid illnesses. Since young adulthood, he likely developed a (probably bipolar) mood disorder in combination with (traits of) a borderline personality disorder as underlying vulnerability. This likely worsened through an alcohol use disorder combined with malnutrition, which then led, in combination with rising psychosocial tensions, to a crisis in which he cut off his ear. Thereafter, he likely developed two deliriums probably related to alcohol withdrawal, followed by a worsening with severe depressive episodes (of which at least one with psychotic features) from which he did not fully recover, finally leading to his suicide. As additional comorbidity, focal (temporal lobe) epilepsy cannot be excluded.
Strengths and weaknesses of the 100 Resilient Cities Initiative in Southern Europe: Rome and Athens’ experiences
Authors: Galderisi Adriana , Limongi Giada , Salata Konstantina-Dimitra
Published: November 2020

Cities are nowadays faced with an unprecedented crisis, due above all to the impacts of climate change and the increasing social inequalities, which require innovative approaches and more effective tools. Resilience is widely interpreted as a key principle to re-frame urban policies, paving the way to cross-sectoral urban strategies capable of better coping with contemporary challenges. This contribution focuses in particular on the 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) Initiative, launched by the Rockefeller Foundation and addressed to support cities all over the world in developing and implementing strategies capable of increasing urban resilience in the face of multiple shocks and stresses, including climate change. In detail, based on the comparative analysis of two case studies, Rome and Athens, this paper aims at providing insights on the main strengths and weaknesses of cities’ resilience-building processes developed under the 100RC Initiative and at deeply analyzing the contribution of the delivered Resilience Strategies to the improvement of cities’ capacities to cope with contemporary challenges and above all with the increasing impacts of climate change.
Case study of hydraulic fracture monitoring using multiwell integrated analysis based on low-frequency DAS data
Authors: Ichikawa Masaru , Uchida Shinnosuke , Katou Masafumi , Kurosawa Isao , Tamura Kohei , Kato Ayato , Ito Yoshiharu , de Groot Mike , Hara Shoji
Published: November 2020

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is an effective technique for hydraulic fracture monitoring. It can potentially constrain fracture propagation direction and time while monitoring strain perturbation, such as stress shadowing. In this study, we acquired passive DAS and distributed temperature sensing (DTS) data throughout the entire fracturing operations of adjacent production wells with varying offset lengths from the fiber-optic cable in the Montney tight gas area. We applied data processing techniques to the DAS data to extract low-frequency components (less than 0.5 Hz) and to construct the strain rate and cumulative strain maps for detecting responses related to fracture hits along the fiber-optic cable. We used low-frequency DAS (LF-DAS) results to estimate the fracture hit position and time, and in certain cases, to additionally estimate the fracture connection. By integrating LF-DAS results with DTS results, we detected the temperature changes around the compression response near the fracture hit position and time. Furthermore, we observed that timing of the fracture hit can be constrained more precisely by using high-frequency DAS data (greater than 10 Hz). We estimated the fracture propagation direction and speed from the estimated fracture hit position and time. The fracture propagation direction deviated slightly from a perpendicular line to the fiber direction. In addition, as estimated from the first fracture hit time, the fracture length and fluid injection volume had a proportional relationship. Due to challenges associated with the data, it is important to design data acquisition geometry and fracturing operations on the premise of acquiring LF-DAS data. It is also important to apply an additional noise reduction process to the data.
Distributed acoustic sensing of subsea wells
Authors: Ellmauthaler Andreas , Seabrook Brian C. , Wilson Glenn A. , Maida John , Bush Jeff , LeBlanc Michel , Dupree James , Uribe Mauricio
Published: November 2020

Topside distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) of subsea wells requires advanced optical engineering solutions to compensate for reduced acoustic bandwidth, optical losses, and back reflections that are accumulated through umbilicals, multiple wet- and dry-mate optical connectors, splices, optical feedthrough systems, and downhole fibers. To address these issues, we introduce a novel DAS solution based on subsea fiber topology consisting of two transmission fibers from topside and an optical circulator deployed in the optical flying lead at the subsea tree. This solution limits the sensing fiber portion to the downhole fiber, located below the subsea tree, and enables dry-tree-equivalent acoustic sampling frequencies of more than 10 kHz while eliminating all back reflections from multiple subsea connectors above the tree. When combined with enhanced backscatter single-mode fiber, this gives rise to a DAS interrogation system that is capable of providing dry-tree-equivalent acoustic sensing performance over the entire length of the subsea well, regardless of the tie-back distance. It also enables the same spectral-based DAS processing algorithms developed for seismic, sand control, injector/producer profiling, and well integrity on dry-tree wells to be applied directly to subsea DAS data. The performance of this subsea DAS system has been validated through a series of laboratory and field trials. We show the results of the tests and discuss how the system is deployed within subsea infrastructure.
Research Committee Update
Authors: Popovici Alexander Mihai
Published: November 2020

In the last Research Committee Update (TLE, September 2020, 681–682), I explained that the title of this column comes from a book by Charles Murray, The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Getting Ahead. With the curmudgeon still in mind, I have a few more comments to make about our lives as researchers, pushing the leading edge of technology in our industries. In small companies, it helps to be a contrarian, to develop novel algorithms in areas overlooked by large research groups or the academic groups funded by them. One such technology that our group started working on a few years ago, nudged by the research group at Saudi Aramco, is diffraction imaging (DI). Aramco was looking for a company with a good quality commercial Kirchhoff migration, since this particular DI implementation involved modifying a Kirchhoff kernel.
Seismic Soundoff
Authors: Geary Andrew
Published: November 2020

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with SEG President Rick Miller to celebrate SEG’s 90th birthday. Rick reflects on the milestones of the organization, the role of professional societies in 2020, how the digital transformation has impacted the field, and his future vision for applied geophysics. This episode traces how far the field has come, its impact on society, and future opportunities. Hear the full episode at https://seg.org/podcast/post/9162 .
Randomized Phase III Study of Irinotecan Plus Cisplatin Versus Etoposide Plus Cisplatin for Completely Resected High-Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Lung: JCOG1205/1206
Authors: Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Niho Seiji , Tsuboi Masahiro , Wakabayashi Masashi , Ishii Genichiro , Nakagawa Kazuo , Daga Haruko , Tanaka Hiroshi , Saito Haruhiro , Aokage Keiju , Takahashi Toshiaki , Menju Toshi , Kasai Takashi , Yoshino Ichiro , Minato Koichi , Okada Morihito , Eba Junko , Asamura Hisao , Ohe Yuichiro , Watanabe Shun-ichi
Published: November 2020

PURPOSE

To verify the superiority of irinotecan plus cisplatin over etoposide plus cisplatin as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with pathologic stage I-IIIA, completely resected, high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (HGNEC) of the lung.

METHODS

This was a randomized, open-label, phase III study on patients with completely resected stage I-IIIA HGNEC of the lung. They were randomly assigned to receive either etoposide (100 mg/m2, days 1-3) plus cisplatin (80 mg/m2, day 1) or irinotecan (60 mg/m2, days 1, 8, 15) plus cisplatin (60 mg/m2, day 1) up to four cycles. The primary end point was relapse-free survival (RFS) in the intention-to-treat population. This trial was registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031180216).

RESULTS

Between April 2013 and October 2018, 221 patients were enrolled (etoposide plus cisplatin arm, 111 patients; irinotecan plus cisplatin arm, 110 patients). In the second interim analysis, early termination of the trial was recommended because of futility. At a median follow-up of 24.1 months, the 3-year RFS was 65.4% for etoposide plus cisplatin and 69.0% for irinotecan plus cisplatin, with a hazard ratio of 1.076 (95% CI, 0.666 to 1.738; one-sided log-rank P = .619). Grade 3-4 adverse events were more frequent in the etoposide plus cisplatin arm, with febrile neutropenia (20% of 109 patients v 4% of 107 patients) and neutropenia (97% v 36%) being the most common. Meanwhile, grade 3-4 anorexia (6% v 11%) and diarrhea (1% v 8%) were more frequently observed in the irinotecan plus cisplatin arm.

CONCLUSION

Irinotecan plus cisplatin is not superior to etoposide plus cisplatin for improving RFS in patients with completely resected HGNEC; thus, etoposide plus cisplatin remains the standard treatment.