bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emery Walker’s Counsel
Authors: Hartsiotis Kirsty
Published: February 2021

Process engraver and printer Emery Walker was a pivotal figure in the English, American, and continental European Private Press Movement from the 1880s until his death in 1933. This article looks at his theories for the typography, design, and production of books, and how those theories were developed by key designers and close associates of Walker such as William Morris, T. J. Cobden Sanderson, and Bruce Rogers and through the practical teaching of figures such as J. H. Mason and Edward Johnston. It examines how the theories were then taken up by the exponents of fine printing from the early 20th century through to the 1930s, focusing on the presses of Bernard Newdigate, Harry Kessler, Harold Curwen, and Francis Meynell. From these presses, and also via Stanley Morison and the Monotype Corporation, Walker’s theories are shown to have spread into mainstream book publishing in the first half of the 20th century. The article considers questions of whether the improvement in the readability of books in the early 20th century has had a continuing impact in book publishing, and makes suggestions how to access the incunabula referenced by the designers discussed, as well as collections of private press books and other early 20th-century fine printing.
The Collins Crime Club
Authors: Bolton Sophie
Published: February 2021

The interwar years in Britain are regularly referred to by historians and literary commentators as the Golden Age of detective fiction (c. 1920–1940). This article focuses on the Collins imprint the Crime Club, established in 1930. It assesses the significance of this imprint in the context of the Golden Age, with a focus on its commercial animus, drawing on theories about class-based markets and the commercialization of print culture. The article examines the marketing methods used by the Crime Club to promote its titles, such as newsletters and card games, and takes into consideration the arguments of 1930s literary critics. It aims to show that detective fiction had a significant role in the commercialization of print culture during the 1930s and that its success heavily relied upon the support of a middle-class readership.
Synopsis of Euphorbia section Anisophyllum (Euphorbiaceae) in Italy, with an insight on variation of distribution over time in Tuscany

Authors: MUGNAI MICHELE , LAZZARO LORENZO , DI NUZZO LUCA , FOGGI BRUNO , VICIANI DANIELE , FERRETTI GIULIO
Published: February 2021

We present an updated taxonomic study of Euphorbia sect. Anisophyllum (Euphorbiaceae) for Italy. A comprehensive body of knowledge has been developed thanks to the examination of about 1,250 herbarium specimens from 13 Italian herbaria, field surveys, and an extensive literature analysis. As a result, our revision included 10 species considered as currently occurring in Italy, of which 2 native (Euphorbia chamaesyce and E. peplis) and 8 alien (E. glyptosperma, E. humifusa, E. hypericifolia, E. maculata, E. nutans, E. ophthalmica, E. prostrata, and E. serpens). The revision included also additional 5 species previously erroneously recorded in Italy (E. berteroana, E. engelmannii, E. hyssopifolia, E. indica, and E. thymifolia) and other two species (E. hirta and E. humistrata) not occurring in Italy but closely related to recorded species and already established and considered as alien species in other countries. Current distribution and status at the regional level is updated for 7 species (E. berteroana, E. engelmannii, E. humifusa, E. hypericifolia, E. indica, E. nutans, and E. prostrata) and typification of 18 names (Chamaesyce glomerifera, E. boliviana, E. bracteolaris, E. brasiliensis, E. chamaesyce var. maculata, E. engelmannii, E. humifusa, E. hypericifolia var. communis, E. indica, E. klotzschiana, E. nutans, E. peplis, E. perforata, E. pinnulosa, E. preslii, E. procumbens, E. reichenbachiana, and E. trichogona) is also provided. For all taxa we report information about nomenclature, morphology, ecology, chorology, distribution, taxonomy, as well as an identification key for species identification and original photos. In addition, we provided a detailed statement of species of the section for Tuscany and we performed an analysis of distribution variation of different species over time in this region. Our results evaluate the current state of E. sect. Anisophyllum in Italy and highlight the presence of fluxes in densities of different species populations. In particular, a reduction of native and formerly colonizing species and an increase of more recently colonizing species is recorded.
Applications of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Winter Precipitation-Type Forecasts
Authors: Tripp Daniel D. , Martin Elinor R. , Reeves Heather D.
Published: February 2021

Temperature and humidity profiles in the lowest 3 km of the atmosphere provide crucial information in determining the precipitation type, which aids forecasters in relaying winter-weather risks. In response to the challenges associated with forecasting mixed-phase environments, this study employs uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) to explore the efficacy of high-resolution temporal and vertical measurements in winter-weather environments. On 19 February 2019, boundary layer measurements of an Oklahoma winter storm were collected by a UAV and radiosondes. UAV observations show a pronounced surface-based subfreezing layer that corresponds to observed ice pellets at the surface. This is in contrast to the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model analyses, which show a subfreezing layer near the surface that is 3°C warmer than both the UAV and radiosonde observations. Using a spectral-bin-microphysics algorithm designed to provide hydrometeor-phase diagnosis throughout the vertical column, it was found that UAV measurements can improve discrimination between hydrometer types in environments near 0°C. A numerical-modeling study of the same winter-weather event illustrates the potential benefit of vertically sampling a mixed-phase environment at multiple mesonet sites and highlights future scientific and operational questions to be addressed by the UAV community.
Assimilation of FY-3D MWHS-2 Radiances with WRF Hybrid-3DVAR System for the Forecast of Heavy Rainfall Evolution Associated with Typhoon Ampil
Authors: Sun Wei , Xu Youping
Published: February 2021

A detailed investigation about the effects of the Microwave Humidity Sounder-2 (MWHS-2) radiances on board the Fengyun-3D (FY-3D) satellite is combined with developments within the Weather Research and Forecasting Data Assimilation (WRFDA) system and analyses on the evolution of the heavy rainfall associated with Typhoon Ampil during 23–24 July 2018. In the analysis field, the position of Typhoon Ampil is found out to be distinctly affected by the MWHS-2 assimilation. The experiment that assimilates MWHS-2 radiances through hybrid-3DVAR generates the best analysis with large increments around the typhoon, which contributes to the typhoon moving inland to the southwest. In the forecast fields, the MWHS-2 assimilation improves the rainfall in not only the accumulated amount, but also the evolution characteristics. The hybrid-3DVAR experiment reduces the RMSE of the rainfall amount, and enhances the spatial correlation and the fractions skill score of the rainfall evolution to the greatest extent, followed by the 3DVAR MWHS-2 experiment. As for the cause of the rainfall improvements, analyses suggest that it could be closely connected with the characteristics of the circulation structures related to the typhoon evolution. On one hand, the increases of the rainfall amount and intensities in the MWHS-2 assimilation experiments (previously underestimated) correspond to the strengthened typhoon structures with strong anomalies in both the upper-layer temperature and the lower-layer geopotential height. On the other hand, the better rainfall evolution in the hybrid-3DVAR experiment could be explained by its clearer evolution of the structure of typhoon under the effects of an approaching upper trough, and its smallest typhoon track errors around the middle time period.
The Use of a CAD/CAM Surgical Obturator Without Impressions to Restore a Maxillectomy Defect
Authors: Callahan Nicholas , Moles Sarah L. , Markiewicz Michael R.
Published: February 2021

Immediate obturation of the patient undergoing maxillectomy who is not undergoing formal autologous reconstruction is important for immediate form and function of the patient. Exophytic tumors, that are large in dimension can make pre-operative obturator formation challenging. Traditional methods of obturator fabrication involve a physical or digital impression. Preoperative virtual surgical planning for tumor resection and reconstruction using free tissue transfer has become a mainstay in head and neck reconstruction. We describe a variation of this for a patient unable to undergo free tissue transfer where the authors used preoperative virtual surgical planning and CAD/CAM technologies to perform tumor resection, and fabricated an obturator based on the CT imaging alone.
Forecasting the incidence of mumps in Chongqing based on a SARIMA model
Authors: Qiu Hongfang , Zhao Han , Xiang Haiyan , Ou Rong , Yi Jing , Hu Ling , Zhu Hua , Ye Mengliang
Published: February 2021

Background

Mumps is classified as a class C infection disease in China, and the Chongqing area has one of the highest incidence rates in the country. We aimed to establish a prediction model for mumps in Chongqing and analyze its seasonality, which is important for risk analysis and allocation of resources in the health sector.

Methods

Data on incidence of mumps from January 2004 to December 2018 were obtained from Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence of mumps from 2004 to 2017 was fitted using a seasonal autoregressive comprehensive moving average (SARIMA) model. The root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were used to compare the goodness of fit of the models. The 2018 incidence data were used for validation.

Results

From 2004 to 2018, a total of 159,181 cases (93,655 males and 65,526 females) of mumps were reported in Chongqing, with significantly more men than women. The age group of 0–19 years old accounted for 92.41% of all reported cases, and students made up the largest proportion (62.83%), followed by scattered children and children in kindergarten. The SARIMA(2, 1, 1) × (0, 1, 1)12 was the best fit model, RMSE and MAPE were 0.9950 and 39.8396%, respectively.

Conclusion

Based on the study findings, the incidence of mumps in Chongqing has an obvious seasonal trend, and SARIMA(2, 1, 1) × (0, 1, 1)12 model can also predict the incidence of mumps well. The SARIMA model of time series analysis is a feasible and simple method for predicting mumps in Chongqing.
Correction to: Treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture - a multicentre, non-inferiority analysis
Authors: Westin Olof , Sjögren Tony , Svedman Simon , Horvath Alexandra , Hamrin Senorski Eric , Samuelsson Kristian , Ackermann Paul
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Mechanistic strategies of microbial communities regulating lignocellulose deconstruction in a UK salt marsh
Authors: Leadbeater Daniel R. , Oates Nicola C. , Bennett Joseph P. , Li Yi , Dowle Adam A. , Taylor Joe D. , Alponti Juliana Sanchez , Setchfield Alexander T. , Alessi Anna M. , Helgason Thorunn , McQueen-Mason Simon J. , Bruce Neil C.
Published: February 2021

Background

Salt marshes are major natural repositories of sequestered organic carbon with high burial rates of organic matter, produced by highly productive native flora. Accumulated carbon predominantly exists as lignocellulose which is metabolised by communities of functionally diverse microbes. However, the organisms that orchestrate this process and the enzymatic mechanisms employed that regulate the accumulation, composition and permanence of this carbon stock are not yet known. We applied meta-exo-proteome proteomics and 16S rRNA gene profiling to study lignocellulose decomposition in situ within the surface level sediments of a natural established UK salt marsh.

Results

Our studies revealed a community dominated byGammaproteobacteria,BacteroidetesandDeltaproteobacteriathat drive lignocellulose degradation in the salt marsh. We identify 42 families of lignocellulolytic bacteria of which the most active secretors of carbohydrate-active enzymes were observed to beProlixibacteracea,Flavobacteriaceae,Cellvibrionaceae,Saccharospirillaceae,Alteromonadaceae,VibrionaceaeandCytophagaceae. These families secreted lignocellulose-active glycoside hydrolase (GH) family enzymes GH3, GH5, GH6, GH9, GH10, GH11, GH13 and GH43 that were associated with degradingSpartinabiomass. While fungi were present, we did not detect a lignocellulolytic contribution from fungi which are major contributors to terrestrial lignocellulose deconstruction. Oxidative enzymes such as laccases, peroxidases and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases that are important for lignocellulose degradation in the terrestrial environment were present but not abundant, while a notable abundance of putative esterases (such as carbohydrate esterase family 1) associated with decoupling lignin from polysaccharides in lignocellulose was observed.

Conclusions

Here, we identify a diverse cohort of previously undefined bacteria that drive lignocellulose degradation in the surface sediments of the salt marsh environment and describe the enzymatic mechanisms they employ to facilitate this process. Our results increase the understanding of the microbial and molecular mechanisms that underpin carbon sequestration from lignocellulose within salt marsh surface sediments in situ and provide insights into the potential enzymatic mechanisms regulating the enrichment of polyphenolics in salt marsh sediments.
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Education of Pediatric Oncology Providers Before and After an Embedded Pediatric Palliative Oncology Clinic
Authors: Falk Erin E. , Allen Kristen E. , DeGroote Nicholas P. , Wasilewski-Masker Karen , Brock Katharine E.
Published: February 2021

PURPOSE:

Most pediatric palliative care (PPC) education is trainee-directed, didactic, or simulation-based and therefore limited in scope, realism, and audience. We explored whether an embedded pediatric palliative oncology (PPO) clinic is associated with improved pediatric oncology provider palliative care comfort, knowledge, and attitudes toward PPC and if the model is feasible for both clinical care and education of providers of all levels.

METHODS:

Oncology providers (oncologists, advanced practice providers, and fellows) were enrolled in this study. Based on interaction with the PPO clinic, two cohorts were defined: PPO providers (n = 11, 37.9%) and non-PPO providers (n = 18, 62.1%). Providers in both groups responded to qualitative and quantitative questionnaires about the feasibility and acceptability of PPO clinic, their attitudes toward PPC, and knowledge and comfort in PPC concepts at baseline and 1 year. Descriptive statistics were performed; demographic and outcome variables across cohorts by PPO grouping and experience were compared.

RESULTS:

All 29 pediatric oncology providers reported acceptability of a PPO clinic and favorable attitudes about PPC. The most feasible clinic model was oncology followed by PPO visits. Non-PPO group and less experienced (≤ 10 years) providers had greater improvement in knowledge and comfort with PPC skills than PPO group or more experienced providers. Providers lacked comfort in non-pain symptom management skills.

CONCLUSION:

This embedded PPO clinic model was feasible, acceptable, and highly rated by responding oncology clinicians, but was insufficient as a sole method of educating multidisciplinary oncology providers. Methods of combining clinical and formal education are needed to impart sustained educational change.
Deiodinases: How Nonmammalian Research Helped Shape Our Present View
Authors: Darras Veerle M
Published: February 2021

Iodothyronine deiodinases are enzymes capable of activating and inactivating thyroid hormones (THs) and have an important role in regulating TH action in tissues throughout the body. Three types of deiodinases (D1, D2, and D3) were originally defined based on their biochemical characteristics. Cloning of the first complementary DNAs in the 1990s (Dio1 in rat and dio2 and dio3 in frog) allowed to confirm the existence of 3 distinct enzymes. Over the years, increasing genomic information revealed that deiodinases are present in all chordates, vertebrates, and nonvertebrates and that they can even be found in some mollusks and annelids, pointing to an ancient origin. Research in nonmammalian models has substantially broadened our understanding of deiodinases. In relation to their structure, we discovered for instance that biochemical properties such as inhibition by 6-propyl-2-thiouracil, stimulation by dithiothreitol, and temperature optimum are subject to variation. Data from fish, amphibians, and birds were key in shifting our view on the relative importance of activating and inactivating deiodination pathways and in showing the impact of D2 and D3 not only in local but also whole body T3 availability. They also led to the discovery of new local functions such as the acute reciprocal changes in D2 and D3 in hypothalamic tanycytes upon photostimulation, involved in seasonal rhythmicity. With the present possibilities for rapid and precise gene silencing in any species of interest, comparative research will certainly further contribute to a better understanding of the importance of deiodinases for adequate TH action, also in humans.
A Pilgrimage to Purgatory
Authors: Weaver Hannah
Published: February 2021

Telling the story of the exceptional penance of an Irish knight, the twelfthcentury Tractatus de Purgatorio Sancti Patricii contends that it was possible to go on a bodily pilgrimage to purgatory. The Cistercian monk H. of Saltrey wrote his Tractatus at a historical moment when the fate of souls after death felt particularly urgent and important evidence for the afterlife was provided by spirits traveling back and forth between this life and the next. Insisting on a bodily experience of a spiritual space, rather than a visionary one, the knight Owein provided powerful eyewitness testimony about posthumous penance. This article uncovers how the Latin Tractatus engages the worries of its audience about the feasibility of the knight’s embodied visit to the afterlife by marshaling familiar narrative patterns from vernacular genres, including chansons de geste and romance. It shows that the Tractatus is an intricately designed text that uses these generic features to dispel doubt, thereby positioning Owein’s pilgrimage as a licit and potentially replicable penitential activity.
The Authority of Written and Oral Sources of Knowledge in Ludolf of Sudheim’s De itinere Terre Sancte
Authors: Gadrat-Ouerfelli Christine
Published: February 2021

After the German priest Ludolf of Sudheim returned from the Holy Land in 1341, he wrote an account of his travels that is far more complex than scholars have assumed. Ludolf expanded the genre of pilgrimage narrative in the way he draws on written sources, such as Hethum’s Flos historiarum Terre Orientis and William of Boldensele’s Liber de quibusdam ultramarinis partibus, while blending into his narrative oral sources of knowledge picked up from his personal contacts while traveling. Pilgrimage literature has often been denigrated by scholars for being repetitive, impersonal, and lacking originality. Yet if scholars were to adopt a less historiographically presentist approach to pilgrimage writing that is more open to the values and strategies of narratives like De itinere Terre Sancte, research could meaningfully focus on what might be called the “mental library” of pilgrim-authors — the full range of written and oral resources at their disposal in the complex processes of knowledge production in pilgrimage narrative.
Molecular-Level Anatomy of SARS-CoV-2 for the Battle against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Komiyama Makoto
Published: February 2021

COVID-19 is currently spreading all over the world, and causing enormous damage to health, economies, and daily lives. In order to overcome this pandemic, huge amounts of work have been accomplished, and many papers published. However, most of these works are from medical institutes and/or hospitals, and the attempts to solve this tragedy by chemical approaches have been rather scarce. This account surveys chemical information on COVID-19 with special emphasis on molecular-level understanding. In the first part, the fundamentals of causative pathogen SARS-CoV-2 (structures of genome and proteins of this virus) are briefly described. Next, the molecular structure of the spike on the viral surface, the key component for the infection of human beings, is shown. Then, the binding mode of these spikes to the receptors on human cells (ACE2) is presented in detail, based on the structural data. The conformational change of spike proteins is critically important for the virus to enter human cells. Furthermore, the roles of mutation of SARS-CoV-2 in the promotion of pathogenicity are discussed primarily in terms of the spike/ACE2 interactions. Finally, the origins of unprecedentedly high pathogenicity of this virus are proposed. This account should help the readers to understand the current status of our chemical knowledge on COVID-19, promoting the research to attack the worst pandemic of the last 100 years.
Floral scent compounds and emission patterns of three Styrax species
Authors: Chen Chen , Cao Yuanyuan , Chen Hong , Ni Ming , Yu Fangyuan
Published: February 2021

Styrax is a gorgeous species combined with high medicinal and ornamental values, however, information about its floral scents is limited. This study aimed to reveal the floral scent compounds and the dynamic changes in the flowering process of Styrax japonicus, S. grandiflora and S. calvescens. Static headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was adopted in the present study. The results showed that 24, 22 and 22 volatile compounds were present at three flowering stages, among which linalool, ocimene, α-pinene and germacrene D dominated in different species. Terpenes were the main floral scent compounds in all species, whereas there was considerable relative content of ketones in S. japonicus. Among the major terpenes, α-pinene, ocimene and myrcene were the common volatiles in these species, while β-elemene and allo-ocimene were the specific volatiles in S. japonicus and S. calvescens, respectively. The highest content of terpenes occurred at initial flowering stage in three species. The differences in the type and content of principal compounds contributed to the fragrance diversity among these species. A solid foundation for understanding the complexity of volatile emission could be obtained from our findings, meanwhile, effective utilization of abundant terpenes in flowers of Styrax species should be applied.
Qualidade de vida dos pacientes com chikungunya: fatores associados durante uma epidemia ocorrida no nordeste do Brasil
Authors: Barreto Marina Carvalho Arruda , Gomes Ileana Pitombeira , Castro Shamyr Sulyvan de
Published: February 2021

Objetivo: analisar a associação de fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos com a Qualidade de Vida (QV) de pessoas com CHIK em Fortaleza-Ce. Métodos: estudo transversal com indivíduos com CHIK, idade maior que 18 anos, residentes na cidade de Fortaleza-Ceará. Foram avaliados, no domicílio, casos notificados na cidade em 2018 e foram selecionados casos por conveniência na UBS. Utilizou-se um questionário sociodemográfico-clínico, a Escala Numérica de Dor (0-10) e o WHOQOL-Bref(0-100) – avalia a QV. A análise foi realizada pelos testes t de Student, Anova, Pearson e correspondentes não paramétricos (p<0,05). Resultados: a amostra foi de 110 participantes, sendo 87,27% mulheres, 60,91% faziam uso de analgésico. As médias dos domínios da QV foram de 10,38(±3,04)-13,76(±3,11). Foram encontradas correlações (moderadas e baixas) significativas da QV com variáveis relacionadas à dor, à idade, ao tempo de diagnóstico e aos anos de estudo. Conclusão: as variáveis relacionadas à dor apresentaram o maior número de relação e correlação com QV.
Efficacy of a multimodal physiotherapy treatment program for postural disorders and pain: a case report
Authors: Reisberg Kirkke , Kaup Caris-Helena
Published: February 2021

The participant of this study was a 40-year-old female, who mainly complained of middle thoracic stiffness and pain in extension at the mid thoracic level with hyperkyphosis, forward head and mild thoracic dextroscoliosis. The subject participated in multimodal home-based physiotherapy program with the duration of 9 months, consisting of posture exercises, soft tissue massage therapy and thoracic manipulations. Comparison of initial and final evaluation revealed the improvement in all evaluated variables, including the reduction of thoracic hyperkyphosis, forward head posture and thoracic dextroscoliosis, freer and less painful thoracic spine extension mobility, no pain in the sacroiliac joint, and increased satisfaction with the posture. There was also notable improvement in the algometry of the paraspinal muscles, equalization of functional lower-leg length and rib-pelvic distance of both sides of body. In conclusion, the proposed physiotherapy protocol can be beneficial in addressing postural faults such as thoracic hyperkyphosis, forward head and scoliosis. However, further research is needed with a larger sample.
Readmissions Following Hospitalization for Infection in Children With or Without Medical Complexity
Authors: Markham Jessica L , Hall Matt , Goldman Jennifer L , Bettenhausen Jessica L , Gay James C , Feinstein James , Simmons Julia , Doupnik Stephanie K , Berry Jay G
Published: February 2021

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence and characteristics of infection‐related readmissions in children and to identify opportunities for readmission reduction and estimate associated cost savings.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of 380,067 nationally representative index hospitalizations for children using the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database. We compared 30‐day, all‐cause unplanned readmissions and costs across 22 infection categories. We used the Inpatient Essentials database to measure hospital‐level readmission rates and to establish readmission benchmarks for individual infections. We then estimated the number of readmissions avoided and costs saved if hospitals achieved the 10th percentile of hospitals' readmission rates (ie, readmission benchmark). All analyses were stratified by the presence/absence of a complex chronic condition (CCC).

RESULTS

The overall 30‐day readmission rate was 4.9%. Readmission rates varied substantially across infections and by presence/absence of a CCC (CCC: range, 0%‐21.6%; no CCC: range, 1.5%‐8.6%). Approximately 42.6% of readmissions (n = 3,576) for children with a CCC and 54.7% of readmissions (n = 5,507) for children without a CCC could have been potentially avoided if hospitals achieved infection‐specific benchmark readmission rates, which could result in an estimated savings of $70.8 million and $44.5 million, respectively. Bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infections were among infections with the greatest number of potentially avoidable readmissions and cost savings for children with and without a CCC.

CONCLUSION

Readmissions following hospitalizations for infection in children vary significantly by infection type. To improve hospital resource use for infections, future preventative measures may prioritize children with complex chronic conditions and those with specific diagnoses (eg, respiratory illnesses).
Antibiotic Regimens and Associated Outcomes in Children Hospitalized With Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
Authors: Neubauer Hannah C , Hall Matthew , Lopez Michelle A , Cruz Andrea T , Queen Mary Ann , Foradori Dana M , Aronson Paul L , Markham Jessica L , Nead Jennifer A , Hester Gabrielle Z , McCulloh Russell J , Wallace Sowdhamini S
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Controversy exists regarding the optimal antibiotic regimen for use in hospitalized children with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). Various regimens may confer toxin suppression and/or additional coverage for methicillin‐susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) or methicillin‐resistant S aureus (MRSA).

OBJECTIVES

To describe antibiotic regimens in hospitalized children with SSSS and examine the association between antistaphylococcal antibiotic regimens and patient outcomes.

DESIGN/METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of children hospitalized with SSSS using the Pediatric Health Information System database (2011‐2016). Children who received clindamycin monotherapy, clindamycin plus MSSA coverage (eg, nafcillin), or clindamycin plus MRSA coverage (eg, vancomycin) were included. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS); secondary outcomes were treatment failure and cost. Generalized linear mixed‐effects models were used to compare outcomes among antibiotic groups.

RESULTS

Of 1,259 children included, 828 children received the most common antistaphylococcal antibiotic regimens: clindamycin monotherapy (47%), clindamycin plus MSSA coverage (33%), and clindamycin plus MRSA coverage (20%). Children receiving clindamycin plus MRSA coverage had higher illness severity (44%) compared with clindamycin monotherapy (28%) and clindamycin plus MSSA (32%) (P = .001). In adjusted analyses, LOS and treatment failure did not differ among the 3 regimens (P = .42 and P = .26, respectively). Cost was significantly lower for children receiving clindamycin monotherapy and highest in those receiving clindamycin plus MRSA coverage (mean, $4,839 vs $5,348, respectively; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In children with SSSS, the addition of MSSA or MRSA coverage to clindamycin monotherapy was associated with increased cost and no incremental difference in clinical outcomes.
Early and Significant Reduction in C‐Reactive Protein Levels After Corticosteroid Therapy Is Associated With Reduced Mortality in Patients With COVID‐19
Authors: Cui Zhu , Merritt Zachary , Assa Andrei , Mustehsan Hashim , Chung Erica , Liu Sichen , Kumthekar Anand , Ayesha Bibi , McCort Margaret , Palaiodimos Leonidas , Baron Sarah , Averbukh Yelena , Southern William , Arora Shitij
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids may be beneficial in a subset of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), but predictors of therapeutic response remain unknown. C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a routinely measured biomarker, and reduction in its levels after initiation of therapy may predict inpatient mortality.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the charts of patients who were admitted to Montefiore Medical Center between March 10, 2020, and May 2, 2020 for the management of COVID‐19 were examined. Of all patients who met inclusion criteria, patients who received corticosteroid treatment were categorized as CRP responders (≥50% CRP level reduction) and CRP nonresponders (<50% CRP level reduction) based on change in CRP within 72 hours of corticosteroid treatment initiation. The outcomes of interest were two‐fold: (1) CRP response after treatment with corticosteroid, and (2) differences in mortality among patients with CRP response compared those without.

RESULTS

Of 2,707 patients admitted during the study period, 324 received corticosteroid treatment. Of patients who received corticosteroid treatment, CRP responders had reduced risk of death compared with risk among CRP nonresponders (25.2% vs 47.8%; unadjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.21‐0.65; P < .001). This effect remained strong and significant after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14‐0.54; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Reduction in CRP by 50% or more within 72 hours of initiating corticosteroid therapy potentially predicts inpatient mortality. This may serve as an early biomarker of response to corticosteroid therapy in patients with COVID‐19.
Policy in Clinical Practice: Choosing Post‐Acute Care in the New Decade
Authors: Makam Anil N , Grabowski David C
Published: February 2021

Nearly half of hospitalized Medicare patients in 2018 were discharged to post‐acute care (PAC), accounting for approximately $60 billion in annual spending. There are four PAC settings, and these vary in the intensity and complexity of medical, skilled nursing, and rehabilitative services provided; each setting uses a separate payment system. Due to considerable variation in PAC use, with concerns that similar patients can be treated in different PAC settings, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently introduced several major policy changes. For home health agencies (HHAs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), CMS implemented new payment models to better align payment with patients' care needs rather than the provision of rehabilitation. For long‐term acute care hospitals, CMS will now decrease payment for less medically ill patients. To choose PAC wisely, hospitalists and hospital leaders must understand how these new policies will change where patients can be discharged and the services these patients receive at these PAC settings.
Los loteos populares en el Gran Buenos Aires: un análisis de su conformación y cambios sociodemográficos recientes (1991-2010) en el municipio de Quilmes
Authors: Ramírez Lucas Emanuel
Published: February 2021

Durante el proceso industrialización a mediados del siglo xx, el Gran Buenos Aires se expandió considerablemente. Una de sus características fue la suburbanización de las clases trabajadoras mediante el acceso al suelo urbano a través de un submercado formal de tierra, denominado loteos populares. A finales de los años 70, las oportunidades de acceso al suelo para los sectores de bajos ingresos se restringieron debido a los cambios en la normativa urbana, las políticas de desindustrialización y la distribución regresiva del ingreso. En este artículo se analiza la con­formación de los barrios creados a partir de los loteos populares en el municipio de Quilmes y se observan los cambios en el perfil sociodemográfico, luego de que las condiciones económico-estructurales que permitieron su surgimiento se modificaran. La metodología es eminentemente cuantitativa por medio de la revisión de planos históricos de subdivisión de tierras y de datos de los últimos tres censos nacionales de población, hogares y vivienda de Argentina.
Spatiospectral transformation of noncollimated light beams diffracted by ultrasound in birefringent crystals
Authors: Gorevoy Alexey V. , Machikhin Alexander S. , Martynov Grigoriy N. , Pozhar Vitold E.
Published: February 2021

Spatiospectral structure of wave phase matching in birefringent crystals has a strong dependence on the geometry of the acousto-optic interaction and incident light spectrum. This dependence defines details of light beam profile transformation. It is especially important for imaging applications related to a large angular aperture and a wide spectral bandwidth of the incident light. In this paper, we demonstrate accurate three-dimensional plotting of a light transmission pattern without small birefringence approximation. The rather complicated shape of the phase-matching locus in the spatiospectral domain inevitably leads to residual spatially nonuniform chromatic aberrations in the spectral image. Theoretical consideration and computational modeling are confirmed by the experiments on Bragg diffraction in paratellurite crystal. The results are especially important for the development of acousto-optical imaging devices and laser beam shaping technologies.
Views and experiences of the female condom in Australia: An exploratory cross-sectional survey of cisgender women
Authors: Fenwick Sarah E. , Botfield Jessica R. , Kidman Prudence , McGeechan Kevin , Bateson Deborah
Published: February 2021

Background

The female condom is the only female-initiated form of protection against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). However, use of this method in Australia is low. To better understand women’s views and experiences of the female condom, we conducted an interventional cross-sectional study.

Methods

Cisgender women ≥16 years, heterosexually active and living in New South Wales were recruited through social media advertisements and email invitations to clients of a family planning service. Eligible participants were provided with three female condoms and invited to complete a follow-up survey. Survey responses for women who attempted to use at least one female condom were summarised using counts and proportions.

Results

We recruited 556 women; few (30/556) had used the female condom before the study. There were 284 women who used, or attempted to use, a female condom during the study and completed the follow-up survey. Fifty-one percent (104/205) reported experiencing some difficulty in insertion, although only 46% (130/284) had seen an instructional demonstration. Approximately half (105/204) of women rated the sensation and comfort of the female condom as the same or better than the male condom, and 66% (137/204) reported that it provided the same or better lubrication. Approximately half of women said they would consider using the female condom again for STI prevention (51% (133/260)) or contraception (40% (103/260)), or would recommend to others (43% (112/260)).

Conclusion

Findings highlight the need for increased health promotion and education regarding use of the female condom. To increase access it will be important to address method cost and availability in Australia. Future research should explore other perspectives of this method, including among the LGBTIQ+ community.
Impact of hospitalization duration before medical emergency team activation: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lee Jinmi , Shin Yujung , Choi Eunjoo , Choi Sunhui , Son Jeongsuk , Jung Youn Kyung , Hong Sang-Bum
Published: February 2021

Background

The rapid response system has been implemented in many hospitals worldwide and, reportedly, the timing of medical emergency team (MET) attendance in relation to the duration of hospitalization is associated with the mortality of MET patients. We evaluated the relationship between duration of hospitalization before MET activation and patient mortality. We compared cases of MET activation for early, intermediate, and late deterioration to patient characteristics, activation characteristics, and patient outcomes. We also aimed to determine the relationship, after adjusting for confounders, between the duration of hospitalization before MET activation and patient mortality.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients who triggered MET activation in general wards from March 2009 to February 2015 at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Patients were categorized as those with early deterioration (less than 2 days after admission), intermediate deterioration (2–7 days after admission), and late deterioration (more than 7 days after admission) and compared them to patient characteristics, activation characteristics, and patient outcomes.

Results

Overall, 7114 patients were included. Of these, 1793 (25.2%) showed early deterioration, 2113 (29.7%) showed intermediate deterioration, and 3208 (45.1%) showed late deterioration. Etiologies of MET activation were similar among these groups. The clinical outcomes significantly differed among the groups (intensive care unit transfer: 34.1%, 35.6%, and 40.4%; p < 0.001 and mortality: 26.3%, 31.5%, and 41.2%; p < 0.001 for early, intermediate, and late deterioration, respectively). Compared with early deterioration and adjusted for confounders, the odds ratio of mortality for late deterioration was 1.68 (1.46–1.93).

Conclusions

Nearly 50% of the acute clinically-deteriorating patients who activated the MET had been hospitalized for more than 7 days. Furthermore, they presented with higher rates of mortality and ICU transfer than patients admitted for less than 7 days before MET activation and had mortality as an independent risk factor.
Probabilistic analysis of COVID-19 patients’ individual length of stay in Swiss intensive care units
Authors: Henzi Alexander , Kleger Gian-Reto , Hilty Matthias P. , Wendel Garcia Pedro D. , Ziegel Johanna F. ,   on behalf of RISC-19-ICU Investigators for Switzerland
Published: February 2021

Rationale

The COVID-19 pandemic induces considerable strain on intensive care unit resources.

Objectives

We aim to provide early predictions of individual patients’ intensive care unit length of stay, which might improve resource allocation and patient care during the on-going pandemic.

Methods

We developed a new semiparametric distributional index model depending on covariates which are available within 24h after intensive care unit admission. The model was trained on a large cohort of acute respiratory distress syndrome patients out of the Minimal Dataset of the Swiss Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Then, we predict individual length of stay of patients in the RISC-19-ICU registry.

Measurements

The RISC-19-ICU Investigators for Switzerland collected data of 557 critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Main results

The model gives probabilistically and marginally calibrated predictions which are more informative than the empirical length of stay distribution of the training data. However, marginal calibration was worse after approximately 20 days in the whole cohort and in different subgroups. Long staying COVID-19 patients have shorter length of stay than regular acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. We found differences in LoS with respect to age categories and gender but not in regions of Switzerland with different stress of intensive care unit resources.

Conclusion

A new probabilistic model permits calibrated and informative probabilistic prediction of LoS of individual patients with COVID-19. Long staying patients could be discovered early. The model may be the basis to simulate stochastic models for bed occupation in intensive care units under different casemix scenarios.
La vejez y el amor negado
Authors: Saldarriaga Cantillo Alejandra
Published: February 2021

El amor y la sexualidad son áreas de la medicina relativamente inexploradas, en las que pueden primar los mitos y los tabúes por encima de la empatía. Esto aplica para todas las etapas de la vida, principalmente para la vejez. La expresión de la sexualidad en los adultos mayores es ignorada, por no decir que muchas veces es negada, rechazada y entorpecida por la sociedad.Existe un nexo indisoluble entre la historia, la medicina y la literatura, que nos permite analizar los mitos y prejuicios relacionados con la vejez, el sexo y el amor. Por medio de algunos ejemplos literarios hago una reflexión acerca de esta temática, teniendo en cuenta el fenómeno de envejecimiento poblacional mundial.Superar estos prejuicios puede liberar a nuestros adultos mayores del sufrimiento innecesario de no poder amar y no poder ser amados. Como sociedad tenemos el deber de comprender y trabajar para que el amor en la vejez no sea una realidad negada
Dynamics of Organisational Capability of Japanese Construction Firm towards Open and Service Innovation through PPP/PFI arrangement
Authors: Suehiro Taeko , Miyazaki Kumiko
Published: February 2021

This study examined the influence of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) — or, more specifically, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) — arrangements in relation to open and service innovation in construction firms in Japan. The expectation of the PPP/PFI procurement arrangement is that Japanese construction firms will provide a broader range of services (service innovation) through expanded cooperation with various other firms (open innovation) compared to the conventional procurement scheme.

Our in-depth case study of a Japanese construction company shows the dynamics of project-based firms' capability accumulation through a PPP/PFI arrangement. The study identified a model of capability development for construction firms towards service and open innovation. It consists of three organisational capabilities: technological capabilities, project capabilities and collaborative capabilities. The model can be seen as an ideal approach for understanding and comparing cases of long-term capability accumulation of project-based firms, especially regarding providing services that meet the public's needs.

 

Keywords: Public–Private Partnership (PPP); Private Finance Initiative (PFI); Project Capability, Open innovation; Service innovation; Construction firm
A Rare Case of Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Total Ophthalmoplegia
Authors: Jaiswal Sapan , Bajpayee Neha , G.U. Abhishek
Published: February 2021

Cerebral aneurysms are pathological focal dilatations of cerebral vasculature that are prone to rupture1. Pathogenesis involves aberrations of cerebral vasculature resulting in compromised integrity of internal elastic lamina with associated defects in adjacent media and adventia.1 Apart from posterior communicating artery aneurysm, internal carotid artery aneurysms account for 4 % of all cerebral aneurysms.2 Paraclinoid aneurysms are defined as those originating from the ICA between the infra clinoid portion (C3) and proximal of the posterior communicating artery. Their classification is given by Al Rodhan3 is as follows: Type Ia – superior hypophyseal, type Ib – ventral paraclinoid, type II – true ophthalmic, type III – carotid cave, type IV – transitional, type V – intra cavernous. In literature many cases of cerebral aneurysms presenting with visual symptoms have been reported 4 in which, aneurysms were located on internal carotid artery near ophthalmic artery called as paraclinoid aneurysms. The unruptured cerebral aneurysms cause mass effect hence producing symptoms of nausea, vomiting and severe headache and later on by compressing surrounding cranial nerves produce ocular symptoms like ophthalmoplegia and ptosis. The aneurysms may rupture and result in intracranial bleed which again by mass effect can produce the above told symptoms. We report a case of unruptured intracranial aneurysm presenting with total ophthalmoplegia with visual deficit as the primary symptom.