bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foot characteristics and mechanics in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Almeheyawi Rania N. , Bricca Alessio , Riskowski Jody L. , Barn Ruth , Steultjens Martijn
Published: March 2021

Background

Foot characteristics and mechanics are hypothesized to affect aetiology of several lower extremity musculoskeletal conditions, including knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the foot characteristics and mechanics of individuals with KOA.

Methods

Five databases were searched to identify relevant studies on foot characteristics and mechanics in people with KOA. Meta‐analyses were performed where common measures were found across included studies. Included studies were evaluated for data reporting quality using the STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) checklist.

Results

Thirty‐nine studies were included in this systematic review. Two studies reported participants with KOA had statistically significantly (P < 0.05) more pronated foot postures than those without. Meta‐analyses for foot progression angle (FPA) and peak rearfoot eversion angle found no difference between those with and without KOA (FPA mean difference:‐1.50 [95% confidence interval − 4.20‐1.21]; peak rearfoot eversion mean difference: 0.71 [1.55–2.97]).

Conclusion

A more pronated foot posture was noticed in those with KOA. However, it was not possible to establish a relationship between other foot characteristics or mechanics in people with KOA due to heterogeneity between the included study and limited number of studies with similar measurements. There is need for identifying common measurement techniques and reporting metrics when studying the foot in those with KOA.
Understanding implementability in clinical trials: a pragmatic review and concept map
Authors:   for the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance Reference Group on Impact and Implementation of CTN Trials, Cumpston Miranda S. , Webb Steven A. , Middleton Philippa , Sharplin Greg , Green Sally
Published: March 2021

Background

The translation of evidence from clinical trials into practice is complex. One approach to facilitating this translation is to consider the ‘implementability’ of trials as they are designed and conducted. Implementability of trials refers to characteristics of the design, execution and reporting of a late-phase clinical trial that can influence the capacity for the evidence generated by that trial to be implemented. On behalf of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA), the national peak body representing networks of clinician researchers conducting investigator-initiated clinical trials, we conducted a pragmatic literature review to develop a concept map of implementability.

Methods

Documents were included in the review if they related to the design, conduct and reporting of late-phase clinical trials; described factors that increased or decreased the capacity of trials to be implemented; and were published after 2009 in English. Eligible documents included systematic reviews, guidance documents, tools or primary studies (if other designs were not available). With an expert reference group, we developed a preliminary concept map and conducted a snowballing search based on known relevant papers and websites of key organisations in May 2019.

Results

Sixty-five resources were included. A final map of 38 concepts was developed covering the domains of validity, relevance and usability across the design, conduct and reporting of a trial. The concepts drew on literature relating to implementation science, consumer engagement, pragmatic trials, reporting, research waste and other fields. No single resource addressed more than ten of the 38 concepts in the map.

Conclusions

The concept map provides trialists with a tool to think through a range of areas in which practical action could enhance the implementability of their trials. Future work could validate the strength of the associations between the concepts identified and implementability of trials and investigate the effectiveness of steps to address each concept. ACTA will use this concept map to develop guidance for trialists in Australia.

Trial registration

This review did not include health-related outcomes and was therefore not eligible for registration in the PROSPERO register.
Sjogren’s syndrome in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine: protocol for the development of a core outcome set
Authors: Liu Ming , Gao Ya , Yuan Yuan , Shi Shuzhen , Yang Kelu , Shi Jiyuan , Wu Jiarui , Zhang Junhua , Tian Jinhui
Published: March 2021

Background

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease with an incidence of 0.03 to 0.3%. In recent years, there are an increasing number of randomized controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for SS. However, there are generally some problems in these published clinical trials: lack of reporting primary or long-term outcomes and the heterogeneous in different clinical trials’ outcome. Our study aims to determine the priority outcomes and standard TCM syndromes for all stakeholders and reach agreement on the COS and syndromes to be measured and reported in all future TCM trials in patients with SS.

Methods and analysis

A phase-wise refinement approach will be used, consisting of three phases, yet complementary, sub-work phases, whereby each phase will inform the next coming phases. The following are the three phases: (I-a) identifying of a long initial list of outcomes through systematic literature review and semi-structured qualitative interviews and (I-b) identifying an initial list of TCM syndromes through (1) systematic literature review, (2) referencing ancient Chinese medical books, and (3) retrospective studies of medical records; (II) prioritization of outcomes using Delphi survey with different stakeholders, such as health professionals and patients; and (III) through consensus meetings with patients and professionals to agree on the final COS and TCM syndromes.

Discussion

We summarized the actions of COS into three points: direct action, indirect action, and final action. After the final COSs is completed, we will publish this research in a journal to promote communication.

Trial registration

Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials Initiative (COMET) number1429. Registered on 01 December 2019.
Relationships between psoriatic arthritis composite measures of disease activity with patient-reported outcomes in phase 3 studies of tofacitinib
Authors: Coates Laura C. , Bushmakin Andrew G. , FitzGerald Oliver , Gladman Dafna D. , Fallon Lara , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Hsu Ming-Ann , Helliwell Philip S.
Published: March 2021

Background

In psoriatic arthritis (PsA), further understanding of the relationships between clinical measures and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is needed. This post hoc analysis evaluated associations between minimal disease activity (MDA) as a continuous outcome (termed ScoreMDA) or Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) with selected PROs not included in the composite measures.

Methods

Data from two phase 3 studies of tofacitinib in PsA (OPAL Broaden [NCT01877668; N = 422]; OPAL Beyond [NCT01882439; N = 394]) were included. MDA (binary outcome) was defined as meeting ≥5/7 criteria. For ScoreMDA, each criterion was assigned a value (1 = true; 0 = false; score range, 0–7; scores ≥5 indicated MDA). For PASDAS (score range, 0–10), higher scores indicated worse disease activity. PROs analyzed included Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), Patient’s Assessment of Arthritis Pain visual analog scale (Pain VAS), and EuroQoL-Five Dimensions-Three Level Health Questionnaire visual analog scale (EQ-5D-3L VAS) and utility index. Relationships were evaluated using repeated measures regression models.

Results

Similar, approximately linear relationships were confirmed between PASDAS or ScoreMDA and PROs in both studies. In OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond, a one-point difference in PASDAS was associated with clinically relevant differences in PROs, including EQ-5D-3L VAS (− 6.7 mm, − 6.9 mm), Pain VAS (9.9 mm, 10.7 mm), and FACIT-F (− 2.8, − 3.3). A one-point difference in ScoreMDA was associated with clinically relevant differences in PROs, including EQ-5D-3L VAS (5.0 mm, 5.5 mm) and FACIT-F (1.9, 2.7) in OPAL Broaden and OPAL Beyond, respectively.

Conclusions

Linear associations between PASDAS or ScoreMDA and PROs provide interpretable and quantifiable metrics between composite clinical measures and PROs, highlighting the importance of these measures in understanding the relevance of treat-to-target goals in PsA.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01877668. Registered on June 12, 2013. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01882439. Registered on June 18, 2013
The product of waist and neck circumference outperforms traditional anthropometric indices in identifying metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Huang Yunhong , Gu Liping , Li Na , Fang Fang , Ding Xiaoying , Wang Yufan , Peng Yongde
Published: March 2021

Background

Traditional anthropometric indices are used in diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to propose a novel index, a product of waist and neck circumferences (PWNC), and compared its value with traditional anthropometric parameters in identifying the presence of MetS in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

From September 2017 to June 2019, a total of 2017 Chinese adults with T2DM from the National Metabolic Management Center were included and categorized into a MetS group (1575 cases) and a non-MetS group (442 cases). Demographic and metabolic characteristics were compared between the two groups, and logistic regression analysis was performed for MetS. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), neck circumference (NC) and PWNC were assessed by constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the area under the ROC curves was compared by DeLong’s test.

Results

Compared with the non-MetS group, men and women with MetS had higher blood pressure; higher levels of fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and triglycerides (TGs); lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); elevated homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and higher BMI, WHR, WC, NC and PWNC (all P < 0.01). Logistic regression showed that PWNC, HDL-C, TGs, HOMA-IR, systolic blood pressure, hypertension and hypotensors were independent risk factors for MetS (all P < 0.01). PWNC, WC, NC, WHR and BMI displayed significant values in the ROC for MetS (all P < 0.01), while the area under the curve for PWNC was larger than that for traditional anthropometric parameters (WC, WHR and BMI) in both men and women (all P < 0.01).

Conclusion

PWNC outperformed traditional anthropometric parameters in identifying the presence of MetS in Chinese adults with T2DM.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa prioritizes detoxification of hydrogen peroxide over nitric oxide
Authors: Sivaloganathan Darshan M. , Brynildsen Mark P.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Bacteria are exposed to multiple concurrent antimicrobial stressors within phagosomes. Among the antimicrobials produced, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide are two of the most deleterious products. In a previous study, we discovered that when faced with both stressors simultaneously, Escherichia coli prioritized detoxification of hydrogen peroxide over nitric oxide. In this study, we investigated whether such a process was conserved in another bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Results

P. aeruginosa prioritized hydrogen peroxide detoxification in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, hydrogen peroxide detoxification was unperturbed by the presence of nitric oxide, whereas larger doses of hydrogen peroxide produced longer delays in nitric oxide detoxification. Computational modelling revealed that the rate of nitric oxide consumption in co-treated cultures was biphasic, with cells entering the second phase of detoxification only after hydrogen peroxide was eliminated from the culture.
Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in pregnancy to treat acute pulmonary edema induced by tocolytic agents: a case report
Authors: Takahashi Kotaro , Nishijima Koji , Yamaguchi Masayuki , Matsumoto Kensuke , Sugai Shunya , Enomoto Takayuki
Published: March 2021

Background

We report a case of pulmonary edema induced by tocolytic agents that was successfully managed with noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) and resulted in extended gestation.

Case presentation

A 36-year-old Japanese pregnant woman received tocolytic therapy with ritodrine hydrochloride, magnesium sulfate, nifedipine, and betamethasone from 28 weeks of gestation. She developed respiratory failure. and her chest X-ray showed enlarged pulmonary vascular shadows. At 29 weeks and 1 day of gestation, she was diagnosed with pulmonary edema induced by tocolytic agents. Because respiratory failure worsened 2 days after ritodrine hydrochloride and magnesium sulfate were stopped, NPPV was initiated. Her respiratory status improved and she was weaned off of NPPV after 3 days. She underwent cesarean section because of breech presentation at 30 weeks and 0 days of gestation due to initiation of labor pains.

Conclusions

NPPV can be safely administered in cases of tocolytic agent-induced pulmonary edema during pregnancy.
Bilateral facial nerve palsy associated with amphiphysin antibody in metastatic breast cancer: a case report
Authors: Kwatra Vineet , Charakidis Michail , Karanth Narayan V.
Published: March 2021

Background

Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome is an immune-mediated phenomenon where antibodies from tumor cells are produced against neuronal proteins. Amphiphysin antibody is an onconeural antibody linked to the diagnosis of breast cancer and small-cell lung cancer. It is uncommon and typically associated with stiff-person syndrome, of which 90% of patients are eventually diagnosed with breast cancer.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 47-year-old Caucasian woman with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who developed bilateral facial nerve palsy while on treatment with nab-paclitaxel. The patient was found to have anti-amphiphysin antibody in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. She was treated with methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin, which resulted in partial improvement in her facial nerve palsy.

Conclusions

This case highlights a rare presentation of bilateral facial nerve palsy that likely related to paraneoplastic syndrome associated with the presence of anti-amphiphysin antibody.
Much ado about nothing? Off-target amplification can lead to false-positive bacterial brain microbiome detection in healthy and Parkinson’s disease individuals
Authors: Bedarf Janis R. , Beraza Naiara , Khazneh Hassan , Özkurt Ezgi , Baker David , Borger Valeri , Wüllner Ullrich , Hildebrand Falk
Published: March 2021

Background

Recent studies suggested the existence of (poly-)microbial infections in human brains. These have been described either as putative pathogens linked to the neuro-inflammatory changes seen in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or as a “brain microbiome” in the context of healthy patients’ brain samples.

Methods

Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we tested the hypothesis that there is a bacterial brain microbiome. We evaluated brain samples from healthy human subjects and individuals suffering from PD (olfactory bulb and pre-frontal cortex), as well as murine brains. In line with state-of-the-art recommendations, we included several negative and positive controls in our analysis and estimated total bacterial biomass by 16S rRNA gene qPCR.

Results

Amplicon sequencing did detect bacterial signals in both human and murine samples, but estimated bacterial biomass was extremely low in all samples. Stringent reanalyses implied bacterial signals being explained by a combination of exogenous DNA contamination (54.8%) and false positive amplification of host DNA (34.2%, off-target amplicons). Several seemingly brain-enriched microbes in our dataset turned out to be false-positive signals upon closer examination.

We identified off-target amplification as a major confounding factor in low-bacterial/high-host-DNA scenarios. These amplified human or mouse DNA sequences were clustered and falsely assigned to bacterial taxa in the majority of tested amplicon sequencing pipelines. Off-target amplicons seemed to be related to the tissue’s sterility and could also be found in independent brain 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Conclusions

Taxonomic signals obtained from (extremely) low biomass samples by 16S rRNA gene sequencing must be scrutinized closely to exclude the possibility of off-target amplifications, amplicons that can only appear enriched in biological samples, but are sometimes assigned to bacterial taxa. Sequences must be explicitly matched against any possible background genomes present in large quantities (i.e., the host genome). Using close scrutiny in our approach, we find no evidence supporting the hypothetical presence of either a brain microbiome or a bacterial infection in PD brains.
Molecular characteristics of Brucella melitensis isolates from humans in Qinghai Province, China
Authors: Zhao Zhi-Jun , Li Ji-Quan , Ma Li , Xue Hong-Mei , Yang Xu-Xin , Zhao Yuan-Bo , Qin Yu-Min , Yang Xiao-Wen , Piao Dong-Ri , Zhao Hong-Yan , Tian Guo-Zhong , Li Qiang , Wang Jian-Ling , Tian Guang , Jiang Hai , Xu Li-Qing
Published: March 2021

Background

The prevalence of human brucellosis in Qinghai Province of China has been increasing rapidly, with confirmed cases distributed across 31 counties. However, the epidemiology of brucellosis transmission has not been fully elucidated. To characterize the infecting strains isolated from humans, multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based approaches were employed.

Methods

Strains were isolated from two males blood cultures that were confirmed Brucella melitensis positive following biotyping and MLVA. Genomic DNA was extracted from these two strains, and whole-genome sequencing was performed. Next, SNP-based phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare the two strains to 94 B. melitensis strains (complete genome and draft genome) retrieved from online databases.

Results

The two Brucella isolates were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3 (QH2019001 and QH2019005) following conventional biotyping and were found to have differences in their variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs) using MLVA-16. Phylogenetic examination assigned the 96 strains to five genotype groups, with QH2019001 and QH2019005 assigned to the same group, but different subgroups. Moreover, the QH2019005 strain was assigned to a new subgenotype, IIj, within genotype II. These findings were then combined to determine the geographic origin of the two Brucella strains.

Conclusions

Utilizing a whole-genome SNP-based approach enabled differences between the two B. melitensis strains to be more clearly resolved, and facilitated the elucidation of their different evolutionary histories. This approach also revealed that QH2019005 is a member of a new subgenotype (IIj) with an ancient origin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
A new boundary element algorithm for modeling and simulation of nonlinear thermal stresses in micropolar FGA composites with temperature-dependent properties
Authors: Fahmy Mohamed Abdelsabour
Published: March 2021

The main aim of this article is to develop a new boundary element method (BEM) algorithm to model and simulate the nonlinear thermal stresses problems in micropolar functionally graded anisotropic (FGA) composites with temperature-dependent properties. Some inside points are chosen to treat the nonlinear terms and domain integrals. An integral formulation which is based on the use of Kirchhoff transformation is firstly used to simplify the transient heat conduction governing equation. Then, the residual nonlinear terms are carried out within the current formulation. The domain integrals can be effectively treated by applying the Cartesian transformation method (CTM). In the proposed BEM technique, the nonlinear temperature is computed on the boundary and some inside domain integral. Then, nonlinear displacement can be calculated at each time step. With the calculated temperature and displacement distributions, we can obtain the values of nonlinear thermal stresses. The efficiency of our proposed methodology has been improved by using the communication-avoiding versions of the Arnoldi (CA-Arnoldi) preconditioner for solving the resulting linear systems arising from the BEM to reduce the iterations number and computation time. The numerical outcomes establish the influence of temperature-dependent properties on the nonlinear temperature distribution, and investigate the effect of the functionally graded parameter on the nonlinear displacements and thermal stresses, through the micropolar FGA composites with temperature-dependent properties. These numerical outcomes also confirm the validity, precision and effectiveness of the proposed modeling and simulation methodology.
Retrospective study of alveolar ridge preservation compared with no alveolar ridge preservation in periodontally compromised extraction sockets
Authors: Lee Jungwon , Yun Junseob , Kim Jung-Ju , Koo Ki-Tae , Seol Yang-Jo , Lee Yong-Moo
Published: March 2021

Background

To minimize alveolar bone resorption, alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) has been proposed. Recently, interest in improving the feasibility of implant placement has gradually increased, especially in situations of infection such as periodontal and/or endodontic lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate if ARP improves feasibility of implant placement compared with no ARP in periodontally compromised sites. Secondary endpoints were the necessity of bone graft at the time of implant placement and implant failure before loading at ARP compared with no ARP.

Material and methods

This retrospective study was performed using dental records and radiographs obtained from patients who underwent tooth extraction due to chronic periodontal pathology. Outcomes including the feasibility of implant placement, horizontal bone augmentation, vertical bone augmentation, sinus floor elevation, total bone augmentation at the time of implant placement, and implant failure before loading were investigated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the influence of multiple variables on the clinical outcomes.

Results

In total, 418 extraction sites (171 without ARP and 247 with ARP) in 287 patients were included in this study. The ARP group (0.8%) shows significantly lower implant placement infeasibility than the no ARP group (4.7%). Horizontal and vertical bone augmentations were significantly influenced by location and no ARP. Total bone augmentation was significantly influenced by sex, location, and no ARP.

Conclusion

ARP in periodontally compromised sites may improve the feasibility of implant placement. In addition, ARP attenuate the severity of the bone augmentation procedure.
Inside and Out: Factors That Support and Hinder the Self-Advocacy of Undergraduates with ADHD and/or Specific Learning Disabilities in STEM
Authors: Pfeifer Mariel A. , Reiter Eve Melanie , Cordero Julio J. , Stanton Julie Dangremond
Published: March 2021

Self-advocacy is linked to academic success and retention of students with disabilities in college. Students with ADHD and/or specific learning disabilities were interviewed to identify supports and barriers to self-advocacy in undergraduate STEM courses. STEM instructors can be supports or barriers, which influences students’ accommodation use.
Current Management of Appendiceal Neoplasms
Authors: Hoehn Richard S. , Rieser Caroline J. , Choudry M. Haroon , Melnitchouk Nelya , Hechtman Jaclyn , Bahary Nathan
Published: March 2021

Appendiceal neoplasms include a heterogeneous group of epithelial and nonepithelial tumors that exhibit varying malignant potential. This review article summarizes current diagnostic criteria, classification systems, and optimal therapeutic strategies for the five main histopathologic subtypes of appendiceal neoplasms. In particular, the management of epithelial appendiceal neoplasms has evolved. Although their treatment has historically been extrapolated from colon cancer, improved understanding of their unique histopathologic and molecular characteristics and a growing body of published clinical data support a more nuanced approach to their management.
“Hints That Are Revelations”
Authors: Knittle Davy
Published: March 2021

This article reads the transformation of urban space in US cities during and since the urban renewal of the 1950s and 1960s in dialogue with queer and disability theories of access to the social and the built environment. Knittle focuses on obsolescence as an urban planning strategy used to justify the removal of buildings and people from the present, as he explores how queer and disability studies have negotiated and advocated for access to the present and the future while refusing assimilation to normative social forms. He reads across body and city scales to consider access as dynamic and to map how the ableist expectations projected onto disabled bodies in what Alison Kafer describes as a “curative imaginary” appear on the city scale as an “urban curative imaginary.” To explore resistances to obsolescence that refuse assimilation while demanding access, Knittle reads the “window poems” of queer New York School poet James Schuyler. In these poems, Schuyler documents small and large forms of urban transformation from his Manhattan apartment during the 1950s and 1960s. Schuyler’s poems, Knittle argues, model strategies for how to identify the obsolescence of normative space rather than the obsolescence of queer and disabled bodies. He uses the poems’ focus on the queer potential of how urban spaces change to argue for a queer disability urbanism that takes the dynamism of access as a precondition for negotiating equitable forms of social participation and public life.
Queer Connections
Authors: Zafir Lindsay
Published: March 2021

This article examines the gay French author Jean Genet’s 1970 tour of the United States with the Black Panther Party, using Genet’s unusual relationship with the Panthers as a lens for analyzing the possibilities and pitfalls of radical coalition politics in the long sixties. I rely on mainstream and alternative media coverage of the tour, articles by Black Panthers and gay liberationists, and Genet’s own writings and interviews to argue that Genet’s connection with the Panthers provided a queer bridge between the Black Power and gay liberation movements. Their story challenges the neglect of such coalitions by historians of the decade and illuminates some of the reasons the Panthers decided to support gay liberation. At the same time, Genet distanced himself from the gay liberation movement, and his unusual connection with the Panthers highlights some of the difficulties activists faced in building and sustaining such alliances on a broad scale.
The physiological reaction of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus, Cricetidae) to chemical signals of perspective mating partners before and during courtship
Authors: Kondratyuk E. Yu , Zadubrovskiy P. A. , Zadubrovskaya I. V. , Sakharov A. V.
Published: March 2021

In this investigation we assessed the physiological reaction of hamsters in response to chemical signals from potential sexual partners, and also after a private meeting with them, which allowed us to ascertain the type of mating system for this species. The reception of olfactory signals led to an increase in peroxidase activity in the blood for both sexes, indicative of activity of a non-specific line of immune defense in recipients. The increase in blood cortisol level in response to the chemical signals of a partner was only observed in females. Males spent more time near samples of estrous females, with elevated levels of cortisol in the urine. In olfactory tests, an hour after grouping all the individuals in pairs there was a significant increase in blood peroxidase activity, which indicates the reaction of a non-specific link in the immune system of partners. This increase was greater in the pairs with a mutual preference. Females from these pairs demonstrated a substantial decrease in stress hormone levels in the plasma after an hour of mating in comparison to females prior to mating, and in non-preferred coupling.
Echolocation click parameters and biosonar behaviour of the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)
Authors: Malinka Chloe E. , Tønnesen Pernille , Dunn Charlotte A. , Claridge Diane E. , Gridley Tess , Elwen Simon H. , Teglberg Madsen Peter
Published: March 2021

Dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) are small toothed whales that produce narrow-band high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation clicks. Such NBHF clicks, subject to high levels of acoustic absorption, are usually produced by small, shallow-diving odontocetes, such as porpoises, in keeping with their short-range echolocation and fast click rates. Here, we sought to address the problem of how the little-studied and deep-diving Kogia can hunt with NBHF clicks in the deep sea. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that Kogia produce NBHF clicks with longer inter-click intervals (ICIs), higher directionality and higher source levels (SLs) compared with other NBHF species. We did this by deploying an autonomous deep-water vertical hydrophone array in the Bahamas, where no other NBHF species are present, and by taking opportunistic recordings of a close-range Kogia sima in a South African harbour. Parameters from on-axis clicks (n=46) in the deep revealed very narrow-band clicks (root mean squared bandwidth, BWRMS, of 3±1 kHz), with SLs of up to 197 dB re. 1 µPa peak-to-peak (μPapp) at 1 m, and a half-power beamwidth of 8.8 deg. Their ICIs (mode of 245 ms) were much longer than those of porpoises (<100 ms), suggesting an inspection range that is longer than detection ranges of single prey, perhaps to facilitate auditory streaming of a complex echo scene. On-axis clicks in the shallow harbour (n=870) had ICIs and SLs in keeping with source parameters of other NBHF cetaceans. Thus, in the deep, dwarf sperm whales use a directional, but short-range echolocation system with moderate SLs, suggesting a reliable mesopelagic prey habitat.
Prolonged Time from Diagnosis to Breast-Conserving Surgery is Associated with Upstaging in Hormone Receptor-Positive Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Hills Natalie , Leslie Macall , Davis Rachel , Crowell Marielle , Kameyama Hiroyasu , Rui Hallgeir , Chervoneva Inna , Dooley William , Tanaka Takemi
Published: March 2021

Background

Time to surgery (TTS) has been suggested to have an association with mortality in early-stage breast cancer.

Objective

This study aims to determine the association between TTS and preoperative disease progression in tumor size or nodal status among women diagnosed with clinical T1N0M0 ductal breast cancer.

Methods

Women diagnosed with clinical T1N0M0 ductal breast cancer who had breast-conserving surgery as their first definitive treatment between 2010 and 2016 (n = 90,405) were analyzed using the National Cancer Database. Separate multivariable logistic regression models for hormone receptor (HR)-positive and HR-negative patients, adjusted for clinical and demographic variables, were used to assess the relationship between TTS and upstaging of tumor size (T-upstaging) or nodal status (N-upstaging).

Results

T-upstaging occurred in 6.76% of HR-positive patients and 11.00% of HR-negative patients, while N-upstaging occurred in 12.69% and 10.75% of HR-positive and HR-negative patients, respectively. Among HR-positive patients, odds of T-upstaging were higher for 61–90 days TTS (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–1.34) and ≥91 days TTS (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.17–1.84) compared with ≤30 days TTS, and odds of N- upstaging were higher for ≥91 days TTS (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.13–1.62). No association between TTS and either T- or N-upstaging was found among HR-negative patients. Other clinical and demographic variables, including grade, tumor location, and race/ethnicity, were associated with both T- and N-upstaging.

Conclusion

TTS ≥61 and ≥91 days was a significant predictor of T- and N-upstaging, respectively, in HR-positive patients; however, TTS was not associated with upstaging in HR-negative breast cancer. Delays in surgery may contribute to measurable disease progression in T1N0M0 ductal breast cancer.
Machine Learning Used to Create a Multidimensional Calibration Space for Sensing and Biosensing Data
Authors: Neto Mário Popolin , Soares Andrey Coatrini , Oliveira Osvaldo N , Paulovich Fernando V
Published: March 2021

Calibration curves are essential constructs in analytical chemistry to determine parameters of sensing performance. In the classification of sensing data of complex samples without a clear dependence on a given analyte, however, establishing a calibration curve is not possible. In this paper we introduce the concept of a multidimensional calibration space, which could serve as reference to classify any unknown sample as in determining an analyte concentration from a calibration curve. This calibration space is defined from a set of rules generated using a machine learning method based on trees applied to the dataset. The number of attributes employed in the rules defines the dimension of the calibration space and is established to warrant full coverage of the dataset. We demonstrate the calibration space concept with impedance spectroscopy data from sensors, biosensors and an e-tongue, but the concept can be extended to any type of sensing data and classification task. Using the calibration space should allow for the correct classification of unknown samples, provided that the data used to generate rules via machine learning can cover the whole range of sensing measurements. Furthermore, an inspection in the rules can assist in the design of sensing systems for optimized performance.
Cu–Pd–B Alloy Nanoparticles Synthesized by External Boron Doping Method
Authors: Kobayashi Keigo , Kusada Kohei , Kobayashi Hirokazu , Yamamoto Tomokazu , Toriyama Takaaki , Matsumura Syo , Kitagawa Hiroshi
Published: March 2021

We present a new synthetic approach for Cu–Pd–B nanoscale alloys. Crystalline face-centered cubic Cu–Pd–B alloy nanoparticles were successfully obtained via an amorphous structure phase caused by external heavy B doping. Elemental mapping with simultaneous energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope revealed a solid-solution structure composed of the three elements.
Ethics as attention to context: recommendations for the ethics of artificial intelligence
Authors: Resseguier Anais , Rodrigues Rowena
Published: March 2021

This article shows that current ethics guidance documents and initiatives for artificial intelligence (AI) tend to be dominated by a principled approach to ethics. Although this brings value to the field, it also entails some risks, especially in relation to the abstraction of this form of ethics that makes it poorly equipped to engage with and address deep socio-political issues and the material impacts of AI. This is particularly problematic considering the risk for AI to further entrench already existing social inequalities and injustices and contribute to environmental damage. To respond to this challenge posed by AI ethics today, this article proposes to complement the existing principled approach with an approach to ethics as attention to context and relations. It does so by drawing from alternative ethical theories to the dominant principled one, especially the ethics of care or other feminist approaches to ethics. Related to this, it encourages the inclusion of social sciences and humanities in the development, deployment and use of AI, as well as in AI ethics discussions and initiatives. This article presents this proposal for an ethics as attention to context and formulates a series of practical recommendations to implement this proposal concretely.
A spatiotemporal atlas of hydropower in Africa for energy modelling purposes
Authors: Sterl Sebastian , Devillers Albertine , Chawanda Celray James , van Griensven Ann , Thiery Wim , Russo Daniel
Published: March 2021

The modelling of electricity systems with substantial shares of renewable resources, such as solar power, wind power and hydropower, requires datasets on renewable resource profiles with high spatiotemporal resolution to be made available to the energy modelling community. Whereas such resources exist for solar power and wind power profiles on diurnal and seasonal scales across all continents, this is not yet the case for hydropower. Here, we present a newly developed open-access African hydropower atlas, containing seasonal hydropower generation profiles for nearly all existing and several hundred future hydropower plants on the African continent. The atlas builds on continental-scale hydrological modelling in combination with detailed technical databases of hydropower plant characteristics and can facilitate modelling of power systems across Africa.
FILOSOFÍA PARA NIÑOS: UN RETO PARA LA EDUCACIÓN ÉTICA Y EN VALORES.
Authors: Velasco Moreno Carlos Fernando
Published: March 2021

Esta investigación parte de la necesidad colombiana de desarrollar el pensamiento crítico, principalmente en niños de educación básica primaria, como respuesta a la creciente problemática de conflictos escolares dentro y fuera de las aulas. Esto puede ser atendido desde la implementación de Filosofía para Niños (FpN), porque a partir del análisis de situaciones cotidianas, algunas de ellas convertidas en anécdotas, el docente promueve habilidades de pensamiento que las argumentan y las pasan por el matiz de la crítica. Este proceso se puede articular con las innovaciones que pretende tanto la legislación colombiana, como la educación contemporánea, generando conciencia en el estudiante de soluciones por la vía concertada, llegando a acuerdos y conciliaciones que aborden el conflicto.
Cidadania ambiental e participação popular: efetividade da legislação ambiental em um parque de energia solar no Piauí
Authors: Bezerra Ana Keuly Luz , Reis Neto Afonso Feitosa , Andrade Maristela Oliveira de
Published: March 2021

O estudo apresenta o direito como o caminho para o desenvolvimento de condições de participação e de acesso aos processos de decisão, em um sentido democrático, de modo que são desenvolvidos os contornos de um modelo de cidadania ambiental no Brasil, que só se faz possível com a integração de uma complexidade de outros valores ou direitos. Nesse sentido, o presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar se a participação popular nos impactos gerados pela implantação do Parque de Energia Solar em São Gonçalo do Gurguéia, Piauí pode ser considerada um instrumento de cidadania ambiental e efetivação da legislação ambiental. Nos procedimentos metodológicos utilizou-se a pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, baseada na pesquisa bibliográfica e de campo. A pesquisa revelou que a atuação da população por meio de mobilização social, pode ser considerada como exercício da cidadania ambiental, uma vez que ao afirmar seu direito ao meio ambiente como direito fundamental, conseguiu alertar o Poder Público para os impactos socioambientais causados pelas obras do Parque Solar, possibilitando a efetividade da legislação ambiental.
A pesca artesanal e os agravos à saúde do pescador no município de Curuçá, estado do Pará, Brasil
Authors: Conceição Laíse Carla Almeida da , Martins Cyntia Meireles , Araújo Janayna Galvão de , Rebello Fabrício Khoury , Santos Marcos Antônio Souza dos
Published: March 2021

No Brasil, os pescadores artesanais chegam a quase um milhão de pessoas registradas e exercem suas atividades laborais expostos a graves riscos ocupacionais e sem proteção à saúde. Neste artigo, objetivou-se analisar as condições do trabalho e sua relação com a saúde dos pescadores artesanais no município de Curuçá, no estado do Pará. O método para de análise se baseou em questionários dirigidos com perguntas acerca dos dados socioeconômicos dos entrevistados, condição de vida e trabalho, e determinantes associados à vida pessoal, como idade e sexo, além de observações in loco. Como resultados, os pescadores são, na maior parte (68%), de idade mais avançada, com mais de 41 anos, 93% deles não concluíram o ensino fundamental ou não possuem escolaridade. Principal causa disto é a iniciação na pesca artesanal desde muito cedo, 39% alegaram pescar há mais de 31 anos. Concluiu-se que tantos anos de atividade e várias horas de trabalho diárias expõem os pescadores a diversos problemas de saúde (como dores nas costas, problemas de pele, lesões musculares, pressão alta e estresse) e, acidentes de trabalho (ferradas de animais e quedas). São necessárias ações governamentais na área de saúde que apoiem de forma profilática o trabalhador da pesca.
Trajetórias de homens em busca do cuidado em saúde: desafios para a atenção primária em um contexto rural
Authors: Araújo Maria Deysiane Porto , Fonseca Angelica Ferreira , Machado Michael Ferreira , Quirino Túlio Romério Lopes
Published: March 2021

Estudo qualitativo exploratório com objetivo de compreender o percurso de homens em busca do cuidado em saúde. Participaram da pesquisa 20 homens, entre 20 a 59 anos, residentes do povoado Laranjal, comunidade rural do município de Arapiraca-AL. Dentre estes, 10 homens utilizaram o serviço de atenção primária à saúde nos últimos doze meses anteriores a coleta dos dados e os outros 10 não fizeram uso desse serviço neste período. Foi utilizada a entrevista semiestruturada como estratégia metodológica para construção das informações. Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se como arcabouço teórico-analítico, a análise de enunciação. A partir da discussão dos resultados, aponta-se que os homens participantes do estudo não têm trajetórias (itinerários) bem definidas, talvez tracejados, linhas frágeis para a condução de si mesmos que se esboçam, à medida que situações críticas de adoecimento surgem; recorrem com frequência a automedicação e/outras soluções caseiras frente a um problema de saúde; só buscam cuidados profissionais, seja a unidade Básica de Saúde ou o hospital quando identificam o agravamento de sintomas. A ideia de prevenção e/ou estratégias de autocuidado estão quase ausente das falas. Nesta direção, destacamos a importância de se analisar as singularidades da população masculina de cada região, reconhecendo a realidade dos serviços disponíveis em cada contexto, os recursos disponíveis para o cuidado em saúde, bem como a necessidade de qualificação dos profissionais de saúde para serem estabelecidas estratégias voltadas à inclusão do público masculino no cenário da saúde, sendo importante a superação do modelo assistencial-curativista, fortemente presente na rede de saúde.
Diversity of Eusocial Bees in Natural and Anthropized Areas of a Tropical Dry Forest in the Parque da Sapucaia (Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Authors: Gonçalves Priscila Santos , Araújo Walter Santos de
Published: March 2021

In the present study we inventoried the diversity of eusocial bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in preserved and anthropized areas of a tropical dry forest in the Parque da Sapucaia (Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil). We tested the hypothesis that the diversity of bee species would: 1) be greater in the preserved areas, 2) respond positively to the structure of the vegetation and 3) decrease during the dry season. We sampled eusocial bee species in 18 plots of 10 x 10 m distributed throughout the park, being nine plots in anthropized areas and nine plots in areas with preserved vegetation.  In total we recorded 382 individuals and eight species of eusocial bees. The most abundant species was Oxytrigona tataira (Smith) (N = 233) and the most common species was Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) recorded in 72.2% of the plots. As expected, we found that eusocial bee diversity (Shannon diversity) was higher in preserved plots than in anthropized plots. Tree species richness positively affected bee species richness and abundance, while tree abundance positively influenced the bee abundance and tree height positively affected the bee Shannon diversity, corroborating our expectations. On the other hand, we detected no differences in the diversity of eusocial bees between dry and rainy seasons. Our findings suggest that both natural (vegetation structure) and anthropogenic (habitat modification) factors are important predictors of the diversity of eusocial bee species in tropical dry forests.
Periodic structure of different dielectric layers for dielectric laser accelerators
Authors: Shojaie Ehsan , Madanipour Khosro , Bahrampour Alireza
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a periodic structure of different dielectric layers is proposed and investigated for relativistic electron acceleration. The periodic dielectric structure provides an accelerating electric field inside the structure. Results show that the electron beam can experience a strong electric force in one direction during propagation in the structure, leading to the acceleration gradient increasing by more than double in comparison with dual-grating structures. Acceleration gradient enhancement occurs without increasing the electric field much inside the structure; therefore, the maximum achievable acceleration gradient and acceleration factor are increased by more than 100%, reaching 0.7. Thereby, by using the proposed structure GV/m, the acceleration gradient can be achieved with a wide electron channel. Also, the required input laser fluence is reduced for the same acceleration gradient. Acceleration gradient and acceleration factor optimization is done corresponding to structure parameters. Our work shows that the proposed structure helps to make dielectric laser accelerators more efficient.
Soliton mode-locked fiber laser for distance measurements
Authors: Terra Osama , Hussein Haitham M. , Kotb Hussein
Published: March 2021

Absolute distance measurement is crucial for many applications including metrology, large-scale manufacturing, range finding, and surveying. In this paper, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, technique is introduced for precise distance measurement by including the distance under measurement in a soliton mode-locked fiber ring laser (SMFRL). Consequently, the measured distance can be calculated from the change in the repetition rate of the emitted pulses due to the laser cavity length change. The SMFRL technique is implemented here to measure distances up to 57.4 m with precision of less than 9 µm. Therefore, we believe that the SMRFL technique provides a relatively simple and precise technique to measure relatively long distances.
cSPARCOM: Multi-detector reconstruction by confocal super-resolution correlation microscopy
Authors: Rossman Uri , Dadosh Tali , Eldar Yonina C. , Oron Dan
Published: March 2021

Image scanning microscopy (ISM), an upgraded successor of the ubiquitous confocal microscope, facilitates up to two-fold improvement in lateral resolution, and has become an indispensable element in the toolbox of the bio-imaging community. Recently, super-resolution optical fluctuation image scanning microscopy (SOFISM) integrated the analysis of intensity-fluctuations information into the basic ISM architecture, to enhance its resolving power. Both of these techniques typically rely on pixel-reassignment as a fundamental processing step, in which the parallax of different detector elements to the sample is compensated by laterally shifting the point spread function (PSF). Here, we propose an alternative analysis approach, based on the recent high-performing sparsity-based super-resolution correlation microscopy (SPARCOM) method. Through measurements of DNA origami nano-rulers and fixed cells labeled with organic dye, we experimentally show that confocal SPARCOM (cSPARCOM), which circumvents pixel-reassignment altogether, provides enhanced resolution compared to pixel-reassigned based analysis. Thus, cSPARCOM further promotes the effectiveness of ISM, and particularly that of correlation based ISM implementations such as SOFISM, where the PSF deviates significantly from spatial invariance.