bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial issues during the treatment of non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Wildeman Sallian M. , van Golde Corine , Nooter Ronald I.
Published: July 2020

The psychosocial impact of intravesical therapy with Bacillus Calmette‐Guerin (BCG) and Mitomycine (MMC) is an issue that urological oncology nurses are confronted with. It was unclear to us as to how many patients are confronted with psychosocial issues during treatment and we wanted to gain more understanding regarding the impact of intravesical therapy with BCG or MMC. We could find only a few studies regarding quality of life and psychosocial issues of patients undergoing intravesical therapy. The aim of this study was to assess which psychosocial issues, patients are confronted with during intravesical therapy with BCG or MMC, and the impact thereof on daily life, social, emotional and physical well‐being. A quantitative study was conducted in a general hospital on 80 men and women undergoing intravesical therapy with BCG or MMC, aged between 40 and 94. Data were collected by using the EORTC BLS‐24, the Psychosocial Distress screening tool and a questionnaire collecting demographic data. Results from this study showed that 32% of the participants indicated that intravesical therapy had an impact on emotional and physical well‐being. Specific items were fatigue (55%), feeling out of shape/physical condition (39%), lack of sleep (34%) and muscle strength (23%). Emotional items were depression/gloom (28%), anxiety (28%), coping with emotions (28%) and self‐confidence (20%). In our study we observed a statistically significant difference between patients undergoing intravesical therapy with BCG or MMC. BCG intravesical therapy had more of a psychosocial impact, a statistically significant difference (P < .001). We also observed an increase in psychosocial burden over a period of time in participants undergoing BCG maintenance therapy. Nurses need to be aware that intravesical therapy does have an impact on daily life, social, emotional and physical well‐being, and that patients have psychosocial issues which need to be addressed.
Social value creation through digital activism in an online health community
Authors: Chamakiotis Petros , Petrakaki Dimitra , Panteli Niki
Published: July 2020

The study explores how online health communities produce social value by uniting individuals under a common purpose, to advance healthcare in post‐conflict states. We selected MedicineAfrica – a digital platform known for creating social value by providing medical education in regions with under‐resourced healthcare systems – and drew on multiple data collection methods. We found that it is through a unique form of digital health activism that social value is created in this context. Drawing on a sociological understanding of digital health activism, we make the following contributions: First, we identify three types of non‐economic, social value: cognitive, professional and epistemic. Second, we indicate that social value creation is enabled by three emergent forms of digital health activism (ie, philanthropic, moral and reciprocal activity). Third, we elicit three enabling mechanisms explaining how these forms of activism are technically and socially afforded through the platform's connective capacity and emerging collective practices in tandem with its members' growing commitment. Our article contributes to the growing IS literature on digital activism by offering a framework that elucidates how digital health activism relates to social value creation. The article provides practical implications as to how platforms can enable sustainable online (health) communities.
The effect of process tailoring on software project performance: The role of team absorptive capacity and its knowledge‐based enablers
Authors: Lee Jung‐Chieh , Chou I‐Chia , Chen Chung‐Yang
Published: July 2020

Software process tailoring (SPT) is a team‐based and learning‐intensive activity that addresses the particular dynamic characteristics of a development project. Because SPT critically influences how projects are conducted, its performance should be investigated. However, the extant literature lacks empirical evidence on how the underlying effects of SPT performance and its team‐supportive factors operate and influence software project performance. From the knowledge perspective, this study adopts dynamic capabilities theory and considers the learning ability and absorptive capacity of software project teams to develop a theoretical model to address this gap. The results of an empirical examination of the model with 135 software project teams advance our understanding of how team‐level learning antecedents—experience, communication quality and trust—dynamically facilitate teams' absorptive capacity (AC) when they conduct SPT, which in turn reinforces project performance. The mediating effects of the proposed model are unveiled and discussed, and theoretical implications as well as practical guidance for how AC and these factors promote SPT and project performance are suggested.
Rapid and dramatic glucose‐lowering effect of bromocriptine in an inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes patient with prolactinoma
Authors: Igata Motoyuki , Yagi Yoshitaka , Hanatani Satoko , Sakaguchi Masaji , Ishii Norio , Yoshinaga Kayo , Kawashima Junji , Motoshima Hiroyuki , Araki Eiichi
Published: July 2020

Dopamine receptor agonists are typically used to treat Parkinson’s disease and certain pituitary tumors, such as prolactinoma or a growth hormone‐producing tumor. A 53‐year‐old woman with a history of prolactinoma was referred to Kumamoto University Hospital (Kumamoto, Japan) with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Her glycated hemoglobin and serum prolactin levels were increased (8.8% and 160.3 ng/mL, respectively). Bromocriptine, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, was administered to reduce her serum prolactin level. Because bromocriptine‐QR (quick release) has been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the USA, a continuous glucose monitoring system, FreeStyle Libre Pro, was utilized to examine the effect of bromocriptine on glycemic control. After the initial administration of bromocriptine, glucose levels were rapidly and dramatically ameliorated, and the time in range (70–180 mg/dL) improved from <50% to >90% between 1 week before and after the initial administration of bromocriptine.
The use of collagen porcine dermal matrix and connective tissue graft with modified coronally advanced tunnel technique in the treatment of multiple adjacent type I gingival recessions: A randomized, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Rakasevic Dragana L. , Milinkovic Iva Z. , Jankovic Sasa M. , Soldatovic Ivan A. , Aleksic Zoran M. , Nikolic‐Jakoba Natasa S.
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess the clinical efficacy and esthetic outcome of porcine‐derived dermal collagen matrix in comparison with connective tissue graft in the treatment of multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGR), 6 and 12 months after the surgery.

Materials and methods

Twenty patients with bilateral type I MAGR were treated randomly with porcine‐derived dermal collagen matrix (test site) or connective tissue graft (control site) in combination with a modified coronally advanced tunnel technique. The primary objectives were to evaluate the mean and complete root coverage. The secondary objectives were to assess keratinized tissue width, gingival thickness gain, and root coverage esthetic score.

Results

Six and 12 months postoperatively, both groups achieved significant improvements in all clinical parameters compared to baseline, with no statistically significant differences between the groups. Mean root coverage change (Δ12m − 6 m) was statistically significant between the groups in favor of connective tissue graft, and twice as many patients exhibited a complete coverage of all recessions in the control group than the test group.

Conclusion

The porcine‐derived dermal collagen matrix combined with a modified coronally advanced tunnel technique resulted in satisfactory clinical and esthetic outcomes, which were similar to connective tissue graft.

Clinical significance

Porcine‐derived dermal collagen matrix (XDM) may be proposed as a substitute for connective tissue graft in multiple adjacent recession treatment due to successful root coverage, a significant increase of gingival thickness, and high esthetic outcomes. The clinical benefits for the use of XDM could be: (a) second surgical wound avoidance, (b) patient discomfort decrease, and (c) lower complications' rate.
Ten‐year follow‐up of a randomized controlled clinical trial in chronic hepatitis delta
Authors: Wranke Anika , Hardtke Svenja , Heidrich Benjamin , Dalekos George , Yalçin Kendal , Tabak Fehmi , Gürel Selim , Çakaloğlu Yilmaz , Akarca Ulus S , Lammert Frank , Häussinger Dieter , Müller Tobias , Wöbse Michael , Manns Michael P. , Idilman Ramazan , Cornberg Markus , Wedemeyer Heiner , Yurdaydin Cihan
Published: July 2020

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis. PEG‐interferon alpha‐2a (PEG‐IFNα‐2a) is the only effective treatment but its long‐term clinical impact is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the long‐term outcome after 48 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha‐2a therapy. We performed a retrospective follow‐up study of the Hep‐Net‐International‐Delta‐Hepatitis‐Intervention‐Study 1 (HIDIT‐I trial). Patients had received 48 weeks of treatment with either PEG‐IFNα‐2a plus adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) (Group I), PEG‐IFNα‐2a alone (Group II) or adefovir dipivoxil alone (Group III). Liver‐related complications were defined as liver‐related death, liver transplantation, liver cancer and hepatic decompensation defined as development of Child‐Pugh scores B or C or an increase in Model for End‐stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores of five or more points in relation to baseline values. Patients were considered for further analysis when they were retreated with PEG‐IFNα‐2a. Follow‐up data (at least 1 visit beyond post‐treatment week 24) were available for 60 patients [Group I, (n = 19), Group II (n = 20), Group III (n = 21)]. Mean time of follow‐up was 8.9 (1.6 ‐ 13.4) years. 19 patients were retreated with IFN‐based therapy: 42% (n = 8) in PEG‐IFNα‐2a arms and 58% (n = 11) in the adefovir only arm. Clinical complications on long‐term follow‐up occurred in 17 patients and were associated with nonresponse to therapy and baseline cirrhosis. The annual event‐free survival rate in patients with cirrhosis vs noncirrhotic patients at year 5 and 10 was 70% vs 91% and 35% vs 76%. Long‐term follow‐up of a large randomized clinical trial suggests that off‐treatment HDV RNA response to PEG‐IFNα‐2a treatment leads to improved clinical long‐term outcome.
Computed tomographic cervical myelography in horses: Technique and findings in 51 clinical cases
Authors: Gough Sarah L. , Anderson Jonathan D. C. , Dixon Jonathon J
Published: July 2020

Background

Three‐dimensional computed tomographic (CT) evaluation of the cervical vertebral column enables more accurate identification of osseous and soft tissue lesions than traditional latero‐lateral radiography. However, examination of the complete cervical vertebral column has been limited by horse size, preventing evaluation of the caudal cervical vertebrae.

Objectives

To describe a technique to enable CT myelography of the complete cervical spine and describe the findings in 51 horses.

Animals

Records of 51 horses presented for evaluation of cervical vertebral lesions.

Methods

A retrospective review of clinical records from all horses presented for CT myelography to further investigate possible cervical vertebral lesions was performed. A description of a novel approach to CT myelography in horses and retrospective review of the findings in clinical cases has been included.

Results

Degenerative joint disease was identified at 1 or more dorsal articular process joint in 50/51 horses, of which 44/51 had a site of grade 2 or greater. Spinal cord compression was observed on CT myelography in 31/51 horses, whereas attenuation of the dorsal contrast column was identified radiographically in 11/50 horses. Thirty‐three horses showed narrowing or obliteration of the intervertebral foramina at 1 or more site and osteochondral fragments were seen in 11/51 horses.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Computed tomography myelography is relatively safe and an easily performed technique with the correct equipment, enabling evaluation of the cervical vertebral structures of horses in all planes and volumetrically. It is possible that lesion extent might be underestimated with this diagnostic modality, hence interpretation should be complimented with flexed and extended views radiographically.
Shared geographic histories and dispersal contribute to congruent phylogenies between amphipods and their microsporidian parasites at regional and global scales
Authors: Park Eunji , Jorge Fátima , Poulin Robert
Published: July 2020

In parasites that strongly rely on a host for dispersal, geographic barriers that act on the host will simultaneously influence parasite distribution as well. If their association persists over macroevolutionary time it may result in congruent phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns due to shared geographic histories. Here, we investigated the level of congruent evolutionary history at a regional and global scale in a highly specialised parasite taxon infecting hosts with limited dispersal abilities: the microsporidians Dictyocoela spp. and their amphipod hosts. Dictyocoela can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally and is the most common microsporidian genus occurring in amphipods in Eurasia. However, little is known about its distribution elsewhere. We started by conducting molecular screening to detect microsporidian parasites in endemic amphipod species in New Zealand; based on phylogenetic analyses, we identified nine species‐level microsporidian taxa including six belonging to Dictyocoela. With a distance‐based cophylogenetic analysis at the regional scale, we identified overall congruent phylogenies between Paracalliope, the most common New Zealand freshwater amphipod taxon, and their Dictyocoela parasites. Also, hosts and parasites showed similar phylogeographic patterns suggesting shared biogeographic histories. Similarly, at a global scale, phylogenies of amphipod hosts and their Dictyocoela parasites showed broadly congruent phylogenies. The observed patterns may have resulted from covicariance and/or codispersal, suggesting that the intimate association between amphipods and Dictyocoela may have persisted over macroevolutionary time. We highlight that shared biogeographic histories could play a role in the codiversification of hosts and parasites at a macroevolutionary scale.
Plant genotypic diversity effects on soil nematodes vary with trophic level
Authors: Yan Jun , Zhang Youzheng , Crawford Kerri M. , Chen Xiaoyong , Yu Shuo , Wu Jihua
Published: July 2020

At local spatial scales, loss of genetic diversity within species can lead to species loss. Few studies, however, have examined plant genotypic diversity effects across trophic levels.

We investigated genotypic diversity effects of Phragmites australis on belowground biomass and soil nematode communities.

Our results revealed that belowground plant biomass and nematode abundance responses to plant genotypic diversity were uncoupled. Decreasing plant genotypic diversity decreased the abundance of lower, but not higher trophic level nematodes. Low plant genotypic diversity also decreased the structural footprint and functional indices of nematodes, indicating lowered metabolic functioning of higher trophic level nematodes and decreased soil food web stability.

Our study suggests that plant genotypic diversity effects differ across trophic levels, taxonomic groups and ecosystem functions and that decreasing plant genotypic diversity could destabilise belowground food webs. This highlights the importance of conserving intraspecific plant diversity.
Corneal tissue properties following scleral lens wear using Scheimpflug imaging
Authors: Consejo Alejandra , Alonso‐Caneiro David , Wojtkowski Maciej , Vincent Stephen J
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To investigate the effect of short‐term scleral lens wear on the corneal stroma at a macroscopic (thickness) and microscopic (within tissue) level, including regional variations.

Methods

Fourteen young, healthy participants wore a rotationally symmetric, 16.5 mm diameter, scleral lens for 8 h. Scheimpflug images were captured before, and immediately after, lens wear, and also on a second day (without lens wear) to quantify natural corneal diurnal variations. After corneal segmentation, pixel intensities of the stromal tissue were statistically modelled using a Weibull probability density function from which parameters α and β were derived.

Results

Both α and β parameters increased significantly following scleral lens wear (by 5.7 ± 10% and 6.5 ± 6.5%, respectively, both p < 0.01). Corneal thickness also increased slightly following lens wear (mean increase 0.49 ± 1.77%, p = 0.01); however, the change in α and β parameters did not correlate with the magnitude of corneal swelling. On the control day, small but significant corneal thinning was observed (−0.82 ± 1.1%, p = 0.03), while α and β parameters remained stable. Both microparameters varied significantly across the cornea, with α decreasing (−15.4 ± 0.7%) and β increasing towards the periphery (+4.4 ± 2.6%) (both p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Corneal microparameters α and β varied regionally across the cornea and displayed a statistically significant increase following short‐term scleral lens wear, but remained stable between morning and evening measurements taken during a control day without lens wear. These corneal microparameters may be a useful metric to quantify subclinical corneal changes associated with low level hypoxia.
A narrative review of the survival of dental implants placed simultaneously with lateral sinus floor elevations without the use of graft materials
Authors: Kenyon P. , West N. , Claydon N.
Published: July 2020

This review aims to critically appraise the available evidence for the survival of implants placed simultaneously with sinus floor elevation without the use of grafting materials. The atrophic maxillary sinus may be restored with implants using a variety methods and adjunctive grafting techniques. The placement of implants in the atrophic maxillary sinus with and without bone grafting was reviewed in a systematic manner by considering the evidence presented in clinical studies. The initial search yielded 983 titles. Following title‐based, abstract‐based and full‐text evaluation 12 studies were identified, reporting on 1353 implants. Analysis identified a 98.38% survival rate at the point of uncovering. A further 0.3% of remaining implants were lost after 12 months and another 0.01% after 24 months. Beyond this point there were no further reported implant failures. Data were comparable for both grafted and ungrafted sinuses, with implants in ungrafted sinuses appearing to have a marginally higher success rate (98.11% vs. 97.87%).This review of implant data studies confirms that placing dental implants into maxillary sinuses with a graftless approach yields comparable implant survival to those cases that are grafted. This suggests that there is scope to simplify treatment protocols, decrease the risk of infection while maintaining treatment success and increase patient acceptance of sinus lift procedures.
Macroevolutionary and macroecological approaches to understanding the evolution of stress tolerance in plants
Authors: Bromham Lindell , Hua Xia , Cardillo Marcel
Published: July 2020

Environmental stress response in plants has been studied using a wide range of approaches, from lab‐based investigation of biochemistry and genetics, to glasshouse studies of physiology and growth rates, to field‐based trials and ecological surveys. It is also possible to investigate the evolution of environmental stress responses using macroevolutionary and macroecological analyses, analysing data from many different species, providing a new perspective on the way that environmental stress shapes the evolution and distribution of biodiversity. “Macroevoeco” approaches can produce intriguing results and new ways of looking at old problems. In this review, we focus on studies using phylogenetic analysis to illuminate macroevolutionary patterns in the evolution of environmental stress tolerance in plants. We follow a particular thread from our own research—evolution of salt tolerance—as a case study that illustrates a macroevolutionary way of thinking that opens up a range of broader questions on the evolution of environmental stress tolerances. We consider some potential future applications of macroevolutionary and macroecological analyses to understanding how diverse groups of plants evolve in response to environmental stress, which may allow better prediction of current stress tolerance and a way of predicting the capacity of species to adapt to changing environmental stresses over time.
Integrative systematics approaches revealed that the rare red alga Schimmelmannia (Shimmelmanniaceae, Acrosymphytales) from Japan is a new species: The description of S. benzaiteniana sp. nov.
Authors: Hoshino Masakazu , Ino Chihiro , Kitayama Taiju , Kogame Kazuhiro
Published: July 2020

The rare red alga Schimmelmannia (Schimmelmanniaceae, Acrosymphytales) from Japan was taxonomically re‐examined in this study. Japanese Schimmelmannia has previously been identified as S. plumosa (Setchell) I.A.Abbott. However, Japanese Schimmelmannia and S. plumosa have approximately 5 and 1.9% of genetic distance in mitochondrial cox1 and chloroplast rbcL sequences, respectively. They also differ morphologically in the numbers of periaxial cells and auxiliary cell branches indicating that they are distinct species. Based on molecular phylogenetics and morphology, S. benzaiteniana is distinguishable from other Schimmelmannia species, except for S. bollei Montagne which lacks a detailed description. Since S. bollei has been reported only from the North Atlantic coast of Africa, we assumed that it is distinct from the Japanese species. We, therefore, described the Japanese species as a new species, S. benzaiteniana.
Does Teacher Subject Knowledge Contribute to Student Academic Performance in Developing and Least Developed Countries?
Authors: Marcenaro‐Gutierrez Oscar David , Lopez‐Agudo Luis Alejandro
Published: July 2020

Little is known about the causal impact of teacher knowledge on student performance. In this research paper we intend to approach the potential causal effect (i.e. going beyond correlation) of sixth grade teachers’ knowledge on their students’ academic achievement for three Sub‐Saharan African countries. To achieve this, we have used the heterogeneity of teachers’ subject knowledge and students’ correspondent academic achievement within‐student between‐subjects using student fixed effects. Concretely, our work is based on previous research by Bietenbeck, Piopiunik and Wiederhold. Compared to them, we do not use countries that lack representative information after keeping only those students taught by the same teacher for the subjects under analysis. This enables us to obtain more reliable results on this issue. Our results indicate that teacher subject knowledge in reading and mathematics does not have a significant influence on student academic achievement in these subjects for the countries under scrutiny. Many robustness checks have corroborated this conclusion, which contrasts with the positive effect found by Bietenbeck, Piopiunik and Wiederhold.
Status, socialization, and identities: Central factors to understand disparities in crime
Authors: Isom Scott Deena A.
Published: July 2020

Although issues related to disparities and inequalities have long been assessed in criminological research, the orthodox approaches to understanding these differences have historically been largely rooted in cultural deficit or individual pathology perspectives. Progressive scholars have long condemned these failings of orthodox criminology, calling for group‐based theories of crime, with some scholars attempting to heed the call. Although such specific articulations are worthwhile endeavors, they still often overlook the intersectional, multileveled, and historically rooted lived experiences of diverse people. To best understand disparate pathways to and from criminal behavior and entanglements with the criminal justice system, variations in historically rooted social statuses, unique socialization experiences, and how these influence various intersecting emergent identities must be acknowledged and better accounted for in empirical work. Building on Potter's call for a disruption of criminology and taking an interdisciplinary approach, I posit an integrative structured identities model as a potential framework for understanding within and between group disparities in crime. How this model may be achieved empirically as well as the potential theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Triple pelvic osteotomy with a 12.5° and a 20° Slocum‐type plate: A short‐term prospective clinical pilot study in 38 dogs
Authors: Janssens Luc A. A. , Daems Robert , Pillin Lorenzo , Vandekerckhove Peter , Van Dongen Stefan
Published: July 2020

Objective

To determine whether using 12.5° Slocum‐like triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) plates would create sufficient femoral head coverage and lower the occurrence of overrotation compared with using 20° TPO plates in dogs with hip dysplasia.

Study design

Prospective clinical study.

Sample population

Thirty‐five dogs with hip dysplasia (38 hips).

Methods

Nineteen hips were surgically treated with a custom‐made Slocum‐type 12.5° TPO plate, and these were matched to 19 hips surgically treated with a 20° commercial Slocum TPO plate. Hips were case matched according to size and breed. Ortolani sign, angles of subluxation and reduction, distraction index, and femoral head coverage (FHC) were compared between groups. Excessive coverage was defined as >80%.

Results

In the 12.5° group, FHC was ≥50% in all hips, with mean FHC (67%), gain (37%), and excessive coverage (11%) all significantly less than in the 20° group (79%, 54%, and 42%, respectively).

Conclusion

The 12.5° plate produced sufficient FHC compared with the 20° plate, with fewer hips with excessive coverage.

Clinical significance

The 12.5° TPO plate may result in sufficient FHC with a lower occurrence of excessive coverage compared with 20° plates.
Impact of microwave ablation treatment on the biomechanical properties of the distal radius in the dog: A cadaveric study
Authors: Kalamaras Alexandra B. , Wavreille Vincent , Jones Stephen C. , Litsky Alan S. , Selmic Laura
Published: July 2020

Objective

To determine whether microwave ablation (MWA) modifies the biomechanical properties of the normal distal radius in the dog to better estimate the clinical impact of MWA as a tool for the treatment of neoplastic bone lesions.

Study design

Biomechanical experimental study.

Sample population

Sixteen pairs of dog forelimbs from 16 canine cadavers.

Methods

From each pair of forelimbs, one radius was randomly assigned to an MWA group, and the other radius was randomly assigned to a control group. Bone tunnels were created in each distal radial epiphysis for a length of 6 cm toward the middiaphysis. In the MWA group, the ablation probe was inserted into the bone tunnel for a series of three ablation treatments. Specimens were then tested in three‐point bending to acute failure with the middle point located 3 cm from the distal articular surface (middle of the ablated zone). Load and displacement were continuously recorded to determine maximum displacement and peak load before failure. Data were analyzed with noninferiority tests.

Results

The mean peak loads for the control group and MWA group were 1641.9 N and 1590.9 N, respectively. Microwave ablation‐treated radii were not biomechanically inferior to control radii (P < .0001).

Conclusion

Microwave ablation of normal cadaveric dog distal radii did not affect the maximum displacement and peak load before failure.

Clinical significance

Microwave ablation does not affect biomechanical bending properties of the distal radius in the dog. Future studies, both cadaveric and in vivo, are required to evaluate the impact of MWA on neoplastic bone.
The Role of Anthropometric Parameters on Single-Leg Balance Performance in Young Sub-Elite Soccer Players
Authors: Krombholz Dirk , Daniel Luca , Leinen Peter , Muehlbauer Thomas , Panzer Stefan
Published: July 2020

The main purpose of this study was to determine the covariation of anthropometric parameters and the center of pressure (CoP) of young soccer players. Sub-elite young male players between 16 and 17 years (N = 42) were instructed to perform single-leg balance tasks under different conditions: static and dynamic balance on firm and foam ground. Single-leg balance was measured with a Kistler force plate. The measures of postural control were the CoP displacement in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions. Further, the following anthropometric variables were assessed: body height, body weight, foot length, and foot width. Results indicated only two small-sized correlations between body height/weight and the CoP measures. The covariation between body height, body weight, and the CoP measures for the single-leg stance in young male sub-elite soccer players was less than 10%.
Case Commentary: Daptomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus argenteus—from Northern Australia to San Francisco
Authors: Bayer Arnold S. , Tong Steven Y. C.
Published: July 2020

Staphylococcus argenteus
infection was initially described in Aboriginal patients in the Northern Territories of Australia as a predominant cause of skin infections and is rare outside Southeast Asia. A first well-characterized case of
S. argenteus
infection has now been described in the United States, involving a recurrent hemodialysis catheter infection, in which unstable daptomycin resistance evolved during daptomycin therapy. The unique colonial pigmentation of
S. argenteus
isolates in strains otherwise identified as
Staphylococcus aureus
is noteworthy.
What do women know before getting pregnant? Knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among pregnant women in Mana district, Southwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Teshome Firanbon , Kebede Yohannes , Abamecha Fira , Birhanu Zewdie
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among pregnant women in Mana district, Jimma zone, Oromia Region, Southwest Ethiopia, in 2019.

Design

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 2 March to 10 April 2019.

Setting

The study was conducted in Mana district. Eight rural Gandas and one urban Ganda were included in the study.

Participants

Out of 715 pregnant women in the selected rural Gandas, 553 participated in the study, whereas 70 out of 88 were recruited from the urban Ganda. A total of 623 pregnant women participated in the study.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Women’s knowledge of preconception care was determined. Descriptive statistics were calculated as necessary. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to identify the association of women’s knowledge of preconception care with explanatory variables.

Results

Among 623 respondents, 133 (21.3%) of pregnant women had good knowledge of preconception care. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that women who attended secondary and above education (β=3.6; p<0.001) and those for whom their husbands attended secondary and above education (β=2.3; p=0.001), planned pregnancy status (β=1.2; p=0.005), being on follow-up for pre-existing medical illnesses (β=1.5; p=0.014) and having four or more antenatal care visits (β=0.4; p=0.016) were significantly associated with women’s knowledge of preconception care.

Conclusion

The findings imply that providing health education and health promotion for women is important to improve their level of knowledge of preconception care.
Characteristics of activity-based therapy interventions for people living with spinal cord injury or disease across the continuum of care: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kaiser Anita , Chan Katherine , Pakosh Maureen , Musselman Kristin E
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Individuals living with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) experience sensory and motor impairments below their neurological level of injury. Activity-based therapies (ABT) are interventions that provide activation of the neuromuscular system below the level of lesion with the goal of retraining the nervous system to recover a specific motor task. ABT can lead to increased function and improved quality of life; however, research and clinical settings currently lack tools to track participation in ABT. As a first step towards developing such a tool, a scoping review will be conducted with the objective of identifying the characteristics of ABT that individuals with SCI/D participate in across the continuum of care.

Methods and analysis

The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review framework. Studies that involve at least two sessions of ABT for individuals with SCI/D aged ≥16 years will be included. Seven databases were searched from their inception to 4 March 2020: Medline, Embase, Emcare, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, APA PsycINFO, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search will be rerun in November 2020 prior to manuscript submission. Screening of titles and abstracts will be followed by a review of full texts to identify articles meeting inclusion criteria. Stakeholders will be consulted for the creation of the data extraction table. The Downs and Black Checklist or the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool will be used to assess article quality. Results will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review. Study findings will be shared with key stakeholder groups through academic, clinical and public venues.
Naloxegol rescue with methylnaltrexone highly effective
Authors: Brocklebank Jenny , Miller Elizabeth Jane , Fingas Samuel
Published: July 2020

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is common and can significantly affect quality of life. Naloxegol and methylnaltrexone are peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) which are effective for the management of OIC. We report on a case in the palliative care setting where a patient with established OIC had an inadequate response to naloxegol but an effective and immediate response to methylnaltrexone at the dose recommended for her weight. This is the first reported case of two PAMORAs used concomitantly.
Requested withdrawal of gastrostomy feeding in motor neurone disease
Authors: Wakefield Donna , Hanson Sarah Rhiannon
Published: July 2020

NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) guidance recommends that healthcare professionals with expertise in palliative care should be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team in managing patients with motor neuron disease (MND). Those in the poorest prognostic group may benefit from early referral to help manage rapidly progressive symptoms, psychological distress and offer additional support with complex decision-making and early robust advance care planning. Patients frequently develop dysphagia and gastrostomy feeding can be used to prolong survival and improve quality of life. As the disease progresses patients may request withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment such as gastrostomy feeding; however, a literature search found no evidence or guidance on how best to facilitate this. We present the case of a patient with MND admitted to the hospice inpatient unit requesting withdrawal of gastrostomy feeding, outline the challenges and need for further consensus guidelines to inform practice.
Poor smoke-free status of airports in a country with a smoke-free goal: New Zealand
Authors: Wilson Nick , Jones Amanda C , Thomson George W
Published: July 2020

Background

To survey the smoke-free status of airports in New Zealand (NZ), a country with a smoke-free goal for 2025, and where public indoor areas are required to be smoke-free.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of airports with data collection on smoke-free signage, observed smoking behaviour, cigarette butt litter and designated smoking areas.

Results

A total of 23 airports were surveyed, including all those for the 10 most populous urban areas in NZ (82% of all airports with scheduled flights on the main islands). There were no smoke-free signs found at entrances/exits to the terminal building in 26% of airports, with a mean of 1.7 such signs per entrance/exit. Only one airport had any signage stating that all the grounds were smoke-free. Qualitatively, the signage was often small in size (<15 cm diameter). There was also ambiguity as to what the signage related to (indoors or outdoors). Observed smoking and vaping outside of the main entrances/exits was relatively uncommon, but the great majority of these sites (91%) had discarded cigarette butts present. Most airports (70%) had some form of designated or implied outdoor smoking area, with 38% of these areas being within 10 m distance of a terminal entrance/exit.

Conclusions

Despite this country having a smoke-free goal, it has largely deficient smoke-free policies at its airports. There is a case to make airport grounds entirely smoke-free as part of an upgrade of the national smoke-free law.
Pigs weighing less than 20 kg are unable to adjust feed intake in response to dietary net energy density regardless of diet composition
Authors: Kim Jong Woong , Koo Bonjin , Nyachoti Charles Martin
Published: July 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of increasing dietary net energy (NE) density manipulated by either dietary fat or fibre content on growth performance and energy intake in weaned pigs. A total of 60 barrows (8.40 ± 0.91 kg) were randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments based on initial body weight. The experimental diets contained increasing NE densities (i.e., 9.9, 10.3, and 10.7 MJ NE kg−1) by manipulating either dietary fat or fibre content. Feeding the different dietary treatments did not affect growth performance among dietary treatments. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, fat, and neutral detergent fibre of the diets linearly increased (P < 0.05) for weeks 1–3 as dietary NE densities increased. Digestible energy (DE) and NE intake linearly increased (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary NE densities manipulated by dietary fibre content for weeks 2 and 3. A tendency (P = 0.06) for a linear increase in DE and NE intake was observed for weeks 2 and 3 when dietary NE densities were manipulated by fat content. In conclusion, weaned pigs were not able to adjust feed intake in response to dietary NE densities ranging from 9.9 to 10.7 MJ kg−1.
Cultural practices to improve malt barley quality in the northeast with focus on the craft sector
Authors: Mills A.A.S. , Izydorczyk M. , Choo T.M. (Alek) , Durand J. , Mountain N. , Sorrells M. , Fillmore S.A.E.
Published: July 2020

Demand is increasing for locally grown malt barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in northeastern North America, driven primarily by growth in the craft beer sector. A multi-site experiment was conducted to evaluate how variety (V), seeding rate (S), and nitrogen (N) fertilizer affect malt quality in the northeast. Two barley varieties (Cerveza and Newdale), two seeding rates (200 and 400 seeds m−2), and five rates of actual applied N fertility (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg ha−1) were tested at Charlottetown, PE, Canada, Ithaca, NY, US, Princeville, QC, Canada, and New Liskeard and Ottawa, ON, Canada. Basic agronomic data were collected from all environments including yield, thousand kernel weight, and hectoliter weight. Barley of suitable quality was micromalted and subjected to malt quality analysis. Both V and S resulted in small effects on malt quality, however, N had the greatest effect on most measured variables. Increased rates of N application resulted in increased yield, hectoliter weight, and thousand kernel weight but had a negative effect on most quality traits, especially with increased protein content, reduced fine extract, Kolbach index, and friability, though it increased wort β-glucans. This study shows that for most years at most sites, it is possible to achieve malt quality in the northeast; however, excessive protein and the prevalence of preharvest sprout damage are the main barriers. The results of this study have implications for increased malt barley production for the craft sector as well as potential access to commodity markets for northeastern producers.
Confinement versus interface bound states in spin-orbit coupled nanowires
Authors: Rossi Lorenzo , Dolcini Fabrizio , Rossi Fausto
Published: July 2020

Semiconductor nanowires with strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling are currently on the spotlight of several research fields such as spintronics, topological materials and quantum computation. While most theoretical models assume an infinitely long nanowire, in actual experimental setups the nanowire has a finite length, is contacted to metallic electrodes and is partly covered by gates. By taking these effects into account through an inhomogeneous spin-orbit coupling profile, we show that in general two types of bound states arise in the nanowire, namely confinement bound states and interface bound states. The appearance of confinement bound states, related to the finite length of the nanowire, is favoured by a mismatch of the bulk band bottoms characterizing the lead and the nanowire, and occurs even in the absence of magnetic field. In contrast, an interface bound states may only appear if a magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the spin-orbit field direction overcomes a critical value, and is favoured by an alignment of the band bottoms of the two regions across the interface. We describe in details the emergence of these two types of bound states, pointing out their differences. Furthermore, we show that when a nanowire portion is covered by a gate the application of a magnetic field can change the nature of the electronic ground state from a confinement to an interface bound state, determining a redistribution of the electron charge.
Analytic deformations of pencils and integrable one-forms having a first integral
Authors: Scárdua Bruno
Published: July 2020

We consider integrable analytic deformations of codimension one holomorphic foliations near an initially singular point. Such deformations are of two possible types. The first type is given by an analytic family [Formula: see text] of integrable one-forms [Formula: see text] defined in a neighborhood [Formula: see text] of the initial singular point, and parametrized by the disc [Formula: see text]. The initial foliation is defined by [Formula: see text]. The second type, more restrictive, is given by an integrable holomorphic one-form [Formula: see text] defined in the product [Formula: see text]. Then, the initial foliation is defined by the slice restriction [Formula: see text]. In the first part of this work, we study the case where the starting foliation has a holomorphic first integral, i.e. it is given by [Formula: see text] for some germ of holomorphic function [Formula: see text] at the origin [Formula: see text]. We assume that the germ [Formula: see text] is irreducible and that the typical fiber of [Formula: see text] is simply-connected. This is the case if outside of a dimension [Formula: see text] analytic subset [Formula: see text], the analytic hypersurface [Formula: see text] has only normal crossings singularities. We then prove that, if cod sing [Formula: see text] then the (germ of the) developing foliation given by [Formula: see text] also exhibits a holomorphic first integral. For the general case, i.e. cod sing [Formula: see text], we obtain a dimension two normal form for the developing foliation. In the second part of the paper, we consider analytic deformations [Formula: see text], of a local pencil [Formula: see text], for [Formula: see text]. For dimension [Formula: see text] we consider [Formula: see text]. For dimension [Formula: see text] we assume some generic geometric conditions on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In both cases, we prove: (i) in the case of an analytic deformation there is a multiform formal first integral of type [Formula: see text] with some properties; (ii) in the case of an integrable deformation there is a meromorphic first integration of the form [Formula: see text] with some additional properties, provided that for [Formula: see text] the axes remain invariant for the foliations [Formula: see text].
Nonlinear analysis of the individual difference corresponding to honk effect for car-following theory under V2X environment
Authors: Peng Guanghan , Qing Li
Published: July 2020

Originally, we would like to use traffic modeling for car-following model to recover the individual difference of driving behavior corresponding to honk effect under V2X environment. Traffic stability is related to the individual difference resulting from the honk effect, which states that the individual difference of honk effect plays a different significant impact on the traffic stability. Furthermore, the slowly varying behaviors are closely consistent with the individual difference corresponding to the honk effect for long waves. Numerical simulation indicates that the individual difference of driving behavior plays a different role on traffic flow dynamics under honk environment in car-following model.
Link prediction based on contribution of neighbors
Authors: Liu Xiang-Chun , Meng Dian-Qing , Zhu Xu-Zhen , Tian Yang
Published: July 2020

Link prediction based on node similarity has become one of the most effective prediction methods for complex network. When calculating the similarity between two unconnected endpoints in link prediction, most scholars evaluate the influence of endpoint based on the node degree. However, this method ignores the difference in contribution of neighbor (NC) nodes for endpoint. Through abundant investigations and analyses, the paper quantifies the NC nodes to endpoint, and conceives NC Index to evaluate the endpoint influence accurately. Extensive experiments on 12 real datasets indicate that our proposed algorithm can increase the accuracy of link prediction significantly and show an obvious advantage over traditional algorithms.
Condensation phenomena in gravity
Authors: Papini Giorgio
Published: July 2020

Gravity can play a role in critical phenomena. Topological singularities induce ground state degeneracy and break the continuum symmetry of the vacuum. They also generate momenta oscillations about an average momentum and a positive gravitational susceptibility. Gravitational analogues of the laws of Curie and Bloch have been found for a one-dimensional model. The critical temperature for a change in phase from bound to unbound vortices has also been calculated in a XY-model.
The descending central series of higher commutators for simple algebras
Authors: Weinell Steven
Published: July 2020

This paper characterizes the potential behaviors of higher commutators in a simple algebra.
Hilbert series associated to symplectic quotients by SU2
Authors: Herbig Hans-Christian , Herden Daniel , Seaton Christopher
Published: July 2020

We compute the Hilbert series of the graded algebra of real regular functions on the symplectic quotient associated to an [Formula: see text]-module and give an explicit expression for the first nonzero coefficient of the Laurent expansion of the Hilbert series at [Formula: see text]. Our expression for the Hilbert series indicates an algorithm to compute it, and we give the output of this algorithm for all representations of dimension at most [Formula: see text]. Along the way, we compute the Hilbert series of the module of covariants of an arbitrary [Formula: see text]- or [Formula: see text]-module as well as its first three Laurent coefficients.