bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) Markers Revealed Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Among 9 Wild Species ofClematisL.
Authors: Li Yonghui , Li Shipeng , Li Jingjing , Yu Xiangli , Zhang Fawei , Zhou Xiaojun
Published: November 2021

To analyze the genetic diversity of 9 species ofClematisfrom 31 different populations, we extracted DNA by the improved CTAB method, used ISSR-PCR for amplification, and then selected 9 primers with clear amplified bands from amongst 220 primers. A total of 127 clear bands were amplified, of which 126 were polymorphic bands, yielding a ratio of 99.2%. The polymorphism information index (PIC) of the primers ranged from 0.9326 to 0.9649. The Nei’s genetic diversity index (H) was 0.2750, the total gene diversity (Ht) was 0.2845, and the genetic differentiation coefficient (Gst) was 0.6696, indicating high genetic differentiation among populations ofClematis. After cluster analysis, the 31Clematispopulations were divided into 3 categories. Principal coordination analysis (PCoA) of 9Clematisspecies then showed that the genetic relationship between samples of the sameClematisgermplasms was closer than that of samples from the same region. The mantel test revealed a significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance among the populations. The population clustering results are broadly consistent with the clustering graphs of UPGMA and PCoA. We can conclude the polymorphism of the 9 primers is good, and that the genetic diversity of 31Clematispopulations is rich. IndividualClematisgermplasms are closely related and will gather together preferentially.
Transciptome Analysis Molecular Mechanism of Starch Synthesis During Tuber Development in Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposita)
Authors: Zhang Yanfang , Guo Shuchun , Shao Ying , Zhao Lingmin , Xing Linan , Ge Mingran , Huo Xiuwen
Published: November 2021

Yam (Dioscorea opposita) is a kind of vegetables with important nutritional, medicinal and economic value. To reveal the relationship between starch synthesis and gene expression in yam tubers at gene transcription level, transcriptome profiling was conducted by RNA-Seq in Bikeqi
yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) tubers at five key developmental stages (105, 120, 135, 150, and 165 days after sowing, DAS). Based on transcriptome sequencing data, a total of 45,867 unigenes were obtained. The results showed that 135 days after sowing are the key period of starch
accumulation. During yam tuber development, 1,941 candidate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were successfully classified into three GO categories, respectively, and there were 292, 267 and 478 unigenes in cellular component, molecular function and biological process. There were 767,
90 and 73 DEGs enriched in metabolic, plant hormone signal transduction and Plant-pathogen interaction pathway by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), individually. Especially 72 DEGs were enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism pathway. In this pathway, the metabolic process
was mainly positive regulated by genes encoding sucrose synthase, glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase, alpha-trehalase, and so on. There was negative regulated by genes encoding beta-glucosidase. 10 DEGs involved in starch synthesis were selected to prove the accuracy of the RNA-Seq data
by qPCR, 85% (34/40) of the results were consistent. The results lay a theoretical foundation be used for further understanding the starch synthesis mechanism of yam tubers development and accelerating breeding progress.
Eggshells Calcium Extraction and the Application in Food Fortifications
Authors: Jony Entaduzzaman , Hossain Mobarak , Rahman Sharifur , Iqbal Abdullah , Sami Rokayya , Khojah Ebtihal , Hashem Mohamed , Alamri Saad , Vivek Kambhampati
Published: November 2021

Eggshells are the hard, outer covering of eggs. It is known that eggshells are discarded as waste materials, although they contain a significant amount of calcium. The study was aimed to extract and quantify calcium from the eggshells and fortification on the biscuit and yogurt products.
The extraction of calcium was done using calcium chloride with HCL solution at different propositions (1:1, 1:5, 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20). After extraction, the sample was dried at 50 °C temperature for 3 hours to obtain dry calcium chloride. Calcium was fortified at a concentration of 100
ppm, 1000 ppm, and 2000 ppm in both the biscuits and yogurt, respectively. The calcium-fortified samples were analyzed for sensory properties and chemical composition. The ash content of calcium-fortified yogurt (0.47) was slightly higher than normal yogurt (0.44), while the other chemical
components remains similar to the control. For the sensory evaluation result, the biscuit with 2000 ppm calcium-fortified biscuit and 1000 ppm calcium-fortified yogurt was found to be highly acceptable among the calcium-fortified samples. The extraction of calcium chloride from eggshells was
obtained the highest for eggshells on HCl ratio 1:20 (w/v) where calcium chloride was found 32.92%, 26.95%, and 23.63% for duck, layer chicken, and local chicken eggshells, respectively. The extraction rate of calcium chloride of duck eggshells was higher than the local and layer chicken’s
eggshells. Therefore, it may be opined that the fortified products (2000 ppm Ca) contained a considerably higher amount of calcium content than the control sample.
A Numerical Approach to the Modeling of Thomson and Troian Slip on Nonlinear Radiative Microrotation of Casson Carreau Nanomaterials in Magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Shaw S. , Patra A. , Misra A. , Nayak M. K. , Chamkha Ali J.
Published: November 2021

The goal of the current work is to explore the influence of Thompson and Troian slip on the hydromagnetic microrotations of Carreau nanomaterials over a linearly stretched surface subject to NLTR, viscous dissipation, Newtonian heating, homogenous and heterogeneous reactions. Effect
of non linear slip (Thompson and Troian slip) on non Newtonian nanofluid (Carreau nanofluid) subject to microrotation is the novelty of the investigation. Shooting technique is the instrumental to get appropriate numerical solution. The significant outcomes of the current study are that Casson
parameter and Weissenberg number exhibit opposite results for velocity and heat transfer rate due to flow of micropolar Carreau nanofluid. Further, more and more Thompson and Troian slip yields diminution of flow velocity as well as microrotations. Amplifying Casson parameter intensifies the
HTR from the stretched surface.
Ion Slip and Hall Effects on Generalized Time-Dependent Hydromagnetic Couette Flow of Immiscible Micropolar and Dusty Micropolar Fluids with Heat Transfer and Dissipation: A Numerical Study
Authors: Chandrawat Rajesh Kumar , Joshi Varun , Anwar Bég O.
Published: November 2021

The hydrodynamics of immiscible micropolar fluids are important in a variety of engineering problems, including biofluid dynamics of arterial blood flows, pharmacodynamics, Principle of Boundary layers, lubrication technology, short waves for heat-conducting fluids, sediment transportation, magnetohydrodynamics, multicomponent hydrodynamics, and electrohydrodynamic. Motivated by the development of biological fluid modeling and medical diagnosis instrumentation, this article examines the collective impacts of ion slip, viscous dissipation, Joule heating, and Hall current on unsteady generalized magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Couette flow of two immiscible fluids. Two non-Newtonian incompressible magnetohydrodynamic micropolar and micropolar dusty (fluid-particle suspension) fluids are considered in a horizontal duct with heat transfer. No-slip boundary conditions are assumed at the channel walls and constant pressure gradient. Continuous shear stress and fluid velocity are considered across the interface between the two immiscible fluids. The coupled partial differential equations are formulated for fluids and particle phases and the velocities, temperatures, and microrotation profiles are obtained. Under the physically realistic boundary and interfacial conditions, the Modified cubic-Bspline differential quadrature approach (MCB-DQM) is deployed to obtain numerical results. The influence of the magnetic, thermal, and other pertinent parameters, i.e. Hartmann magnetic number, Eckert (dissipation) number, Reynolds number, Prandtl number, micropolar material parameters, Hall and ion-slip parameters, particle concentration parameter, viscosity ratio, density ratio, and time on velocity, microrotation, and temperature characteristics are illustrated through graphs. The MCB-DQM is found to be in good agreement with accuracy and the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are also explored. It is found that fluids and particle velocities are reduced with increasing Hartmann numbers whereas they are elevated with increment in ion-slip and Hall parameters. Temperatures are generally enhanced with increasing Eckert number and viscosity ratio. The simulations are relevant to nuclear heat transfer control, MHD energy generators, and electromagnetic multiphase systems in chemical engineering.
Are carboxyhaemoglobin levels and distance of the corpse from the site of explosion linked? Results from the retrospective analysis of a terroristic attack
Authors: Cappelletti Simone , Piacentino Daria , Ronchi Federica Umani , Ciallella Costantino
Published: November 2021

We present a retrospective analysis of a terrorist attack with incendiary grenades. We tried to analyse the correlation between carboxyhaemoglobin levels and distance of the corpse from the explosion site to check whether there is a direct relationship between them. In most fatal cases caused by grenade explosions reported in literature, death results from disruptive injuries or following multiorgan complications of the trauma, but here the terrorists used incendiary grenades causing serious burns to the victims with flames at the site of explosion. As a result, the external injuries were not fatal for most victims, especially those further from the explosion site where the flames and carbon monoxide from the fire played a significant role in causing death. The convergence of circumstantial data, autopsy results, and toxicological data led us to conclude that a direct link between the carboxyhaemoglobin level and distance from the site of explosion could not be made. Understanding the limitation of the value of linking such data is important both for police and forensic pathologists as this can reduce potential errors in reconstructing the dynamics of the event.
Understanding Context and Contradiction in the Concept of Violence: Frantz Fanon, Stokely Carmichael and the Long 1960s
Authors: Blanchard Alexander
Published: November 2021

This article introduces the idea of contextual shift for refining understanding of use and meaning of the concept of violence. Much theoretical work on violence today begins from the recognition that ‘violence’ is inextricably entangled with, and used to contest, the values that form the subject-matter of politics. Making sure that the concept of violence remains responsive to its real-world instances therefore requires tracing the way it is strategically appropriated and used by political actors. This article argues that a focus on contextual shift provides greater analytical purchase on these uses by showing how structural transformations open up new opportunities for using the concept of violence as actors seek to navigate contradictory commitments. The explanatory value of contextual shift is presented through an account of strategic appropriations of ‘violence’ by revolutionary actors during the Long 1960s, with particular attention paid to the uses made by Frantz Fanon and Stokely Carmichael.
A method to construct key success factors in the cell therapy industry
Authors: Chiu Chuan-Feng , Chen Wen-Chin , Ho Li-Hsing , Tsai Chu-Lin , Lai Shin-Shin
Published: November 2021

In the field of regenerative medicine, cell therapy is often used to regenerate organs or tissue that can be widely applied to several diseases. In recent years, the Taiwanese government has listed the biotechnology industry as a key developmental objective and has enacted laws to regulate cell therapy. This has led to substantial change and has necessitated a reliable direction of management in the cell therapy industry. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new method to explore the key success factors in three dimensions of relevant biotechnology company management. It adopts a qualitative method combined with a quantitative analysis method. The study uses Gwo Xi Stem Cell Company, a qualified cell therapy company in Taiwan, as a case study. It adopts a literature analysis method and conducts interviews with cell therapy experts to develop an innovative assessment framework. The analytic hierarchy process is combined with decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory to establish the key success factors in the management of the cell therapy industry. Thus, the study offers strategic recommendations for the development of domestic stem-cell-related industries. The results demonstrate technical characteristics as the most important direction for successful management. Moreover, due to the substantial change in Taiwan's cell therapy industry, technical characteristic-related key success factors, including product development strategy (technical characteristic 1) and technological mastery (technical characteristic 2), are currently considered to be crucial key success factors in decision making.
User Experience and Technical Communication: Beyond Intertwining
Authors: Rose Emma J. , Schreiber Joanna
Published: November 2021

In this special issue, we reflect on the past and current connections between TC and UX, it is important to recognize the value the two fields bring to one another. The articles in this collection illustrate a move into new spaces, incorporating new methods, and forging new connections and provide us an opportunity to conceptualize the continuously evolving relationship between the fields.
Residential buildings with brain-computer interface functionality: An elevator case study
Authors: Chatziparasidis Iraklis , Sfampa Ioanna K
Published: November 2021

Brain–computer interfaces (BCI) are systems that use signals recorded from the brain to enable communication and control applications. One of the most important applications of BCI technology is that enables people who are severely paralyzed by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, brainstem stroke, or other disorders to communicate, operate computer programs, or even control numerous devices. Moreover, elevators are probably the best option for disabled persons to expand their access and mobility within a house or a building. In this study, a prototype application is presented, together with an experimental setup of a BCI system that attempts to control an elevator.

Practical application

Many researchers are dealing with BCI systems that give the possibility to disabled people to control a variety of devices from wheelchairs to different home appliances, using the signals of their brain and forming a smart home services framework. This work comes to support this effort by presenting a case study, as a proof of concept, for an elevator BCI system that could be part of a complete “smart” home BCI system. The presented experimental setup proves that elevators with BCI functionalities are practically feasible and in an affordable cost, and that they could be a significant element within a “smart” residential building.
Shape and force control of cable structures with minimal actuators and actuation
Authors: Saeed Najmadeen Mohammed , Manguri Ahmed Aulla Hamed , Adabar Abubakr Mustafa
Published: November 2021

Shape adjustment and stress control can be considered as one of the effective parameters in prestressed cable structures since such structures are widely constructed nowadays due to their characteristics. The assembly errors and applied loads hugely affect the cables’ nodal positions and stress due to their delicacy. The former could disturb the shape, which affects the appearance and the function of the structure. In contrast, the latter may increase the stress in some cables above the upper limit or induce slack in some others. Accordingly, a technique has been proposed that combined fmincon optimization that relies on four different algorithms with a controlling approach based on the force method. The presented method aims to minimize the total amount of actuation and miniaturize the number of actuators. The targets of previously confirmed techniques can be obtained with less actuation and fewer actuators by using the current technique. Based on the verified examples, the advantage of the current approach over the quoted methods is up to 55% and 37% in terms of the number of actuators and the total amount of actuation, respectively.
Science-related populism declining during the COVID-19 pandemic: A panel survey of the Swiss population before and after the Coronavirus outbreak
Authors: Mede Niels G. , Schäfer Mike S.
Published: November 2021

In many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased public support for societal institutions including science, a phenomenon described as “rally-round-the-flag” dynamic. However, it is unclear if this dynamic has also reduced public resentment toward science such as science-related populist attitudes, that is, the preference of people’s common sense over allegedly elitist scientific knowledge. We test this, relying on individual-level data from panel surveys before and during the pandemic in Switzerland. Results show that science-related populist attitudes decreased after the pandemic started. The decrease was more pronounced among people who had been strong supporters of science-related populism prior to the pandemic, but otherwise spread equally across different sociodemographic and attitudinal segments of the Swiss population. This shows that the Coronavirus outbreak has the potential to undermine persistent (populist) resentments toward science and its epistemology among the general population.
Allegory and the Body as Icon: Evelyn Underhill and Barbara Brown Taylor
Authors: Walker Maxine
Published: November 2021

When faith traditions confront postmodern uncertainties regarding historical liturgical practices, political and cultural ideologies, the self and sacred space, the assurance of truth claims, allegorical readings and interpretations of sites where divine presence is found are equally questioned. Can allegorical interpretations offer a valuable strategy in postmodern understandings for identifying how Divine presence is embodied? One possibility is to discover how two Anglican women embody their faith community’s via media and in turn these women may be read as an “open icon.” To provide contrasting views, Orthodox Icons are particularly noted for their allegorical certainties that identify and point with sharp clarification to Tradition and the Church’s sacramental understandings. An allegorical frame “closes” the Orthodox icon. In a postmodern view, allegory “opens” said frame to a vast horizontal landscape that discovers spaces, places, and persons in which the Holy Spirit works mysteriously and unexpectedly. Both Evelyn Underhill and Barbara Brown Taylor writing almost a century apart and each encountering their respective historical reactions to “modernism,” trace the margins of their faith along the Anglican understanding of the via media. In doing so, both suggest the notion of “open” icon—the body itself.
Behavioral Self-Regulation: A Comparison of Goals and Self-Monitoring for High School Students With Disabilities
Authors: Estrapala Sara , Bruhn Allison Leigh , Rila Ashley
Published: November 2021

High school students, particularly those with disabilities, often struggle with academic engagement in general education classes. One empirically supported method for improving academic engagement includes self-regulation interventions. However, individual effects of frequently used self-regulation strategies’ goal setting and self-monitoring remain unknown. To address this issue, we implemented a multiple-probe single-case design with embedded alternating treatments to evaluate the differential impact of behavioral goal reminders and self-monitoring. The sample consisted of three high school students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) in general education classes who also received special education services. Innovative approaches to intervention design included student-determined behavioral goals and self-monitoring procedures informed by triangulated behavioral assessment data. Although visual analysis indicated only moderate improvements in academic engagement, and no functional relationships were determined for either the multiple-probe or alternating treatments designs, the intervention was rated with high social validity from teachers and students, and the study represents an exemplar of high-quality special education single-case research. Practical implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Hardships & Resilience: Families in a Pandemic
Authors: Kanewischer Erica , Mueller Claire , Pylkkanen Mia , Tunks Samirah
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic created unique hardships for families with school-aged children. To better understand these hardships, we asked the question: How did family units of various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds experience the pandemic? Qualitative phenomenology was the methodological basis for this study, and the Double ABC-X Model of Family Behavior was applied to analyze how the pandemic and racial tensions that occurred in the past 18 months affected families. We specifically focused on including the voices of minoritized populations as they are less often represented in phenomenological research. Semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted with families from Minnesota and Illinois. NViVo was used to code and analyze the interviews. Five themes were identified which demonstrated family strength and experience of hardship: resilience, boundaries, community support, fear, and communication.
Heterotopic Adipose Tissue in the Placental Parenchyma: Case Report
Authors: Ospina-Serrano Johann Sebastián , Salazar-Vargas Ana Janeth , Olaya-C Mercedes
Published: November 2021

Objective. Reports of heterotopic tissue in the placenta are few and mainly include liver and adrenal cells. We report on adipose tissue found in the placenta. Case report. We present the case of a microscopic finding in a 25-year-old’s placenta who suffered from hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. During routine microscopic study, we observed a heterotopic, benign, circumscribed and intervillous nodule of adipose tissue. Conclusion. To our knowledge, there is no other reported case of adipocytes among chorionic villi. Why foreign tissues show up in the placenta remains unknown; however, several new theories offer explanations.
Prostate Cancer in Lebanon: Incidence, Temporal Trends, and Comparison to Countries From Different Regions in the World
Authors: Lakkis Najla A. , Osman Mona H.
Published: November 2021

Background

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men globally. This study aims at investigating the incidence rates and trends of prostate cancer in Lebanon, and to compare them to those of countries from different regions in the world.

Methods

Data on prostate cancer were obtained from the Lebanese national cancer registry for the years 2005 to 2016. The calculated age-standardized incidence and age-specific rates were expressed as per 100 000 population.

Results

In Lebanon, prostate cancer is ranked as the most common cancer in men. The age-standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer has increased from 29.1 per 100 000 in 2005 to 37.3 per 100 000 in 2016; the highest rate was in 2012, surpassing the global average incidence rate for that year. The age-specific incidence rate of prostate cancer has increased exponentially starting at the age of 50 years to reach its peak in men aged 75 years or more. Two trends were identified in the age-standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer; an average significant increase of 7.28% per year for the period 2005–2009 ( P-value < .05), followed by a non-significant decrease of around .99% for the period between 2009 and 2016 ( P-value > .05). The age-standardized incidence rate in Lebanon was higher than most countries in the Middle East and North Africa region and Asia, but lower than the rates reported in Australia, America, and different European countries.

Conclusion

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men in Lebanon. Screening practices, changes in population age structure, and prevalence of genetic and risky lifestyle factors may explain the increased incidence rates of prostate cancer. Given the controversy of screening recommendations and the slow growing nature of prostate cancer, increasing public awareness on ways of prevention, and implementing the latest screening recommendation of the United States Preventive Services Task Force are the suggested way forward.
Upper thigh loop prosthetic arterio-venous grafts (AVG) for dialysis access: An Indian perspective
Authors: Natarajan Sekar , Jagan Sebastian Jithin
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

Hemodialysis forms the most common replacement therapy for majority of Indians suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Multiple access failure and central vein stenosis has become commonplace in Indian dialysis access patients and there is a burgeoning need for more advanced hemodialysis (HD) access options. Upper thigh arterio-venous grafts (AVG) are seldom inserted due to fear of infection and limb ischemia.

Materials and methods:

This is a single institutional, retrospective, descriptive case study of consecutive patients who underwent upper thigh prosthetic AVG over a period of 7 years. All these patients had exhausted options of upper limb access and or had central vein stenosis. AVG from the proximal superficial femoral artery (SFA) to the proximal great saphenous vein (GSV) in a loop configuration using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was carried out in the upper thigh.

Results:

A total of 24 patients had undergone upper thigh loop AVG. Their age varied from 24 to 77 years. The median follow-up period was 3 years. Five of these grafts developed infection (21%) which led to primary failure. A primary patency of 71% (17/24 patients) was achieved at 1 year. Thrombosis developed at a mean of 16.7 months after the primary procedure. Adjunctive procedures such as thrombectomy, segmental replacement of graft, patch angioplasty, balloon angioplasty, and stenting were required in 75% of patients to achieve a secondary patency of 86% at 1 year. Three grafts were explanted without limb loss.

Conclusion:

Upper thigh loop AVG forms a reliable alternate dialysis access option for patients with failed upper limb access sites or central vein occlusion. Adjunctive procedures are key to maintaining patency in these grafts. Good secondary patency is achievable, and the infection rates are similar to arm AVG. Close follow-up and timely intervention are key to long term dialysis through these grafts.
Online social engagement, depression, and anxiety among older adults
Authors: Hofer Matthias , Hargittai Eszter
Published: November 2021

As opportunities for social interactions proliferate online, questions arise as to how engagement in such activities may relate to mental health. Given older adults’ shrinking networks and increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), online interactions could offer alternatives for connections that could ultimately benefit older users’ mental health. This article examines associations between older adults’ online social engagement and their mental health. Using data from an online survey of older adults ages 60+, we find positive and negative associations between different forms of online social engagement and anxiety. In terms of depression, two forms of online social engagement showed positive associations with this mental health indicator. Our results can help explain inconclusive findings of previous research on ICT use and mental health by looking at how specific online social activities relate to mental health.
Surgical outcome and prognostic factors in spinal cord ependymoma: a single-center, long-term follow-up study
Authors: Gembruch Oliver , Chihi Mehdi , Haarmann Merle , Parlak Ahmet , Oppong Marvin Darkwah , Rauschenbach Laurèl , Michel Anna , Jabbarli Ramazan , Ahmadipour Yahya , Sure Ulrich , Dammann Philipp , Özkan Neriman
Published: November 2021

Objective:

Spinal cord ependymomas account for 3–6% of all central nervous system tumors and around 60% of all intramedullary tumors. The aim of this study was to analyze the neurological outcome after surgery and to determine prognostic factors for functional outcome.

Patients and Methods:

Patients treated surgically due to a spinal cord ependymoma between 1990 and 2018 were retrospectively included. Demographics, neurological symptoms, radiological parameters, histopathology, and neurological outcome (using McCormick Score [MCS]) were analyzed. Possible prognostic factors for neurological outcome were evaluated.

Results:

In total, 148 patients were included (76 males, 51.4%). The mean age was 46.7 ± 15.3 years. The median follow-up period was 6.8 ± 5.4 years. The prevalence was mostly in the lumbar spine (45.9%), followed by the thoracic spine (28.4%) and cervical spine (25.7%). Gross-total resection was achieved in 129 patients (87.2%). The recurrence rate was 8.1% and depended on the extent of tumor resection ( p = 0.001). Postoperative temporary neurological deterioration was observed in 63.2% of patients with ependymomas of the cervical spine, 50.0% of patients with ependymomas of the thoracic spine, and 7.4% of patients with ependymomas of the lumbosacral region. MCS 1–2 was detected in nearly two-thirds of patients with cervical and thoracic spinal cord ependymoma 36 months after surgery. Neurological recovery was superior in thoracic spine ependymomas compared with cervical spine ependymomas. Poor preoperative functional condition (MCS >2), cervical and thoracic spine location, and tumor extension >2 vertebrae were independent predictors of poor neurological outcome.

Conclusion:

Neurological deterioration was seen in the majority of cervical and thoracic spine ependymomas. Postoperative improvement was less in thoracic cervical spine ependymomas compared with thoracic spine ependymomas. Poor preoperative status and especially tumor extension >2 vertebrae are predictors of poor neurological outcome (MCS >2).
Book review: Romano Renee Christine, Race Mixing: Black-White Marriage in Post War America
Authors: Khan Tanveer Ahmad
Published: November 2021

Romano Renee Christine, Race Mixing: Black-White Marriage in Post War America. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003, xiii + 368 pp., US$65. ISBN-0-674-01033-7.
New Medical Device and Therapeutic Approvals in Otolaryngology: State of the Art Review 2020
Authors: Brenner Michael J. , Shenson Jared A. , Rose Austin S. , Valdez Tulio A. , Takashima Masayoshi , Ahmed Omar G. , Weissbrod Philip A. , Hong Robert S. , Djalilian Hamid , Wolf Jeffrey S. , Morrison Robert J. , Santa Maria Peter L. , Erbele Isaac D.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

To evaluate new drugs and devices relevant to otolaryngology–head and neck surgery that were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020.

Data Sources

Publicly available device and therapeutic approvals from ENT (ear, nose, and throat), anesthesia, neurology (neurosurgery), and plastic and general surgery FDA committees.

Review Methods

Members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery’s Medical Devices and Drugs Committee reviewed new therapeutics and medical devices from a query of the FDA’s device and therapeutic approvals. Two independent reviewers assessed the drug’s or device’s relevance to otolaryngology, classified to subspecialty field, with a critical review of available scientific literature.

Conclusions

The Medical Devices and Drugs Committee reviewed 53 new therapeutics and 1094 devices (89 ENT, 140 anesthesia, 511 plastic and general surgery, and 354 neurology) approved in 2020. Ten drugs and 17 devices were considered relevant to the otolaryngology community. Rhinology saw significant improvements around image guidance systems; indications for cochlear implantation expanded; several new monoclonal therapeutics were added to head and neck oncology’s armamentarium; and several new approvals appeared for facial plastics surgery, pediatric otolaryngology, and comprehensive otolaryngology.

Implications for Practice

New technologies and pharmaceuticals offer the promise of improving how we care for otolaryngology patients. However, judicious introduction of innovations into practice requires a nuanced understanding of safety, advantages, and limitations. Working knowledge of new drugs and medical devices approved for the market helps clinicians tailor patient care accordingly.
Didanosine-Associated Retinal Toxicity in a Patient With a Mutation in the CRB1 Gene
Authors: Lenis Tamara L. , Botsford Benjamin W. , Sarraf David , Papakostas Thanos D.
Published: November 2021

Purpose:

This article describes a case of didanosine (DDI)-associated retinal toxicity in a patient with a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the CRB1 gene.

Methods:

Case report.

Results:

A middle-aged patient with HIV controlled on HAART therapy, and a remote 10-year year history of treatment with DDI and tenofivir, presented with external ophthalmoplegia and well-circumscribed, midperipheral patterns of bilateral pigmentary retinopathy and chorioretinal atrophy in both eyes. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the CRB1 gene that encodes a protein (Crumbs homolog 1) involved in regulation of cell polarity and junctions and is localized adjacent to mitochondria in the ellipsoid and myoid area.

Conclusions:

This case highlights a potential role for genetic susceptibility to retinal toxicity in DDI-associated retinal toxicity. Large, prospective pharmacogenomics studies may be informative to further elucidate the role of genetic risk factors in drug-induced retinal toxicity.
The management and clinical knowledge of headache disorders among general practitioners in Norway: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Kristoffersen Espen Saxhaug , Faiz Kashif Waqar , Hansen Jakob Møller , Tronvik Erling Andreas , Frich Jan C. , Lundqvist Christofer , Winsvold Bendik Slagsvold
Published: November 2021

Background

General practitioners (GPs) diagnose and manage a majority of headache patients seeking health care. With the aim to understand the potential for clinical improvement and educational needs, we performed a study to investigate Norwegian GPs knowledge about headache and its clinical management.

Methods

We invited GPs from a random sample of 130 Norwegian continuous medical education (CME) groups to respond to an anonymous questionnaire survey.

Results

367 GPs responded to the survey (73% of invited CME groups, 7.6% of all GPs in Norway). Mean age was 46 (SD 11) years, with an average of 18 (SD 10) years of clinical experience. In general the national treatment recommendations were followed, while the International Classification of Headache Disorders and other international guidelines were rarely used. Overall, 80% (n = 292) of the GPs suggested adequate prophylactic medication for frequent episodic migraine, while 28% (n = 101) suggested adequate prophylactic medication for chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). Half (52%, n = 191)) of the respondents were aware that different types of acute headache medication can lead to medication-overuse headache (MOH), and 59% (n = 217) knew that prophylactic headache medication does not lead to MOH. GPs often used MRI in the diagnostic work-up. GPs reported that lack of good treatment options was a main barrier to more optimized treatment of headache patients.

Conclusion

The knowledge of management of CTTH and MOH was moderate compared to migraine among Norwegian GPs.
Effects of resistance training in healthy older people with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Chen Nan , He Xiangfeng , Feng Yuwei , Ainsworth Barbara E. , Liu Yu
Published: November 2021

Objective

We conducted a meta-analysis to analyze the effects of resistance training on measures of body composition, muscle strength, and muscle performance in older people with sarcopenia.

Methods

All randomized controlled trials on the effects of resistance training on outcome variables in older people with sarcopenia were searched on Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang. Data from January 2010 to October 2020 were reviewed. Two researchers extracted data and evaluated the quality of the studies that met the inclusion criteria independently. Meta-analysis for pre-post changes were calculated as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Fourteen studies meeting inclusion criteria included 561 healthy older adults (age 65.8 to 82.8) with sarcopenia. Compared with the control group, resistance training had positive effects on body fat mass (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI − 0.81 to − 0.25, p = 0.0002, I2 = 0%), handgrip strength (SMD = 0.81, 95%CI 0.35 to 1.27, p = 0.0005, I2 = 81%), knee extension strength (SMD = 1.26, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.80, p < 0.0001, I2 = 67%), gait speed (SMD = 1.28, 95%CI 0.36 to 2.19, p = 0.006, I2 = 89%), and the timed up and go test (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI − 1.30 to − 0.56, p < 0.0001, I2 = 23%). Resistance training had no effects on appendicular skeletal muscle mass (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI − 0.27 to 0.78, p = 0.35, I2 = 68%), skeletal muscle mass (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI − 0.02 to 0.56, p = 0.07, I2 = 0%) and leg lean mass (SMD = 0.12, 95% CI − 0.25 to 0.50, p = 0.52, I2 = 0%). Old people with sarcopenia of different ages, genders or diagnostic criteria and weights have different gains in muscle mass, handgrip strength, knee extension strength and muscle performance after different intervention duration, frequencies, mode and intensity resistance training.

Conclusion

Resistance training is an effective treatment to improve body fat mass, muscle strength, and muscle performance in healthy older people with sarcopenia.
ANINet: a deep neural network for skull ancestry estimation
Authors: Pengyue Lin , Siyuan Xia , Yi Jiang , Wen Yang , Xiaoning Liu , Guohua Geng , Shixiong Wang
Published: November 2021

Background

Ancestry estimation of skulls is under a wide range of applications in forensic science, anthropology, and facial reconstruction. This study aims to avoid defects in traditional skull ancestry estimation methods, such as time-consuming and labor-intensive manual calibration of feature points, and subjective results.

Results

This paper uses the skull depth image as input, based on AlexNet, introduces the Wide module and SE-block to improve the network, designs and proposes ANINet, and realizes the ancestry classification. Such a unified model architecture of ANINet overcomes the subjectivity of manually calibrating feature points, of which the accuracy and efficiency are improved. We use depth projection to obtain the local depth image and the global depth image of the skull, take the skull depth image as the object, use global, local, and local + global methods respectively to experiment on the 95 cases of Han skull and 110 cases of Uyghur skull data sets, and perform cross-validation. The experimental results show that the accuracies of the three methods for skull ancestry estimation reached 98.21%, 98.04% and 99.03%, respectively. Compared with the classic networks AlexNet, Vgg-16, GoogLenet, ResNet-50, DenseNet-121, and SqueezeNet, the network proposed in this paper has the advantages of high accuracy and small parameters; compared with state-of-the-art methods, the method in this paper has a higher learning rate and better ability to estimate.

Conclusions

In summary, skull depth images have an excellent performance in estimation, and ANINet is an effective approach for skull ancestry estimation.
ZjSEP3 modulates flowering time by regulating the LHY promoter
Authors: Gao Weilin , Zhang Liman , Wang Jiurui , Liu Zhiguo , Zhang Yao , Xue Chaoling , Liu Mengjun , Zhao Jin
Published: November 2021

Background

SEPALLATA3(SEP3), which is conserved across various plant species, plays essential and various roles in flower and fruit development. However, the regulatory network of the role of SEP3 in flowering time at the molecular level remained unclear.

Results

Here, we investigated thatSEP3inZiziphus jujubaMill. (ZjSEP3) was expressed in four floral organs and exhibited strong transcriptional activation activity.ZjSEP3transgenic Arabidopsis showed an early-flowering phenotype and altered the expression of some genes related to flowering. Among them, the expression of LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (AtLHY), the key gene of circadian rhythms, was significantly suppressed. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) further verified that ZjSEP3 inhibited the transcription ofAtLHYby binding to the CArG-boxes in its promoter. Moreover, ZjSEP3 also could bind to theZjLHYpromoter and the conserved binding regions of ZjSEP3 were found in theLHYpromoter of various plant species. The ectopic regulatory pathway of ZjSEP3-AtLHY was further supported by the ability of 35S::AtLHYto rescue the early-flowering phenotype inZjSEP3transgenic plants. InZjSEP3transgenic plants, total chlorophyll content and the expression of genes involved in chlorophyll synthesis increased during vegetative stages, which should contribute to its early flowering and relate to the regulatory ofAtLHY.

Conclusion

Overall, ZjSEP3-AtLHYpathway represents a novel regulatory mechanism that is involved in the regulation of flowering time.
Psychosocial determinants of cardiovascular events among black Americans with chronic kidney disease or associated risk factors in the Jackson heart study
Authors: Bhavsar Nrupen A. , Davenport Clemontina A. , Yang Lexie Zidanyue , Peskoe Sarah , Scialla Julia J. , Hall Rasheeda K. , Tyson Crystal C. , Strigo Tara , Sims Mario , Pendergast Jane , Curtis Lesley H. , Boulware L. Ebony , Diamantidis Clarissa J.
Published: November 2021

Background

Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension (HTN), or diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The extent to which psychosocial factors are associated with increased CVD risk within these individuals is unclear. Black individuals experience a high degree of psychosocial stressors due to socioeconomic factors, environment, racism, and discrimination. We examined the association between psychosocial factors and risk of CVD events among Black men and women with CKD and CKD risk factors in the Jackson Heart Study.

Methods and Results

We identified 1919 participants with prevalent CKD or CKD risk factors at baseline. We used rotated principal component analysis - a form of unsupervised machine learning that may identify constructs not intuitively identified by a person - to describe five groups of psychosocial components (including negative moods, religiosity, discrimination, negative outlooks, and negative coping resources) based on a battery of questionnaires. Multiple imputation by chained equation (MICE) was used to impute missing covariate data. Cox models were used to quantify the association between psychosocial components and incident CVD, defined as a fatal coronary heart disease event, myocardial infarction, cardiac procedure (angiography or revascularization procedure), or stroke. Of the 929 participants in the analysis, 67% were female, 28% were current/former smokers with mean age of 56 years and mean BMI of 33 kg/m2. Over a median follow-up of 8 years, 6% had an incident CVD event. In multivariable models, each standard deviation (SD) increase in the religiosity component was associated with an increased hazard for CVD event (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.09–2.13).

Conclusions

Religiosity was associated with CVD among participants with prevalent CKD or CKD risk factors. Studies to better understand the mechanisms of this relationship are needed.
A survey on Canadian pediatric hospital clinical/medical teaching unit implementation during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Tsang Kara K. , Latchman Andrew , Singhal Nishma , Federici Giuliana , Russell Sandra , Irwin Denise , Stevens Robyn , McArthur Andrew G. , Khan Sarah
Published: November 2021

Background

As the COVID-19 pandemic heightened, infection control and prevention experts recommended clinical training opportunities be modified or discontinued, substantially impacting the function of clinical or medical teaching units (CTU). A CTU is structured to involve medical learners such that they become active participants of the health care team. Since a review of the literature demonstrates a paucity of data to guide pediatric CTU implementation during pandemic phases, we developed and disseminated a survey to assess Canadian practices.

Method

A group of infectious disease specialists and pediatric hospitalists developed, tested, and disseminated surveys to understand CTU clinical rounding and teaching practices during the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Result

Our surveys demonstrate the variability in adapting rounding practices during this pandemic and highlights the opportunities to share our approaches and lessons learned to optimize learner experience and patient centered care during unprecedented times in our academic hospitals. We also show the pragmatic implementation of our new pediatric hospital CTU process that was informed by our survey results.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates the variability in adapting rounding practices during this pandemic and highlights the opportunities to share our approaches and lessons learned to optimize learner experience and patient centered care during unprecedented times in our academic hospitals.