bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute and 28‐Day Repeated‐Dose Oral Toxicity Assessment of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. in Healthy Wistar Rats
Authors: Amarasiri Sachinthi S. , Attanayake Anoja P. , Arawwawala Liyanagae D. A. M. , Jayatilaka Kamani A. P. W. , Mudduwa Lakmini K. B.
Published: June 2020

Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. (family: Malvaceae) has a long history of being used as a folk medicine in Sri Lanka. Despite the therapeutic use of this plant in traditional medicine, leaves of A. moschatus have not been subjected to scientific evaluation of toxicity/adverse effects in vivo. Thus, the present study was aimed to assess the acute and 28‐day repeated‐dose oral toxic effects of hexane (55 mg/kg), ethyl acetate (75 mg/kg), butanol (60 mg/kg), and aqueous (140 mg/kg) leaf extracts of A. moschatus in Wistar rats. Furthermore, identification of phytochemical constituents and determination of in vitro total antioxidant activity of the selected leaf extracts of A. moschatus were carried out. Repeated‐dose oral administration of hexane and aqueous plant extracts produced no significant changes in the hematological profile and in selected biochemical parameters compared to the untreated healthy rats (p > 0.05). The administration of ethyl acetate and butanol extracts resulted in significant changes in some of the hematological parameters (p < 0.05), whereas biochemical parameters were not changed (p > 0.05). No significant changes in the relative organ weight of treated rats were observed (p > 0.05) except in the kidneys of Wistar rats treated with the ethyl acetate extract of A. moschatus (p < 0.05). Normal morphology with no signs of hemorrhages, necrosis, or inflammatory cell infiltrations was observed in the vital organs selected during the assessment of histopathology on H and E‐stained tissue sections upon the treatment of selected extracts. Alkaloids were absent in the selected leaf extracts excluding the health risk for harmful alkaloids. The highest total antioxidant activity was reported in the butanol extract. In conclusion, the hexane and aqueous extracts of A. moschatus were completely nontoxic, whereas butanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed statistically significant changes in some hematological parameters and in relative organ weight of kidneys in healthy Wistar rats.
Examination of WHO/INRUD Core Drug Use Indicators at Public Primary Healthcare Centers in Kisii County, Kenya
Authors: Nyabuti Aggrey O. , Okalebo Faith A. , Guantai Eric M.
Published: June 2020

Background. Irrational drug use is a global problem. However, the extent of the problem is higher in low-income countries. This study sets out to assess and characterize drug use at the public primary healthcare centers (PPHCCs) in a rural county in Kenya, using the World Health Organization/International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs (WHO/INRUD) core drug use indicators methodology. Methods. Ten PPHCCs were randomly selected. From each PPHCC, ninety prescriptions from October to December 2018 were sampled and data extracted. Three hundred (30 per PPHCC) patients and ten (1 per PPHCC) dispensers were also observed and interviewed. The WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators were used to assess the patterns of drug use. Results. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.9 (SD 0.5) (recommended: 1.6–1.8), and the percentage of drugs prescribed by generic names was 27.7% (recommended: 100%); the percentage of prescriptions with an antibiotic was 84.8% (recommended: 20.0–26.8%), and with an injection prescribed was 24.9% (recommended: 13.4–24.1%). The percentage of prescribed drugs from the Kenya Essential Medicines List was 96.7% (recommended: 100%). The average consultation time was 4.1 min (SD 1.7) (recommended: ≥10 min), the average dispensing time was 131.5 sec (SD 41.5) (recommended: ≥90 sec), the percentage of drugs actually dispensed was 76.3% (recommended: 100%), the percentage of drugs adequately labeled was 22.6% (recommended: 100%), and the percentage of patients with correct knowledge of dispensed drugs was 54.7% (recommended: 100%). Only 20% of the PPHCCs had a copy of KEML available, and 80% of the selected essential drugs assessed were available. Conclusion. The survey shows irrational drug use practices, particularly polypharmacy, nongeneric prescribing, overuse of antibiotics, short consultation time, and inadequacy of drug labeling. Effective programs and activities promoting the rational use of drugs are the key interventions suggested at all the health facilities.
FASN Protein Overexpression Indicates Poor Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Cao Zhi , Xu Yalong , Guo Fei , Chen Xi , Ji Jin , Xu Huan , He Jingyi , Yu Yongwei , Sun Yinghao , Lu Xin , Wang Fubo
Published: June 2020

Backgrounds. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) has been regarded as a prognostic marker in prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, we evaluated FASN expression at both mRNA and protein levels and assessed the association between FASN expression and prognosis in male Han Chinese with PCa treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods. Expression profile and prognostic value of FASN were analyzed in tissue microarray (TMA) and data retrieved from databases including TCGA public database, GEO database, and our sequencing data with whole clinicopathological characteristics. Results. FASN expression was associated with clinical parameters and biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. The relative expression of FASN mRNA was higher in the tumor tissue in all public databases and our sequencing data (p<0.001). A similar result was seen in tissue microarray (TMA) (p<0.001). Analysis of our sequencing data indicated that FASN’s relative expression was associated with tumor stage (p=0.048), and FASN expression was positively associated with the Gleason score (p=0.004) and seminal vesicle invasion (p=0.011) in TMA. We found that high FASN expression was an independent predictor of shorter BCR-free survival with univariate and multivariate survival analysis (p<0.05), rendering FASN an optimal prognostic biomarker in male Han Chinese with prostate cancer. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that FASN was overexpressed at mRNA and protein levels in PCa. We found that patients with high FASN expression had a shorter BCR-free survival, showing its value as a prognostic biomarker in male Han Chinese with PCa.
Abnormal PTBP1 Expression Sustains the Disease Progression of Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Bai Hua , Chen Bing
Published: June 2020

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by heterogeneity, which corresponds to alternative splicing (AS) profiles and disadjust gene expression. Bioinformatics analysis of AS factors possibly related to MM progression identified the polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTBP1) as candidate. The purpose of this study was to confirm the incidence and prognostic value of PTBP1 in MM patients. Several cohorts of 2971 patients presenting newly diagnosed and relapsed MM were enrolled. Correlations between PTBP1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics, proliferative activity, and response to therapy of myeloma cells were analyzed. Moreover, the effect of PTBP1 on the AS pattern of specific aerobic glycolysis-related genes was explored in MM patients. Clinically, PTBP1 expression was present at all stages; it increased with disease progression and poor prognosis, which was even stronger elevated in patients with high tumor burden and drug resistance. Mechanistically, PTBP1 modulated AS of PKM2 and aerobic glycolysis-related genes in MM patients, which play synergistic or additive effects in clinical outcome. PTBP1 may be a novel marker for prognostic prediction and a promising therapeutic target for the development of anti-MM treatments.
A Mathematical Model for Locating the Medical and Emergency Centers considering the Failure Probability of Centers
Authors: Mosayebi Alireza , Mojaradi Barat , Bonyadi Naeini Ali , Khodadad Hosseini Seyed Hamid
Published: June 2020

Enhancing the amount of industrial and chemical production is one of the most important effects of increasing rural people’s migration to cities, which leads to many abnormalities in the healthcare domain. In this regard, one of the most important tasks of health sector managers is designing and implementing some programs to monitor and control the level of community health, which is one of the health organizations’ strategic planning. On the other hand, the location of service centers is one of the most important problems in the area of strategic planning by any organization because selecting an appropriate site for constructing facilities can have a significant effect on reducing costs and increasing the coverage level. However, an appropriate site to construct the facilities must also have maximum reliability in addition to reducing costs and increasing the coverage level. This problem is important because many factors, such as natural disasters, result in failure of centers and influence the confidence level of system performance. Therefore, it is necessary to consider maximizing reliability in locating centers. For this purpose, an integer mathematical model is presented in this paper to select the optimum site for constructing the medical and emergency centers by considering the failure probability of each center. The research model’s objective function minimizes the system costs, including the costs of construction, patient transfer, and failure of medical and emergency centers. Finally, a numerical example is designed and reviewed by real-world problems to ensure the performance accuracy of the proposed model.
Some Properties and Inequalities for the h,s-Nonconvex Functions
Authors: Wang Chengli , Saleem Muhammad Shoaib , Rehman Hamood Ur , Imran Muhammad
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the notion of strongly h,s-nonconvex functions and to present some basic properties of this class of functions. We present Schur inequality, Jensen inequality, Hermite–Hadamard inequality, and weighted version of the Hermite–Hadamard inequality.
High-Pressure Pneumoperitoneum Aggravates Surgery-Induced Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Dysfunction in Aged Mice
Authors: Lu Bo , Yuan Hui , Zhai Xiaojie , Li Xiaoyu , Qin Jinling , Chen Junping , Meng Bo
Published: June 2020

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after surgery, especially in aged patients. Neuroinflammation has been closely associated with the development of POCD. While the contribution of pneumoperitoneum to the systemic inflammation has been well documented, the effect of pneumoperitoneal pressure on neuroinflammation and postoperative cognitive function remains unclear. In this study, we showed that high-pressure pneumoperitoneum promoted the postoperative neuroinflammation and microglial activation in the hippocampus and aggravated the postoperative cognitive impairment in aged mice. These results support the requirement to implement interventions with lower intra-abdominal pressure, which allows for adequate exposure of the operative field rather than a routine pressure.
Latrine Utilization and Associated Factors in Mehal Meda Town in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2019
Authors: Abebe Ayele Mamo , Kassaw Mesfin Wudu , Mekuria Abinet Dagnew , Yehualshet Sisay Shewasinad , Fenta Endegena Abebe
Published: June 2020

Background. Worldwide lack of sanitation is a serious health risk, affecting billions of people around the world, particularly the poor and disadvantaged of people around the world. In Sub‐Saharan Africa, the number of people who defecate remains the open field 215 million. According to the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys report, 56% of the rural households use unimproved toilet facilities. One in every three households in the country has no toilet facility. However, achieving real gains in increasing latrine use and quality remained as a challenge. This study was used to assess the latrine utilization and associated factors in Mehal Meda town in North Shewa zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2019. Result. In this study, a total of 558 participants were included. Out of households, 509 (91.2%) utilized their latrine facility. On the other way, 503 (98.8%) households utilized latrine regularly. Significant variables that were associated to latrine utilization were the occupational status of head of households, observing feces around the compound/latrine, duration of latrine utilization, shape and structure of latrine facility, latrine status during observation, and distance between water well and latrine. According to this study, the magnitude of latrine utilization in Mehal Meda district was 91.2%. It was lower than Ethiopia national expected target of MDGs (100%). Significant variables that were associated to latrine utilization were occupational status of head of households, observing feces around the compound/latrine, shape and structure of latrine facility, latrine status during observation, and distance between water well and latrine facility. Therefore, health education about latrine utilization and its advantage should be given for community in the study area.
Comparison of Predictability Using Barrett Universal II and SRK/T Formulas according to Keratometry
Authors: Iijima Kei , Kamiya Kazutaka , Iida Yoshihiko , Shoji Nobuyuki
Published: June 2020

Purpose. To compare the predictability of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using the Barrett Universal II and the SRK/T formulas, according to the keratometry. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of 335 consecutive eyes undergoing standard cataract surgery. IOL power calculations were performed using the Barrett Universal II and the SRK/T formulas. We compared the prediction error, the absolute error, and the percentages within ±0.25, ±0.5, and ±1.0 D of the targeted refraction, 1 month postoperatively, and also investigated the relationship of these outcomes with the keratometric readings, using the two formulas. Results. The prediction error using the SRK/T formula was significantly more myopic than that using the Barrett Universal II formula (the paired t-test, p<0.001). The absolute error using the SRK/T formula was significantly larger than that using the Barrett Universal II formula (p=0.006). We found a significant correlation between the prediction error and the keratometric readings using the SRK/T formula (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = −0.522, p<0.001), but there was no significant correlation between them using the Barrett Universal II formula (r = −0.031, p=0.576). Conclusions. The Barrett Universal II formula provides a better predictability of IOL power calculation and is less susceptible to the effect of the corneal shape, than the SRK/T formula. The Barrett Universal formula, instead of the SRK/T formula, may be clinically helpful for improving the refractive accuracy, especially in eyes with steep or flat corneas.
Review of Virtual Traffic Simulation and Its Applications
Authors: Liu Cui-juan , Liu Zhen , Chai Yan-jie , Liu Ting-ting
Published: June 2020

The increasing number of vehicles in cities brings new challenges to urban traffic management. Analyzing and modeling traffic is of great practical significance to urban intelligent traffic management. In this paper, the existing traffic simulation research is reviewed and summarized. Firstly, the crowd modeling and crowd animation are analyzed by referring to the idea of crowd simulation. Secondly, it compares and analyzes various existing car following technologies, and points out that animated traffic simulation is a hotspot in traffic simulation research. And then the concept of affective computing is integrated into the traffic simulation, considering the impacts of drivers’ emotion on vehicle driving and it is pointed out that the emotion-driven traffic flow is more authentic. Finally, combined with the status quo, the existing research drawbacks are analyzed, and the direction of future traffic simulation is pointed out.
Optimizing Ontology Alignment through Improved NSGA-II
Authors: Huang Yikun , Xue Xingsi , Jiang Chao
Published: June 2020

Over the past decades, a large number of complex optimization problems have been widely addressed through multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs), and the knee solutions of the Pareto front (PF) are most likely to be fitting for the decision maker (DM) without any user preferences. This work investigates the ontology matching problem, which is a challenge in the semantic web (SW) domain. Due to the complex heterogeneity between two different ontologies, it is arduous to get an excellent alignment that meets all DMs’ demands. To this end, a popular MOEA, i.e., nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), is investigated to address the ontology matching problem, which outputs the knee solutions in the PF to meet diverse DMs’ requirements. In this study, for further enhancing the performance of NSGA-II, we propose to incorporate into NSGA-II’s evolutionary process the monkey king evolution algorithm (MKE) as the local search algorithm. The improved NSGA-II (iNSGA-II) is able to better converge to the real Pareto optimum region and ameliorate the quality of the solution. The experiment uses the famous benchmark given by the ontology alignment evaluation initiative (OAEI) to assess the performance of iNSGA-II, and the experiment results present that iNSGA-II is able to seek out preferable alignments than OAEI’s participators and NSGA-II-based ontology matching technique.
SRC-3 Functions as a Coactivator of T-bet by Regulating the Maturation and Antitumor Activity of Natural Killer Cells
Authors: Hu Mengjia , Lu Yukai , Qi Yan , Zhang Zihao , Wang Song , Xu Yang , Chen Fang , Tang Yong , Chen Shilei , Chen Mo , Du Changhong , Shen Mingqiang , Wang Fengchao , Su Yongping , Deng Youcai , Wang Junping
Published: June 2020

Natural killer (NK)–cell development and maturation is a well-organized process. The steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is a regulator of the hematopoietic and immune systems; however, its role in NK cells is poorly understood. Here, SRC-3 displayed increased nuclear translocation in NK cells during terminal differentiation and upon inflammatory cytokine stimulation. Targeted deletion of SRC-3 altered normal NK-cell distribution and compromised NK-cell maturation. SRC-3 deficiency led to significantly impaired NK-cell functions, especially their antitumor activity. The expression of several critical T-bet target genes, including Zeb2, Prdm1, and S1pr5, but not T-bet itself, was markedly decreased in NK cells in the absence of SRC-3. There was a physiologic interaction between SRC-3 and T-bet proteins, where SRC-3 was recruited by T-bet to regulate the transcription of the aforementioned genes. Collectively, our findings unmask a previously unrecognized role of SRC-3 as a coactivator of T-bet in NK-cell biology and indicate that targeting SRC-3 may be a promising strategy to increase the tumor surveillance function of NK cells.
Deciphering the Clonal Origin of Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children
Authors: Ogawa Seishi
Published: June 2020

In this issue of Blood Cancer Discovery, Waanders and colleagues characterize somatic alterations in a large cohort of relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This comprehensive genomic analysis reveals mutations distinctly associated with primary disease versus response to therapy. In the reconstructed clonal evolution scenarios, relapsed leukemic cells propagate from clones already expanded at diagnosis and rarely from unexpanded dormant ancestral clones. The information gleaned through subclonal mutation analysis at diagnosis may help to estimate relapse risk and select therapeutic options with minimal relapse potential. High prevalence of hypermutation patterns among repeatedly relapsing ALL cases suggests that activating antitumor immunity has a potential to benefit this group of patients.

See related article by Waanders et al., p. 96.
The Genomic Landscape of HIV-Associated Plasmablastic Lymphoma
Authors: Küppers Ralf
Published: June 2020

A combined whole-exome and targeted sequencing study of 110 cases of human immunodeficiency virus–associated plasmablastic lymphomas revealed a distinct landscape of genetic lesions for this lymphoma entity, including a particular role of mutations in STAT3 and other members of the JAK–STAT signaling pathway, and of the RAS family in its pathogenesis.

See related article by Liu et al., p. 112.
3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic Acid Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response by Increasing SIRT1 Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Park Jin-Young , Lee Hee Jae , Kwon Yong-Soo , Chun Wanjoo
Published: June 2020

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THC) has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells and in LPS-induced septic mice. However, the effect of THC on the inflammatory response in vascular endothelial cells has not been clearly examined. The goal of the present study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory properties of THC and its underlying mechanism in LPS-challenged human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). THC significantly suppressed LPS-induced interleukin-1β production and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression and significantly decreased LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB activation by attenuating p65 phosphorylation and inhibitor of kappa B degradation. To understand the underlying mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of THC, the involvement of the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signaling pathway was examined. THC resulted in increased expression of SIRT1 in LPS-challenged HUVECs. Among the downstream molecular targets of SIRT1, the level of LPS-induced acetylated p53 was significantly decreased by THC treatment, whereas no noticeable change was observed in the levels of forkhead box O3 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha. In conclusion, the results clearly demonstrate that THC possesses anti-inflammatory properties by increasing SIRT1 expression and subsequent suppression of p53 activation in LPS-challenged HUVECs.
Infection Post-AKI: Should We Worry?
Authors: Gist Katja M. , Faubel Sarah
Published: June 2020

Acute kidney injury (AKI) continues to be a major problem among hospitalized patients, and there is a growing appreciation that the high mortality in AKI may be due to its deleterious systemic effects. Recent research has begun to disentangle kidney-organ cross talk, wherein the host response to AKI becomes maladaptive, resulting in effects on numerous remote organs such as the lung, heart, liver, spleen, and brain. AKI also adversely affects immune function and is widely considered an immunosuppressed state. A wealth of data has accumulated that patients with AKI have a substantial increased risk of subsequent infection and sepsis. Indeed, sepsis is the leading cause of death in patients with established AKI. Unfortunately, little is known regarding the nature of the abnormal immune response that increases the risk for septic complications which may be persistent and prolonged. Until mechanistic pathways that drive the AKI-immune system-infection process are identified, and physicians should attempt to minimize AKI, its severity, and duration and anticipate infectious complications.
Neutral Lipid Storage Disease Associated with the PNPLA2 Gene: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Samukawa Makoto , Nakamura Naoko , Hirano Makito , Morikawa Miyuki , Sakata Hanami , Nishino Ichizo , Izumi Rumiko , Suzuki Naoki , Kuroda Hiroshi , Shiga Kensuke , Saigoh Kazumasa , Aoki Masashi , Kusunoki Susumu
Published: June 2020

Mutations in the PNPLA2 gene cause neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy (NLSDM) or triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy. We report a detailed case study of a 53-year-old man with NLSDM. The PNPLA2 gene was analyzed according to the reported method. We summarized the clinical, laboratory, and genetic information of 56 patients, including our patient and 55 other reported patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the PNPLA2 gene. We found a novel homozygous mutation (c.194delC) in the PNPLA2 gene that resulted in frameshift. The patient suffered from normal-tension glaucoma and pulmonary cysts, symptoms that are relatively common in the elderly but were not previously reported for this disease. Our summary confirmed that Jordan’s anomaly, polymorphonuclear leukocytes with lipid accumulation, was the most consistent finding of this disease. Because this disease is potentially treatable, our results may help rapid and correct diagnosis.
The Role of Genetic Sex and Mitochondria in Response to COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Kloc Malgorzata , Ghobrial Rafik Mark , Kubiak Jacek Z.
Published: June 2020

The difference between the female and male immune response to COVID-19 infection, and infections in general, is multifactorial. The well-known determiners of the immune response, such as X and Y chromosomes, sex hormones, and microbiota, are functionally interconnected and influence each other in shaping the organism’s immunity. We focus our commentary on the interplay between the genetic sex and mitochondria and how this may affect a sex-dependent immune response in COVID-19 infection. Realizing the existence of these interactions may help in designing novel methods or fine-tuning the existing and routine therapies to fight COVID-19 and other infections.
Position Paper for the State-of-the-Art Application of Respiratory Support in Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Pfeifer Michael , Ewig Santiago , Voshaar Thomas , Randerath Winfried Johannes , Bauer Torsten , Geiseler Jens , Dellweg Dominic , Westhoff Michael , Windisch Wolfram , Schönhofer Bernd , Kluge Stefan , Lepper Philipp M.
Published: June 2020

Against the background of the pandemic caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the German Respiratory Society has appointed experts to develop therapy strategies for COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Here we present key position statements including observations about the pathophysiology of (ARF). In terms of the pathophysiology of pulmonary infection with SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 can be divided into 3 phases. Pulmonary damage in advanced COVID-19 often differs from the known changes in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Two types (type L and type H) are differentiated, corresponding to early- and late-stage lung damage. This differentiation should be taken into consideration in the respiratory support of ARF. The assessment of the extent of ARF should be based on arterial or capillary blood gas analysis under room air conditions, and it needs to include the calculation of oxygen supply (measured from the variables of oxygen saturation, hemoglobin level, the corrected values of Hüfner’s factor, and cardiac output). Aerosols can cause transmission of infectious, virus-laden particles. Open systems or vented systems can increase the release of respirable particles. Procedures in which the invasive ventilation system must be opened and endotracheal intubation carried out are associated with an increased risk of infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should have top priority because fear of contagion should not be a primary reason for intubation. Based on the current knowledge, inhalation therapy, nasal high-flow therapy (NHF), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) can be performed without an increased risk of infection to staff if PPE is provided. A significant proportion of patients with ARF present with relevant hypoxemia, which often cannot be fully corrected, even with a high inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) under NHF. In this situation, the oxygen therapy can be escalated to CPAP or NIV when the criteria for endotracheal intubation are not met. In ARF, NIV should be carried out in an intensive care unit or a comparable setting by experienced staff. Under CPAP/NIV, a patient can deteriorate rapidly. For this reason, continuous monitoring and readiness for intubation are to be ensured at all times. If the ARF progresses under CPAP/NIV, intubation should be implemented without delay in patients who do not have a “do not intubate” order.
Retinal Layers Changes in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Agents: Long-Term Outcomes of a Spectral-Domain OCT Study
Authors: Chatziralli Irini , Kazantzis Dimitrios , Theodossiadis George , Theodossiadis Panagiotis , Sergentanis Theodoros N.
Published: June 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate retinal layers’ changes in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents and to evaluate if these changes may affect treatment response. Methods: Participants in this prospective study were 110 treatment-naïve patients with center involved DME, who were treated with anti-VEGF agents and followed up for at least 12 months. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of retinal layers that can affect visual acuity was performed. Patients with persistent DME were defined, and factors which could affect this outcome were determined. Results: Visual acuity was significantly improved, while there was also a statistically significant reduction in central retinal thickness and in all separate retinal layers’ thickness at month 12 compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Visual acuity was associated with central retinal thickness and outer retinal layers’ thickness;51.8% of the patients presented with persistent DME at month 12, which was found to be significantly associated with baseline visual acuity and HbA1C levels. Conclusions: Anti-VEGF treatment is effective in reducing retinal thickness as a whole and in all separate retinal layers at 12-month follow-up in patients with DME. Changes in central retinal thickness and in outer retinal layers were found to affect visual acuity. HbA1c was the most significant factor to determine persistence of DME at month 12.
Taxonomic notes on the genus Vespa Linnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) from Vietnam, with a new record of a species and an updated key to species
Authors: VU THUONG THI , NGUYEN LIEN THI PHUONG , WIŚNIOWSKI BOGDAN
Published: June 2020

A taxonomic study on the genus Vespa from Vietnam is presented. One species, Vespa fumida van der Vecht, 1959 is recorded as new for the Vietnamese fauna. The complete queen nest of Vespa mocsaryana du Buysson, 1905 is described, together with the queen. An updated key to all of the Vespa species known from Vietnam based on external morphological characters is also provided.
Two new species of the genus Onchodellus (Acari: Pachylaelapidae) from China
Authors: ZHANG XUE-SONG , GUO JIAN-JUN , YI TIAN-CI , JIN DAO-CHAO
Published: June 2020

This paper describes two new species of the family Pachylaelapidae, Onchodellus menglaensis sp. nov. and O. quattuorspinous sp. nov., from the earth-boring dung beetles, Enoplotrupes sinensis Hope (Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae), collected from Mengla County, Yunnan Province, China. An identification key to the Chinese species of the genus Onchodellus (females) is provided.
A new species of Sphenomorphus (Squamata: Scincidae) from Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam with a discussion of biogeography and character state evolution in the S. stellatus group
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , NAZAROV ROMAN A. , BOBROV VLADIMIR V. , POYARKOV NIKOLAY A.
Published: June 2020

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the Sphenomorphus stellatus group recovered a newly discovered museum specimen from Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam as a new species most closely related to S. preylangensis from Phnom Chi in central Cambodia, approximately 175 km to the northeast. Most notably, S. phuquocensis sp. nov. lacks the derived condition of having black dorsal stripes that diagnose S. annamiticus—the sister species to S. preylangensis plus S. phuquocensis sp. nov. A BioGeoBEARS analysis recovered the ancestor of the S. stellatus group to likely have ranged across forested regions on an exposed Sunda Shelf from southwestern Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia prior to diverging into northern and southern lineages separated by the Gulf of Thailand. Episodic fluctuations in sea levels and concomitant changes in the physiography of the Mekong Delta contributed to the fragmented distribution within and between species of the northern lineage. Sphenomorphus phuquocensis sp. nov. represents the second species of reptile endemic to Phu Quoc Island.
Descriptions of three congeneric species of chewing lice of the Oxylipeurus-complex (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, including a new genus and a new species
Authors: GUSTAFSSON DANIEL R. , ZOU FASHENG
Published: June 2020

The lice of the Oxylipeurus-complex parasitising the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, belong to a previously undescribed genus. In this paper, we describe this genus as Valimia new genus, redescribe two of its species: Lipeurus polytrapezius Burmeister, 1838 and Oxylipeurus corpulentus Clay, 1938, and describe the new species Valimia necopinata, discovered during our examination of samples of the two known species. This occurrence represents the first record of three congeneric species of chewing lice parasitising the same host individual.
Two new species of Hemiphyllodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN TRUONG QUANG , DO QUYEN HANH , NGO HANH THI , VAN PHAM ANH , PHAM CUONG THE , LE MINH DUC , ZIEGLER THOMAS
Published: June 2020

We describe two new species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus on the basis of a new collection of geckos from limestone karst forest of Hoa Binh Province, northwestern Vietnam. Hemiphyllodactylus bonkowskii sp. nov. from Hang Kia—Pa Co Nature Reserve and Hemiphyllodactylus ngocsonensis sp. nov. from Ngoc Son—Ngo Luong Nature Reserve can be distinguished from each other and from their congeners by genetic distinction and morphological differences in circumnasal scales, chin scales, precloacal and femoral pores, cloacal spurs, dorsal scales, ventral scales, digital lamellae formula, and color pattern. In phylogenetic analyses, both new species are nested in a clade that includes H. dushanensis, H. flaviventris, H. hongkongensis, H. huishuiensis, H. kiziriani, H. serpispecus, and H. zugi. In terms of pairwise genetic distance, the two new species are at least 7.5%–8.5% divergent from other described species based on a fragment of the ND2 gene.
Aberrant claw forms in the Annulipes Group of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae: Aedes) in Germany
Authors: KUHLISCH CORNELIUS , KAMPEN HELGE , WERNER DOREEN
Published: June 2020

Specimens of five species of the culicid Annulipes Group (Aedes annulipes, Ae. cantans, Ae. excrucians, Ae. flavescens, Ae. riparius), collected in the framework of the German mosquito monitoring programme, were examined for aberrant tarsal claws. Twenty types of aberrations regarding position, size, multiplication and structural modification of the tarsal claw and its basal tooth that were detected are described and illustrated. Different basal tooth positions found on claws reveal a basic blueprint of possible positions on mosquito tarsal claws. Morphological peculiarities and asymmetric occurrence of the aberrant claw types, as well as possible causes, are discussed with respect to species and gender.
A new remarkable Isoperla species with abdominal processes from Hubei Province of Central China (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)
Authors: HUO QING-BO , DU YU-ZHOU
Published: June 2020

A remarkable new species of Isoperla Banks, 1906, I. sextuberculata Huo & Du, sp. nov. from Hubei Province, Central China is described. The new species is distinguished by the unique paired abdominal processes on male terga 4, 7, and 8. The new species is compared to similar Isoperlinae congeners.
Bregmaceros anchovia sp. nov., a new codlet species from the western Pacific Ocean (Gadiformes: Bregmacerotidae)
Authors: HO HSUAN-CHING , ENDO HIROMITSU , LEE CHIA-LIEN , CHU TAH-WEI
Published: June 2020

A new codlet species is described from Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia. It is distinguished from its congeners by having a pointed snout extending beyond jaws, a stripe of black dots above anal-fin base, a black vertical band on caudal-fin base, and the following combination of characters: ventral surface of head and abdomen devoid of melanophores; ventral portion of abdominal vertebrae with a pointed parapophysis and a blunt ventral post-zygapophysis; peritoneum, pyloric caeca, and intestine pale; dorsal-fin rays 46–52; anal-fin rays 47–55; pectoral-fin rays 15–17; principal caudal-fin rays 12‒14; caudal vertebrae 35‒39; total vertebrae 50–54. Furthermore, as a result of this study, Bregmaceros pescadorus Shen described from southwestern Taiwan is herein recognized as a junior synonym of Bregmaceros nectabanus Whitley.
The Multi-Scale Infrastructure for Chemistry and Aerosols (MUSICA)
Authors: Pfister Gabriele G. , Eastham Sebastian D. , Arellano Avelino F. , Aumont Bernard , Barsanti Kelley C. , Barth Mary C. , Conley Andrew , Davis Nicholas A. , Emmons Louisa K. , Fast Jerome D. , Fiore Arlene M. , Gaubert Benjamin , Goldhaber Steve , Granier Claire , Grell Georg A. , Guevara Marc , Henze Daven K. , Hodzic Alma , Liu Xiaohong , Marsh Daniel R. , Orlando John J. , Plane John M. C. , Polvani Lorenzo M. , Rosenlof Karen H. , Steiner Allison L. , Jacob Daniel J. , Brasseur Guy P.
Published: June 2020

To explore the various couplings across space and time and between ecosystems in a consistent manner, atmospheric modeling is moving away from the fractured limited-scale modeling strategy of the past toward a unification of the range of scales inherent in the Earth system. This paper describes the forward-looking Multi-Scale Infrastructure for Chemistry and Aerosols (MUSICA), which is intended to become the next-generation community infrastructure for research involving atmospheric chemistry and aerosols. MUSICA will be developed collaboratively by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and university and government researchers, with the goal of serving the international research and applications communities. The capability of unifying various spatiotemporal scales, coupling to other Earth system components, and process-level modularization will allow advances in both fundamental and applied research in atmospheric composition, air quality, and climate and is also envisioned to become a platform that addresses the needs of policy makers and stakeholders.
A cross-cultural study of attitudes toward suicide among young people in India, Italy and Australia
Authors: Colucci Erminia , Lester David
Published: June 2020

Background:

An understanding of the cultural aspects of suicidal behavior is essential for the development of culturally appropriate suicide prevention and intervention strategies.

Aims:

This study explored the attitudes toward youth suicide in 686 Italian, Indian and Australian undergraduate students (18–24 years old).

Method:

A 21-item suicide attitude inventory titled Attitude towards Youth Suicide (AtYS) scale, included in this paper, was used in the three samples.

Results:

Four factors were extracted, labeled negative attitudes toward suicide, belief that suicide was not preventable, suicide as acceptable and normal, and the existence of risk signs for suicide. Country differences were found for all four subscales, with Indian students having the most negative attitudes toward suicide. Sex differences were found in all three countries with women, on the whole, having less negative attitudes toward suicide, more belief in the preventability of suicide in India and more belief in risk signs for suicide in Italy.

Conclusion:

Attitudes are linked to suicide in a complex manner. More quantitative and qualitative studies, including in lower-income and non-English speaking Western societies, are needed.
Thermal degradation kinetics of a lignin particle-reinforced phenolic foam
Authors: Carlos Domínguez Juan , Saz-Orozco Belén Del , Oliet Mercedes , Virginia Alonso M , Rodriguez Francisco
Published: June 2020

In the present work, the thermal degradation kinetics of a phenolic (PF) and lignin particle-reinforced phenolic (LRPF) foam and the lignin used as the reinforcement (LR) were studied. The activation energies of the degradation processes were obtained using a discrete distributed activation energy model (discrete DAEM) and the Vyazovkin model-free kinetic (MFK) method. The discrete DAEM was validated by comparing the predicted values with the data obtained at 8 °C min−1. Heating ramps of 6 and 12 °C min−1 were used to calculate the kinetic parameters through the model. The effect of the reinforcement on the kinetics of the LRPF was studied by comparison with the results obtained for the PF. For reactions with non-zero mass fractions, the activation energies of the PF were in the range between 79.9 and 177.6 kJ mol−1, and the activation energy for the LRPF ranged from 91 to 187 kJ mol−1. For the LR, the activation energy values were in a narrower range than for the foams: 150–187 kJ mol−1. The degradation process of the LRPF was modified due to the use of LR: the range of activation energy for LRPF was between the ranges for the PF and LR. The activation energy dependence on conversion was also calculated using the Vyazovkin method and compared with the DAEM results; no compensation effect for the kinetic parameters was found.
Numerical modeling of the hygro-mechanical behavior of the 3D composite materials
Authors: Mbacké Mamadou Abdoul , Khazaie Shahram , Fréour Sylvain , Jacquemin Frédéric
Published: June 2020

The composite materials used in marine environments are subjected to mechanical loads along with the water absorption. The analysis of the behavior of such materials requires to take into account the coupling between the mechanical and diffusion behaviors. The hygro-mechanical coupling has been widely investigated experimentally and numerically. This paper presents a numerical approach to model the hygro-mechanical coupling of composite materials. The diffusion process is modeled via the classical Fick’s law. The elasticity matrix is considered to belong to transverse isotropic class, i.e. the composite studied is a unidirectional one. The components of the former are considered as moisture content dependent. The constitutive law takes into account on the one hand the strain induced by the hygroscopic swelling and on the other hand the dependence of the mechanical properties (elastic constants along with the material ultimate strengths) on the moisture content. These are implemented in a finite element software used to investigate the influence of the hygro-mechanical coupling on the composite material behavior. The robustness of our numerical tool is investigated with some numerical case studies.
AFM Based Nanomechanical Characterization of Cellulose Nanofibril
Authors: Parvej M Subbir , Wang Xinnan , Jiang Long
Published: June 2020

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) is the fundamental unit of almost all types of natural fibers and is regarded as one of the main factors that influence their mechanical properties. Besides, owing to having a high aspect ratio, it is increasingly being used in the research of nanocomposite as a reinforcement recently. In order to utilize CNF as reinforcement more effectively, it is important to have a comprehensive idea about the mechanical properties of individual CNFs. Most of the studies are focused on the elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction, but the study of the elastic modulus in the transverse direction is still lacking. In this study, a single strand of CNF was subjected to an atomic force microscopy to characterize the surface morphology of CNF and determine the transverse elastic modulus through nanoindentation. The transverse elastic modulus of CNF was calculated to be 6.9 [Formula: see text] 0.4 GPa using extended JKR model.
Geovisualization and Spatial Analysis of Infant Mortality and Preterm Birth in Ohio, 2008-2015: Opportunities to Enhance Spatial Thinking
Authors: Root Elisabeth Dowling , Bailey Emelie D. , Gorham Tyler , Browning Christopher , Song Chi , Salsberry Pamela
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Geovisualization and spatial analysis are valuable tools for exploring and evaluating the complex social, economic, and environmental interactions that lead to spatial inequalities in health. The objective of this study was to describe spatial patterns of infant mortality and preterm birth in Ohio by using interactive mapping and spatial analysis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Ohio vital statistics records from 2008-2015. We geocoded live births and infant deaths by using residential address at birth. We used multivariable logistic regression to adjust spatial and space–time cluster analyses that examined the geographic clustering of infant mortality and preterm birth and changes in spatial distribution over time.

Results

The overall infant mortality rate in Ohio during the study period was 6.55 per 1000 births; of 1 097 507 births, 10.3% (n = 112 552) were preterm. We found significant geographic clustering of both infant mortality and preterm birth centered on large urban areas. However, when known demographic risk factors were taken into account, urban clusters disappeared and, for preterm birth, new rural clusters appeared.

Conclusions

Although many public health agencies have the capacity to create maps of health outcomes, complex spatial analysis and geovisualization techniques are still challenging for public health practitioners to use and understand. We found that actively engaging policymakers in reviewing results of the cluster analysis improved understanding of the processes driving spatial patterns of birth outcomes in the state.
Age and Life Satisfaction: Getting Control Variables under Control
Authors: Bartram David
Published: June 2020

Researchers investigating the relationship between age and life satisfaction have produced conflicting answers, via disputes over whether to include individual-level control variables in regression models. Most scholars believe there is a ‘U-shaped’ relationship, with life satisfaction falling towards middle age and subsequently rising. This position emerges mainly in research that uses control variables (for example, for income and marital status). This approach is incorrect. Regression models should control only ‘confounding’ variables; that is, variables that are causally prior to the dependent variable and the core independent variable of interest. Other individual-level variables cannot determine one’s age; they are not confounders and should not be controlled. This article applies these points to data from the World Values Survey. A key finding is that there is at best a negligible post-middle-age rise in life satisfaction – and the important implication is that there cannot then be a U-shaped relationship between age and life satisfaction.
Ethical Considerations in Designing Virtual and Augmented Reality Products—Virtual and Augmented Reality Design With Students in Mind: Designers’ Perceptions
Authors: Steele Patricia , Burleigh Cheryl , Kroposki Margaret , Magabo Myrene , Bailey Liston
Published: June 2020

Developers and designers of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) products are expressing concerns regarding accountability for ethical design and use of VR/AR products in virtual learning environments. Within the field of education, more research is needed to determine how VR/AR designers make decisions regarding ethical issues, and particularly when integrating media into learning content. The purpose of the qualitative inquiry study was to interview designers/developers of VR/AR products regarding their perceptions of ethics in design and use of VR/AR products designed for educational purposes. Data collection was achieved through a sample of self-described instructional designers and developers from the Association for Educational Communications and Technology membership. Through qualitative inquiry with one-on-one interviews, designers shared their stories about their perceptions of ethics in the design and development of VR/AR products for educational purposes.