bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic simulation for high‐stakes conversations
Authors: Saleh Maha , Shugar Andrea , Dodds Alison , Bismilla Zia
Published: February 2022

Background

High‐stakes conversations are frequent in Medical Genetics. News shared is often perceived as “bad” and can lead to patient hostility. Breaking bad news (BBN) is therefore a challenging clinical task for physicians and is often included as a foundational skill in medical education. The methods of teaching this skill are variable, with no widely accepted standard. We propose the use of simulation as a safe and effective training tool.

Approach

Medical Genetics residents participated in a 4‐week curriculum on BBN and de‐escalating patient hostility and anger. The curriculum consisted of (1) a standardised patient simulation scenario requiring the disclosure of abnormal prenatal test result to a hostile patient, (2) coaching and feedback by genetic counsellors (GCs), (3) reflective exercises, and (4) workshops on de‐escalation techniques. Trainees completed a postsimulation survey and postencounter reflection forms. Written comments on the survey and the reflections were analysed for themes.

Evaluation

Six junior and four senior residents participated in this curriculum innovation. Analysis of reflections revealed that simulation coupled with the genetic counsellor's (GC) timely feedback and reflection exercise were good education strategies for practicing BBN and de‐escalation techniques in a challenging counselling situation. Most of the trainees felt that this teaching approach was successful and should be used for future training.

Implications

Simulation can help prepare Medical Genetics trainees deliver difficult news and successfully de‐escalate a hostile patient encounter. Consideration should be given to counselling and de‐escalation simulations as a useful addition to standing curricula for Medical Genetics trainees.
Simply laced root systems arising from quantum affine algebras
Authors: Kashiwara Masaki , Kim Myungho , Oh Se-jin , Park Euiyong
Published: February 2022

Let$U_q'({\mathfrak {g}})$be a quantum affine algebra with an indeterminate$q$, and let$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$be the category of finite-dimensional integrable$U_q'({\mathfrak {g}})$-modules. We write$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$for the monoidal subcategory of$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$introduced by Hernandez and Leclerc. In this paper, we associate a simply laced finite-type root system to each quantum affine algebra$U_q'({\mathfrak {g}})$in a natural way and show that the block decompositions of$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$and$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$are parameterized by the lattices associated with the root system. We first define a certain abelian group$\mathcal {W}$(respectively$\mathcal {W} _0$) arising from simple modules of$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$(respectively$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$) by using the invariant$\Lambda ^\infty$introduced in previous work by the authors. The groups$\mathcal {W}$and$\mathcal {W} _0$have subsets$\Delta$and$\Delta _0$determined by the fundamental representations in$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}$and$\mathscr {C}_{\mathfrak {g}}^0$, respectively. We prove that the pair$( \mathbb {R} \otimes _\mathbb {\mspace {1mu}Z\mspace {1mu}} \mathcal {W} _0, \Delta _0)$is an irreducible simply laced root system of finite type and that the pair$( \mathbb {R} \otimes _\mathbb {\mspace {1mu}Z\mspace {1mu}} \mathcal {W} , \Delta )$is isomorphic to the direct sum of infinite copies of$( \mathbb {R} \otimes _\mathbb {\mspace {1mu}Z\mspace {1mu}} \mathcal {W} _0, \Delta _0)$as a root system.
Dimensional reduction in cohomological Donaldson–Thomas theory
Authors: Kinjo Tasuki
Published: February 2022

For oriented $-1$-shifted symplectic derived Artin stacks, Ben-Bassat, Brav, Bussi and Joyce introduced certain perverse sheaves on them which can be regarded as sheaf-theoretic categorifications of the Donaldson–Thomas invariants. In this paper, we prove that the hypercohomology of the above perverse sheaf on the $-1$-shifted cotangent stack over a quasi-smooth derived Artin stack is isomorphic to the Borel–Moore homology of the base stack up to a certain shift of degree. This is a global version of the dimensional reduction theorem due to Davison. We give two applications of our main theorem. Firstly, we apply it to the study of the cohomological Donaldson–Thomas invariants for local surfaces. Secondly, regarding our main theorem as a version of the Thom isomorphism theorem for dual obstruction cones, we propose a sheaf-theoretic construction of the virtual fundamental classes for quasi-smooth derived Artin stacks.
Discursos, procesos y prácticas en la kritikà. Una aproximación etnográfica al fenómeno musical cretense
Authors:   Universidad de Barcelona, Alsina Iglesias Jordi
Published: February 2022

La comunicación quiere ser un acercamiento a las diferentes manifestaciones de la denominada música tradicional cretense, después del trabajo de campo realizado entre los años 2006-2009. Entendemos la música como hecho cultural (Merriam 1964) y también social, por eso, no nos limitamos sólo al estudio de los sonidos o instrumentos musicales, sino también pretendemos introducir en nuestro relato otros elementos de la vida cretense sin los cuales muchos aspectos de estas músicas serian difíciles de entender. Aparte de hablar de los diferenes géneros y estilos que configuran esta música, así también como de las canciones, se hará especial hincapié en sus músicos y especialistas, destacando aspectos concretos de su profesionalización y sus procesos de aprendizaje. Por otro lado, se introducen cuestiones de género siguiendo la línia ya trazada en su momento por Tullia Magrini (2009) en sus estudios sobre músicas del Mediterraneo y sus prácticas musicales. En el caso que nos ocupa, son muchos los contextos en los cuales se hace música (Dawe 2007), pero resulta imprecindible hablar de la fiesta (del panigiri y glendi), si pretendemos describir las prácticas musicales de este sociedad o de cualquier otra. Por otro lado, en nuestra aproximación, tampoco queremos dejar de lado las problemáticas asociadas a las políticas culturales, la mediamorfosi o los procesos de producción. Por último, cuando unas músicas tienen profundas raíces a lo largo de la historia es fácil ponerlas en relación con las identidades colectivas (Josep Martí 2000), y es en este punto que pretendemos resaltar una de las funciones que asociamos directamente a la música de Creta: la de expressar sentimientos de pertinencia. Una música con la cual se construye socialmente cierto tipo de identidad.
Addressing Literature Gaps in Online Learning and Adapted Physical Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: McNamara Scott W.T. , Bittner Melissa , Katz Heather , Hangauer Kelly
Published: February 2022

The coronavirus pandemic required teachers to abruptly turn to online settings to deliver instruction. Unfortunately, evidence-based guidance for online instruction in the field of physical education is lacking, specifically for students with disabilities. Therefore, this scoping review sought to identify peer-reviewed literature addressing online learning in K–12 adapted physical education settings. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist was used to guide this scoping review. A database search was conducted for relevant articles, and a data charting process was completed to identify articles meeting inclusion criteria. Five articles were determined to be within the scope of this review (one research article and four commentary articles). This scoping review highlighted a lack of literature pertaining to online learning in K–12 adapted physical education. Considering the likelihood of online learning becoming increasingly relevant, more concerted efforts are needed to investigate trends in these settings to determine best practices and how students with disabilities experience adapted physical education within an online setting.
Channeling cGAMP
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2022

The cyclic dinucleotide cGAMP taken up through the anion channel component LRRC8C suppresses T cell function.
A human antibody reveals a conserved site on beta-coronavirus spike proteins and confers protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Zhou Panpan , Yuan Meng , Song Ge , Beutler Nathan , Shaabani Namir , Huang Deli , He Wan-ting , Zhu Xueyong , Callaghan Sean , Yong Peter , Anzanello Fabio , Peng Linghang , Ricketts James , Parren Mara , Garcia Elijah , Rawlings Stephen A. , Smith Davey M. , Nemazee David , Teijaro John R. , Rogers Thomas F. , Wilson Ian A. , Burton Dennis R. , Andrabi Raiees
Published: February 2022

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to coronaviruses (CoVs) are valuable in their own right as prophylactic and therapeutic reagents to treat diverse CoVs and as templates for rational pan-CoV vaccine design. We recently described a bnAb, CC40.8, from a CoV disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescent donor that exhibits broad reactivity with human β-CoVs. Here, we showed that CC40.8 targets the conserved S2 stem helix region of the CoV spike fusion machinery. We determined a crystal structure of CC40.8 Fab with a SARS-CoV-2 S2 stem peptide at 1.6-Å resolution and found that the peptide adopted a mainly helical structure. Conserved residues in β-CoVs interacted with CC40.8 antibody, thereby providing a molecular basis for its broad reactivity. CC40.8 exhibited in vivo protective efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in two animal models. In both models, CC40.8-treated animals exhibited less weight loss and reduced lung viral titers compared to controls. Furthermore, we noted that CC40.8-like bnAbs are relatively rare in human COVID-19 infection, and therefore, their elicitation may require rational structure-based vaccine design strategies. Overall, our study describes a target on β-CoV spike proteins for protective antibodies that may facilitate the development of pan–β-CoV vaccines.
Local Rather than Global H3K27me3 Dynamics Are Associated with Differential Gene Expression in Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Kramer H. Martin , Seidl Michael F. , Thomma Bart P. H. J. , Cook David E.
Published: February 2022

In many organisms, including filamentous fungi, epigenetic mechanisms that involve chemical and physical modifications of DNA without changing the genetic sequence have been implicated in transcriptional responses upon developmental or environmental cues. In fungi, facultative heterochromatin that can decondense to allow transcription in response to developmental changes or environmental stimuli is characterized by the trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3), and H3K27me3 has been implicated in transcriptional regulation, although the precise mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic.
Subcellular Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Human Tissue Reveals Distinct Localization in Alveolar Type 2 Pneumocytes and Alveolar Macrophages
Authors: Acheampong Kofi K. , Schaff Dylan L. , Emert Benjamin L. , Lake Jonathan , Reffsin Sam , Shea Emily K. , Comar Courtney E. , Litzky Leslie A. , Khurram Nigar A. , Linn Rebecca L. , Feldman Michael , Weiss Susan R. , Montone Kathleen T. , Cherry Sara , Shaffer Sydney M.
Published: February 2022

Here, we developed anin situRNA detection assay for RNA generated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We found viral RNA in lung, lymph node, and placenta samples from pathology specimens from COVID patients. Using high-magnification microscopy, we can visualize the subcellular distribution of these RNA in single cells.
Degradation of the Escherichia coli Essential Proteins DapB and Dxr Results in Oxidative Stress, which Contributes to Lethality through Incomplete Base Excision Repair
Authors: Gruber Charley C. , Babu Vignesh M. P. , Livingston Kamren , Joisher Heer , Walker Graham C.
Published: February 2022

Bacterial cell death is a poorly understood process. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an apparently common response to challenges by a wide variety of lethal stresses, including bactericidal antibiotics.
Aridity Threshold Induces Abrupt Change of Soil Abundant and Rare Bacterial Biogeography in Dryland Ecosystems
Authors: Pan Haibo , Gao Hang , Peng Ziheng , Chen Beibei , Chen Shi , Liu Yu , Gu Jie , Wei Xiaorong , Chen Weimin , Wei Gehong , Jiao Shuo
Published: February 2022

Aridity, which is increasing worldwide due to climate change, affects the biodiversity and functions of dryland ecosystems. We provided the first statistical evidence for abrupt changes of species coexistence, ecological processes, and niche conservation of abundant and rare soil bacteria triggered by diversity to abrupt increases in aridity.
Adenomyoepithelioma of the breast: a rare diagnosis complicated by surgical emergency and diagnostic uncertainty
Authors: Ford Christopher Michael , Regan Hilary , Dwyer Moyna , Patel Gaurel
Published: February 2022

A woman in her 80s was referred as an emergency case with a large oedematous and ulcerating lesion of the right breast. There was a 5-month history of increasing breast volume with new onset skin breakdown and discharge. Imaging revealed an extensive heterogeneous mass requiring drainage. No diagnosis was received from multiple biopsies and immediate surgical resection of the breast and axillary sampling was prioritised given the deteriorating patient condition. Postoperative histology identified a biphasic Adenomyoepithelioma of low malignant potential, a rare presentation compounding the complexity of management. The diagnostic uncertainty of this case highlighted the importance of MDT collaboration and the flexibility of current management pathways when dealing with cases requiring urgent surgical intervention. Axillary sampling in the context of unsuccessful preoperative biopsy represented a comprehensive means for assessing the need for further surgical or systemic management in the context of unconfirmed malignancy in a deteriorating patient.
Third cranial nerve palsy in an 88-year-old man after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination: change of injection site and type of vaccine resulted in an uneventful second dose with humoral immune response
Authors: Cicalese Maria Pia , Ferrua Francesca , Barzaghi Federica , Cerri Federica , Moro Matteo , Aiuti Alessandro , Silvani Paolo
Published: February 2022

Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 currently authorised by the European Medicine Agency are effective, safe and well tolerated in practice. Awareness of rare potential vaccine-related adverse effects (AEs) is important to improve their recognition, management and reporting. An 88-year-old man attended the emergency department with incomplete palsy of the right third cranial nerve 3 days after the first administration of Moderna mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Imaging ruled out a vascular accident and a vaccine AE was hypothesised. Two weeks of oral steroids led to the patient’s recovery, but without evidence of humoral immune response to vaccine. Thus, full immunisation with a dose of Pfizer mRNA-BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a different site was attempted. This was uneventful and followed by a robust antibody response. Empirical change of site and vaccine brand may represent a tailored option to obtain full immune protection in selected patients, after vaccine AEs.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in an adult (MIS-A) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection presenting to a South African hospital
Authors: Balkaran Sarvesh , Surdut Samuel Peres , Rose David Morris , Freercks Robert
Published: February 2022

Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory syndrome related to SARS-CoV-2 infection is a well-described condition in children and adolescents (MIS-C) and now also in adults (MIS-A). We report a case of MIS-A in a previously well woman in her mid-30s who presented with vasopressor-dependent shock 2 weeks after initial recovery from suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, accompanied by fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, arthralgia, rash, cough and headache. Examination was notable for fever, tachycardia, hypotension, cervical lymphadenopathy, mucocutaneous involvement, neck stiffness, pansystolic murmur and bilateral crepitations. Inflammatory markers were elevated. Echocardiogram showed mitral regurgitation with preserved ejection fraction. She was treated with vasopressors, admitted to the intensive care unit and subsequently required invasive mechanical ventilation. Both PCR and antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 were positive. Treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin was initiated with rapid improvement in clinical condition and inflammatory markers. She has since made a full recovery with normal echocardiogram 8 months later.
Hysterectomy in a phenotypic male with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
Authors: Aziz Nor Azimah , Mohd Ali Masliza Hanuni , Ramli Roziana
Published: February 2022

A young adult patient with 46XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) presented with recurrent painful haematuria. CAH was diagnosed at birth following ambiguous genitalia. Hormonal treatment was started, female gender was assigned and feminising genitoplasty was planned, however the patient was lost to follow-up. Gender dysphoria started to occur during childhood which prompted the family to raise the patient as a boy. He eventually identified himself as a male. Examination revealed a male phenotype with severely virilised genitalia. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of uterus with low confluent urogenital sinus. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed, and the troublesome symptoms were cured.
Sideroblastic anaemia in a patient with sickle cell disease
Authors: Vobugari Nikitha , Chaturvedi Mansi , Schlam-Camhi Ilana Miriam , Smith Hedy Patricia
Published: February 2022

Sideroblastic anaemia is a rare condition. We report a unique case of concomitant sideroblastic anaemia in a patient with sickle cell disease with long-standing blood transfusion history. Due to a low prevalence of sideroblastic anaemia, the diagnosis of sideroblastic anaemia is often difficult, especially when coexisting with common types of anaemia, including sickle cell disease. This case highlights the detrimental effects of anchoring bias. Rare causes of refractory anaemia should be considered in patients with haemoglobin disorders as the therapeutic approaches for these conditions are different. High suspicion on the part of the clinician and low threshold for workup of anaemia often aids in the diagnosis of coexisting conditions such as sideroblastic anaemia. Early diagnosis and treatment of sideroblastic anaemia improves patient outcomes and prevents long-term complications.
Sweet’s syndrome in the setting of newly initiated risankizumab therapy for pre-existing psoriasis
Authors: Ahmed Fadwa , Masur Samuel , Ben Khadra Shaza , Baig Muhammad
Published: February 2022

Sweet’s syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is a rare disorder of unclear aetiology characterised by painful cutaneous lesions, sometimes accompanied by systemic symptoms. It has been associated with several autoimmune conditions, drugs, malignancies and infections, though many cases are idiopathic. We describe a case of Sweet’s syndrome in a 49-year-old man with pre-existing psoriasis following recent initiation of risankizumab therapy. There are very few reported cases of Sweet’s syndrome in association with psoriasis and no existing reports in association with an IL-23 inhibiting medication. Further investigation of the potentially overlapping immunologic pathways implicated in cutaneous reactions to biologic agents and autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis may yield insights into the pathogenesis of such conditions and guide advancements in the rapidly evolving field of targeted biologic therapies.
Actinomyces meyericausing disseminated actinomycosis in the presence of concurrent bronchogenic carcinoma
Authors: Cliffe Adam , Hassan Wafa , Ward Daniel , Elgara Mohamed
Published: February 2022

We describe the presentation of a 72-year-old woman with concurrent diagnoses of lung adenocarcinoma in conjunction with disseminated Actinomyces meyeriinfection; a rare pathogen which can mimic lung cancer both symptomatically and radiologically. The patient was found to have a pelvic mass initially presumed to be cervical metastases—later confirmed to be of xanthogranulomatous inflammatory origin following transvaginal ultrasound-guided biopsy. The pathogenic cause, identified following pleural aspirate, being a fully sensitiveA. meyeriinfection; treated with prolonged course amoxicillin.
Assessing the psychosocial dimensions of frailty among older adults in Singapore: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Chong Elliot Yeung , Lim Angela Hui-Shan , Mah Freda Cheng Yee , Yeo Lyn Hui Wen , Ng Shu Tian , Yi Huso
Published: February 2022

Objective

To examine how multiple dimensions of mental and social health, in addition to physical health, were associated with frailty among older adults.

Design

A door-to-door sampling household community-based survey.

Setting

Thirty-two public housing blocks within a residential town in Singapore’s central region.

Participants

497 residents aged 60 years or older from the public housing town.

Outcome measures

Physical frailty was assessed using the FRAIL Scale, which stands for fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses and loss of weight. Physical health was assessed by multimorbidity, physical activity and functional ability; mental illness was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ); and social domains were assessed by the Lubben Social Network Scale, Community Integration Measure and UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale.

Results

Compared with robust (59.5%) and prefrail (32.6%) older adults, frail adults (7.9%) reported higher morbidity, lower functional ability and physical activity, higher scores on GHQ, and lower scores on all three social health scales. In multiple regression models, frailty was significantly associated with age 81–90 years (adjusted OR=2.22, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.99), having 2–3 (adjusted OR=1.56, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.38) or >3 (adjusted OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.18) chronic diseases, reduced ability to perform daily tasks without assistance (adjusted OR=0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.73), having fallen in the past 6 months (adjusted OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.18 to 4.06), social dysfunction in GHQ (adjusted OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.43) and loneliness (adjusted OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.50). Physical activity did not remain significantly associated with frailty when mental and social health-related factors were entered in the regression.

Conclusion

Community intervention for frailty prevention and management needs to include mental health promotion and social engagement to increase its impact on older adults.
Consumption and effects of caffeinated energy drinks in young people: an overview of systematic reviews and secondary analysis of UK data to inform policy
Authors: Khouja Claire , Kneale Dylan , Brunton Ginny , Raine Gary , Stansfield Claire , Sowden Amanda , Sutcliffe Katy , Thomas James
Published: February 2022

Background

This overview and analysis of UK datasets was commissioned by the UK government to address concerns about children’s consumption of caffeinated energy drinks and their effects on health and behaviour.

Methods

We searched nine databases for systematic reviews, published between 2013 and July 2021, in English, assessing caffeinated energy drink consumption by people under 18 years old (children). Two reviewers rated or checked risk of bias using AMSTAR2, and extracted and synthesised findings. We searched the UK Data Service for country-representative datasets, reporting children’s energy-drink consumption, and conducted bivariate or latent class analyses.

Results

For the overview, we included 15 systematic reviews; six reported drinking prevalence and 14 reported associations between drinking and health or behaviour. AMSTAR2 ratings were low or critically low. Worldwide, across reviews, from 13% to 67% of children had consumed energy drinks in the past year. Only two of the 74 studies in the reviews were UK-based. For the dataset analysis, we identified and included five UK cross-sectional datasets, and found that 3% to 32% of children, across UK countries, consumed energy drinks weekly, with no difference by ethnicity. Frequent drinking (5 or more days per week) was associated with low psychological, physical, educational and overall well-being. Evidence from reviews and datasets suggested that boys drank more than girls, and drinking was associated with more headaches, sleep problems, alcohol use, smoking, irritability, and school exclusion. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) assessment suggests that the evidence is weak.

Conclusions

Weak evidence suggests that up to a third of children in the UK consume caffeinated energy drinks weekly; and drinking 5 or more days per week is associated with some health and behaviour problems. Most of the evidence is from surveys, making it impossible to distinguish cause from effect. Randomised controlled trials are unlikely to be ethical; longitudinal studies could provide stronger evidence.

PROSPERO registrations

CRD42018096292 – no deviations. CRD42018110498 – one deviation - a latent class analysis was conducted.
Association of occupational sitting with cardiovascular outcomes and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review with a sex-sensitive/gender-sensitive perspective
Authors: Reichel Kathrin , Prigge Michaela , Latza Ute , Kurth Tobias , Backé Eva-Maria
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Sedentary behaviour is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular health. Although long periods of sedentary behaviour take place at work, evidence of the relationship between such occupational sitting and cardiometabolic health risks remains limited. This systematic review aimed to update the evidence on the associations of occupational sitting with cardiovascular outcomes and cardiometabolic risk factors based on longitudinal studies.

Design

Systematic review.

Setting

Workplace.

Population

Employees aged 18–65 years.

Primary and secondary outcomes

Primary outcomes were cardiovascular diseases and cardiometabolic risk markers. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality.

Data sources

Ten databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL (search January 2018, updated February 2019).

Data extraction and synthesis

Data were screened, extracted and appraised by three independent reviewers following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Results

Studies were markedly heterogeneous in terms of measurement of occupational sitting, cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, so that standards were hardly identifiable and limiting the value of the evidence. The review included 27 high or acceptable quality publications. Of the eight high-quality publications from seven cohorts, three cohort studies found significant associations of occupational sitting with primary outcomes. Additionally, one study described an association with the secondary outcome. Another high-quality publication found an association between occupational sitting and ischaemic heart disease in a subgroup already at risk due to hypertension. For sex/gender analysis, 11 of the 27 high and acceptable quality publications reported sex-stratified results. Five of these found sex differences.

Conclusions

Evidence regarding the association of occupational sitting with cardiometabolic health risks was limited because of the lack of standardised measurements for occupational sitting. Occupational sitting combined with an overall sedentary lifestyle was associated with an elevated relative risk for several cardiometabolic outcomes. There is an urgent need for standardised measurements of occupational sitting to facilitate meta-analysis. Sex/gender aspects of this relationship require further investigation.
Non-linear relationship between basal serum albumin concentration and cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with end-stage renal disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zeng Yong-Qin , Qin Zuo-An , Guo Zi-Wei , Li Bo , Yu Hai-Yan , Chen Rui-Xue , Tang Ying-Qian , Hu Ke-Jin , Guan Cheng-Jing , Yan Rui
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The aim of our study was to investigate the association between serum albumin concentration and the risk of cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with end-stage renal disease in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design

This was a secondary analysis.

Setting

The Phillip electronic-ICU collaborative database from 2014 to 2015.

Participants

This study included 4990 critically ill patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The exposure of interest was serum albumin concentration. The outcome variable was cardiac arrest.

Results

A non-linear relationship was observed between serum albumin concentration and risk of cardiac arrest, with an inflection point of 3.26 g/dL after adjusting for potential confounders. The effect sizes and the CIs on the left and right sides of the inflection point were 0.88 (0.65 to 1.19) and 0.32 (0.16 to 0.64), respectively.

Conclusions

Within an albumin range of 3.26–5.6 g/dL, each 1 g/dL increase in serum levels is associated with a 68% decrease of the risk of cardiac arrest in critically ill patients with end-stage renal disease.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on TB prevention and care in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a retrospective database study
Authors: Arega Balew , Negesso Abebe , Taye Betelhem , Weldeyohhans Getachew , Bewket Bekure , Negussie Tesfaye , Teshome Ayele , Endazenew Getabalew
Published: February 2022

Objective

The current COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia could cause severe dysfunction in tuberculosis (TB) treatment, diagnostic services, and prevention and control efforts. In this study, we evaluated the effect of COVID-19 on TB service indicators in Addis Ababa, where more than two-thirds of the country’s COVID-19 morbidity was recorded.

Design

We performed a comparative retrospective study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on TB services during the pre-COVID-19 era (from April 2019 to March 2020) and the COVID-19 era (from April 2020 to March 2021) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We extracted data on total TB detection rate, TB treatment success rate, isoniazid prophylaxis therapy, and drug susceptibility tests and others from the health information system. Using Poisson regression, we estimated the incidence rate ratios and the absolute number difference of the indicators (number per quarter and year) in the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 eras.

Results

Compared with the pre-COVID-19 era, the total TB detection, bacteriologically confirmed TB, TB treatment success rate, latent TB infection treatment and community health workers’ engagement in TB detection decreased, respectively, by 11%, 11.8%, 17%, 44.7% and 77.2% during the COVID-19 period. Rifampicin resistance increased by 27.7% during the same period. Comparative analysis showed a significant decline in these TB service indicators (p<0.001)

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on TB service indicators in Addis Ababa. This highlights the importance of reinforcing TB services, including adopting alternative digital health technology to screen for TB and integrating TB and COVID-19 services to mitigate COVID-19’s challenges to TB prevention and care.
Can achievement at medical admission tests predict future performance in postgraduate clinical assessments? A UK-based national cohort study
Authors: Paton Lewis W , McManus I C , Cheung Kevin Yet Fong , Smith Daniel Thomas , Tiffin Paul A
Published: February 2022

Objective

To determine whether scores on two undergraduate admissions tests (BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) and University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)) predict performance on the postgraduate Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) examination, including the clinical examination Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES).

Design

National cohort study.

Setting

Doctors who graduated medical school between 2006 and 2018.

Participants

3045 doctors who had sat BMAT, UCAT and the MRCP.

Primary outcome measures

Passing each section of the MRCP at the first attempt, including the clinical assessment PACES.

Results

Several BMAT and UCAT subtest scores displayed incremental predictive validity for performance on the first two (written) parts of the MRCP. Only aptitude and skills on BMAT (OR 1.34, 1.08 to 1.67, p=0.01) and verbal reasoning on UCAT (OR 1.34, 1.04 to 1.71, p=0.02) incrementally predicted passing PACES at the first attempt.

Conclusions

Our results imply that the abilities assessed by aptitude and skills and verbal reasoning may be the most important cognitive attributes, of those routinely assessed at selection, for predicting future clinical performance. Selectors may wish to consider placing particular weight on scales assessing these attributes if they wish to select applicants likely to become more competent clinicians. These results are potentially relevant in an international context too, since many admission tests used globally, such as the Medical College Admission Test, assess similar abilities.
Crowd behaviour in Canadian football stadia — Part 1: Data collection
Authors: Chin Kathryn , Young Timothy , Chorlton Bronwyn , Aucoin Danielle , Gales John
Published: February 2022

Large crowd sizes at stadia events require an in-depth consideration of human behaviour, since the reliability of egress models in design depends on the confidence of the input data. However, there is little contemporary public data surrounding crowd behaviour, and its implementation into pedestrian movement models, particularly focused on Canadian demographics in stadia. A novel data collection (Part 1) and subsequent egress validation modelling of a Canadian stadium were completed to examine the variability of simulations with behavioural inputs (Part 2). The demographic distribution, pedestrian speed, exit and route choice, and areas of congestion were quantified using high resolution cameras. Behaviourally, pedestrians exited the stadium where they entered which created high levels of cross flow. It was observed that contemporary walking speed profiles for stadia will differentiate from classical profiles especially with reflection of demographic distribution by as much as 31%. Individual walking speeds, while highly variable, impacted overall egress time. Crowd density also being a factor that further reduced their speed.
The geometry of suspicious money laundering activities in financial networks
Authors: Granados Oscar M. , Vargas Andrés
Published: February 2022

Corruption and organized crime are social problems that affect different communities around the world, involving public and private organizations in diverse sectors and activities. However, these problems are global phenomena that transcend economic, cultural, and social borders, especially, when corrupt individuals use the global financial system to protect their illegal money. This paper aims to evaluate the money laundering mechanism in financial networks, studying the structure of some suspicious money laundering groups, and how they could be detected by the use of topological and geometrical considerations that avoid the need of possibly non-available (or restricted) information.
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON TOURIST HOTEL PERFORMANCE AND TOURISM DEMAND: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE USING POPULATION-BASED ADMINISTRATIVE DATA FROM TAIWAN
Authors: LEE TZONG-HAW , SU YI-JU , CHANG HUNG-HAO
Published: February 2022

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on tourist hotel performance and tourism demand in Taiwan. We use population-based administrative data on tourist hotels and visits with official records of COVID-19 cases to estimate the effect of the disease on the industry. Results show that a 1% increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 decreased the total revenues, and the room revenues and food and beverage revenues of tourist hotels by 0.33%, 0.47% and 0.26%, respectively. Moreover, the impact of COVID-19 is heterogeneously distributed among tourist hotels of different quality. With respect to mechanism behind the negative effect of COVID-19 on tourist hotel performance, decreases in tourism demand is a driving factor. We find that a 1% increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reduces the number of tourist visits by 0.10%.
Effective Heuristic Techniques for Combined Robust Clustering Problem
Authors: Xu Yunhe , Wu Chenchen , Gai Ling , Han Lu
Published: February 2022

Clustering is one of the most important problems in the fields of data mining, machine learning, and biological population division, etc. Moreover, robust variant for [Formula: see text]-means problem, which includes [Formula: see text]-means with penalties and [Formula: see text]-means with outliers, is also an active research branch. Most of these problems are NP-hard even the most classical problem, [Formula: see text]-means problem. For the NP-hard problems, the heuristic algorithm is a powerful method. When the quality of the output can be guaranteed, the algorithm is called an approximation algorithm.

In this paper, combining two types of robust settings, we consider [Formula: see text]-means problem with penalties and outliers ([Formula: see text]-MPO). In the [Formula: see text]-MPO, we are given an [Formula: see text]-point set [Formula: see text], a penalty cost [Formula: see text] for each [Formula: see text], an integer [Formula: see text], and an integer [Formula: see text]. The target is to find a center subset [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], a penalty subset [Formula: see text] and an outlier subset [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], such that the sum of the total costs, including the connection cost and the penalty cost, is minimized. We offer an approximation algorithm using a heuristic local search scheme. Based on a single-swap manipulation, we obtain [Formula: see text]-approximation algorithm.
Noether symmetry analysis in chameleon field cosmology
Authors: Bhaumik Roshni , Dutta Sourav , Chakraborty Subenoy
Published: February 2022

This work deals with chameleon field cosmology (a scalar field nonminimally coupled to cold dark matter) in the background of flat Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) space–time. Both classical and quantum cosmology have been investigated using Noether symmetry analysis of the underlying physical system. The Wheeler–DeWitt (WD) equation has been constructed on the minisuperspace and solutions have been obtained using conserved charge.
The defect technique for partially absorbing and reflecting boundaries: Application to the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process
Authors: Kay Toby , McKetterick Thomas John , Giuggioli Luca
Published: February 2022

A particle roaming in a potential in the presence of spatial heterogeneities such as traps or physical barriers is a mathematical representation of a vast number of processes across multiple disciplines, ranging from the dynamics of chemical reactions and the movement of foraging animals to the performance of a financial asset. Among the approaches to tackle such problems, a powerful one is the so-called defect technique. Within a continuous space–time formulation, the technique has been successfully used to analyze diffusion problems with partially absorbing boundaries, but has not been employed to study other types of boundaries. Here we exploit the continuity equation to extend the defect technique to when partially reflecting barriers are present. For each boundary type, we apply the defect formalism to the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, recovering known analytical results and presenting new ones.
Reconstruction of f(T) cosmological singular model unifying early and late-time eras with radiation–matter-dominated epochs
Authors: Houndjo M. J. S. , Ganiou M. G. , Kiatti-Tchansi F. , Kanfon A. D.
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we consider two interesting cosmological models characterized by two expressions of the Hubble parameter and as goal, we realize the unification of the early-time and the late-time acceleration eras with the radiation- and matter-dominated eras, and this, in the context of [Formula: see text] theory of gravity. The particularity here is that the first model ensures just the unification of the early- and late-time eras with the matter-dominated era without the account of the radiation era, while the second model guarantees the unification of all the eras, namely, the early time, the radiation- and matter-dominated eras, and the late-time acceleration era. For each model, we point out two type IV singularities, the first occurring at the end of the inflationary era and the second at the end of the matter-dominated era. For the first model, the Hubble radius is introduced and three different expressions are taken into account: the first for the inflationary era, the second for the matter-dominated era and the third for the dark energy-dominated era. Hence, the algebraic [Formula: see text] is reconstructed for the three eras. Attention is attached to the inflationary era by calculating the corresponding two first slow-roll parameters and challenging them with recent Planck and BICEP2/Keck-Array observational data, and the results show the consistency of the reconstructed inflationary model. For the second model, we note a similarity with the first model, concerning the inflationary, matter-dominated and late-time acceleration eras. Then, we just perform the reconstruction of [Formula: see text], which is able to realize the radiation-dominated era.
A new local fractional derivative applied to the analytical solutions for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with third-order dispersion
Authors: Yépez-Martínez H. , Rezazadeh Hadi , Gómez-Aguilar J. F. , Inc Mustafa
Published: February 2022

In this paper a new definition of a local fractional derivative of order [Formula: see text] is introduced and applied to the study of the fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (FNLSE) with third-order dispersion and with Kerr and power laws of nonlinear refractive index. The analytical soliton solutions correspond to bright, dark and singular solitons obtained by different analytical methods. We found new optical soliton solutions with some constraints conditions that arise between the parameters of the NLSE. Typical behavior of the acquired solitons is depicted in some interesting simulations.
Corporate Tax Avoidance: Evidence from Vietnamese Firms
Authors: Oanh Ha Kieu , Gan Christopher
Published: February 2022

This paper examines the effect of corporate tax avoidance on firm value using a sample of Vietnamese nonfinancial listed firms for the period 2007 to 2018. Using fixed effect, ordinary least square and system generalized method of moment estimation, the results show a positive and statistically significant relationship between corporate tax avoidance and firm value. Our result demonstrates the bright side of corporate tax avoidance at the firm level. Further analysis shows that the positive effect of corporate tax avoidance on firm value can be intensified by the effectiveness of the board of directors in monitoring management.
Remittances Vis-à-Vis Bank Credit and Investment: Evidence From Fiji
Authors: Kakhkharov Jakhongir , Archer Lan , Tuisawau Matia , Taito Akata , Cama Mitieli , Sharma Parmendra
Published: February 2022

This study is among a very few to investigate the impact of international remittances on bank credit and household investment. Using Fiji as a case study and the most recent available data on Household Income and Expenditure Survey together with applying three distinct econometric techniques, we find that remittances significantly increase the likelihood that households receiving remittances obtain income from investing. Remittances also positively influence the value of bank credit, although this effect is statistically weak.
Research on Algorithm and Coupling Damage Model of Rock Under High Temperature and Loading Based on Mohr–Coulomb Criterion
Authors: Jiang Haopeng , Jiang Annan , Xu Mengfei
Published: February 2022

For the coupled damage problem caused by the surrounding rock of tunnel under high temperature and external load under fire conditions, an elastoplastic damage model is established based on the Mohr–Coulomb (M-C) criterion and the theory of continuous damage mechanics by introducing high temperature and load coupling damage factors. In order to solve the “singularity” problem of the model in the numerical integration process, the fully implicit return mapping algorithm in the principal stress space is deduced by region and including three steps of elastic prediction, plastic correction and damage correction. The finite element solution program of the model is written in C++ language, and uniaxial compression test and tunnel cavern calculation examples are used to verify and analyze the program calculation results. The results show that the difference between the peak intensity calculated by the model and the peak intensity data of the uniaxial test under each temperature is within 5% and the stress–strain curve calculated by the model is consistent with the overall trend of the test curve. The conclusion that damage around the cavity increases with increasing temperature is obtained by the simulation calculation of the cavern, which verifies the accuracy and feasibility of the model and calculation program. The safety and stability evaluation of the surrounding rock of tunnel under the action of fire is provided with a certain theoretical basis by the research content of this paper.
Quark–gluon plasma and nucleons à la Laughlin
Authors: Lu Wei
Published: February 2022

Inspired by Laughlin’s theory of the fractional quantum Hall effect, we explore the topological nature of the quark–gluon plasma (QGP) and the nucleons in the context of the Clifford algebra. In our model, each quark is transformed into a composite particle via the simultaneous attachment of a spin monopole and an isospin monopole. This is induced by a novel kind of meson endowed with both spin and isospin degrees of freedom. The interactions in the strongly coupled quark–gluon system are governed by the topological winding number of the monopoles, which is an odd integer to ensure that the overall wave function is antisymmetric. The states of the QGP and the nucleons are thus uniquely determined by the combination of the monopole winding number [Formula: see text] and the total quark number [Formula: see text]. The radius squared of the QGP droplet is expected to be proportional to [Formula: see text]. We anticipate the observation of such proportionality in the heavy ion collision experiments.
A new quantile regression model for modeling child mortality
Authors: Abd El-Monsef M. M. E. , El-Awady M. M. , Seyam M. M.
Published: February 2022

This paper considers and studies a distinct special case of omega distribution defined on the unit interval (0, 1), called unit-omega distribution. Thanks to its simple form, some of its basic properties are derived. The maximum likelihood method, Bayes method, and the method of moments are used to estimate the parameters of unit-omega distribution. These estimation methods are examined by conducting a simulation study. More importantly, the quantile function of unit-omega distribution has a closed-form expression that allows modeling the conditional quantiles of a unit response variable as a function of covariates. Residual analysis is performed using randomized quantile residuals and Cox–Snell residuals. The proposed approach is used to model the quantiles of child mortality rates, conditional on covariates. These covariates represent the proportions of people left behind across three key indicators: nutrition, availability of safe drinking sources and adequate education. Another application that relates to recovery rates of viable CD34+ cell is presented. From both applications, the fitting results of the proposed regression model outperform those of beta, Kumaraswamy and unit-Weibull regression models.