bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The (cost-)effectiveness and cost-utility of a novel integrative care initiative for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain: the pragmatic trial protocol of Network Pain Rehabilitation Limburg
Authors: Lamper Cynthia , Huijnen Ivan PJ , Goossens Mariëlle EJB , Winkens Bjorn , Ruwaard Dirk , Verbunt Jeanine AMCF , Kroese Mariëlle E
Published: August 2020

Background: Rehabilitation care for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is not optimally organized. The Network Pain Rehabilitation Limburg 2.0 (NPRL2.0) provides integrated care with a biopsychosocial approach and strives to improve the Quadruple Aim outcomes: pain-related disability of patients with CMP; experiences of care of patients with CMP; meaning in the work of healthcare professionals; and healthcare costs. Firstly, in this study, the effectiveness (with regard to the functioning and participation of patients) of primary care for patients with CMP will be assessed, comparing care organized following the NPRL2.0 procedure with usual care. Secondly, the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility with regard to health-related quality of life and healthcare costs will be assessed. And thirdly, the effect of duration of participation in a local network in primary care will be studied. Methods: In this pragmatic study, it is expected that two local networks with 105 patients will participate in the prospective cohort study and six local networks with 184 patients in the stepped-wedge based design. Healthcare professionals in the local networks will recruit patients. Inclusion criteria: age ≥ 18 years; having CMP; willing to improve functioning despite pain; and adequate Dutch literacy. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy; and having a treatable medical or psychiatric disease. Patients will complete questionnaires at baseline (T1), 3 months (T2), 6 months (T3), and 9 months (T4). Questionnaires at T1 and T4 will include the Pain Disability Index and Short Form Health Survey. Questionnaires at T1, T2, T3, and T4 will include the EQ-5D-5L, and iMTA Medical Consumption and Productivity Cost Questionnaires. Outcomes will be compared using linear mixed-model analysis and costs will be compared using bootstrapping methods. Discussion: NPRL2.0 is a multidimensional, complex intervention, executed in daily practice, and therefore needing a pragmatic study design. The current study will assess NPRL2.0 with respect to the Quadruple Aim outcomes: patient health and costs. This will provide more information on the (cost-) effectiveness of the organization of care in a network structure regarding patients with CMP. The other two Quadruple Aim outcomes will be examined alongside this study. Trial registration: Netherlands Trial Register: NL7643
Influences on NHS Health Check behaviours: a systematic review
Authors: Atkins Lou , Stefanidou Chryssa , Chadborn Tim , Thompson Katherine , Michie Susan , Lorencatto Fabi
Published: August 2020

Background National Health Service Health Checks were introduced in 2009 to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks and events. Since then, national evaluations have highlighted the need to maximise the programme’s impact by improving coverage and outputs. To address these challenges it is important to understand the extent to which positive behaviours are influenced across the NHS Health Check pathway and encourage the promotion or minimisation of behavioural facilitators and barriers respectively. This study applied behavioural science frameworks to: i) identify behaviours and actors relevant to uptake, delivery and follow up of NHS Health Checks and influences on these behaviours and; ii) signpost to example intervention content. Methods A systematic review of studies reporting behaviours related to NHS Health Check-related behaviours of patients, health care professionals (HCPs) and commissioners. Influences on behaviours were coded using theory-based models: COM-B and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Potential intervention types and behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were suggested to target key influences. Results We identified 37 studies reporting nine behaviours and influences for eight of these. The most frequently identified influences were physical opportunity including HCPs having space and time to deliver NHS Health Checks and patients having money to adhere to recommendations to change diet and physical activity. Other key influences were motivational, such as beliefs about consequences about the value of NHS Health Checks and behaviour change, and social, such as influences of others on behaviour change. The following techniques are suggested for websites or smartphone apps: Adding objects to the environment, e.g. provide HCPs with electronic schedules to guide timely delivery of Health Checks to target physical opportunity, Social support (unspecified), e.g. include text suggesting patients to ask a colleague to agree in advance to join them in taking the ‘healthy option’ lunch at work; Information about health consequences, e.g. quotes and/or videos from patients talking about the health benefits of changes they have made.Conclusions Through the application of behavioural science we identified key behaviours and their influences which informed recommendations for intervention content. To ascertain the extent to which this reflects existing interventions we recommend a review of relevant evidence.
Mitochondrial Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 1 enhances mtDNA repair contributing to cell proliferation and mitochondrial integrity in early stages of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Bazzani Veronica , Barchiesi Arianna , Radecka Dorota , Pravisani Riccardo , Guadagno Antonio , Loreto Carla Di , Baccarani Umberto , Vascotto Carlo
Published: August 2020

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of primary liver cancers. Surveillance of individuals at specific risk of developing HCC, early diagnostic markers, and new therapeutic approaches are essential to obtain a reduction in disease-related mortality. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) expression levels and its cytoplasmic localization have been reported to correlate with a lower degree of differentiation and shorter survival rate. The aim of this study is to fully investigate, for the first time, the role of the mitochondrial form of APE1 in HCC.Methods: As a study model, we analysed samples from a cohort of patients diagnosed with HCC who underwent surgical resection. Mitochondrial APE1 content, expression levels of the mitochondrial import protein Mia40, and mtDNA damage of tumor tissue and distal non-tumor liver of each patient were analysed. In parallel, we generated a stable HeLa clone for inducible silencing of endogenous APE1 and re-expression of the recombinant shRNA resistant mitochondrially targeted APE1 form (MTS-APE1). We evaluated mtDNA damage, cell growth, and mitochondrial respiration.Results: APE1’s cytoplasmic positivity in Grades 1 and 2 HCC patients showed a significantly higher expression of mitochondrial APE1, which accounted for lower levels of mtDNA damage observed in the tumor tissue with respect to the distal area. In the contrast, the cytoplasmic positivity in Grade 3 was not associated with APE1’s mitochondrial accumulation even when accounting for the higher number of mtDNA lesions measured. Loss of APE1 expression negatively affected mitochondrial respiration, cell viability, and proliferation as well as levels of mtDNA damage. Remarkably, the phenotype was efficiently rescued in MTS-APE1 clone, where APE1 is present only within the mitochondrial matrix.Conclusions:Our study confirms the prominent role of the mitochondrial form of APE1 in the early stages of HCC development and the relevance of the non-nuclear fraction of APE1 in the disease progression. We have also confirmed overexpression of Mia40 and the role of the MIA pathway in the APE1 import process. Based on our data, inhibition of the APE1 transport by blocking the MIA pathway could represent a new therapeutic approach for reducing mitochondrial metabolism by preventing the efficient repair of mtDNA.
Patient-reported Outcomes in Young Adults with Osteonecrosis Secondary to Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Authors: Marks Avi , Cortina-Borja Mario , Maor Dror , Hashemi-Nejad Aresh , Roposch Andreas
Published: August 2020

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a common complication in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). While functional outcomes of affected patients are good in childhood, it is not clear how they change during the transition to young adulthood. This study determined the relationship between osteonecrosis and hip function, physical function and health status in adolescents and young adults.Methods: We studied 181 patients with a mean age of 19.7 ± 3.8 years with and without osteonecrosis following an open or closed reduction (1995-2005). Patients completed patient-reported outcome measures in 2015/2016 to quantify hip function (maximum score 100); physical function (maximum score 100); and general health status (maximum score 1). We graded all radiographs for subtype of osteonecrosis (Bucholz-Ogden); acetabular dysplasia (centre-edge angle); subluxation (Shenton’s line); and osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence). Analyses were adjusted for the number of previous surgical procedures on the hip and for the severity of residual hip dysplasia.Results: In 149 patients (186 hips) with and without osteonecrosis, the mean differences (95% confidence interval) in hip function, physical function and quality of life were -4.7 (-10.26, 0.81), -1.03 (-9.29, 7.23) and 0.10 (-1.15, 1.18), respectively. Adjusted analyses stratified across types of osteonecrosis showed that only patients with Bucholz-Odgen grade III had reduced hip function (p<0.01) and physical function (p<0.05) but no difference in health-related quality of life when compared to no osteonecrosis. Conclusion: Osteonecrosis secondary to DDH is a relatively benign disorder in adolescents and young adulthood. Affected patients demonstrated minimal physical disability, a normal quality of life but reduced hip function.
Medicinal Diet plants of the Yi in Mile, Yunnan, China
Authors: Sun Jingxian , Xiong Yong , Li Yanhong , Yang Qingsong , Chen Yijian , Jiang Mengyuan , Li Yukui , Li Hongrui , Bi Zizhen , Huang Xiangzhong , Lu Shugang
Published: August 2020

Background: The Yi is the largest ethnic group in Yunnan Province (China), with a population of five millions. The Yi people tend to live in mountainous areas, and their culture includes a unique dietary system for treating and protecting people against illnesses. Medicinal plants occupy an essential place in the Yi diet because they play a key role in health and the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, few studies have addressed these medicinal diet plants and their importance in the Yi’s daily lives. The aim of this study was to (1) investigate the medicinal diet plants used by the Yi in Mile City (2) document the traditional knowledge held about these plants, (3) identify species with important cultural significance to the Yi in Mile, and (4) analyze the special preparation methods and consumption habits of these plants. Methods: Field investigations were performed in six villages in Mile City, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, from July 2017 to May 2018. Information was collected using direct observation, semi -structured interviews, key informant interviews, individual discussions and focus group discussions. The use -value (UV) and frequency of utilization index (FUI) of these plants were analyzed. Plant samples and voucher specimens were collected for taxonomic identification. Results: This study documented 124 species belonging to 62 families and 102 genera. These plants included: angiosperms (117 spp.), gymnosperms (3), pteridophytes (2), lichens (1), and fungi (1). The 20 species with the highest UV were noted as being particularly important to the Yi people’s daily life in Mile City. The primary medicinal preparation method for plants recorded in the study was decoction. The most commonly used plant parts were fruits and roots. The most frequently used edible parts were fruits, and the most frequently used medicinal parts were roots. The medicinal parts were used to treat diseases such as rheumatism, oedemas, kidney deficiency, spleen deficiency, gastritis, parasites and so on. Conclusion: A wide variety of medicinal diet plants are used by the Yi people in Mile. Those plants, which have both rich nutritional and medicinal value, occupy an essential part of the Yi diet and medicine culture. Ethnobotanical surveys of medicinal diet plants provide a theoretical reference for the conservation and sustainable use of the plant resources and could contribute to the protection of the Yi food culture and traditional medicine in Mile. In addition, this information provides a sound basis for developing and using Yi ethnic medicine and health products.
Causal relationships between genetically determined metabolites and human intelligence: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Jian , Zhao Binbin , Qian Li , Gao Fengjie , Fan Yanjuan , He Xiaoyan , Ma Qingyan , Yang Lihong , Yan Bin , Wang Wei , Ma Xiancang
Published: August 2020

Intelligence predicts important life and health outcomes, but the biological mechanisms underlying differences in intelligence are not yet understood. The use of genetically determined metabotypes (GDMs) to understand the role of genetic and environmental factors, and their interactions, in human complex traits has been recently proposed. However, this strategy has not been applied to human intelligence. Here we implemented a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using GDMs to assess the causal relationships between genetically determined metabolites and human intelligence. The standard inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used for the primary MR analysis and three additional MR methods (MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO) were used for sensitivity analyses. Using 25 genetic variants as instrumental variables (IVs), our study found that 5-oxoproline was associated with better performance in human intelligence tests (P IVW = 9 · 25×10 -5 ). The causal relationship was robust when sensitivity analyses were applied (P MR-Egger = 0 · 0001, P Weighted median = 6 · 29×10 -6 , P MR-PRESSO = 0 · 0007), and no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was observed. Similarly, also dihomo-linoleate (20:2n6) and p-acetamidophenylglucuronide showed robust association with intelligence. Our study provides novel insight by integrating genomics and metabolomics to estimate causal effects of genetically determined metabolites on human intelligence, which help to understanding of the biological mechanisms related to human intelligence.
Inflammatory Pseudotumor-like Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma Mimicking A Colonic Polyp: Two Case Reports and Literatures Review
Authors: Zhao Min , Du Xiaohua , OuYang Bowen , Li Mingxian , Yang Haifeng
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcoma is a neoplastic proliferation of spindled to ovoid cells showing morphological and immunophenotypic features of FDCs. Inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular dendritic cell sarcoma（IPT-FDCS）involves almost exclusively in the liver and spleen and are consistently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).Rarely, it selectively involves the gastrointestinal tract in the form of a polypoid lesion.CASE SUMMARY: We report two cases of IPT-FDCS mimicking a colonic polyp that received high frequency electrocoagulation separately.The patients’main concern were whether to have chemotherapy or radiation after removal.After many consultations and literature review,The patients were treated by surgical resection, without adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. Follow-up for 32 months showed no recurrence or metastasis.RESULTS: The neoplasms usually had well—defined borders，composed of the neoplastic spindled cells are dispersed within a prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. The nuclei usually show a vesicular chromatin pattern and small but distinct nucleoli. Immunohistochemically，tumor cells showed the expression of at least one of the FDC markers，including CD21,CD35, CD23 and D2-40，with scattered positive EBER in situ hybridization.CONCLUSION: IPT-FDCS could rarelly occur in the intestine with a polypoid appearance. Recognization of this disease could avoid being misdiagnosed as other common types of colonic polyposis. EBV-encoded mRNA (EBER) by in situ hybridization and FDC-related immunohistochemical markers plays an important role in differential diagnosis.
Identification of SNP markers associated with antler growth rate in sika deer (Cervus nippon)
Authors: Hu Pengfei , Deng Yongyan , Ba Hengxing , li chunyi
Published: August 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.
BZW1 Promotes Cell Proliferation in Prostate Cancer by Regulating TGF-β1/Smad Pathway
Authors: Li Teng-Cheng , Sun Zhuo-Lun , Xiao Chu-Tian , Wu Jie-Ying , Li Ke
Published: August 2020

Background Recently, basic leucine zipper and the W2 domain-containing protein 1 (BZW1) is reported to be implicated in tumor progression. However, the role of BZW1 in prostate cancer remains unknown. This study is aimed to investigate the expression of BZW1 and its influence on cell proliferation in prostate cancer. Methods The expression levels of BZW1 were measured in 136 cases of prostate cancer and matched adjacent non-cancerous prostate tissues by quantificational real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Then, the effect of BZW1 on cell proliferation was further explored. Results QRT-PCR analysis shown that the mRNA levels of BZW1 in prostate cancer were significantly greater compared with those in matched adjacent non-cancerous prostate tissues (P<0.001). IHC results shown the high-expression rate of BZW1 in prostate cancer and matched adjacent non-cancerous prostate tissues were 68.4% and 32.4%, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). BZW1 high-expression significantly correlated with T stage, lymph node metastasis, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score (P<0.05). Patients with BZW1 high-expression presented unfavorable prognosis compared with those with BZW1 low-expression (P=0.002). In addition, CCK-8 and Colony formation assays revealed that BZW1 over-expression significantly promoted cell proliferation in vitro. Tumor xenograft shown BZW1 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, BZW1 overexpression activated the TGF-β1/Smad1/Smad3 pathway. Conclusion BZW1 over-expression predicts poorer prognosis and promotes cell proliferation in prostate cancer by regulating TGF-β1/Smad pathway.
The clinical efficacy of three application methods of local anesthesia in percutaneous vertebroplasty: A retrospective single-center cohort study
Authors: Liang Xinjie , Zhong Weiyang , Huang Tianji , Luo Xiaoji
Published: August 2020

Background: Although various studies have described the methods of anaesthesia in percutaneous vertebroplasty(PV) in treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), there is still no consensus on the optimal treatment regimen.The study aims to investigate the efficacy of three application methods of local anesthesia in PV treating OVCFs.Methods：A total of 96 patients of OVCFs were reviewed and divided into three groups(A: lidocaine, B: ropivacaine, C: lidocaine+ropivacaine). The visual analog scale(VAS), blood pressure(BP), heart rate(HR), blood oxygen saturation(BOS), surgery time were recorded at the points of before puncture, puncture, cement injection, and after surgery.Results: The mean age of the patients was 74.13±7.02 years in group A, 70.47±5.50 years in group B, and 73.07±7.51 years respectively without significant difference. No significant differences were found in the sex, age, hospital stay, surgery time, blood loss, and cement volume. During the period of before surgery and 4-hour after surgery, the VAS in group C decreased significantly at the period of puncture, cement injection, immediately after surgery. Overall, the systolic BP, diastolic BP, HR, BOS during the different period among the groups, there were no significant differences except the HR in the period of the puncture in group C was slower than that in other groups and HR in the period of cement injection in the group A was faster than other two groups. A correlation was observed between the VAS and the period of cement injection(r=0.5358), after surgery(r=0.5775) in group C.Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of the lidocaine in combination with ropivacaine could relieve the effective intraoperative pain in PV treating OVCFs patients which is reliable and safe.
Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Intense Pulsed Light for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Authors: Chen Chen , Chen Di , Chou Yu-yu , long qin
Published: August 2020

Purpose: To observe the effectiveness of intense pulsed light (IPL) for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and identify its influencing factors. Methods: Forty-eight eyes of 48 patients with MGD were included. Subjects were followed up 5 times and received IPL during the first three visits. Gender, age, duration of MGD, time of video display terminal usage, and severity of MGD were recorded at baseline. At every visit, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), eyelid margin abnormality score (EMAS), tear film breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) were recorded. The clinical parameters before and after 3 IPL treatments were compared. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore influencing factors. Results: Compared with baseline, the TBUT was increased and the CFS score and OSDI were significantly decreased on day 45 and day 120 (all P < 0.001). In univariate analysis, among the patients with a younger age (18-39 years), moderate MGD, higher baseline SIt and higher baseline OSDI, the IPL treatment had a higher effective rate (P = 0.032, 0.004, 0.024 and 0.014 respectively). The MGD severity was strongly associated with effective IPL, and patients with moderate MGD had an OR of 5.493 compared with the severe MGD patients (OR = 22.454, 95% CI: 2.890-174.436, P = 0.003). Conclusions: IPL effectively improves clinical symptoms and some signs in MGD patients. Age, MGD severity, baseline SIt and baseline OSDI are potential factors that may influence the effectiveness of IPL. MGD severity is an independent influencing factor.
Clinical Validation of Kinematic Assessments of Post-Stroke Upper Limb Movements with a Multi-Joint Arm Exoskeleton
Authors: Grimm Florian , Kraugmann Jelena , Naros Georgios , Gharabaghi Alireza
Published: August 2020

Background: Robotic and gravity-balancing exoskeletons, originally designed for the rehabilitation training of neurological patients, are now being increasingly applied in objective and fine-grained sensor-based assessments of upper limb function. However, gravity compensation, inertia and damping properties of the exoskeleton interfere with the natural sensorimotor interaction, proprioceptive and visual feedback during movement execution. This may endanger the validity of the kinematic assessments in relation to the clinical outcome measures that they were supposed to reflect. Here, we appliedMethods: In a proof of concept study involving nineteen severely impaired chronic stroke patients, we assessed sensor-based kinematic data acquired with a multi-joint arm exoskeleton and compared it to the clinical outcome measure Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA) scale. During this assessment, real-time movement feedback of the system’s seven degrees of freedom was provided with a biomorphic 3D virtual representation of the upper limb, including the proximal component of the arm. To align posture and to minimize the exoskeleton-patient interaction, the same position (neutral zero) with a distance of 90 degrees between forearm and upper arm was taken as the starting position for all assessments. Within self-contained tasks, we assessed separately and subsequently the range of motion/spatial posture of four single joints (i.e., joint angles of wrist, elbow, arm, and shoulder movement) and the closing and opening of the hand with a pressure sensor placed in the handle.Results: A strong correlation was observed between wrist and elbow movements within the kinematic parameters (r > 0.7, p<0.003; Bonferroni corrected). A multiple regression model predicted the UE-FMA significantly (F (5, 13) = 12.22, p < 0.0005, adj. R2 = 0.83). Both shoulder rotation and grip pressure added significantly (p < 0.05) to the prediction with the standardized coefficients β of 0.55 and 0.38, respectively.Conclusions: Exoskeleton-based evaluation of single-joint movements and grip force facilitates the assessment of upper limb kinematics after stroke with high structural and convergent validity. Proximal and distal measures may contribute independently to the prediction of the clinical status.
Identification of a Six-gene Signature Predicting Overall Survival for Cervical Cancer
Authors: Sun Hengzi , Zhou Xiaoshuang , Peng Peng , Yu Mei , Zhang Ying , Yang Jiaxin , Cao Dongyan , Huo Xiao , Shen Keng
Published: August 2020

Background: Although the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased in decades with the development of human papillomavirus vaccines and cancer screening, cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Identify the potential biomarker for treatment and prognosis of cervical cancer is necessary.Methods: Samples with mRNA-seq, copy number variant, single single nucleotide polymorphism data and clinical follow-up information were download from TCGA database, which were randomly divided into training datasets (N=146) and test datasets (N=147). We selected and identified prognostic gene set and genomic mutated gene set and then integrated the two set of data with random survival forest algorithm and constructed a prognostic signature. External validation datasets and immunohistochemical staining were also evaluated.Results: We obtained 1,416 different expression prognostic-related genes, 624 genes with copy number amplification, 1,038 genes with copy number deletion, and 163 significantly mutated gene. A total of 75 candidate genes were obtained after overlap of the different expression genes and genomic variations. Subsequently we obtained six characteristic genes through random survival forest algorithm. The results showed that high expression of SLC19A3, FURIN, SLC22A3, DPAGT1 and low expression of CCL17, DES were associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. We constructed a six-gene signature which can separate cervical cancer samples associated with different overall survival and showed robust performance for predicting survival (Training set: p ˂ 0.001, AUC = 0.82; Testing set: p ˂ 0.01, AUC = 0.59). Conclusions: Our study identified a novel six-gene signature and nomogram to predict overall survival of cervical cancer, which may be beneficial to clinical decision making for individual treatment.
Risk Factors, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns and Carbapenem Resistance Mechanisms of Elizabethkingia anophelis Clinical Isolates From a University Tertiary Hospital in Southwest China
Authors: Chang Yanbin , Zhang Daiqin , Niu Siqiang , Chen Qian , Lin Qiuxia , Zhang Xiaobing
Published: August 2020

Purpose: Elizabethkingia anophelis (E. anophelis) is an important extensively drug-resistant (XDR) pathogen to which there are limited therapeutic options. E. anophelis is perpetually misidentified as Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (E. meningoseptica) by conventional methods. Consequently, this study reassessed risk factors for infection and mortality, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and carbapenem resistance mechanisms of E. anophelis.Methods: This retrospective case–control study was conducted to reveal the risk factors associated with E. anophelis infection and in-hospital mortality from 2015–2019 in a university tertiary hospital in southwest China using univariable and multivariable logistic-regression analysis. Case patients infected with E. anophelis isolates and controls patients with non-E. anophelis infections were compared at a ratio of 1:3 during the same time period. We employed the broth microdilution method to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of 39 E. anophelis strains. PCR amplification, DNA sequencing and gene cloning were used to investigate the mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in E. anophelis.Results: We collected 39 non-repetitive E. anophelis isolates over the study period. Multivariate analysis indicated that coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, surgery in the past 6 months, anemia and systemic steroid use were independent risk factors for the acquisition of E. anophelis. Additionally, anemia was the only independent risk factor associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with E. anophelis infections. E. anophelis isolates showed high in-vitro susceptibility towards minocycline (100%) and piperacillin/tazobactam (71.8%), but were resistant to colistin, fosfomycin, ceftazidime/avibactam and aztreonam/avibactam. Additionally, we show that two metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) BlaB and GOB, are responsible for carbapenem resistance and the serine-β-lactamase, CME, is functionally involved in resistance to cephalosporins and monobactams. Importantly, the various putative efflux pumps in E. anophelis are not responsible for resistance. Conclusion: Our findings will help clinicians identify high-risk patients and suggest that minocycline should be considered as an antibiotic therapeutic option for infections caused by E. anophelis. Additionally, carbapenem resistance in E. anophelis isolates is mainly associated with the MBLs, BlaB and GOB.
Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma of the Spine in a patient with Li-Fraumeni syndrome: a case report
Authors: Zhang Linxiang , Yan Jijie , Bai Guangjian , Hu Yiwei , Jiang Lijun , Guo Kai , Hou Shuming , Huang Xing , Liu Tielong
Published: August 2020

Background Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is an aggressive tumor that rarely occurs in the spine. We present a 38-year-old male patient with Li-Fraumeni syndrome and discuss the treatment and prognosis.Case presentation A 38-year-old male patient presented with bilateral lower extremity weakness accompanied by radiation pain. He had been diagnosed with right adrenal cortical carcinoma previously and had a strong family history of cancer. PET/CT indicated increased uptake in many parts of the body, especially the right adrenal gland, the left occipital lobe, and the L4 vertebral body (VB). MRI also revealed the destruction of the L4 vertebral body and a paraspinal soft-tissue mass. The tumor was completely resected and pathological findings revealed UPS. Subsequent genetic testing revealed a mutation in the TP53 gene, which is consistent with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). The patient received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and did not develop local recurrence, metastasis, or secondary cancer during the 31-month follow-up.Conclusions Spinal UPS is a rare aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis. Surgery alone can improve the survival of patients but cannot effectively control the disease. In spinal UPS patients with LFS, we think that the prognostic benefits of postoperative adjuvant therapy outweigh the risks of long-term secondary cancer. Family history of cancer and genetic testing can help diagnose LFS, and MRI of the spine can aid the early detection of microlesions. For these patients, early diagnosis and intervention can effectively improve survival.
Small incisional surgery for small intestinal diseases is less invasive than laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Kawahara Hidejiro , Omura Nobuo , Akiba Tadashi
Published: August 2020

Background: The small intestine is not fixed to the retroperitoneum, and lesions in the small intestine can be resected through a very small skin incision, similar to laparoscopic surgery, if it is placed accurately. In 2010, we reported on small incisional surgery (SIS) for small intestinal diseases, in which the skin incision was placed at the umbilicus based on anthropometric analysis. However, the feasibility and usefulness of SIS for resection of small intestinal lesions have not been elucidated. Methods: From January 2015 to December 2018, seven consecutive patients diagnosed with small intestinal tumors preoperatively underwent partial resection of the small intestine with a 4-cm skin incision at the umbilicus at Kashiwa Hospital, Jikei University, were retrospectively registered. After the partial resection of the small intestine extracorporeally, intestinal reconstruction was manually performed by end-to-end anastomosis. Four of the patients had cancer, and three patients had Meckel’s diverticulum with inflammation. Results: The length of the skin incision was 4 cm in all patients. No patient required enlargement of the skin incision. The mean surgical time was 52.0 (43-58) min. The mean blood loss was less than 5.0 ml. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.0 (8-10) days. No postoperative complications were encountered. Conclusion: SIS with a 4-cm skin incision at the umbilicus for resection of small intestinal lesions seems feasible and safe, similar to single incision laparoscopic surgery.
Rubber Plantation Retiring with Simulation of Market-Priced Ecosystem Services in Xishuangbanna, China
Authors: Liu Weiguo , Zhang Jiaqi , Yan Yan , Corlett Richard T. , Beckschäfer Philip , Song Liang
Published: August 2020

Background: Until 50 years ago, Xishuangbanna was a heavy forest-covered region with high biodiversity. Attributed to the rubber boom that took place in the region during the last decades, natural forest area decreased quickly and was replaced by monoculture rubber plantations (Hevea brasiliensis). To slow down the deforestation rate and encourage rubber plantation retiring, a market and government-combined compensatory payment system was developed with consideration of market-priced ecosystem services. Results: In the baseline scenario, the annual retiring rate reduced from 9,353±17.8 ha to 4,669±18.5 ha in the projection period, and the final total retiring area in 2050 was 202.477±0.063 thousand ha. The compensatory payment increased along with the growth of rubber plantations. In the projected period (2021-2050), the total NPV (net present value) of compensatory payment was $3,364.820±1.669 million. The total carbon sequestration benefit resulting from replacement of artificial rainforests was 11.718±0.005 million tC. In sensitivity analyses, more uncertainties of compensatory payment were expected with a higher variation of rubber price. The rise of carbon price, discount rate and traditional medicine price, and the decrease of rubber price and final retiring rate could reduce the total NPV of payment. Conclusions: The market and government-combined payment system has high possibility to effectively encourage rubber retiring and reduce government payment. By the projection of the market and government-combined payment system, most of the small patches of rubber plantation were disappeared in 2050. The annual retiring area decreased gradually along the projection period. The projected compensatory payment and the area-specific payment increased, while the increment of compensatory payment decreased. The carbon sequestration benefit by rubber plantation retiring was negative in the first decade. All the tested factors (i.e., rubber price, rubber price variation, carbon price, final retiring rate, discount rate, and traditional medicine price) could affect the compensatory payment. Currently, the payment system may not so attractive; however, the situation could change when more market-priced ecosystem services are involved in the system.
The Role of Goldack Double Ellipsoidal Parameters in Temperature Distribution for the GTAW Process
Authors: Karpagaraj A , S SURESH KUMAR , Thamizhmanii S , T Arun Nelliappan , N Siva Shanmugam , Sarala S
Published: August 2020

Numerical simulation is widely used in all the fields of engineering to predict the results. In welding, various finite element tools are used to predict the bead profile, temperature distribution, joint strength, formability and metallurgical changes etc. With respect to the welding process suitable heat source model has to be assigned for numerical simulation. The most suitable heat source for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) process is the Goldack double ellipsoidal model. This model has few parameters like the width of the weld (a), depth of penetration (b), front profile ellipse (Cf) and rear ellipse profile (Cr). In this research article, the influence of these parameters and their effect on the temperature distribution is focused. For this purpose, based on the full factorial design welding simulations are performed with COMSOL. Later, the grey relational technique was used to find the contribution of these parameters. It was concluded from the full factorial method that; temperature variation is depended on the GTAW welding heat source parameters. At 95% confidence level, the width of the weld showed a major role in controlling the temperature. Moreover, the optimum combination of process variables obtained end with minimum temperature rise at a width of 0.7 mm, depth of 5.7 mm and frontal factor of 4.
The preferred usage of equity and debt financing in family businesses: evidence from Czech Republic
Authors: Petrů Naděžda , Tomášková Andrea
Published: August 2020

Czech family businesses are currently experiencing their first changeover of generations in history. The first generation (founders or successors), two or more generations collectively operate in management and administrative authorities. This article aims to compare and evaluate preference for use of debt or equity financing in family businesses with the differing involvement of generations and the diversity of its allocation for the specific need of the company’s growth. This empirical study is performed based on a qualitative analysis of 245 family businesses. Hypotheses were confirmed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. This study confirms the dependence of equity and debt financing on the number of generations in management. This brings differing perspectives, opinions, and practices for financial management in the sense of a preference for debt or equity financing. The need for debt arises at the moment of compensating the transfer of ownership between generations. The analysis results indicate that family businesses managed by one generation prefer equity financing, companies managed by first and second generations prefer debt financing, and companies managed by second and third generations prefer equity financing.
AcknowledgmentThe result was created in solving the project TA ČR ETA 2 (STA02018TL020) “Family businesses: Value drivers and value determination in the process of succession”, TL02000434. We are grateful also to representatives of enterprises who were willing to participate in this research.
PREVENÇÃO À TORTURA: UMA MERA QUESTÃO DE OPORTUNIDADE AOS MECANISMOS LATINO-AMERICANOS?
Authors: Duarte Thais Lemos , Marques de Jesus Maria Gorete
Published: August 2020

Tomando como base a perspectiva de que a tortura seria um tipo de crime de oportunidade, o Protocolo Facultativo à Convenção Contra a Tortura das Nações Unidas (ONU) criou um sistema de inspeções a unidades de privação de liberdade, formando os chamados Mecanismos Nacionais Preventivos. O objetivo desse artigo é analisar a estrutura e o modus operandi de quatro órgãos com este perfil na América Latina. Foram estudadas, pois, suas leis de formação e os relatórios produzidos a partir dos monitoramentos efetuados. Analisou-se que os Mecanismos Nacionais Preventivos estudados costumam se atentar aos fatores de risco que acarretam a tortura, ao invés de investirem maior fôlego a encaminhamentos de casos de violência individuais. Portanto, ao mesmo tempo em que reproduzem a perspectiva majoritária da ONU sobre a tortura ser uma espécie de crime de responsabilidade, os órgãos não necessariamente priorizam em suas atividades a responsabilização de atores que tenham perpetrado o ato, analisando a tortura como uma prática difusa.
Irrigation, drinking water quality, and child nutritional status in northern Ethiopia
Authors: Usman Muhammed A. , Gerber Nicolas
Published: August 2020

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between household drinking water quality and irrigation and child nutrition using primary household survey data and microbiological water sample testings in two rural districts of Ethiopia. Anthropometric measures such as height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ), and weight-for-height z-scores (WHZ) were used to measure stunting, underweight, and wasting, respectively. Our survey results show that 41% of the children are stunted, 26% underweight, and 8% wasted. More than 58% of household's stored drinking water samples were also contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. The multivariate regression results suggest that irrigation farming and on-premises water sources are significantly associated with lower HAZ, while uncontaminated household stored drinking water quality is correlated with higher WAZ. The results also reveal that dietary diversity score and the number of antenatal care visits by the primary caretaker are statistically significant predictors of child nutritional status. These findings, however, cast doubt on the hypothesis that irrigated agriculture exclusively has a positive effect on child nutrition outcomes.
Photocatalytic degradation efficiency of hazardous macrolide compounds using an external UV-light irradiation slurry reactor
Authors: Ounnar Amel , Bouzaza Abdelkrim , Favier Lidia , Bentahar Fatiha
Published: August 2020

The current work investigates the removal of two hazardous macrolide molecules, spiramycin and tylosin, by photodegradation under external UV-light irradiation conditions in a slurry photoreactor using titanium dioxide as a catalyst. The kinetics of degradation and effects of main process parameters such as catalyst dosage, initial macrolide concentration, light intensity and stirring rate on the degradation rate of pollutants have been examined in detail in order to obtain the optimum operational conditions. It was found that the process followed a pseudo first-order kinetics according to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. The optimum conditions for the degradation of spiramycin and tylosin were low compound concentration, 1 g L−1 of catalyst dosage, 100 W m−2 light intensity and 560 rpm stirring rate. Then, a maximum removal (more than 90%) was obtained after 300 min of irradiation time. Furthermore, results show that the selection of optimized operational parameters leads to satisfactory total organic carbon removal rate (up to 51%) and biochemical oxygen demand to chemical oxygen demand ratio (∼1) confirming the good potential of this technique to remove complex macrolides from aqueous solutions.
Синтез наночастиц карбида кремния методом лазерного пиролиза смеси моносилана и ацетилена
Authors: Ершов И.А. , Исхакова Л.Д. , Красовский В.И. , Милович Ф.О. , Расмагин С.И. , Пустовой В.И.
Published: August 2020

The conditions of the laser-enhanced synthesis reaction of silicon carbide nanoparticles are determined and the nanoparticles are characterized. The gas-phase reaction of laser synthesis of SiC particles is observed at SiH4/C2H2 flow ratio in the range of 1.6-3.2. The temperature in the reaction zone was ~1400--1500ºC. Silicon carbide nanoparticles ~6 nm in diameter are produced and their composition is studied.
The Discourse on the Praxis and Pragmatics of the Qur’an Retranslations in Turkish
Authors: Üstün Külünk Sema
Published: August 2020

Retranslations of the Qur’an constitute an intriguing site of research with particular premises governing their production, dissemination and/or reception in Turkey. Its inherently religion-oriented context is accompanied by discussions on the sacred status of the source text, arguments on its untranslatability, translatorial human agency vis-à-vis the Holy creator, acknowledged Arabicity of the source text, etc. In this regard, each new translation of the Qur’an in Turkish is released with a motivation to justify its necessity amid abundant retranslations available in the target repertoire. Various approaches towards the conceptualization and instrumentalization of these Qur’anic translations create a meta-narrative on its own right. This study aims at exploring this particular discourse on the retranslations of the Qur’an with a bi-faceted study design composed of quantitative and qualitative analyses. The quantitative analysis focuses on the numeric changes of Qur’anic retranslations in respective decades, whereas the qualitative analysis concentrates on the statements of the translatorial agents on the motives behind their translational production. By shedding light on the discursive narrative postulated upon these retranslations, it is claimed that social, political, cultural and financial concerns have prevailingly governed the reproductions of this canonical work in Turkey.

Keywords: Qur’an translation, religious-text translation, retranslation, discourse analysis.
Balzac Retranslated
Authors: Aubin Marie-Christine
Published: August 2020

Literary translation is tricky. Hardly ever do you hear a critic say that the translation of a book is “good”. In the best of cases, people pretend that, even though they have been reading a translation, they were in fact reading Balzac, or Dostoevsky, or any other author of universal renown. For those who are able to read the original text, the translation is more often than not rejected as “inaccurate”, “stylistically inadequate”, “loose”, “overly free”, “not doing justice to the original”, or simply “bad”. James Payn even claimed that Balzac “is not translatable, or when translated is not readable” (67). Yet Balzac was translated and retranslated many times in a variety of languages and in many ways. In this paper, the word retranslation will be used for the realisation of a new translation from the original source language into a target language in which a translation already exists, and relay translation for translations done from a translated source. As for the term translation, it will be extended, in the sense that Patrick O'Neill gives this term (6), to include adaptations such as movies, TV series, or even graphic novels, in any language, because adaptations, whatever the medium, are subjected to the same constraints as translations, creating effectively a new “language” to transfer the author’s story and message. Thus this paper will focus on how Balzac's novels have been extended when translated and/or adapted to other media, taking in consideration Roulet’s Discourse Analysis parameters (2001 44), that is, the hierarchical constraints related to the text structure; the linguistic constraints related to the syntactic or lexical norms of the language or linguistic variety that is being considered; and the situational constraints of the receiving culture. To do so, an analysis of the hierarchical constraints of translating, retranslating or adapting Balzac’s La Cousine Bette will be carried out, as well as of the linguistic constraints related to the translation of gender in Balzac’s short story Sarrasine, or to the translation of accents and other oral features in various novels; and finally of the situational constraints related to translating Balzac into English in the Victorian era, and into Chinese at the turn of the 20th century. From these parameters a new, prismatic view of Balzac’s creations will emerge, embodying the dialogue that translators and retranslators enable between cultures.