bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does intensive multidisciplinary intervention for adults who elect bariatric surgery improve post‐operative weight loss, co‐morbidities, and quality of life? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Marshall Skye , Mackay Hannah , Matthews Charlene , Maimone Isabella R. , Isenring Elizabeth
Published: March 2020

This systematic review and meta‐analysis of intervention studies aims to evaluate the effect of preoperative and/or post‐operative support for adults who elect bariatric surgery delivered by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) on post‐operative body composition, mental health, co‐morbidities, quality of life, and side effects. Six electronic databases were searched. Revman and GRADE were used to assess confidence in pooled effects. Included interventions (N = 1533 participants in total) focused on lifestyle counselling (n = 4 studies), psychology (n = 4 studies), or exercise (n = 10 studies); comparator groups were less intensive usual care. Intensive MDT interventions increased post‐operative weight loss (SMD: −0.94; 95% CI: −1.27 to −0.61) if delivered post‐operatively. Preoperative and post‐operative intensive interventions improved symptoms of depression and anxiety, quality of life, diastolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate but not lipids or glycaemic measures. Whilst usual MDT care is important preoperatively, this review conditionally recommends intensive MDT interventions for enhanced post‐operative weight loss if delivered in the post‐operative period, led by any health professional, based on moderate evidence. This review also conditionally recommends preoperative and/or post‐operative lifestyle, nutrition, or psychology counselling and/or physical activity for improved mental and physical health. Further randomized controlled trials are required, which aim to specifically evaluate the best use of MDT resources.
Strategies to facilitate shared decision‐making in long‐term care
Authors: Cranley Lisa A. , Slaughter Susan E. , Caspar Sienna , Heisey Melissa , Huang Mei , Killackey Tieghan , McGilton Katherine S.
Published: March 2020

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore shared decision‐making among residents, their families and staff to determine relevant strategies to support shared decision‐making in long‐term care (LTC).

Background

Meaningful engagement of long‐term care home (LTCH) residents and their families in care decisions is key in the provision of quality of care. Shared decision‐making is an interprofessional approach to increasing resident and family engagement in care decisions which can lead to higher quality decisions, more relevant care interventions and greater resident, family, and staff satisfaction. Despite these advantages, shared decision‐making has not been widely implemented in practice in LTC.

Methods

The study took place in one LTCH in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A qualitative descriptive design was used to explore how residents, family members and staff described how they collaborate when making decisions concerning resident care, and their perceptions of facilitators and challenges to a collaborative approach to decision‐making. Individual interviews were conducted with nine participants: residents, families and staff. Data were analysed using content and thematic analysis.

Findings

Four main themes that described resident, family and staff perspectives of shared decision‐making were as follows: (a) oral communication pathways for information sharing; (b) supporting resident decision‐making autonomy; (c) relational aspects of care facilitate shared decision‐making; and (d) lack of effective communication creates barriers to shared decision‐making.

Conclusion

As the demand for LTC continues to increase, it is crucial that healthcare providers engage in collaborative, relational practices that foster high‐quality resident care. While a relational approach to care can facilitate shared decision‐making, there are opportunities to further cultivate shared decision‐making in LTCHs through more effective communication and collaboration.

Implications for practice

Understanding how information is shared and decisions are made can facilitate shared decision‐making in LTCHs. The strategies identified from this study could be further co‐developed and implemented in LTCHs.
Low neurodevelopmental performance and behavioural/emotional problems at 24 and 48 months in Brazilian children exposed to acetaminophen during foetal development
Authors: Tovo‐Rodrigues Luciana , Carpena Marina Xavier , Martins‐Silva Thais , Santos Iná S. , Anselmi Luciana , Barros Aluísio J. D. , Barros Fernando C. , Bertoldi Andréa D. , Matijasevich Alicia
Published: March 2020

Background

Several studies have reported that there is an association between developmental and emotional/behavioural problems in children exposed to acetaminophen during foetal development. However, few studies have focused on development and behavioural outcomes in early life.

Objectives

To test the association between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and low neurodevelopmental performance at 24 months and behavioural/emotional problems at 48 months of life.

Methods

We used data from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort, a population‐based longitudinal prospective study. Neurodevelopment was evaluated at 24 months using Battelle's Developmental Inventory (BDI) (n = 3737). We assessed global function as well as each domain (personal‐social, adaptative, motor, cognitive, and communication). Behavioural/emotional problems were assessed at 48 months using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) (n = 3624). We used the CBCL total, externalising, and internalising symptomatology and individual subscales (withdrawn, somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, social problems, cognitive problems, attention problems, aggressive behaviour, and rule‐breaking behaviour). Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was retrospectively assessed at the perinatal follow‐up. Poisson regression and multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the association, adjusting for several family and maternal sociodemographic and health factors, medication use during pregnancy, and the sex of the child.

Results

Acetaminophen exposure during prenatal development was not associated with low neurodevelopmental performance at 24 months assessed using the BDI or to emotional and behavioural problems assessed at 48 months using the CBCL in the adjusted models.

Conclusions

We cannot confirm the existence of an association between acetaminophen used during pregnancy and low neurodevelopmental performance at 24 months and emotional/behavioural problems at 48 months of life based on the present results.
Polls and Elections: The Skeptical Faithful: How Trump Gained Momentum among Evangelicals
Authors: Scala Dante J.
Published: March 2020

This article examines the origins of the unlikely alliance between Donald Trump and evangelicals, a relationship that defines the modern‐day Republican Party. Using 2016 Cooperative Congressional Election Study data, I explain how Trump ultimately succeeded among this critical group of Republican primary voters in the contest for the 2016 presidential nomination by exploiting key internal divisions. Trump initially performed well among less educated evangelicals who were less devoted to their religion and less ideologically conservative. Contrary to previous research, I find that Texas senator Ted Cruz's core support among the traditional Christian Right—very conservative, churchgoing evangelicals—resisted Trump until the late stages of the nomination contest. However, Cruz was unable to expand his support among his co‐religionists, despite his evangelical identity. Trump's success among evangelicals speaks not only to the oft‐cited importance of momentum in presidential nomination contests, but also to the significance of candidate ideology to primary voters, especially when paired with religiosity.
Concordance among in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy, trichoscopy, and histopathology in the evaluation of scalp discoid lupus
Authors: Melo Daniel Fernandes , De Carvalho Nathalie , Ardigò Marco , Pellacani Giovanni , Mota Amanda Nascimento Cavalleiro de Macedo , Barreto Taynara de Mattos , Jorge Machado Carla , Pineiro‐Maceira Juan Manuel , Barcaui Carlos Baptista
Published: March 2020

Background

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been used for the evaluation of several inflammatory skin conditions, including skin discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), and has been correlated with conventional histopathology (HP). However, RCM is not being widely used in trichology. Few reports and just preliminary data suggest the use of RCM as a complementary tool in alopecias.

Objectives

To correlate the major RCM features of scalp DLE with trichoscopy and HP findings of biopsy specimens obtained from the same lesions.

Methods

This is an observational, analytical, and cross‐sectional study involving 12 patients with a clinically established diagnosis of scalp DLE. Patients underwent global clinical photograph, trichoscopy, and RCM examination in the same site followed by two 4‐mm punch biopsy specimens for HP analysis. Inter‐methods agreement among RCM imaging, trichoscopy, and horizontal histopathology sections (HHS) were calculated using Cohen Kappa (k) statistics.

Results

Statistical analysis of the agreement between RCM and HP features disclosed an overall agreement similar to skin DLE. Seven of the eleven features evaluated had agreement superior to 75%. We also evaluated RCM features associated with three of their corresponding trichoscopic findings for further investigation of their agreement with HP. Statistical analysis showed an enhancement with agreement of 86% when the non‐invasive techniques are used together.

Conclusion

Consistent correlation between RCM and HP observed in our study supports the reliability of RCM in the diagnosis of scalp DLE. RCM may be considered a promising tool for scalp DLE microscopic evaluation and presents similar RCM features to DLE in other body sites. By associating clinical, trichoscopic and RCM evaluation, dermatologists will have a non‐invasive arsenal for the assessment of hair and scalp disorders, benefiting patients.
Confirmation of the recently described HLA‐DPA1 allele, HLA‐DPA1*02:02:08
Authors: Yang John Jeongseok , Kwon Oh‐Joong , Oh Heung‐Bum
Published: March 2020

The HLA‐DPA1*02:02:08 allele differs from HLA‐DPA1*02:02:02:01 by a synonymous nucleotide substitution at codon 194.
A Tutsi family harbouring two new RHCE variant alleles and a new haplotype in the Rh blood group system
Authors: Deleers Marie , Thonier Vincent , Claes Vincent , Daelemans Caroline , Peyrard Thierry , El Kenz Hanane
Published: March 2020

Background

RHCE*ceEK is a rare RH allele mostly encountered in people of African descent. This allele is defined by four single nucleotide substitutions: c.48G>C, c.712A>G, c.787A>G and c.800T>A. Until now, it has only been reported to segregate with either RHD*01N.01 or RHD*DAR1.00.

Materials and Methods

Blood samples were drawn from a 32‐year‐old Tutsi pregnant woman during an antenatal visit in order to perform her type and screen. To further investigate the results found in the patient, a family study was conducted. Standard haemagglutination methods were used to investigate the subjects’ red blood cells and plasma. Molecular workup on RHD and RHCE genes was carried out by DNA microarray, real‐time PCR and DNA sequencing techniques.

Results

The patient was phenotyped as group B, D+C−E−c+e+, Hr−. A complex mixture of anti‐E, anti‐c, anti‐Hr and anti‐hrS was detected in her plasma. She was found to carry a normal RHD gene, a conventional RHCE*ceEK allele and an alternative RHCE*ceEK allele (RHCE*ceEK without c.48G>C). The family study showed that the conventional RHCE*ceEK and the alternative RHCE*ceEK alleles were associated with a RHD*01 allele and a RHD*01N.01 allele, respectively. Molecular analysis performed in the proband’s mother showed a novel RHCE*ce variant allele on a RHCE*ceS‐like background (RHCE*ceS with c.609G>A).

Conclusions

This case study brought out new associations between RHD and RHCE alleles encoding the rare Hr− phenotype: the conventional RHCE*ceEK allele linked to the RHD*01 allele and an alternative RHCE*ceEK allele associated with the RHD*01N.01 allele. A novel RHCE*ce variant (RHCE*ceS with c.609G>A) was also reported.
Electronic charting of transfusion medicine consults: implementation, challenges and opportunities
Authors: Mohammad Mohammad K. , Wooten Melanie S. , Maier Cheryl L. , Hill Charles E. , Guarner Jeannette , Roback John D. , Winkler Anne M. , Sullivan Harold C.
Published: March 2020

Background

The Joint Commission lists improving staff communication (handoffs) as part of several National Safety Goals. In this study, we developed an electronic web‐based charting system for clinical pathology handoffs, which primarily consist of transfusion medicine calls, and evaluated the advantages over a paper‐based handwritten call log.

Materials and Methods

A secure online web browser application using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) was designed to document on‐call pathology resident consults. A year after implementation, an online survey was administered to our pathology residents in order to evaluate and compare the usability of the electronic application (e‐consults) to the previous handwritten call log, which was a notebook where trainees hand wrote different components of the consult.

Results

The REDCap web‐based application includes discrete fields for patients’ information, requesting physician contact, type of consult, action items for follow‐up and faculty responses, as well as other information. These components have eventually progressed to be an online consult call catalog. With approximately 1079 consults per year, transfusion medicine‐related calls account for ~90% of the encounters, while clinical chemistry, microbiology and immunology calls constitute the remainder. The overall response rate of the survey was 96% (29 of 30 participants). Of the 16 respondents who experienced both call log systems, 100% responded that REDCap was an improvement over the handwritten call log (P < 0·0001).

Conclusion

E‐consult documentation entered into a web‐based application was a user‐friendly, secure clinical information access and effective handoff system as compared to a paper‐based handwritten call log.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of predictors of human hepatitis E virus exposure in non‐endemic countries
Authors: Wilhelm Barbara , Waddell Lisa , Greig Judy , Young Ian
Published: March 2020

The reported incidence of clinical hepatitis E cases is rising in some non‐endemic countries, with concurrent concerns regarding potential hepatitis E virus (HEV) contamination of the blood supply. Therefore, the characterization of major potential sources of human HEV exposure is important to inform risk assessment and public health policy. A systematic review was conducted, including a comprehensive search in six electronic bibliographic databases, verified by hand‐searching reference lists of HEV reviews, and a grey literature search, of the broad research question ‘what is the evidence of the association between predictors of human HEV exposure, and HEV IgG seropositivity, in non‐endemic countries?’ Using forms designed a priori, captured studies were appraised at first‐level screening, second‐level characterization, and third‐level data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Meta‐analysis yielded summary estimates of association between potential predictors and odds of HEV seropositivity. Meta‐analysis and meta‐regression of the odds of HEV seroprevalence in specific groups characterized potential sources of HEV exposure. From 4,163 captured citations, 245 relevant studies underwent data extraction, investigating HEV seroprevalence or predictors in both healthy subjects and targeted patient groups. Across these groups, increasing age was a predictor of HEV IgG seropositivity. Both human immunodeficiency virus patients and haemodialysis patients had significantly increased odds of HEV seropositivity relative to the general population. Working with pigs, in forestry, or in hospitals, was significantly associated with increased odds of HEV seropositivity, as were consumption of meat, pork or game meat, or hunting. Chronological time was not associated with HEV seropositivity within our data sets. Further study of the distribution of potential dietary or behavioural predictors between high and lower prevalence areas within non‐endemic countries could improve our understanding of the relative importance of specific HEV transmission pathways.
Study on the Fuel Flexibility of a Microgas Turbine Combustor Burning Different Mixtures of H2, CH4, and CO2
Authors: Di Nardo Antonio , Bo Alessandro , Calchetti Giorgio , Giacomazzi Eugenio , Messina Giuseppe
Published: March 2020

The aim of this work is to analyze the behavior of the fuel flexible Ansaldo ARI100 T2 microgas turbine (MGT) combustor operated with mixtures having different H2, CH4, and CO2 concentrations. This combustor is going to be installed on an in-house modified Turbec T100 P MGT, which is originally equipped with a methane fired combustor. In a previous study, the combustor was simulated with a H2 enriched syngas, whose Wobbe index was within the limits imposed by the syngas supply system of an Ansaldo test bench. In this study, this constraint has been removed to gain a deeper understanding on how the fuel mixture properties (composition, heating value, and laminar flame speed) affect combustor performance. To this end, a series of Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have been carried out on the full-scale 3D geometry of the combustion chamber, at full and partial load (50%), evaluating for each case combustion efficiency as well as NOx and CO emissions.
Semantic influences on the perception of degraded speech by individuals with cochlear implants
Authors: Patro Chhayakanta , Mendel Lisa Lucks
Published: March 2020

This study investigated whether speech intelligibility in cochlear implant (CI) users is affected by semantic context. Three groups participated in two experiments: Two groups of listeners with normal hearing (NH) listened to either full spectrum speech or vocoded speech, and one CI group listened to full spectrum speech. Experiment 1 measured participants' sentence recognition as a function of target-to-masker ratio (four-talker babble masker), and experiment 2 measured perception of interrupted speech as a function of duty cycles (long/short uninterrupted speech). Listeners were presented with both semantic congruent/incongruent targets. Results from the two experiments suggested that NH listeners benefitted more from the semantic cues as the listening conditions became more challenging (lower signal-to-noise ratios and interrupted speech with longer silent intervals). However, the CI group received minimal benefit from context, and therefore performed poorly in such conditions. On the contrary, in the conditions that were less challenging, CI users benefitted greatly from the semantic context, and NH listeners did not rely on such cues. The results also confirmed that such differential use of semantic cues appears to originate from the spectro-temporal degradations experienced by CI users, which could be a contributing factor for their poor performance in suboptimal environments.
Using visual feedback to enhance intonation control with a variable pitch electrolarynx
Authors: Al-Zanoon Noor , Parsa Vijay , Doyle Philip C.
Published: March 2020

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using visual feedback to facilitate pitch control by a speaker using a pressure sensitive onset controlled electrolarynx (EL). This proof-of-concept study was conducted with one healthy adult. The participant-speaker was provided with computer generated visual feedback over five sessions within a consecutive period of three weeks. Changes in force control accuracy were gathered and analyzed. An improvement in finger (thumb) force control accuracy from the first to the last training session was documented. The results of this study provide data toward the development of a clinical training protocol for the use of a pressure sensitive onset controlled EL by laryngectomized speakers. Further, these results highlight the importance of developing a relevant multimodality training protocol for the improvement of postlaryngectomy EL speech production.
Phagocytosis of Wnt inhibitor SFRP4 by late wound macrophages drives chronic Wnt activity for fibrotic skin healing
Authors: Gay Denise , Ghinatti Giulia , Guerrero-Juarez Christian F. , Ferrer Rubén A. , Ferri Federica , Lim Chae Ho , Murakami Shohei , Gault Nathalie , Barroca Vilma , Rombeau Isabelle , Mauffrey Philippe , Irbah Lamya , Treffeisen Elsa , Franz Sandra , Boissonnas Alexandre , Combadière Christophe , Ito Mayumi , Plikus Maksim V. , Romeo Paul-Henri
Published: March 2020

Macrophages, renowned for clearance of debris and bacteria in the wound, can also uptake signaling inhibitors to promote fibrosis.
A wearable freestanding electrochemical sensing system
Authors: Zhao Yichao , Wang Bo , Hojaiji Hannaneh , Wang Zhaoqing , Lin Shuyu , Yeung Christopher , Lin Haisong , Nguyen Peterson , Chiu Kaili , Salahi Kamyar , Cheng Xuanbing , Tan Jiawei , Cerrillos Betto Alcitlali , Emaminejad Sam
Published: March 2020

We devised a strategy for high-fidelity, wearable biomarker data acquisition and sensor integration with consumer electronics.
Reconfigurable structure and tunable transport in synchronized active spinner materials
Authors: Han Koohee , Kokot Gašper , Das Shibananda , Winkler Roland G. , Gompper Gerhard , Snezhko Alexey
Published: March 2020

Synchronized active spinners spontaneously form dynamic lattices with reconfigurable order and tunable transport characteristics.
NK cells mediate clearance of CD8
+
T cell–resistant tumors in response to STING agonists
Authors: Nicolai Christopher J. , Wolf Natalie , Chang I-Chang , Kirn Georgia , Marcus Assaf , Ndubaku Chudi O. , McWhirter Sarah M. , Raulet David H.
Published: March 2020

STING agonists trigger NK cell–mediated clearance of MHC-deficient tumors resistant to CD8
+
T cells and NK-sensitive, MHC-expressing tumors.
The
N
-Acetylglucosaminidase LytB of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Involved in the Structure and Formation of Biofilms
Authors: Domenech Mirian , García Ernesto
Published: March 2020

It has been previously accepted that biofilm formation in
S. pneumoniae
must be a multigenic trait because the mutation of a single gene has led to only to partial inhibition of biofilm production. In the present study, however, evidence that the
N
-acetylglucosaminidase LytB is crucial in biofilm formation is provided. Despite the presence of extracellular DNA, strains either deficient in LytB or producing a defective LytB enzyme formed only shallow biofilms.
Improving the quality of clinical coding and payments through student doctor–coder collaboration in a tertiary haematology department
Authors: Abdulla Suha , Simon Natalie , Woodhams Kelvin , Hayman Carla , Oumar Mohamed , Howroyd Lucy Rose , Sethi Gulshan Cindy
Published: March 2020

Hospitals within the UK are paid for services provided by ‘Payment-by-Results’. In a system that rewards productivity, effective collaboration between coders and clinicians is crucial. However, clinical coding is frequently error prone and has been shown to impact negatively on departmental revenue. Our aim was to increase the median number of diagnostic codes per sickle cell inpatient admission at Guy’s Hospital by 3. Three interventions were implemented using the Plan, Do, Study, Act structure. This consisted of student doctors searching for diagnoses along with comorbidities that clinical coders had missed, distributing laminated cards with common clinical codes and implementing discharge pro formas. Through auditing, student doctors generated a total of £58 813 over 16 weeks. We observed an increase in the median number of codes by ≥2 additional codes. We improved coding accuracy where we identified errors in an average of 32.5% of admissions each month, improving the quality of patient documentation. We have demonstrated student doctor involvement in clinical coding as a potentially sustainable means of achieving accurate payment for services provided; increasing departmental revenue. We are the first to report the efficacy of student–coder collaboration in improving the accuracy of clinical coding.
Measure what we want: a taxonomy of short generic person-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs)
Authors: Benson Tim
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Health and care systems are complex and multifaceted, but most person-reported outcome and experience measures (PROMs and PREMs) address just one aspect. Multiple aspects need measuring to understand how what we do impacts patients, staff and services, and how these are affected by external factors. This needs survey tools that measure what people want, are valid, sensitive, quick and easy to use, and suitable for people with multiple conditions.

Methods

We have developed a coherent family of short generic PROMs and PREMs that can be used in combination in a pick-and-mix way. Each measure has evolved iteratively over several years, based on literature review, user inputs and field testing. Each has has a common format with four items with four response options and is designed for digital data collection with standardised analytics and data visualisation tools. We focused on brevity and low reading age.

Results

The results are presented in tabular format and as a taxonomy. The taxonomy is categorised by respondent type (patient or staff) and measure type. PROMs have subdomains: quality of life, individual care and community; PREMs have subdomains: service provided, provider culture and innovation. We show 22 patient-reported measures and 17 staff-reported measures. Previously published measures have been validated. Others are described for the first time.

Discussion and conclusions

This family of measures is broad in scope but is not claimed to be comprehensive. Measures share a common look and feel, which enables common methods of data collection, reporting and data visualisation. They are used in service evaluation, quality improvement and as key performance indicators. The taxonomy helps to organise the whole, explain what each measure does and identify gaps and overlaps.
Abstracts from international Emergency Medicine Journals
Authors: Production EMJ
Published: March 2020

Editor’s note: EMJ has partnered with the journals of multiple international emergency medicine societies to share from each a highlighted research study, as selected by their editors. This edition will feature an abstract from each publication.
A glossary of theories for understanding power and policy for health equity
Authors: Harris Patrick , Baum Fran , Friel Sharon , Mackean Tamara , Schram Ashley , Townsend Bel
Published: March 2020

Progressing public policies that improve health equity requires understanding and addressing the creation, use and distribution of power. This glossary provides an overview of some of the most relevant conceptualisations of the dynamics of power in policy with implications for health equity. The aim is to provide an accessible overview of the different theories and perspectives behind power for public health focused policy researchers and advocates. The Glossary demonstrates how the broad literature on power in policy deepens understanding of the institutional dynamics that creates and maintains health inequities.
Bilateral rostral temporomandibular luxation with bilateral coronoid fracture in a Welsh pony
Authors: Luedke Lauren K , Nixon Alan J , Whitty Justin A , Irby Nita L , Ducharme Norm G
Published: March 2020

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) luxation in the horse is a rare condition. There are few reports of unilateral luxation with successful reduction; bilateral luxation with concurrent bilateral coronoid fracture has not been reported. The diagnosis and closed reduction technique for rostral TMJ luxation are reported, along with the clinical outcome. A horse with an abnormally open positioned jaw presented for evaluation. Clinical exam showed a fixed open mouth, unable to be manually closed. Radiography showed multiple fractures associated with left and right TMJs. CT provided a more complete appraisal of the luxation and associated coronoid fracture orientation, as well as hyoid apparatus malposition (ie, temporohyoid subluxation). Closed reduction was achieved in this case using a fulcrum speculum between the molars, and a reduction device to forcibly appose the rostral mandible to the premaxilla with the patient anaesthetised. Functional mastication was a positive outcome; a partially phthisical, blind left eye persisted.
Brian Geoffrey Orbell
Authors: Robinson Helen
Published: March 2020

A practitioner who worked in mixed practice in Lutterworth for 30 years.
Minor shifts towards more natural conditions in captivity improve long-term survival among reintroduced Atlantic salmon
Authors: Harbicht Andrew B. , Fraser Dylan J. , Ardren William R.
Published: March 2020

Elevating winter water temperatures is a common practice when rearing salmonids for supplementation or reintroduction. Doing so elevates developmental rates, producing larger juveniles with greater smolt-to-adult survival, but does not guarantee improved adult returns to stocked tributaries. To test whether more natural developmental conditions improve adult returns to stocked tributaries, three consecutive cohorts of yearling (age 1+) landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were released into two tributaries of Lake Champlain. Cohorts were reared under two winter thermal conditions (seasonal surface water and above-seasonal groundwater) and (or) two release times (early and normal). Relative to standard hatchery practices, modelled returns to experimental tributaries increased over replicate cohorts by 286% on average following exposure to seasonal rearing temperatures, but decreased by 89% on average when release dates were advanced. By utilizing cost-effective shifts towards hatchery rearing techniques that more closely resemble natural growth conditions, we demonstrate how hatchery programs may improve long-term survival and returns for fish species with complex life histories involved in supplementation and reintroduction programs.
Dietary versus nondietary fatty acid profiles of lake trout ecotypes from Lake Superior and Great Bear Lake: Are fish really what they eat?
Authors: Chavarie L. , Hoffmann J. , Muir A.M. , Krueger C.C. , Bronte C.R. , Howland K.L. , Gallagher C.P. , Sitar S.P. , Hansen M.J. , Vinson M.R. , Baker L.F. , Loseto L.L. , Tonn W.M. , Swanson H.K.
Published: March 2020

Fatty acids are well-established biomarkers used to characterize trophic ecology, food-web linkages, and the ecological niche of many different taxa. Most often, fatty acids that are examined include only those previously identified as “dietary” or “extended dietary” biomarkers. Fatty acids considered as nondietary biomarkers, however, represent numerous fatty acids that can be extracted. Some studies may include nondietary fatty acids (i.e., combined with dietary fatty acids), but do not specifically assess them, whereas in other studies, these data are discarded. In this study, we explored whether nondietary biomarker fatty acids can provide worthwhile information by assessing their ability to discriminate intraspecific diversity within and between lakes. Nondietary fatty acids used as biomarkers delineated variation among regions, among locations within a lake, and among ecotypes within a species. Physiological differences that arise from differences in energy processing can be adaptive and linked to habitat use by a species’ ecotype and likely explains why nondietary fatty acid biomarkers can be a relevant tool to delineate intraspecific diversity. Little is known about the nondietary-mediated differences in fatty acid composition, but our results showed that nondietary fatty acid biomarkers can be useful tool in identifying variation.
Dynamics of woody plant cover in the Sahelian agroecosystems of the northern region of Burkina Faso since the 1970s–1980s droughts
Authors: Zida Wendpouiré Arnaud , Traoré Farid , Bationo Babou André , Waaub Jean-Philippe
Published: March 2020

This study was carried out in the northern region of Burkina Faso under Sahelian climatic conditions. The area was particularly affected by the 1970s–1980s droughts that led to the degradation of land and vegetation. Since the early 1990s, a gradual return of rainfall has been observed throughout the Sahel region. In this new environmental context, understanding the development of woody plants is important for effective conservation and management. We analyzed the dynamics of woody plant cover over the 30 years following the end of the 1970s–1980s droughts by using Landsat images from 1986, 1999, and 2015 with 30 m spatial resolution and taking into account changes in rainfall and land use. The change in the enhanced vegetation index 1 (EVI1) at the beginning of the dry season was used as a proxy for the change in photosynthetic activity of woody plants. Results showed an improvement in EVI1 on 98% of the study area, with a mean increase of 0.20 from 1986 to 2015. This improvement was accompanied by an increase in agroforestry and was weakly correlated with rainfall. The improvement in EVI1 was unstable, however, with a decline from 1999 to 2015 in the areas undergoing regreening.
Structural, elastic, magnetic and electronic properties of Ti-based Heusler alloys
Authors: Murugeswari R. , Manikandan M. , Rajeswarapalanichamy R. , Milton Franklin Benial A.
Published: March 2020

The structural, elastic, magnetic and electronic properties of titanium-based alloys [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are investigated by the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory using the Vienna ab-initio simulation code. The lattice constants of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alloys are optimized for the two possible structures such as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. It is found that at ambient pressure [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alloys are stable in [Formula: see text]-type crystal structure. The total magnetic moments [Formula: see text] and the energy gap [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alloys are calculated for various pressures. The total magnetic moments of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alloys in [Formula: see text] structure follow the rule [Formula: see text] and agree with the Slater–Pauling (SP) curve quite well. In both structures [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], the calculated magnetic moment of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alloys decreases with increase in pressure. Density of states shows the metallic nature of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] alloys in [Formula: see text] structure and half-metallic [Formula: see text] behavior in [Formula: see text] structure, i.e., majority spin channel is strongly metallic and the minority spin maintains the gap at the Fermi level at the equilibrium lattice constant.
ROBOTIC ARM WITH BIoT MACHINE LEARNING SYSTEM
Authors: AGUILERA R. CARREÑO , ACEVEDO F. AGUILAR , ORTIZ M. PATIÑO , ORTIZ J. PATIÑO
Published: March 2020

In this work, we present a robotic arm assisted by a visual system to decide whether an object with different colors, parallel flat surfaces and other types of surfaces would be subject to be manipulated without a drop risk. This robotic arm is assisted with sensors such as temperature, humidity, artificial vision, etc. and monitored with a Blockchain Internet of Things (BIoT) expert system assistance, which is shared and accessed by the internet by the users. A prototype for industrial purpose is launched to start providing data for training the expert system, achieving in this way an expert system with machine learning. The variations derived from the identification of the reference points and the characteristics of the robotic arm are a limiting factor of the system, however, it was possible to correctly locate the robotic arm in the workspace to take the object and manipulate it using machine learning based on a BIoT expert system.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX EXPRESSION AND CYTOKINE PROFILES IN SPONTANEOUS CANINE TUMOURS
Authors: Liu Cheng-Chi , Chang Li-Ti , Chuang Tien-Fu , Lin Chen-Si
Published: March 2020

Recent studies have reported gene therapy as an alternative treatment for canine’s cancer. Fifty-three samples from canine patients were obtained and the expression of MHC classes I and II and CD-markers in tumour cells, subpopulations of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) through flow cytometry and tumour cell cytokines were examined through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. These data were compared by using Biomarker Patterns Software. Mammary gland tumours (MGTs) showed low MHC I expression that can be correlated with tumour malignancy, with cut-off values of 72.58% (MGT, [Formula: see text]% and non-MGT, [Formula: see text]%). IL-8, showing a positive correlation with angiogenesis, expression in MGTs was significantly high and IL-12 expression in complex and tubulopapillary carcinomas were significantly lower than that in healthy mammary gland cells ([Formula: see text]). PBLs of dogs with MGTs had fewer T cells, particularly T helper cells, and B cells and more non-T, non-B cells, particularly malignant MGTs, than did PBLs of healthy dogs. Among all surface markers and cytokines detected, high CD3 TIL was significantly correlated with a more favourable prognosis. Cytokines, such as IL-8, -12, and -15, can be the indicators of therapeutic targets because of their specific expression patterns in specific MGT subtypes.
Voices of the Social Sector
Authors: Bopp Chris , Voida Amy
Published: March 2020

The prevalence of HCI research carried out with nonprofit organizations has increased dramatically over the past 35 years. Despite this history and our accumulating understanding of social sector organizations and their diverse stakeholders’ use of technology, there have not yet been any systematic reviews of this body of research. Before making more holistic claims about what this body of knowledge might suggest for a research agenda moving forward, we carry out a systematic literature review to characterize the systemic biases that are present as a result of the varying degrees of inclusion or exclusion of the voices of different groups of stakeholders. Building off of the results of our analysis, we contribute a framework of Analytic Charismas for more broadly engaging in reflexivity as a discipline.
An Activity Centered Approach to Nonvisual Computer Interaction
Authors: Baldwin Mark S. , Mankoff Jennifer , Nardi Bonnie , Hayes Gillian
Published: March 2020

In this work, we apply an activity theory lens to analyze nonvisual computing for blind and low-vision computer users. Our analysis indicates major challenges for users in translating the activities they are working towards into specific tasks to be completed in a system comprehensible manner. Specifically, blind and low-vision students learning to use accessible technologies struggled with organizing their activities, tracking the history and status of their operations, and understanding how the system was acting underneath these interactions. We discuss how activity-centered design can be applied to nonvisual interfaces to better match user behavior in a computational system.
Indicator-based Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Falcón-Cardona Jesús Guillermo , Coello Carlos A. Coello
Published: March 2020

For over 25 years, most multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) have adopted selection criteria based on Pareto dominance. However, the performance of Pareto-based MOEAs quickly degrades when solving multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs) having four or more objective functions (the so-called many-objective optimization problems), mainly because of the loss of selection pressure. Consequently, in recent years, MOEAs have been coupled with indicator-based selection mechanisms in furtherance of increasing the selection pressure so that they can properly solve many-objective optimization problems. Several research efforts have been conducted since 2003 regarding the design of the so-called indicator-based (IB) MOEAs. In this article, we present a comprehensive survey of IB-MOEAs for continuous search spaces since their origins up to the current state-of-the-art approaches. We propose a taxonomy that classifies IB-mechanisms into two main categories: (1) IB-Selection (which is divided into IB-Environmental Selection, IB-Density Estimation, and IB-Archiving) and (2) IB-Mating Selection. Each of these classes is discussed in detail in this article, emphasizing the advantages and drawbacks of the selection mechanisms. In the final part, we provide some possible paths for future research.
Blocking and Filtering Techniques for Entity Resolution
Authors: Papadakis George , Skoutas Dimitrios , Thanos Emmanouil , Palpanas Themis
Published: March 2020

Entity Resolution (ER), a core task of Data Integration, detects different entity profiles that correspond to the same real-world object. Due to its inherently quadratic complexity, a series of techniques accelerate it so that it scales to voluminous data. In this survey, we review a large number of relevant works under two different but related frameworks: Blocking and Filtering. The former restricts comparisons to entity pairs that are more likely to match, while the latter identifies quickly entity pairs that are likely to satisfy predetermined similarity thresholds. We also elaborate on hybrid approaches that combine different characteristics. For each framework we provide a comprehensive list of the relevant works, discussing them in the greater context. We conclude with the most promising directions for future work in the field.
Cognitive work of hypothesis exploration during anomaly response
Authors: Grayson Marisa R.
Published: March 2020

A look at how we respond to the unexpected.
Peer Prediction with Heterogeneous Users
Authors: Agarwal Arpit , Mandal Debmalya , Parkes David C. , Shah Nisarg
Published: March 2020

Peer prediction mechanisms incentivize agents to truthfully report their signals, in the absence of a verification mechanism, by comparing their reports with those of their peers. Prior work in this area is essentially restricted to the case of homogeneous agents, whose signal distributions are identical. This is limiting in many domains, where we would expect agents to differ in taste, judgment, and reliability. Although the Correlated Agreement (CA) mechanism [Shnayder et al. 2016a] can be extended to handle heterogeneous agents, there is a new challenge of efficiently estimating agent signal types. We solve this problem by clustering agents based on their reporting behavior, proposing a mechanism that works with clusters of agents, and designing algorithms that learn such a clustering. In this way, we also connect peer prediction with the Dawid and Skene [1979] literature on latent types. We retain the robustness against coordinated misreports of the CA mechanism, achieving an approximate incentive guarantee of
ε
-informed truthfulness. We show on real data that this incentive approximation is reasonable in practice, even with a small number of clusters.
Petroleomics: Tools, Challenges, and Developments
Authors: Palacio Lozano Diana Catalina , Thomas Mary J. , Jones Hugh E. , Barrow Mark P.
Published: March 2020

The detailed molecular characterization of petroleum-related samples by mass spectrometry, often referred to as petroleomics, continues to present significant analytical challenges. As a result, petroleomics continues to be a driving force for the development of new ultrahigh resolution instrumentation, experimental methods, and data analysis procedures. Recent advances in ionization, resolving power, mass accuracy, and the use of separation methods, have allowed for record levels of compositional detail to be obtained for petroleum-related samples. To address the growing size and complexity of the data generated, vital software tools for data processing, analysis, and visualization continue to be developed. The insights gained impact upon the fields of energy and environmental science and the petrochemical industry, among others. In addition to advancing the understanding of one of nature's most complex mixtures, advances in petroleomics methodologies are being adapted for the study of other sample types, resulting in direct benefits to other fields.
Friction Torque Analysis of Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism in Roller Jamming
Authors: Li Linjie , Fu Yongling , Zheng Shicheng , Fu Jian , Xia Tianxiang
Published: March 2020

The load distribution model of the planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM) is established on the basis of Hertz contact theory. The objective is to obtain a friction torque model of the PRSM in roller jamming. An example is provided to calculate the friction torque of the PRSM in roller jamming. Thereafter, the transmission efficiency is calculated. A static structural analysis is performed using the finite element method to estimate the contact stress between the threads of the PRSM components. Computational results indirectly reveal that roller jamming exerts considerable influence on the friction torque of the PRSM. Results show that the friction torque of the planetary roller screw increases when the roller is jammed and the wear of the parts is accelerated. This condition leads to structural failure. The results of this study can serve as a foundation for electromechanical actuation systems, which can be useful in designing antijamming systems for safety-critical aircraft applications.
Finite Element Study on the Preservation of Normal Knee Kinematics with Respect to the Prosthetic Design in Patient‐Specific Medial Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Koh Yong-Gon , Park Kyoung-Mi , Kang Kyoung-Tak
Published: March 2020

Alterations in native knee kinematics in medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) are caused by the nonanatomic articular surface of conventional implants. Technology for an anatomy mimetic patient‐specific (PS) UKA has been introduced. However, there have been no studies on evaluating the preservation of native knee kinematics with respect to different prosthetic designs in PS UKA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preservation of native knee kinematics with respect to different UKA designs using a computational simulation. We evaluated three different UKA designs: a nonconforming design, an anatomy mimetic design, and a conforming design for use under gait and squat loading conditions. The results show that the anatomy mimetic UKA design achieves closer kinematics to those of a native knee compared to the other two UKA designs under such conditions. The anatomy memetic UKA design exhibited a 0.39 mm and 0.36° decrease in the translation and rotation, respectively, in the swing phase compared with those of the natural knee. In addition, under the gait and squat loading conditions, the conforming UKA design shows limited kinematics compared to the nonconforming UKA design. Our results show that the conformity of each component in PS UKA is an important factor in knee joint kinematics; however, the anatomy mimetic UKA design cannot restore perfect native kinematics.