bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is reduction in appetite beneficial for body weight management in the context of overweight and obesity? Yes, according to the SATIN (Satiety Innovation) study
Authors: Hansen Thea Toft , Mead Bethan R. , García-Gavilán Jesús Francisco , Korndal Sanne Kellebjerg , Harrold Joanne A. , Camacho-Barcía Lucia , Ritz Christian , Christiansen Paul , Salas-Salvadó Jordi , Hjorth Mads Fiil , Blundell John , Bulló Mònica , Halford Jason C. G. , Sjödin Anders
Published: November 2019

New dietary-based concepts are needed for treatment and effective prevention of overweight and obesity. The primary objective was to investigate if reduction in appetite is associated with improved weight loss maintenance. This cohort study was nested within the European Commission project Satiety Innovation (SATIN). Participants achieving ≥8% weight loss during an initial 8-week low-energy formula diet were included in a 12-week randomised double-blind parallel weight loss maintenance intervention. The intervention included food products designed to reduce appetite or matching controls along with instructions to follow national dietary guidelines. Appetite was assessed by ad libitum energy intake and self-reported appetite evaluations using visual analogue scales during standardised appetite probe days. These were evaluated at the first day of the maintenance period compared with baseline (acute effects after a single exposure of intervention products) and post-maintenance compared with baseline (sustained effects after repeated exposures of intervention products) regardless of randomisation. A total of 181 participants (forty-seven men and 134 women) completed the study. Sustained reduction in 24-h energy intake was associated with improved weight loss maintenance (R 0·37; P = 0·001), whereas the association was not found acutely (P = 0·91). Suppression in self-reported appetite was associated with improved weight loss maintenance both acutely (R −0·32; P = 0·033) and sustained (R −0·33; P = 0·042). Reduction in appetite seems to be associated with improved body weight management, making appetite-reducing food products an interesting strategy for dietary-based concepts.
Rhyming the National Spirit: A Comparative Inquiry into the Works and Activities of Taras Shevchenko and Ilia Chavchavadze
Authors: Metreveli Tornike
Published: November 2019

The article is a comparative inquiry into the roles of Ilia Chavchavadze (1837–1907) and Taras Shevchenko (1818–1861) as national poets and anti-tsarist intellectuals within the context of their respective national traditions (in Georgia and Ukraine). During the period of their activity (19th and the beginning of 20th century), both Ukraine and Georgia were under tsarist imperial rule (albeit the two poets lived in different periods of Russian imperial history). Through their major works, each called for their communities to awaken and revolt against oppression, rejected social apathy caused by tsarist subjugation, and raised awareness about the historical past of their nations. By comparing the works and activities of the two poets and examining their impact on national mobilization in tsarist Ukraine and Georgia, this article argues that (lyric) poetry rather than prose (novel) constituted the agency of common national imagining. It was lyric and not epic poetry or novel, this article shows, that laid the foundation of nationalist mobilization as it framed the revolt of the “I” against colonialism as a revolt of the “I” against an oppressive society under which the cultural grounds for common imagining had been constructed.
Ottomania: Televised Histories and Otherness Revisited
Authors: Amzi-Erdogdular Leyla
Published: November 2019

This article discusses the ways in which the spread and the overwhelming popularity of Turkish television series in Southeastern Europe influence the change in perception of Turks and Turkey, as well as how the serials are transforming the image of the Balkans and the Ottoman legacy in Turkey. Television serials significantly contributed to the shifting popular image of the “other,” and initiated interactions unimaginable even a decade ago. These exchanges are both following and encouraging the breakdown of geohistorical boundaries that were set by the nationalist narratives in these regions at the turn of the 20th century, toward a more nuanced understanding of a shared past and a postnational future.
Back From Utopia: How Donbas Fighters Reinvent Themselves in a Post-Novorossiya Russia
Authors: Laruelle Marlene
Published: November 2019

How to cope with the end of utopia? How to move from making history on a day-to-day basis to capitalizing on a legend? That is the dilemma Russian veterans of the Donbas insurgency have faced since the exalting atmosphere of Novorossiya faded away. In this article, I trace the transformations of the Novorossiya utopia from the point at which Russian volunteer fighters began to return to Russia and found themselves compelled to reinvent themselves in a new context. I first look at the difficult reconversion from war to politics of Donbas heroes such as Igor Strelkov and Aleksandr Borodai and how their efforts to launch new structures based on their war legitimacy have succeeded or failed. I then turn to investigate the birth of new heroes, such as the writer Zakhar Prilepin, who wave the metaphorical flag of Donbas at a time when exaltation of the war has declined. After that, I explore how Novorossiya has become a literature genre that occupies the shelves of Russian bookstores, spanning fromNovorossievedenie—the “science of Novorossiya”—to the rich subgenre of war memoirs and veteran diaries.
Welcome to Surkov’s Theater: Russian Political Technology in the Donbas War
Authors: Hosaka Sanshiro
Published: November 2019

The leaked email accounts of Putin’s aide on Ukraine, Vladislav Surkov, are vast primary source collections that shed light on the backstage happenings of the Kremlin’s politics in the Donbas war. Surkov is an excellent dramaturg; he writes scripts, casts actors, analyzes their performance and narratives, runs promotions, and puts the repertoire into motion to achieve intended reactions of the target audience. Methods and resources employed against Ukraine have much in common with political technology that helps the Kremlin to manipulate public opinion as well as election systems using pseudo-experts, technical parties, fake civic organizations and youth movement such as Nashi, and covert media techniques. Moscow tactically promoted the myth of “Novorossiya”—later the circumstances forced Surkov to replace it with “Donbas.” These tactics gave false credibility to “separatists” who would voice Moscow’s objections to any attempts of Ukraine to drift westward, creating an illusion in the domestic and international audience: the separatists are not puppets of Moscow but desperately fight against Kyivjuntafor their localized identity, and Russia is just there to offer them a helping hand. The Russian policy toward Ukraine after the 2013 fall is an extension of its “virtual” domestic politics, but not traditional diplomacy at all.
“The Distant Early Warning System”: The Online Public Sphere and the Contemporary Artistic Movement in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Foley Sean
Published: November 2019

“Social media,” Saudi artist Abdullah al-Shehri (known as Shaweesh) observes, is the “best tool we have available to showcase and express our art,” because it allows millions of Saudis to share and comment on a given work of art simultaneously. Building on this insight, this essay argues that Saudi artists, who have among the largest followings on the country's social media, have used the online public sphere to build a new social movement. They have adopted a role akin to Antonio Gramsci's concept of organic intellectuals – namely, men and women who are not part of the traditional intellectual elite, but who, through the language of culture, articulate feelings and experiences the masses cannot easily express. To paraphrase Ezra Pound, Saudi artists are the “antennae” of the kingdom's society, whose work is not “mere self-expression,” but, in the words of Marshall McLuhan, the “distant early warning system that can always be relied upon to tell the old culture what is beginning to happen to it.” As a leading Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem observed in June 2019, “people need to listen to the artist.”
Retrospectives: History of science in France
Authors: SIMON JONATHAN
Published: November 2019

Although maybe not the most fashionable area of study today, French science has a secure place in the classical canon of the history of science. Like the Scientific Revolution and Italian science at the beginning of the seventeenth century, French science, particularly eighteenth-century and early nineteenth-century French science, remains a safe, albeit conservative, bet in terms of history-of-science teaching and research. The classic trope of the passage of the flame of European science from Italy to Britain and France in the seventeenth and then eighteenth centuries is well established in overviews of the field. Specializing in research in this area is not, therefore, unreasonable as a career choice if you are aiming for a history-of-science position in Europe or even in the US. The Académie (royale) des sciences, with its state-sponsored model of collective research, provides a striking counterpoint to the amateur, more individualistic functioning of London's Royal Society – a foretaste of modernity in the institutionalization of science. Clearly naive, such a representation of French science serves as a good initial framework on which to hang half a century of critical historical research. If proof of the continued interest for eighteenth-century French science is needed, we can cite the Web-based project around Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie currently in progress under the auspices of the French Academy of Sciences. The large number of publications in the history of French science (in English as well as French) make it unreasonable to pick out one or two for special attention here. But what about history of science in France and the academic community that practises this discipline today? Here, I offer a very personal view and analysis of this community, trying to underline contrasts with the history of science in the UK and the US.
The effects of myo-inositol and probiotic supplementation in a high-fat-fed preclinical model of glucose intolerance in pregnancy
Authors: Plows J. F. , Ramos Nieves J. M. , Budin F. , Mace K. , Reynolds C. M. , Vickers M. H. , Silva-Zolezzi I. , Baker P. N. , Stanley J. L.
Published: November 2019

Glucose intolerance during pregnancy – a major driver of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) – has significant short- and long-term health consequences for both the mother and child. As GDM prevalence continues to escalate, there is growing need for preventative strategies. There is limited but suggestive evidence that myo-inositol (MI) and probiotics (PB) could improve glucose tolerance during pregnancy. The present study tested the hypothesis that MI and/or PB supplementation would reduce the risk of glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Female C57BL/6 mice were randomised to receive either no treatment, MI, PB (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis) or both (MIPB) for 5 weeks. They were then provided with a high-fat diet for 1 week before mating commenced and throughout mating/gestation, while remaining on their respective treatments. An oral glucose tolerance test occurred at gestational day (GD) 16·5 and tissue collection at GD 18·5. Neither MI nor PB, separately or combined, improved glucose tolerance. However, MI and PB both independently increased adipose tissue expression of Ir, Irs1, Akt2 and Pck1, and PB also increased Pparγ. MI was associated with reduced gestational weight gain, whilst PB was associated with increased maternal fasting glucose, total cholesterol and pancreas weight. These results suggest that MI and PB may improve insulin intracellular signalling in adipose tissue but this did not translate to meaningful differences in glucose tolerance. The absence of fasting hyperglycaemia or insulin resistance suggests this is a very mild model of GDM, which may have affected our ability to assess the impact of these nutrients.
Structure and function of the endothelial surface layer: unraveling the nanoarchitecture of biological surfaces
Authors: Reines Brandon P. , Ninham Barry W.
Published: November 2019

Among the unsolved mysteries of modern biology is the nature of a lining of blood vessels called the ‘endothelial surface layer’ or ESL. In venous micro-vessels, it is half a micron in thickness. The ESL is 10 times thicker than the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) at its base, has been presumed to be comprised mainly of water, yet is rigid enough to exclude red blood cells. How is this possible? Developments in physical chemistry suggest that the venous ESL is actually comprised of nanobubbles of CO2, generated from tissue metabolism, in a foam nucleated in the eGC. For arteries, the ESL is dominated by nanobubbles of O2and N2from inspired air. The bubbles of the foam are separated and stabilized by thin layers of serum electrolyte and proteins, and a palisade of charged polymer strands of the eGC. The ESL seems to be a respiratory organ contiguous with the flowing blood, an extension of, and a ‘lung’ in miniature. This interpretation may have far-reaching consequences for physiology.
Johnson–Levine homomorphisms and the tree reduction of the LMO functor
Authors: VERA ANDERSON
Published: November 2019

Let $\mathcal{M}$ denote the mapping class group of Σ, a compact connected oriented surface with one boundary component. The action of $\mathcal{M}$ on the nilpotent quotients of π1(Σ) allows to define the so-called Johnson filtration and the Johnson homomorphisms. J. Levine introduced a new filtration of $\mathcal{M}$, called the Lagrangian filtration. He also introduced a version of the Johnson homomorphisms for this new filtration. The first term of the Lagrangian filtration is the Lagrangian mapping class group, whose definition involves a handlebody bounded by Σ, and which contains the Torelli group. These constructions extend in a natural way to the monoid of homology cobordisms. Besides, D. Cheptea, K. Habiro and G. Massuyeau constructed a functorial extension of the LMO invariant, called the LMO functor, which takes values in a category of diagrams. In this paper we give a topological interpretation of the upper part of the tree reduction of the LMO functor in terms of the homomorphisms defined by J. Levine for the Lagrangian mapping class group. We also compare the Johnson filtration with the filtration introduced by J. Levine.
Counting subgraphs in fftp graphs with symmetry
Authors: ANTOLÍN YAGO
Published: November 2019

Following ideas that go back to Cannon, we show the rationality of various generating functions of growth sequences counting embeddings of convex subgraphs in locally-finite, vertex-transitive graphs with the (relative) falsification by fellow traveler property (fftp). In particular, we recover results of Cannon, of Epstein, Iano–Fletcher and Zwick, and of Calegari and Fujiwara. One of our applications concerns Schreier coset graphs of hyperbolic groups relative to quasi-convex subgroups, we show that these graphs have rational growth, the falsification by fellow traveler property, and the existence of a lower bound for the growth rate independent of the finite generating set and the infinite index quasi-convex subgroup.
Prioritizing Indigenous Elders’ Knowledge for Intergenerational Well-being
Authors: Rowe Gladys , Straka Silvia , Hart Michael , Callahan Ann , Robinson Don , Robson Garry
Published: November 2019

Le rapport final de la Commission de vérité et réconciliation du Canada (2015) a souligné la nécessité de soutenir l’autodétermination des Autochtones pour remédier aux séquelles des pensionnats. Cependant, la recherche sur le vieillissement autochtone demeure dominée par les colons. Dans le cadre de cette étude indigéniste menée par une équipe de recherche comprenant des Cris et des colons, des aînés autochtones ont été interrogés pour connaître les éléments qui seraient nécessaires, selon eux, pour le soutien du bien-être des personnes âgées de leurs communautés. Les aînés ont affirmé que la guérison des survivants âgés passe par la reconnexion avec les savoirs culturels que les pensionnats ont cherché à éradiquer. En renouant avec leurs rôles traditionnels dans la transmission des connaissances, les personnes âgées soutiennent non seulement leur propre guérison, mais aussi celle de toute leur communauté. Cette compréhension de la nature profondément interrelationnelle des communautés autochtones implique que le bien-être des personnes âgées dépend de la réappropriation de leur identité culturelle, mais aussi de leur rôle en tant que transmetteurs intergénérationnels de savoirs.
Design and development of sign language questionnaires based on video and web interfaces
Authors: López Juan Pedro , Bosch-Baliarda Marta , Martín Carlos Alberto , Menéndez José Manuel , Orero Pilar , Soler Olga , Álvarez Federico
Published: November 2019

Conventional tests with written information used for the evaluation of sign language (SL) comprehension introduce distortions due to the translation process. This fact affects the results and conclusions drawn and, for that reason, it is necessary to design and implement the same language interpreter-independent evaluation tools. Novel web technologies facilitate the design of web interfaces that support online, multiple-choice questionnaires, while exploiting the storage of tracking data as a source of information about user interaction. This paper proposes an online, multiple-choice sign language questionnaire based on an intuitive methodology. It helps users to complete tests and automatically generates accurate, statistical results using the information and data obtained in the process. The proposed system presents SL videos and enables user interaction, fulfilling the requirements that SL interpretation is not able to cover. The questionnaire feeds a remote database with the user answers and powers the automatic creation of data for analytics. Several metrics, including time elapsed, are used to assess the usability of the SL questionnaire, defining the goals of the predictive models. These predictions are based on machine learning models, with the demographic data of the user as features for estimating the usability of the system. This questionnaire reduces costs and time in terms of interpreter dedication, as well as widening the amount of data collected while employing user native language. The validity of this tool was demonstrated in two different use cases.
Impact assessment of the incorporation of the rotavirus vaccine in the province of San Luis – Argentina
Authors: García Martí S. , Augustovski F. , Gibbons L. , Loggia V. , Lepetic A. , Gómez J.A. , Pichón Riviere A.
Published: November 2019

Rotavirus (RV) is the main cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children. The San Luis province of Argentina introduced RV vaccination in May 2013. We estimate vaccine impact (RVI) using real-world data. Data on all-cause AGE cases and AGE-related hospitalisations for San Luis and the adjacent Mendoza province (control group) were obtained and analysed by interrupted time-series methods. Regardless of the model used for counterfactual predictions, we estimated a reduction in the number of all-cause AGE cases of 20–25% and a reduction in AGE-related hospitalisations of 55–60%. The vaccine impact was similar for each age group considered (<1 year, <2 years and <5 years). RV vaccination was estimated to have reduced direct medical costs in the province by about 4.5 million pesos from May 2013 to December 2014. Similar to previous studies, we found a higher impact of RV vaccination in preventing severe all-cause AGE cases requiring hospitalisation than in preventing all-cases AGE cases presenting for medical care. An assessment of the economic value of RV vaccination could take other benefits into account in addition to the avoided medical costs and the costs of vaccination.
Epidemiological analysis of neonatal CHD near Petrochemical Complex
Authors: Chen Ye , Huang Lei-Jun
Published: November 2019

Objective:

To study the incidence, types, and characteristics of CHD in all live births delivered in Jinshan Hospital from 1 January, 2016 to 31 December, 2017, and to analyse the correlation between CHD and the distance between maternal residence and Shanghai Petrochemical Complex.

Methods:

All live births, delivered in Jinshan Hospital in 2016 and 2017, have received CHD screening and neonatal follow-up after delivery. For those both positive for CHD screening and negative for CHD screening but with heart murmur found during physical examination on neonatal follow-up after delivery, echocardiography was performed to confirm CHD diagnosis. All maternal residential addresses have been grouped for analysis according to the distance between maternal residence and Shanghai Petrochemical Complex.

Results:

There were 5544 live births in total, and a total of 79 children with CHD were confirmed by CHD screening and echocardiography, of which the types of diseases with high incidence, in descending order of incidence, are atrial septal defect (48/79), ventricular septal defect (25/79), patent ductus arteriosus (21/79), and pulmonary artery stenosis (9/79). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of CHD among the groups divided by the distance between maternal residence and Shanghai Petrochemical Complex. The incidence of neonatal CHD near Shanghai Petrochemical Complex is 1.42%.

Conclusions:

Most of the children with CHD can be screened out through CHD screening and physical examination in neonatal period and early infancy stage. The distance between maternal residence and Shanghai Petrochemical Complex has no significant direct effect on the incidence of CHD in neonates near Shanghai Petrochemical Complex.
Association between preoperative respiratory support and outcomes in paediatric cardiac surgery
Authors: Ciociola Elizabeth C. , Kumar Karan R. , Zimmerman Kanecia O. , Thompson Elizabeth J. , Harward Melissa , Sullivan Laura N. , Turek Joseph W. , Hornik Christoph P.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Preoperative mechanical ventilation is associated with morbidity and mortality following CHD surgery, but prior studies lack a comprehensive analysis of how preoperative respiratory support mode and timing affects outcomes.

Methods:

We retrospectively collected data on children <18 years of age undergoing cardiac surgery at an academic tertiary care medical centre. Using multivariable regression, we examined the association between modes of preoperative respiratory support (nasal cannula, high-flow nasal cannula/noninvasive ventilation, or invasive mechanical ventilation), escalation of preoperative respiratory support, and invasive mechanical ventilation on the day of surgery for three outcomes: operative mortality, postoperative length of stay, and postoperative complications. We repeated our analysis in a subcohort of neonates.

Results:

A total of 701 children underwent 800 surgical procedures, and 40% received preoperative respiratory support. Among neonates, 243 patients underwent 253 surgical procedures, and 79% received preoperative respiratory support. In multivariable analysis, all modes of preoperative respiratory support, escalation in preoperative respiratory support, and invasive mechanical ventilation on the day of surgery were associated with increased odds of prolonged length of stay in children and neonates. Children (odds ratio = 3.69, 95% CI 1.2–11.4) and neonates (odds ratio = 8.97, 95% CI 1.31–61.14) on high-flow nasal cannula/noninvasive ventilation had increased odds of operative mortality compared to those on room air.

Conclusion:

Preoperative respiratory support is associated with prolonged length of stay and mortality following CHD surgery. Knowing how preoperative respiratory support affects outcomes may help guide surgical timing, inform prognostic conversations, and improve risk stratification models.
Factors related to advance care planning among older African American women: Age, medication, and acute care visits
Authors: Kwak Jung , Ellis Julie L.
Published: November 2019

Objectives

Advance care planning (ACP) is linked with high-quality clinical outcomes at the end of life. However, ACP engagement is lower among African Americans than among Whites. In this study, we sought to identify correlates of ACP among African American women with multiple chronic conditions for two reasons: (1) African American women with multiple chronic conditions have high risks for serious illnesses, more intensive treatments, and circumstances that may require substitutes' decision-making and (2) identifying correlates of ACP among African American women can help us identify important characteristics to inform ACP outreach and interventions for this group.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 116 African American women aged ≥50 years who were recruited from the central area of a mid-western city.

Results

On average, participants were 64 years old (SD = 9.42). The majority were not married (78%), had less than a college education (50%), and had an annual income of $15,000 (54%). Their mean numbers of chronic conditions and prescribed medications were 3.31 (SD = 1.25) and 8.75 (SD = 4.42), respectively. Fifty-nine per cent reported having talked with someone about their preferences (informal ACP); only 30% had completed a living will or a power of attorney for healthcare (formal ACP). Logistic regression showed that age, the number of hospitalizations or emergency department visits, and the number of prescription medications were significantly correlated with both informal and formal ACP; other demographic and psychosocial characteristics (the knowledge of ACP, self-efficacy, and trust in the medical system) were not.

Significance of results

Results of this study suggest a need for targeted, culturally sensitive outpatient ACP education to promote ACP engagement in older African American women, taking into account age, the severity of chronic conditions, and levels of medication management.
The utility of nursing instruments for daily screening for delirium: Delirium causes substantial functional impairment
Authors: Bode Leonie , Isler Florian , Fuchs Simon , Marquetand Justus , Petry Heidi , Ernst Jutta , Schubert Maria , Garcia Nuñez David , von Känel Roland , Boettger Soenke
Published: November 2019

Objective

Nursing assessments have been recommended for the daily screening for delirium; however, the utility of individual items have not yet been tested. In a first step in establishing the potential of the electronic Patient Assessment-Acute Care (ePA-AC) as such, the impact of delirium on the functional domains was assessed.

Method

In this prospective observational cohort study, 277 patients were assessed and 118 patients were delirious. The impact of delirium on functional domains of the ePA-AC related to self-initiated activity, nutrition, and elimination was determined with simple logistic regressions.

Results

Patients with delirium were older, sicker, were more commonly sedated during the assessment, stayed longer in the intensive care unit (ICU) and floors, and less commonly discharged home. A general pattern was the loss of abilities and full functioning equivalent to global impairment. For self-initiated mobility, in and out of the bed sizable limitations were noted and substantial inability to transfer caused friction and shearing. Similarly, any exhaustion and fatigue were associated with delirium. For self-initiated grooming and dressing, the impairment was greater in the upper body. Within the nutritional domain, delirium affected self-initiated eating and drinking, the amount of food and fluids, energy and nutrient, as well as parenteral nutrition requirement. In delirious patients, the fluid demand was rather increased than decreased, tube feeding more often required and dysphagia occurred. For the elimination domain, urination was not affected — of note, most patients were catheterized, whereas abilities to initiate or control defecation were affected.

Significance of results

Delirium was associated with sizable impairment in the level of functioning. These impairments could guide supportive interventions for delirious patients and perspectively implement nursing instruments for delirium screening.
Comparing the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients with non-cancer and cancer diagnoses in a tertiary palliative care setting
Authors: Bandeali Suhair , des Ordons Amanda Roze , Sinnarajah Aynharan
Published: November 2019

Objective

The purpose was to describe the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients with non-cancer serious illness diagnoses compared to those of patients with cancer.

Method

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with a non-cancer diagnosis admitted to a tertiary palliative care unit between January 2008 and December 2017 and compared their needs to those of a matched cohort of patients with cancer diagnoses. The prevalence of needs within the following four main concerns was recorded and the data analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis:

•

Physical: pain, dyspnea, fatigue, anorexia, edema, and delirium

•

Psychological: depression, anxiety, prognosis, and dignity

•

Social: caregiver burden, isolation, and financial

•

Spiritual: spiritual distress

Results

The prevalence of the four main concerns was similar among patients with non-cancer and cancer diagnoses. Pain, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, and anorexia were more prevalent among patients with cancer. Dyspnea was more commonly the primary concern in patients with non-cancer diagnoses (39%), who also had a higher prevalence of anxiety and concerns about dignity. Spirituality was addressed more often in patients with cancer.

Significance of results

The majority of patients admitted to tertiary palliative care settings have historically been those with cancer. The tertiary palliative care needs of patients with non-cancer diagnoses have not been well described, despite the increasing prevalence of this population. Our description of the palliative care needs of patients with non-cancer diagnoses will help guide future palliative care for the increasing population of patients with non-cancer serious illness diagnoses.
HIV im südlichen Afrika: wo stehen wir heute?
Authors: Eichenberger Anna , Weisser Maja , Battegay Manuel
Published: November 2019

Zusammenfassung. In den vergangenen 15 Jahren hat sich die HIV-Epidemie in Subsahara-Afrika durch den verbesserten Zugang zu HIV-Tests und antiretroviralen Medikamenten deutlich verändert. Die Zahl der jährlichen Neuinfektionen ist seit 2005 stark rückläufig, die Lebenserwartung von Menschen mit HIV ist gestiegen und die Anzahl der jährlichen Todesfälle ist gesunken. Allerdings haben Frauen weiterhin ein ungleich hohes Risiko, sich anzustecken, und Stigma und Diskriminierung erschweren das Senken der Infektionsraten. Herausforderungen wie der Mangel an adäquater technischer Ausstattung vor allem zum Bestimmen der Viruslast, Skepsis gegenüber Tests und Gebrauch von mechanischer Verhütung sowie Zunahme der Resistenzen gegen die Erstlinientherapie stehen dem Ende der Epidemie im Weg. Dennoch schaffen neue Teststrategien und Therapien mit höherer Effektivität, die – wenn zuverlässig eingenommen – die Virus-Übertragung verhindern, neue Hoffnung im Kampf gegen das Virus.
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV – an Update from Rural Africa
Authors: Luoga Ezekiel , Gamell Anna
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Sub-Saharan Africa is home of 85 % of pregnant women living with HIV and 90 % of HIV-infected children. WHO issued the first prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) recommendations in 2000. These guidelines have been revised to incorporate new evidence and align with the goal of universal treatment access and zero infections among children. Currently, 82 % of HIV-infected pregnant women receive antiretroviral treatment, and infections among children have halved since 2010. However, in 2018, 160,000 children became infected. Reasons hindering the success of PMTCT are: a) non-universal HIV testing during pregnancy; b) low retention through the PMTCT cascade; and c) missed opportunities to diagnose women who acquire HIV while pregnant or breastfeeding. To address these gaps innovative strategies are needed.
Medizinischer Alltag in den Tropen – eine fallbezogene Übersicht
Authors: Haller Sabine , Fehr Jan
Published: November 2019

Zusammenfassung. Wenn wir über «Medizin in den Tropen» sprechen, sind wir in Gedanken rasch bei Malariaepidemien, Durchfallerkrankungen und Wurminfektionen. Weniger bekannt ist der Einfluss der neuen Epidemie der nicht übertragbaren Krankheiten, welche in den tropischen Weltregionen schon gut die Hälfte aller Todesfälle ausmachen. Angetrieben durch sich verändernde demografische, gesellschaftliche und ökonomische Faktoren, nehmen Krankheiten wie Bluthochdruck, Diabetes und Übergewicht zu. Diese Zunahme der nicht übertragbaren Krankheiten gepaart mit den weiterhin vorhandenen klassischen Infektionskrankheiten der Tropen, führen zu einer medizinischen Doppelbelastung, welche diese Ressourcen-armen Regionen vor grosse Herausforderungen stellt.
A Geodata Fabric for the 21st Century
Authors: de La Beaujardi�re Jeff
Published: November 2019

We have the potential to transform our understanding of Earth—if we can just figure out how to harness ever growing data streams.
No Place to Flee
Authors: Pollock William , Wartman Joseph
Published: November 2019

The Syrian refugee crisis has had far-reaching consequences for geologic risk in neighboring Lebanon, providing insights into the interplay between forced displacement and natural disasters.
Meet Hygiea, the Smallest Dwarf Planet in Our Solar System
Authors: Barbuzano Javier
Published: November 2019

New observations confirm that main asteroid belt object Hygiea is round. It now fulfills all the requirements to graduate from asteroid to dwarf planet.
Photoluminescence Characteristics of Zinc Blende InAs Nanowires
Authors: Anyebe E. A. , Kesaria M.
Published: November 2019

A detailed understanding of the optical properties of self-catalysed (SC), zinc blende (ZB) dominant, nanowires (NWs) is crucial for the development of functional and impurity-free nanodevices. Despite the fact that SC InAs NWs mostly crystallize in the WZ/ZB phase, there are very limited reports on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of ZB InAs NWs. Here, we report on the PL properties of Molecular Beam Epitaxy grown, SC InAs NWs. The as-grown NWs exhibit a dominant band to band (BtB) peak associated with ZB, InAs with an emission energy of ~0.41 eV in good agreement with the band gap energy of ZB InAs and significantly lower than that of the wurtzite phase (~0.48 eV). The strong BtB peak persists to near room temperature with a distinct temperature-dependent red-shift and very narrow spectral linewidth of ~20 meV (10 K) which is much smaller than previously reported values. A narrowing in PL linewidth with increasing NWs diameter is correlated with a decline in the influence of surface defects resulting from an enlargement in NWs diameter. This study demonstrates the high optical property of SC InAs NWs which is compatible with the Si-complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology and paves the way for the monolithic integration of InAs NWs with Si in novel nanodevices.
Effect of Seafood (Gizzard Shad) Supplementation on the Chemical Composition and Microbial Dynamics of Radish Kimchi during Fermentation
Authors: Mannaa Mohamed , Seo Young-Su , Park Inmyoung
Published: November 2019

This study investigated the impact of supplementing radish kimchi with slices of gizzard shad, Konosirus punctatus (boneless - BLGS, or whole - WGS) on the kimchi’s chemical and microbial composition for different fermentation durations. Higher levels of amino nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) were observed in the supplemented kimchi groups compared to those in the control and further, Ca and P levels were highest in the WGS kimchi group. Microbial composition analysis revealed noticeable differences between the three groups at different fermentation durations. The predominant species changed from Leuconostoc rapi to Lactobacillus sakei at the optimal- and over-ripening stages in the control kimchi group. The predominant species in the BLGS kimchi group was L. rapi at all stages of fermentation, whereas the predominant species in the WGS kimchi group was L. rapi at the optimal-ripening stage, and both L. sakei and L. rapi at the over-ripening stage. Significant correlations were observed by analysis of the Spearman’s rank between and within the chemical and microbial composition over fermentation durations. Altogether, gizzard shad supplementation may be used to optimize the desired microbial population to obtain the preferable fresh kimchi flavour by the release of certain inorganic elements and amino N.
Fatty Acids and Cancer Risk
Authors: Ravacci G. , Santos J. R. , Waitzberg D. L.
Published: November 2019

This chapter summarizes the evidence for alterations in fatty acid (FA) metabolism in cancer. Lipid metabolism, in particular de novo fatty acid synthesis, is an essential cellular process that converts nutrients into metabolic intermediates for membrane biosynthesis, energy storage and the generation of signaling molecules. The activated de novo fatty acid synthesis provides essential structural components and substrates for the generation of signaling molecules. A wide variety of tumors and their precursor lesions undergo exacerbated de novo fatty acid synthesis, irrespective of the levels of circulating lipids. Neoplastic lipogenesis is reflected by significantly increased activity and coordinate expression of several lipogenic enzymes in tumor cells. Upregulation of fatty acid synthase, the key metabolic multi-enzyme that is responsible for the terminal catalytic step in de novo fatty acid synthesis, represents a nearly universal phenotypic alteration in most human malignancies. Increased lipid uptake was also observed in tumor cells. Essential FAs, such as omega-3 and omega-6 FAs, are precursors to eicosanoids and contribute distinctly to tumor progression.
Eating Habits and Their Impact on Aging and Cancer
Authors: Marongiu F. , Serra M. , Laconi E.
Published: November 2019

Dietary habits, aging and cancer are strictly intertwined. This is good news in that it gives opportunities to modulate the rate of aging and, possibly, age-related morbidities via manipulation of the quality/quantity of food intake. On the other hand, efforts towards defining the best dietary schedule (if any) have been shown to be particularly challenging. Nor is there a clear understanding of biological and biochemical mechanisms underlying the links between aging and cancer or the impact of diet on either process. In this chapter, the evidence linking dietary regimens and aging will be presented, with special reference to the amount of caloric intake. The emerging interest on time-restricted feeding schedules as a means to delay aging will also be addressed. Finally, age-induced alterations in tissue fitness landscape will be discussed for their possible relevance in the pathogenesis of neoplasia.
Nutrition and Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Authors: Johnson I. T.
Published: November 2019

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and the second most common in women, but its age-standardised incidence is much higher in countries with prosperous urbanised populations than in less developed countries. Early studies of CRC suggested that diets based on unprocessed plant foods were protective, and that higher consumption of meat and animal products increased the risk. These findings have been largely confirmed. Recommendations to consume higher levels of dietary fibre and less fresh and processed meat are included in the dietary guidelines of most countries seeking to reduce the risk of CRC and other non-communicable diseases. The mechanisms underlying these associations of CRC with nutrition are still only poorly understood, but metabolic abnormalities and chronic systemic inflammation probably increase the likelihood of CRC in later life. If the vulnerability of the colorectal mucosa to neoplasia is increased by dietary and metabolic factors acting over a lifetime, effective preventive measures need to begin early in life and should be based on a deeper mechanistic understanding of colorectal carcinogenesis. To address these questions, we require better molecular biomarkers of early carcinogenesis and novel experimental strategies, applied across the lifespan, and in high and low risk populations.
Nutrition and Liver Cancer Prevention
Authors: Heidor R. , Affonso J. M. , Ong T. P. , Moreno F. S.
Published: November 2019

Liver cancer represents a major public health problem. Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex process that comprises several stages and is caused by multiple factors. Both progressive genetic and epigenetic alterations are described in liver cancer development. The most effective strategy to reduce the impact of this disease is through prevention. In addition to vaccination against HBV and treatment of HCV infection, other preventive measures include avoiding ingesting aflatoxin-contaminated foods and drinking alcoholic beverages, as well as maintaining healthy body weight and practicing physical exercise. Bioactive compounds from fruits and vegetables present great potential for liver cancer chemoprevention. Among them, tea catechins, carotenoids, retinoids, β-ionone, geranylgeraniol and folic acid can be highlighted. In addition, butyric acid, tributyrin and structured lipids based on butyric acid and other fatty acids represent additional promising chemopreventive agents. These bioactive food compounds have been shown to modulate key cellular and molecular processes that are deregulated in hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, combinations of different classes of bioactive food compounds or of bioactive food compounds with synthetic drugs could lead to synergistic liver cancer chemopreventive effects.
A highly sensitive and selective “turn-on” fluorescent probe for detection of fleroxacin in human serum and urine based on a lanthanide functionalized metal–organic framework
Authors: Liu Tian-Yu , Qu Xiang-Long , Yan Bing
Published: November 2019

A novel luminescent probe based on a Eu3+ functionalized MOF hybrid (Eu3+@1) with high sensitivity and selectivity has been proved to possess enormous potential for the determination of fleroxacin in human serum and urine.
The first total synthesis of rebaudioside R
Authors: Wen Guo-En , Qiao Zhi , Liu Hui , Zeng Zhi-Yong , Tu Yuan-Hong , Xia Jian-Hui , Zhang Qing-Ju , Sun Jian-Song
Published: November 2019

The first total synthesis of rebaudioside R has been achieved via two different approaches.
Structure and dynamics of amphiphilic Janus spheres and spherocylinders under shear
Authors: Kobayashi Yusei , Arai Noriyoshi , Nikoubashman Arash
Published: November 2019

We study the structure formation and flow properties of colloidal dispersions comprised of Janus spheres, Janus spherocylinders, and their mixtures, using hybrid molecular dynamics simulations that take into account hydrodynamic interactions.
Investigation of BTLA tagging variants with risk of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tang Weifeng , Chen Shuchen , Kang Mingqiang , Liu Jun , Liu Chao
Published: November 2019

Background: Variants in B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) gene are likely to affect the function of BTLA protein.

Methods: In the present case–control study, we selected BTLA tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs16859629 T>C, rs1982809 G>A, rs2171513 G>A and rs3112270 A>G) and conducted a case–control study to identify the association of BTLA SNPs with risk of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma (EGJA). The present study involved 1236 new incident EGJA cases and 1540 cancer-free controls.

Results: The genotypes of BTLA SNPs were analyzed using a SNPscan Kit. No association was also found between the BTLA SNPs and the susceptibility of EGJA in overall comparsion. In subgroup analyses, the BTLA rs1982809 was found to be associated with an increased susceptibility of EGJA (AA versus GG: ORadjusted = 2.09, 95% CI 1.08–4.07, P = 0.030; and AA versus GA/GG: ORadjusted = 1.99, 95% CI 1.04–3.82, P = 0.039). In haplotype comparison, we identified that TAAG haplotype with the order of BTLA rs16859629, rs1982809, rs2171513 and rs3112270 SNPs might increase the susceptibility of EGJA (OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.41–6.71; P = 0.003).

Conclusion: To conclude, the present study suggests that BTLA Trs16859629Ars1982809Ars2171513Grs3112270 haplotype may increase the susceptibility of EGJA. More studies should be conducted to evaluate whether BTLA polymorphisms may influence the susceptibility of cancer in the future.
Research on quality problems management of electric power equipment based on knowledge–data fusion method
Authors: Han Xiao , Jiang Jun , Zhang Chaohai , Wen Zhe , Chen Guang , Liu Yang
Published: November 2019

The quality of electric power equipment directly affects and decides the securable and stable operation of the power grid. Revealing the quality problem causes and influencing factors are considered as the key point to improve and guarantee the quality of power apparatus. However, the data of power supplies quality problems have the features of diversity and complexity. It is of great value to take the full advantages of the multi‐source heterogeneous data, especially the possess flow information tracing time and space, to locate vulnerable processes, problem causes and influencing factors. This study put forward a data source system, which includes general information, quality problem information, process flow information and other supplementary information. Furthermore, an improved neural network model utilising knowledge–data fusion method is proposed. In this way, the efficiency and accuracy of analysis for quality problems is available and enhanced. To verify the validity of the knowledge–data fusion model, a case study with 2084 sample data of gas‐insulated switchgear is carried out, proving help to strengthen the management and control measures of power equipment quality problems.
Variable step‐size matching pursuit based on oblique projection for compressed sensing
Authors: Li Na , Yin Xinghui , Guo Huanyin , Zong Sulan , Fu Wei
Published: November 2019

The development of compressive sensing has focused on sparse signal reconstruction in recent years. Most existing greedy algorithms achieve satisfactory reconstruction performance only when the sparsity of the target signal has been known as prior information. Moreover, some greedy algorithms always involve either high‐computational expenses or low‐reconstruction accuracy caused by the process of adaptive adjustment of signal sparsity. To address these concerns, a novel variable step‐size matching pursuit based on oblique projection (VSMPOP) for compressed sensing is proposed. The proposed VSMPOP algorithm estimates the initial sparsity based on the restricted isometry property criterion. The algorithm creates a support set of the target signal after a preliminary test and oblique projection test between the sensing matrix and the residual. VSMPOP realises a similar approach to the sparsity level with a variable step size. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed VSMPOP algorithm provides superior performance in terms of computational complexity and reconstruction efficiency compared with most of the available matching pursuit algorithms.
Electronic calibrator MMIC with frequency range up to 50 GHz for vector network analyzers in GaAs pHEMT technology
Authors: Danilov Daniil , Drobotun Nikolai , Medvedev Aleksei , Ulyanov Vladimir
Published: November 2019

This paper presents design, simulation and measurements results of electronic calibrator with frequency range up to 50 GHz in GaAs pHEMT technology. MMIC was fabricated by using in-house 0,5 um pHEMT process. Designed MMIC performs SOLT calibration method with additional measures