bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The SIMULATE ureteroscopy training curriculum: educational value and transfer of skills
Authors: Aydın Abdullatif , Ahmed Kamran , Baig Umair , Raison Nicholas , Lantz Powers Andrea G. , Macchione Nicola , Al-Jabir Ahmed , Abe Takashige , Khan Muhammad Shamim , Dasgupta Prokar ,   the SIMULATE Trial Contributors
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objective
Different simulation modalities may be utilised in a curricular fashion to benefit from the strengths of each training model. The aim of this study is to evaluate a novel multi-modality ureterorenoscopy (URS) simulation curriculum in terms of educational value, content validity, transfer of skills and inter-rater reliability.

Methods
This international prospective study recruited urology residents (n = 46) with ≤ 10 URS experience and no prior simulation training. Participants were guided through each phase of the expert-developed SIMULATE URS curriculum by trainers and followed-up in the operating room (OR). Video recordings were obtained during training. A post-training evaluation survey was distributed to evaluate content validity and educational value, using descriptive statistics. Performance was evaluated using the objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) scale to measure improvement in scores throughout the curriculum. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Cohen’s kappa tests were utilised to investigate correlation and agreement between raters.

Results
Participants reported gaining OR-transferrable skills (Mean: 4.33 ± 0.67) and demonstrated marked improvement in throughout the curriculum, transferred to the OR for both semi-rigid URS (p = 0.004) and flexible URS (p = 0.007). 70% of participants were successfully followed-up in the OR (n = 32). No differences were identified with the additional use of fresh frozen cadavers (p = 0.85, p = 0.90) and the URO Mentor VR simulator (p = 0.13, p = 0.22). A moderate level of correlation was noted on the video OSATS assessments, between two expert assessors (r = 0.70), but a poor agreement with the live rating.

Conclusion
The SIMULATE URS training curriculum received high educational value from participants, who demonstrated statistically significant improvement with consecutive cases throughout the curriculum and transferability of skills to the OR in both semi-rigid and flexible URS.
Implementation and training with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: 23-year experience from a high-volume center
Authors: Sahakyan Mushegh A. , Røsok Bård I. , Tholfsen Tore , Kleive Dyre , Waage Anne , Ignjatovic Dejan , Buanes Trond , Labori Knut Jørgen , Edwin Bjørn 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Distal pancreatectomy is the most common procedure in minimally-invasive pancreatic surgery. Data in the literature suggest that the learning curve flattens after performing up to 30 procedures. However, the exact number remains unclear.

Methods
The implementation and training with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) in a high-volume center were studied between 1997 and 2020. Perioperative outcomes and factors related to conversion were assessed. The individual experiences of four different surgeons (pioneer and adopters) performing LDP on a regular basis were examined.

Results
Six hundred forty LDPs were done accounting for 95% of all distal pancreatectomies performed throughout the study period. Conversion was needed in 14 (2.2%) patients due to intraoperative bleeding or tumor adherence to the major vasculature. Overall morbidity and mortality rates were 35 and 0.6%, respectively. Intra- and postoperative outcomes did not change for any of the surgeons within their first 40 cases. Operative time significantly decreased after the first 80 cases for the pioneer surgeon and did not change afterwards although the proportion of ductal adenocarcinoma increased. Tumor size increased after the first 80 cases for the first adopter without affecting the operative time.

Conclusions
In this nearly unselected cohort, no significant changes in surgical outcomes were observed throughout the first 40 LDPs for different surgeons. The exact number of procedures required to overcome the learning curve is difficult to determine as it seems to depend on patient selection policy and specifics of surgical training at the corresponding center.
Sensitivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological assays in a high-prevalence setting
Authors: Müller Lisa , Ostermann Philipp Niklas , Walker Andreas , Wienemann Tobias , Mertens Alexander , Adams Ortwin , Andree Marcel , Hauka Sandra , Lübke Nadine , Keitel Verena , Drexler Ingo , Di Cristanziano Veronica , Hermsen Derik Franz , Kaiser Rolf , Boege Friedrich , Klein Florian , Schaal Heiner , Timm Jörg , Senff Tina 
Published: February 2021

AbstractEvaluation and power of seroprevalence studies depend on the performed serological assays. The aim of this study was to assess four commercial serological tests from EUROIMMUN, DiaSorin, Abbott, and Roche as well as an in-house immunofluorescence and neutralization test for their capability to identify SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals in a high-prevalence setting. Therefore, 42 social and working contacts of a German super-spreader were tested. Consistent with a high-prevalence setting, 26 of 42 were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive by neutralization test (NT), and immunofluorescence test (IFT) confirmed 23 of these 26 positive test results (NT 61.9% and IFT 54.8% seroprevalence). Four commercial assays detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 33.3-40.5% individuals. Besides an overall discrepancy between the NT and the commercial assays regarding their sensitivity, this study revealed that commercial SARS-CoV-2 spike-based assays are better to predict the neutralization titer than nucleoprotein-based assays are.
SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly inactivated at high temperature
Authors: Biryukov Jennifer , Boydston Jeremy A. , Dunning Rebecca A. , Yeager John J. , Wood Stewart , Ferris Allison , Miller David , Weaver Wade , Zeitouni Nathalie E. , Freeburger Denise , Dabisch Paul , Wahl Victoria , Hevey Michael C. , Altamura Louis A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the absence of a vaccine, preventing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the primary means to reduce the impact of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Multiple studies have reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material on surfaces suggesting that fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is feasible. High temperature inactivation of virus has been previously suggested, but not shown. In the present study, we investigated the environmental stability of SARS-CoV-2 in a clinically relevant matrix dried onto stainless steel at a high temperature. The results show that at 54.5 °C, the virus half-life was 10.8 ± 3.0 min and the time for a 90% decrease in infectivity was 35.4 ± 9.0 min. These findings suggest that in instances where the environment can reach temperatures of at least 54.5 °C, such as in vehicle interior cabins when parked in warmer ambient air, that the potential for exposure to infectious virus on surfaces could be decreased substantially in under an hour.
Surfactants: physicochemical interactions with biological macromolecules
Authors: Aguirre-Ramírez M. , Silva-Jiménez H. , Banat I. M. , Díaz De Rienzo M. A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMacromolecules are essential cellular components in biological systems responsible for performing a large number of functions that are necessary for growth and perseverance of living organisms. Proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are three major classes of biological macromolecules. To predict the structure, function, and behaviour of any cluster of macromolecules, it is necessary to understand the interaction between them and other components through basic principles of chemistry and physics. An important number of macromolecules are present in mixtures with surfactants, where a combination of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions is responsible for the specific properties of any solution. It has been demonstrated that surfactants can help the formation of helices in some proteins thereby promoting protein structure formation. On the other hand, there is extensive research towards the use of surfactants to solubilize drugs and pharmaceuticals; therefore, it is evident that the interaction between surfactants with macromolecules is important for many applications which includes environmental processes and the pharmaceutical industry. In this review, we describe the properties of different types of surfactants that are relevant for their physicochemical interactions with biological macromolecules, from macromolecules–surfactant complexes to hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.
Unaided dispersal risk of Magallana gigas into and around the UK: combining particle tracking modelling and environmental suitability scoring
Authors: Wood Louisa E. , Silva Tiago A. M. , Heal Richard , Kennerley Adam , Stebbing Paul , Fernand Liam , Tidbury Hannah J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMarine non-indigenous species are a significant threat to marine ecosystems with prevention of introduction and early detection considered to be the only effective management strategy. Knowledge of the unaided pathway has received relatively little attention, despite being integral to the implementation of robust monitoring and surveillance. Here, particle tracking modelling is combined with spatial analysis of environmental suitability, to highlight UK coastal areas at risk of introduction and spread of Magallana gigas by the unaided pathway. ‘Introduction into UK’ scenarios were based on spawning from the continental coast, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and ‘spread within UK’ scenarios were based on spawning from known UK wild populations and aquaculture sites. Artificial structures were included as spawning sites in an introduction scenario. The UK coast was scored, based on parameters influencing larval settlement, to reflect environmental suitability. Risk maps were produced to highlight areas of the UK coast at elevated risk of introduction and spread of M. gigas by the unaided pathway. This study highlights that introduction of M. gigas into UK waters via the unaided pathway is possible, with offshore structures increasing the potential geographical extent of introduction. Further, there is potential for substantial secondary spread from aquaculture sites and wild populations in the UK. The results of the study are considered in the context of national M. gigas management, whilst the approach is contextualised more broadly as a tool to further understanding of a little-known, yet significant pathway.
Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Ecological Changes, Social Behaviour and Human Intergroup Tolerance 300,000 to 30,000 BP
Authors: Spikins Penny , French Jennifer C. , John-Wood Seren , Dytham Calvin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractArchaeological evidence suggests that important shifts were taking place in the character of human social behaviours 300,000 to 30,000 years ago. New artefact types appear and are disseminated with greater frequency. Transfers of both raw materials and finished artefacts take place over increasing distances, implying larger scales of regional mobility and more frequent and friendlier interactions between different communities. Whilst these changes occur during a period of increasing environmental variability, the relationship between ecological changes and transformations in social behaviours is elusive. Here, we explore a possible theoretical approach and methodology for understanding how ecological contexts can influence selection pressures acting on intergroup social behaviours. We focus on the relative advantages and disadvantages of intergroup tolerance in different ecological contexts using agent-based modelling (ABM). We assess the relative costs and benefits of different ‘tolerance’ levels in between-group interactions on survival and resource exploitation in different environments. The results enable us to infer a potential relationship between ecological changes and proposed changes in between-group behavioural dynamics. We conclude that increasingly harsh environments may have driven changes in hormonal and emotional responses in humans leading to increasing intergroup tolerance, i.e. transformations in social behaviour associated with ‘self-domestication’. We argue that changes in intergroup tolerance is a more parsimonious explanation for the emergence of what has been seen as ‘modern human behaviour’ than changes in hard aspects of cognition or other factors such as cognitive adaptability or population size.
Edoxaban, a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor, ameliorates coagulation, microvascular thrombus formation, and acute liver injury in a lipopolysaccharide-induced coagulopathy model in rats
Authors: Morishima Yoshiyuki , Shibutani Tomoko , Noguchi Kengo , Ito Yusuke , Honda Yuko 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInfection increases the risk of thrombosis through the activation of inflammation and coagulation. Edoxaban, a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor, is used for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of edoxaban on microvascular thrombus formation in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced coagulopathy. Rats were intravenously injected with 7.5 mg/kg of LPS (Escherichia coli055:B5). Immediately after LPS injection, the rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of edoxaban. At 2 and 6 h after the injection of LPS, biomarkers of coagulation and organ damages and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Microvascular thrombus formation in organs was evaluated using125I-fibrinogen (human) or by the pathological analysis. Mortality was examined 24 h after LPS injection. After the injection of LPS, D-dimer and thrombin-antithrombin complex increased and platelet numbers decreased, indicating the activation of coagulation. Microvascular thrombi were found in the liver. Markers of liver injury (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) also increased. Treatment with edoxaban attenuated the changes in the coagulation markers and microvascular thrombus formation in the liver. Edoxaban suppressed the increase in the liver injury markers and reduced the mortality. Edoxaban did not affect the levels of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusions, edoxaban significantly inhibited the activation of coagulation, the formation of microvascular thrombus in the liver and the liver damage, and reduced mortality in rats injected with LPS. These results suggest that the FXa inhibition by edoxaban might be a beneficial therapy for the management of infection-associated thrombosis.
Filling the Disaster Data Gap: Lessons from Cataloging Singapore’s Past Disasters
Authors: Lin Yolanda C. , Khan Feroz , Jenkins Susanna F. , Lallemant David 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInternational disaster databases and catalogs provide a baseline for researchers, governments, communities, and organizations to understand the risk of a particular place, analyze broader trends in disaster risk, and justify investments in mitigation. Perhaps because Singapore is routinely identified as one of the safest countries in the world, Singapore’s past disasters have not been studied extensively with few events captured in major global databases such as EM-DAT. In this article, we fill the disaster data gap for postwar Singapore (1950–2020) using specified metrics through an archival search, review of literature, and analysis of secondary sources. We present four key lessons from cataloging these events. First, we expand Singapore’s disaster catalog to 39 events in this time period and quantify the extent of this data gap. Second, we identify the mitigating actions that have followed past events that contribute to Singapore’s present-day safety. Third, we discuss how these past events uncover continuities among vulnerability bearers in Singapore. Last, we identify limitations of a disaster catalog when considering future risks. In expanding the disaster catalog, this case study of Singapore supports the need for comprehensive understanding of past disasters in order to examine current and future disaster resilience.
Physics of kinetic Alfvén waves: a gyrokinetic theory approach
Authors: Chen Liu , Zonca Fulvio , Lin Yu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe transverse shear Alfvén wave (SAW) is a fundamental anisotropic electromagnetic oscillation in plasmas with a finite background magnetic field. In realistic plasmas with spatial inhomogeneities, SAW exhibits the interesting spectral feature of a continuous spectrum. That is, the SAW oscillation frequency varies in the non-uniform (radial) direction. This continuum spectral feature then naturally leads to the phase-mixing process; i.e., time asymptotically, the effective radial wave-number increases with time. Any initial perturbation of SAW structures will, thus, evolve eventually into short-wavelength structures; termed as kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW). Obviously, one needs to employ kinetic theory approach to properly describe the dynamics of KAW; including effects such as finite ion-Larmor radius (FILR) and/or wave–particle interactions. When KAW was first discovered and discussed in 1975–1976, it was before the introduction of the linear electromagnetic gyrokinetic theory (1978) and nonlinear electromagnetic gyrokinetic theory (1982). Kinetic treatments then often involved the complicated procedures of taking the low-frequency limit of the Vlasov kinetic theory and/or employing the drift-kinetic theory approach; forsaking, thus, the FILR effects. In recent years, the powerful nonlinear gyrokinetic theory has been employed to re-examine both the linear and nonlinear physics of KAWs. This brief review will cover results of linear and nonlinear analytical theories, simulations, as well as observational evidences. We emphasize, in particular, that due to the enhanced electron–ion de-coupling in the short-wavelength regime, KAWs possess significantly enhanced nonlinear coupling coefficients and, thereby, play important roles in the heating, acceleration, and transport processes of charged particles in magnetized plasmas.
Perspectives on the antibiotic contamination, resistance, metabolomics, and systemic remediation
Authors: Sodhi Kushneet Kaur , Kumar Mohit , Balan Biji , Dhaulaniya Amit Singh , Shree Pallee , Sharma Nitika , Singh Dileep Kumar 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAntibiotics have been regarded as the emerging contaminants because of their massive use in humans and veterinary medicines and their persistence in the environment. The global concern of antibiotic contamination to different environmental matrices and the emergence of antibiotic resistance has posed a severe impact on the environment. Different mass-spectrometry-based techniques confirm their presence in the environment. Antibiotics are released into the environment through the wastewater steams and runoff from land application of manure. The microorganisms get exposed to the antibiotics resulting in the development of antimicrobial resistance. Consistent release of the antibiotics, even in trace amount into the soil and water ecosystem, is the major concern because the antibiotics can lead to multi-resistance in bacteria which can cause hazardous effects on agriculture, aquaculture, human, and livestock. A better understanding of the correlation between the antibiotic use and occurrence of antibiotic resistance can help in the development of policies to promote the judicious use of antibiotics. The present review puts a light on the remediation, transportation, uptake, and antibiotic resistance in the environment along with a novel approach of creating a database for systemic remediation, and metabolomics for the cleaner and safer environment.
Numerical simulation of periodic MHD casson nanofluid flow through porous stretching sheet
Authors: Al-Mamun Abdullah , Arifuzzaman S. M. , Reza-E-Rabbi Sk. , Alam Umme Sara , Islam Saiful , Khan Md. Shakhaoath 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe perspective of this paper is to characterize a Casson type of Non-Newtonian fluid flow through heat as well as mass conduction towards a stretching surface with thermophoresis and radiation absorption impacts in association with periodic hydromagnetic effect. Here heat absorption is also integrated with the heat absorbing parameter. A time dependent fundamental set of equations, i.e. momentum, energy and concentration have been established to discuss the fluid flow system. Explicit finite difference technique is occupied here by executing a procedure in Compaq Visual Fortran 6.6a to elucidate the mathematical model of liquid flow. The stability and convergence inspection has been accomplished. It has observed that the present work converged at, Pr ≥ 0.447 indicates the value of Prandtl number and Le ≥ 0.163 indicates the value of Lewis number. Impact of useful physical parameters has been illustrated graphically on various flow fields. It has inspected that the periodic magnetic field has helped to increase the interaction of the nanoparticles in the velocity field significantly. The field has been depicted in a vibrating form which is also done newly in this work. Subsequently, the Lorentz force has also represented a great impact in the updated visualization (streamlines and isotherms) of the flow field. The respective fields appeared with more wave for the larger values of magnetic parameter. These results help to visualize a theoretical idea of the effect of modern electromagnetic induction use in industry instead of traditional energy sources. Moreover, it has a great application in lung and prostate cancer therapy.
Comparison of feature importance measures as explanations for classification models
Authors: Saarela Mirka , Jauhiainen Susanne 
Published: February 2021

AbstractExplainable artificial intelligence is an emerging research direction helping the user or developer of machine learning models understand why models behave the way they do. The most popular explanation technique is feature importance. However, there are several different approaches how feature importances are being measured, most notably global and local. In this study we compare different feature importance measures using both linear (logistic regression with L1 penalization) and non-linear (random forest) methods and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations on top of them. These methods are applied to two datasets from the medical domain, the openly available breast cancer data from the UCI Archive and a recently collected running injury data. Our results show that the most important features differ depending on the technique. We argue that a combination of several explanation techniques could provide more reliable and trustworthy results. In particular, local explanations should be used in the most critical cases such as false negatives.
Numerical simulation for the steady nanofluid boundary layer flow over a moving plate with suction and heat generation
Authors: Ferdows M. , Shamshuddin MD. , Salawu S. O. , Zaimi K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the study, the steady, laminar, incompressible, convective flow of a viscous fluid over a moving plate is investigated theoretically by adopting different types of nanoparticles. Radiation, internal heat generation and viscous dissipation effects are considered in the energy modeled equation. The governing flow equations for the momentum and temperature are reduced to dimensionless form via similarity transformations. The solutions to the resultant equations alongside with the transformed boundary conditions are numerically obtained using MATLAB package bvp4c. Validation with earlier studies are done for the non-internal heat generation case for two distinct nanoparticles of type Cu-water and Al-water. Extensive visualization of flow rate and heat distributions for various emerging parameters are examined. Temperature is consistently enhanced with a rising Eckert number of both types of nanofluids, whereas it is strongly reduced with rising values of radiation term. Heat transfer coefficient is consistently increased with a nanoparticle volume fraction of high convective heat in the medium.