bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bayesian Network Models with Decision Tree Analysis for Management of Childhood Malaria in Malawi
Authors: Taneja Sanya B. , Douglas Gerald P. , Cooper Gregory F. , Michaels Marian G. , Druzdzel Marek J. , Visweswaran Shyam 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Malaria is a major cause of death in children under five years old in low- and middle-income countries such as Malawi. Accurate diagnosis and management of malaria can help reduce the global burden of childhood morbidity and mortality. Trained healthcare workers in rural health centers manage malaria with limited supplies of malarial diagnostic tests and drugs for treatment. A clinical decision support system that integrates predictive models to provide an accurate prediction of malaria based on clinical features could aid healthcare workers in the judicious use of testing and treatment. We developed Bayesian network (BN) models to predict the probability of malaria from clinical features and an illustrative decision tree to model the decision to use or not use a malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT).Methods: We developed two BN models to predict malaria from a dataset of outpatient encounters of children in Malawi. The first BN model was created manually with expert knowledge, and the second model was derived using an automated method. The performance of the BN models was compared to other statistical models on a range of performance metrics at multiple thresholds. We developed a decision tree that integrates predictions with the costs of mRDT and a course of recommended treatment. Results: The manually created BN model achieved an area under the ROC curve (AUC) equal to 0.60 that was statistically significantly higher than the other models. The BN models had high sensitivity and specificity values (0.74 and 0.42 respectively for the manual BN model, 0.45 and 0.68 respectively for the automated BN model) at the optimal threshold for classification. The balanced accuracy values were similar across all the models. Sensitivity analysis of the decision tree showed that at low (below 0.04) and high (above 0.40) probabilities of malaria in a child, the preferred decision that minimizes expected costs is not to perform mRDT.Conclusion: In resource-constrained settings, judicious use of mRDT is important. Predictive models in combination with decision analysis can provide personalized guidance on when to use mRDT in the management of childhood malaria. BN models can be efficiently derived from data to support such clinical decision making.
Triple Threat; pancreatic cystic lesion presenting with spontaneous hemorrhage is found to harbor three distinct neoplasms.
Authors: Cha Da Eun , Horn Callie , Passeri Michael 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
BackgroundPancreatic serous cystadenoma (SCA) is a benign, cystic lesion with an indolent growth pattern. Complications such as spontaneous hemorrhage or malignant transformation from SCA are extremely rare. Our case report describes an unusual presentation of a patient with a previously diagnosed SCA, made unique by the presence of three separate neoplasms in the final specimen. Case PresentationA 74-year-old male with a previous diagnosis of SCA presented emergently with epigastric pain and non-bilious vomiting. Laboratory results were notable for a hemoglobin of 8.3 g/dl. CT scan of the abdomen demonstrated a complex, solid-cystic mass in the pancreatic head with a large hematoma and questionable focus of active hemorrhage. Surgical resection was recommended due to the risk of malignancy, possibility of re-bleeding, and symptoms of severe duodenal compression. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed, and final pathology demonstrated three separate neoplasms: serous cystadenoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and neuroendocrine tumor.Conclusion: While pancreatic SCA are benign tumors that can be observed safely in the majority of cases, surgical intervention is often indicated in patients with large, symptomatic cysts or when diagnosis is unclear. When undergoing surveillance, it is crucial for both the patient and the care team to be aware of the possibility of rare, but life-threatening complications, such as hemorrhage. Likewise, the possibility of misdiagnosis or concurrent neoplasia should be considered.
Comparison and Interpretation of Characteristics of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Three Blueberry Varieties
Authors: zhang Yan , Wang Wei , Shen Zhangjun , Wang Jingjing , Chen Yajun , Wang Dong , Liu Gang , Han Maozhen 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Studies on the rhizosphere microbiome of various plants proved that rhizosphere microbiota carries out various vital functions and can regulate the growth and improve the yield of plants. However, the rhizosphere microbiome of commercial blueberry was only reported by a few studies and remains elusive. Comparison and interpretation of the characteristics of the rhizosphere microbiome of blueberry are critical important to maintain its health. Methods: In this study, we collected 15 rhizosphere soil samples from three different blueberry varieties and five bulk soil samples, which were sequenced with a high-throughput sequencing strategy. Based on these sequencing datasets, we profiled the taxonomical, functional, and phenotypic compositions of rhizosphere microbial communities for three different blueberry varieties and compared our results with a previous study focused on the rhizosphere microbiome of blueberry varieties.Results: Our results demonstrated significant differences in alpha diversity and beta diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities of different blueberry varieties and bulk soil. The distribution patterns of taxonomical, functional, and phenotypic compositions of rhizosphere microbiome differ across the blueberry varieties. The rhizosphere microbial communities of three different blueberry varieties could be distinctly separated, and 28 discriminative biomarkers were selected to distinguish these three blueberry varieties. Core rhizosphere microbiota for blueberry was identified, and it contained 201 OTUs, which were mainly affiliated with Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. Moreover, the interactions between OTUs of blueberry rhizosphere microbial communities were explored by a co-occurrence network of OTUs from an ecological perspective. Conclusions: This pilot study explored the characteristics of blueberry’s rhizosphere microbial community, such as the beneficial microorganisms and core microbiome, and provided an integrative perspective on blueberry’s rhizosphere microbiome, which beneficial to blueberry health and production.
The -172A&gt;G polymorphism in ADAM17 promoter region enhances its binding to EGR1 and confers susceptibility to sepsis progression
Authors: Shao Yiming , Zhang Wenying , Zhao Tian , Lu Furong , Hong Yuan , Liu Lizhen , Cai Yujie , Wei Ning , Cheng HongXiao , Chen Feng , He Junbing , Cui Lili 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is a proteolytic cleaving protein with a crucial function in inflammatory responses, especially sepsis. But the clear role of ADAM17 in sepsis and the underlying mechanism remained unknown. In this study, we aim to determine the clinical relevance of the ADAM17 rs12692386 (-172A>G) promoter polymorphism in sepsis progression and to further explore the effect and mechanism of the early growth response 1 (EGR1) /ADAM17 pathway in the inflammatory process following sepsis. Methods: A case-control study with a total of 903 sepsis patients and 1150 controls were enrolled to determine the association of ADAM17 -172A>G polymorphism with sepsis. The transcription factor binding to the promoter region of ADAM17 gene was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase assays. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to detect EGR1 and ADAM17 expression. Cytokine production was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of EGR1/ADAM17 pathway on sepsis-induced inflammatory responses was evaluated in EGR1-silenced cells and endotoxemia mouse model.Results: Patients with sepsis subtype exhibited significantly lower frequencies of the -172AG/GG genotypes compared to those with severe sepsis (29.3% vs. 45.9%, P=0.0002) or septic shock (29.3% vs. 42.4%, P=0.0032). The frequency of -172G allele in the 28-day non-surviving patients was significantly higher than that in the surviving patients (29.3% vs. 21.8%, P=0.0188). The results of in vitro lipopolysaccharide-stimulated and luciferase assays indicated that the −172 A-to-G variation could functionally upregulate promoter activity and transcription of ADAM17 gene via enhancing the binding affinity of its promoter region with the EGR1. The ChIP assay identified the direct interaction. Further studies demonstrated that the EGR1/ADAM17 intervention could significantly decrease the pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro and improve the survival and inflammatory response of sepsis mouse model.Conclusions: These results provide evidence that the ADAM17 -172A>G polymorphism can functionally enhance ADAM17 expression and promote sepsis-induced inflammatory responses via the EGR1/ADAM17 pathway, which ultimately promote sepsis progression and poor prognosis.
Memory seeds enable high structural phase purity in 2D perovskite films for high-efficiency devices
Authors: Sidhik Siraj , Li Wenbin , Samani Mohammad H. K. , Zhang Hao , Wang Yafei , Hoffman Justin , Fehr Austin K. , Wong Michael , Katan Claudine , Even Jacky , Marciel Amanda B. , Kanatzidis Mercouri , Blancon Jean-Christophe , Mohite Aditya 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites are a class of halide perovskites offering a pathway for realizing efficient and durable optoelectronic devices. However, the broad chemical phase space and lack of understanding of film formation have led to quasi-2D perovskite films with polydispersity in perovskite layer thicknesses, which have hindered devices performance and stability. Here, we demonstrate a scalable approach involving dissolution of single-phase crystalline powders with homogeneous perovskite layer thickness in desired solvents, to fabricate 2D perovskite thin-films with high phase purity. In-situ characterizations reveal the presence of sub-micron-sized seeds in solution that preserve the memory of the dissolved single-crystals and dictate the nucleation and growth of grains with identical thickness of the perovskite layers in thin-films. Photovoltaic devices fabricated with such films, yields an efficiency of 17.1% and 1.20V open-circuit voltage, while preserving 97.5% of their peak-performance after 800 hours under illumination without any external thermal management.
Evaluation of Eﬃcacy of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Systemic Analgesia for Post-Operative Pain in Total Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Comparative Study
Authors: Viswanath Menaka , Kalathur Ravikrishna , K. Shanthini  
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Management of post-operative Pain is gaining considerable attention with pain being recognized as the fifth vital sign. Post- operative pain management remains unresolved as pain is individualized and varies with surgery. The aim is to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of transverses abdominis plane block by continuous catheter technique and systemic analgesia for post-operative pain in total abdominal hysterectomy. Subjects and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was done in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy via Pfannenstiel incision. Patients were assigned into 2 groups, systemic analgesics group (n=25) and TAP block group (n=25) randomly. Results: Out of 50 patients, 25 patients had systemic analgesics and 25 patients had TAP block. Demographics and surgical procedure times were comparable. Mean VAS pain score with coughing on day 1 and 2 in systemic analgesics group was 3.96 and 2.07 and in TAP block group were
0.7 and 0.3. Meantime taken to mobilize the patient after the surgery in the systemic analgesics group was 30.7 hours and in TAP block group was 22.4 hour. 18 patients needed rescue medication in the systemic analgesics group, and 9 patients required rescue medication in the TAP block group. In group 16 patients with systemic analgesics had post-operative nausea and vomiting, and 5 patients in group block TAP. Conclusion: Continuous TAP block provides better pain relief, denoted by lower visual analogue scores and better recovery profile enhancing recovery in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy.
Eﬀect of Dexmeditomidine on Isoﬂuorane Consumption in Middle Ear Surgery
Authors: Bandhu Smriti , Mukharjee Arunabh 
Published: January 2021

Background: With the introduction of intentional hypotensive anesthesia in the surgical field to achieve a relatively bloodless surgical field along with the use of the operative microscope, it has revolutionized the middle ear surgery practice. Dexmedetomidine is a relatively new and potent α2 agonist prototype found efficient in rendering bloodless intra-surgical field and inducing controlled hypotension during the surgeries of the middle ear. The objective is to present prospective study was aimed at evaluating with and without dexmedetomidine infusion effect on end-tidal isoflurane concentration for lowering blood pressure by 30%, awakening time and quality of bloodless surgical field during middle ear surgical procedure. Subjects and Methods:54 patients who were to undergo middle ear surgery and had ASA I and II were randomly divided into the two groups. In Group I Dexmedetomidine was used and in Group II Normal saline. Effect of Dexmedetomidine infusion on end-tidal isoflurane concentration for lowering blood pressure by 30%, awakening time, quality of bloodless surgical field during middle ear surgical procedure, heart rate was evaluated. The data collected were statistically analyzed. Results: The mean values of the heart rate were statistically non-significant between the groups when recorded at the baseline, whereas, a statistically significant difference was seen in the values for heart rate intra-operatively. The mean values for heart rates were significantly higher for the placebo group. A significant difference in Isoflurane concentration was found with dexmedetomidine requiring a percentage of 0.6 0.4 and normal saline 1.8 0.5. Less bleeding was seen with dexmedetomidine. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is a potent hypotensive agent which also reduces the requirement of Isoflurane compared to the normal saline placebo. The use of dexmedetomidine is relatively safe and provide a relatively bloodless surgical field, hence, increasing efficacy, and improving visibility at the surgical site.
Anaesthesia and Anaesthesiologist: The Perception of Attendees at a Medical College in Rural Haryana
Authors: Agrawal Meenu , Meena Singh  , Bansal Pranav , Jindal Tushar , Yousuf Ishrat 
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Anaesthesia as a specialty is reaching its zenith with multiple sub-specialties, but anaesthesiologist remains obscure personnel behind the drapes due to lack of public perception and knowledge pertaining to their role. The aim is to the study was conducted to assess the perception and knowledge of general public about the role of anaesthesia and the anaesthesiologist. Subjects and Methods : A prospective, cross-sectional study, conducted in a 500-bedded, rural medical college over a 3-month period. A total of 172 attendees accompanying their patients for surgical procedures were enrolled and assessed based on preformed, pretested questionnaire in the pre-anaesthetic clinic. The questionnaire contained 30 questions to determine their knowledge and attitude towards anaesthesia and anaesthesia provider. Results: Out of total 172 participants, 43.02% % recognized anaesthesiologist as specially trained doctors. Eighty two (47.67%) of the attendees knew that anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist but 71.5% were not aware of their role in providing peri-operative care. The attendees apprised of anesthesiologists role in labour analgesia, chronic pain management, intensive care units and emergency resuscitation was Sixty seven (39%), forty nine (28.49%), forty five (26.7%) and twenty six (15.1%) out of 172 respectively. Majority of the attendees (93.6%) were receptive to know more about anaesthesia. Conclusion: The awareness regarding role of anaesthesiologist in general public is still low and the perception of people about anaesthesia as an evolved specialty is lacking. This calls for corrective measures to be taken by the anaesthesiology fraternity for propagation of anesthesiology skills via social media and other government aided platforms.
Assessment of Relation between External Branch of Superior Laryngeal Nerve & Thyroid Gland- A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Anurag  , Gupta Vishnu 
Published: January 2021

Background: The thyroid gland is essential for normal growth of the body. This study assessed relation of external branch of superior laryngeal nerve to the superior pole of the thyroid gland. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 25 human cadavers having 50 superior thyroid poles of both genders. Cadavers were classified based on age groups, group I was those with age less than 39 years and group II cadavers were those with age more than 40 years of age. Various measurements were performed on cadavers. Results: 14 cadavers were I group I and 11 were in group II. The mean mass was 67.2 Kgs in group I and 59.5 Kgs in group II, time elapsed after death was 481.5 minutes in group I and
476.4 minutes in group II, mean height was 1.74 meters in group I and 1.69 meters in group II, mean BMI found to be 22.3 kg/m2in group I and 20.1 kg/m2in group II. Height found to be significant between both groups (P< 0.05). The mean distance from EBSLN to cranial point of the thyroid gland was 6.66 mm in group I and 8.96 mm in group II. The mean transverse distance from superior thyroid artery to EBSLN was 3.55 mm in group I and 5.12 mm side in group II. The mean distance of the crossing point between the most cranial point of the thyroid lobe was 6.40 mm in group I and 11.47 mm in group II. The mean distance from the EBSLN to the midline of the neck was 19.80 mm in group I and 18.58 mm in group II. The mean distance from the EBSLN to the midline of the neck on the most cranial point of the cricoid cartilage was 18.77 mm in group I and 17.80 mm in group II. Conclusion: Authors found variation in measurements in left and right side in both group I and group II.
Daily maximum runoff frequency analysis under non-stationary conditions due to climate change in the future period: Case study Ghareh Sou basin
Authors: Sadeghi Loyeh Nazanin , Massah Bavani Alireza 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
The frequency analysis of the maximum instantaneous flood is mostly based on the stationary assumption. The purpose of the present study is to compare the results of maximum instantaneous flood analysis under stationary and non-stationary conditions in Ghareh Sou basin, and also answer the question as to whether there is a difference between estimating the return period of maximum instantaneous flood in stationary and non-stationary conditions. First, the values of the temperature, wind speed, and rainfall of the study area under the two scenarios of Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5 of the Hadley Centre coupled Model, version3 (HadCM3) model were downscaled. In the following, the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model was utilized to generate daily runoff. For converting the daily discharge to the maximum instantaneous flood, four methods of Fuller, Sangal, Fill Steiner, and artificial neural network (ANN) were compared. Finally, the maximum instantaneous floods of the future period were introduced to the Non-stationary Extreme Value Analysis (NEVA) software. Based on the results obtained from the research, the lack of considering the non-stationary conditions in the flood frequency analysis can result in underestimating the maximum instantaneous flood, which can also provide more risks for the related hydraulic structures.
Building the case for water and resource recovery in Canada: practitioners' perspectives
Authors: Noga Jacqueline , Springett Jane , Ashbolt Nicholas 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Water and resource recovery (WRR) involves the collection and treatment of rainwater, stormwater, and/or municipal wastewater to a fit-for-purpose standard. There is no national policy for WRR in Canada, and there are minimal WRR-specific provincial regulations; given this lack of regulation, current projects are highly specific to the local context and approved individually. We engaged people who work with water and wastewater services in the province of Alberta, Canada to discuss what WRR could look like in their context. During 3-h workshops, information on WRR was shared and participants engaged in discussions using a World Café process. Participants discussed the need for supportive regulations and government leadership, financial support, collaboration and knowledge sharing, education and communication, and accounting for risk and liability. Given that the participants are individuals who would be impacted by the development of regulations for WRR, we discuss concepts to provide the guidance needed for the successful implementation of WRR. This research connected experts in water and wastewater and gave space for developing ideas that make sense to those most closely involved in delivering WRR systems.
Szerencsejáték és bűnözés kapcsolatának magyarországi vizsgálata
Authors: Tessényi Judit , Farkas Gergely 
Published: January 2021

Kutatásunkban a bűnözés és a szerencsejáték-függőség kapcsolatát, 175 fogvatartott börtönbe vonulás előtti játékszokásait, demográfiai jellemzőit és ezek kapcsolatait vizsgáltuk kérdőíves módszerrel. Ezt a kérdőívet használtuk már két korábbi, 2009-es és 2014-es kutatásunk során is, amelyek adatfelvételeken alapulva mérik fel az aktuális helyzetet. A kóros játékszenvedély vizsgálatára az South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) kérdőív eredeti változatát alkalmaztuk, azt kiegészítve demográfiai, valamint a vizsgálatunk szempontjából releváns kérdésekkel. Bár a több mint tíz évet felölelő kutatásunk során a problémás szerencsejátékosok aránya csökkent a vizsgált magyar büntetés-végrehajtási intézetekben, még így is igen jelentősnek mondható. Vizsgálatunk során megerősítést nyert, hogy a bűncselekmény elkövetésének közvetlen vagy közvetett oka a szenvedélyes szerencsejáték. A játékfüggők feminizációja egy viszonylag frissen kimutatott jelenség, melyre szintén kitérünk vizsgálatunk során. Emellett az intézményi dolgozók felkészítésére, képzésére és aveszélyeztetett kategóriában lévőkre is szeretnénk felhívni a figyelmet. Míg a vizsgáltak 11%-a állította, hogy börtönbe kerülésének köze volt a szerencsejátékhoz, ez az arány a játékfüggők esetén 28% volt.
Journal of Economic Literature (JEL) kód: I12, K14
Terra e colonialismo
Authors: Perdigão de Castro Luís Felipe 
Published: January 2021

Resumo
Os conflitos por terra perpassam a história da América Latina, resultantes de processos mais amplos de apropriação e concentração, que se estendem desde o passado colonial. A inserção da terra, sob uma lógica colonial predatória e violenta, reflexão central deste artigo, produziu impactos, forjando sujeitos e lutas que, sob dinâmicas antigas e novas, atravessaram séculos. Partindo desse contexto que aproxima passado e presente, o artigo debate, com base em pesquisa bibliográfica, a inserção da terra sob a lógica colonial, enfatizando os sentidos da violência e da expropriação de terras e sua conexão com processos posteriores, como o land grabbing, ligados à acumulação, controle e consolidação do capitalismo como sistema mundial. O caráter transversal – no sentido de algo que cruza, atravessa e passa, frequentemente, por temas nacionais de Brasil e Colômbia – leva em conta que a América Latina é, de forma geral, uma região que se destaca no mundo pela desigualdade na distribuição. Sob distintas configurações sociais, a terra foi e continua sendo sinônimo de poder e riqueza para quem a detenha, particularmente no Brasil e na Colômbia.