bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Companion or Substitution? Automation and Digitisation in the Workplace
Authors: Cinco Samantha Joy 
Published: February 2021

The production process is no longer purely limited to human workers. Automation and digitisation have come in. Workers are aided by various machines that assist them in production. This has led to faster production and lower prices. The benefits are obvious, yet up to what extent can we automate and digitise production? Will it ever come to a point when we would no longer need any human intervention to produce the things we need? Can the digital and the automated ever substitute human hands? This article offers a brief discussion on how digitisation and automation have affected our lives and the way we work. It presented an overview of automation’s history and recent developments. Moreover, it discussed the various opportunities and risks associated with these fast improvements. Lastly, an analysis of the possible future of digitisation was mentioned: What must be done to take full advantage of the opportunities and to curb the risks? Automation has made production faster and this has led to various benefits and opportunities just waiting to be taken advantaged off, yet I firmly believe that human labour will continue to flourish. Automation and digitisation may have been going on for decades, but human work still exists because there are aspects of work that cannot just simply be replaced by machines. Machines are to complement us and help us to do things better. Moreover, there should be a focus on education and on fostering a culture of innovation so that we can be ready to face any changes in the workplace. There should also be a conscious effort to fight the factors that further inequality in society.
An Evaluation of the Microvasculature of Macular Nodules in Coats Disease Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Report of 3 Cases
Authors: Ong Sally S. , Hsu S. Tammy , Ponugoti Arathi , Toth Cynthia A. , Vajzovic Lejla 
Published: February 2021

Purpose: This work aimed to examine the microvasculature of macular fibrosis in Coats disease. Methods: Three boys (aged 3, 4, and 6 years) with Coats disease (stages 2B to 3A2) and macular fibrotic nodules were imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) on the Spectralis spectral-domain OCT tabletop and investigational portable Spectralis Flex module (version 6.9, Heidelberg Engineering). Results: In 2 eyes, a neovascular complex was observed in the avascular slab on OCTA. This neovascular complex had vessels connected to diving vessels from the superficial vascular complex that traveled through the deep vascular complex to the avascular complex. In the third eye, no neovascular complex was observed on OCTA at presentation, but on subsequent examinations fluorescein leakage was observed and cross-sectional OCTA further confirmed the presence of angiographic flow in the nodule. Conclusions: OCTA demonstrates the presence of type 3 neovascularization in fibrotic nodules in Coats disease.
The effect of diabetes on corneal endothelium: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Kaikai , Zhao Liangliang , Zhu Chao , Nan Weijin , Ding Xinfen , Dong Yuchen , Zhao Meisheng 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
This research was conducted with the aim to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on corneal endothelial cells.

Methods
The terms: (“diabetes mellitus” or “diabetes” or “diabetic”) and (“corneal endothelium” or “cornea” or “Corneas”) searched in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of science until August 2019. The included types of studies contained observational studies. The standard mean difference (SMD) which was deemed as main size effects for continuous data was calculated by means and standard deviations. The data on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), mean cell area (MCA), cell area variation coefficient (CV) and percentage of hexagonal cells (HEX) included in the study were collected and analyzed using stata15.1.

Results
The final 16 cross-sectional studies and 2 case-control studies were included for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus could reduce ECD (SMD = − 0.352, 95% CI -0.538, − 0.166) and the HEX (SMD = − 0.145, 95% CI -0.217, − 0.074), in addition to increasing CV (SMD = 0.195, 95% CI 0.123, 0.268). Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant differences observed when combining MCA (SMD = 0.078, 95% CI -0.022, 0.178). In subgroup analysis, Type 2 diabetes patients owned less corneal ECD (P < 0.05). Moreover the same results also found during the subgroup form Asia, Europe and American. The meta-regression revealed the type of diabetes mellitus might be contributing to heterogeneity. (P = 0.008). The results indicated a significant publication bias for studies, with combined CV (Begg’s test, P = 0.006; Egger’s test, P = 0.005) and merged combined HEX (Begg’s test, P = 0.113; Egger’s test, P = 0.024).

Conclusions
As indicated by meta-analysis, diabetes mellitus could cause a detrimental effect on corneal endothelium health. Diabetes mellitus contributed to the instability of corneal endothelium during the analysis. Therefore, further research is considered necessary to confirm our research results.

Trial registration
CED 42019145858.
The effect of pedicle subtraction osteotomy for the correction of severe Scheuermann thoracolumbar kyphosis on sagittal spinopelvic alignment
Authors: Lin Guanfeng , Wang Shengru , Yang Yang , Su Zhe , Du You , Xu Xiaolin , Chai Xiran , Wang Yipeng , Yu Bin , Zhang Jianguo 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose
To analyze how pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) treatment of severe Scheuermann thoracolumbar kyphosis (STLK) using pedicle screw instrumentation affects sagittal spinopelvic parameters.

Background
The medical literature on the post-surgical effects of treatments such as Ponte osteotomy is limited, but suggests few effects on spinopelvic profiles. Currently, there is no research regarding changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment upon PSO treatment in STLK patients.

Methods
We performed a retrospective study on 11 patients with severe STLK. These patients underwent posterior-only correction surgeries with PSO and pedicle screw instrumentation between 2012 to 2017 in a single institute. Patients were measured for the following spinopelvic parameters: global kyphosis (GK), thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TL), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tile (PT), sacral slope (SS), and administered a Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22) pre-operation, post-operation and at final follow-up.

Results
GK improved from a median of 74.1° to 40.0° after surgery, achieving a correction rate of 48.8% with a median correction loss of 0.8°. TK, TL and LL all showed significant difference (P < 0.05) and SVA improved 22.7 (11.6, 30.9) mm post operation. No significant difference was found in pelvic parameters (PI, PT, SS, all P < 0.05). The absolute value of LL- PI significantly improved from a median of 26.5° pre-operation to 6.1° at the final follow-up. 72.7% in this series showed an evident trend of thoracic and lumbar apices migrating closer to ideal physiological segments after surgery. Self-reported scores of pain, self-image, and mental health from SRS-22 revealed significant improvement at final follow-up (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions
PSO treatment of severe STLK with pedicle screw instrumentation can improve spine alignment and help obtain a proper alignment of the spine and the pelvis.
Access to and adequacy of psychological services for adult patients in UK hospices: a national, cross-sectional survey
Authors: McInnerney Daisy , Candy Bridget , Stone Patrick , Atkin Nicola , Johnson Joana , Hiskey Syd , Kupeli Nuriye 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Providing psychological support to people living with terminal illness is a fundamental part of hospice care. Recent research on delivery of psychological services in hospices in the United Kingdom (UK) on a national level, including inequalities or variation in practice, is limited. A nationwide survey will highlight any differences in provision and in doing so help focus future research and inform best practice both within the UK, and internationally. The specific objectives of this survey are to (1) chart the types of psychological support available to adult patients in hospices in the UK in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence model; (2) explore how services are organised; and (3) gather service perspectives on adequacy of care, and facilitators and barriers to appropriate practice.

Methods
A cross-sectional online survey emailed to adult hospices in the UK in November–December 2019. One staff member involved in the delivery and/or organisation of psychological support was invited to participate per hospice. Of 193 invited hospices, 116 took part.

Results
Sixteen percent rated their hospice psychological service as wholly adequate. The majority reported that services can access specialist professionals, but many relied on external referrals. Barriers to best practice included funding and staff capacity; facilitators included clear referral structures, audit and appropriate needs and outcome assessments.

Conclusions
Access to psychological professionals has improved since the last survey 15 years ago, but the majority of responders felt their overall service was not wholly adequate. Basic emotional support is largely felt to be sufficient, but our results indicate a need for improvements in access to more specialist care. Partnerships with external mental health services may be key. Our findings highlight core facilitators and barriers to providing good psychological care at the end of life that should be considered by services both within the UK and on an international level.
Circulating tight-junction proteins are potential biomarkers for blood–brain barrier function in a model of neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury
Authors: Andersson E. Axel , Mallard Carina , Ek C. Joakim 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundNeonatal encephalopathy often leads to lifelong disabilities with limited treatments currently available. The brain vasculature is an important factor in many neonatal neurological disorders but there is a lack of diagnostic tools to evaluate the brain vascular dysfunction of neonates in the clinical setting. Measurement of blood–brain barrier tight-junction (TJ) proteins have shown promise as biomarkers for brain injury in the adult. Here we tested the biomarker potential of tight-junctions in the context of neonatal brain injury.MethodsThe levels of TJ-proteins (occluding, claudin-5, and zonula occludens protein 1) in both blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as blood–brain barrier function via14C-sucrose (342 Da) and Evans blue extravasation were measured in a hypoxia/ischemia brain-injury model in neonatal rats.ResultsTime-dependent changes of occludin and claudin-5 levels could be measured in blood and CSF after hypoxia/ischemia with males generally having higher levels than females. The levels of claudin-5 in CSF correlated with the severity of the brain injury at 24 h post- hypoxia/ischemia. Simultaneously, we detected early increase in blood–brain barrier-permeability at 6 and 24 h after hypoxia/ischemia.ConclusionsLevels of circulating claudin-5 and occludin are increased after hypoxic/ischemic brain injuries and blood–brain barrier-impairment and have promise as early biomarkers for cerebral vascular dysfunction and as a tool for risk assessment of neonatal brain injuries.
Needle biopsy compared with surgical biopsy: pitfalls of small biopsy in histologial diagnosis of IgG4-related disease
Authors: Liu Yanying , Yang Fei , Chi Xiying , Zhang Yuxin , Fu Jiangnan , Bian Wenjie , Shen Danhua , Li Zhanguo 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objective
The growing utilization of needle biopsy has challenged the current pathology consensus of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). The aims of this study were to identify the histological characteristics of needle biopsy and surgical specimens and evaluate the ability of needle biopsy in histological diagnosis of IgG4-RD.

Methods
Biopsies from patients who were referred to as IgG4-RD by the 2019 ACR/EULAR IgG4-RD classification criteria in Peking University People’s Hospital from 2012 to 2019 were re-evaluated. Typical histological features and diagnostic categories were compared between needle biopsy and surgical biopsy.

Results
In total, 69 patients met the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and 72 biopsies of them were re-evaluated. All cases showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, while storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis were only present in 35 (48.6%) and 23 (31.9%) specimens, respectively. Storiform fibrosis was more likely to be seen in retroperitoneum lesion (P = 0.033). Surgical biopsy showed significantly higher IgG4+ plasma cells/high-power field (IgG4/HPF) count (P < 0.01) and higher proportion of IgG4/HPF > 10 (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed with regard to the ratio of IgG4+ plasma cells/IgG+ plasma cells (IgG4/IgG) (P = 0.399), storiform fibrosis (P = 0.739), and obliterative phletibis (P = 0.153). According to the 2011 comprehensive diagnostic criteria, patients who performed a needle biopsy were less likely to be probable IgG4-RD (P = 0.045). Based on the 2011 pathology consensus, needle biopsy was less likely to be diagnosed as IgG4-RD (P < 0.01), especially to be highly suggestive IgG4-RD (P < 0.01). Only 1/18 (5.6%) needle salivary specimens fulfilled the cutoff of IgG4/HPF > 100, which was significantly less than 15/23 (65.2%) of surgical ones (P < 0.01).

Conclusions
Needle biopsy shows an inferiority in detecting IgG4/HPF count but not in IgG4/IgG ratio, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. Compared with surgical samples, needle biopsy is less likely to obtain a histological diagnosis of IgG4-RD. A different IgG4/HPF threshold for needle biopsy of the salivary glands may be considered.
A study protocol for a Pilot Masked, Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Locally-applied Gentamicin versus Saline in Open Tibia Fractures (pGO-Tibia) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: von Kaeppler Ericka P. , Donnelley Claire , Ali Syed H. , Roberts Heather J. , Ibrahim John M. , Wu Hao-Hua , Eliezer Edmund N. , Porco Travis C. , Haonga Billy T. , Morshed Saam , Shearer David W. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Open tibia fractures are a major source of disability in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the high incidence of complications, particularly infection and chronic osteomyelitis. One proposed adjunctive measure to reduce infection is prophylactic local antibiotic delivery, which can achieve much higher concentrations at the surgical site than can safely be achieved with systemic administration. Animal studies and retrospective clinical studies support the use of gentamicin for this purpose, but no high-quality clinical trials have been conducted to date in high- or low-income settings.

Methods
We describe a protocol for a pilot study conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to assess the feasibility of a single-center masked randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of locally applied gentamicin to placebo for the prevention of fracture-related infection in open tibial shaft fractures.

Discussion
The results of this study will inform the design and feasibility of a definitive trial to address the use of local gentamicin in open tibial fractures. If proven effective, local gentamicin would be a low-cost strategy to reduce complications and disability from open tibial fractures that could impact care in both high- and low-income countries.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, Registration # NCT03559400; Registered June 18, 2018.
Assessment of the difference in detection of pleasant and unpleasant odors in different grades of hyposmia
Authors: Attia Tamer M. , Hamdan Ahmad M. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Olfaction is a complex process involving different neurological mechanisms with a correlation between the chemical structure and quality of odors regarding pleasantness. This study aimed to compare the detection of pleasant and unpleasant odors in different grades of hyposmia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted preceded by a preliminary pilot study, including 20 normal subjects without a history of hyposmia. The pilot study was carried out using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) with the assessment of pleasantness of odors using a visual analog scale (VAS). Fifty patients diagnosed with organic hyposmia/anosmia were included in the main study and assessed for the degree of hyposmia/anosmia using UPSIT. The number of detected odors out of the five odors with highest VAS for pleasantness and five odors with lowest VAS for pleasantness, as detected by the pilot study, for every patient was assessed and compared.

Results
There was a significant difference between the detection of pleasant and unpleasant odors in mild, moderate, and severe hyposmia (p value = 0.02, 0.005, and 0.03 respectively) with a highly significant difference in the whole study group ( p < 0.00001) with more loss of ability to detect unpleasant odors compared with pleasant odors.

Conclusion
The current study showed significantly less ability to detect unpleasant odors compared with pleasant odors in different grades of hyposmia. This finding suggests that the pattern of degeneration of the olfactory sense organ is not uniform with the topographic nature of the olfactory membrane.
Conditional Cash Transfers and Migration: Reconciling Feminist Theoretical Approaches With the New Economics of Labor Migration
Authors: Hughes Christina 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn 2019, I published a study titled “Reexamining the Influence of Conditional Cash Transfers on Migration from a Gendered Lens,” to which Oded Stark has since issued a formal comment. This response has been written to address the major themes of Stark's comment. While the first three sections focus on specific items related to framing, selection bias, and endogeneity, the fourth and final section tackles a more substantive theoretical debate between Stark and me over how to conceptualize the New Economics of Labor Migration framework in relation to gender. In my original paper, I argued that conditional cash transfers (CCTs) are gendered in their program conditions in ways that promote a normative gendered division of labor and that constrain beneficiary women from migrating. I note here that Stark's primary issue with this point appears to be his contention that CCTs are not necessarily gendered but rather that women have a comparative advantage in completing housework and care work. My response first compares Stark's argument to that made by Gary Becker in A Treatise on the Family and engages with the literature that has emerged to critique Becker's own arguments regarding gendered comparative advantage. I then conclude my final section by offering some suggestions that might open a common theoretical path forward—one that insists on grounding microeconomic analyses of family behavior on assumptions that take gender and other aspects of culture and institutions seriously and one that also moves toward a bargaining model of microeconomic behavior rather than one that assumes consensus among all relevant actors.
Decomposition of Improvements in Infant Mortality in Asian Developing Countries Over Three Decades
Authors: Aizawa Toshiaki 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLow- and middle-income countries in Asia have seen substantial improvements in infant mortality over the last three decades. This study examines the factors contributing to the improvement in infant survival in their first year in six Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. I decompose the overall improvement in the infant survival rate in the respective countries from the 1990s to the 2010s into the part that can be explained by the improvements in circumstantial environments in which infants develop and the remaining part that is due to the structural change in the hazard functions. This decomposition is achieved by employing the random survival forest, allowing me to predict the counterfactual infant survival probability that infants in the 2010s would have under the circumstantial environments of the 1990s. The results show that large parts of the improvement are explained by the improvement in the environments in all the countries being analyzed. I find that the reduction in family size, increased use of antenatal care, longer pregnancy periods, and improved living standards were associated with the improvement of the infant mortality rate in all six countries.
Influence of size of field of view (FOV), position within the FOV, and scanning mode on the detection of root fracture and observer’s perception of artifacts in CBCT images
Authors: de Oliveira Pinto Martina Gerlane , Melo Saulo L. Sousa , Suassuna Fernanda Clotilde Mariz , Marinho Luiz Eduardo , Leite José Bruno da Silva , Batista Andre Ulisses Dantas , Bento Patrícia Meira , Melo Daniela Pita 
Published: February 2021

Objective: To assess the influence of field of view (FOV) size, scanning position within the FOV and scanning mode on the detection of root fracture and artifact perception. Methods: Forty single-rooted premolars restored with NiCr and AgPd posts were divided into two groups: fractured and sound. All teeth were scanned using four CBCT scanning protocols varying FOV sizes (80 × 80 mm and 50 × 55 mm) and scanning modes (Standard and High Definition). The sample was positioned within the FOV in two pre-set positions (central and lateral) and in four positions established by the operator (quadrants). Detection of root fracture and artifact perception were assessed by two observers using 5-point and 4-point scales. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC values were calculated and compared by ANOVA two-way and Tukey’s test. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess artifact perception. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results : The central position within the FOV presented higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC values and differed from the lateral position within the FOV for the studied metal posts (p<0.05). Quadrant 2 presented the best sensitivity, accuracy, and AUC values (p<0.05). The lateral position within the FOV, AgPd posts, quadrants 1 and 3 and protocols 1 (SM, 80 × 80) and 2 (HD, 80× 80) presented higher frequency of artifacts classified as “severe”. Conclusion: Positioning the object in the center or closer to the anterior periphery of the FOV while using a small FOV improved the detection of root fracture and decreased artifact perception.
The role of the paramedic in identifying modern slavery
Authors: Wilson Tyra , Hill Lawrence 
Published: February 2021

Background: Modern slavery is the recruitment or harbouring of people through the use of force and coercion for exploitation. Paramedics have significant potential and unique opportunities regarding the detection, prevention and combating of modern slavery. Aim: To analyse the literature relating to modern slavery and synthesise it for paramedic practice. Method: Following a structured literature review, a comparative analysis was undertaken of articles concerning the relationships between modern slavery and healthcare. Findings: Five major themes were identified: barriers to healthcare access; causes of missing the indicators of trafficking; clinician knowledge; the need for training and education; and trauma-informed practices. Conclusions: Paramedics are in an optimal position to identify and intervene in cases of modern slavery. The introduction of survivor-centred education is recommended to better understand the barriers to healthcare access.