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Background: The rapid rise in coronavirus disease worldwide has drastically limited the availability of hospital facilities for patients. Residential treatment centers were opened in South Korea for the admission of asymptomatic or patients with mild symptoms. This study discusses the appropriateness of the admission criteria set by the centers in a pandemic situation, the prioritization of patients for admission, and ways to minimize the risk of self-isolation.Methods: A total of 217 low-risk patients (n=217) were admitted to the Nowon Residential Treatment Center between August 22 and October 14, 2020. The following criteria were met at the time of admission: patients (1) were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, (2) had either a controlled or no underlying chronic disease, and (3) did not need oxygen treatment. Among them, 202 patients who were eligible for inclusion in the study were retrospectively investigated through periodic interviews.Results: Of the 202 patients, 153 satisfied the criteria for symptomatic isolation standards, and 25 for asymptomatic isolation standards. The clinical conditions of 24 patients were aggravated, and these patients were transferred to other hospitals, among which 12 had persistent fever and 13 were suffering dyspnea with oxygen saturation (SpO2)

The rapid rise in the application of novel treatment techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), motivated us to survey the status of Korea's radiation safety management and the shielding designs of facilities employing medical linear accelerators (LINACs). To this end, a questionnaire was used to collect information on LINAC facilities and treatments, workload, shielding design, shielding management, and path of obtaining shielding information. Out of 100 domestic institutions, 52 responded to the survey. Approximately 70% of the institutions utilized IMRT for more than 60% of their cases, and an IMRT factor of 5 was adopted by 75% of these institutions. Over 80% of the institutions accounted for the applied time-averaged dose rate per week and instantaneous dose equivalent rates in their shielding designs. Approximately 45% of the institutions obtained important shielding information via a radiation shielding design company and the NCRP-151 report. Overall, most facilities were shown to follow the standards recommended by the relevant international agencies. However, the requirement to establish standardized shielding design information and clarify ambiguous paths for information acquisition was also highlighted. Therefore, the study's results can be used as a foundation for establishing a safety control system and for creating adequate shielding designs.

With the rapid rise in gene-editing technology, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and their derived organoids have increasingly broader and practical applications in regenerative medicine. Gene-editing technologies, from large-scale nucleic acid endonucleases to CRISPR, have ignited a global research and development boom with significant implications in regenerative medicine. The development of regenerative medicine technologies, regardless of whether it is PSCs or gene editing, is consistently met with controversy. Are the tools for rewriting the code of life a boon to humanity or a Pandora’s box? These technologies raise concerns regarding ethical issues, unexpected mutations, viral infection, etc. These concerns remain even as new treatments emerge. However, the potential negatives cannot obscure the virtues of PSC gene editing, which have, and will continue to, benefit mankind at an unprecedented rate. Here, we briefly introduce current gene-editing technology and its application in PSCs and their derived organoids, while addressing ethical concerns and safety risks and discussing the latest progress in PSC gene editing. Gene editing in PSCs creates visualized in vitro models, providing opportunities for examining mechanisms of known and unknown mutations and offering new possibilities for the treatment of cancer, genetic diseases, and other serious or refractory disorders. From model construction to treatment exploration, the important role of PSCs combined with gene editing in basic and clinical medicine studies is illustrated. The applications, characteristics, and existing challenges are summarized in combination with our lab experiences in this field in an effort to help gene-editing technology better serve humans in a regulated manner. Current preclinical and clinical trials have demonstrated initial safety and efficacy of PSC gene editing; however, for better application in clinical settings, additional investigation is warranted.

Background: There has been a rapid rise in the use of smart devices amongst medical practitioners throughout the world. This study aimed to identify how smart devices were being used by medical practitioners at the Universitas Academic Hospital (UAH), Bloemfontein, and the associated factors thereof. We also identified the views of medical practitioners regarding the usage of smart devices at their workplace.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to medical practitioners working at UAH during weekly departmental meetings or monthly morbidity and mortality meetings. The following largest departments were included: Surgery, Anaesthetics, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.Results: The response rate was 82.7% of those attending the meetings. All the respondents owned a smart device and brought it to their workplace. The most common applications used on these smart devices were that for drug references (65.9%), medical textbooks (63.6%) and medical calculators (58.1%). Significantly larger percentages of doctors aged 21–39 years compared with those aged 40–65 years used drug reference applications and medical calculators. A quarter (24.8%) of respondents communicated with patients through a smart device, 21.7% used an online storage platform to backup patient data, whilst 56.6% used their devices to store and view patient information. More than one-third (36.7%) agreed that smart devices threatened patient confidentiality, but the majority (58.8%) did not agree that these devices hinder patient communication. The majority felt that these devices improved both personal performance (69.2%) and patient care (79.0%).Conclusion: Smart devices usage is common in this setting. Hence, integration of such usage in medical curricula, discussion on professionalism, ethics and confidentiality in this context, and guidance from institutions and professional bodies become necessary.

PurposeThis paper outlines the rapid rise of China's fintech companies over the past decade with a focus on their globalization strategies as they enter their next phase of development.Design/methodology/approachThe author examines China's current and prospective influence on global financial digitization trends, and assesses both domestic and foreign opportunities and challenges confronted by China's fintech firms as they look to expand abroad.FindingsThe Chinese government is experimenting with a radically new fintech system and a regulatory regime in response to it. Chinese ambitions to expand fintech influence through private companies and the state-led “digital RMB” (e-CNY) will likely provoke a wave of “digital protectionism” among developed nations to protect internal digital payments.Originality/valueThis paper is an original economic history research on China's fintech industry.

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 threatened to overwhelm the NH ability to provide sufficient critical care support to patients in the UK. In response to a rapid rise in cases in March 2020, the UK Government issued a call to industry to rapidly design and develop additional ventilators to expand the UK’s capacity for mechanical ventilation. Three NHS consultants working in conjunction with TTP Plc (The Technology Partnership), were at the forefront, evolving the Government brief and developing a safe and effective ventilator, the CoVent™, in less than 5 weeks. The project demonstrates the ability of physicians to guide industry and pool knowledge and resources to rapidly develop and evolve technology in the face of a national emergency. This article discusses key aspects of the design process, highlights the unique human factors and engineering aspects of undertaking this amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Overall we demonstrated that when industry, healthcare and regulatory bodies collaborate and communicate efficiently, huge progress can be made in a fraction of the usual timescales.

We examine how immigration affects natives’ relative prime-age labor market outcomes by economic class background, with class background established on the basis of parents’ earnings rank. Exploiting alternative sources of variation in immigration patterns across time and space, we find that immigration from low-income countries reduces intergenerational mobility and thus steepens the social gradient in natives’ labor market outcomes, whereas immigration from high-income countries levels it. These findings are robust with respect to a wide range of identifying assumptions. The analysis is based on high-quality population-wide administrative data from Norway, which is one of the rich-world countries with the most rapid rise in the immigrant population share over the past two decades. Our findings suggest that immigration can explain a considerable part of the observed relative decline in economic performance among natives with a lower-class background.

The United Nations’ projections for the period between 2019 and 2050 anticipate a rapid rise in population aging in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. With such population aging often comes a disease ...

Problem definition : We have witnessed a rapid rise of on-demand platforms, such as Uber, in the past few years. Although these platforms allow workers to choose their own working hours, they have limited leverage in maintaining availability of workers within a region. As such, platforms often implement various policies, including offering financial incentives and/or communicating customer demand to workers in order to direct more workers to regions with shortage in supply. This research examines how behavioral biases such as regret aversion may influence workers’ relocation decisions and ultimately the system performance. Academic/practical relevance : Studies on on-demand platforms often assume that workers are rational agents who make optimal decisions. Our research investigates workers’ relocation decisions from a behavioral perspective. A deeper understanding of workers’ behavioral biases and their causes will help on-demand platforms design appropriate policies to increase their own profit, worker surplus, and the overall efficiency of matching supply with demand. Methodology : We use a combination of behavioral modeling and controlled laboratory experiments. We develop analytical models that incorporate regret aversion to produce theoretical predictions, which are then tested and verified via a series of controlled laboratory experiments. Results : We find that regret aversion plays an important role in workers’ relocation decisions. Regret-averse workers are more willing to relocate to the supply-shortage zone than rational workers. This increased relocation behavior, however, is not sufficient to translate to a better system performance. Platform interventions, such as demand information sharing and dynamic wage bonus, can help further improve the system. We find that workers’ regret-aversion behavior may lead to an increased profit for the platform, a higher surplus for the workers, and an improved demand-supply matching efficiency, thus benefiting the entire on-demand system. Managerial implications : Our research emphasizes the importance and necessity of incorporating workers’ behavioral biases such as regret aversion into the policy design of on-demand platforms. Policies without considering the behavioral aspect of workers’ decision may lead to lost profit for the platform and reduced welfare for workers and customers, which may ultimately hurt the on-demand business.

The second wave of COVID-19 due to Delta (B.1.617.2) variant led to the rapid rise of total coronavirus and COVID-associated mucormycosis cases reported from India. Hence, the current perspective explores the possible causes of rapid upsurge in COVID-associated mucormycosis cases, which was accounted for over 70% of global cases. The five most probable factors associated with the increase of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients include diabetes mellitus, steroids overdose, high iron levels, immuno-suppression, combined with other possible factors such as unhygienic conditions, prolonged hospitalization, use of ventilators and leaky humidifiers in oxygen cylinders, creates an ideal environment for contracting mucormycosis. However, these cases could be brought down by disseminating simple preventive measures and creating awareness among the medical society and general public on this rare and deadly contagion of COVID-associated mucormycosis. The identification of the early symptoms will help to restrict the spread of lethal fungal diseases. Further, a collaborative team of surgeons, ophthalmologists, physicians, otolaryngologists specialists would be required in the hospital wards to proceed with quick surgeries on severely impacted patients., Graphical Abstract Image, graphical abstract

The past decade has seen a rapid rise in the number of policy innovation labs (PILs). PILs that are found both inside and outside of government address a wide range of social issues. Many PILs shar...

The adherences to protective actions are subjective to knowledge, perception, attitude, practice and barriers towards COVID-19 by Saudi residents. The self-design questionnaires were used as a cross-sectional online survey for assessed their social and behavioral parameters during the agonizing time. The cross-sectional study used data collected via an online self-reported questionnaire from 2216 Saudi residents. SPSS software and chi-square test were applied to analyze and categorize significant differences among sectional variables of the parameters. More than 95% of responders were well aware about the main clinical symptoms of COVID-19 infection and had sufficient knowledge about the protocols of five steps to stop the spread of coronavirus. Apositive perception towards COVID-19 was observed, about 55% participants strongly agreed that the coronavirus outbreak could impact the global economy and infection could be successfully controlled by imposing lockdown and by staying at home. The majority of respondents had good practices regarding COVID-19 infection. A high percentage of participants favored wearing masks, cleaning hands and frequently using hand sanitizer. A large number of participant (83.2%; n=1844) agreed that misinformation and rumors are spreading more quickly than the current outbreak of the new coronavirus. The findings suggested that Saudi residents are possessed good knowledge, optimistic attitudes, and appropriate practices towards COVID-19 during the rapid rise of the COVID-19 outbreak. Hopefully, under the combined efforts of WHO, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia, all Saudi residents surely will win the battle against COVID-19 very soon.

Considerable evidence has demonstrated that gender influences interactions during in-person meetings, most commonly, negatively impacting women and persons of color. Pervasive gender stereotypes about roles that were (and are) occupied by men and women lead to implicit assumptions about competency in said roles. For example, women may receive more negative verbal interruptions or nonverbal cues that undermine their authority as a leader, a stereotypically male-typed role. The coronavirus pandemic has led to the rapid rise in videoconferencing in professional interactions; however, little is known about videoconferencing etiquette and how gender bias permeates to this new setting. Although there are many benefits to the use of this technology, it has the potential to reinforce gender bias rooted in cultural and societal norms, gender stereotypes, and traditional gender roles. The well-documented implicit biases that have been shown to favor men over women during in-person meetings may translate to further gender gaps in leadership during virtual meetings. It is also possible that videoconferencing could be used to reduce gender bias, but until we have research to shine a light on this topic, this article provides 10 tips for promoting gender equity during virtual meetings.

The rapid rise of shadow banking activities in China since 2009 has attracted a great deal of attention in both academia and policy circles. Most existing studies and commentary on China's shadow banking have treated it as a recent phenomenon that appeared after the Global Financial Crisis and China's response to it. In this paper, I argue that shadow banking is not a new phenomenon; it has always been a part of China's financial system since the 1980s, and arose from the need to get around various lending restrictions imposed by the central government on banks. I also emphasize that there are two types of shadow banking activities, those initiated by banks and those initiated by local governments or state-owned enterprises. I provide evidence suggesting that the shadow banking activities initiated by banks prior to 1996 helped directing credits to the more productive non-state sector and were efficiency enhancing. In recent years, however, I find that the shadow banking loans have a positive effect on real estate investments only, and their effects on investments by private firms outside the real estate sector have been negative.

Over the past two decades, the rapid rise of social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information online. Social media platforms are not now only used extensively by individuals but also by businesses, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and many other organizations to deliver information to the public and, in return, collect information from that same audience. The preliminary study presented here offers valuable insights into how social media may be used to improve food safety standards. Today, food safety is still a major health challenge in the country, which occasionally faces unsafe food supply chains, an increased number of food borne outbreaks, and poor hygiene education. Social media may be used as a very valuable tool for people to access important information and more knowledge about food safety. The limited-scope survey presented here was conducted over the western part of Saudi Arabia and included 295 individuals of both genders, among various age groups. Participants responded to an online questionnaire about their use of social media to obtain information about food safety. Results showed that social media was indeed a major outlet for individuals to access information on food safety, with the top-ranked social media platforms being WhatsApp (M = 2.99) followed by Snapchat (M = 3.72), YouTube (M = 4.08), Instagram (M = 4.46), and Facebook (M = 4.81). Additionally, we found that the most trusted sources of information was the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (72.6%) and the Saudi Ministry of Health (55.4%). Participants most frequently sought epidemiological information (52.5%), quantitative risk estimates (23.1%), and information on the various types of foodborne infections (15.3%); they preferred the information to be in video format (67.5%), articles (57.6%), infographics (55.3%). Trustworthiness clearly emerged from the survey as an important consideration for individuals when accessing food safety information on social media.

Gingkolide is an antiseizure medicine used as an adjuvant of partial seizures and GAD to relieve neuropathic pain. It binds to the very high affinity alpha delta site in the CNS. Although the drug's mechanism remains unclear, in genetically engineered mice and other anticonvulsive models, findings showed that it binds to alpha receptors. A rapid rise in the number of drugs added to each class of drugs has been noted. Whether in a single or multi-drug delivery form, these medications are developed into newer formulations. These newest formulations put on the market need a new investigation to estimate the medication in the formulations. In the scientific literature, the current analytical procedures for such drugs are available, but not all approaches are stable and economical to use. Few other techniques are often time-consuming. The goal of this work was to develop an RP-HPLC analytical tool for Gingkolide estimation. The drug's RP-PLC study meets the drug's optimum integrity, suitability, regeneration. The drug's LOQ and LOD were reached with elevated sensitivity. Overall, the results show that the recommended analytical approach in the formulation should be used to evaluate the drug. For regular study of the medication in its dosage form, this approach may be recommended.

Despite the harrowing opioid crisis in the United States, the use of opioids to combat musculoskeletal pain continues to be widespread. In the setting of hip arthroscopy, approximately one-third of patients are on opioids while awaiting surgery to address the pain that results from femoracetabular impingement syndrome. In addition, the use of opioids to address pain postoperatively is common practice. With the rapid rise of hip arthroscopy in the United States, it is paramount that other modes of pain relief are promoted by surgeons in conjunction with allied health professionals, such as physical therapists. In fact, early physical therapy has been shown to decrease the use of postoperative opioids by 10%. The use of complementary and alternative therapies should be common practice in the in the orthopaedic setting to assist in reducing the number of opioids used for both pre and postoperative pain management. While this may be a small piece of the opioid crisis puzzle, it is up to all of us in the medical community to do our part and change the direction of the current opioid crisis.

Is the Melanoma Epidemic Real? The incidence of melanoma of the skin is 6 times as high as it was 40 years ago; mortality has stayed low. UV light exposure is the strongest environmental risk facto...

Unlike other Shakespearean tragedies, King Richard III was never turned into a comedy through the insertion of a happy ending. It did, however, undergo a transformation of dramatic genre, as the numerous Richard III burlesques and travesties produced in the nineteenth century plainly show. Eight burlesques (or nine, including a pantomime) were written for and/or performed on the London stage alone. This essay looks at three of these plays, produced at three distinct stages in the history of burlesque's rapid rise and decline: 1823, 1844, and 1868. In focusing on these productions, I demonstrate how Shakespeare burlesques, paradoxically, enhanced rather than endangered the playwright's iconic status. King Richard III is a perfect case study because of its peculiar stage history. As Richard Schoch has argued, the burlesque purported to be “an act of theatrical reform which aggressively compensated for the deficiencies of other people's productions. . . . [It] claimed to perform not Shakespeare's debasement, but the ironic restoration of his compromised authority.” But this view of the burlesques’ importance is incomplete. Building on Schoch's work, I illustrate how the King Richard III burlesques not only parodied deficient theatrical productions but also called into question dramatic adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. In so doing, these burlesques paradoxically relegitimized Shakespeare.

Background/aim Advanced prostate cancer is a recalcitrant disease with very limited treatment options. Our laboratory discovered methionine addiction, presumably a characteristic of all cancer types, including prostate cancer, which can be targeted by methionine restriction (MR), through treatment with oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase). Patients and methods o-rMETase was produced by fermentation of recombinant E. coli containing the Pseudomonas putida methioninase gene, and purified by column chromatography. An advanced prostate cancer patient received o-rMETase as a supplement, 500 units per day, divided into two oral doses of 250 units each. Results Before treatment, the patient had a rapid rise in PSA levels, from 39 to 56 ng/ml, within 6 weeks. At the 15th week of o-rMETase administration, the PSA levels stabilized at 62 ng/ml. No overt side effects were observed. Conclusion o-rMETase single treatment can be beneficial for advanced prostate cancer patients.

The high prevalence of the world’s population diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, with a significant number suffering from diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), has always been a global concern over the years. The rapid rise of this disease in the last decades is deemed increasingly alarming as it has left deleterious effects not only on affected patients but also on the society and nation. This paper aims to develop a reliable diagnostic tool to address the tremendous need for coordinated and efficient DFU management via prediction of transcutaneous oxygen saturation ( $\text{S}_{\mathrm {t}}\text{O}_{2}$ ) and relative blood perfusion ( $\tau$ ) in the affected limb. This system integrates the use of a multispectral imaging and laser speckle contrast imaging technique for two-dimensional (2D) mapping of tissue oxygen and blood perfusion level in ulcerated foot. Longitudinal study revealed a slightly higher mean $\text{S}_{\mathrm {t}}\text{O}_{2}$ and $\tau $ level in healed ulcer than in impaired healing, despite the data indicating no statistical significance between these two groups $\left ({{p-\textrm {value}>0.05} }\right)$ . It was observed that a mean $\text{S}_{\mathrm {t}}\text{O}_{2}$ of at least 70 % and $\tau $ value of 1.5 ( $\times 10^{3}$ ) are necessary during the proliferative phase to ensure progressive healing. Based on these findings, this study concluded that high tissue oxygenation and perfusion levels are pivotal to ensure progressive wound healing. This work provides a rationale for evaluating the healing outcomes of skin grafting procedures in diabetic ulcers based on observation of quantitative changes in blood perfusion and tissue oxygen level during its revascularization phase.

In the past two decades, the United States has experienced a rapid rise in the use of opioids by its population, a context that has come to be assessed by the U.S. government as a threat to national and international security that requires emergency measures. The strategies of the U.S. government and transnational pharmaceutical corporations for resolving the insecurity generated by capitalist accumulation constitute what a certain literature calls “pacification.” In addition, these corporations export to the “foreign” the contradictions inherent in the opioid control policy that underlies the capitalist logic of drugs. Thus Latin American populations have been instrumentalized in the “solution” of this crisis either as a focus of violence by the state or as a focus of consumption by the market.Nas últimas duas décadas, os Estados Unidos vivenciaram uma rápida ascensão do uso de opioides pela sua população, contexto que passou a ser avaliado pelo governo estadunidense como uma ameaça à segurança nacional e internacional que demanda medidas emergenciais. As estratégias do Estado estadunidense e das corporações farmacêuticas transnacionais para solucionar a insegurança gerada pela acumulação capitalista configuram o que certa literatura chama “pacificação” Ademais, elas exportam para o “estrangeiro” as contradições próprias da política de controle de opioides que fundamenta a lógica capitalista das drogas. Assim, populações latino-americanas têm sido instrumentalizadas para a “solução” dessa crise, seja como foco da violência pelo Estado, seja como foco do consumo pelo mercado.

Malaysian government started the Movement Control Order (MCO) on 18th March 2020, as one of the initiatives to prevent the more massive outbreak of COVID-19. Recent statistics showed a rapid rise in the numbers of positive COVID-19 patients. However, the statistics on COVID-19 patients being discharged showed that the higher authority was very committed in managing COVID-19 crisis. This online study was conducted among 1,543 Malaysian adults using a validated questionnaire to explore more findings on the Malaysian’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) level towards COVID-19 prevention during the MCO period. Descriptive study and binary logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 22. This study showed that the majority of respondents have good KAP level regarding COVID-19 prevention. WhatsApp and Telegram were the primary sources of information used by the respondents. Education level was the main predictor for knowledge (OR: 2.083, CI: 1.605-2.702), attitude (OR:1.854, Ci; 1.42-2.42) and practice (OR: 1.745, CI; 1.326-2.096) regarding COVID-19 prevention (p

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forever changed the lives of many across the world. Like many others, New Yorkers witnessed their hospital systems become overwhelmed with a massive influx of critically ill patients. Protocols, workflow, staffing, and individual responsibilities all changed as health care providers scrambled to help where they could. As we see, for the second time this year, a rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, I wanted to share our experience as vascular surgeons during the first surge from a health care system located in New York City, one of the largest epicenters of the pandemic.

The rapid rise of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) has necessitated an efficient and standardized training curriculum. Cognitive training (CT) can significantly improve skills, such as attention, working memory and problem solving, and can enhance surgical capacity and support RAS training. This pilot study was carried out between 02/2019 and 04/2019. The participants included 33 student volunteers, randomized into 3 groups: group 1 received training using the da Vinci training simulator, group 2 received computer-based cognitive training, and group 3 was the control group without training. Before (T1) and after-training (T2), performance was measured. Additionally, expert ratings and self-evaluations were collected. Subjective evaluations of performance were supplemented by evaluations based on three scales from the revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). In total, 25 probands remained with complete data for further analyses: n = 8 (group 1), n = 7 (group 2) and n = 10 (group 3). There were no significant differences in T1 and T2 among all three groups. The average training gain of group 1 and 2 was 15.87% and 24.6%, respectively, (a restricting condition is the loss of the last training session in group 2). Analyses of semi-structured psychological interviews (SPIs) revealed no significant differences for T1, but in T2, significance occurred at ‘self-reflection’ for group 2 (F(2.22) = 8.56; p

“Modern” vaping involving battery-operated electronic devices began approximately one dozen years and has quickly evolved into a multibillion dollar industry providing products to an estimated 50 million users worldwide. Originally developed as an alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, vaping now appeals to a diverse demographic including substantial involvement of young people who often have never used cigarettes. The rapid rise of vaping fueled by multiple factors has understandably outpaced understanding of biological effects, made even more challenging due to wide ranging individual user habits and preferences. Consequently while vaping-related research gathers momentum, vaping-associated pathological injury (VAPI) has been established by clinical case reports with severe cases manifesting as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with examples of right ventricular cardiac failure. Therefore, basic scientific studies are desperately needed to understand the impact of vaping upon the lungs as well as cardiopulmonary structure and function. Experimental models that capture fundamental characteristics of vaping-induced ARDS are essential to study pathogenesis and formulate recommendations to mitigate harmful effects attributable to ingredients or equipment. So too, treatment strategies to promote recovery from vaping-associated damage require development and testing at the preclinical level. This review summarizes the back story of vaping leading to present day conundrums with particular emphasis upon VAPI-associated ARDS and prioritization of research goals.

With the advent of direct-acting antiviral agents, there has been a rapid rise in hepatitis C virus-infected (HCV+) heart transplantation. We aimed to understand local and regional differences in utilization and allocation of HCV+ hearts. Using United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) de-identified data from January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2019 we compared trends in the utilization rates (hearts transplanted/donors recovered) of HCV-uninfected (HCV-) to those of HCV+ nonviremic (HCV-NV) and viremic (HCV-V) hearts nationally and by UNOS region. We also evaluated allocation rates (hearts successfully allocated/donors recovered) by organ procurement organization (OPO). We found that (1) in 2019, national utilization rates for HCV-NV and HCV-V hearts were the same as HCV- hearts (27.6% for HCV-NV, 30.9 for HCV-V, and 31.7% for HCV-, P = .277); (2) utilization rates of HCV-NV hearts were low in regions 3 and 4 and of HCV-V hearts in regions 3, 4, and 8 even in the contemporary period since 2018; and (3) there was marked variability in allocation of HCV+ hearts at the OPO level even within the same UNOS region. We conclude that despite national strides in the utilization of HCV+ hearts for transplantation, more aggressive allocation of HCV+ hearts at the OPO level may still significantly affect the organ shortage.

With the rapid rise in cases of COVID-19 across the world, health systems face unprecedented challenges in the delivery of patient care. This includes constrained capacity for intensive care unit (...

Background Valsalva retinopathy is known to occur as a sudden preretinal or sub-internal limiting membrane hemorrhage induced by a rapid rise in venous pressure following increased intrathoracic or intraabdominal pressure. Here we report a case of Valsalva retinopathy that was probably induced by straining that occurred due to following a handstand. Case presentation A 15-year-old boy became aware of decreased visual acuity in his left eye immediately after doing a handstand for approximately 10 s during physical education class, and subsequently visited a local clinic on the same day. Upon examination, a vitreous hemorrhage (VH) in the posterior pole of the fundus was found in his left eye, and he was subsequently referred to our department 7 days later. Upon examination, the VH around the optic nerve head of the left eye appeared to be resolved, and an oval-shaped sub-internal limiting membrane (sub-ILM) hemorrhage was found in the superonasal side of the optic nerve head. No abnormalities were observed in the macular area. Four months later, the sub-ILM hemorrhage was found to have spontaneously resolved. Subsequent fluorescein angiography examinations revealed no abnormal findings at the lesion site. Conclusions In this patient, we hypothesize that the Valsalva retinopathy was induced by straining that occurred due to a handstand, and that the resultant sub-ILM hemorrhage progressed to VH.

SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, exemplifies the general threat to global health posed by coronaviruses. The urgent need for effective vaccines and therapies is leading to a rapid rise in the number of high resolution structures of SARS-CoV-2 proteins that collectively reveal a map of virus vulnerabilities. To assist structure-based design of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, we have developed CoV3D, a database and resource for coronavirus protein structures, which is updated on a weekly basis. CoV3D provides users with comprehensive sets of structures of coronavirus proteins and their complexes with antibodies, receptors, and small molecules. Integrated molecular viewers allow users to visualize structures of the spike glycoprotein, which is the major target of neutralizing antibodies and vaccine design efforts, as well as sets of spike-antibody complexes, spike sequence variability, and known polymorphisms. In order to aid structure-based design and analysis of the spike glycoprotein, CoV3D permits visualization and download of spike structures with modeled N-glycosylation at known glycan sites, and contains structure-based classification of spike conformations, generated by unsupervised clustering. CoV3D can serve the research community as a centralized reference and resource for spike and other coronavirus protein structures, and is available at: https://cov3d.ibbr.umd.edu., Graphical Abstract Graphical AbstractCoV3D: a database of high resolution coronavirus protein structures.

Objective: The phenomenon of postictal generalized EEG suppression state (PGES) — a period with suppressed activity following seizure termination and has been found to be associated with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy — remains poorly understood. This article aims to examine the how the balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) affect the dynamics of seizure and PGES. Methods: A network of 1000 Izhikevich model neurons was developed and only the strengths of synaptic connections were adjusted to recreate the dynamics observed in recordings of seizure and PGES from human patients. Results: A rapid rise followed by a slow decay of dominant frequency was observed in iEEG recordings of ictal periods and reproduced in the simulated local field potential by changing the E/I balance of the model network. The rate of this dominant frequency evolution was quantified by a single measure, $\beta$ , which was found to have a significant rank correlation with the duration of PGES in iEEG data and the rate of E/I balance shift in the model. Significance and Conclusion: (i) highlighting the importance of E/I balance in the dynamics of seizure and PGES; (ii) suggesting the measure, $\beta$ , as a marker for PGES and the shift in E/I balance as a neural correlate for this marker.

This assessment aims to identify the increasing number of morbidity of drug susceptible tuberculosis (TB) and its treatment outcomes, government cost of medicines as well as the economic impact on society. A retrospective observational study had been conducted in a government hospital using a patient’s record from 2013 to 2017, treated under the Direct Observed Therapy Short Course (DOTS) program in Karachi, Pakistan. Altogether, 3872 drug-susceptible TB patients were included in the study. All data had been analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. It had been found from the data that each year number of new smear-positive TB patients remained same, that is, 85% in 2013, 90% in 2014, 89.5% in 2015, 91% in 2016 and 92.3% in 2017 while slight decrease in relapse cases, that is, 15, 10, 10.4, 9 and 7.6% in 2013 to 2017, respectively. The single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows that there is no significant difference between the gender of TB patient throughout the duration with the p-value=0.3769. During the years of study, cost of medicine increased due to rapid rise of inflation in the region which inturn caused the significant financial constraint on patients and their families. moral and financial support are important to render an individual productive again in the society. Key words: Drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB), anti-tubercular therapy, cost of medicine.

PurposeThe needs of CMOs to utilize a firm's data productively in order to support decision-making combined with the reported benefits of enterprise feedback management solutions has resulted in a rapid rise in usage and valuation of EFM providers. The explicit promise of EFM providers is improved financial performance, whereas there is no scientific research investigating this link. To investigate the link between EFM usage and financial performance is core of this research.Design/methodology/approachTo gain insight into this link survey data from 127 US-based firms on their usage of EFM platforms was linked to their stock market performance over several years.FindingsThis research did not find any significant positive relationships between different aspects of EFM usage investigated and stock returns. It is important to note that these results should not be taken as validation that EFM systems do not result in positive financial outcomes for firms. It may be that superior market performance as measured through stock returns is difficult to observe through a cross-sectional analysis. Instead these results indicate that superior market performance as measured through stock market performance is not an obvious, generalizable outcome for firms that have adopted EFM systems.Originality/valueEFM has rapidly grown across many consumer facing industries, with EFM platform providers receiving very high market valuations on relatively small revenue streams. This is one of the first scientific papers to study the usage and impact of these EFM systems.

An increasing number of studies on cognitive impairment associated with bipolar disorder indicate the relevance of the topic in psychiatry. The aim of the study was to investigate the features of cognitive functioning of patients with primary episode of bipolar disorder, taking into account sex and clinical variant. According to the method of «Remembering the Ten Words», 153 patients were examined: with prevalence of depressive symptoms (44 men and 75 women), with prevalence of manic symptoms (15 men and 8 women) and with simultaneous presence of depressive and manic symptoms or with rapid change of phases (6 men and 5 women). Statistical analysis was performed using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. It was found that in the depressive variant, the memorization curve was characterized by difficulties of fixing information and difficulty in holding it: 4.2±1.2 words, 4.6±1.4 words, 5.9±1.8 words, 5.8±1.4 words, 4.4±1.3 words, 2.6±1.4 words (in men – 4.2±1.4 words, 4.6±1.5 words, 6.1±1.9 words, 5.7±1.5 words, 4.4±1.3 words, 2.6±1.4 words, in women – 4.2±1.1 words, 4.5±1.4 words, 5,9±1.7 words, 5.8±1.3 words, 4.4±1.3 words, 2.5±1.3 words); at manic – rapid rise with subsequent decrease and the lowest reproduction rates in an hour: 4.7±1.3 words, 7.5±1.3 words, 7.2±1.3 words, 6.7±1.8 words , 4.7±1.0 words, 2.0±1.0 words (in men – 4.9±1.3 words, 7.3±1.3 words, 7.1±1.2 words, 6, 3±1.7 words, 4.7±0.9 words, 1.9±0.9 words, in women – 4.3±1.4 words, 7.9±1.4 words, 7.5±1,5 words, 7.5±1.7 words, 4.6±1.3 words, 2.3±1.2 words); when mixed – combined fixation difficulties and low reproduction rates: 4.5±0.9 words, 5.1±1.3 words, 5.9±1.1 words, 5.6±0.8 words, 4.2±1.1 words, 2.4±0.9 words (in men – 4.5±0.8 words, 5.5±1.0 words, 5.8±1.0 words, 5.8±0, 8 words, 4.5±1.0 words, 2.0±0.9 words, in women – 4.6±1.1 words, 4.6±1.5 words, 6.0±1.4 words, 5.4±0.9 words, 3.8±1.1 words, 2.8±0.8 words). Certain differences in cognitive impairment were found depending on the clinical version of the primary episode; however, the differences between men and women are insignificant. Further prospects are related to the improvement of methods for predicting and treating cognitive impairment in bipolar disorders.

Background: With the rapid rise in opioid overdose-related deaths, state policy makers have expanded policies to increase the use of naloxone by emergency medical services (EMS). However, little is known about changes in EMS naloxone administration in the context of continued worsening of the opioid crisis and efforts to increase use of naloxone. This study examines trends in patient demographics and EMS response characteristics over time and by county urbanicity. Methods: We used data from the 2013–2016 National EMS Information System to examine trends in patient demographics and EMS response characteristics for 911-initiated incidents that resulted in EMS naloxone administration. We also assessed temporal, regional, and urban–rural variation in per capita rates of EMS naloxone administrations compared with per capita rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. Results: From 2013 to 2016, naloxone administrations increasingly involved young adults and occurred in public settings. Particularly in urban counties, there were modest but significant increases in the percentage of individuals who refused subsequent treatment, were treated and released, and received multiple administrations of naloxone before and after arrival of EMS personnel. Over the 4-year period, EMS naloxone administrations per capita increased at a faster rate than opioid-related overdose deaths across urban, suburban, and rural counties. Although national rates of naloxone administration were consistently higher in suburban counties, these trends varied across U.S. Census Regions, with the highest rates of suburban administration occurring in the South. Conclusions: Naloxone administration rates increased more quickly than opioid deaths across all levels of county urbanicity, but increases in the percentage of individuals requiring multiple doses and refusing subsequent care require further attention.

YILDIZ, Yasin Gokturk/0000-0002-1391-1888; YILDIZ, Gokcen DIKICI/0000-0002-5751-0795 WOS:000545116400006 The phase stability, the electronic, mechanic and lattice dynamical properties ofC1(b)-type PdMnSn and PtMnSn compounds were investigated using first principles density functional calculations within the generalized gradient approximation. The computed lattice constants of PdMnSn and PtMnSn compounds were in line with the experimental and theoretical data in the published literature. The elastic constants in theC1(b)structure for PdMnSn and PtMnSn compounds were carried out using the energy-strain method. The computed values of three independent elastic constants, both compounds are mechanically stable in theC1-type crystal structure and met the stability criteria. The electronic structure, total and partial density values of states, and total magnetic moment of these compounds were calculated and the evaluations were carried out by comparing with the existing results. Dynamic properties of PdMnSn and PtMnSn compounds were obtained using the density functional perturbation theory. Both of the compounds were dynamically stable due to the absence of the imaginary phonon frequencies. In addition, it was found that the compounds had a rapid rise in specific heat capacities from 0 to 300 K.

La transformación del orden asiático es la principal causa del giro producido en la política exterior de Japón desde finales de la primera década del siglo XXI. Bajo el liderazgo de Shinzo Abe, el Gobierno japonés ha dado forma a una diplomacia proactiva, orientada a la adquisición de una autonomía estratégica que le permita ampliar sus opciones frente a la reconfiguración en curso del equilibrio regional de poder. El rápido ascenso de China y la erosión del liderazgo de su principal aliado, Estados Unidos, sitúan al país ante un horizonte desconocido que le obliga a recalibrar sus relaciones con ambas grandes potencias.

Network methods have seen a rapid rise in archaeology in recent years. There are still concerns regarding how well formal networks are able to effectively model local interaction. These are often present in the so-called qualitative network approaches—studies that tend to be based on close readings of relations between entities and the way they form dynamic networks of agents. Such studies have demonstrated the value in scrutinizing the way in which relations might be acted on in practice, and how that might differ from expected results. But rarely do such studies produce network data of the kind analyzed by formal network analytical methods. Formal approaches, on the other hand, blur the specificity of individual relations and trade much of their specificity for the ability to make general statements about relations across large datasets. More generally, the modality of the relation/edge is a crucial way in which formal network analysis differs from other prevalent relational approaches popular in archaeology today, where the substantivity of individual relations is paramount. Such relations are often seen as starting points for subsequent hybridizations that radically alter, if only temporarily, the structure of their respective networks. I argue that a key step in allowing networks to reformulate from initial, data-driven network schemata is the introduction of a more symmetrical agency between the node and the edge. In this article, I discuss how ethnographic sources can be used to achieve this for archaeological survey data. I use assemblage theory as a framework to explore the potential the edge has to offer archaeological network modelling. While assemblage theory is helpful for this purpose, the lack of a computational formality to assemblage theory immediately places it at odds with network science. As a complement, I will also employ the computational ontology CIDOC-CRM to more explicitly articulate the character of links between nodes in archaeological networks. The paper will end by suggesting a method of network modelling which integrates the line as a key source of agency. As a nod to Ingold’s call for an increased emphasis on the line, I call this approach network linaeology. Originally included in thesis in manuscript form with title: "Cutting the network, knotting the line"

Citation: Ermolin I., Suvorkov P. (2020) Towards the Theory of the Autonomous Community: Ex-polar Economy Structures in Coastal Fishing in Southern Russia. Mir Rossii, vol. 29, no 2, pp. 156–178 (in Russian). DOI: 10.17323/1811-038X-2020-29-2-156-178 This paper discusses the social and economic dynamics within autonomous fishing communities in Southern Russia. We hypothesize that despite the path-dependency problem and the view that informal institutions can be successful only in the long term (both widely accepted by sociologists and neo-institutional economists), strong exogenous shocks can demolish old informal institutions, leading to either anomie or anarchy (or anomie followed by anarchy, when a parallel social order emerges and co-exists with the previously established one). One of the ways which social groups develop to overcome such anomie is the spontaneous development of criminal culture, which rapidly establishes a new set of informal institutions that can effectively resist exogenous regulatory, political and economic pressures. The current study focuses on the case of organized poaching activities in the Caspian Sea after the collapse of the USSR. It illustrates such situations of anomie which led to the marginalization of small-scale fisheries, the further development of autonomous fishing communities in the regions and the rapid rise of organized sturgeon poaching as the main survival strategy. The study shows that the most developed social groups of autonomous communities are placed in piedmont areas of Dagestan ensuring maximum self-regulatory effectiveness through kinship networks and religious practices.

The mercury concentrations in the water of the Angara River Source (runoff of Lake Baikal) are compared to temporal distributions of earthquakes of various magnitudes that occurred at various distances from the water-sampling site. It is established that all significant mercury maxima in the water are preceded by strong geodynamic impacts in the Baikal Rift Zone. The predictive estimates of the average annual mercury concentration indicate a possible significant increase in its levels in local areas of fluid discharge of faults under an intense geodynamic impact. The opening of deep faults during strong movements is expected to lead to decompression with mercury degassing and rapid rise to the surface along the fault zones.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is characterized by loss of myelin in various parts of the central nervous system. It is mainly caused by a rapid correction of hyponatremia, although other factors that may cause rapid rise in serum osmolality can also be associated with its development. Its prognosis is poor and the recovery rate is unknown. The authors report a rare case of a patient with multiple risk factors for ODS, without hyponatremia, who developed ODS and surprisingly recovered. This case report highlights the importance of recognizing risk factors for the development of ODS, even if the main one is not present.

Mechanosensitive signaling has emerged as a mechanism for the regulation of cholangiocyte transport and bile formation. The mechanical effect of fluid-flow, or shear, at the apical membrane of cholangiocytes regulates secretion through a process involving increases in [Ca2+]i and activation of Ca2+-activated Cl− channels. However, the initiating steps translating shear force to increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) are unknown. Transient receptor potential vanilloid member 4 (TRPV4), a nonselective cation channel present in the apical membrane of cholangiocytes, has been proposed as a potential mechanosensor. The aim of the present studies was to determine the potential role of TRPV4 in initiating mechanosensitive signaling in response to fluid-flow in cholangiocytes. TRPV4 expression was confirmed in both small and large mouse cholangiocytes. Exposure of cells to either fluid flow or specific TRPV4 pharmacological agonists rapidly increased both [Ca2+]i and membrane cation currents. Both flow- and agonist-stimulated currents displayed identical biophysical properties and were inhibited in the presence of TRPV4 antagonists or in cells after transfection with TRPV4 small interfering RNA. Transfection of mouse cholangiocytes with a TRPV4-enhanced green fluorescent protein construct increased the expression of TRPV4 and the magnitude of flow-stimulated currents. A specific TRPV4 agonist significantly increased the biliary concentration of ATP and bile flow in live mice when administered intravenously and increased ATP release from cholangiocyte monolayers when applied exogenously. The findings are consistent with a model in which activation of cholangiocyte TRPV4 translates shear force into an acute rise in membrane cation permeability, [Ca2+]i, ATP release, and bile flow. Understanding the role of mechanosensitive transport pathways may provide novel insights to modulate bile flow for the treatment of cholestatic liver disorders. NEW & NOTEWORTHY These studies functionally characterize TRPV4 as a mechanosensitive channel in mouse cholangiocytes. By mediating a rapid rise in intracellular Ca2+, necessary for Ca2+-dependent secretion, TRPV4 represents a mechanosensor responsible for translating fluid flow into intracellular signaling and biliary secretion. Furthermore, intravenous infusion of a specific TRPV4 agonist increases bile flow in live mice. Understanding the role of TRPV4 in mechanosensitive transport pathways may provide novel insights to modulate bile flow during cholestasis.

The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia caused the loss of 34 lives and an estimated 100 bn AU$ damage. This has sharpened the apparent division between Australians who believe that the increasing number of bushfires is due to climate change, and those who suggest that fuel loads must be managed more carefully. Bushfires whose area equals or exceeds 1 mHa have been analysed in this paper. The results show that the number, duration, and size have increased over the period 1850-2020, but that since 1953, there has been a downward trend in the number of big bushfires. There is a range of temperatures of about 20°C that are associated with the fires, with a modal temperature of 30°C - 32.5°C. Using an analysis of the maximum temperatures for the period 1970-2020 as a standard for comparison with bushfires for the period 1850-2020, shows that during bushfire events the standardised temperatures have a downward trend. This is most clearly shown by the application of the Fisher Exact Test. This suggests that the fuel load in forests is a key factor for bushfires. The role of pre-bushfire rainfall shows a rapid rise in the area burnt when the rainfall exceeds 150 mm month-1 which would lead to more plant growth and hence fuel load. The role of traditional burning over the whole of Australia is described based on documentary evidence. A tentative cost benefit analysis has shown that a comprehensive program of wildfire management is cost effective. The recommendations of previous research, National Inquiries and more recent management practices, have all failed to prevent the 2019-20 fire disaster in Australia.

Information management is an important part of national economic and social life. With the rapid rise of new technologies such as the Internet, more and more industries are seeking to integrate with informatization. At the same time, many problems have arisen due to the immaturity of information management technology. Therefore, improving the level of information management technology plays an important role in improving the efficiency of informatization. In view of the above problems, this paper builds a new information management model based on the original information management technology, combining image recognition and virtual reality technology. First, a text data collection model based on image recognition is designed in the information collection link. Secondly, based on the existing information management technology, virtual reality technology is used to visually display the image and text information. Finally, the case analysis and performance test results illustrate the superiority of the implemented information management technology. This method can provide scientific reference and basis for modern information management using image recognition technology.

A review of relative sea-level (RSL) oscillations during the Holocene in Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, is presented based on new data. This new data encompasses analytical techniques, altimetric corrections and age recalibrations, using the marine local radiocarbon reservoir correction of 96 ± 48 yrs. The effectiveness of geological and biological RSL indicators was tested, aiming to provide consistent information for future researches on the east coast of South America. Results confirm that RSL during Late Pleistocene - Holocene transition (11,970–11,122 cal yrs BP) was 4.5 m below Mean Sea-level (MSL). After that transition, a relatively rapid rise began. At approximately 7948–7598 cal yrs BP, the MSL was 0.5 m below the current marine level. Present-day, “zero”, was reached for the first time in the Holocene, at approximately 7686–7269 cal yrs BP. The maximum level of the Holocene marine transgression occurred around 4787 - 4104 cal yrs BP with a height of 3.0 m above MSL. At the point of maximum transgression, the sea-level began a general behavior of lowering. However, between 3981 and 3345 to 1852 - 1413 cal yrs BP, evidence from vermetids suggests several alternating periods of slow and rapid sea-level, identified by four oscillations. New records, between 1220 - 780 and 1055 - 665 cal yrs BP, have indicated a continue lowering trend of RSL.

The emergence of new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) herald a new phase of the pandemic. This study used state-of-the-art phylodynamic methods to ascertain that the rapid rise of B.1.1.7 “Variant of Concern” most likely occurred by global dispersal rather than convergent evolution from multiple sources.

Focusing on the rapid rise of China’s housing prices in recent years, in this paper, we construct a model using the cheap talk game that centers on how information receivers in a market make inferences about the true state of the information based on the cost-free signals they receive and then make decisions based on these inferences, which in turn affect market equilibrium. By constructing a cheap talk game model of house prices, we examine the correlation between market expectations, economic fundamentals, and individual housing purchase decisions. Then, we conduct an empirical analysis using the dynamic GMM method based on the panel data of 35 large and medium-sized cities in China. The analysis reveals that: (1) when the whole of society expects housing prices to rise, housing prices will rise regardless of the true state of economic fundamentals, (2) when information on economic fundamentals is accurate and reliable, home buyers tend to make purchase decisions based on such information, thus maximizing the utility of society as a whole, but when information on economic fundamentals is unreliable, home buyers tend to make purchase decisions according to their own housing price expectations, which is not conducive to the optimization of the utility of society as a whole, (3) the empirical results also reveal that expectations are a non-negligible factor in the rise of housing prices, and the coefficient of expectations exceeds that of each economic fundamental, this demonstrates the investment-driven attribute of the housing market in China. At the same time, economic fundamentals have a definite effect on housing prices, which implies that the rise of housing prices in China is supported by objective conditions.