bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the effectiveness of the emergency liquidity assistance tool in the euro area
Authors: Kostika Eleftheria , Laopodis Nikiforos T.
Published: December 2020

We examine the role and the efficiency of the emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) tool in the Euro area which has been used to confront the contagion in the banking sector and the illiquid financial market conditions. We study four European countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, and Ireland), which have received substantial ELA since the 2008 financial crisis. Through Bayesian VAR models, we seek to determine the effectiveness of national central bank lending, which includes the amount of ELA received by the domestic banking sector, an assessment of the direct effect of ELA on banks' liquidity and lending through deposits thus allowing banks to supply loans. In general, we find that the ELA tool was very effective in alleviating financial strains in these countries' central banks. For the Greek case, in particular, our findings indicate that the ELA was influenced not only from any changes in bank deposits but also from changes in the spread between the 10–year Greek and German government bond yields. Finally, the volume of non‐performing loans in Greek banks was declining to capital injections to banks as their capital base was continually being restored through the ELA mechanism.
mMotiv8: A smartphone‐based contingency management intervention to promote smoking cessation
Authors: Dallery Jesse , Stinson Lesleigh , Bolívar Hypatia , Modave François , Salloum Ramzi G. , Viramontes Tonatiuh Mendoza , Rohilla Pulkit
Published: December 2020

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and illness in the United States. We tested the usability, acceptability, and efficacy of a smartphone‐based contingency management treatment to promote cessation. We used a nonconcurrent multiple‐baseline design. Participants (N = 14) provided breath carbon monoxide (CO) samples by using a CO meter that was connected to the user's smartphone. An app (mMotiv8) housed on participants' smartphones automatically captured pictures of the CO sampling procedure to validate the end user's identity, and it prompted submissions via a push message delivered to participants' smartphones. Participants earned a $10 incentive for daily abstinence, which was added to a reloadable debit card. Overall, 4% of the CO samples were negative during baseline, and 89% were negative during treatment. Self‐reported usability and acceptability were high, and 85% of the prompted samples were submitted. A smartphone intervention could be scalable and reduce the health consequences and costs associated with cigarette smoking, particularly in rural and low‐income populations.
Prenatal sevoflurane exposure: Effects of iron metabolic dysfunction on offspring cognition and potential mechanism
Authors: Zuo Yong , Chang Yanzhong , Thirupathi Anand , Zhou Changhao , Shi Zhenhua
Published: December 2020

For decades, the neurotoxicity caused by anesthetics in mammalian brain development has gained increasing attention. Exposure to anesthetics leads to neurotoxicity and apoptosis of nerve cells, which in turn induces cognitive dysfunction. Although most of the data came from animal studies, general anesthetics have been shown to have adverse effects on cognitive function in infants and young children in recent years. This concern has led to a number of retrospective studies that observed an association between general anesthesia in pregnant women and neurobehavioral problems in fetuses or offspring. Every year, many pregnant women undergo non‐obstetric anesthesia due to various reasons such as traffic accidents, fetal interventions, acute appendicitis, symptomatic cholelithiasis, and trauma. A matter of concern for these pregnant women is whether anesthesia has a detrimental effect on fetal brain development in the womb and whether the fetus has cognitive impairment after birth. In humans, the association of anesthetic exposure in infants with the long‐term impairment of neurologic functions has been reported in several retrospective clinical studies. Recently, we have found that sevoflurane anesthesia during pregnancy in mice‐induced cognitive impairment in the offspring by causing iron deficiency and inhibiting myelinogenesis. Sevoflurane is a commonly used general anesthetic in the hospitals, which can induce neurotoxicity and cause cognitive impairment in fetuses, infants, children, and adults. However, the exact mechanism of sevoflurane‐induced damage to the central nervous system (CNS) is not fully understood. Based on our recent results, this paper reviewed the effects of sevoflurane on cognitive impairment and pathological changes such as neurogenesis, neuronal apoptosis, and iron metabolism dysfunction in the offspring.
Plasma exchange for COVID‐19 thrombo‐inflammatory disease
Authors: Arulkumaran Nishkantha , Thomas Mari , Brealey David , Alwan Ferras , Singh Deepak , Lunn Michael , Welch Anna , Clark Samuel , Raith Eamon , Reddy Ugan , Low Ryan , Leverett David , Singer Mervyn , Scully Marie
Published: December 2020

Severe COVID‐19 disease is a hyperinflammatory, pro‐thrombotic state. We undertook plasma exchange (PEX) to determine its effects on organ function and thrombo‐inflammatory markers.

Seven critically ill adults with severe COVID‐19 respiratory failure (PaO2:FiO2 ratio < 200 mm Hg) requiring invasive or noninvasive ventilatory support and elevated thrombo‐inflammatory markers (LDH >800 IU/L and D‐dimer >1000 μg/L (or doubling from baseline) received PEX, daily, for a minimum of 5 days. No other immunomodulatory medications were initiated during this period. Seven patients matched for age and baseline biochemistry were a comparator group.

Coagulation screening revealed no evidence of coagulopathy. However, von Willebrand Factor (VWF) activity, antigen and VWF antigen: ADAMTS13 ratio, Factor VIII and D‐dimers were all elevated. Following 5 days of PEX, plasma levels of all the above, and ferritin levels, were significantly reduced (P < .05) while lymphocyte counts normalized (P < .05). The PaO2:FiO2 ratio increased from a median interquartile range (IQR) of 11.6 (10.8‐19.7) kPa to 18.1 (16.0‐25.9) kPa (P < .05). Similar improvements were not observed in controls. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred among five patients in the control arm but not in patients receiving PEX.

PEX improved oxygenation, decreased the incidence of AKI, normalized lymphocyte counts and reduced circulating thrombo‐inflammatory markers including D‐Dimer and VWF Ag:ADAMTS13 ratio.
Efficient optimization of wideband reflector feed antennas for optimal receiving sensitivity
Authors: Mokhupuki Fahmi , de Villiers Dirk I. L.
Published: December 2020

Wideband reflector antenna feeds are a geometrically complex class of antennas, requiring a variety of design parameters to describe their form. This casts the optimization of such structures as a high‐dimensionality problem. The antenna responses are also difficult to predict and must be determined via computationally expensive full‐wave electromagnetic simulations. This paper proposes a surrogate‐based optimization approach for the design of wideband feed antennas. Beginning with high‐fidelity goal function data from a global search space, the framework nominates a number of local search regions where separate, formal, multifidelity optimizations are performed. The formulated goal function maximizes the receiving sensitivity, while ensuring that the reflection coefficient response satisfies a predefined criterion. An approximate, fast‐to‐evaluate coarse model of the goal function, based on a series of surrogate models estimating the feed and reflector antenna responses, is formulated. Most of the optimization burden is shifted to the coarse model, where high‐fidelity samples are adaptively added to the regions of the design space where the coarse model performs well or where the sampling is sparse. As a design example, the optimization of a quad‐ridge flared horn feed antenna, on a Square Kilometre Array reflector system, is presented to highlight the efficacy of the method.
Performance of the IPCC AR6 models in simulating the relation of the western North Pacific subtropical high to the spring northern tropical Atlantic SST
Authors: Chen Shangfeng , Chen Wen , Wu Renguang , Yu Bin , Song Linye
Published: December 2020

This study examines the relationship between the spring northern tropical Atlantic (NTA) sea surface temperature (SST) and its following summer western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) in historical simulations of 20 coupled models of the IPCC AR6. These models well simulate the spring NTA SST, as well as the WNPSH‐related atmospheric and precipitation anomalies over the Asian monsoon region. Ensemble mean of these models reproduces the observed relation and processes linking the spring NTA SST to the summer WNPSH. In the ensemble mean, spring NTA SST warming persists to the following summer, and induces an anomalous Walker circulation with an ascent over the tropical Atlantic and a descent over the tropical central Pacific. The associated precipitation decrease over the tropical central Pacific induces an anomalous low‐level anticyclone over the WNP via a Rossby wave atmospheric response. Meanwhile, spring NTA SST warming leads to easterly wind anomalies over the Indian Ocean (IO) via a Kelvin wave atmospheric response and causes SST warming there via reducing wind speeds. Then, the precipitation anomalies induced by the IO SST warming result in an enhancement of the WNPSH. There exists a large diversity of the NTA SST‐WNPSH relationship among the models. This diversity is related to the difference in the climatological mean IO precipitation. The models with large mean IO precipitation provide a favourable condition for the IO SST warming to bring large local precipitation anomalies and trigger strong easterly wind anomalies over the tropical WNP, and thus exert a strong impact on the WNPSH.
Developing competencies for homeowner association boards of directors
Authors: Bennett Anthony Michael
Published: December 2020

Since the 1960s, mandatory‐membership housing developments have grown in number. Termed homeowners' associations, community associations, cooperative associations, or covenant communities, these bodies are effectively governing organizations for neighborhoods and communities. Currently, many new housing developments are only approved on the condition that homeowner associations assume many obligations that traditionally belong to local government. However, there is evidence that many association boards of directors are staffed with inexperienced volunteers and individuals who lack the skills to fulfill these obligations, and the volume of complaints against homeowners' associations has continued to rise. Here, we revisit a study of homeowner associations in Fairfax County, Virginia, carried out in 2008 by examining 5 years' worth of publicly available data concerning formal complaints about homeowner associations in Fairfax County to report on progress. We describe the four major categories of complaints and discuss the implications for homeowners' associations.
Surgeon decision‐making for management of positive sentinel lymph nodes in the post‐Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial II era: A survey study
Authors: Hui Jane Yuet Ching , Burke Erin , Broman Kristy K. , Marmor Schelomo , Jensen Eric , Tuttle Todd M. , Zager Jonathan S.
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives

Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) did not improve melanoma‐specific survival for patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)‐positive melanoma in the second Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT‐II). We assessed surgeons’ awareness of MSLT‐II and its impact on CLND recommendations.

Methods

An anonymous online cross‐sectional survey of the Society of Surgical Oncology membership evaluated surgeon thresholds in offering CLND using patient scenarios and clinicopathologic characteristics ranking.

Results

Of the 2881 e‐mails delivered, 146 surgeons (5.1%) completed all seven scenarios. Most (129 of 131, 98%) were aware of MSLT‐II and 125 (95%) found it practice‐changing. Specifically, 52% (65 of 125) always, 40% usually, 6% rarely, and 3% never offered CLND before MSLT‐II. Meanwhile, 4% always, 9% usually, 78% rarely, and 8% never offer CLND now, after MSLT‐II (p < .0001). The most important clinicopathologic factors in determining CLND recommendations were extracapsular extension, number of positive SLN, and SLN tumor deposit size, while primary tumor mitotic index and nodal basin location were the least important. Surgical oncology fellowship training, melanoma patient volume, and academic center practice also influenced CLND recommendations.

Conclusions

Most surgeon respondents are aware of MSLT‐II, but its application in practice varies according to several clinicopathologic and surgeon factors.
Outcomes of superior segmentectomy versus lower lobectomy for superior segment Stage I non‐small‐cell lung cancer are equivalent: An analysis of 196 patients at a single, high volume institution
Authors: Dolan Daniel P. , White Abby , Mazzola Emanuele , Lee Daniel N. , Gill Ritu , Kucukak Suden , Bueno Raphael , Jaklitsch Michael T. , Mentzer Steven J. , Swanson Scott J.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To determine if superior segmentectomy has equivalent overall (OS), disease‐free (DFS), and locoregional‐recurrence‐free survival (LRFS) to lower lobectomy for early‐stage non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the superior segment.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all Stage 1 lower lobectomies for superior segment lesions and superior segmentectomies at our hospital from 2000 to 2018. Comparison statistics and Cox hazard modeling were performed to determine differences between groups and attempt to identify risk factors for OS, DFS, and LRFS.

Results

Superior segmentectomy patients, compared with lower lobectomy patients, had more current smokers, worse forced expiratory volume in 1 s percentage, radiologic emphysema scores, clinically and pathologically smaller tumors, and more occurrences of 0 lymph nodes examined. Outcomes for superior segmentectomy compared with lower lobectomy were equivalent for 5‐year OS (67.0% vs. 75.1%, p = 0.70), DFS (56.9% vs. 60.4%, p = 0.59), and LRFS (87.9% vs. 91.3%, p = 0.46). Multivariable Cox modeling lacked utility due to no outcome differences.

Conclusions

In well‐selected patients, superior segmentectomies can have equivalent OS, DFS, and LRFS compared with lower lobectomies of superior segment tumors for early stage lung cancer. Further data are needed to provide better risk estimates.
The emerging role of immunotherapy for the treatment of sarcoma
Authors: Klemen Nicholas D. , Kelly Ciara M. , Bartlett Edmund K.
Published: December 2020

Clinicians caring for patients with sarcoma founded the field of cancer immunotherapy. Despite this, contemporary success with immunotherapy for sarcoma has been limited. Here, we review immunotherapy for sarcoma including Coley's toxins, interleukin‐2, adoptive cell transfer, and checkpoint blockade. We detail recent and ongoing efforts to combine checkpoint blockade with other immune modulators, surgery, or radiation. These results, along with ongoing investigations, have identified immunotherapeutic approaches as a promising avenue for progress in advanced sarcomas.
Racial disparities in low‐value surgical care and time to surgery in high‐volume hospitals
Authors: Jackson Destiny K. , Li Yaming , Eskander Mariam F. , Tsung Allan , Oppong Bridget A. , Bhattacharyya Oindrila , Paskett Electra D. , Obeng‐Gyasi Samilia
Published: December 2020

Background

The objective of this study is to examine racial differences in receipt of low‐value surgical care and time to surgery (TTS) among women receiving treatment at high‐volume hospitals.

Methods

Stage I–III non‐Hispanic Black (NHB) and Non‐Hispanic White (NHW) breast cancer patients were identified in the National Cancer Database. Low‐value care included (1) sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) among T1N0 patients age ≥70 with hormone receptor–positive cancers, (2) axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients meeting ACOSOG Z0011 criteria, and (3) contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) with unilateral cancer. TTS was days from biopsy to surgery. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to compare the groups.

Results

Compared to NHWs, NHBs had lower rates of SLNB among women age ≥70 with small hormone–positive cancers (NHB 58.5% vs. NHW 62.2% p < .001) and CPM (NHB 26.3% vs. NHW 36%; p < .001). ALND rates for patients meeting ACOSOG Z0011 criteria were similar between both groups (p = .13). The odds of surgery >60 days were higher among NHBs (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.64–1.91; NHW ref).

Conclusions

NHBs treated at high‐volume hospitals have higher rates of surgical delay but are less likely to undergo low‐value surgical procedures compared to NHW women.
Ultrasound's Impact on Preclinical Medical Student Neurology Unit Grades
Authors: Shah Varun S. , Allman Alexandra , Verbeck Nicole , Quinn Melissa , Prats Michael I.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Ultrasound is a valuable tool for anatomy education, but limited evidence exists for using ultrasound to teach neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Previous work demonstrated a potential increase in medical knowledge in preclinical medical students participating in a neurology ultrasound workshop, however, without comparison to a control group. After 2 years, we assessed how a neurology ultrasound workshop affected the medical knowledge of participating preclinical medical students compared to a traditional curriculum control group.

Methods

This quasiexperimental study compared academic performance of ultrasound workshop participants to nonparticipant classmates. The primary outcome was the overall neurologic disorders unit total score. An analysis of covariance was conducted to test for statistically significant differences while controlling for the average quiz score.

Results

A total of 360 medical students were included in the study. The intervention group (n = 57) showed no significant difference in the total unit score (F = 3.206; P = .074), with averages for the control and experimental groups being 87.3% ± 5.0% and 88.4% ± 4.8%, respectively. Additionally, anatomy practical scores and written final examination scores were not significantly different between groups (F = 1.035; P = .310; F = 2.035; P = .155).

Conclusions

Participation in a neurologic disorders ultrasound workshop did not appear to be correlated with improved curricular performance in our cohort. Further research should continue to assess ultrasound workshops in other organ systems to elucidate the relationship between learning ultrasound and the impact on medical school academic performance.
Lingual Hamartomas: Clinical Characteristics, Diagnostic Evaluation, Treatment, and Outcomes
Authors: Liu Yi‐Chun Carol , Shih Michael , Hicks M. John , Sitton Matthew S.
Published: December 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

To further clinically characterize lingual hamartomas, and to consolidate literature by analyzing clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and outcomes.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review and literature review.

Methods

Case series from 1989 to 2020 at a tertiary pediatric center; follow‐up ranging from 2 months to 12 years. Patient demographics, clinical presentations, physical examination findings, surgical pathology, operative methods, pre‐operative imaging, and follow‐up. A review of English‐language literature from 1945 to 2020 was conducted.

Results

Seven patients (four male, three female) with nine lingual hamartomas were identified. Average age at surgical excision was 7.9 months (SD 3.5 months, range 3 to 14 months). Follow‐up ranged from 2 months to 12 years, with all patients having no recurrence. Physical examination identified five pedunculated hamartomas and two sessile hamartomas. One patient had a neck CT, one had neck ultrasound, and two had facial MRIs. CT and ultrasounds confirmed presence of cervical thyroid. MRI suggested no muscular invasion for one patient, whereas motion artifact obscured findings for the other patient. Most patients who presented with dysphagia or poor weight gain achieved post‐surgical improvement. The present cases combined with the literature review identified 57 patients with 63 lingual hamartomas.

Conclusions

Lingual hamartomas appear as hypovascular pedunculated masses near the foramen cecum. There is no demographic predisposition, and most are identified during infancy. Imaging is not necessary, unless there is concern for lingual thyroid, in which case thyroid ultrasound should be performed. Surgical excision is curative, with dysphagia resolution and low likelihood for recurrence.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2080–E2088, 2021
A novel wideband radio frequency measurement based on photonic signal processing
Authors: Khalid Ammar , Aljohani Abdulah J. , Ghafoor Salman
Published: December 2020

Photonic signal processing is a suitable alternative of electronics based processing for wideband frequency detection. We propose a novel technique for the detection of a wide range of frequencies based on photonic signal processing. The unknown frequency to be measured is used to modulate a tunable optical source by implementing single sideband suppressed carrier modulation. The modulated signal is combined with two fixed frequency optical carriers to perform heterodyne detection. The frequency of the tunable laser source is swept until significant power of the beat signal is observed after photodetection. A mathematical expression is presented that can be used to measure the frequency of the unknown electrical signal based on value of the center frequency of tunable laser source. The effect of increasing laser linewidth up to 100 MHz and instantaneous shift in laser center frequency up to 200 MHz has also been demonstrated. It has been shown that the proposed technique can measure almost any radio frequency by simply varying the frequency of the tunable laser source.
Spectral analysis for uncertainty quantification
Authors: Lee Barry
Published: December 2020

During the past few decades, uncertainty quantification (UQ) techniques have been developed and applied to many applications. The majority of these techniques have been applied directly to specifically defined problems, that is, problems described by a mathematical operator and a specific source term, both which may be endowed with uncertainty. In this article, we take an alternative approach: applying UQ techniques to probe the operator. The goal is to extract intrinsic structures of the problem, particularly operator structures that reveal the propagation of uncertainty which a UQ analysis of a specific problem may not accurately extract. There are many practical reasons for this. For example, the operator often contains more aspects of uncertainty than the forcing term, and the operator is often computationally expensive to form and hence, wasteful to use only for determining the solution of a sample instantiation. The anticipation is that the detailed information can lead to more accurate and efficient UQ analysis of the general problem. In this article, we consider only linear problems since we want to explore the potential benefits of this approach without the added complexities introduced by nonlinearities. This linearity assumption allows us to explore structures exposed by the spectrum of the operator. We explore sensitivity of the eigenvectors to determine a relationship between the spatial and uncertainty parameter dimensions, and then construct an adaptive parameter procedure based on this relationship. We also explore the propagation of uncertainties in multicomponent systems, like in multiphysics applications, by examining the coupling in the smooth‐frequency eigenvectors; and explore componentized UQ processing based on the eigenvalues/vectors of the state‐equation operator in goal‐oriented multiple‐input/multiple‐output systems. Analysis and numerical examples demonstrating the applicability of the methods are presented.
Some special functions in orthogonal fuzzy bipolar metric spaces and their fixed point applications
Authors: Sangurlu Sezen Müzeyyen
Published: December 2020

In this work, we synthesize orthogonal and bipolar metric issues and tried to deal with them in fuzzy metric spaces. We introduce a new concept of orthogonal fuzzy bipolar metric space and prove some fixed point theorems for some contractions in this space. Also, we provide some examples to illustrate the validity of the results obtained in the paper.
Phthalimido thioureas with high antimicrobial performance as stabilizers for enhancement of the thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride) loaded with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Mohamed Nadia A. , Abd El‐Ghany Nahed A. , Fahmy Mona M. , Abdel‐Aziz Marwa M.
Published: December 2020

Some novel phthalimido thiourea stabilizers 1–4 were readily synthesized. Their structure was elucidated by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H‐NMR, and mass spectroscopy. They showed good antimicrobial activity, in particularly the carboxyl derivative, as judged by their high inhibition zone diameter and low minimum inhibition concentration using the agar well diffusion technique. The results reveal the greater stabilizing efficiency of these stabilizers relative to dibasic lead carbonate, Cd‐Ba‐Zn stearate, and n‐OTM reference thermal stabilizers using TG technique in nitrogen. This is well illustrated by the higher initial decomposition temperature and lower rates of both weight loss and discoloration of the polymer during degradation. Moreover, the stabilizing efficiency is influenced by the nature of the substituent group in these stabilizers. While the methyl stabilizer is characterized by a greater efficiency relative to those of the chloro and carboxyl ones, the non‐substituted stabilizer lies between these two cases. The good disperse‐ability of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the polymeric material was ascertained using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The thermal stability of PVC, which stabilized with 4, has been appreciably improved via loading 1 wt% of MWCNTs into its matrices. Further, PVC nanocomposites showed very high inhibition efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
The association of area deprivation and state child health with respiratory outcomes of pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis in the United States
Authors: Oates Gabriela , Rutland Sarah , Juarez Lucia , Friedman Annabelle , Schechter Michael S.
Published: December 2020

Background

Differences in socioenvironmental exposures influence overall child health, but their association with pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) outcomes is less clear. This observational study investigated the relationship between area‐level socioeconomic deprivation, state child health, and CF respiratory outcomes in a national cohort.

Methods

We assessed relationships between the 2015 area deprivation index, a composite measure of socioeconomic disadvantage; the 2016 child health index, a state‐specific measure of overall child health; and CF respiratory outcomes in the 2016 CF Foundation Patient Registry.

Results

The sample included 9934 individuals with CF, aged 6–18 years. In multiple regression analysis adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates, those residing in the worst tertile for area deprivation had 2.8% lower percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (ppFEV1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −4.1 to −1.5), 1.2 more intravenous (IV) treatment nights (CI: 0.1–2.4), and 20% higher odds of ≥2 pulmonary exacerbations (odds ratio [OR]: 1.2, CI: 1.0–1.5) than best‐tertile counterparts. Children with CF in states at the worst tertile for child health had 2.3% lower ppFEV1 (CI: −4.5 to −0.2), 2.2 more IV treatment nights (CI: 0.5–3.6), and 40% higher odds of ≥2 exacerbations (OR: 1.4, CI: 1.1–1.8) than best‐tertile counterparts. State child health accounted for the association between area deprivation and multiple exacerbations and more IV treatment nights.

Conclusions

Both area socioeconomic characteristics and state child health play a role in pediatric CF outcomes. The residual association of the state child health with CF outcomes after controlling for area deprivation reflects the ability of state programs to mitigate the effect of poverty.
CT‐based assessment of body composition following neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy in patients with castration‐naïve oligometastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Sheikhbahaei Sara , Reyes Diane K. , Rowe Steven P. , Pienta Kenneth J.
Published: December 2020

Background

The purpose of this study is to assess the body composition changes in men with recently diagnosed oligometastatic prostate cancer following neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy. Further, we evaluated whether CT‐based body composition parameters are associated with biochemical recurrence or imaging progression.

Material and methods

Recently diagnosed castration‐naïve oligometastatic prostate cancer patients who received neoadjuvant docetaxel chemotherapy and androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) before prostatectomy and consolidation of local and oligometastatic disease (total eradication therapy), as part of a phase‐II prospective clinical trial were included. Body composition parameters including cross‐sectional areas of the psoas muscle, total, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured on serial CT scans obtained before and following completion of neoadjuvant treatment.

Results

A total of 22 prostate cancer patients were included (median age 58 years, median Gleason score 8). The median time intervals between commencement of neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy and first and second follow‐up CTs were 3 and 12 months, respectively. Compared to the baseline scan, there were significant declines in psoas muscle cross‐sectional areas with estimated percentage declines of −13.9% (IQR: 7.6%–16.5%, p < .001) and −13.2% (IQR: 6%–11.2%, p < .001) on first and second follow‐up CTs. There were significant increases in subcutaneous adipose tissue following neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy with percentage increases of +8.9% (IQR: 5.1%–21.5%, p = .002) and +18.9% (IQR: 6.1%–33.8%, p < .001), respectively. The median follow‐up was 34.5 months. The estimated 2‐year prostate‐specific antigen progression‐free and radiologic progression‐free survival were 95.5%. No significant association between baseline or percentage change in body composition parameters and disease progression were identified.

Conclusions

Our findings showed a significant reduction in muscle mass and an increase in subcutaneous adiposity in men treated with neoadjuvant docetaxel and ADT, more pronounced on the first follow‐up scan after completion of neoadjuvant treatment. Body composition parameters were not found to be significant predictors of disease progression in our cohort.
Why do low‐skilled foreign workers have a wage advantage? Evidence from the palm oil plantation sector in Malaysia
Authors: Shahiri Hazrul , Cheng Zhiming , Al‐Hadi Azrina Abdullah
Published: December 2020

Developing countries host more than one third of international migrants. However, research on the labour market outcomes of low‐skilled international migrant workers in developing countries is limited. We examine the presence and sources of wage differentials across native and foreign low‐skilled workers in the palm oil plantation sector in Malaysia, which hosts a large population of foreign workers. We find that Indonesian foreign workers have a wage advantage over native and Indian workers. Decomposition results suggest that the wage differentials between Indonesian and native workers are largely explained by the higher productivity of Indonesian workers, employers' favouritism towards Indonesian workers, and discrimination towards native workers. Decomposition results also find that the wage differentials between Indonesian and Indian workers are mostly due to their differences in observed characteristics.
Reemergence of neural crest stem cell-like states in melanoma during disease progression and treatment
Authors: Diener Johanna , Sommer Lukas
Published: December 2020

Melanoma is the deadliest of all skin cancers due to its high metastatic potential. In recent years, advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy have contributed to a remarkable progress in the treatment of metastatic disease. However, intrinsic or acquired resistance to such therapies remains a major obstacle in melanoma treatment. Melanoma disease progression, beginning from tumor initiation and growth to acquisition of invasive phenotypes and metastatic spread and acquisition of treatment resistance, has been associated with cellular dedifferentiation and the hijacking of gene regulatory networks reminiscent of the neural crest (NC)—the developmental structure which gives rise to melanocytes and hence melanoma. This review summarizes the experimental evidence for the involvement of NC stem cell (NCSC)-like cell states during melanoma progression and addresses novel approaches to combat the emergence of stemness characteristics that have shown to be linked with aggressive disease outcome and drug resistance.
The interference effects of bisphenol A on the synthesis of steroid hormones in human ovarian granulosa cells
Authors: Shi Junxia , Liu Chenyu , Chen Mingyue , Yan Jinhui , Wang Chonggang , Zuo Zhenghong , He Chengyong
Published: December 2020

Numerous studies have shown that endocrine‐disrupting chemicals are one of the important pathogenic factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Our previous study has revealed that bisphenol A (BPA) can cause steroid hormone imbalance, polycystic ovary, and estrus cycle disorder. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of BPA, a typical environmental estrogen, on the synthesis of steroid hormones in human ovarian granulosa KGN cells. Exposure of KGN cells to BPA (0.5, 5, 50, and 500 μg/L) resulted in the decrease of progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and the ratio of estradiol to testosterone (E2/T). BPA affected the expression of genes related to steroid hormone synthesis in KGN cells, including the decreased expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, ferredoxin, and ferredoxin reductase genes during progesterone synthesis; upregulating the expression of cytochrome p450 oxidoreductase gene associated with E2 and T synthesis; and the downregulated cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily B member 1 in E2 degradation. BPA also reduced the expression of stimulatory G proteins (GS) in follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)/GS/adenylate cyclase (AC) signaling pathway. In summary, our research has demonstrated that environment‐relevant level of BPA exposure leads to steroid hormone synthesis disorder in human ovarian granulosa cells, which might cause the reduction of gene expression in hormone synthesis and the suppression of the FSHR/GS/AC signaling pathway.
Re: Maternal and neonatal complications of fetal macrosomia: cohort study
Authors: Rehm A. , Thahir A.
Published: December 2020

Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Beta et al. Click here to view the article.
Evidence‐Based Practices in Mentoring for Leadership Development
Authors: Hastings Lindsay J. , Sunderman Hannah M.
Published: December 2020

Effective mentoring for leadership development requires nuanced practical considerations. The authors of this chapter outline aspects of effective mentorship, highlight considerations for practitioners and mentoring programs, and offer critical perspectives on mentoring.
ZnII and CdII Metal Organic Frameworks Based on 2‐Methyl‐6‐oxygen‐1,6‐dihydro‐3,4'bipyridine‐5‐carbonitrile
Authors: Liu Dong‐Yang , Ren Xiao‐Xia , Ning Xiao‐Min , Lin Mei‐Hua , Wu Yuan‐Di , Qian Jing
Published: December 2020

To investigate the coordination chemistry of modbc (2‐methyl‐6‐oxygen‐1,6‐dihydro‐3,4'‐bipyridine‐5‐carbonitrile) with ZnII and CdII salts under the solvothermal conditions, six new MOFs with the formulas [Zn(modbc)2(mpa)]n (1), [Zn(modbc)(mpa)(H2O)]n (2), [Zn(modbc)(pa)0.5(H2O)]n (3), [Cd(modbc)(pa)0.5(H2O)]n (4), [Zn(modbc)2(tpa)]n (5), and [Cd(modbc)2(pda)(H2O)]n (6) (mpa = m‐phthalic acid; pa = pyromellitic acid; tpa = terephthalic acid; pda = pentane diacid) were successfully synthesized by solvothermal reaction and fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, single crystal, powder X‐ray diffraction, thermal and photoluminescence properties. Though MOFs 3 and 4 have the same structure, we have obtained three different kinds of coordination configurations by the X‐ray diffration analysis. Compared with 1 and 2, coordination water has no effect on the solid fluorescence emission of MOFs. It is worth noting that the fluorescence intensity of 3 containing central ZnII atoms is very strong, whereas that of isomorphism 4 containing central CdII atoms has almost no fluorescence emission, showing that metal ions have very important influence on the fluorescence emission. Further, we found that solvents had an important effect on the fluorescence emission in liquid fluorescence of MOFs 1–6.
Subconvex bounds for Hecke–Maass forms on compact arithmetic quotients of semisimple Lie groups
Authors: Ramacher Pablo , Wakatsuki Satoshi
Published: December 2020

LetHbe a semisimple algebraic group,Ka maximal compact subgroup of$$G:=H({{\mathbb {R}}})$$G:=H(R), and$$\Gamma \subset H({{\mathbb {Q}}})$$Γ⊂H(Q)a congruence arithmetic subgroup. In this paper, we generalize existing subconvex bounds for Hecke–Maass forms on the locally symmetric space$$\Gamma \backslash G/K$$Γ\G/Kto corresponding bounds on the arithmetic quotient$$\Gamma \backslash G$$Γ\Gfor cocompact lattices using the spectral function of an elliptic operator. The bounds obtained extend known subconvex bounds for automorphic forms to non-trivialK-types, yielding such bounds for new classes of automorphic representations. They constitute subconvex bounds for eigenfunctions on compact manifolds with both positive and negative sectional curvature. We also obtain new subconvex bounds for holomorphic modular forms in the weight aspect.
Tenascin C promotes valvular remodeling in two large animal models of ischemic mitral regurgitation
Authors: Hamza Ouafa , Kiss Attila , Kramer Anne-Margarethe , Trojanek Sandra , Abraham Dietmar , Acar Eylem , Nagel Felix , Tretter Verena Eva , Kitzwögerer Melitta , Podesser Bruno K.
Published: December 2020

Ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) is a frequent complication of myocardial infarction (MI) characterized by adverse remodeling both at the myocardial and valvular levels. Persistent activation of valvular endothelial cells leads to leaflet fibrosis through endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Tenascin C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in cardiovascular remodeling and fibrosis, was also identified in inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In this study, we hypothesized that TNC also plays a role in the valvular remodeling observed in ischemic MR by contributing to valvular excess EMT. Moderate ischemic MR was induced by creating a posterior papillary muscle infarct (7 pigs and 7 sheep). Additional animals (7 pigs and 4 sheep) served as controls. Pigs and sheep were sacrificed after 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. TNC expression was upregulated in the pig and sheep experiments at 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively, and correlated well with leaflet thickness (R = 0.68; p < 0.001 at 6 weeks, R = 0.84; p < 0.001 at 6 months). To confirm the translational potential of our findings, we obtained mitral valves from patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy presenting MR (n = 5). Indeed, TNC was also expressed in the mitral leaflets of these. Furthermore, TNC induced EMT in isolated porcine mitral valve endothelial cells (MVEC). Interestingly, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibition prevented TNC-mediated EMT in MVEC. We identified here for the first time a new contributor to valvular remodeling in ischemic MR, namely TNC, which induced EMT through TLR4. Our findings might set the path for novel therapeutic targets for preventing or limiting ischemic MR.
Corneal densitometry: a potential indicator for early diagnosis of Fabry disease
Authors: Li Senmao , Siggel Robert , Guo Yongwei , Loreck Niklas , Rokohl Alexander C. , Kurschat Christine , Heindl Ludwig M.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To assess corneal densitometry in patients with Fabry disease (FD) and to compare corneal densitometry differences in FD patients to different corneal manifestations.

Methods

Ten participants (20 eyes) with FD and 10 age-matched healthy volunteers (20 eyes) were recruited. All participants were assessed by standardized ophthalmic examinations and the corneal densitometry analysis by Pentacam HR. Densitometry measurements were analyzed in standardized grayscale units.

Results

Seven patients developed conjunctival vessel tortuosity, cornea verticillata appeared in 6 patients, and two patients had Fabry cataract. Retinal vessel tortuosity occurred in 4 patients, and dilation of retinal vessels appeared in 3 patients, all symptoms occurred in both eyes. The first diagnosis of FD up to examination was 4.7 ± 3.23 years, and first ERT up to examination was 2.6 ± 2.27 years. The initial time to diagnosis was negatively related to the corneal densitometry value of the 0–2-mm (r = − 0.556, p = 0.011) and 2–6-mm (r = − 0.482, p = 0.032) zones in the posterior layer. FD group have significantly higher corneal densitometry in anterior 0–2-mm zone and 2–10-mm zone anterior and posterior layer than the control group (p ≤ 0.035, respectively). When divided into two groups by the existence of cornea verticillata, there was a statistically significant difference in the anterior layer, 6–10-mm zone (p = 0.031); in the central layer, 0–2 mm (p = 0.012), 2–6 mm (p = 0.001), 6–10 mm (p = 0.002), and total (p = 0.002); and in the posterior layer, 6–10 mm (p = 0.004) and total (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

FD patients show higher corneal densitometry, and corneal densitometry may have potential for early diagnosis and reminding progress of FD.
Influence of insufflated carbon dioxide on abdominal temperature compared to oesophageal temperature during laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Groene Philipp , Gündogar Ufuk , Hofmann-Kiefer Klaus , Ladurner Roland
Published: December 2020

Background

Body core temperature is an important vital parameter during surgery and anaesthesia. It is influenced by several patient-related and surgery-related factors. Laparoscopy is considered beneficial in terms of a variety of parameters, for example, postoperative pain and length of hospital stay. Non-humidified, non-warmed insufflated CO2 applied during laparoscopy is standard of care. This prospective observational trial therefore evaluates the impact of non-humidified CO2 at room temperature on abdominal temperature and its correlation to body core temperature.

Methods

Seventy patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were included in this prospective observational study. Temperature was measured oesophageal and abdominal before induction of anaesthesia (T1), right before skin incision (T2), 15 min, 30 min and 60 min after skin incision. All patients were treated according to actual guidelines for perioperative temperature measurement.

Results

Body core temperature and abdominal temperature correlated moderately (r = 0.6123; p < 0.0001). Bland–Altman plot for comparison of methods showed an average difference of 0.4 °C (bias − 0.3955; 95% agreement of bias from − 2.365 to 1.574). Abdominal temperature further decreased after establishing pneumoperitoneum (T2: 36.2 °C (35.9/36.4) to T5: 36.1 °C (35.6/36.4); p < 0.0001), whereas oesophageal temperature increased (T2: 36.2 °C (35.9/36.4) to 36.4 °C (36.0/36.7); p = 0.0296). Values of oesophageal and abdominal measurement points differed at T4 (36.3 °C (36.0/36.6) vs. 36.1 °C (35.4/36.6); p < 0.0001) and T5 (36.4 °C (36.0/36.7) vs. 36.1 °C (35.6/36.4) p = 0.0003).

Conclusion

This prospective observational trial shows the influence of insufflated, non-humidified carbon dioxide at room temperature on abdominal temperature during laparoscopic surgery. We show that carbon dioxide applied at these conditions decreases abdominal temperature and therefore might be a risk factor for perioperative hypothermia.
Youth 2020 — Preventing Another Lost Generation?
Authors: Maguire Sue
Published: December 2020

The potential scarring effects of long-term youth unemployment and social disengagement have for many years challenged policymakers to develop successful and sustainable interventions.
Social Distancing Requirements and the Determinants of the COVID-19 Recession and Recovery in Europe
Authors: Dreger Christian , Gros Daniel
Published: December 2020

Social distancing restrictions, as measured by the Oxford stringency indicator, constitute the one variable that is most tightly correlated with the recession and recovery across EU member states.
Type II critical collapse on a single fixed grid: a gauge-driven ingoing boundary method
Authors: Rinne Oliver
Published: December 2020

We develop a numerical method suitable for gravitational collapse based on Cauchy evolution with an ingoing characteristic boundary. Unlike similar methods proposed recently (Ripley; Bieri et al. in Class Quantum Grav 37:045015, 2020), the numerical grid remains fixed during the evolution and no points need to be removed or added. Increasing coordinate refinement of the central region as the field collapses is achieved solely through the choice of spatial gauge and particularly its boundary condition. We apply this method to study critical collapse of a massless scalar field in spherical symmetry using maximal slicing and isotropic coordinates. Known results on mass scaling, discrete self-similarity and universality of the critical solution (Choptuik in Phys Rev Lett 70:9, 1993) are reproduced using this considerably simpler numerical method.
Application of a Two-Analyte Integrated Population Pharmacokinetic Model to Evaluate the Impact of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors on the Pharmacokinetics of Polatuzumab Vedotin in Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Lu Dan , Lu Tong , Shi Rong , Gibiansky Leonid , Agarwal Priya , Shemesh Colby S. , Dere Randall C. , Ogbu Uzor , Hirata Jamie , Chanu Pascal , Girish Sandhya , Jin Jin Yan , Li Chunze , Miles Dale
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The established two-analyte integrated population pharmacokinetic model was applied to assess the impact of intrinsic/extrinsic factors on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of polatuzumab vedotin (pola) in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) following bodyweight-based dosing.

Methods

Model simulations based on individual empirical Bayes estimates were used to evaluate the impact of intrinsic/extrinsic factors as patient subgroups on Cycle 6 exposures. Intrinsic factors included bodyweight, age, sex, hepatic and renal functions. Extrinsic factors included rituximab/obinutuzumab or bendamustine combination with pola and manufacturing process. The predicted impact on exposures along with the established exposure-response relationships were used to assess clinical relevance.

Results

No clinically meaningful differences in Cycle 6 pola exposures were found for the following subgroups: bodyweight 100–146 kg versus 38–<100 kg, age ≥ 65 years versus <65 years, female versus male, mild hepatic impairment versus normal, mild-to-moderate renal impairment versus normal. Co-administration of rituximab/obinutuzumab or bendamustine, and change in the pola manufacturing process, also had no meaningful impact on PK.

Conclusions

In patients with NHL, bodyweight-based dosing is adequate, and no further dose adjustment is recommended for the heavier subgroup (100–146 kg). In addition, no dose adjustments are recommended for other subgroups based on intrinsic/extrinsic factors evaluated.