bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of mental health outcomes associated with different brands of venlafaxine at the Kumeu medical centre from January 2017 to October 2018
Authors: Ferguson William , Clapshaw Lesley
Published: May 2020

Background:

The antidepressant venlafaxine has been available in New Zealand for two decades and is funded by the New Zealand Drug Purchasing Agency PHARMAC. This audit aimed to determine whether change to a different funded generic formulation of venlafaxine affected patient responses to venlafaxine.

Methods:

A retrospective review of patient records for all patients at Kumeu Medical Centre, Auckland, New Zealand who received a prescription for venlafaxine since January 2017 was performed. Outcomes for patients who had experienced a stable positive clinical response to either of the two previously funded venlafaxine formulations and who were switched to the newly funded formulation were summarised.

Results:

Of 49 patients who had been prescribed venlafaxine, 34 patients were excluded; 15 patients had experienced a stable positive clinical response to either of the two previously funded venlafaxine formulations and switched to the newly funded formulation. Of these, 12 (80%) had poor outcomes following the change in venlafaxine formulation. Nine patients switched back to the original brand venlafaxine and showed improvement in clinical symptoms.

Conclusion:

These cases, reported from a single general practice, should be sufficient to call attention to the possibility of loss of effectiveness for patients treated with a funded generic brand of venlafaxine, and the need for further research.
Rights and Tolerance Support in U.S. Presidential Elections, 1992–2016
Authors: Brooks Clem , Dodson Kyle
Published: May 2020

Do attitudes toward issues such as abortion, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) rights, and tolerance of diversity matter to U.S. voters and elections? Scholarship on rights and tolerance support has failed to take into account the potentially confounding influence of racial resentment as a factor behind voter choice. This is a serious limitation that we seek to address with American National Election Studies data for presidential elections from 1992 through 2016. We bring together for the first time rights and tolerance support and racial resentment, alongside further consideration of anti-immigrant sentiments and white identity. Racial resentment and anti-immigrant sentiments shape the behavior of voters, but there is new evidence for the large influence of rights and tolerance attitudes, including with respect to the 2016 presidential election. The results suggest a growing dependence of Democratic candidates on high levels of rights and tolerance support. We discuss implications for theory and research on voter choice.
Penalized for Personality: A Case Study of Asian-Origin Disadvantage at the Point of Hire
Authors: Chavez Koji
Published: May 2020

Do employers penalize Asian-origin workers for personality-related reasons during real hiring decisions? Current theoretical approaches—the Model Minority Myth perspective and the Heterogeneity approach—provide conflicting predictions as to the nature of an Asian-origin personality penalty, if one exists. Furthermore, evidence of an Asian-origin personality penalty is typically derived from laboratory experiments based on evaluation of fictitious material rather than from real hiring decisions based on face-to-face interviews and hiring deliberations. To fill the empirical gap and resolve theoretical tension, I provide evidence of an Asian-origin personality penalty from a case study of hiring at a Silicon Valley high-technology firm. Drawing from quantitative and qualitative data, I demonstrate how the firm’s decision makers penalize Asian-origin job candidates during hiring decisions for their judged personality traits in a way that does not fully coincide with either theoretical approach, and I propose a theoretical model to describe the personality “content” of the Asian-origin personality penalty as it occurs in real hiring decisions.
Pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis: a distinct entity?
Authors: Weatherald Jason , Dorfmüller Peter , Perros Frédéric , Ghigna Maria-Rosa , Girerd Barbara , Humbert Marc , Montani David
Published: May 2020

Pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare and incompletely understood histopathological finding characterised by abnormal capillary proliferation within the alveolar interstitium, which has long been noted to share many overlapping features with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). But are PCH and PVOD distinct entities that occur in isolation, or are they closely intertwined manifestations along a spectrum of the same disease? The classic clinical features of both PCH and PVOD include signs and symptoms related to pulmonary hypertension, hypoxaemia, markedly impaired diffusion capacity of the lung and abnormal chest imaging with ground glass opacities, septal lines and lymphadenopathy. In recent years, increasing evidence suggests that the clinical presentation, histopathological features, genetic substrate and pathobiological mechanisms of PCH and PVOD are overlapping and usually indistinguishable. The discovery of biallelic mutations in the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 α kinase 4 (EIF2AK4) gene in heritable PCH and PVOD greatly advanced our understanding of the overlapping nature of these conditions. Furthermore, recognition of PCH and PVOD-like changes in other pulmonary vascular diseases and in conditions that cause chronic pulmonary venous hyper-perfusion or hypertension suggests that PCH/PVOD may develop as a reactive process to various insults or injuries to the pulmonary vasculature, rather than being primary angiogenic disorders.
The safe use of dating applications among men who have sex with men: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to evaluate an interactive web-based intervention to reduce risky sexual behaviours
Authors: Choi Edmond P. H. , Chow Eric P. F. , Wan Eric Y. F. , Wong William C. W. , Wong Janet Y. H. , Fong Daniel Y. T.
Published: May 2020

Background

Notably, both international and local studies have found a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and risky sexual behaviours, such as condomless anal sex, substance misuse in conjunction with sex (‘chemsex’) and group sex, among men who have sex with men (MSM) dating application (app) users. Although the use of dating apps is an emerging sexual risk factor, little effort has been expended on the promotion of safe sex and good sexual health among the users of those apps. Therefore, the aim of the proposed study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive web-based intervention in improving the sexual health of MSM dating app users in Hong Kong.

Methods

A two-armed randomised controlled trial will be conducted. Chinese MSM dating app users will be recruited and randomly allocated into either the intervention (n = 200) or control group (n = 200). Subjects in the intervention group will receive the web-based intervention containing interactive content that (1) encourages a positive attitude towards consistent condom use and HIV/STI testing and negative attitude towards chemsex and group sex; (2) positions condom use and regular HIV/STI testing as normative; and (3) targets improved perceived self-efficacy concerning condom use and negotiation and HIV/STI testing. The control group will receive only web-based information without sexual health components. Subjects in both groups will be evaluated at baseline and three and 6 months after baseline. The primary outcome will be the frequency of condomless anal sex in the past 3 months.

Discussion

The proposed study will aid development of culturally relevant health promotion programmes aimed at minimising the potential harm of dating app use and promoting the sexual health of MSM dating app users. The web-based intervention, if found successful, will have important clinical and policy implications, as it can be adopted by the government and non-governmental organisations targeting MSM. Moreover, the proposed intervention can reach many MSM at relatively low cost, and thus has the potential to check the burgeoning HIV/STI epidemic among MSM in Hong Kong in a cost-effective manner.

Trial registration

International standard randomized controlled trial number (ISRCTN) registry: ISRCTN16681863 registered on 28 April 2020.
Shen-ling-bai-zhu-san ameliorates inflammation and lung injury by increasing the gut microbiota in the murine model of Streptococcus pneumonia-induced pneumonia
Authors: Feng Jinli , Dai Weibo , Zhang Cheng , Chen Houjun , Chen Ziliang , Chen Yongfeng , Pan Qianyi , Zhou Yongmao
Published: May 2020

Background

Shen-ling-bai-zhu-san (SLBZS) regulates inflammation and gut microbiota which are associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn)-induced pneumonia. So, we studied the therapeutic effect of SLBZS and evaluated whether gut microbiota is associated with the effects of SLBZS in improving Spn-induced pneumonia.

Methods

Spn-induced pneumonia NIH mice were treated by SLBZS and cefixime. A CT scan was performed and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung homogenates was determined using the MPO Colorimetric Assay Kit. Inflammation levels in lung homogenates were measured using ELISA. Bacterial load was coated on a TSAII sheep blood agar. Intestinal gut microbiota information was analyzed according to sequencing libraries.

Results

SLBZS decreased bacterial load, reduced wet/dry weight ratio, inhibited myeloperoxidase activity, reduced the neutrophils count, and ameliorated lung injury. Furthermore, SLBZS inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-2, IL-8, IL-12, and interferon-γ secretion and enhanced IL-10 secretion. These results suggest that SLBZS ameliorates lung injury in mice with Spn-induced pneumonia. Moreover, SLBZS reduced inflammatory cytokine levels in a concentration-dependent manner and increased gut microbiota abundance and diversity. After SLBZS treatment, bacteria such as Epsilonbacteraeota, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Patescibacteria were significantly reduced, while Tenericutes and Firmicutes were significantly increased.

Conclusion

SLBZS ameliorates inflammation, lung injury, and gut microbiota in mice with S. pneumoniae-induced pneumonia.
SN50 attenuates alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome mice through inhibiting NF-κB p65 translocation
Authors: Wu Yanqi , Wang Yahui , Liu Bo , Cheng Yumei , Qian Hong , Yang Huilin , Li Xiang , Yang Guixia , Zheng Xinghao , Shen Feng
Published: May 2020

Background

It has been confirmed that NF-κB p65 signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Whether SN50, a NF-κB cell permeable inhibitor, could attenuate alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in ARDS remains to be elucidated.

Purpose

We explored the efficacy and potential mechanism of SN50 on alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in ARDS in mice.

Materials and methods

Mouse ARDS was made by 50 μl of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (4 mg/ml) inhalation. Male BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with different does of SN50 1 h before LPS inhalation. Lung tissues were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, wet/dry ratio. Pulmonary expressions of tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), collagen III, as well as phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), p65 in nucleus (p’-p65), IκBα and IKKα/β were measured. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was gathered to test the concentrations of TF, PAI-1, activated protein C (APC) and thrombinantithrombin complex (TAT). DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65 was also determined.

Results

After LPS stimulation, pulmonary edema and exudation and alveolar collapse occured. LPS also stimulated higher expressions of TF and PAI-1 in lung tissues, and higher secretions of TF, PAI-1, TAT and low level of APC in BALF. Pulmonary collagen III expression was obviously enhanced after LPS inhalation. At same time, NF-κB signaling pathway was activated with LPS injury, shown by higher expressions of p-p65, p’-p65, p-IKKα/β, p-Iκα in pulmonary tissue and higher level p65 DNA binding activity. SN50 dose-dependently inhibited TF, PAI-1 and collagen IIIexpressions, and decreased TF, PAI-1, TAT but increased APC in BALF. SN50 treatment attenuated pulmonary edema, exudation and reduced lung tissue damage as well. SN50 application significantly reduced p’-p65 expression and weakened p65 DNA binding activity, but expressions of p-p65, p-IKKα/β, p-Iκα in cytoplasm of pulmonary tissue were not affected.

Conclusions

SN 50 attenuates alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition in ARDS via inhibition of NF-κB p65 translocation. Our data demonstrates that NF-κB p65 pathway is a viable new therapeutic target for ARDS treatment.
Effectiveness of training methods for delivery of evidence-based psychotherapies: a systematic review
Authors: Valenstein-Mah Helen , Greer Nancy , McKenzie Lauren , Hansen Lucas , Strom Thad Q. , Wiltsey Stirman Shannon , Wilt Timothy J. , Kehle-Forbes Shannon M.
Published: May 2020

Background

Extensive efforts have been made to train mental health providers in evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs); there is increasing attention focused on the methods through which providers are trained to deliver EBPs. Evaluating EBP training methods is an important step in determining which methods are most effective in increasing provider skill and improving client outcomes.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE (Ovid) and PsycINFO for randomized controlled trials published from 1990 through June 2019 that evaluated EBP training methods to determine the effectiveness of EBP training modalities on implementation (provider and cost) and client outcomes. Eligible studies (N= 28) were evaluated for risk of bias, and the overall strength of evidence was assessed for each outcome. Data was extracted by a single investigator and confirmed by a second; risk of bias and strength of evidence were independently rated by two investigators and determined by consensus.

Results

Overall, EBP training improved short-term provider satisfaction, EBP knowledge, and adherence compared to no training or self-study of training materials (low to moderate strength of evidence). Training in an EBP did not increase treatment adoption compared to no training or self-study. No specific active EBP training modality was found to consistently increase provider EBP knowledge, skill acquisition/adherence, competence, adoption, or satisfaction compared to another active training modality. Findings were mixed regarding the additive benefit of post-training consultation on these outcomes. No studies evaluated changes in provider outcomes with regards to training costs and few studies reported on client outcomes.

Limitations

The majority of included studies had a moderate risk of bias and strength of evidence for the outcomes of interest was generally low or insufficient. Few studies reported effect sizes. The ability to identify the most effective EBP training methods was limited by low strength of evidence for the outcomes of interest and substantial heterogeneity among studies.

Conclusions

EBP training may have increased short-term provider satisfaction, EBP knowledge, and adherence though not adoption. Evidence was insufficient on training costs and client outcomes. Future research is needed on EBP training methods, implementation, sustainability, client outcomes, and costs to ensure efforts to train providers in EBPs are effective, efficient, and durable.

Trial registration

The protocol for this review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018093381).
The effect of primary tumor radiotherapy in patients with Unresectable stage IV Rectal or Rectosigmoid Cancer: a propensity score matching analysis for survival
Authors: Wang Gang , Wang Wenling , Jin Haijie , Dong Hongmin , Chen Weiwei , Li Xiaokai , Li Guodong , Li Leilei
Published: May 2020

Background

To evaluate the impact of primary tumor radiotherapy on survival in patients with unresectable metastatic rectal or rectosigmoid cancer.

Methods

From September 2008 to September 2017, 350 patients with unresectable metastatic rectal or rectosigmoid cancer were retrospectively reviewed in our center. All patients received at least 4 cycles of chemotherapy and were divided into two groups according to whether they received primary tumor radiotherapy. A total of 163 patients received primary tumor radiotherapy, and the median radiation dose was 56.69 Gy (50.4–60). Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method to roughly compare survival between the two groups. Subsequently, the 18-month survival rate was used as the outcome variable for this study. This study mainly evaluated the impact of primary tumor radiotherapy on the survival of these patients through a series of multivariate Cox regression analyses after propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

The median follow-up time was 21 months. All 350 patients received a median of 7 cycles of chemotherapy (range 4–12), and 163 (46.67%) patients received primary tumor radiotherapy for local symptoms. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the primary tumor radiotherapy group had a significant overall survival (OS) advantage compared to the group without radiotherapy (20.07 vs 17.33 months; P = 0.002). In this study, the multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjusting for covariates, multivariate Cox regression analysis after PSM, inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis and propensity score (PS)-adjusted model analysis consistently showed that primary tumor radiotherapy could effectively reduce the risk of death for these patients at 18 months (HR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.40–0.98; HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.93–1.45; HR: 0.70, 95% CI 0.55–0.99 and HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.59–0.94).

Conclusion

Compared with patients with stage IV rectal or rectosigmoid cancer who did not receive primary tumor radiotherapy, those who received primary tumor radiotherapy had a lower risk of death. The prescription dose (59.4 Gy/33 fractions or 60 Gy/30 fractions) of radiation for primary tumors might be considered not only to relieve symptoms improve the survival of patients with inoperable metastatic rectal or rectosigmoid cancer.
A clinical study of efficacy of polyglycolic acid patch in surgery for pneumothorax:a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mao Yuang , Zhang Zulei , Zeng Weibiao , Zhang Wenxiong , Zhang Jianyong , You Guangmiao , Wei Yiping
Published: May 2020

Objectives

A polyglycolic acid (PGA) patch is often used in pulmonary bullae resection, but consensus has not been reached on its effect on patient recovery. The aim of the study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of polyglycolic acid for bullectomy.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed using ScienceDirect, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Clinical trials that compared PGA versus non-PGA for bullectomy were selected. The clinical endpoints included postoperative recurrence, average postoperative air leakage, prolonged air leaks, drainage tube removal time, and postoperative hospital stay.

Results

A total of eight articles (1095 patients) were included. Compared to the non-PGA approach, the PGA approach was associated with lower rates of postoperative recurrence (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16 to 0.39, p < 0.00001),) and of prolonged air leaks (95% CI: 0.29 to 0.72, p = 0.0007); a shorter time of drainage tube removal (95% CI: − 1.36 to − 0.13, p = 0.02); The time of average postoperative air leakage, postoperative hospital stay and operative time did not show a significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the use of PGA patch might can prevent the postoperative recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax and decrease the rates of prolonged air leaks. More large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to confirm our finding.
Health in conflict and post-conflict settings: reproductive, maternal and child health in Colombia
Authors: Ramos Jaraba Sara Milena , Quiceno Toro Natalia , Ochoa Sierra María , Ruiz Sánchez Laura , García Jiménez Marlly Andrea , Salazar-Barrientos Mary Y. , Bedoya Bedoya Edison , Vélez Álvarez Gladis Adriana , Langer Ana , Gausman Jewel , Garcés-Palacio Isabel C.
Published: May 2020

Background

In conflict-afflicted areas, pregnant women and newborns often have higher rates of adverse health outcomes.

Objective

To describe maternal and child health indicators and interventions between 1998 and 2016 comparing high and low conflict areas in Colombia.

Methods

Mixed study of convergent triangulation. In the quantitative component, 16 indicators were calculated using official, secondary data sources. The victimization rate resulting from armed conflict was calculated by municipality and grouped into quintiles. In the qualitative component, a comparative case study was carried out in two municipalities of Antioquia: one with high rates of armed conflict and another with low rates. A total of 41 interviews and 8 focus groups were held with local and national government officials, health professionals, community informants, UN agencies and NGOs.

Results

All of the indicators show improvement, however, four show statistically significant differences between municipalities with high victimization rates versus low ones. The maternal mortality ratio was higher in the municipalities with greater victimization in the periods 1998–2004, 2005–2011 and 2012–2016. The percentage of cesarean births and women who received four or more antenatal visits was lower among women who experienced the highest levels of victimization for the period 1998–2000, while the fertility rate for women between 15 and 19 years was higher in these municipalities between 2012 and 2016. In the context of the armed conflict in Colombia, maternal and child health was affected by the limited availability of interventions given the lack of human resources in health, supplies, geographical access difficulties and insecurity. The national government was the one that mostly provided the programs, with difficulties in continuity and quality. UN Agencies and NGOs accessed more easily remote and intense armed conflict areas. Few specific health interventions were identified in the post-conflict context.

Conclusions

In Colombia, maternal and child health indicators have improved since the conflict, however a pattern of inequality is observed in the municipalities most affected by the armed conflict.
Multi-dose Oral Ondansetron for Pediatric Gastroenteritis: study Protocol for the multi-DOSE oral ondansetron for pediatric Acute GastroEnteritis (DOSE-AGE) pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Authors:   on behalf of the KidsCAN-Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC) Innovative Pediatric Clinical Trials DOSE-AGE Study Group, Freedman Stephen B. , Williamson-Urquhart Sarah , Heath Anna , Pechlivanoglou Petros , Hopkin Gareth , Gouin Serge , Plint Amy C. , Dixon Andrew , Beer Darcy , Joubert Gary , McCabe Christopher , Finkelstein Yaron , Klassen Terry P.
Published: May 2020

Background

There are limited treatment options that clinicians can provide to children presenting to emergency departments with vomiting secondary to acute gastroenteritis. Based on evidence of effectiveness and safety, clinicians now routinely administer ondansetron in the emergency department to promote oral rehydration therapy success. However, clinicians are also increasingly providing multiple doses of ondansetron for home use, creating unquantified cost and health system resource use implications without any evidence to support this expanding practice.

Methods/design

DOSE-AGE is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, six-center, pragmatic clinical trial being conducted in six Canadian pediatric emergency departments (EDs). In September 2019 the study began recruiting children aged 6 months to 18 years with a minimum of three episodes of vomiting in the 24 h preceding enrollment, <72 h of gastroenteritis symptoms and who were administered a dose of ondansetron during their ED visit. We are recruiting 1030 children (1:1 allocation via an internet-based, third-party, randomization service) to receive a 48-h supply (i.e., six doses) of ondansetron oral solution or placebo, administered on an as-needed basis. All participants, caregivers and outcome assessors will be blinded to group assignment. Outcome data will be collected by surveys administered to caregivers 24, 48 and 168 h following enrollment. The primary outcome is the development of moderate-to-severe gastroenteritis in the 7 days following the ED visit as measured by a validated clinical score (the Modified Vesikari Scale). Secondary outcomes include duration and frequency of vomiting and diarrhea, proportions of children experiencing unscheduled health care visits and intravenous rehydration, caregiver satisfaction with treatment and safety. A preplanned economic evaluation will be conducted alongside the trial.

Discussion

Definitive data are lacking to guide the clinical use of post-ED visit multidose ondansetron in children with acute gastroenteritis. Usage is increasing, despite the absence of supportive evidence. The incumbent additional costs associated with use, and potential side effects such as diarrhea and repeat visits, create an urgent need to evaluate the effect and safety of multiple doses of ondansetron in children focusing on post-emergency department visit and patient-centered outcomes.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT03851835. Registered on 22 February 2019.
Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical properties of some biologically important indole-based-sulfonamide derivatives
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed , Taha Muhammed , Almandil Noor B. , Kawde Abdel-Nasser , Nawaz Muhammad
Published: May 2020

A new series of indole-based-sulfonamide derivatives (A1–A8) was synthesized by treating 5-fluoro-1H-indole-3-carbohydrazide with different aryl-sulfonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. All synthesized derivatives (A1–A8) were characterized by different analytical methods. The electrochemical behavior of these compounds (A1–A8) was investigated in detail using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) at the pencil graphite electrode (PGE). In the present study, the redox behavior of all derivatives varies due to the nature of substitutions in the indole sulfonamide moiety. Various fundamental electrochemical parameters, including the standard heterogeneous rate constants (ks), and the electroactive surface coverage (Г) were calculated from the obtained CVs. The obtained results shed light on the understanding of structure–activity relationships of this class of compounds.
Transcription factors underlying wing margin color patterns and pupal cuticle markings in butterflies
Authors: Reed Robert D. , Selegue Jayne E. , Zhang Linlin , Brunetti Craig R.
Published: May 2020

Background

The diversity of butterfly color patterns can be attributed to a relatively small number of pattern elements that are homologous across Lepidoptera. Although genes involved in patterning some of these elements have been identified, the development of several major elements remains poorly understood. To identify genes underlying wing pupal cuticle markings and wing margin color patterns, we examined expression of the candidate transcription factors Engrailed/Invected (En/Inv), Distal-less (Dll), Cubitus interruptus (Ci), and Spalt in two nymphalids:Junonia coeniaandBicyclus anynana.

Results

We found that En/Inv, Dll, and Ci mark domains on theJ. coenialast-instar forewing disc that closely correspond to the position and shape of pupal cuticle markings. We also found that Spalt demarcates wing margin color patterns in bothJ. coeniaandB. anynana, and that CRISPR/Cas9 deletions in thespaltgene result in reduction and loss of wing margin color patterns inJ. coenia. These data demonstrate a role forspaltin promoting wing margin color patterning, in addition to its previously described role in eyespot patterning.

Conclusion

Our observations support the model that a core set of regulatory genes are redeployed multiple times, and in multiple roles, during butterfly wing pattern development. Of these genes,spaltis of special interest as it plays a dual role in both eyespot and margin color pattern development.
Understanding the dynamics of biological and neural oscillator networks through exact mean-field reductions: a review
Authors: Bick Christian , Goodfellow Marc , Laing Carlo R. , Martens Erik A.
Published: May 2020

Many biological and neural systems can be seen as networks of interacting periodic processes. Importantly, their functionality, i.e., whether these networks can perform their function or not, depends on the emerging collective dynamics of the network. Synchrony of oscillations is one of the most prominent examples of such collective behavior and has been associated both with function and dysfunction. Understanding how network structure and interactions, as well as the microscopic properties of individual units, shape the emerging collective dynamics is critical to find factors that lead to malfunction. However, many biological systems such as the brain consist of a large number of dynamical units. Hence, their analysis has either relied on simplified heuristic models on a coarse scale, or the analysis comes at a huge computational cost. Here we review recently introduced approaches, known as the Ott–Antonsen and Watanabe–Strogatz reductions, allowing one to simplify the analysis by bridging small and large scales. Thus, reduced model equations are obtained that exactly describe the collective dynamics for each subpopulation in the oscillator network via few collective variables only. The resulting equations are next-generation models: Rather than being heuristic, they exactly link microscopic and macroscopic descriptions and therefore accurately capture microscopic properties of the underlying system. At the same time, they are sufficiently simple to analyze without great computational effort. In the last decade, these reduction methods have become instrumental in understanding how network structure and interactions shape the collective dynamics and the emergence of synchrony. We review this progress based on concrete examples and outline possible limitations. Finally, we discuss how linking the reduced models with experimental data can guide the way towards the development of new treatment approaches, for example, for neurological disease.
Determinants of healthcare seeking and out-of-pocket expenditures in a “free” healthcare system: evidence from rural Malawi
Authors: Nakovics Meike Irene , Brenner Stephan , Bongololo Grace , Chinkhumba Jobiba , Kalmus Olivier , Leppert Gerald , De Allegri Manuela
Published: May 2020

Background

Monitoring financial protection is a key component in achieving Universal Health Coverage, even for health systems that grant their citizens access to care free-of-charge. Our study investigated out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on curative healthcare services and their determinants in rural Malawi, a country that has consistently aimed at providing free healthcare services.

Methods

Our study used data from two consecutive rounds of a household survey conducted in 2012 and 2013 among 1639 households in three districts in rural Malawi. Given our explicit focus on OOPE for curative healthcare services, we relied on a Heckman selection model to account for the fact that relevant OOPE could only be observed for those who had sought care in the first place.

Results

Our sample included a total of 2740 illness episodes. Among the 1884 (68.75%) that had made use of curative healthcare services, 494 (26.22%) had incurred a positive healthcare expenditure, whose mean amounted to 678.45 MWK (equivalent to 2.72 USD). Our analysis revealed a significant positive association between the magnitude of OOPE and age 15–39 years (p = 0.022), household head (p = 0.037), suffering from a chronic illness (p = 0.019), illness duration (p = 0.014), hospitalization (p = 0.002), number of accompanying persons (p = 0.019), wealth quartiles (p2 = 0.018;p3 = 0.001;p4 = 0.002), and urban residency (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that a formal policy commitment to providing free healthcare services is not sufficient to guarantee widespread financial protection and that additional measures are needed to protect particularly vulnerable population groups.
ELSA: efficient long-term secure storage of large datasets (full version) ∗
Authors: Muth Philipp , Geihs Matthias , Arul Tolga , Buchmann Johannes , Katzenbeisser Stefan
Published: May 2020

An increasing amount of information today is generated, exchanged, and stored digitally. This also includes long-lived and highly sensitive information (e.g., electronic health records, governmental documents) whose integrity and confidentiality must be protected over decades or even centuries. While there is a vast amount of cryptography-based data protection schemes, only few are designed for long-term protection. Recently, Braun et al. (AsiaCCS’17) proposed the first long-term protection scheme that provides renewable integrity protection and information-theoretic confidentiality protection. However, computation and storage costs of their scheme increase significantly with the number of stored data items. As a result, their scheme appears suitable only for protecting databases with a small number of relatively large data items, but unsuitable for databases that hold a large number of relatively small data items (e.g., medical record databases).In this work, we present a solution for efficient long-term integrity and confidentiality protection of large datasets consisting of relatively small data items. First, we construct a renewable vector commitment scheme that is information-theoretically hiding under selective decommitment. We then combine this scheme with renewable timestamps and information-theoretically secure secret sharing. The resulting solution requires only a single timestamp for protecting a dataset while the state of the art requires a number of timestamps linear in the number of data items. Furthermore, we extend the scheme, that supports a single client, to a multi-client setting. Subsequently, we characterize the arising challenges with respect to integrity and confidentiality and discuss how our multi-client scheme tackles them. We implemented our solution and measured its performance in a scenario where 9600 data items are aggregated, stored, protected, and verified over a time span of 80 years. Our measurements show that our new solution completes this evaluation scenario an order of magnitude faster than the state of the art.
Study on the estimates of Gronwall–Ou-Iang dynamic integral inequalities by means of diamond-α derivatives
Authors: Khan Zareen A.
Published: May 2020

By the utilization of diamond-α derivatives, certain new generalizations of Ou-Iang type of dynamic integral inequalities of one independent variable on time scales are examined. The resulting inequalities are significant in the study of various fields of dynamic equations. A few mathematical applications are also presented.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Do offenders avoid offending near home? A systematic review of the buffer zone hypothesis
Authors: Bernasco Wim , van Dijke Remco
Published: May 2020

Background

There is general agreement that the frequency of crime decreases with the distance from the offender’s home. By way of exception to this distance decay pattern, the buffer zone hypothesis states that offenders avoid offending very close to home. The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity of this hypothesis.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review of 4 bibliographic databases, in which we identified 108 studies on criminal distance decay, from which we selected 33 studies that include sufficient information to assess the existence of the buffer zone. Based on the full text of the research articles, we created a measure indicating whether the study supported or rejected the hypothesis and a measure summarizing the relative quality of the evidence as either weak-medium or strong.

Results

Of the 33 studies, 22 rejected the buffer zone hypothesis and 11 supported it. Across the whole sample, the methodological rigor of the studies was limited, but unrelated to whether the buffer zone hypothesis was supported or rejected.

Conclusions

Based on the available evidence the buffer zone hypothesis has gained limited support. We conclude by making recommendations on how to report data on the home-crime distance and suggesting a testing methodology for future research.
Acoustic positioning in a reflective environment: going beyond point-by-point algorithms
Authors: Vergeynst Jenna , Vanwyck Thomas , Baeyens Raf , De Mulder Tom , Nopens Ingmar , Mouton Ans , Pauwels Ine
Published: May 2020

Background

Acoustic positioning telemetry is nowadays widely used in behavioural ecology of aquatic animals. Data on the animal’s geographical location and its changes through time are used to study for instance movement patterns, habitat use and migration. The acoustic signals are detected by stand-alone receivers, allowing to collect huge amounts of data over long periods of time. However, large volumes of data might contain large errors. The traditional Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) method used to calculate underwater positions, is a point-by-point approach: every position is calculated independently of all other positions. This method assumes that the acoustic transmissions follow a linear path. In many environments, this assumption is violated, for instance by reflections of the acoustic signal against hard surfaces, such as rock formations and concrete walls, or by diffractions around obstacles. Hence, acoustic positioning datasets usually require additional filtering. Unfortunately, the performance of the available filtering techniques is often unclear or ambiguous, especially when reflections occur. An alternative to the point-by-point approach, is a track-oriented approach, as used by YAPS (Yet Another Positioning System). This novel algorithm uses the information that is present in previous and subsequent positions, by combining a model of fish behaviour with Time of Arrival (TOA) of the signals on the receivers. In this study, we investigated the performance of two filtering techniques applied to positions provided by the Vemco Positioning System (VPS) in a highly reflective environment. We compared the unfiltered VPS positions with a standard filtering technique, making use of the Horizontal Positioning Error (HPE), and developed a new filter based on receiver cluster classification. Finally, we recalculated the positions with YAPS and compared the performance of this system to the two filtering techniques.

Results

The performance of the VPS system was strongly impeded by the multiple reflections occurring in this study area, but lowering the power output of transmitters can slightly attenuate this issue. None of the filtering techniques was able to compensate for reflections and to improve the positioning accuracy significantly. Only the YAPS algorithm could cope with the high level of reflectivity in this study site.

Conclusions

Point-by-point algorithms might fail to provide accurate fine-scale tracks in a highly reflective acoustic environment. As this study has shown, the YAPS algorithm can provide a successful alternative, even in these difficult conditions.
Mechanisms underlying CD19-positive ALL relapse after anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy and associated strategies
Authors: Nie Yuru , Lu Weiqing , Chen Daiyu , Tu Huilin , Guo Zhenling , Zhou Xuan , Li Meifang , Tu Sanfang , Li Yuhua
Published: May 2020

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, especially anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy, has shown remarkable anticancer activity in patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia, demonstrating an inspiring complete remission rate. However, with extension of the follow-up period, the limitations of this therapy have gradually emerged. Patients are at a high risk of early relapse after achieving complete remission. Although there are many studies with a primary focus on the mechanisms underlying CD19- relapse related to immune escape, early CD19+ relapse owing to poor in vivo persistence and impaired efficacy accounts for a larger proportion of the high relapse rate. However, the mechanisms underlying CD19+ relapse are still poorly understood. Herein, we discuss factors that could become obstacles to improved persistence and efficacy of CAR T cells during production, preinfusion processing, and in vivo interactions in detail. Furthermore, we propose potential strategies to overcome these barriers to achieve a reduced CD19+ relapse rate and produce prolonged survival in patients after CAR T cell therapy.
The long-term monitoring and evaluation of cement-based grout used to govern the water seepage of karst caves in China
Authors: Fang Shiqiang , Zhang Bingjian , Zhang Kun
Published: May 2020

Water seepage is the primary cause of stone carvings corrosion in karst caverns, which is typically treated with cement-based grout intervention. In this paper, long-term monitoring (more than 1 1/2 years) was carried out in Qinglin cave and Yanxia cave in Hangzhou, China, to quantitatively evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of ordinary Portland cement- and superfine cement-based grout intervention. Results showed that both materials were efficient in preventing water seepage, reducing it by half after the grout interventions. Grout intervention had obvious efficacy in blocking off the strong water seepage points, at the same time decreasing seepage differences among seepage points. Ion Chromatography results suggested that the concentrations of Ca2+, Cl− and SO4
2− in the seeped water in both caves increased after intervention, and the concentration of SO4
2− in the seeped water after superfine cement application in Qinglin cave was much more than that in the seeped water in Yanxia cave, where ordinary Portland cement was applied. Therefore, using superfine cement may bring more potential risks than ordinary Portland cement. However, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and conductivity analysis results presented that these ions seemly did not deposit on rock surfaces of the caves during the monitoring period.
The influence of thermal treatment on rock–bit interaction: a study of a combined thermo–mechanical drilling (CTMD) concept
Authors: Rossi Edoardo , Saar Martin O. , Rudolf von Rohr Philipp
Published: May 2020

To improve the economics and viability of accessing deep georesources, we propose a combined thermo–mechanical drilling (CTMD) method, employing a heat source to facilitate the mechanical removal of rock, with the aim of increasing drilling performance and thereby reducing the overall costs, especially for deep wells in hard rocks. In this work, we employ a novel experiment setup to investigate the main parameters of interest during the interaction of a cutter with the rock material, and we test untreated and thermally treated sandstone and granite, to understand the underlying rock removal mechanism and the resulting drilling performance improvements achievable with the new approach. We find that the rock removal process can be divided into three main regimes: first, a wear-dominated regime, followed by a compression-based progression of the tool at large penetrations, and a final tool fall-back regime for increasing scratch distances. We calculate the compressive rock strengths from our tests to validate the above regime hypothesis, and they are in good agreement with literature data, explaining the strength reduction after treatment of the material by extensive induced thermal cracking of the rock. We evaluate the new method’s drilling performance and confirm that thermal cracks in the rock can considerably enhance subsequent mechanical rock removal rates and related drilling performance by one order of magnitude in granite, while mainly reducing the wear rates of the cutting tools in sandstone.
C-reactive protein gene rs1205 polymorphism is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation in postmenopausal women
Authors: de Santis Iriane Prado , Lindenau Juliana Dal-Ri , Ramos Ramon Bossardi , Silva Thais Rasia , Casanova Gislaine , Oppermann Karen , Spritzer Poli Mara
Published: May 2020

Background

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in postmenopausal women, and inflammation is a key mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been used as a biomarker of inflammation. Considering that CRP gene rs1205 polymorphism has been associated with hs-CRP circulating levels, we evaluated whether rs1205 genotypes influence the presence of low-grade chronic inflammation, acting as a marker of cardiovascular risk.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study with biobanked blood samples from 327 postmenopausal women with no evidence of clinical disease. Genotyping for rs1205 C > T SNP of the CRP gene was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction with allelic discrimination assays.

Results

Mean age was 55.6 ± 5.6 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.3 ± 4.7. Participants were divided according to hs-CRP levels: ≥3 mg/l (low-grade chronic inflammation) or < 3 mg/l. The frequency of allele C at rs1205 was 74.2% in the hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/l group vs. 59% in the hs-CRP < 3 mg/l. In a multivariable model, higher prevalence of hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/l was associated with CC genotype (PR 1.53; 95%CI 1.07–2.18; p = 0.018) and waist circumference ≥ 88 cm (PR 2.45; 95%CI 1.66–3.60; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

CRP rs1205 CC homozygotes may be at higher risk of a low-grade chronic inflammatory status compared to individuals carrying the T allele.
Antidiabetic activity of Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser flower extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Munira Shirajum , Nesa Luthfun , Islam Md. Siddiqul , Begum Yesmin , Rashid Mohammad A. , Sarker Moklesur Rahman , Ahmed Tufael
Published: May 2020

Background

Various parts i.e., stem bark, leaf, root and flower ofNeolamarckia cadamba(Roxb.) Bosser has been extensively used by traditional practitioners to treat all types of diabetes. Our present study investigated the antidiabetic property of the extract from its flower and evaluated its traditional use for diabetes.

Results

Phenolic contents were found to be higher in the methanol soluble fraction (MESF) (228.16 ± 0.32 GAE/g of sample) while flavonoids were greater in quantity in the chloroform soluble fraction (CSF) (291 ± 5.99 QE/g of sample). The MESF showed the highest free radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory potential with IC50value of 30.52 ± 2.40 and 6.26 ± 0.82 μg/mL respectively and both the values were promising when compared to the individual standards. Highest reduction of blood glucose level were observed when theN. cadambaflower extract (NCFE) were given (not in combination with metformin) orally for 2 weeks. NMCE at 500 mg/kg resulted 60.2% (p < 0.05) reduction of blood glucose in the diabetic group, comparable with the effect of standard metformin (68.4%). Gain in body weight were also observed in the test groups indicating an overall improvement of health in the diabetic rats.

Conclusions

The extract ofNeolamarckia cadamba(Roxb.) flower is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds attributing to its potent in vitro antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory potential. Oral administration of NCFE also resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent reduction of blood glucose level in diabetic rats, while no synergistic activity was observed when it was given in combination with metformin. These findings imply the possible pharmacological mechanisms behind the antidiabetic property of NCFE could be: inhibition of α-amylase and delaying the absorption of glucose from the intestine, secondly possessing ‘metformin like’ activity such as increasing cellular uptake and glycolysis of glucose, reducing gluconeogenesis in the liver etc. This study also for the first time provides scientific evidence in favor of the traditional useN. cadambaflower against diabetes and demands future study in order to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for such bioactivities.