bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absence of shock therapy related to improper sensing of noise on the defibrillation test during subcutaneous implantable cardioverter–defibrillator implantation: a case report
Authors: Tamura Shota , Yoshiyama Tomotaka , Doi Atsushi , Yoshiyama Minoru
Published: December 2020

Background 

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (S-ICD) represents an efficient alternative to transvenous ICD in patients who do not require pacing. The intraoperative defibrillation test (DFT) is recommended during S-ICD implantation to confirm appropriate sensing and successful 65-J termination of induced ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, few cases of oversensing of noise inhibiting therapies have been reported.

Case summary 

We report the case of a 50-year-old man who underwent S-ICD implantation for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Immediately after S-ICD implantation, VF was induced using a 50-Hz burst; however, shock was not delivered owing to sustained noise on the electrogram in the primary vector. Therefore, an external rescue shock was needed at 150 J. We changed the sensing vector from primary to secondary and performed a second DFT. The S-ICD could deliver an appropriate shock and was able to successfully terminate VF without noise markers in the secondary vector. During the second DFT, one back-up pacing was delivered after the shock; the sensing vector then automatically switched from the secondary to the alternate vector. However, noise was observed in the alternate vector despite sinus rhythm restoration.

Discussion 

The present case demonstrated that noise was recorded in two different vectors during DFT, possibly supporting the hypothesis that the muscle spasm of the diaphragm induced by the 50-Hz burst causes oversensing of noise by the S-ICD.
Education of general practitioners in the use of point-of-care ultrasonography: a systematic review
Authors: Andersen Camilla Aakjær , Hedegård Henriette Sav , Løkkegaard Thomas , Frølund Joachim , Jensen Martin Bach
Published: December 2020

Objective

To systematically review and synthesize the published literature regarding the education of general practitioners (GPs) and GPs in training (GPTs) in the use of ultrasonography.

Design

This systematic review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO, conducted according to the Cochrane recommendations. We combined studies identified in a previous systematic review with studies from an updated literature search using the same search string. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE via Pubmed, EMBASE via OVID, Cinahl via Ebsco, Web of Science and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials using the words ‘ultrasonography’ and ‘general practice’. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data and assessed the quality of included papers according to the Down and Black quality assessment tool. Disagreements were resolved by involving a third reviewer.

Results

Thirty-three papers were included. Ultrasound training was described to include both theoretical and practical training sessions. Theoretical training was achieved through introductory e-learning and/or didactic lectures. Practical training included focussed hands-on training sessions, while some papers described additional longitudinal practical training through proctored scans during clinical work or through self-study practice with continuous feedback on recorded scans.

Conclusion

There was a large variation in ultrasound training programs for GPs and GPTs, with an overall emphasis on focussed practical training. Few studies included a longitudinal learning process in the training program. However, diagnostic accuracy seemed to improve with hours of practical training, and studies including continuous feedback on scans conducted during clinical patient encounters showed superior results.
An emerging view of the diversity, ecology and function of Archaea in alkaline hydrothermal environments
Authors: Mueller Rebecca C , Peach Jesse T , Skorupa Dana J , Copié Valerie , Bothner Brian , Peyton Brent M
Published: December 2020

The described diversity within the domain Archaea has recently expanded due to advances in sequencing technologies, but many habitats that likely harbor novel lineages of archaea remain understudied. Knowledge of archaea within natural and engineered hydrothermal systems, such as hot springs and engineered subsurface habitats, has been steadily increasing, but the majority of the work has focused on archaea living in acidic or circumneutral environments. The environmental pressures exerted by the combination of high temperatures and high pH likely select for divergent communities and distinct metabolic pathways from those observed in acidic or circumneutral systems. In this review, we examine what is currently known about the archaea found in thermoalkaline environments, focusing on the detection of novel lineages and knowledge of the ecology, metabolic pathways and functions of these populations and communities. We also discuss the potential of emerging multi–omics approaches, including proteomics and metabolomics, to enhance our understanding of archaea within extreme thermoalkaline systems.
Cardiovascular Health and Near Visual Impairment Among Older Adults in the Republic of Congo: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Gbessemehlan Antoine , Helmer Catherine , Delcourt Cécile , Boumediene Farid , Ndamba-Bandzouzi Bébène , Mbelesso Pascal , Samba Harielle , Kehoua Gilles , Désormais Ileana , Lacroix Philippe , Aboyans Victor , Dartigues Jean-François , Houinato Dismand , Preux Pierre-Marie , Guerchet Maëlenn
Published: December 2020

Background

Visual impairment (VI) and determinants of poor cardiovascular health are very common in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, we do not know whether these determinants are associated with VI among older adults in this region. This study aimed at investigating the association between the determinants of poor cardiovascular health and near VI among older adults living in Congo.

Methods

Participants were Congolese adults aged 65 or older included in Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa—Follow-up population-based cohort. Near VI was defined as visual acuity less than 20/40 measured at 30 cm. Associations between determinants of poor cardiovascular health collected at baseline and near visual acuity measured at first follow-up were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Among the 549 participants included, 378 (68.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.9%–72.7%]) had near VI. Of the determinants of poor cardiovascular health explored, we found that having high body mass index of at least 25 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.25–3.68), diabetes (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.06–4.25) and hypertension (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.02–2.64) were independently associated with near VI.

Conclusions

Several determinants of poor cardiovascular health were associated with near VI in this population. This study suggests that promoting good cardiovascular health could represent a target for VI prevention among older adults.
Efficient 3-D velocity model building using joint inline and crossline plane-wave wave-equation migration velocity analyses
Authors: Liu Xuejian , Huang Lianjie , Feng Zongcai , El-kaseeh George , Will Robert , Balch Robert
Published: December 2020

Wave-equation migration velocity analysis (WEMVA) is an image-domain inversion method for velocity model building. Automatic plane-wave WEMVA (PWEMVA) calculates the moveouts of plane-wave common-image gathers (CIGs) by searching a best-fitting parabola with semblance analysis and backprojects residual CIG moveouts into wavefield wave paths with a reflection tomographic kernel. However, 3-D PWEMVA is very computationally expensive because 3-D reflection tomographic inversion requires at least five 3-D reverse-time migrations per iteration and stores two types of source wavefields at model boundaries. We develop a joint inline and crossline PWEMVA method for efficient 3-D velocity model building. We alternatively implement the inline and crossline PWEMVAs with a constraint for each other, in which we iteratively construct the 3-D velocity model update through 1-D spline interpolation of 2-D gradients. The inline and crossline joint inversion is practical since PWEMVA only inverts for low-wavenumber velocity perturbations along wave paths, and the method can take less than 1 per cent of the computational cost of full 3-D PWEMVA. To construct unaliased plane waves for our joint inline and crossline PWEMVA, we develop a 3-D data interpolation method in the frequency–wavenumber (FK) domain to recover regularly and randomly missing traces. The method minimizes the misfit on sufficiently localized data subsets with iterative optimal step lengths and a gradient preconditioner that iteratively selects dominant dips along different azimuths. In numerical experiments, we use a 3-D synthetic seismic data set and a land 3-D field seismic data set acquired at the Farnsworth CO2-EOR (enhanced oil recovery) field to demonstrate the efficacy of our velocity model building and data interpolation methods.
Transformative or Not? How Privacy Violation Experiences Influence Online Privacy Concerns and Online Information Disclosure
Authors: Masur Philipp K , Trepte Sabine
Published: December 2020

Previous research has shown that people seldom experience privacy violations while using the Internet, such as unwanted and unknown sharing of personal information, credit card fraud, or identity theft. With this study, we ask whether individuals’ online privacy concerns increase and online information disclosure decreases if they experience such a worst-case scenario. Using representative data from a five-wave panel study (n = 745), we found that people who generally experience more privacy violations also have stronger privacy concerns (between-person differences). However, people who experienced more privacy violations than usual in the last 6 months were only slightly more concerned afterward and did not change their disclosure behavior afterward (within-person effects). The need for privacy moderated these processes. We untangle under which circumstances such experiences may be transformative, and discuss practical and conceptual consequences of how experiences translate into concerns, but not necessarily behaviors.
Short- and long-term effects of the patient education strategy—learning and coping—in cardiac rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial (LC-REHAB)
Authors: Lynggaard V , Zwisler A D , Taylor R S , May O , Mortensen J , Nielsen C V
Published: December 2020

The objectives were to assess the short- and long-term effect of the patient education strategy ‘Learning and Coping’ (LC) in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on health-related quality of life, patient education impact, cardiac risk factors and lifestyle. In total, 825 patients hospitalized with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure were randomized to either LC-CR or standard CR at three Danish hospitals. Teaching approach in LC-CR was situational, inductive and reflective, with experienced patients as co-educators and supplemental interviews. Teaching approach in standard CR was structured and deductive. Outcomes were assessed immediately after CR, and after 3 months (short term), and after 3 years (long term). Between-arm differences in favour of LC-CR were SF-12 ‘role emotional’ (3.7, 95% CI: 0.6–6.8) and MDI depression score (0.9, 0.1–1.8) immediately after CR, exercise capacity (4 W, 1–9) at 3 months and SF-12 ‘role physical’ (4.6, 0.1–9.0) (long term). Between-arm differences in favour of controls were waist circumference (−1.7 cm, −2.3 to −1.0) immediately after CR and HeiQ domain ‘Constructive attitudes and approaches’ (0.11, 0.04–0.18), triglycerides (−0.12 mmol/l, −0.21 to −0.02), systolic blood pressure (−3.12 mmHg, −5.66 to −0.58) at 3 months. Adding LC strategies to CR provides inconsistent short-term results but improves ‘role physical’ long term.
Separating the genetics of childhood and adult obesity: a validation study of genetic scores for body mass index in adolescence and adulthood in the HUNT Study
Authors: Brandkvist Maria , Bjørngaard Johan Håkon , Ødegård Rønnaug Astri , Åsvold Bjørn Olav , Smith George Davey , Brumpton Ben , Hveem Kristian , Richardson Tom G , Vie Gunnhild Åberge
Published: December 2020

From a life-course perspective, genetic and environmental factors driving childhood obesity may have a lasting influence on health later in life. However, how obesity trajectories vary throughout the life-course remains unknown. Recently, Richardson et al. created powerful early life and adult gene scores for body mass index (BMI) in a comprehensive attempt to separate childhood and adult obesity. The childhood score was derived using questionnaire-based data administered to adults aged 40–69 regarding their relative body size at age 10, making it prone to recall and misclassification bias. We therefore attempted to validate the childhood and adult scores using measured BMI data in adolescence and adulthood among 66 963 individuals from the HUNT Study in Norway from 1963 to 2019. The predictive performance of the childhood score was better in adolescence and early adulthood, whereas the predictive performance of the adult score was better in adulthood. In the age group 12–15.9 years, the variance explained by the childhood polygenic risk score (PRS) was 6.7% versus 2.4% for the adult PRS. In the age group 24–29.9 years, the variance explained by the adult PRS was 3.9% versus 3.6% for the childhood PRS. Our findings support that genetic factors driving BMI differ at young age and in adulthood. Within the framework of multivariable Mendelian randomization, the validated childhood gene score can now be used to determine the consequence of childhood obesity on later disease.
A Neurexin2aa deficiency results in axon pathfinding defects and increased anxiety in zebrafish
Authors: Koh Angela , Tao Shijie , Jing Goh Yun , Chaganty Vindhya , See Kelvin , Purushothaman Kathiresan , Orbán László , Mathuru Ajay S , Wohland Thorsten , Winkler Christoph
Published: December 2020

Neurexins are presynaptic transmembrane proteins that control synapse activity and are risk factors for autism spectrum disorder. Zebrafish, a popular model for behavioral studies, has six neurexin genes, but their functions in embryogenesis and behavior remain largely unknown. We have previously reported that nrxn2a is aberrantly spliced and specifically dysregulated in motor neurons (MNs) in models of spinal muscular atrophy. In this study, we generated nrxn2aa−/− mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 to understand nrxn2aa function at the zebrafish neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and to determine the effects of its deficiency on adult behavior. Homozygous mutant embryos derived from heterozygous parents did not show obvious defects in axon outgrowth or synaptogenesis of MNs. In contrast, maternal-zygotic (MZ) nrxn2aa−/− mutants displayed extensively branched axons and defective MNs, suggesting a cell-autonomous role for maternally provided nrxn2aa in MN development. Analysis of the NMJs revealed enlarged choice points in MNs of mutant larvae and reduced co-localization of pre- and post-synaptic terminals, indicating impaired synapse formation. Severe early NMJ defects partially recovered in late embryos when mutant transcripts became strongly upregulated. Ultimately, however, the induced defects resulted in muscular atrophy symptoms in adult MZ mutants. Zygotic homozygous mutants developed normally but displayed increased anxiety at adult stages. Together, our data demonstrate an essential role for maternal nrxn2aa in NMJ synapse establishment, while zygotic nrxn2aa expression appears dispensable for synapse maintenance. The viable nrxn2aa−/− mutant furthermore serves as a novel model to study how an increase in anxiety-like behaviors impacts other deficits.
Repair of traumatic avulsion of the right bronchus in children using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support
Authors: Ricciardi Gabriella , Putman Léon M , Hazekamp Mark G
Published: December 2020

Traumatic avulsion of the right main bronchus in children is usually caused by blunt trauma or traffic accidents. Primary repair by suturing is the preferred treatment. Lesions are life threatening and urgent or emergency surgical repair is indicated. We report our experience with 2 cases of traumatic avulsion of right bronchus in children successfully suture repaired with the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Low HbA1c levels and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality among people without diabetes: the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2015
Authors: Inoue Kosuke , Nianogo Roch , Telesca Donatello , Goto Atsushi , Khachadourian Vahe , Tsugawa Yusuke , Sugiyama Takehiro , Mayeda Elizabeth Rose , Ritz Beate
Published: December 2020

Objective

It is unclear whether relatively low glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels are beneficial or harmful for the long-term health outcomes among people without diabetes. We aimed to investigate the association between low HbA1c levels and mortality among the US general population.

Methods

This study includes a nationally representative sample of 39 453 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2014, linked to mortality data through 2015. We employed the parametric g-formula with pooled logistic regression models and the ensemble machine learning algorithms to estimate the time-varying risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by HbA1c categories (low, 4.0 to <5.0%; mid-level, 5.0 to <5.7%; prediabetes, 5.7 to <6.5%; and diabetes, ≥6.5% or taking antidiabetic medication), adjusting for 72 potential confounders including demographic characteristics, lifestyle, biomarkers, comorbidities and medications.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 7.5 years, 5118 (13%) all-cause deaths, and 1116 (3%) cardiovascular deaths were observed. Logistic regression models and machine learning algorithms showed nearly identical predictive performance of death and risk estimates. Compared with mid-level HbA1c, low HbA1c was associated with a 30% (95% CI, 16 to 48) and a 12% (95% CI, 3 to 22) increased risk of all-cause mortality at 5 years and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. We found no evidence that low HbA1c levels were associated with cardiovascular mortality risk. The diabetes group, but not the prediabetes group, also showed an increased risk of all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Using the US national database and adjusting for an extensive set of potential confounders with flexible modelling, we found that adults with low HbA1c were at increased risk of all-cause mortality. Further evaluation and careful monitoring of low HbA1c levels need to be considered.
Multiple Degrees of Freedom in the Fish Skull and Their Relation to Hydraulic Transport of Prey in Channel Catfish
Authors: Olsen A M , Hernandez L P , Brainerd E L
Published: December 2020

Synopsis

Fish perform many complex manipulation behaviors without hands or flexible muscular tongues, instead relying on more than 20 movable skeletal elements in their highly kinetic skulls. How fish use their skulls to accomplish these behaviors, however, remains unclear. Most previous mechanical models have represented the fish skull using one or more planar four-bar linkages, which have just a single degree of freedom (DoF). In contrast, truncated-cone hydrodynamic models have assumed up to five DoFs. In this study, we introduce and validate a 3D mechanical linkage model of a fish skull that incorporates the pectoral girdle and mandibular and hyoid arches. We validate this model using an in vivo motion dataset of suction feeding in channel catfish and then use this model to quantify the DoFs in the fish skull, to categorize the motion patterns of the cranial linkage during feeding, and to evaluate the association between these patterns and food motion. We find that the channel catfish skull functions as a 17-link, five-loop parallel mechanism. Despite having 19 potential DoFs, we find that seven DoFs are sufficient to describe most of the motion of the cranial linkage, consistent with the fish skull functioning as a multi-DoF, manipulation system. Channel catfish use this linkage to generate three different motion patterns (rostrocaudal wave, caudorostral wave, and compressive wave), each with its own associated food velocity profile. These results suggest that biomechanical manipulation systems must have a minimum number of DoFs to effectively control objects, whether in water or air.
Characterization of a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolate and a vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium isolate from the same blood culture
Authors: Xanthopoulou Kyriaki , Wille Julia , Zweigner Janine , Lucaßen Kai , Wille Thorsten , Seifert Harald , Higgins Paul G
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To characterize two Enterococcus faecium isolates with different resistance phenotypes obtained from the same blood culture.

Methods

The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using a VITEK® 2 AST P592 card and Etest. WGS was performed on the MiSeq and MinION sequencer platforms. Core-genome MLST (cgMLST) and seven-loci MLST were performed. Plasmid analysis was performed using S1-PFGE followed by Southern-blot hybridization.

Results

Both E. faecium isolates were ST203. AST revealed that one was a vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VREfm) isolate and the other was a vancomycin-susceptible E. faecium (VSEfm) isolate. The VREfm isolate harboured the vanA gene cluster as part of a Tn1546-type transposon encoded on a 49 kb multireplicon (rep1, rep2 and rep7a) plasmid (pAML0157.1). On the same plasmid, ant(6)-Ia, cat-like and erm(B) were encoded. The VSEfm isolate harboured a rep2 plasmid (pAML0158.1), 12 kb in size, which was present in full length as part of pAML0157.1 from the VREfm isolate. The vanA-encoding pAML0157.1 was a chimera of the rep2 pAML0158.1 and a second DNA segment harbouring vanA, ant(6)-Ia, erm(B) and cat-like, as well as the replicons rep1 and rep7a. By cgMLST analysis, the VREfm and VSEfm isolates were identical.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that the VREfm and VSEfm blood culture isolates represented ST203 and were identical. The investigated heterogeneous resistance phenotypes resulted from the acquisition or loss of plasmid segments in the enterococcal isolates. These data illustrate that mobile genetic elements may contribute to the spread of vancomycin resistance among enterococci and to the genotypic and phenotypic variation within clonal isolates.
A call to strengthen data in response to COVID-19 and beyond
Authors: Azzopardi-Muscat Natasha , Kluge Hans Henri P , Asma Samira , Novillo-Ortiz David
Published: December 2020

The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has underscored the critical need for all countries to strengthen their health data and information systems and ensure the routes the data travel, from submission to use, are unobstructed. Timely, credible, reliable, and actionable data are key to ensuring that political decisions are data driven and facilitate understanding, monitoring, and forecasting. To ensure that critical decisions related to the wider health and socioeconomic effects of this pandemic are data driven, each country needs to develop or enhance a national data governance plan that includes a clear coordination mechanism, well-defined and documented data processes (manual or electronic), the exchange of data, and a data culture to empower users. In addition, countries should now more than ever invest and enhance their data and health information systems to ensure that all decisions are data driven and that they are prepared for what is next.
STAN: spatio-temporal attention network for pandemic prediction using real-world evidence
Authors: Gao Junyi , Sharma Rakshith , Qian Cheng , Glass Lucas M , Spaeder Jeffrey , Romberg Justin , Sun Jimeng , Xiao Cao
Published: December 2020

Objective

We aim to develop a hybrid model for earlier and more accurate predictions for the number of infected cases in pandemics by (1) using patients’ claims data from different counties and states that capture local disease status and medical resource utilization; (2) utilizing demographic similarity and geographical proximity between locations; and (3) integrating pandemic transmission dynamics into a deep learning model.

Materials and Methods

We proposed a spatio-temporal attention network (STAN) for pandemic prediction. It uses a graph attention network to capture spatio-temporal trends of disease dynamics and to predict the number of cases for a fixed number of days into the future. We also designed a dynamics-based loss term for enhancing long-term predictions. STAN was tested using both real-world patient claims data and COVID-19 statistics over time across US counties.

Results

STAN outperforms traditional epidemiological models such as susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR), susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR), and deep learning models on both long-term and short-term predictions, achieving up to 87% reduction in mean squared error compared to the best baseline prediction model.

Conclusions

By combining information from real-world claims data and disease case counts data, STAN can better predict disease status and medical resource utilization.
The End of the Pāṇḍavas’ Year in Disguise
Authors: Brodbeck Simon
Published: December 2020

This article discusses an ambiguity in the Sanskrit Mahābhārata concerning whether or not the Pāṇḍavas maintained their disguises for a full year. It argues that the text uses this ambiguity in order to provide a psychologically realistic explanation for the war – the war that is mandated in advance as part of a divine plan to address the Earth’s reported afflictions, and that is ensured in real time by the actions of divinities in the form of human beings. The ambiguity at the end of the year in disguise makes a success of the text’s strategy of presenting a divine plan simultaneous with the human action. The article shows that both human sides – Duryodhana and Yudhiṣṭhira – adhere closely to the dharma of the covenant made at the second dicing match.

Discussion focuses on the recognition of Arjuna by the Kauravas in the Virāṭaparvan, and on the narrative effects of that recognition. Various characters’ perspectives on this recognition event are presented and examined. Bhīṣma says the year was already over, so the Pāṇḍavas are not accused of breaching the covenant. The second half of the article explores the implications of this as they unfold in the Udyogaparvan.
Long-Term Cause-Specific Mortality in Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
Authors: de Vries Simone , Schaapveld Michael , Janus Cécile P M , Daniëls Laurien A , Petersen Eefke J , van der Maazen Richard W M , Zijlstra Josée M , Beijert Max , Nijziel Marten R , Verschueren Karijn M S , Kremer Leontien C M , van Eggermond Anna M , Lugtenburg Pieternella J , Krol Augustinus D G , Roesink Judith M , Plattel Wouter J , van Spronsen Dick Johan , van Imhoff Gustaaf W , de Boer Jan Paul , Aleman Berthe M P , van Leeuwen Flora E
Published: December 2020

Background

Few studies have examined the impact of treatment-related morbidity on long-term, cause-specific mortality in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients.

Methods

This multicenter cohort included 4919 HL patients, treated before age 51 years between 1965 and 2000, with a median follow-up of 20.2 years. Standardized mortality ratios, absolute excess mortality (AEM) per 10 000 person-years, and cause-specific cumulative mortality by stage and primary treatment, accounting for competing risks, were calculated.

Results

HL patients experienced a 5.1-fold (AEM = 123 excess deaths per 10 000 person-years) higher risk of death due to causes other than HL. This risk remained increased in 40-year survivors (standardized mortality ratio = 5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.2 to 6.5, AEM = 619). At age 54 years, HL survivors experienced similar cumulative mortality (20.0%) from causes other than HL to 71-year-old individuals from the general population. Whereas HL mortality statistically significantly decreased over the calendar period (P < .001), solid tumor mortality did not change in the most recent treatment era. Patients treated in 1989-2000 had lower 25-year cardiovascular disease mortality than patients treated in 1965-1976 (4.3% vs 5.7%; subdistribution hazard ratio = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.46 to 0.93). Infectious disease mortality was not only increased after splenectomy but also after spleen irradiation (hazard ratio = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.55 to 5.07). For stage I-II, primary treatment with chemotherapy (CT) alone was associated with statistically significantly higher HL mortality (P < .001 for CT vs radiotherapy [RT]; P = .04 for CT vs RT+CT) but lower 30-year mortality from causes other than HL (15.8%, 95% CI = 9.7% to 23.3%) compared with RT alone (36.9%, 95% CI = 34.0% to 39.8%, P = .001) and RT and CT combined (29.8%, 95% CI = 26.8% to 32.9%, P = .02).

Conclusions

Compared with the general population, HL survivors have a substantially reduced life expectancy. Optimal selection of patients for primary CT is crucial, weighing risks of HL relapse and long-term toxicity.
Seeing Red Through Rose-Colored Glasses: Subjective Hope as a Moderator of the Persuasive Influence of Anger
Authors: Walter Nathan , Demetriades Stefanie Z , Nabi Robin L
Published: December 2020

Research identifies contradictory effects of anger in political communication, engendering heuristic processing of information that exacerbates partisan bias in some situations, but increasing attention and deepening information processing in others. This study addressed these contradictions by positing subjective hope as a moderator of anger’s effects on message processing and persuasion. Employing an experimental design (N = 538) in the context of the U.S. immigration debate, the study assessed two long-standing mechanisms associated with the persuasive effects of anger—psychological reactance and message elaboration—with subjective hope as a moderator of those processes. Results confirmed that experienced anger increases reactance and superficial information processing. Critically, however, subjective hope emerged as a key moderator capable of reversing anger’s negative effects. These findings offer an important clarification of the boundary conditions governing the effects of anger and highlight the need for further study of interacting emotional processes in political communication.
The inverse relationship between solar-induced fluorescence yield and photosynthetic capacity: benefits for field phenotyping
Authors: Fu Peng , Meacham-Hensold Katherine , Siebers Matthew H , Bernacchi Carl J
Published: December 2020

Improving photosynthesis is considered a promising way to increase crop yield to feed a growing population. Realizing this goal requires non-destructive techniques to quantify photosynthetic variation among crop cultivars. Despite existing remote sensing-based approaches, it remains a question whether solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) can facilitate screening crop cultivars of improved photosynthetic capacity in plant breeding trials. Here we tested a hypothesis that SIF yield rather than SIF had a better relationship with the maximum electron transport rate (Jmax). Time-synchronized hyperspectral images and irradiance spectra of sunlight under clear-sky conditions were combined to estimate SIF and SIF yield, which were then correlated with ground-truth Vcmax and Jmax. With observations binned over time (i.e. group 1: 6, 7, and 12 July 2017; group 2: 31 July and 18 August 2017; and group 3: 24 and 25 July 2018), SIF yield showed a stronger negative relationship, compared with SIF, with photosynthetic variables. Using SIF yield for Jmax (Vcmax) predictions, the regression analysis exhibited an R2 of 0.62 (0.71) and root mean square error (RMSE) of 11.88 (46.86) μmol m–2 s–1 for group 1, an R2 of 0.85 (0.72) and RMSE of 13.51 (49.32) μmol m–2 s–1 for group 2, and an R2 of 0.92 (0.87) and RMSE of 15.23 (30.29) μmol m–2 s–1 for group 3. The combined use of hyperspectral images and irradiance measurements provides an alternative yet promising approach to characterization of photosynthetic parameters at plot level.
Do galactic bars depend on environment?: an information theoretic analysis of Galaxy Zoo 2
Authors: Sarkar Suman , Pandey Biswajit , Bhattacharjee Snehasish
Published: December 2020

We use an information theoretic framework to analyse data from the Galaxy Zoo 2 project and study if there are any statistically significant correlations between the presence of bars in spiral galaxies and their environment. We measure the mutual information between the barredness of galaxies and their environments in a volume limited sample (Mr ≤ −21) and compare it with the same in data sets where (i) the bar/unbar classifications are randomized and (ii) the spatial distribution of galaxies are shuffled on different length scales. We assess the statistical significance of the differences in the mutual information using a t-test and find that both randomization of morphological classifications and shuffling of spatial distribution do not alter the mutual information in a statistically significant way. The non-zero mutual information between the barredness and environment arises due to the finite and discrete nature of the data set that can be entirely explained by mock Poisson distributions. We also separately compare the cumulative distribution functions of the barred and unbarred galaxies as a function of their local density. Using a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, we find that the null hypothesis cannot be rejected even at $75{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence level. Our analysis indicates that environments do not play a significant role in the formation of a bar, which is largely determined by the internal processes of the host galaxy.
A semi-analytical treatment to wind accretion in neutron star supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries – I. Eccentric orbits
Authors: Bozzo E , Ducci L , Falanga M
Published: December 2020

We present in this paper a first step toward a semi-analytical treatment of the accretion process in wind-fed neutron star (NS) supergiant X-ray binaries with eccentric orbits. We consider the case of a spherically symmetric wind for the supergiant star and a simplified model for the accretion on to the compact object. A self-consistent calculation of the photoionization of the stellar wind by the X-rays from the accreting NS is included. This effect is convolved with the modulation of the mass accretion rate induced by the eccentric orbit to obtain the expected X-ray luminosity of a system along the orbit. As part of our results, we first show that the bi-modality of low- and high-X-ray luminosity solutions for supergiant X-ray binaries reported in previous papers is likely to result from the effect of the NS approaching first and then moving away from the companion (without coexisting simultaneously). We propose that episodes of strong wind photoionization can give rise to off-states of the sources. Our calculations are applied to the case of a few classical supergiant X-ray binary systems with known eccentricities (Vela X-1, 4U 1907+09, GX 301-2) and to the case of the only supergiant fast X-ray transient with a confirmed eccentric orbit, IGR J08408-4503. The results are compared with observational findings on these sources. We also discuss the next steps needed to expand the calculations toward a more comprehensive treatment in future publications.
Party Whips and Expertise: Explaining Committee Switching in the Scottish Parliament
Authors: Cairney Jerome , Gherghina Sergiu
Published: December 2020

Committee work lies at the core of parliamentary activities in established representative democracies. While extensive literature refers to committee activity, there is limited research on committee switching. This article seeks to address this gap and aims to explain what drives Members of the Scottish Parliament to switch committees. It focuses on the fifth session (since 2016) in which committee switching is frequent. The qualitative analysis uses semi-structured interviews conducted with committee switchers in January–February 2020. Findings illustrate that the main drivers for committee switching are a combination of organisational constraints and individual motivations. Among these, key determinants are party control and the legislators’ expertise and interest in the subject.
The Mechanism of Non-Photochemical Quenching in Plants: Localization and Driving Forces
Authors: Ruban Alexander V , Wilson Sam
Published: December 2020

Non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching (NPQ) remains one of the most studied topics of the 21st century in photosynthesis research. Over the past 30 years, profound knowledge has been obtained on the molecular mechanism of NPQ in higher plants. First, the largely overlooked significance of NPQ in protecting the reaction center of photosystem II (RCII) against damage, and the ways to assess its effectiveness are highlighted. Then, the key in vivo signals that can monitor the life of the major NPQ component, qE, are presented. Finally, recent knowledge on the site of qE and the possible molecular events that transmit ΔpH into the conformational change in the major LHCII [the major trimeric light harvesting complex of photosystem II (PSII)] antenna complex are discussed. Recently, number of reports on Arabidopsis mutants lacking various antenna components of PSII confirmed that the in vivo site of qE rests within the major trimeric LHCII complex. Experiments on biochemistry, spectroscopy, microscopy and molecular modeling suggest an interplay between thylakoid membrane geometry and the dynamics of LHCII, the PsbS (PSII subunit S) protein and thylakoid lipids. The molecular basis for the qE-related conformational change in the thylakoid membrane, including the possible onset of a hydrophobic mismatch between LHCII and lipids, potentiated by PsbS protein, begins to unfold.
Towards a responsible integration of artificial intelligence technology in the construction sector
Authors: Pillai Vishnu Sivarudran , Matus Kira J M
Published: December 2020

The uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) innovations in the construction industry implies new physical and socio-political risks. Risk analysis is crucial to managing these risks, but is challenging due to the inherent complexity and lack of applied knowledge specific to construction activities. We forecast potential AI innovation trends related to construction from a keyword concurrence analysis of 974 journal articles. We use this analysis to identify potential sector-specific risks in construction activities by forming a risk map based on an analysis of ninety-four articles related to the ethics and impacts of AI technologies. We found that trends in innovation more often involve areas in construction considered ‘back-end’ tasks, as opposed to ‘on-site’. Thus, the potential risks and regulatory challenges from the use of AI technology in the construction sector will be legal, financial, and social, as opposed to risks involving physical harm to users on construction sites.
AlgU, a Conserved Sigma Factor Regulating Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Promoting Virulence inPseudomonas syringae
Authors: Wang Haibi , Yang Zichu , Swingle Bryan , Kvitko Brian H.
Published: December 2020

Pseudomonas syringae can rapidly deploy specialized functions to deal with abiotic and biotic stresses. Host niches pose specific sets of environmental challenges driven, in part, by immune defenses. Bacteria use a “just-in-time” strategy of gene regulation, meaning that they only produce the functions necessary for survival as needed. Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors transduce a specific set of environmental signals and change gene expression patterns by altering RNA polymerase promoter specificity, to adjust bacterial physiology, structure, or behavior, singly or in combination, to improve chances of survival. The broadly conserved ECF sigma factor AlgU affects virulence in both animal and plant pathogens. Pseudomonas syringae AlgU controls expression of more than 800 genes, some of which contribute to suppression of plant immunity and bacterial fitness in plants. This review discusses AlgU activation mechanisms, functions controlled by AlgU, and how these functions contribute to P. syringae survival in plants.

[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 “No Rights Reserved” license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. 2021
How Visual Arts–Based Education Can Promote Clinical Excellence
Authors: Chisolm Margaret S. , Kelly-Hedrick Margot , Wright Scott M.
Published: December 2020

A growing movement to integrate the arts and humanities into health professions education is afoot. While educators may easily conceive how arts-based teaching can improve clinically relevant skills such as observation and critical thinking, they may not realize it also has the potential to transform learners in myriad ways beyond sharpening these fundamental skills. In this article, the authors review how visual arts–based education can promote clinical excellence by enhancing communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism and humanism, diagnostic acumen and clinical reasoning, and passion for clinical medicine. They describe the most widely studied visual arts–based education method, Visual Thinking Strategies, in detail as an exemplar of how arts-based pedagogy can help health care professionals strive for and ultimately achieve clinical excellence.
Dysphagia and Satisfaction Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
Authors: Paziuk Taylor , Henry Tyler , Koons Katelyn , Conaway William , Mangan John , Hilibrand Alan , Vaccaro Alexander , Rihn Jeffrey
Published: December 2020

Study Design:

Prospective observation.

Objective:

To assess the effect of dysphagia on patient satisfaction following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Background:

Difficulty with swallowing is a common complaint following anterior cervical spine surgery. The exact impact of this issue on the patient’s overall satisfaction is unknown because of its often-transient nature.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective evaluation of all patients from a single surgeon undergoing an anterior cervical spine surgery. Dysphagia was evaluated both preoperatively and postoperatively at set intervals via a combination of 3 validated scoring systems. Mean satisfaction scores at 6 months was evaluated at 6 months via modified CSRS survey. Comparative analysis was performed to determine if there was any relationship between the 2 outcomes.

Results:

A total of 96.77% (68/71) of enrolled patients completed all of their follow-up surveys. The prevalence of dysphagia was 32.4% at 2 weeks after surgery, 20.6% at 6 weeks, 13.2% at 3 months, and 13.2% at 6 months. In total, 82.35% (56/68) of patients were satisfied with their surgical outcome and only 5.88% (4/68) were dissatisfied with their outcome. There was no relationship between a patient’s overall satisfaction level and the presence of dysphagia at any postoperative interval. The absence of neck pain at 6 months was the only significant predictor of patient satisfaction (P=0.003).

Conclusion:

Dysphagia is a common but often transient complaint following anterior cervical spine surgery. Fortunately, its presence does not seem to correlate with a patient’s overall satisfaction level following surgery.

Level of Evidence:

Level I
Prior Treatment for Non–small Cell Lung Cancer Is Associated With Improved Survival in Patients who Undergo Definitive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for a Subsequent Lung Malignancy
Authors: Farrugia Mark K. , Jun Ma Sung , Hennon Mark W. , Nwogu Chukwumere E. , Dexter Elisabeth U. , Picone Anthony L. , Demmy Todd L. , Gomez-Suescun Jorge A. , Fung-Kee-Fung Simon , Yendamuri Sai S. , Singh Anurag K.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Despite occurring commonly, the prognoses of second early-stage non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are not well known.

Methods:

The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of inoperable patients who underwent thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) from February 2007 to April 2019. Those with previous small cell lung cancers or SBRT treatments for tumors other than NSCLC were excluded. Multivariate Cox regression and a matched pair cohort analyses evaluated the prognoses of patients undergoing definitive SBRT for a new second primary.

Results:

Of 438 patients who underwent definitive SBRT for NSCLC, 84 had previously treated NSCLC. Univariate log-rank tests identified gender, Karnofksy performance status (KPS), prior lung cancer, anticoagulation use, and history of heart disease to correlate with overall survival (OS) (P<0.05). These factors were incorporated into a multivariate Cox regression model that demonstrated female sex (P=0.004, hazard ratio [HR]=0.68), KPS (P<0.001, HR=2.0), and prior lung cancer (P=0.049, HR=0.7) to be significantly associated with OS. A similar approach found only gender (P=0.017, HR=0.64) and tumor stage (P=0.02, HR=1.7) to correlate with relapse-free survival. To support the Cox regression analysis, propensity score matching was performed using gender, age, KPS, tumor stage, history of heart disease, and anticoagulation use. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis within the matched pairs found prior lung cancer to be associated with improved OS (P=0.011), but not relapse-free survival (P=0.44).

Conclusions:

Compared with initial lung cancer SBRT inoperable cases, ablative radiotherapy for new primaries was associated with improved OS. Physicians should not be dissuaded from offering SBRT to such patients.
Glioma-Associated Oncogene-1 Expression in Basal Cell Carcinoma and Its Histologic Mimics
Authors: Gradecki Sarah E. , Eid Mary V. , Pramoonjago Patcharin , Wick Mark R.
Published: December 2020

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, and it has numerous histologic mimics with variable prognoses and treatments. Although some immunohistochemical stains can be used for the differential diagnosis of BCC, variability and overlap in results can complicate their interpretation. Immunohistochemical staining for glioma-associated oncogene-1 (Gli-1) was performed on 26 nodular BCCs, 22 infiltrative BCCs, 9 basaloid squamous cell carcinomas, 12 desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas, 19 Merkel cell carcinomas, 11 sebaceous carcinomas, 10 cylindromas, 14 spiradenomas, 12 adenoid cystic carcinomas (AdCC), and 1 solitary trichoepithelioma. Strength of staining was scored as 0, 1+, 2+, or 3+, and distribution of staining was categorized as diffuse, multifocal, or focal. Strong, diffuse Gli-1 expression was seen in all tumors with basal epidermal-type differentiation, including BCC, trichoepithelioma, and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. All examples of Merkel cell carcinoma were negative for cytoplasmic expression. Seven out of 11 sebaceous carcinomas were negative for Gli-1, and the remaining 4 showed 1+ expression. Cylindroma, spiradenoma, and AdCC, each an adnexal skin tumor, showed the most variable staining, but with cylindroma and spiradenoma demonstrating comparable labeling patterns. Overall, although Gli-1 may not distinguish between basal epidermal-type tumors, it may have a role in separating that group from lesions with adnexal differentiation, particularly sebaceous carcinoma, but also cylindroma, spiradenoma, and AdCC. Any cytoplasmic staining seems to exclude the diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma.