bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ESG preferences, risk and return
Authors: Cornell Bradford
Published: November 2020

There are two primary factors that affect expected returns for companies with high ESG (environmental, social and governance) ratings—investor preferences and risk. Although investor preferences for highly rated ESG companies can lower the cost of capital, the flip side of the coin is lower expected returns for investors. Regarding risk, the jury remains out on whether there is an ESG‐related risk factor. However, to the extent, ESG is a risk factor it also points towards lower expected returns for investments in highly rated companies. Though ESG investing may have social benefits, higher expected returns for investors are not among them.
Determination of the pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic cut‐off values of marbofloxacin in horses to support the establishment of a clinical breakpoint for antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Authors: Bousquet‐Mélou Alain , Schneider Marc , El Garch Farid , Broussou Diane C. , Ferran Aude A. , Lallemand Elodie A. , Triboulloy Cyrielle , Damborg Peter , Toutain Pierre‐Louis
Published: November 2020

Background

Marbofloxacin (MBX), a fluoroquinolone (FQ), is considered as a critical antibiotic requiring antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for prudent use. No clinical breakpoint (CBP) currently exists to interpret the results of such tests in horses.

Objectives

To compute PK/PD cut‐offs (PK/PDCO) that is one of the three minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) considered establishing a CBP for antimicrobial susceptibility test interpretation.

Study design

A meta‐analysis conducted by combining five sets of previously published pharmacokinetic data, obtained in clinical and nonclinical settings.

Methods

Horses (n = 131) received MBX intravenously at doses of either 2 or 10 mg/kg BW. They were richly sampled (five or six samples per horse). A population model was built to generate a virtual population of 5000 MBX disposition curves by Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) over 24 hours. The selected PK/PD index was the ratio of Area Under the free plasma concentration‐time Curve divided by the MIC (fAUC/MIC). The PK/PDCO, which is the highest MIC for which 90% of horses can achieve an a priori selected critical value for the numerical value of the PK/PD index, was established for Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria for a dose of 2 mg/kg.

Results

The PK/PDCO of MBX in horses was 0.125 mg/L for Gram‐positive pathogens and 0.0625 mg/L for Gram‐negative pathogens. MBX MICs determined by broth microdilution for 54 Escherichia coli and 189 Streptococcus equi isolates are reported.

Main limitation

No clinical data are taken into account in the determination of a PK/PDco.

Conclusion

The computed PK/PDco predicts that MBX may be efficacious in horses to treat infections associated with Enterobacteriaceae but unlikely to those involving Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus equi.
Prediction of COVID‐19 active cases using exponential and non‐linear growth models
Authors: Mahanty Chandrakanta , Kumar Raghvendra , Mishra Brojo Kishore , Hemanth D. Jude , Gupta Deepak , Khanna Ashish
Published: November 2020

World Health Organization recognized COVID‐19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. A total of 213 countries and territories around the world have reported a total of 27,948,441 confirmed cases as on September 9, 2020. This article adopted two non‐linear growth models (Gompertz, Verhulst) and exponential model (SIR) to analyse the coronavirus pandemic across the world. All the models have been used for active COVID‐19 patients predictions based on the data collected from John Hopkins University repository in the time period of January 30, 2020 to June 4, 2020. Outbreak of COVID‐19 disease has been analysed for India, Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), Brazil, Italy and Germany till June 4, 2020 and predictions have been made for the number of positive cases for the next 28 days. Verhulst model fitting effect is better than Gompertz and SIR model with R‐score 0.9973. The proposed model perform better as compare to other three existing models with R‐score 0.9981.These above models can be adapted to forecast in long term intervals, based on the predictions for a short interval as of June 5, 2020 and June 30, 2020, active COVID‐19 patients for India, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, Brazil and Myanmar predicted as (236,170, 88,998, 234,066, 184,922, 645,057 and 235) and (486,357, 218,864, 240,545, 193,727, 1,211,567 and 309).
Development of pyrazole derivatives in the management of inflammation
Authors: Turones Larissa Córdova , Martins Aline Nazareth , Moreira Lorrane Kelle da Silva , Fajemiroye James Oluwagbamigbe , Costa Elson Alves
Published: November 2020

The therapeutic limitations and poor management of inflammatory conditions are anticipated to impact patients negatively over the coming decades. Following the synthesis of the first pyrazole—antipyrine in 1887, several other derivatives have been screened for anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activities. Arguably, the pyrazole ring, as a major pharmacophore and central scaffold partly, defines the pharmacological profile of several derivatives. In this review, we explore the structural–activity relationship that accounts for the pharmacological profile of pyrazole derivatives and highlights future research perspectives capable of optimizing current advancement in the search for safe and efficacy anti‐inflammatory drugs. The flourishing research into the pyrazole derivatives as drug candidates has advanced our understanding of inflammation‐related diseases and treatment.
Time will tell: Revisiting the impact of college expansion on income and occupational prestige mobility of young adults in Taiwan
Authors: Kuan Ping‐Yin , Peng Ssu‐Chin
Published: November 2020

The paper proposes a counterfactual analysis to estimate the causal effects of college expansion on the changes in income and occupational prestige of young people in Taiwan. The public attributes the rapid expansion of higher education in Taiwan in the mid 1990s as a significant cause of stagnant wage growth and high unemployment rates of college graduates in recent years. The primary concern in evaluating the policy consequences of educational expansion should be on those who would respond to expanded opportunities for education. In this paper, we use the data collected by the Panel Study of Family Dynamics in Taiwan to identify a pre‐expansion cohort and a post‐expansion cohort. We then use the matching method and the difference‐in‐difference (DID) model to estimate the impact of expansion on the changes in income and occupational prestige of three counterfactual groups: ‘always‐takers’, ‘compliers’, and ‘never‐takers’. The results show that the impact of college expansion decreased the advantage of always‐takers and benefited compliers in both income and occupational attainment of their first job. The adverse effects of college expansion suffered by always‐takers disappeared after working for either 10 or 15 years, which fits the prediction of the signalling theory.

本研究以反事實分析架構之角度，探討台灣高教擴張對年輕世代之薪資與職業流動的影響。本研究使用臺灣「華人家庭動態資料庫」於2003年及2009年的新增樣本及其後續追蹤調查，先配對並建構出無論高教擴張是否一定會上大學之「必為者」、順應高教擴張而有機會上大學之「順勢而為者」，以及無論高教擴張與否都不會上大學之「必不為者」等三類群體，藉此避免因擴張前後高教人口組成結構不同而無法直接比較的問題。研究結果發現，就順勢而為者言，高教擴張對其初職薪資和職業聲望有著正面影響，且持續到就業十年和十五年後；對必為者而言，高教擴張對其初職薪資和職業聲望有著負面影響，但雖著工作經驗的累積，該負面影響消失。整體而言，本文的研究成果支持訊號論的主張。
Citizen science data reveals the cryptic migration of the Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus in Brazil
Authors: DeGroote Lucas W. , Hingst‐Zaher Erika , Moreira‐Lima Luciano , Whitacre James V. , Slyder Jacob B. , Wenzel John W.
Published: November 2020

The Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus is abundant, charismatic and generally considered to be sedentary across its range. Using citizen science data from eBird and WikiAves, we demonstrate that the Common Potoo may be a partial migrant whose breeding populations depart southeastern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina in May to August during the region’s austral winter. MaxEnt models revealed that spatio‐temporal shifts in Common Potoo distributions were driven by seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation. We examined potential seasonal detection biases by restricting our analysis to daytime observations and testing for seasonally dependent shifts in distribution for two nocturnal non‐migratory species. Our results provide the first evidence of migration for any member of the family Nyctibiidae. Our approach exposes the potential value that WikiAves data offer towards elucidating seasonal movements of South American birds.
Changes in nutritional composition, enzyme activities and bioactive compounds of germinated buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculantum M.) under unchanged air and humidity conditions
Authors: Hung Pham Van , Trinh Le Ngoc Dang , Thuy Nguyen Thi Xuan , Morita Naofumi
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate changes in nutritional and bioactive compounds in buckwheat seeds during germination under unchanged air and humidity conditions. The germination increased the crude protein, total lipid, reducing sugars, essential amino acids (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids, but decreased the total ash, total carbohydrate and saturated fatty acids. After germinating for 48 h, the total EAA and polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly increased by 5.22% and 3.66%, respectively, as compared to those of ungerminated buckwheat. The total phenolics and flavonoids contents of both free and bound phenolic extracts of germinated buckwheat were also significantly higher than those of ungerminated buckwheat. The rutin content was found to gradually increase during germination, whereas the quercetin content was the highest in the 36 h‐germinated buckwheat (0.26 mg g−1 flour). Therefore, germinated buckwheat is considered as a potential material for producing healthy functional foods.
Adult genitourinary sarcoma: The era of optional chemotherapeutic agents for soft tissue sarcoma
Authors: Urasaki Tetsuya , Nakano Kenji , Tomomatsu Junichi , Komai Yoshinobu , Yuasa Takeshi , Yamashita Kyoko , Takazawa Yutaka , Yamamoto Shinya , Yonese Junji , Takahashi Shunji
Published: November 2020

Objective

To report our institutional experience with treatment of primary genitourinary soft tissue sarcoma.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adult soft tissue sarcoma patients treated between March 2005 and May 2019. The primary tumor sites included the prostate, kidney, urinary bladder and the paratesticular structures.

Results

A total of 19 patients – 16 men (84%) and three women (16%) – were enrolled in the study. The median age was 41 years (range 20–79 years). The most common primary site was the prostate (in eight patients; 42%), and prostatic sarcoma patients were younger than patients with sarcomas of other origins. The most common histological subtype was leiomyosarcoma (in five patients; 26%). The overall survival rates after 1, 3 and 5 years were 61.5%, 34.4% and 25.8%, respectively. The median survival time was 20.7 months (95% confidence interval 5.9–35.5 months). Univariate analysis showed that an absence of metastasis at diagnosis and complete surgical resection were predictive of favorable survival. In the chemotherapy group, the objective response rate was 20.5%. Pazopanib was administered to nine patients in the late‐line setting, and the objective response rate was 11.1%; six grade ≥3 adverse events were observed in three patients.

Conclusions

Inoperable metastatic genitourinary soft tissue sarcoma remains difficult to treat, as previously reported. Further investigation on this malignancy, including optimization of currently available antitumor drugs and the development of novel therapeutic agents, is required.
Formation and stability of gismondine‐type zeolite in cementitious systems
Authors: Okoronkwo Monday U. , Mondal Sukanta K. , Wang Bu , Ma Hongyan , Kumar Aditya
Published: November 2020

Microcrystalline zeolites of the gismondine family are often reported in alkali‐activated and blended cement systems. However, little is known about gismondine's compatibility with other cementitious phases to determine stability in long‐term phase assemblage. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the compositional field of gismondine stability in the lime‐alumina‐silica‐hydrate systems, with a particular focus on understanding the compatibility of gismondine with other cement phases such as C‐S‐H, ettringite, monosulfate, strätlingite, katoite, gypsum, calcite, portlandite, alkali, silica, and aluminosilicate phases. Results show that gismondine‐Ca forms readily at ~85°C in high aluminosilicate compositions; and persists in the presence of calcite, gypsum, ettringite, katoite solid solution, low Ca tobermorite‐like C‐S‐H, silica and aluminosilicate phases, at 20‐85°C. However, gismondine‐Ca reacts with: (a) monosulfate, producing ettringite‐thaumasite solid solution; (b) portlandite, forming tobermorite‐like C‐A‐S‐H gel and siliceous katoite at >55°C; (c) aqueous NaOH, generating gismondine‐(Na,Ca), a garronite‐like zeolite P solid solution; and (d) strätlingite leading to the conversion of strätlingite to gismondine indicating the metastability of strätlingite with respect to gismondine at 55°C. The outcomes are discussed to provide insights into the long‐term phase assemblage of relevant cement systems such as lime‐calcined clay, alkali‐activated materials, and potentially ancient Roman concrete.
Seeking consent for organ donation: Process evaluation of implementing a new Specialist Requester nursing role
Authors: Mc Laughlin Leah , Neukirchinger Barbara , Monks Jane , Duncalf Sue , Noyes Jane
Published: November 2020

Aim

To explain the differences in organ donation consent outcomes of a new nursing role (Specialist Requesters) derived from the United States (US) compared with the existing nursing role (Specialist Nurses in Organ Donation).

Design

Thirty‐month observational qualitative process evaluation: Implementation theory‐informed analysis.

Methods

Qualitative content analysis of free text describing challenges, processes and practice from 996 bespoke routinely collected potential organ donor ‘approach forms’ from two regions: one where there was no difference, and one with an observed difference in consent outcomes.

Results

Region A consent rate: Specialist Requester 75.8%, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation71.8%. Region B consent rate: Specialist Requester 71.4%, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation 82%. Region A Specialist Requesters turned the family position from no or uncertain to support organ donation in 73% of cases, compared with 27.4% in Region B. Two Specialist Requesters in Region A were highly effective. Region B experienced problems with intervention fidelity and implementation.

Conclusions

The benefits of the Specialist Requester role remain unclear. Positive differences in consent rates achieved by Specialist Requesters in the originator region reduced over time and have yet to be successfully replicated in other regions.

Impact

The impact of Specialist Requesters on consent outcomes varied across regions and it was not known why. Specialist Requesters in Region A were better at getting family member(s) to support organ donation. In Region B, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation consent rates were higher and problems with intervention fidelity were identified (recruitment, staffing, less experience). Policy makers need to understand it is not just a matter of waiting for the Specialist Requester intervention to work. Ongoing training and recruiting the right people with the right skills need to be addressed and consistently reviewed.
Mechanisms underlying altitudinal and horizontal range contraction: The western black crested gibbon
Authors: Yang Li , Shi Kai‐Chong , Ma Chi , Ren Guo‐Peng , Fan Peng‐Fei
Published: November 2020

Aim

Species ranges in mountain areas may shift both horizontally and altitudinally, resulting from climate change and anthropogenic impact. Two hypotheses (the abundant centre hypothesis and the contagion hypothesis) have been proposed to account for patterns of horizontal range contraction. However, undulating topograph causes a mosaic of unsuitable habitats, which may complicate the spatial pattern of range contraction. We develop a framework incorporating horizontal and altitudinal range contraction patterns of a species living in mountain areas, to better understand the underlying mechanisms of species range contraction.

Location

China, Northern Laos and Northern Vietnam

Taxon

Western black crested gibbon, Nomascus concolor

Methods

We collected occurrence data of the gibbons from various sources and modelled their potential distribution range in the 1950s, 1980s and 2010s, using ecological niche modelling. We compared distances from the centre point of the potential range in the 1950s to centre points of the largest 100 patches in the 1950s and the 2010s to understand the patterns of horizontal range contraction. We also calculated potential distributions within different altitudinal ranges for six populations in each period to understand the patterns of altitudinal range contraction.

Results

Potential horizontal distribution of the gibbons decreased by 69% from the 1950s to the 2010s. The centre point of the 100 largest patches in the 2010s was further apart than in the 1950s, supporting the contagion hypothesis. No populations extended their range to higher altitude, suggesting climate change did not have a profound effect on altitudinal shifts in gibbon range. All populations lost a substantial proportion of their ranges at lower altitudes (500–1,500 m) but to different degrees, suggesting that populations experienced different anthropogenic pressures.

Main conclusions

Anthropogenic threats including human population increase, agricultural expansion and hunting, were more likely than climate change to have caused range contraction in western black‐crested gibbons. This study highlights the importance of studying horizontal and altitudinal range contraction simultaneously.
A meta‐analysis of insularity effects on herbivory and plant defences
Authors: Moreira Xoaquín , Castagneyrol Bastien , García‐Verdugo Carlos , Abdala‐Roberts Luis
Published: November 2020

Aim

Plants on islands are often subjected to lower levels of herbivory relative to those found at mainland sites. As a consequence, island plants are predicted to exhibit lower levels of physical or chemical defences, which renders them more susceptible to introduced herbivores. Yet, instances of high pressure by superabundant herbivores native to islands have been reported in many insular systems, which presumably would result in heightened plant defences. To date, no quantitative review has been conducted to determine how common these contrasting patterns are and their implications for the evolution of plant‐herbivore interactions.

Location

Islands worldwide.

Taxon

Plants, insects, molluscs, mammals.

Methods

We conducted a meta‐analysis of insularity effects on herbivory and plant defences by including studies that involved island‐mainland comparisons of the same plant species in both environments (90% of cases), or insular endemics versus mainland congeners (10% of cases). We tested for differences between mammalian and invertebrate (mollusc or insect) herbivory as well as between plant chemical and physical defences by specifying comparisons based on the type of herbivore (vertebrate or invertebrate) or plant trait included in the study.

Results

Mammalian herbivory was significantly higher on islands than on mainlands. In contrast, no significant effect was observed on invertebrate herbivory. In addition, we found no significant difference in either plant physical or chemical defences between insular and mainland plants, though physical defences tended to be higher for plants on islands.

Main conclusions

All analysed mammal studies focused on species introduced to islands, suggesting greater susceptibility of insular plants to exotic mammals, whereas the lack of effects in the case of invertebrate herbivory suggests no difference in susceptibility to molluscs or insects between insular and mainland plants. Interestingly, plant trait patterns suggest a trend for increased physical defences by insular plants, possibly due to heightened pressure by exotic mammalian herbivores on islands, whereas chemical defences appear uncorrelated to differences in herbivory. These findings call for further experimental and observational studies measuring defences and herbivory for multiple sympatric plant species occurring at both mainland and island sites within a system, or comparing insular endemics to congeneric mainland species.
Metformin attenuates trauma‐induced heterotopic ossification via inhibition of Bone Morphogenetic Protein signalling
Authors: Lin Hui , Shi Fuli , Jiang Shanshan , Wang Yuanyuan , Zou Junrong , Ying Ying , Huang Deqiang , Luo Lingyu , Yan Xiaohua , Luo Zhijun
Published: November 2020

AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an intracellular sensor of energy homoeostasis that is activated under energy stress and suppressed in energy surplus. AMPK activation leads to inhibition of anabolic processes that consume ATP. Osteogenic differentiation is a process that highly demands ATP during which AMPK is inhibited. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) signalling pathway plays an essential role in osteogenic differentiation. The present study examines the inhibitory effect of metformin on BMP signalling, osteogenic differentiation and trauma‐induced heterotopic ossification. Our results showed that metformin inhibited Smad1/5 phosphorylation induced by BMP6 in osteoblast MC3T3‐E1 cells, concurrent with up‐regulation of Smad6, and this effect was attenuated by knockdown of Smad6. Furthermore, we found that metformin suppressed ALP activity and mineralization of the cells, an event that was attenuated by the dominant negative mutant of AMPK and mimicked by its constitutively active mutant. Finally, administration of metformin prevented the trauma‐induced heterotopic ossification in mice. In conjuncture, AMPK activity and Smad6 and Smurf1 expression were enhanced by metformin treatment in the muscle of injured area, concurrently with the reduction of ALK2. Collectively, our study suggests that metformin prevents heterotopic ossification via activation of AMPK and subsequent up‐regulation of Smad6. Therefore, metformin could be a potential therapeutic drug for heterotopic ossification induced by traumatic injury.
PDE1 or PDE5 inhibition augments NO‐dependent hypoxic constriction of porcine coronary artery via elevating inosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate level
Authors: Nan Yan , Zeng Xueqin , Jin Zhiyi , Li Na , Chen Zhengju , Chen Jiantong , Wang Dezhong , Wang Yang , Lin Zhenlang , Ying Lei
Published: November 2020

Hypoxic coronary vasospasm may lead to myocardial ischaemia and cardiac dysfunction. Inosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cIMP) is a putative second messenger to mediate this pathological process. Nevertheless, it remains unclear as to whether levels of cIMP can be regulated in living tissue such as coronary artery and if so, what is the consequence of this regulation on hypoxia‐induced vasoconstriction. In the present study, we found that cIMP was a key determinant of hypoxia‐induced constriction but not that of the subsequent relaxation response in porcine coronary arteries. Subsequently, coronary arteries were treated with various phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors to identify PDE types that are capable of regulating cIMP levels. We found that inhibition of PDE1 and PDE5 substantially elevated cIMP content in endothelium‐denuded coronary artery supplemented with exogenous purified cIMP. However, cGMP levels were far lower than their levels in intact coronary arteries and lower than cIMP levels measured in endothelium‐denuded coronary arteries supplemented with exogenous cIMP. The increased cIMP levels induced by PDE1 or PDE5 inhibition further led to augmented hypoxic constriction without apparently affecting the relaxation response. In intact coronary artery, PDE1 or PDE5 inhibition up‐regulated cIMP levels under hypoxic condition. Concomitantly, cGMP level increased to a comparable level. Nevertheless, the hypoxia‐mediated constriction was enhanced in this situation that was largely compromised by an even stronger inhibition of PDEs. Taken together, these data suggest that cIMP levels in coronary arteries are regulated by PDE1 and PDE5, whose inhibition at a certain level leads to increased cIMP content and enhanced hypoxic constriction.
Tsunami run‐up along the Zihuatanejo region, Mexican Pacific Coast: A modelling study
Authors: Contreras‐Tereza Víctor Kevin , Salas‐de‐León David Alberto , Monreal‐Jiménez Rosalinda , Monreal‐Gómez María Adela
Published: November 2020

A numerical hydrodynamic model was applied to Zihuatanejo Bay on the Mexican Coast of the Pacific Ocean to study the heights and arrival times of tsunamis produced by hypothetical 7.0 and 8.0 Mw magnitude earthquakes with epicenter in the Cocos Plate, at 16.9718°N–101.973°W, as well as the flooding of Zihuatanejo Town by the tsunamis. The travel times of the tsunamis to Zihuatanejo Coast are between 18 and 19 min, maximum sea surface elevations of 1 and 10 m at the coast are estimated following a 7.0 and 8.0 Mw earthquake respectively with a tsunami inland penetration up to 400 m in the second case affecting restaurants, hotels, banks, schools, businesses, museums, and even the municipal market of the town. Therefore, a densely populated area would be affected by a tsunami triggered by an 8.0 Mw earthquake.
British Dietetic Association’s Obesity Specialist Group dietetic obesity management interventions in children and young people: review & clinical application
Authors: Stewart L. , Easter S. ,   the BDA’s Obesity Specialist Group
Published: November 2020

Background

Dietitians play a vital role in the management of childhood obesity. To support that role the Obesity Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association commissioned a review and clinical application paper. This current paper is a summary of that review document, which is available on the BDA’s website.

Methods

The initial sources of evidence were guidelines, published reviews and government guidance. Best practice advice was sought from networks including the BDA’s Obesity and Paediatric Specialists groups. The original document was reviewed by a review group and members of the Obesity and Paediatric Specialist group’s committees.

Results

The overall aim of dietetic interventions in childhood weight management should be to deliver evidence based dietetic weight management care, which helps maintain positive lifestyle changes. To support this aim the review recommends the UK BMI cut off points in setting service referral and triaging criteria. Ensuring the whole child’s world is taken into account when undertaking assessment and throughout the programme process is essential. Dietitians working in this field require behavioural change skills, motivational techniques and the ability to communicate to children of differing ages and their parents. Knowledge of local child safe guarding procedures are necessary for all working in this field. Recommendations on basic and advanced skills required are specified.

Conclusions

This paper was written to compliment a full review document. The complexities around case management, child protection issues and competing family motivations require dietitians trained at undergraduate and postgraduate level to deliver high quality weight management and behavioural change.
Disability Law as an Academic Discipline: Towards Cohesion and Mainstreaming?
Authors: LAWSON ANNA
Published: November 2020

This article calls for a strengthening of Disability Law as an academic discipline and offers orientation for its future development. It argues that there is a need for enhanced cohesion among those already applying a critical disability perspective within disciplines such as Equality Law, Mental Health and Capacity Law, and Social Care and Protection Law and also for greater mainstreaming of this approach across the full breadth of sociolegal scholarship. The article is divided into three main sections. The first contextualizes Disability Law by reflecting on its relationship with other legal disciplines and broader pools of scholarship. The second focuses on issues of scope and structure. The third offers orientation for future Disability Law work by outlining four key cross‐cutting challenges with the potential to bring together scholars with expertise in different areas of substantive law.
Determinants of adherence to micronutrient powder use among young children in Ethiopia
Authors: Samuel Aregash , Brouwer Inge D. , Pamungkas Nindya P. , Terra Tosca , Lelisa Azeb , Kebede Amha , Osendarp Saskia J. M.
Published: November 2020

In Ethiopia, home fortification of complementary foods with micronutrient powders (MNPs) was introduced in 2015 as a new approach to improve micronutrient intakes. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with intake adherence and drivers for correct MNP use over time to inform scale‐up of MNP interventions. Mixed methods including questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were used. Participants, 1,185 children (6–11 months), received bimonthly 30 MNP sachets for 8 months, with instruction to consume 15 sachets/month, that is, a sachet every other day and maximum of one sachet per day. Adherence to distribution (if child receives ≥14 sachets/month) and adherence to instruction (if child receives exactly 15[±1] sachets/month) were assessed monthly by counting used sachets. Factors associated with adherence were examined using generalized estimating equations. Adherence fluctuated over time, an average of 58% adherence to distribution and 28% for adherence to instruction. Average MNP consumption was 79% out of the total sachets provided. Factors positively associated with adherence included ease of use (instruction), child liking MNP and support from community (distribution and instruction) and mother's age >25 years (distribution). Distance to health post, knowledge of correct use (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.66–0.81), perceived negative effects (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.54–0.99) and living in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People Region (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.52–0.67) were inversely associated with adherence to distribution. Free MNP provision, trust in the government and field staff played a role in successful implementation. MNP is promising to be scaled‐up, by taking into account factors that positively and negatively determine adherence.
Ultraprocessed food and chronic noncommunicable diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of 43 observational studies
Authors: Lane Melissa M. , Davis Jessica A. , Beattie Sally , Gómez‐Donoso Clara , Loughman Amy , O'Neil Adrienne , Jacka Felice , Berk Michael , Page Richard , Marx Wolfgang , Rocks Tetyana
Published: November 2020

This systematic review and meta‐analysis investigated the association between consumption of ultraprocessed food and noncommunicable disease risk, morbidity and mortality. Forty‐three observational studies were included (N= 891,723): 21 cross‐sectional, 19 prospective, two case‐control and one conducted both a prospective and cross‐sectional analysis. Meta‐analysis demonstrated consumption of ultraprocessed food was associated with increased risk of overweight (odds ratio: 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23‐1.51;P< 0.001), obesity (odds ratio: 1.51; 95% CI, 1.34‐1.70;P< 0.001), abdominal obesity (odds ratio: 1.49; 95% CI, 1.34‐1.66;P< 0.0001), all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.28; 95% CI, 1.11‐1.48;P= 0.001), metabolic syndrome (odds ratio: 1.81; 95% CI, 1.12‐2.93;P= 0.015) and depression in adults (hazard ratio: 1.22; 95% CI, 1.16‐1.28,P< 0.001) as well as wheezing (odds ratio: 1.40; 95% CI, 1.27‐1.55;P< 0.001) but not asthma in adolescents (odds ratio: 1.20; 95% CI, 0.99‐1.46;P= 0.065). In addition, consumption of ultraprocessed food was associated with cardiometabolic diseases, frailty, irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia and cancer (breast and overall) in adults while also being associated with metabolic syndrome in adolescents and dyslipidaemia in children. Although links between ultraprocessed food consumption and some intermediate risk factors in adults were also highlighted, further studies are required to more clearly define associations in children and adolescents.

Study registration

Prospero ID: CRD42020176752.
Merit recruitment, tenure protections and public service motivation: Evidence from a conjoint experiment with 7,300 public servants in Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe
Authors: Meyer‐Sahling Jan , Mikkelsen Kim Sass , Schuster Christian
Published: November 2020

How can governments manage civil servants to enhance public service motivation (PSM)? Despite the centrality of PSM in public administration research, the effects of management practices on PSM remain understudied. We address this gap through a conjoint experiment with 7,300 public servants in five countries in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Our experiment assesses two practices: merit‐based competitions for recruitment versus discretionary appointments; and permanent tenure versus temporary job contracts. We find that merit competitions are associated with greater PSM by respondents in four countries, yet have no significant effect in a fifth. Permanent contracts are associated with greater PSM (two countries), lower PSM (one country) and have no significant effect (two countries). The effects of personnel management practices thus appear to vary across contexts. A common practice in public administration research—generalizations about the effects of management practices from single‐country studies or cross‐country averages—requires rethinking.
Consensus recommendations for the use of retinoids in ichthyosis and other disorders of cornification in children and adolescents
Authors: Zaenglein Andrea L. , Levy Moise L. , Stefanko Nicole S. , Benjamin Latanya T. , Bruckner Anna L. , Choate Keith , Craiglow Brittany G. , DiGiovanna John J. , Eichenfield Lawrence F. , Elias Peter , Fleckman Philip , Lawley Leslie P. , Lewis Richard A. , Lucky Anne W. , Mathes Erin F. , Milstone Leonard M. , Paller Amy S. , Patel Sonali S. , Siegel Dawn H. , Teng Joyce , Tanumihardjo Sherry A. , Thaxton Lauren , Williams Mary L. ,   PeDRA Use of Retinoids in Ichthyosis Work Group
Published: November 2020

Topical and systemic retinoids have long been used in the treatment of ichthyoses and other disorders of cornification. Due to the need for long‐term use of retinoids for these disorders, often beginning in childhood, numerous clinical concerns must be considered. Systemic retinoids have known side effects involving bone and eye. Additionally, potential psychiatric and cardiovascular effects need to be considered. Contraceptive concerns, as well as the additive cardiovascular and bone effects of systemic retinoid use with hormonal contraception must also be deliberated for patients of childbearing potential. The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) Use of Retinoids in Ichthyosis Work Group was formed to address these issues and to establish best practices regarding the use of retinoids in ichthyoses based on available evidence and expert opinion.
Low dose oral corticosteroids, microneedling, and topical 5‐fluorouracil: A novel treatment for recalcitrant pediatric vitiligo
Authors: Marasca Claudio , Fabbrocini Gabriella , D’Andrea Mirella , Luciano Maria Antonietta , De Maio Gabriele , Ruggiero Angelo
Published: November 2020

A 10‐year‐old boy was referred to our outpatient clinic with a 2‐year history of vitiligo minimally responsive to topical corticosteroids and phototherapy. Low dose oral corticosteroids were prescribed in combination with sessions of microneedling and 5‐fluourouracil 5% cream applied immediately after needling on a monthly basis. Repigmentation was initially noted after the first cycle at week 4. After 3 sessions of treatment (week 16), the patient showed a complete repigmentation of the knees.
Gerontocracy in a comparative perspective: Explaining why political leaders are (almost always) older than their constituents
Authors: Magni‐Berton Raul , Panel Sophie
Published: November 2020

Gerontocracy, in its narrowest sense, refers to political systems ruled by elderly people, whether de jure or de facto. Although formal gerontocratic rules are progressively disappearing, contemporary political systems are still governed by individuals who are significantly older than the mean voter. This article reviews existing explanations for the prevalence of gerontocracy. To summarize main findings, gerontocracy cannot be explained by the leadership qualities of older rulers: aging leaders do not perform better in office and voters seem to be aware of it. Instead, existing research suggests that gerontocracy can be explained by strategic considerations. In autocracies, the selectorate tends to choose aging leaders in order to reduce their expected tenure length. In democracies, voters are more likely to select experienced candidates, which they expect to be more effective at advancing the interests of their constituency: this premium put on experience mechanically lengthens political careers and increases the age of the average politician. Finally, older voters, which participate more in politics, tend to prefer older politicians, because they (correctly) expect them to better defend their own interests.
Online Somatic Work: the Case of Sensory Processing Disorder
Authors: Medley‐Rath Stephanie
Published: November 2020

This study examines how people affected by sensory processing disorder (SPD) make their sensory experience visible and meaningful in their unprompted public blog‐writing. I analyzed 66 online narratives written by 44 people affected by SPD. The non‐normative sensory responses of people with SPD are invisible but may result in socially disapproved and challenging behavior (e.g., extreme picky eating). Minimal social and medical recognition of this condition puts people affected by SPD in the position of needing to explain their experience and account for behaviors that are culturally coded as inappropriate. To understand how people affected by SPD communicated their experience to unknown readers, I used techniques associated with grounded theory to analyze their unprompted narratives on The Mighty. Bloggers use several strategies to define SPD for readers, including making use of expert definitions, examples, and comparisons with normative sensory experience, and negative definitions that differentiated SPD from other disorders, normal childhood behavior, and misbehavior. Bloggers used these definitional strategies in conjunction with discourses of normal childhood, good parenting, and biomedicine to communicate and legitimize their experience. Moreover, bloggers did not challenge normative expectations of the human senses but instead reinforced conventional notions about how the senses are supposed to work.
Lifelong, universal Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia prophylaxis: Patient uptake and adherence after kidney transplant
Authors: Peterson Kathryn , Berrigan Liam , Popovic Katarina , Wiebe Christopher , Sun Siyao , Ho Julie
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients yet little is known about their adherence to prophylaxis. The goal of this study was to evaluate patient uptake and long‐term adherence after implementing universal, lifelong PJP prophylaxis.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective cohort study evaluated an adult kidney transplant program 18‐months after initiating trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMP‐SMX) 80/400 mg thrice‐weekly following a cluster of PJP cases. The protocol incorporated multi‐modal patient education and drug tolerability strategies to improve adherence, including a modified re‐challenge strategy for TMP‐SMX intolerance. Adherence was independently confirmed by the transplant pharmacist and nurse for each patient, with an a priori target ≥ 75% population on prophylaxis.

Results

Initial uptake was high with 237/250 (94.8%) patients starting prophylaxis. Long‐term maintenance was high with 192/237 (81.0%) patients remaining on prophylaxis at 18‐months. Of the remaining 45 patients who initiated prophylaxis, 36/237 (15.2%) were non‐adherent and 9/237 (3.8%) discontinued prophylaxis by 18‐months. Reasons for non‐adherence included gastrointestinal upset, fear of drug reactions and cost; but the majority of reasons were not delineated by the patients (31/36, 86.1%). There was a statistically significant increase in serum creatinine 3.3 µmol/L (0.3‐6.3 µmol/L 95% CI) and potassium 0.08 mmol/L (0.03‐0.15 mmol/L 95% CI) in those prescribed TMP‐SMX with only 3/237 (1.3%) patients discontinuing TMP‐SMX for an increase in creatinine.

Conclusion

High rates of patient uptake (94.8%) and long‐term adherence (81.0%) were observed after implementing universal lifelong PJP prophylaxis. This may be due in part to the in‐depth patient education and drug tolerability strategies employed.
Efg1 and Cas5 Orchestrate Cell Wall Damage Response to Caspofungin in Candida albicans
Authors: Xiong Kang , Su Chang , Sun Qiangqiang , Lu Yang
Published: November 2020

Echinocandins are recommended as the first-line drugs for the treatment of systemic candidiasis. Cas5 is a key transcription factor involved in the response to cell wall damage induced by echinocandins.
Human Herpesviruses 6A and 6B in Brain Diseases: Association versus Causation
Authors: Komaroff Anthony L. , Pellett Philip E. , Jacobson Steven
Published: November 2020

Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B), collectively termed HHV-6A/B, are neurotropic viruses that permanently infect most humans from an early age. Although most people infected with these viruses appear to suffer no ill effects, the viruses are a well-established cause of encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. In this review, we summarize the evidence that the viruses may also be one trigger for febrile seizures (including febrile status epilepticus) in immunocompetent infants and children, mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), and, possibly, Alzheimer’s disease.
Use of a Multiplex PCR Assay To Assess the Presence of Treponema pallidum in Mucocutaneous Ulcerations in Patients with Suspected Syphilis
Authors: Grange P. A. , Jary A. , Isnard C. , Burrel S. , Boutolleau D. , Touati A. , Bébéar C. , Saule J. , Martinet P. , Robert J.-L. , Moulene D. , Vermersch-Langlin A. , Benhaddou N. , Janier M. , Dupin N.
Published: November 2020

We evaluated the utility of the commercial Allplex genital ulcer real-time PCR multiplex assay for detecting
Treponema pallidum
(TPA), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2), and
Chlamydia trachomatis
serovar L (lymphogranuloma venereum [LGV]) DNA in mucosal and genital ulcers in the context of suspected syphilis. In total, 374 documented genital and mucosal ulcers from patients with and without syphilis presenting at several sexually transmitted infection (STI) centers in France from October 2010 to December 2016 were analyzed at the National Reference Center (CNR) for Bacterial STIs at Cochin Hospital in Paris. TPA detection results were compared with the final diagnosis based on a combination of clinical examination, serological results, and in-house nested PCR (nPCR).
Value of Xpert MTB/RIF Using Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Hong-Chao , Gao Yu-Lu , Li Dan-Feng , Zhao Xi-Yi , Pan Yuan-Qing , Zhu Chang-Tai
Published: November 2020

The performance of Xpert MTB/RIF using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains unclear. Therefore, a systematic review/meta-analysis was conducted.
Unexpected Discovery and Expression of Amphibian Class II Endogenous Retroviruses
Authors: Chen Mingyue , Guo Xiaoxia , Zhang Lei
Published: November 2020

Class II retroviruses, largely distributed among mammals and birds, are of particular importance for medicine and economics. Class II ERVs have been discovered in a range of vertebrates, with the exception of amphibians, which are known only to possess class I and class III-like ERVs.
Daily Viral Kinetics and Innate and Adaptive Immune Response Assessment in COVID-19: a Case Series
Authors: Vetter Pauline , Eberhardt Christiane S. , Meyer Benjamin , Martinez Murillo Paola Andrea , Torriani Giulia , Pigny Fiona , Lemeille Sylvain , Cordey Samuel , Laubscher Florian , Vu Diem-Lan , Calame Adrien , Schibler Manuel , Jacquerioz Frederique , Blanchard-Rohner Géraldine , Siegrist Claire-Anne , Kaiser Laurent , Didierlaurent Arnaud M. , Eckerle Isabella
Published: November 2020

This work is particularly important because it simultaneously assessed the virology, immunology, and clinical presentation of the same subjects, whereas other studies assess these separately. We describe the detailed viral and immune profiles of the first five patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 and quarantined in Geneva, Switzerland. Viral loads peaked at the very beginning of the disease, and infectious virus was shed only during the early acute phase of disease. No infectious virus could be isolated by culture 7 days after onset of symptoms, while viral RNA was still detectable for a prolonged period. Importantly, we saw that all patients, even those with mild symptoms, mount an innate response sufficient for viral control (characterized by early activated cytokines and monocyte responses) and develop specific immunity as well as cellular and humoral SARS-CoV-2-specific adaptive responses, which already begin to decline a few months after the resolution of symptoms.
A common complaint… a rare disease!
Authors: Toner Mary-Beth , Molloy Seana , Mallett Peter , Thompson Andrew , Speirs Lynne
Published: November 2020

A 2-year-old previously well child presented to the emergency department with temperatures and lethargy. He was pale and looked unwell. He received a fluid bolus and was commenced on intravenous ceftriaxone. Pus was discharging from his left ear with postauricular swelling and erythema. Given clinical concerns, urgent neuroimaging was arranged.

Question 1

What does the CT scan of head show (figure 1)?

Figure 1

Enhanced CT showing external and middle ear infection with skull base osteomyelitis.

Acute subdural collection

Acute mastoiditis secondary to sinusitis

Enhanced cerebral lesions

Meningitis with abscess formation

Middle ear infection with skull base osteomyelitis

A subsequent MRI scan was performed (figure 2).

Figure 2

MRI shows thrombus in left jugular vein, and MRA demonstrates occlusion of left internal carotid artery secondary to carotid sheath infection.

Question 2

What do these two images show?

Left jugular vein dissection with subdural haematoma

Left jugular vein thrombus and carotid artery occlusion

Posterior fossa tumour

Right sided posterior communicating artery aneurysm

Skull base abscess

Question 3

What is the most likely diagnosis?

Acute mastoiditis secondary to chronic sinusitis

Cerebral tuberculosis (TB)

Hereditary thrombophilia (protein S deficiency)

Lemierre’s syndrome

Non-accidental head trauma (NAI)

Question 4

What is the most commonly identified organism in this syndrome?

Candida albicans

Fusobacterium necrophorum

Haemophilus influenza

Staphylococcus aureus

Streptococcus pyogenes

Answers can be found on page XX.