bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CALIPER Hematology Reference Standards (I)
Authors: Tahmasebi Houman , Higgins Victoria , Bohn Mary Kathryn , Hall Alexandra , Adeli Khosrow
Published: April 2020

Objectives

Accurate hematologic test interpretation based on normative reference standards is critical to ensure appropriate clinical decision making. However, healthy pediatric reference data for most hematology parameters are lacking. To address this gap, this study establishes age- and sex-specific hematologic reference standards in the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals (CALIPER) cohort of healthy children and adolescents.

Methods

Fresh whole blood samples collected from a total of 566 healthy children and adolescents (birth to <21 years) with informed consent were analyzed for 47 hematologic parameters on the Beckman Coulter DxH 900. Age- and sex-specific reference standards were calculated based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Results

Reference value distributions for most hematology parameters demonstrated dynamic changes across the pediatric age range with significant age-specific differences observed for 39 of the 47 parameters examined. Sex-specific differences were also observed for eight hematologic parameters, primarily during and after puberty.

Conclusions

This study establishes a robust database of pediatric reference standards for 47 hematologic parameters in the CALIPER cohort for the first time. These comprehensive reference value data sets report potentially important and physiologically relevant trends in hematologic markers, clearly demonstrating the need for pediatric reference standards for hematologic test interpretation.
Beware of the generic machine learning-based scoring functions in structure-based virtual screening
Authors: Shen Chao , Hu Ye , Wang Zhe , Zhang Xujun , Pang Jinping , Wang Gaoang , Zhong Haiyang , Xu Lei , Cao Dongsheng , Hou Tingjun
Published: April 2020

Machine learning-based scoring functions (MLSFs) have attracted extensive attention recently and are expected to be potential rescoring tools for structure-based virtual screening (SBVS). However, a major concern nowadays is whether MLSFs trained for generic uses rather than a given target can consistently be applicable for VS. In this study, a systematic assessment was carried out to re-evaluate the effectiveness of 14 reported MLSFs in VS. Overall, most of these MLSFs could hardly achieve satisfactory results for any dataset, and they could even not outperform the baseline of classical SFs such as Glide SP. An exception was observed for RFscore-VS trained on the Directory of Useful Decoys-Enhanced dataset, which showed its superiority for most targets. However, in most cases, it clearly illustrated rather limited performance on the targets that were dissimilar to the proteins in the corresponding training sets. We also used the top three docking poses rather than the top one for rescoring and retrained the models with the updated versions of the training set, but only minor improvements were observed. Taken together, generic MLSFs may have poor generalization capabilities to be applicable for the real VS campaigns. Therefore, it should be quite cautious to use this type of methods for VS.
Nonpreference for Oviposition of Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Sugarcane Seedlings Is Influenced by Ripening Group and Plant Age
Authors: Sturza Vinícius Soares , da Cunha Uemerson Silva , Bernardi Daniel , Greco Mayara Guelamann da Cunha Espinelli , Nava Dori Edson
Published: April 2020

The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is considered the main sugarcane pest in many countries. The use of plant genotypes less preferred by insects are among the alternative methods to control this species which can be used alone or associated with other control methods such as biological control in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. We assessed if the nonpreference for oviposition of D. saccharalis in sugarcane genotypes established by seedlings is different according to ripening group and plant age. For that purpose, four experiments were performed: 1) seedlings of early-ripening genotypes, 2) seedlings of late-ripening genotypes, 3) and mix of early- and late-ripening genotypes, seedlings, and 4) plants. There were least preferred genotypes for oviposition by D. saccharalis among seedlings of early-ripening (RB965902 and RB966928) and late-ripening (RB987935) genotypes. It was also observed when the groups were mixed as seedlings (RB965902) or plants (RB925345). The nonpreference for egg deposition in different ripening groups and plant age might be useful to integrate with other strategies for the management of D. saccharalis. Moreover, results of egg distribution might indicate the likely position of resistance factors on leaves, whether morphological or chemical.
‘Burminggaon? Nottinggaon? Biradforrd?’: British Asian Noir Depictions of Bradford
Authors: Chambers Claire
Published: April 2020

In this article, I examine noir representations of Bradford, that important West Yorkshire city which, as one British-Punjabi character’s mispronunciation suggests, has been transformed by South Asian Muslim migration. I examine a trilogy: M. Y. Alam’s Bradford noir novels Annie Potts is Dead, Kilo and Red Laal (1998−2012), and a tetralogy: A. A. Dhand’s Streets of Darkness, Girl Zero, City of Sinners and One Way Out (2016−2019). These novels explore the biradari or kinship system evoked by Atia Hosain’s character in her neologism ‘Biradforrd’. They also focus, among other matters, on Bradford’s predominantly Mirpuri community from the Azad Kashmir region of northeast Pakistan. I argue that despite their different religious backgrounds, Alam and Dhand are both from the ‘myth of return’ class and generation, and portray from the inside Bradfordians’ ghettoized deprivation, drugs problem and vulnerability to racist and Islamophobic abuse.
Engendering a constitutional moment: The quest for parity in the Chilean Constitutional Convention
Authors: Undurraga Verónica
Published: April 2020

Chile is living a constitutional moment, and the achievement of parity democracy might be part of it. The constitutional roadmap includes a plebiscite where citizens will decide whether they want a new constitution. The plebiscite was to be held in April 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 emergency, it had to be rescheduled to take place in October this year. If the option for a new constitution wins, a constituent body must be elected. To ensure parity in that election, a group of feminist political scientists and a cross-party alliance of women deputies drafted a parity bill that was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in December 2019, and is now being discussed in the Senate. If the bill is passed in its current terms, the new Chilean Constitution will be the first constitution ever written by an equal number of men and women.
Transitional justice and the challenges of a feminist peace
Authors: Lemaitre Julieta
Published: April 2020

Colombia’s 2016 Peace Accords with the former FARC guerrillas expressed the triumphs and challenges of feminist mobilization. The resulting deal has been touted as “history’s most inclusive peace deal internationally.” During the negotiations groups of women combatants, government officials, and activists were successful in integrating a gender perspective into the Accords; their triumph extended to the selection of the judges of the new transitional justice system, where gender parity is a first for regional courts. With power, however, come new and complex challenges, not least the fact that perpetrators who admit perpetrating crimes of sexual violence will receive lenient, community service, sentences. Hope is perhaps to be found in feminist peace activism in Colombia, which has far exceeded the reiteration of women’s sexual victimization, and is set to take advantage of the incorporation of restorative justice to insist on the centrality of victim impact statements, the assessment of harm as part of transitional justice, and the incorporation of victim agency and expertise. However, as this article also argues, feminist activists are also right to be skeptical: there is no clear path to the construction of a feminist peace.
Tracking Substance Use Complications: A Collaborative Analysis of Public Health and Academic Medical Center Records on Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis
Authors: de Gijsel David , DesBiens Martha , Talbot Elizabeth A , Laflamme David J , Conn Stephen , Chan Benjamin P
Published: April 2020

Background

Healthcare systems and public health agencies use different methods to measure the impact of substance use (SU) on population health. We studied the ability of systems to accurately capture data on drug use-associated infective endocarditis (DUA-IE).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with IE discharge diagnosis from an academic medical center, 2011–2017, comparing data from hospital Electronic Health Record (EHR) to State Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS). To identify SU we developed a composite measure.

Results

EHR identified 472 IE discharges (430 of these were captured in UHDDS); 406 (86.0%) were correctly coded based on chart review. IE discharges increased from 57 to 92 (62%) from 2012 to 2017. Hospitalizations for the subset of DUA-IE identified by any measure of SU increased from 10 to 54 (440%). Discharge diagnosis coding identified 128 (60.7%) of total DUA-IE hospitalizations. The composite measure identified an additional 65 (30.8%) DUA-IE hospitalizations and chart review an additional 18 (8.5%).

Conclusions

The failure of discharge diagnosis coding to identify DUA-IE in 40% of hospitalizations demonstrates the need for better systems to capture the impact of SU. Collaborative data sharing could help improve surveillance responsiveness to address an emerging public health crises.
Rotavirus and Type 1 Diabetes—Is There a Connection? A Synthesis of the Evidence
Authors: Burke Rachel M , Tate Jacqueline E , Jiang Baoming , Parashar Umesh D
Published: April 2020

Although the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is not well understood, it is believed to comprise both genetic and environmental factors. Viruses are the most well studied environmental trigger, and there is a small but growing body of research on the potential influence of rotavirus on T1D. Rotavirus infections were initially identified as possible triggers of T1D given similarities between viral peptide sequences and T1D autoantigen peptide sequences. Furthermore, rotavirus infection has been shown to modify T1D risk in T1D-prone mice. However, research into associations of rotavirus infections with T1D development in humans have yielded mixed findings and suggested interactions with age and diet. As global availability of rotavirus vaccines increases, recent studies have assessed whether rotavirus vaccination modifies T1D development, finding null or protective associations. Overall, evidence to date suggests a possible triggering relationship between some wild-type rotavirus infections and T1D, but the potential effect of rotavirus vaccination remains unclear.
Improving compliance to clinical practice guidelines with a multifaceted quality improvement program for the prevention of venous thromboembolic disease in nonsurgical patients
Authors: Ruiz-Talero Paula , Cerón-Perdomo Daniela , Hernández-Flórez Catalina , Gutiérrez-gómez Santiago , Muñoz-Velandia Oscar
Published: April 2020

Objective

To evaluate the change in compliance to thromboprophylaxis guidelines before and after the implementation of a multifaceted patient safety program.

Design

Longitudinal before and after study.

Setting

Teaching hospital, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá (Colombia).

Participants

Adult nonsurgical hospitalized patients.

Intervention

A multifaceted program for the prevention of venous thromboembolic (VTE) disease among adult nonsurgical hospitalized patients. The strategies of the program included (i) update and communication of thromboprophylaxis guidelines, (ii) the implementation of risk-assessment tools in electronic medical records, (iii) nursing staff activities and (iv) education to health personnel and patients for maintenance of the program.

Main Outcome Measure

Appropriate use of thromboprophylaxis.

Results

221 and 236 patients were evaluated in the pre- and postimplementation periods, respectively. Global appropriate thromboprophylaxis prescription went from 74.66 to 82.6% (P = 0.064). Adequate thromboprophylaxis in high-risk patients did not increase significantly (77.70 vs 80.62%, P = 0.528), but a significant reduction in inappropriate thromboprophylaxis formulation in low-risk patients was found, decreasing from 20.55 to 5.26% (P = 0.005).

Conclusions

Implementing a quality improvement multifaceted program improves the formulation of adequate thromboprophylaxis. Reducing the inappropriate prescription of VTE prophylaxis in patients at low risk of thrombosis can lead to a reduction in bleeding complications and a better use of economic and human resources.
From Threat to Risk? Exceptionalism and Logics of Health Security
Authors: Kirk Jessica
Published: April 2020

The logic of “risk” is increasingly important in the study of global health politics. One recent contribution has even argued that risk is beginning to replace security as the defining logic of health governance and policy. Others dispute this on the basis that risk and security have always operated together in the “securitization” of disease. This article constitutes a theoretical intervention into this burgeoning debate. Does a stronger appreciation of risk warrant the diminishment of security? Are we looking at the “riskification” of health rather than “securitization”? Or would this miss the way these two logics might be complimentary or intertwined in ways that we are yet to theorize? I argue that the global health and securitization literatures are better served by an explicit consideration of risk and security logics in interplay, or never entirely encompassed by the other, nor in complete alignment, yet never truly separate. To do this, I propose a reconceptualization of the central problem—exceptionalism—that allows for risk to be understood as a form of exceptionalist politics. I demonstrate the validity of this approach through an otherwise “easy case” of securitization: the US response to the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
OligoMinerApp: a web-server application for the design of genome-scale oligonucleotide in situ hybridization probes through the flexible OligoMiner environment
Authors: Passaro Marco , Martinovic Martina , Bevilacqua Valeria , Hershberg Elliot A , Rossetti Grazisa , Beliveau Brian J , Bonnal Raoul J P , Pagani Massimiliano
Published: April 2020

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful single-cell technique that harnesses nucleic acid base pairing to detect the abundance and positioning of cellular RNA and DNA molecules in fixed samples. Recent technology development has paved the way to the construction of FISH probes entirely from synthetic oligonucleotides (oligos), allowing the optimization of thermodynamic properties together with the opportunity to design probes against any sequenced genome. However, comparatively little progress has been made in the development of computational tools to facilitate the oligos design, and even less has been done to extend their accessibility. OligoMiner is an open-source and modular pipeline written in Python that introduces a novel method of assessing probe specificity that employs supervised machine learning to predict probe binding specificity from genome-scale sequence alignment information. However, its use is restricted to only those people who are confident with command line interfaces because it lacks a Graphical User Interface (GUI), potentially cutting out many researchers from this technology. Here, we present OligoMinerApp (http://oligominerapp.org), a web-based application that aims to extend the OligoMiner framework through the implementation of a smart and easy-to-use GUI and the introduction of new functionalities specially designed to make effective probe mining available to everyone.
Recurrence of Plasmodium malariae and P. falciparum Following Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in North Sumatera With Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine or Artemether-Lumefantrine
Authors: Lubis Inke Nadia D , Wijaya Hendri , Lubis Munar , Lubis Chairuddin P , Beshir Khalid B , Staedke Sarah G , Sutherland Colin J
Published: April 2020

Background

We assessed the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies for treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria, with or without co-infecting Plasmodium spp., in Sumatera, Indonesia.

Methods

Febrile patients aged >6 months with uncomplicated P. falciparum were randomized to receive dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine or artemether-lumefantrine, plus single-dose primaquine, and were followed for 42 days. Mixed Plasmodium infections were included; P. vivax infections received 14 days of primaquine. We retrospectively restricted the analysis to cases with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–confirmed parasitemia. Recurrent parasitemia in follow-up was identified by species-specific nested PCR.

Results

Of the 3731 participants screened, 302 were enrolled and randomized. In the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine arm, P. falciparum infections were confirmed by PCR in 59 participants, with mixed infections in 23 (39.0%). In the artemether-lumefantrine arm, P. falciparum infections were confirmed by PCR in 55 participants, with mixed infections in 16 (29.0%). Both regimens were well tolerated, and symptoms improved rapidly in all treated participants. In the dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine arm, 1 P. falciparum recurrence (on day 7) and 6 P. malariae recurrences (1 had a mixed infection with P. falciparum) were identified during days 3–42 of follow-up. In the artemether-lumefantrine arm, 1 P. falciparum/P. malariae/P. vivax recurrence occurred on day 35. Submicroscopic persistence occurred during follow-up in 21 (37%) of 57 receiving dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and 20 (39%) of 51 receiving artemether-lumefantrine.

Conclusions

In Sumatera, both regimens effectively cleared initial parasitemia, but P. falciparum and P. malariae persisted in some individuals. Molecular species detection should be deployed in antimalarial efficacy trials in Indonesia.

Trial registration

NCT02325180.
Partner Abuse Among Treatment-Seeking Individuals with Chronic Pain: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Association with Pain-Related Outcomes
Authors: Craner Julia R , Lake Eric S , Bancroft Kimberly E , Hanson Karen M
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study assessed the prevalence of abusive partner relationships among individuals presenting for chronic pain treatment. In addition, this study examined the association between partner abuse histories and pain-relevant outcome variables.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

This study took place at a specialty pain rehabilitation treatment center in the Midwestern United States.

Subjects

Participants in this study (N = 108) included adults (Mage = 45.73 [15.95] years) presenting for chronic pain treatment who consented to participate in a research study on stress, relationships, and chronic pain.

Methods

Participants completed self-report measures about relationship and abuse histories, physical and mental health, and demographic information. Participants were categorized into the following groups: no intimate partner violence (IPV), past IPV (>12 months ago), or current/recent IPV (≤12 months ago).

Results

Results indicated that over half (56%) of the sample endorsed a history of partner abuse and around one-third (29%) of the sample had experienced abuse within the past year. Psychological/emotional abuse was the most common form of abuse reported. Those with current/recent abuse histories reported greater impairment in pain interference, post-traumatic stress symptoms, mental health functioning, and pain self-efficacy compared with those who had not experienced abuse in the past year.

Conclusions

Partner abuse appears common among individuals with chronic pain and is associated with pain-relevant outcomes, warranting additional clinical attention and research in this area.
Extracellular DNA controls expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genes involved in nutrient utilization, metal homeostasis, acid pH tolerance and virulence
Authors: Lewenza Shawn , Johnson Lori , Charron-Mazenod Laetitia , Hong Mia , Mulcahy-O'Grady Heidi
Published: April 2020

Introduction.Pseudomonas aeruginosagrows in extracellular DNA (eDNA)-enriched biofilms and infection sites. eDNA is generally considered to be a structural biofilm polymer required for aggregation and biofilm maturation. In addition, eDNA can sequester divalent metal cations, acidify growth media and serve as a nutrient source.

Aim.We wanted to determine the genome-wide influence on the transcriptome of planktonicP. aeruginosaPAO1 grown in the presence of eDNA.

Methodology.RNA-seq analysis was performed to determine the genome-wide effects on gene expression of PAO1 grown with eDNA. Transcriptionalluxfusions were used to confirm eDNA regulation and to validate phenotypes associated with growth in eDNA.

Results.The transcriptome of eDNA-regulated genes included 89 induced and 76 repressed genes (FDR<0.05). A large number of eDNA-induced genes appear to be involved in utilizing DNA as a nutrient. Several eDNA-induced genes are also induced by acidic pH 5.5, and eDNA/acidic pH promoted an acid tolerance response inP. aeruginosa. ThecyoABCDEterminal oxidase is induced by both eDNA and pH 5.5, and contributed to the acid tolerance phenotype. Quantitative metal analysis confirmed that DNA binds to diverse metals, which helps explain why many genes involved in a general uptake of metals were controlled by eDNA. Growth in the presence of eDNA also promoted intracellular bacterial survival and influenced virulence in the acute infection model of fruit flies.

Conclusion.The diverse functions of the eDNA-regulated genes underscore the important role of this extracellular polymer in promoting antibiotic resistance, virulence, acid tolerance and nutrient utilization; phenotypes that contribute to long-term survival.
Remdesivir inhibits renal fibrosis in obstructed kidneys
Authors: Wu Ming , Xu Lin , Tan Bo , Huang Di , Yuan Meijie , Ye Chaoyang
Published: April 2020

Aim

Kidney impairment is observed in patients with COVID-19. We aimed to demonstrate the effect of anti-COVID-19 agent remdesivir on renal fibrosis.

Methods

Remdesivir and its active nucleoside metabolite GS-441524 were used to treat TGF-β stimulated renal fibroblasts (NRK-49F) and human renal epithelial cells (HK2). Cell viability was determined by CCK8 assay, and fibrotic markers were measured by Western blotting. Vehicle or remdesivir were given by intraperitoneal injection or renal injection through the left ureter in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice. Serum and kidneys were harvested. The concentrations of remdesivir and GS-441524 were measured using LC-MS/MS. Renal and liver function were assessed. Renal fibrosis was evaluated by Masson’s trichrome staining and Western blotting.

Results

Remdesivir and GS-441524 inhibited cell proliferation and the expression of fibrotic markers (fibronectin, pSmad3, and aSMA) in NRK-49F and HK2 cells. Intraperitoneal injection or renal injection of remdesivir attenuated renal fibrosis of UUO kidneys. Renal and liver function were not changed in remdesivir treated UUO mice. Remdesivir can not be detected, but two remdesivir metabolites were detected after injection.

Conclusion

Remdesivir inhibits renal fibrosis in obstructed kidneys.
Correspondence: RecurrentGNAQmutation encoding T96S in natural killer/T cell lymphoma
Authors: Lim Jing Quan , Lim Soon Thye , Ong Choon Kiat
Published: April 2020

RecurrentGNAQmutation encoding p.T96S in natural-killer/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL) was recently reported in 8.7% (11/127) of NKTCL patients. At the time of publication, this phenomenon was not observed in preceding genomic studies of NKTCL. We suspected that p.T96S was a false-positive somatic call due to misaligned sequencing reads that originated from the highly similar GNAQ-pseudogene (GNAQP) chr2q21.1 locus. Linkage disequilibrium analysis also revealed thatGNAQPhas high frequencies of co-occurring polymorphic mismatches which led to the preferential misalignment of sequencing reads to theGNAQchr9q21.2 locus instead. This correspondence implicates our interpretation of true-positive somatic variants and many other studies which could be affected by similar suboptimal interpretation of somatic mutations.
G2S3: a gene graph-based imputation method for single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Wu Weimiao , Dai Qile , Liu Yunqing , Yan Xiting , Wang Zuoheng
Published: April 2020

Single-cell RNA sequencing provides an opportunity to study gene expression at single-cell resolution. However, prevalent dropout events result in high data sparsity and noise that may obscure downstream analyses. We propose a novel method, G2S3, that imputes dropouts by borrowing information from adjacent genes in a sparse gene graph learned from gene expression profiles across cells. We applied G2S3 and other existing methods to seven single-cell datasets to compare their performance. Our results demonstrated that G2S3 is superior in recovering true expression levels, identifying cell subtypes, improving differential expression analyses, and recovering gene regulatory relationships, especially for mildly expressed genes.
Background and Design of the Community Awareness Resources and Education (CARE) Project: Reducing Cervical Cancer in Appalachia
Authors: Hade Erinn M. , Ferketich Amy K. , Lehman Amy M. , Paskett Electra D. , Wewers Mary Ellen , Ruffin Mack , Tatum Cathy , Lemeshow Stanley
Published: April 2020

Objective

The Community Awareness Resources and Education (CARE) project: Reducing Cervical Cancer in Appalachia is part of the NIH Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities initiative. It aims to increase screening rates for cervical cancer, to assist in tobacco cessation, and to determine the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in contributing to the increased risk of cervical cancer.

Methods

Eligible subjects were recruited from 14 clinics in Appalachian Ohio. CARE’s cross sectional survey (CS) (571 participants) characterized social, behavioral, and environmental factors of Pap smear screening and smoking. The intervention projects tested programs to increase Pap smear screening (280 participants) or aid in smoking cessation (300 participants). A case control study (1360 participants) assessed social, behavioral, and biologic predictors of abnormal Pap tests.

Results

The CS participants tended to be younger, more educated, and were more likely to be employed than the general population of Appalachian women 18 and over. They were similar to the other samples in terms of race, marital status, income level and smoking status.

Conclusions

CARE will provide valuable information about the multi-level barriers to obtaining regular Pap smears and quitting smoking, as well as help to identify important biological and social risk factors related to abnormal Pap smears.
Reporting the life tracks of confirmed cases can effective prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak in China
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wang Tianjing , Wang Jiaqi , Chen Jingjing , Yan Hongwei , Sun Lin
Published: April 2020

Background

Since late December 2019, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has emerged in Wuhan and rapidly spread throughout China. Fears were raised higher, effective policies for prevention and control were concerned.

Methods

Till March 3, 91273 confirmed COVID-19 cases were included in. Using Mann-Whitney U test, the provinces that reported the life tracks of confirmed cases to public had lower increased in daily new confirmed cases.

Results

Compared with the paired province, Tianjin, Jilin, Gansu, Shanxi, Hainan and Guizhou had significant differences in the number of new confirmed cases and have lower mean rank (P<0.05). Shanghai had a lower mean rank (P=0.175) but no significant difference. Besides, the successful prevention and control work need other effective strategies, such as real time media coverage, isolating the suspected cases or close contacts, delaying the return of work, closing schools, wearing facial masks, and disinfecting the communities, et.al.

Conclusions

Strategies must be adjusted in real time according to the epidemic. Reporting the life tracks of confirmed cases was an effective way to control the epidemic. They may be suggestions to other counties with an outbreak of COVID-19.
Clinical Characteristics and Risk of Second Primary Lung Cancer After Cervix Cancer: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Qian Chengyuan , Liu Hong , Feng Yan , Meng Shenglan , Wang Dong , Xu Mingfang
Published: April 2020

Background

Lung cancer as a second primary malignancy is increasingly common, but the clinical characteristics of second primary non-small cell lung cancer after cervix cancer (CC-NSCLC) in comparison with first primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC1) is unknown.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology and EndResults (SEER) cancer registry between 1998 and 2010 was used to conduct a large population-based cohort analysis. Demographic and clinical characteristics as well as prognostic data were systematically analyzed. We further compared overall survival (OS) in the two cohorts. Risk factors of secondary primary lung cancer in cervical cancer patients were also analyzed.

Results

557 (3.52%) had developed second primary lung cancer after cervix cancer and 451 were eligible for inclusion in the final analyses. In comparison to NSCLC1, patients with CC-NSCLC had a higher rate of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (36.59% vs. 19.07%, p<0.01). Median OS was longer for CC-NSCLC than for NSCLC1 before propensity score matching (PSM) (16 vs. 13months) but there was no significant difference after PSM. High-risk factors in cervical cancer to developing CC-NSCLC include: 50-79years old, black race (OR 1.417; 95%CI 1.095-1.834; p<0.05)and history of radiotherapy (OR 1.392; 95%CI 1.053-1.841; p<0.05).

Conclusion

50-79years old, black race and history of radiotherapy were independent risk factors of second primary lung cancer in cervical cancer patient. CC-NSCLC patients had distinctive clinical characteristics and a better prognosis compared with NSCLC1 patients.
Layer-specific Loss and Compensation of Parvocellular Response in Subcortical Pathways of Adult Human Amblyopia
Authors: Wen Wen , Wang Yue , He Sheng , Liu Hong , Zhao Chen , Zhang Peng
Published: April 2020

Abnormal visual experience in critical period causes amblyopia or lazy eye, reducing visual abilities even with corrected optics. A long-standing question is where in the human visual system does the amblyopic deficit arise. In particular, whether amblyopia induces selective deficits of the magnocellular (M) or the parvocellular (P) geniculostriate pathways, and whether the more ancient retinotectal pathway is also affected. Technical limitations to non-invasively measure layer-specific activity in human lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and superior colliculus (SC) hampered efforts in addressing these questions. In the current study, using lamina-resolved 3T and 7T fMRI and visual stimuli selectively activating the M and P pathways, we investigated layer-specific response properties of the LGN and the SC of amblyopia patients and normal controls. With stimuli presented to the amblyopic eye, there was a stronger response loss in the P layers than in the M layers of the LGN. Compared to normal controls, amblyopic eye’s response to the P stimulus was selectively reduced in the superficial SC, while the fellow eye’s response was robustly increased in the deep SC. Selective P response deficits of amblyopia were also observed in the visual pulvinar, early visual cortex, and ventral but not dorsal visual streams. These results provide strong in vivo evidence in adult amblyopic patients for selective deficits of parvocellular functions in the visual thalamus, and additionally reveal response deficits to the amblyopic eye and neural compensation to the fellow eye in the retinotectal pathway.

Highlights

Parvocellular response loss in the LGN P layers, visual pulvinar and ventral visual stream

Selective amblyopic deficits of the parvocellular pathway

Amblyopic eye’s response decreased in the superficial SC

Fellow eye’s response increased in the deep SC

Amblyopic deficits and neural compensation in the retinotectal pathway
Assessing public health risk factors for internally displaced households in North Darfur, Sudan
Authors: Mahmoud Elfadil Mohammed , Pal Indraijt , Ahmad Mokbul Morshed
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the public health risk factors of internally displaced households and suggest appropriate measures and strategies for health risk reduction in the context of IDPs.

Design/methodology/approach

The composite Index (CI) method was used to compare the public health risk factors at the household level in three IDP camps. A set of 22 indicators were studied in 326 households. Households were selected by using a two-stage cluster sampling technique.

Findings

The findings indicate that the Shangil Tobaya camp is at the highest risk for communicable diseases (63.6%) followed by Zamzam (52.4%) and Abu Shouk (42.7%) at the household level. Eight indicators appeared to have made differential impacts between Abu Shouk and Shangil Tobaya, these include: level of education, walking time to health facilities, water source, latrines type, safe disposal of child feces, frequency of visit by pregnant women to antenatal care services, place of delivery and women delivering their children with the help of skilled birth attendants.

Research limitations/implications

Since the selection criteria of the camps were predefined; there are variations in the number of samples between the camps. Therefore, the generalizability may be compromised.

Social implications

Increased access to healthcare services particularly reproductive health services to the most vulnerable groups (women). Community involvement in services management to promote ownership.

Originality/value

The methods used in this study is original and flexible and can be replicated for other emergency areas and risks.
Role of engineering major in entrepreneurial intentions of engineering students: a case of Pakistan
Authors: Alam Muhammad Zubair , Bilal Ahmad Raza , Sabir Saba , Kaleem Muhammad Ali
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The dynamic global environment has increased the requirement of multidisciplinary entrepreneurial engineers. While studying entrepreneurial aspects of engineers, researchers have not considered inherent variability due to engineering majors. This study investigates the impact of entrepreneurial motivation (EM) on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs), to analyse the inherent entrepreneurial potential of engineering majors. The impact of entrepreneurial education has also been studied to proffer recommendations for policymakers.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of this study is a survey conducted with 342 undergraduate students from three major engineering institutions in Pakistan using a close-structured questionnaire. Moderation analysis examines the entrepreneurial potential of different engineering majors. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been conducted to compare the EIs of different engineering majors and regarding the impact of entrepreneurial education on EIs.

Findings

The engineering major's role in the transformation of EM to EIs is multifaceted. EIs of students of a few engineering majors were found high. Entrepreneurship education improves the overall EIs of engineering students.

Practical implications

Outcomes of the study are useful for academia and policymakers to engage students of particular engineering majors, identified as entrepreneurial, in advanced entrepreneurial education and expose them to potential start-ups to have better value addition in specific sectors.

Originality/value

This is the first study in which engineering majors have been examined to bring insights about inherent entrepreneurial potential. This inherent entrepreneurial potential needs further exploration by academic researchers. The study has provided the base for future studies to institutionalize entrepreneurial education for different engineering majors.
Data center maintenance: applications and future research directions
Authors: Fadaeefath Abadi Mostafa , Haghighat Fariborz , Nasiri Fuzhan
Published: April 2020

Purpose

One of the most critical infrastructures is a data center (DC) because of it having many servers, computers and other equipment. DCs provide online services for various companies in the information technology (IT) industry. DC facilities should provide reliable online services while addressing the required quality and performance level considering maximum reliability and availability. The purpose of this study is to represent and classify the main findings in this area and to identify the main research gaps and shortcomings from the perspective of research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an organized and systematic literature review focusing on topics regarding the operation and maintenance (O&M) management of DCs.

Findings

Although there are several studies on O&M management systems for industrial systems and facilities, a limited number of studies with few methods and models have focused on DCs so far and these facilities require more attention. This paper identifies the issues and challenges for DC buildings and facilities and provides a conclusion of the findings to highlight the main research limitations for discovering new potential methods as future research opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has highlighted the main practical issues of DCs in terms of maintenance management. Several research works have been discussed specifically for DC’s maintenance, which makes this paper a credible source for researchers, maintenance managers and companies involved in the area of DC. Because several of the reviewed literature were based on real case studies, decision-makers in the DC maintenance sector can take advantage of new research on maintenance scheduling to reduce the costs of maintenance.

Originality/value

The paper has presented a comprehensive list of frequent keywords in recent publications related to O&M management for DCs. It has provided a categorized list of publications based on by their topic, methodology and case study. Because this paper has discussed research works specifically for DC’s maintenance, it is a credible source for researchers, maintenance managers and companies involved in the area of DCs.
Financial restatements and sell-side analysts' stock recommendations: evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Qasem Ameen , Aripin Norhani , Wan-Hussin Wan Nordin
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of financial restatements on the sell-side analysts' stock recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this study is based on a dataset from a panel of 246 Malaysian public listed companies for the period 2008 to 2013 (651 company-year observations). This study employs feasible generalized least squares regression.

Findings

This study finds a negative and significant relationship between restated companies and sell-side analysts' stock recommendations, which means that sell-side analysts issue less favorable stock recommendations for restated companies.

Practical implications

The findings based on observations from an emerging economy complement the results of the US studies that analysts revise their earnings forecasts or recommendations downwards or drop coverage following financial restatements. The results of this study should be useful to capital market participants in understanding how analysts perceive and evaluate restated companies.

Originality/value

This paper expands the literature on financial restatements consequences in an emerging market which is largely unstudied. Prior research on analyst behavior towards restatements has focused on the consequences of restatements in terms of analyst following and forecast accuracy and dispersion. This study examines if and how the restatements affect the analysts' final output as reflected in the recommendation opinion, an area that has so far received little attention.
Refugee and immigrant health information needs
Authors: Zimmerman Margaret , Beam Heather
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide insight into the HISB of this group. Immigrants and refugees are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes upon resettlement. However, little scholarship reports on the health information-seeking behaviors and information needs of this population.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reports the findings of a study into the health information-seeking behaviors of 85 immigrant and refugee women. Women were asked to fill out a survey in their native language with both multiple choice and open-ended questions that requested information on what health information they required the most, which means they used to get it and paired this with demographic information.

Findings

In their own words, the participants reported information requirements regarding dental care, nutrition, general, reproductive and child health, as well as assistance in navigating the healthcare system. However, they believed that medical professionals are the most reliable sources of information and that they frequently turned to less credible sources such as friends and family or the internet. This may be because of their self-reported barriers of language and cost, as wells difficulty in understanding how to obtain information in the USA. What sources the participants used and what their informational needs were was influenced by their age, education and time living in the USA. Some comparisons are made with a group of local women in a similar study conducted concurrently by the author.

Originality/value

The research presented in this study provides a clearer understanding of the health information requirements and behaviors of refugee and immigrant women.
Ambidexterity responses to security risk institutional context
Authors: Ramirez Jacobo , Vélez-Zapata Claudia , Madero Sergio
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This research aims to explore and analyze multinational enterprises (MNEs) and local firms' ambidexterity strategies to buffer against narcoterrorism impacts on their assets. The role of line managers (LMs), who have been deemed key players in the implementation of ambidextrous strategies, was investigated in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a qualitative study based on 58 semistructured interviews with key employees, i.e. firm directors, human resource (HR) managers, LMs and their subordinates, in Colombia and Mexico over a three-year period.

Findings

The “culture of insecurity” that exists in Colombia and Mexico due to narcoterrorism and the lack of governmental enactment of coercive institutional pillars defines the common frames and patterns of the beliefs held by managers and employees working in such contexts. To ensure the survival of employees and firms in unsafe institutional contexts while managing normative pressures to compete worldwide, LMs, HR departments, and ultimately firms are forced to strategically exploit security measures and simultaneously implement innovative explorative strategies.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that ambidexterity strategies in unsafe institutional contexts represent an organizational advantage for competing worldwide while surviving in such contexts. This study contributes to the literature by linking ambidexterity and new institutionalism research in a robust framework with which to examine employment relationships in unsafe institutional contexts.
What does (and does not) affect crime in India?
Authors: Hazra Devika
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper uses data from 2010 to 2016 across 32 states and union territories to investigate the determinants of crime in India. Results indicate the significance of macroeconomic, demographic, socioeconomic and deterrence factors in accounting for various categories of crime.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the evidence of heteroskedasticity and cross-sectional dependence, linear regression with panel-corrected standard errors is implemented.

Findings

It has been found that among the macroeconomic factors, only GSDP per capita was found relevant in explaining total crime rates. However, the unemployment rate and price level are crucial in explaining some categories of crime. The demographic factor, that is, population density, socioeconomic factors, that is, income inequality, poverty rate, literacy rate exhibit important and significant relationship with crime rates in India. Further, out of the four deterrence factors, charge-sheeting rate, conviction rate, pendency in police cases are important in explaining various categories of crime rates in India.

Originality/value

While implications of some socioeconomic variables are consistent with those found in previous studies, literacy rates and deterrence variables were found to have a positive association with crime. In particular, in a developing country such as India, white-collar crimes tend to increase as literacy rates increase. This calls for implementing policies that lead to greater employment opportunities for the educated masses. This paper also sheds light on the relationship between deterrence factors and crime rates in India. Deficiencies in the legal and judicial system have been detrimental to the nation's ability to curb crime rates.
Drivers and outcomes of brand engagement in self-concept for luxury fashion brands
Authors: Nyadzayo Munyaradzi W. , Johnson Lester W. , Rossi Monica
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To understand consumer brand engagement processes in luxury fashion brands. Grounded on the brand engagement in self-concept (BESC), this study examines key drivers (i.e. value co-creation, social media marketing (SMM) activities, brand self-connection and brand image) of BESC that in turn, enhance brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth (WOM) in the context of luxury fashion brands.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive survey approach was utilized and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The findings reveal that value co-creation, SMM activities and brand self-connection are significantly related to BESC and subsequently, BESC is related to both brand loyalty and positive WOM. However, brand image is not related to BESC and brand loyalty but shows a strong relationship with WOM.

Originality/value

The recognition that consumer experiences add significant value to a brand drives companies to engage with their consumers focusing on the self-concept.