bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence and survival for oropharynx and non‐oropharynx head and neck cancers among veterans living with HIV
Authors: Mazul Angela L. , Hartman Christine , Kramer Jennifer , White Donna L. , Royse Kathryn , Raychaudhury Suchismita , Sandulache Vlad , Ahmed Sarah T. , Richardson Peter , Sikora Andrew G. , Chiao Elizabeth
Published: October 2020

Background

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) have an excess risk for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) compared to the general U.S. population, but little is known about HIV‐specific risk factors associated with the incidence and outcomes HNSCC. We aim to identify clinical and HIV‐specific risk factors associated with oropharyngeal and non‐oropharyngeal HNSCC incidence and outcomes separately.

Methods

We constructed a retrospective cohort study of 45,052 PLWH aged 18 or above from the national Veteran Affairs (VA) Corporate Data from 1999 to 2015. We extracted demographic data and risk factor information, including history of alcohol abuse, smoking, CD4 count (cells/μl), and percent of follow‐up time with undetectable HIV viral load as time‐updated variables. We calculated the age‐standardized incidence rates of oropharyngeal and non‐oropharyngeal HNSCC and estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HR). We also examined overall survival using Kaplan–Meier curves and adjusted HR.

Results

The standardized incidence rate of oropharyngeal and non‐oropharyngeal HNSCC in this veteran cohort of PLWH is 23.0 (95% confidence intervals (CIs): 17.1‐28.9) and 55.4 (95% CI: 46.5‐64.3) per 100,000 person‐years, respectively. Nadir CD4 count ≤200 was associated with an increased risk of non‐oropharyngeal HNSCC (HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.31‐2.30 vs >200). Five‐year overall survival of OPSCC (37.0%) was significantly lower than non‐oropharyngeal HNSCC (49.1%).

Conclusions

PLWH who receive care in the VA had higher age‐adjusted HNSCC incidence rates than reported in the general population, suggesting that HIV and immunosuppression play a role. Additional studies should be conducted to study the interaction between HPV and HIV.
Quinone Methide‐Based Organophosphate Hydrolases Inhibitors: Trans Proximity Labelers versus Cis Labeling Activity‐Based Probes
Authors: Dubovetskyi Artem , Cherukuri Kesava Phaneendra , Ashani Yacov , Meshcheriakova Anna , Reuveny Eitan , Ben‐Nissan Gili , Sharon Michal , Fumagalli Laura , Tawfik Dan S.
Published: October 2020

Quinone methide (QM) chemistry is widely applied including in enzyme inhibitors. Typically, enzyme‐mediated bond breaking releases a phenol product that rearranges into an electrophilic QM that in turn covalently modifies protein side chains. However, the factors that govern the reactivity of QM‐based inhibitors and their mode of inhibition have not been systematically explored. Foremost, enzyme inactivation might occur in cis, whereby a QM molecule inactivates the very same enzyme molecule that released it, or by trans if the released QMs diffuse away and inactivate other enzyme molecules. We examined QM‐based inhibitors for enzymes exhibiting phosphoester hydrolase activity. We tested different phenolic substituents and benzylic leaving groups, thereby modulating the rates of enzymatic hydrolysis, phenolate‐to‐QM rearrangement, and the electrophilicity of the resulting QM. By developing assays that distinguish between cis and trans inhibition, we have identified certain combinations of leaving groups and phenyl substituents that lead to inhibition in the cis mode, while other combinations gave trans inhibition. Our results suggest that cis‐acting QM‐based substrates could be used as activity‐based probes to identify various phospho‐ and phosphono‐ester hydrolases, and potentially other hydrolases.
Characterization of New DNA Aptamers for Anti‐HIV‐1 Reverse Transcriptase
Authors: Ratanabunyong Siriluk , Aeksiri Niran , Yanaka Saeko , Yagi‐Utsumi Maho , Kato Koichi , Choowongkomon Kiattawee , Hannongbua Supa
Published: October 2020

HIV‐1 RT is a necessary enzyme for retroviral replication, which is the main target for antiviral therapy against AIDS. Effective anti‐HIV‐1 RT drugs are divided into two groups; nucleoside inhibitors (NRTI) and non‐nucleoside inhibitors (NNRTI), which inhibit DNA polymerase. In this study, new DNA aptamers were isolated as anti‐HIV‐1 RT inhibitors. The selected DNA aptamer (WT62) presented with high affinity and inhibition against wild‐type (WT) HIV‐1 RT and gave a KD value of 75.10±0.29 nM and an IC50 value of 84.81±8.54 nM. Moreover, WT62 decreased the DNA polymerase function of K103 N/Y181 C double mutant (KY) HIV‐1 RT by around 80 %. Furthermore, the ITC results showed that this aptamer has small binding enthalpies with both WT and KY HIV‐1 RTs through which the complex might form a hydrophobic interaction or noncovalent bonding. The NMR result also suggested that the WT62 aptamer could bind with both WT and KY mutant HIV‐1 RTs at the connection domain.
Cysteine‐Rich Peptides: Hyperstable Scaffolds for Protein Engineering
Authors: González‐Castro Rafael , Gómez‐Lim Miguel A. , Plisson Fabien
Published: October 2020

Cysteine‐rich peptides (CRPs) are small proteins of less than 100 amino acids in length characterized by the presence of disulfide bridges and common end‐to‐end macrocyclization. These properties confer hyperstability against high temperatures, salt concentration, serum presence, and protease degradation to CRPs. Moreover, their intercysteine domains (loops) are susceptible to residue hypervariability. CRPs have been successfully applied as stable scaffolds for molecular grafting, a protein engineering process in which cysteine‐rich structures provide higher thermodynamic and metabolic stability to an epitope and acquire new biological function(s). This review describes the successes and limitations of seven cysteine‐rich scaffolds, their bioactive epitopes, and the resulting grafted peptides.
Fabrication of Graphitic Carbon Nitride‐Based Film: An Emerged Highly Efficient Catalyst for Direct C—H Arylation under Solar Light
Authors: Chaubey Surabhi , Yadav Rajesh K. , Kim Tae Wu , Yadav Tara Chand , Kumar Abhishek , Dwivedi D. K. , Pandey B. K. , Singh Atul P.
Published: October 2020

Main observation and conclusion

Photoredox C—H bond formation can proceed in aerobic environment under solar light and has therefore become attractive. Nowadays, different types of expensive novel metal complexes and nanomaterials have been urbanized as photocatalysts for direct C—H bond formation in between derivatives of heteroarenes (HAs) and aryl diazonium salts. These photocatalysts, however, still suffer from poor stability, high cost, and decay. Herein, a graphitic carbon nitride‐based fluorescein isothiocyanate (g‐C3N4–FITC) film photocatalyst has been reported, which shows excellent light harvesting ability, and band gap suitability to catalyze the metal free direct C—H arylation of HAs under solar light at ambient temperature. Moreover, the g‐C3N4–FITC film photocatalyst can be reused four times without significant loss of activity, confirming the excellent photocatalytic stability. The current strategy to construct a g‐C3N4–FITC film photocatalyst for direct C—H arylation opens a new path towards replacing metal‐based catalysts in fine chemical synthesis.
Acute monocytic leukemia presenting as generalized lymphadenopathy and skin rash in a toddler: highlighting the clinicopathologic mimics
Authors: Jain Aleena , Gupta Parikshaa , Gupta Nalini , Senguttuvan Gnanamani , Kapadia Alpeshkumar Bipinbhai , Thirunavukkarasu Balamurugan , Nada Ritambhra , Varma Neelam
Published: October 2020

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the fifth most common malignancy in children. Extramedullary involvement in acute myeloid leukemia is rare and can be seen in soft tissues, central nervous system, skin and lymphoreticular organs. The clinical presentations can often be non‐specific and hence, the diagnosis can be very challenging, especially in cases without a prior hematologic diagnosis. We report a case of pediatric acute monocytic leukemia presenting with generalized lymphadenopathy and cutaneous rash. Fine‐needle aspiration was performed from the lymph nodes and a cytologic diagnosis of infiltration by a lymphoreticular malignancy was suggested. Peripheral blood, bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid involvement were noted subsequently. Flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate confirmed a diagnosis of acute monocytic leukemia. The index case besides highlighting an uncommon presentation of acute monocytic leukemia in a toddler, also emphasizes the need to consider acute monocytic leukemia as a cytomorphologic differential in such presentations.
An approach to increasing forecast‐combination accuracy through VAR error modeling
Authors: Weigt Till , Wilfling Bernd
Published: October 2020

We consider a situation in which the forecaster has available M individual forecasts of a univariate target variable. We propose a 3‐step procedure designed to exploit the interrelationships among the M forecast‐error series (estimated from a large time‐varying parameter VAR model of the errors, using past observations) with the aim of obtaining more accurate predictions of future forecast errors. The refined future forecast‐error predictions are then used to obtain M new individual forecasts that are adapted to the information from the estimated VAR. The adapted M individual forecasts are ultimately combined and any potential accuracy gains from the adapted combination forecasts analyzed. We evaluate our approach in an out‐of‐sample forecasting analysis, using a well‐established 7‐country data set on output growth. Our 3‐step procedure yields substantial accuracy gains (in terms of loss reductions of up to 18%) for the simple average and three time‐varying‐parameter combination forecasts.
The use of lithic raw materials at the Early Mesolithic open‐air site Feuersteinacker (Vogelsbergkreis, Germany)
Authors: Hess Thomas , Riede Felix
Published: October 2020

The open‐air site Feuersteinacker near Stumpertenrod has yielded one of the largest lithic assemblages in Central Germany. It repeatedly served as a workshop for the production of stone tools during an early phase of the Mesolithic. The range of lithic raw materials is extremely diverse, but until today, there is only a limited number of archaeological studies on the occurrence of lithic resources in the area. The following study presents the first in‐depth investigation of the use of different rock types by Mesolithic hunter–fisher–gatherers at the site. Provenance analyses using petrographic methods permit raw materials to be assigned to a specific source and provide new insights into their formation. Furthermore, this study explores the way in which the materials were processed throughout the reduction sequence. A comparison of topographic parameters suggests that the location was situated on an important transit route during prehistoric times. The presented results contribute to a better understanding of mobility patterns and subsistence strategies of Early Mesolithic groups in Central Germany.
Oral health in patients with dementia: A meta‐analysis of comparative and observational studies
Authors: Zeng Liang‐Nan , Zong Qian‐Qian , Xu Shi‐Wei , An Feng‐Rong , Ungvari Gabor S. , Bressington Daniel T. , Cheung Teris , Qin Ming‐Zhao , Chen Li‐Gang , Xiang Yu‐Tao
Published: October 2020

Objective

Poor oral health is common in dementia, but findings of epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. This meta‐analysis examined oral health in patients with dementia diagnosed according to standardized diagnostic criteria.

Methods

Six international databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were searched from their commencement date until 8 November 2018. Oral health was measured by the Remaining Teeth (RT) and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index. The mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of DMFT Index total and component scores were calculated using a random‐effect model.

Results

Twenty‐four studies were included for analyses. The pooled DMFT Index was 23.48 (95% CI: 22.34, 24.62), while the pooled score for each component was 2.38 (95% CI: 1.56, 3.20) in decayed teeth (DT), 18.39 (95% CI: 15.92, 20.87) in missing teeth (MT), 2.29 (95% CI: 0.62, 3.95) in filled teeth (FT), and 11.59 (95% CI: 9.14, 14.05) in RT. Compared to controls, people with dementia had significantly a higher DMFT Index total score (MD = 3.80, 95% CI: 2.21, 5.39, p < 0.00,001), and significantly lower number of RT (MD = −3.15, 95% CI: −4.23, −2.06, p < 0.00,001). Subgroup analyses revealed that higher DMFT Index score was significantly associated with year of survey (>2010), study design (case‐control study), percentage of females (≤54.3), and the Mini Mental State Examination score (≤18.2). Higher MT score was significantly associated with study design (cross‐sectional study), and lower FT score was significantly associated with year of survey (>2010).

Conclusions

Oral health was significantly poorer in people with dementia compared with controls. Regular screening and effective treatment should be implemented for this population.
Hypomagnesemia and incidence of osteoradionecrosis in patients with head and neck cancers
Authors: Liu Wenli , Qdaisat Aiham , Zhou Shouhao , Fuller Clifton D. , Ferrarotto Renata , Guo Ming , Lai Stephen Y. , Cardoso Richard , Mohamed Abdallah S. R. , Lopez Gabriel , Narayanan Santhosshi , van Dijk Lisanne V. , Cohen Lorenzo , Bruera Eduardo , Yeung Sai‐Ching J. , Hanna Ehab Y.
Published: October 2020

Background

We aimed to determine whether hypomagnesemia predicts osteoradionecrosis development in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and oral cavity who received platinum‐based concurrent chemoradiation with or without induction therapy.

Methods

We reviewed data from patients with head and neck cancers who had undergone chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin/carboplatin between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014 at our institution. Pathologic features, laboratory test results, disease stage, and social histories were recorded. The association between hypomagnesemia and osteoradionecrosis was analyzed controlling for known confounding factors.

Results

Hypomagnesemia during cancer treatment was associated with osteoradionecrosis development (HR = 2.72, P = .037) independent of total radiation dose (HR = 1.07, P = .260) and smoking history (HR = 2.05, P = .056) among the patients who received platinum‐based induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation.

Conclusions

Hypomagnesemia was predictive of the development of osteoradionecrosis in patients with cancers of the oropharynx and oral cavity receiving platinum‐based induction followed by concurrent chemoradiation.
The tumor microenvironment of lymphomas: Insights into the potential role and modes of actions of checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Menter Thomas , Tzankov Alexandar , Dirnhofer Stefan
Published: October 2020

The tumor microenvironment (TME) – a term comprising non‐neoplastic cells and extracellular matrix as well as various cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and other substances in the vicinity of tumor cells – is an integrative part of most tumors including lymphomas. Interactions between lymphoma cells and the TME are vital for survival and proliferation of the former. In addition, lymphoma cells often reprogram the TME to protect them from defense mechanisms of the host's immune system. In this review, we will introduce the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) for lymphoma cells looking at direct cell–cell interactions as well as cytokine‐related communications. The immunomodulative/immunosuppressive role of the TME is more and more coming into the focus of potential new targeted therapies, and thus a special attention will be given to the interactions of immune checkpoints such as programed cell death protein 1 and L1 (PD‐1/PD‐L1), T‐cell immunoglobulin and mucin‐domain containing protein‐3 (TIM‐3), lymphocyte‐activation gene 3 (LAG‐3), and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein‐4 (CTLA4) with the TME, as well as their expression by both lymphoma cells and cells of the TME. Aspects of the TME will be discussed for indolent and aggressive B‐cell lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphomas, and T‐cell lymphomas. In addition, the potential influence of other immunomodulators such as lenalidomide will be briefly touched. The complex role of the TME is in the focus of new therapeutic options. In order to exploit its full therapeutic potential, however, a thorough understanding of TME biology and interaction between lymphoma cells and the TME, as well as the host's immune system and the TME is necessary.
Cointegration tests at the quantiles
Authors: Furno Marilena
Published: October 2020

A cointegration test for quantile regressions is proposed and implemented using Italian data. The test relies on auxiliary quantile regression to verify the stationarity of the residuals of the cointegrating equation. According to the problem under analysis, the cointegrating equation may or may not model a structural break, to verify cointegration with or without break. The existing test by Xiao, Journal of Econometrics (2009), 150, 248–260 is a fluctuation type test, which is closely related to Qu, Journal of Econometrics (2008), 146, 170–184 on structural break in quantile regressions. The link between the two tests makes unclear if the fluctuation test verifies cointegration, stability, or possibly cointegration and stability mixed together. Two real data case studies and a Monte Carlo experiment complete the analysis.
Assessment of pulmonary toxicity of potential antioxidant drug PEGylated nanoceria after intratracheal instillation in rats
Authors: Qian Qinqing , Zhang Yun , Chen Yuan , Ye Chenqiao , Feng Qiang , Tu Jinqing , Lu Zhenbo , Xu Yilan , Ran Na , Xing Guiying , Yu Zhangsen
Published: October 2020

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles have unique redox properties and exert excellent antioxidant effects in the biological environment. In recent years, many researchers have focused on the CeO2 nanoparticles as an effective antioxidant drug in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. However, the toxicity of CeO2 nanoparticles in vivo remains controversial and still needs intensive research. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the pulmonary and systemic toxicity in rats after 14 days of exposure to the PEGylated CeO2 nanoparticles (abbreviated as CNPs; exposure dose of 2, 10, or 20 mg/kg) through a single intratracheal instillation (IT). We assessed the indicators of lung injury and the pathological damage degree of lung tissue. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis and lung histopathology revealed the occurrence of slight pulmonary inflammation in the 20‐mg/kg experimental group rats. However, the inflammation factors in the lung tissue of every group rats did not significantly increase, and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in lung tissue homogenate rose considerably in the experimental groups. Collectively, these results indicated that pulmonary exposure by the high dose of CNPs could induce mild pulmonary inflammation but did not cause severe systemic toxicity. Moreover, we speculate that the mechanism of pulmonary toxicity of CNPs in rats was due to the autophagic death of healthy lung epithelial cells mediated by endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our results implicate that CNPs can be safely used as an antioxidant drug for the oxidative stress pulmonary diseases.
A critical‐cultural‐relational approach to rupture resolution: A case illustration with a cross‐racial dyad
Authors: Chang Doris F. , Dunn Jordan J. , Omidi Maryam
Published: October 2020

Ruptures are common in any therapeutic relationship and their successful resolution is associated with positive outcomes. However, therapist and client differences with regard to power, privilege, identity, and culture increase social and cultural distance, contributing to alliance ruptures and complicating the repair process. Informed by critical race theories, cultural psychological perspectives, and relational principles, we highlight how power, privilege, identity, and culture shape the development of ruptures and thus, how analyses of these dynamics should inform the process of repair. We present an expanded critical‐cultural‐relational approach to rupture resolution that emphasizes essential skills of critical self‐awareness, wise affect, and anti‐oppressive interpersonal engagement, and extends Safran and Muran's (2000) general rupture resolution model to emphasize a critical analysis of the rupture and repair processes. We illustrate our approach through a case presentation involving a rupture in a cross‐racial dyad with themes of racism and classism.
Pharmacogenetic profiling of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) variants in the Indian population
Authors: Naushad Shaik Mohammad , Hussain Tajamul , Alrokayan Salman A. , Kutala Vijay Kumar
Published: October 2020

Background

The present study aimed to delineate the pharmacologically relevant dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) variants in the Indian population.

Methods

We screened 2000 Indian subjects for DPYD variants using the Infinium Global Screening Array (GSA) (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA).

Results

The GSA analysis identified seven coding, two intronic and three synonymous DPYD variants. Level 1A alleles (rs75017182, rs3918290, P633Qfs*5 and D949V) were found to be rare (minor allele frequency: 1.889%), whereas Level 3 alleles were observed to be predominant (C29R: 24.91%, I543V: 9.047%, M166V: 8.993% and V732I: 8.44%). In silico predictions revealed that all Level 1A alleles were deleterious, whereas three (M166V, S534N and V732I) of seven Level 3 alleles were damaging. CUPSAT analysis revealed that two Level 1A (P633Qfs*, D949V) and three Level 3 (I543V, V732I and S534N) variants were thermolabile. The pooled Indian data showed that V732I, S534N and rs3918290 variants were associated with 5‐FU/capecitabine toxicity, whereas C29R, I543V and M166V variants exhibited the null association. A comparison of our data with other population data from the ‘Allele Frequency Aggregator’ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/snp/docs/gsr/alfa/) database showed similarities with the South Asian data.

Conclusions

We have identified four Level 1A (non‐functional/dysfunctional) and seven Level 3 variants in the DPYD gene. The pooled Indian data revealed the association of V732I, S534N and rs3918290 variants with 5‐FU/capecitabine toxicity. Clustering analysis revealed the similarities in the DPYD profiles of the Indian and South Asian populations.
Degenerative joint changes following intra‐articular fracture are more severe in mice with T cell deficiency
Authors: Buchanan Michael W. , Furman Bridgette D. , Zeitlin Jacob H. , Huebner Janet L. , Kraus Virginia B. , Yi John S. , Olson Steven A.
Published: October 2020

The inflammatory response to joint injury, specifically intra‐articular fracture, has been implicated in posttraumatic arthritis development. However, the role of T cells in regulating the development of posttraumatic arthritis is unclear. We hypothesized that the absence of T cells would lead to less severe posttraumatic arthritis following intra‐articular fracture. T cell‐deficient, athymic nude, and wild‐type C57BL/6NJ mice were assessed at 8 weeks following closed articular fracture. Joints were assessed using histologic scores of arthritis, synovitis, and bone morphology via micro computed tomography. Cells were profiled in whole blood via flow cytometry, and plasma and synovial fluid derived cytokines were quantified by multiplex analysis. Compared to C57BL/6NJ mice, nude mice had significantly greater histologic evidence of arthritis and synovitis. Whole blood immune cell profiling revealed a lower percentage of dendritic cells but increased natural killer (NK) cells in nude mice. Concurrently, nude mice had significantly higher levels of NK cells in synovial tissue. Concentrations of plasma interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor α, and synovial fluid IL‐12, IL‐17, and IL‐6 in both knees were greater in nude mice. Outcomes of this study suggest that T cells may play a protective regulatory role against the development of posttraumatic arthritis. Clinical significance: Lack of functional T cells exacerbated the development of posttraumatic arthritis following intra‐articular fracture suggesting that critical regulators of the immune responses, contained within the T cell population, are required for protection. Future research identifying the specific T cell subsets responsible for modulating disease immunopathogenesis will lead to new therapeutic targets to mitigate posttraumatic arthritis.
Actual 10‐year survivors and 10‐year recurrence free survivors after primary liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in the 21st century: A single institution contemporary experience
Authors: Linn Yun Le , Chee Madeline Y. , Koh Ye‐Xin , Teo Jin‐Yao , Cheow Peng‐Chung , Chow Pierce K. H. , Chan Chung‐Yip , Chung Alexander Y. F. , Ooi London L. P. J. , Goh Brian K. P.
Published: October 2020

Background

At present, the majority of outcome studies of survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) post‐liver resection (post‐LR) present actuarial survival data, which often results in overestimation of survival. We sought to evaluate the actual 10‐year survival post‐LR for HCC and identify variables that are associated with long‐term survival.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 600 consecutive patients who underwent primary LR for HCC from 2000 to 2010 at our institution. Twenty‐eight patients (4.7%) with 90‐day mortality and 125 patients who were lost to follow‐up within 10 years were excluded leaving 447 patients who met the study criteria.

Results

There were 140 actual 10‐year survivors of which 57 (40.7%) had a recurrence within 10 years. The actual 10‐year overall survival (OS) rate of the 447 patients was 31.5% and the actual 10‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was 18.6%. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that only age >65 years (OR, 0.29; p < .001) (OR, 0.973; p = .041) and presence of cirrhosis (OR. 0.37; p = .005) (OR, 0.31; p = .001) were independent factors negatively associated with actual 10‐year OS and actual 10‐year RFS, respectively.

Conclusion

Approximately one‐third of patients will survive over 10 years after LR for HCC. Amongst these 10‐year survivors, 41% had developed recurrent cancer within 10‐years of follow‐up.
Endocannabinoids and related lipids in serum from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Carter Gregory T. , McLaughlin Ryan J. , Cuttler Carrie , Sauber Garrett J. , Weeks Douglas L. , Hillard Cecilia J. , Weiss Michael D.
Published: October 2020

Background

The goals of this study were to determine whether serum concentrations of endocannabinoids (eCB) and related lipids predict disease status in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) relative to healthy controls, and whether concentrations correlate with disease duration and severity.

Methods

Serum concentrations of the eCBs 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) and N‐arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), and related lipids palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), oleoylethanolamine (OEA), and 2‐oleoylglycerol (2‐OG), were measured in samples from 47 patients with ALS and 19 healthy adults. Hierarchical binary logistic and linear regression analyses assessed whether lipid concentrations predicted disease status (ALS or healthy control), duration, or severity.

Results

Binary logistic regression revealed that, after controlling for age and gender, 2‐AG, 2‐OG and AEA concentrations were unique predictors of the presence of ALS, demonstrating odds ratios of 0.86 (P = .039), 1.03 (P = .023), and 42.17 (P = .026), respectively. When all five lipids and covariates (age, sex, race, ethnicity, body mass index, presence of a feeding tube) were included, the resulting model had an overall classification accuracy of 92.9%. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that in patients with ALS, AEA and OEA inversely correlated with disease duration (P = .030 and .031 respectively), while PEA demonstrated a positive relationship with disease duration (P = .013). None of the lipids examined predicted disease severity.

Conclusions

These findings support previous studies indicating significant alterations in concentrations of circulating lipids in patients with ALS. They suggest that arachidonic and oleic acid containing small lipids may serve as biomarkers for identifying the presence and duration of this disease.
Reply
Authors: Perk Jonathan , Anziska Yaacov , Seidman Roberta
Published: October 2020

See article on pages E9–E10 in this issue.
A unified numerical model for wetting of soft substrates
Authors: Aland Sebastian , Mokbel Dominic
Published: October 2020

The wetting of deformable elastic structures has been recently shown to comprise a rich variety of new physical phenomena (stick‐slip motion, durotaxis, Shuttleworth effect, etc.) whose fundamental understanding demands for numerical simulation tools. In this article, we develop a novel unified model and numerical method for this problem. As special features, the method includes exact incompressibility and a linear monolithic assembly of the Navier‐Stokes and Cahn‐Hilliard equations which stabilizes dominant surface tension at small interface lengths. Also, solid viscosity is included which offers the opportunity to simulate the surfing behavior of droplets on viscoelastic substrates for the first time. We show that the method is highly accurate and more robust than most previous approaches and illustrate its potential by numerical simulation examples.
Creep correction of elastic modulus and hardness for viscoelastic materials during microindentation
Authors: Liu Erqiang , Kong Lingyu , Xiao Gesheng , Lin Jinbao , Zhao Guanghui , Li Huaying
Published: October 2020

In this paper, a dimensionless creep correction factor is proposed to simplify the calculation by using a fitting function of creep displacement combined with reduced modulus formula. Using experimental results of PA12 under different testing conditions during indentation, the creep‐corrected calculations of contact depth, reduced modulus, and hardness are studied. Results show that the elastic modulus without creep correction is significantly over‐estimated, while the creep‐corrected elastic modulus is a constant value (1.25 GPa) which does not change with the test variables. Conversely, the nanohardness extracted by the conventional approach is under‐estimated and the creep‐corrected contact hardness is not constant due to the time‐dependent deformation. The introduction of creep correction factor can significantly simplify the correction calculation process of material parameters.
Synthetic and natural polyampholytes: Structural and behavioral similarity
Authors: Kudaibergenov Sarkyt E.
Published: October 2020

The ability of synthetic polyampholytes to adopt globular, coil, helix, and stretched conformations and to exhibit coil–globule, helix–coil, liquid–liquid, sol–gel phase transitions with respect to internal (structure, composition, charge distribution, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and so forth) and external factors (pH, temperature, ionic strength, thermodynamic quality of solvents, and so forth) is very important in duplicating the structural hierarchy of proteins. In this review, the structural and behavioral similarities between synthetic and natural polymers are analyzed, primarily concentrating on synthetic polyampholytes, amphoteric polypeptides, and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) in order to demonstrate the close relationship. The application aspects of polyampholytes and future opportunities are briefly outlined.
Effect of acrylonitrile content of SAN on the bending morphology and its quantitative variation inside crystals of PCL/SAN blends confined in thin films
Authors: Mamun Al
Published: October 2020

The effect of acrylonitrile content of SAN on the bending morphology of PCL/SAN blends was studied. The blends were prepared from solution with different compositions, and isothermally crystallized at a certain temperature. During crystallization at 45°C, the truncated lozenge‐shaped morphology of the PCL crystals being modified to regular/inverted S‐ or C‐shaped morphology for PCL/SAN blends with 9.5–25% AN in SAN. The bending curvature increases by lowering the crystallization temperature, and the growth rate of PCL decreases with SAN reflecting the miscible nature of the blends. For blends with 30% AN in SAN, mix morphologies with different crystal growth rates reflects the immiscible nature of the blends. Raman spectroscopy reveals at lower crystallization temperature, for miscible blends, a small amount of SAN is retained in the PCL crystal, with a regular increase in concentration from the midpoint to the edge of the crystal, whereas a homogeneous distribution of SAN is found in immiscible blends. Those distribution of SAN are completely absent at higher crystallization temperatures due to a higher crystallographic order of the PCL crystals.
Comorbidity and long‐term clinical outcome of laryngotracheal clefts types III and IV: Systematic analysis of new cases
Authors: Seidl Elias , Kramer Johanna , Hoffmann Florian , Schön Carola , Griese Matthias , Kappler Matthias , Lisec Kristina , Hubertus Jochen , von Schweinitz Dietrich , Di Dio Diana , Sittel Christian , Reiter Karl
Published: October 2020

Background

Long segment laryngotracheoesophageal clefts (LTECs) are very rare large‐airway malformations. Over the last 40 years mortality rates declined substantially due to improved intensive care and surgical procedures. Nevertheless, long‐term morbidity, comorbidity, and clinical outcomes have rarely been assessed systematically.

Methods

In this retrospective case series, the clinical presentation, comorbidities, treatment, and clinical outcomes of all children with long‐segment LTEC that were seen at our department in the last 15 years were collected and analyzed systematically.

Results

Nine children were diagnosed with long segment LTEC (four children with LTEC type III and five patients with LTEC type IV). All children had additional tracheobronchial, gastrointestinal, or cardiac malformations. Tracheostomy for long‐time ventilation and jejunostomy for adequate nutrition was necessary in all cases. During follow‐up one child died from multiorgan failure due to sepsis at the age of 43 days. The clinical course of the other eight children (median follow‐up time 5.2 years) was stable. Relapses of the cleft, recurrent aspirations, and respiratory tract infections led to repeated hospital admissions.

Conclusions

Long‐segment LTECs are consistently associated with additional malformations, which substantially influence long‐term morbidity. For optimal management, a multidisciplinary approach is essential.
Values, risks, and power influencing librarians' decisions to host drag queen storytime
Authors: Floegel Diana , Barriage Sarah , Kitzie Vanessa , Oltmann Shannon
Published: October 2020

This paper reports preliminary qualitative findings from a survey of public library staff who work at libraries that have and have not hosted drag queen storytimes (DQS), a popular but contested children's program. Three constructs—values, risks, and power—are developed to describe how individual, library, and institutional forces combine to determine whether DQS occur. Findings contribute to limited scholarly work on DQS by including locations that have not hosted DQS and by engaging critically with how institutional forces shape library staffs' decision‐making around DQS. It is critical to understand factors contributing to this decision‐making to inform contextually appropriate strategies for encouraging dialogue about DQS as well as LGBTQ+ visibility and justice in children's programming. Moreover, DQS constitute a salient context through which to critically explore broader issues of power and inclusion in public libraries.
Toward an integrated information science
Authors: Hartel Jenna , Bates Marcia J. , Gorichanaz Tim , Latham Kiersten , Lueg Christopher , Rieh Soo Young , Thomson Leslie
Published: October 2020

More than ever, Information Science needs a coherent, powerful, integrated vision of itself and the value proposition it delivers in this Information Age. Complex and multifaceted uncertainties like pandemics and climate change do not yield to narrow or piecemeal solutions. Holistic visions of Information Science existed at our field's formation a century ago, but sadly over the years have become increasingly fragmented and specialized. This 90‐minute panel invites participants in the ASIS&T 2020 Annual Meeting to reconsider the benefits of holism and creates a stage to re‐imagine a big and integrated Information Science. To that end, we will first adopt Bates' (2002) conception of seven interpenetrating “Layers of Understanding.” Then, information scientists with expertise in one of the seven layers will speak about the information phenomena at their level. Having the full range of strata illuminated, Dr. Marcia J. Bates will share her sage reflections. Ample time will remain for the audience to tinker with, extend, challenge, or celebrate the idea of a wide‐ranging, integrated Information Science.
Late‐life immigration, transition process, and information behavior among older Chinese individuals in Australia
Authors: Du Jia Tina , Xu Fang
Published: October 2020

The study reported in this paper is part of an ongoing project that aims to advance the understanding of older migrants' information behavior in transition and their resilience in leveraging information and technology to achieve social integration into a new country. Through the lens of transition theory, this research investigates the information behavior of Chinese migrants to Australia at an older age (i.e., late‐life migrants), which is little reported in the migrant information behavior literature. Older Chinese migrants' transition process entailed disconnectedness from previous information practices, perceptions of marginalization and having limited access to resources in English, and construction of new/extended information landscape by participating in ethnic associations and using WeChat for communication.
Human versus machine: Analyzing video game user reviews for plot and narrative
Authors: Cho Hyerim , Bossaller Jenny S. , Adkins Denice , Lee Jin Ha
Published: October 2020

Video game users have shown strong interests in having subject metadata to find games. However, creating and maintaining subject metadata is costly and difficult. This study explores the utility of an automated approach for generating subject metadata for video games, focusing on plot and narrative. By comparing two methods to analyze the reviews—qualitative analysis conducted by a human researcher vs. automated text analysis using topic modeling—the researchers investigate if an automated method can generate subject terms that are comparable to the ones generated by qualitative analysis. Findings suggest that even with a smaller set of sample dataset, qualitative analysis could create a better set of terms than automated text analysis. However, terms generated from the automated text analysis indicate that its capability to retrieve themes of the video game may be useful in future libraries.
Reconciling taxonomies of electoral constituencies and recognized tribes of indigenous Taiwan
Authors: Cheng Yi‐Yun , Ludäscher Bertram
Published: October 2020

Over the years, information science professionals have been studying biases in Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS), for example, bibliographic classifications. The robustness of classifications has been examined in diverse measures, ranging from the representation of race, gender, ethnic minorities, to indigenous peoples. In this study, we aim at (a) uncovering implicit assumptions about minorities in everyday taxonomies; (b) comparing and reconciling these different taxonomies. Specifically, we study the use case of Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples' tribe classifications and the indigenous constituencies of the legislature electoral representation. We compare four finer‐grained taxonomies for indigenous people with the coarse‐grained indigenous peoples' electoral constituencies that only recognize two regions (Lowland, Highland). The four taxonomies are: the recognized tribes in the past, the recognized tribes in the present, other possible tribes, and re‐scaled groups based on population. We employ a logic‐based taxonomy alignment approach using Region Connection Calculus (RCC‐5) relations to align these taxonomies. Our results show different options when modeling and interpreting the use case of Indigenous Taiwan constituencies, and also demonstrate that multiple perspectives can be preserved and co‐exist in our merged taxonomic representations.
Quality of images showing medication packaging from individuals with vision impairments: Implications for the design of visual question answering applications
Authors: Davis Nathan , Xie Bo , Gurari Danna
Published: October 2020

Mobile phone technology empowers individuals with vision impairment to submit images with questions and promptly receive answers from remote humans through visual question answering applications. This study aimed (a) identify challenges for visually impaired users of VizWiz, a visual question answering (VQA) application, to obtain information about medication packaging and (b) recommend design guidelines for better supporting this population to receive visual assistance. Using our four‐category coding scheme, we analyzed the quality of 265 images (131 with questions; 134 without) of medication packages from VizWiz. We found that 46% of the images were legible, 40% contained clear indicators for what information was sought, 40% had minimum background clutter, and only 5% total contained sufficient information to definitively answer the users' questions. We also conducted a thematic analysis to identify major challenges in having their questions answered. Major challenges we identified include: image legibility, incomplete display of key information, and a lack of clarity on what information is being sought. We recommend designers pay more attention to how the technology can facilitate training of users on best practices and provide additional tools to aid visually impaired users in capturing good quality images that can be used to answer their questions.
What is essential?: Understanding community resilience and public libraries in the United States during disasters
Authors: Patin Beth
Published: October 2020

Hurricane Katrina, the 4/27/2011 Tornadoes, the Oso Mudslide, and even more recently, the Coronavirus Pandemic, all demonstrated the devastating experience of disaster. While each of these extreme events varied in scope, size, and degree of disruption, each overwhelmed local authorities necessitating state and federal assistance. Prevention of disasters is ideal, but not practical. Preferably, the emphasis is placed on resilience or a community's ability to bounce back. Public libraries are considered trusted pillars in their community, posing them to provide critical information in the face of extreme challenges. This work explores community resilience and how public libraries in the United States, as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)‐designated essential community organizations, enhance community resilience. American Library Association Policy already recognizes the role libraries should play, and more recently, FEMA recognized libraries as “essential community organizations,” tasking them with the responsibility of fulfilling critical information needs in the case of a disaster. However, this designation was made without a clear understanding of how libraries should support their communities, leading to confusion during the United States’ response to Covid19. This work identifies a gap between the perspectives of the librarians and disaster response agents and suggests methods for closing this gap.
Integrating research and teaching for data curation in iSchools
Authors: Acker Amelia , Donaldson Devan Ray , Kriesberg Adam , Thomer Andrea , Weber Nicholas
Published: October 2020

The quickly changing nature of information science and technology creates unique and remarkable challenges in terms of developing curriculum focused on building data competencies. Faculties responsible for teaching current developments in information studies have the unique burden of needing to continuously update our curricula without sacrificing our broader teaching goals. This panel features diverse perspectives on teaching data curation skills in five US‐based schools of information at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Panelists will present their unique perspectives on pedagogical approaches in courses dedicated to data curation, digital preservation, description and access standards, as well as data access and interchange. Topics introduced will range from flipped classroom techniques, finding messy datasets, common pitfalls, hands‐on labs, cloud based tools, data carpentry labs, and sequencing learning objectives to match stages of the data life cycle. This panel will give ASIST conference participants an opportunity to see a range of junior faculty, each with IMLS funded research projects related to data curation, share their experiences of teaching data competencies in the classroom.
Do you know what's in those cookies? An analysis of the readability of social media cookie policies
Authors: Rawlings Elizabeth Dunn
Published: October 2020

Spend any time on the web and you will likely be prompted with a disclosure about cookies. The purpose of this exploratory study is to address the readability of cookie policies by examining a sample of popular social media websites operating in the United States. Flesch Reading Ease index and Flesch‐Kincaid Grade Level were used to assess the readability of select social media cookie policies. The results of this study suggest that the cookie policies of these sites are incongruous with the readability requirements for the average U.S. adult. Opportunities for future research to address questions related to coherence as well as the use, function, and purpose of cookies are discussed.
Lay individuals' perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI)‐empowered healthcare systems
Authors: Zhang Zhan , Genc Yegin , Xing Aiwen , Wang Dakuo , Fan Xiangmin , Citardi Daniel
Published: October 2020

With the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, patient‐facing applications have started embodying this novel technology to deliver timely healthcare information and services to the patient. However, little is known about lay individuals' perceptions and acceptance of AI‐driven, patient‐facing health systems. In this study, we conducted a survey with 203 participants to investigate their perceptions about using AI to consult information related to their diagnostic results and what factors influence their perceptions. Our results showed that despite the awareness and experience of patient‐facing AI systems being low amongst our participants, people had a generally positive attitude towards such systems. A majority of participants indicated a high level of comfortability and willingness to use health AI systems, and agreed AI could help them comprehend diagnostic results. Several intrinsic factors, such as education background and technology literacy, play an important role in people's perceptions of using AI to comprehend diagnostic results. In particular, people with high technology and health literacy, and education levels had more experiences with using AI and tended to trust AI outputs. We conclude this paper by discussing the implications of this work, with an emphasis on enhancing the trustworthiness of AI and bridging the digital divide.