bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The digitalization of manufacturing: investigating the impact of production environment and company size
Authors: Buer Sven-Vegard , Strandhagen Jo Wessel , Semini Marco , Strandhagen Jan Ola
Published: October 2020

Purpose

While manufacturing digitalization is currently considered an important enabler of competitive advantage, its applicability across the industrial spectrum is unclear. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the use of digital technologies and different production environments and company sizes. The focus is on three aspects of digitalization: shop floor digitalization, technologies for vertical and horizontal integration and organizational IT competence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data gathered from a survey questionnaire sent to 212 Norwegian manufacturing companies. To test the formulated hypotheses, the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method was used.

Findings

This study confirmed that large enterprises (LEs) have a significantly higher level of shop floor digitalization and organizational IT competence than small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Regarding the difference between production environments, no statistically significant difference in the implementation level of the investigated digitalization aspects could be found.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first studies to investigate differences in the adoption of digital technologies between different groups of production environments. This study also provides updated findings related to the relationship between digitalization and company size. The findings presented in this paper provide important insights into directing future research efforts to assist environments that are currently lagging behind in their digital transformation.
Corneal‐Smart Phone: A novel method to intelligently estimate postmortem interval
Authors: Zheng JiLong , Huo DeMin , Wen HongYang , Shang QingFa , Sun WenKai , Xu ZiTong
Published: October 2020

The changes of postmortem corneal opacity are often used to roughly estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) in forensic practice. The difficulty associated with this time estimate is the lack of objective means to rapidly quantify postmortem corneal changes in crime scenes. This study constructed a data analysis model of PMI estimation and implemented an intelligent analysis system for examining the sequential changes of postmortem corneal digital images, named Corneal‐Smart Phone, which can be used to quickly estimate PMI. The smart phone was used in combination with an attachment device that provided a darkroom environment and a steady light source to capture postmortem corneal images. By segmenting the corneal pupil region images, six color features, Red (R), Green (G), Blue (B), Hue (H), Saturation (S), Brightness (V) and four texture features Contrast (CON), Correlation (COR), Angular Second Moment (ASM), and Homogeneity (HOM), were extracted and correlated with PMI model. The results indicated that CON had the highest correlation with PMI (R2 = 0.983). No intra/intersubject variation in CON values were observed (p > 0.05). With the increase in ambient temperature or the decrease in humidity, the CON values were increased. PMI prediction error was <3 h within 36 h postmortem and extended to about 6–8 h after 36 h postmortem. The correct classification rate of the blind test samples was 82%. Our study provides a method that combines postmortem corneal image acquisition and digital image analysis to enable users to quickly obtain PMI estimation.
Boston Violence Intervention Advocacy Program: Challenges and Opportunities for Client Engagement and Goal Achievement
Authors: Pino Elizabeth C. , Fontin Francesca , James Thea L. , Dugan Elizabeth
Published: October 2020

Objectives

A better understanding of the factors affecting client engagement in hospital‐based violence intervention programs (HVIPs), and which types of client needs prove most challenging to achieve, may be of key importance in developing novel, targeted strategies to violence intervention. In this study, we examined the demographics and injury characteristics of violently injured patients by their level of engagement with the Boston Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP) and determined the degree of client goal achievement through VIAP client services.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed using a cohort of patients presenting to the Boston Medical Center emergency department for a violent penetrating injury due to community violence between 2013 and 2018. Data on client demographics, injury characteristics, and client needs were collected from the VIAP data repository. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals to assess the difference in hazards of client goal achievement by need type.

Results

Of the 2,243 victims of violent injury, 839 (37.4%) patients engaged with VIAP. Significant predictors of client engagement include younger age, Black race, permanent home, existing mental health diagnosis, gunshot wound, and more severe injuries. Conversely, older age, homelessness, substance use, stab wound, and less severe injuries predicted refusal of VIAP services. For clients who chose to engage with VIAP, needs related to education (HR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.58), employment (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.77), and housing (HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.68 to 0.86) were significantly less likely to be achieved compared to basic needs.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that VIAP is effectively engaging the client population that HVIPs have been designed to support. HVIPs should consider novel strategies to engage vulnerable populations not typically targeted by intervention programs. These results speak to the difficulties of program attrition and the complexities of altering the life course for victims of violence.
The IASB and Comparability of International Financial Reporting: Research Evidence and Implications
Authors: Tarca Ann
Published: October 2020

One motivation for the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is to improve the comparability of financial information presented by listed companies and thereby to contribute to improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in financial markets around the world. Beginning from the perspective of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and academic researchers, I describe what is meant by comparability and then I list four areas of research where academics have investigated comparability of IFRS financial statements. Within each area I present examples of studies, usually around the time of adoption of IFRS, and discuss the implications of the research findings for the work of the IASB and the activities of other bodies supporting the implementation of IFRS. Finally, I identify areas of future research that could contribute to public policy deliberations.
Adolescent boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty grow faster than patients with organic growth hormone deficiency
Authors: Binder Gerhard , Lehrian Theresa J. , Hoffmann Elisa , Blumenstock Gunnar , Rahmaoui Abdelkader , Trzaskoma Benjamin , Reinehr Thomas
Published: October 2020

Objective

Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is a tempo variant with a good prognosis. Healthy late‐maturing adolescents grow slower than postulated by age‐related references, and therefore, CDGP is frequently confused with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). For differential diagnosis, height velocity references for CDGP are needed.

Design and Patients

Here, we provide height velocity data for late‐maturing boys based on mixed longitudinal and cross‐sectional observations in a group of 38 German adolescents with proven CDGP and compare them with cross‐sectional observations in a group of 164 adolescents with organic GHD from the National Cooperative Growth Study registry.

Results

In the critical age interval from 13.4 to 14.9 years, the growth of prepubertal adolescents with CDGP was faster (mean/median height velocity, 5.2/5.4 cm/years; quartiles, 4.4‐6.2 cm/years) than that of prepubertal adolescents with organic GHD (3.5/3.2 cm/years; quartiles, 2.0‐4.4 cm/years) in the cross‐sectional analysis (p < .0001). Based on our mixed longitudinal and cross‐sectional analysis, the height velocity of adolescent boys with CDGP exceeded previous model calculations on average by 1.0 cm.

Conclusions

In conclusion, prepubertal adolescents with CDGP grow faster than patients with organic GHD. Previous model estimates underestimated height velocity of boys with CDGP.
Acid‐sensing ion channels regulate nucleus pulposus cell inflammation and pyroptosis via the NLRP3 inflammasome in intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Zhao Kangcheng , An Ran , Xiang Qian , Li Gaocai , Wang Kun , Song Yu , Liao Zhiwei , Li Shuai , Hua Wenbin , Feng Xiaobo , Wu Xinghuo , Zhang Yukun , Das Abhirup , Yang Cao
Published: October 2020

Objective

Lactate accumulation is an important factor in the intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Currently, the effect and underlying mechanism of action of lactate on nucleus pulposus (NP) cell inflammation during IVDD are unclear. Previous studies have found that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in the regulation of NP inflammation. This study focused on the regulation of acid‐sensitive ion channels (ASICs) in relation to inflammation and the effect of NLRP3 on pyroptosis levels in NP cells under acidic conditions.

Design

For the in vitro experiments, human NP cells were exposed to 6 mM lactate solution; different groups were either treated with NLRP3 inhibitor or transfected with siRNA against NLRP3, siRNA against ASC or a mix of these, and mRNA and protein expression levels were then assessed. For the in vivo experiment, varying concentrations of lactate were injected into rat intervertebral discs and examined via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological staining.

Results

Extracellular lactate promoted NLRP3 inflammasome activation and degeneration of the NP extracellular matrix; furthermore, it increased the levels of inflammation and pyroptosis in the NP. Lactate‐induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation was blocked by ASIC inhibitors and NLRP3 siRNA.

Conclusions

Extracellular lactate regulates levels of intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) through ASIC1 and ASIC3. ROS activate the NF‐κB signalling pathway, thus promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL‐1β release, both of which promote NP degeneration.
Photosensitivität unter Vemurafenib
Authors: Eberlein Bernadette , Biedermann Tilo , Hein Rüdiger , Posch Christian
Published: October 2020

Vemurafenib, ein BRAF‐Inhibitor, weist als häufige kutane Nebenwirkung eine erhöhte Photosensitivität auf, die sich klinisch im Auftreten eines sofortigen Hitzegefühls und eines ödematösen Erythems bei Sonnenexposition sowie einer Sonnenbrandreaktion im Sinne einer Spätreaktion äußert. Phototestungen konnten sowohl für die Sofortreaktion als auch für die Spätreaktion ein Aktionsspektrum im UVA‐Bereich (320 nm bis 400 nm) belegen. Pathogenetisch legten photochemische Untersuchungen nahe, dass UVA‐Bestrahlung von Vemurafenib unter bestimmten Bedingungen ein UVA‐absorbierendes Photoprodukt produziert. Auch in vitro konnte an verschiedenen Zellmodellen die phototoxische Wirkung von Vemurafenib ausschließlich im UVA‐Bereich nachgewiesen werden. Bei der klinisch zu beobachtenden Lichtempfindlichkeit dominiert wahrscheinlich dieser Mechanismus.

Andererseits kann Vemurafenib zusätzlich die Ferrochelatase inhibieren, was zu einem Anstieg von Protoporphyrin IX führt, der auch in einigen Untersuchungen beim Menschen unter Einnahme von Vemurafenib nachgewiesen wurde. Ob die Porphyrine tatsächlich insbesondere zur Symptomatik der Sofortreaktion beitragen, die klinisch der erythropoetischen Protoporphyrie (EPP) mit einem vergleichbaren Pathomechanismus ähnelt, ist noch nicht abschließend geklärt.

Andere BRAF‐Inhibitoren wie Dabrafenib und Encorafenib weisen eine deutliche geringere Photosensitivität auf. Patienten, die mit Vemurafenib therapiert werden, müssen auf die bereits durch geringe UVA‐Dosen auslösbaren Sofort‐ und Spätreaktionen hingewiesen werden und hinsichtlich photoprotektiver Maßnahmen beraten werden.
Psychosoziale Belastung stationärer dermatologischer Patienten und ihrer Angehörigen – Vergleich von Patienten mit und ohne Krebs
Authors: Buchhold Britta , Wiesmann Ulrich , Röske Kathrin , Lutze Stine , Arnold Andreas , Jülich Andreas , Ramp Marleen , Jünger Michael , Hannich Hans‐Joachim
Published: October 2020

Hintergrund

In den klinischen Behandlungspfaden zertifizierter onkologischer Zentren sind psychotherapeutische Angebote obligatorisch. Obwohl Patienten mit somatischen, nichtonkologischen Erkrankungen ebenso hohe Prävalenzen psychosozialer Belastungen aufweisen, gibt es diese Vorgaben für den allgemeinen Krankenhausbereich nicht. Sind diese Patienten tatsächlich weniger belastet und benötigen nur in Einzelfällen psychologische Begleitung? Am Beispiel dermatologischer Patienten soll gezeigt werden, ob psychosozialer Betreuungsbedarf und Unterstützungswunsch von Personen mit und ohne Tumorerkrankung variieren.

Patienten und Methodik

Mit dem Hornheider Screening‐Instrument und dem Distress‐Thermometer schätzten 216 stationäre dermatologische Patienten ihre psychosoziale Belastung und die eines nahen Angehörigen ein. Erfragt wurden zudem Unterstützungswunsch und bevorzugter Unterstützungsgeber.

Ergebnisse

i) Patienten ohne Hauttumor waren häufiger und stärker belastet als Tumorpatienten. ii) Patienten beider Gruppen schätzten ihre Angehörigen als etwa gleich hoch belastet ein. Im Vergleich zur Eigenbelastung schätzten Tumorpatienten ihre Angehörigen häufiger und im Mittel deutlich stärker als belastet ein. Mehr als 50 % aller Patienten sahen die eigene Erkrankung als Ursache für die Belastung der Angehörigen an. iii) Der Unterstützungswunsch lag in beiden Gruppen bei etwa 18 %. iv) Arzt und Psychologe wurden meist als potenzielle Ansprechpartner genannt.

Schlussfolgerungen

Der Ausbau psychosozialer Unterstützungsangebote für Nichttumorpatienten und Angehörige erscheint notwendig. Die Etablierung entsprechender Screening‐Verfahren sollte überdacht werden. Weitere Untersuchungen in anderen klinischen Bereichen sind erforderlich.
The influence of spatial and temporal scale on the relative importance of biotic vs. abiotic factors for species distributions
Authors: King Travis W. , Vynne Carly , Miller David , Fisher Scott , Fitkin Scott , Rohrer John , Ransom Jason I. , Thornton Daniel H.
Published: October 2020

Abstracts

Aim

The scales of space and time over which biotic interactions influence distribution patterns remain an area of debate. Biotic interactions may be particularly influential in the ecology of mammalian carnivores, which engage in strong predator–prey and competitive interactions. Regional, multi‐scale data on distribution patterns of interacting carnivore species are key to informing our understanding of this issue.

Location

Washington State, USA.

Methods

Using a spatially extensive camera‐trapping array, we examined the factors influencing distribution patterns of seven carnivore species at multiple spatial and temporal scales. We used single‐species occupancy models to assess the relative influence of abiotic and biotic covariates on distribution of individual carnivore species, and two‐species occupancy models to assess how dominant carnivores influence subordinate carnivore occupancy and detection.

Results

Carnivore occupancy patterns responded more strongly to abiotic than biotic covariates at both spatial grains and extents of analysis. The influence of biotic variables decreased as the grain of analysis increased, while constraining our study area extent substantially decreased the explanatory power of abiotic variables. Interspecific interactions among carnivores influenced occupancy and detection across spatial scales. However, there was little evidence that interactions were more pronounced at finer temporal scales.

Main Conclusions

Results demonstrate that at broad spatial extents, species distributions are largely dictated by abiotic factors, particularly climate. Although biotic factors related to habitat and prey were important factors for some species, they generally declined in importance as grain size of analysis increased, suggesting these interactions play out at finer resolutions. However, competitive and mutualistic interactions exerted an independent influence on distribution over broad extents and coarse grains of analysis, suggesting that failure to account for interactions may limit our ability to accurately model distributions of species and their responses to future large‐scale disturbances.
Microbiological evaluation of resection margins of the infected diabetic foot ulcer
Authors: Macauley Mavin , Adams George , Mackenny Paul , Kubelka Igor , Scott Emma , Buckworth Rebecca , Biddiscombe Claire , Aitkins Christopher , Lake Hannah , Matthews Vicky , Ashraff Suhel , Ashwell Simon
Published: October 2020

Aim

To evaluate the impact of surgical debridement on the microbiology of resection margins of an infected diabetic foot ulcer and to compare the use of marginal sampling as a guide for antimicrobial therapy.

Methods

Forty consecutive participants were studied. Tissue samples from infected diabetic foot ulcers were obtained at first contact by podiatrists. After surgical debridement to macroscopically healthy tissue, multiple samples were obtained from the margins of the residuum and also from excised non‐viable tissue. Debridement was done by a single surgeon. Bacterial species were classified according to pathogenic potential a priori into Red Group—Definite pathogen causing infection, Yellow Group—Likely to be causing infection if present in more than one specimen and Green Group –Commensals, not causing infection.

Results

There was a relative reduction of 49% (p = 0.002) in bacteria in the most pathogenic (red) group, and 59% (p = 0.002) in the yellow group in podiatry samples compared with resection specimen. Positive cultures from margins of the residuum were observed in 75% of cases. There was a relative reduction of 67% (p = 0.0001) in bacteria in the red and 48% (p = 0.06) in the yellow group in marginal samples from the residuum compared with podiatry samples.

Conclusions

After surgical debridement to healthy tissue, positive cultures from marginal tissue samples provided vital information on the presence of pathogenic bacteria. This allowed antibiotics to be individualised post‐surgical debridement.
Seven‐tesla quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy of glutamate, γ‐aminobutyric acid, and glutathione in the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus in patients with epilepsy
Authors: Gonen Ofer M. , Moffat Bradford A. , Desmond Patricia M. , Lui Elaine , Kwan Patrick , O’Brien Terence J.
Published: October 2020

Objective

The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus is a key hub of the default mode network, whose function is known to be altered in epilepsy. Glutamate and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) are the main excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, respectively. Glutathione (GSH) is the most important free radical scavenging compound in the brain. Quantification of these molecules by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) up to 4 T is limited by overlapping resonances from other molecules. In this study, we used ultra–high‐field (7 T) MRS to quantify their concentrations in patients with different epilepsy syndromes.

Methods

Nineteen patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and 16 with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans using a 7‐T research scanner. Single‐voxel (8 cm3) MRS, located in the PCC/precuneus, was acquired via stimulated echo acquisition mode. Their results were compared to 10 healthy volunteers.

Results

Mean concentrations of glutamate, GABA, and the glutamate/GABA ratio did not differ between the IGE, TLE, and healthy volunteer groups. The mean ± SD concentration of GSH was 1.9 ± 0.3 mmol·L–1 in healthy controls, 2.0 ± 0.2 mmol·L–1 in patients with TLE, and 2.2 ± 0.4 mmol·L–1 in patients with IGE. One‐way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey‐Kramer test revealed a significant difference in the concentration of GSH between patients with IGE and controls (P = .03). Short‐term seizure freedom in patients with epilepsy was predicted by an elevated concentration of glutamate in the PCC/precuneus (P = .01). In patients with TLE, the concentration of GABA declined with age (P = .03).

Significance

Patients with IGE have higher concentrations of GSH in the PCC/precuneus than healthy controls. There is no difference in the concentrations of glutamate and GABA, or their ratio, in the PCC/precuneus between patients with IGE, patients with TLE, and healthy controls. Measuring the concentration of glutamate in the PCC/precuneus may assist with predicting drug response.
Stock price synchronicity, cognitive biases, and momentum
Authors: Chen Chen , Doukas John A.
Published: October 2020

The momentum anomaly is widely attributed to investor cognitive biases, but the trigger of cognitive biases is largely unexplored. In this study, inspired by psychology studies linking cognitive biases to the noisiness of information, we examine whether momentum returns are associated with high stock price synchronicity, a manifestation of noisy firm‐specific information. Our results demonstrate that momentum is more pronounced in the presence of high stock price synchronicity. This finding is robust to other explanations and firm characteristics. We also find that stock price synchronicity boosts the profitability of momentum by amplifying investor underreaction to new information.
Outcome of patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 and exposure to angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin‐receptor blockers in France: results of the ACE‐CoV study
Authors: Lafaurie Margaux , Martin‐Blondel Guillaume , Delobel Pierre , Charpentier Sandrine , Sommet Agnès , Moulis Guillaume
Published: October 2020

Data are lacking on the impact of ACEI/ARB exposure on unfavorable outcome in the population of patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 with hypertension/cardiovascular disease, particularly in Europe. The ACE‐CoV study was designed to assess this question. The study was conducted in the Covid‐Clinic‐Toul cohort, which contains data about all patients hospitalized at Toulouse University hospital, France with a SARS‐CoV‐2 infection since March, 2020. We selected the patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (heart failure or coronary disease) and/or arterial hypertension. We conducted a subgroup analysis in patients with arterial hypertension. ACEI/ARB exposures at admission were assessed. The outcome was composite: admission to intensive care unit, need of mechanical ventilation or death during the 14 days after admission to hospital. We used logistic regression models with propensity scores (PS) weighted by overlap weighting (OW) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Between March 2020 and April 20, 2020, the Covid‐Clinic‐Toul included 263 patients. Among them, 111 were included in the ACE‐CoV study population. In OW‐PS‐adjusted analyses, the association of exposure to ACEIs or ARBs with outcome occurrence was OR: 1.56 (95% CI: 0.73–3.33). It was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.68–1.45) for ACEIs and 1.64 (95% CI: 0.77–3.50) for ARBs. Analyses with weighting by the IPTW‐PS method gave similar results. Results were similar when considering the subgroup of patients with arterial hypertension. The ACE‐CoV study found no association between exposure to ACEIs or ARBs and unfavorable outcome in hospitalized patients for COVID‐19 with a history of cardiovascular disease/arterial hypertension.
Dynamics of anchovy and sardine populations in the Canary Current off NW Africa: Responses to environmental and climate forcing in a climate‐to‐fish ecosystem model
Authors: Sánchez‐Garrido José C. , Fiechter Jerome , Rose Kenneth A. , Werner Francisco E. , Curchitser Enrique N.
Published: October 2020

A 50‐year‐long (1958–2008) historical simulation of a climate‐to‐fish ecosystem model for anchovy (Eugralis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) populations in the upwelling ecosystem off NW Africa is revisited and analyzed. Anchovy and sardine annual adult abundances were correlated at interannual and decadal time scales in the historical run. A three‐step analysis method applied unraveled the environmental and life stage‐specific drivers underlying the bottom‐up mechanisms responsible for the simulated variability in anchovy and sardine populations. Changes in anchovy adult abundance were primarily controlled by larval survival, prey availability, and local upwelling strength, whereas sardine adult abundance was controlled by age‐1 growth affecting age‐2 fecundity and egg production via prey availability. Despite different diet preferences, the common sensitivity of anchovy and sardine to prey availability had a synchronizing effect on the two populations, with both anchovy and sardine doing better during years of higher plankton biomass and colder ocean temperatures. Analysis of potential links with modes of climate variability showed that anchovy dynamics were more tightly connected to the AMO while sardine dynamics were correlated to the NAO. This difference stemmed from the vulnerability of the anchovy population to enhanced coastal upwelling causing increased larval drift mortality. Finally, based on an earlier, similar modeling study for the Californian anchovy and Pacific sardine, we argue that the relatively warmer habitat off NW Africa compared to the coastal region off central California is a key feature explaining synchronous populations in the Canary Current versus out‐of‐phase anchovy and sardine cycles in the California Current.
Microbial inputs at the litter layer translate climate into altered organic matter properties
Authors: Kohl Lukas , Myers‐Pigg Allison , Edwards Kate A. , Billings Sharon A. , Warren Jamie , Podrebarac Frances A. , Ziegler Susan E.
Published: October 2020

Plant litter chemistry is altered during decomposition but it remains unknown if these alterations, and thus the composition of residual litter, will change in response to climate. Selective microbial mineralization of litter components and the accumulation of microbial necromass can drive litter compositional change, but the extent to which these mechanisms respond to climate remains poorly understood. We addressed this knowledge gap by studying needle litter decomposition along a boreal forest climate transect. Specifically, we investigated how the composition and/or metabolism of the decomposer community varies with climate, and if that variation is associated with distinct modifications of litter chemistry during decomposition. We analyzed the composition of microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in the litter layer and measured natural abundance δ13CPLFA values as an integrated measure of microbial metabolisms. Changes in litter chemistry and δ13C values were measured in litterbag experiments conducted at each transect site. A warmer climate was associated with higher litter nitrogen concentrations as well as altered microbial community structure (lower fungi:bacteria ratios) and microbial metabolism (higher δ13CPLFA). Litter in warmer transect regions accumulated less aliphatic‐C (lipids, waxes) and retained more O‐alkyl‐C (carbohydrates), consistent with enhanced 13C‐enrichment in residual litter, than in colder regions. These results suggest that chemical changes during litter decomposition will change with climate, driven primarily by indirect climate effects (e.g., greater nitrogen availability and decreased fungi:bacteria ratios) rather than direct temperature effects. A positive correlation between microbial biomass δ13C values and 13C‐enrichment during decomposition suggests that change in litter chemistry is driven more by distinct microbial necromass inputs than differences in the selective removal of litter components. Our study highlights the role that microbial inputs during early litter decomposition can play in shaping surface litter contribution to soil organic matter as it responds to climate warming effects such as greater nitrogen availability.
Clinical manifestations and factors associated with mortality from COVID‐19 in older adults: Retrospective population‐based study with 9807 older Brazilian COVID‐19 patients
Authors: de Souza Carlos DF , de Arruda Magalhães Amanda J , Lima Ayara JPD , Nunes Danielle N , de Fátima Machado Soares Érika , de Castro Silva Louryanne , Santos Lucas G , dos Santos Cardoso Vitória I , Nobre Yasmin VS , do Carmo Rodrigo F
Published: October 2020

Aim

Older adults are the main risk group for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This study aimed to describe the clinical manifestations and factors associated with mortality from COVID‐19 among older adults in Brazil.

Methods

A cross‐sectional observational study was carried out with data from 9807 cases of COVID‐19 among older adults in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. We determined the case fatality rate between age groups and clinical factors associated with mortality.

Results

A total of 52.5% (n = 5145) were women, and with an average age of 70.21 ± 8.37 years. The fatality rate was 11.9%, with a higher rate in men (14.4%) compared with women (9.8%). The fatality rate increased with age. The most common manifestations were fever (n = 4926; 50.2%), cough (n = 5737; 58.5%), headache (n = 1980; 20.2%) and fatigue (n = 2022; 20.6%). The most prevalent comorbidities were diabetes (n = 1528; 5.6%), cardiovascular disease (n = 1528; 15.6%) and systemic arterial hypertension (n = 597; 6.1%). The factors associated with mortality were male sex (OR 1.54), age ≥75 years (OR 2.40), dyspnea (OR 2.92), diabetes (OR 2.33), hypertension (OR 1.53) and chronic kidney disease (OR 2.02).

Conclusions

The profile and the risk factors evidenced show the need to adopt mechanisms to protect the elderly population.
Medical and health informatics services during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic should be virtual, tailored, responsive and interactive: a case study in Belgium
Authors: S. Pauwels Nele , De Meulemeester Ann , Romagnoli Alessia , Buysse Heidi , Peleman Renaat
Published: October 2020

This is part of a new series in this regular feature regarding trends in the provision of information by health science libraries. By sharing expertise and drawing together relevant trends the series intends to serve as a road map for both health science librarians and health informatics professionals. This article shows how a medical and biomedical research library changed practices, and reassessed user needs for the COVID‐19 emergency. Discusses changes to online education (and collaborative working) to provide user‐friendly services, researcher support tailored to need and re‐visioning library space.

J.M.
Ecologically enhanced healthcare at the Mater hospitals: the intersection between sustainable delivery, Pope Francis' care of the common home and indigenous land care in an era of climate challenges
Authors: Ting Joseph
Published: October 2020

The changes we are causing to our global environment now threaten everyone's health. As such, health systems and professionals should consider environmental sustainability as part of good health and care. Climate change is only one of the global challenges we face, but the problems presented by ignoring it, and the immediate health benefits offered by addressing it, are too significant for health professionals to ignore. High‐quality healthcare depends on addressing the social and environmental determinants of health and disease, more so in rural and indigenous areas. The Mater Hospital's reconciling Francis' global holistic approach to local Aboriginal expertise addresses both needs at the same time.
Warranty service outsourcing contracts decision considering warranty fraud and inspection
Authors: He Zhen , Zhang Yiwen , He Shuguang , Wang Dongfan , Huang He
Published: October 2020

In recent years, some manufacturers outsource the warranty service for flexibility and cost efficiency. Therefore, the manufacturer has to face a problem of outsourcing warranty contract design to deal with the fraud of the agents in service. Considering a price‐and‐service‐sensitive demand, we studied two warranty‐outsourcing contracts (the fixed‐price contract and the cost‐based contract) in a supply chain setting comprising one risk‐neutral manufacturer and one risk‐averse service agent. The results show that, when the market is sensitive to warranty service, the cost‐based contract benefits the manufacturer in demand promotion. Interestingly, even if the cost‐based contract increases the amount of consumers for the service agent, the fixed‐price contract always benefits the agent with low risk‐aversion level.
Inquiry‐based mobile learning in secondary school science education: A systematic review
Authors: Liu Caihua , Zowghi Didar , Kearney Matthew , Bano Muneera
Published: October 2020

Recent years have seen a growing call for inquiry‐based learning in science education, and mobile technologies are perceived as increasingly valuable tools to support this approach. However, there is a lack of understanding of mobile technology‐supported inquiry‐based learning (mIBL) in secondary science education. More evidence‐based, nuanced insights are needed into how using mobile technologies might facilitate students' engagement with various levels of inquiry and enhance their science learning. We, therefore, conducted a robust systematic literature review (SLR) of the research articles on mIBL in secondary school science education that have been published from 2000 to 2019. We reviewed and analysed 31 empirical studies (34 articles) to explore the types of mIBL, and the benefits and constraints of mIBL in secondary school science education. The findings of this SLR suggest new research areas for further exploration and provide implications for science teachers' selection, use and design of mIBL approaches in their teaching.
La línea, los Indignados, and the Post‐Postwar Generation in El Salvador
Authors: Guardado Torrez Clara , Moodie Ellen
Published: October 2020

This article analyzes the political emergence of El Salvador's “post‐postwar generation” through a consideration of activists’ relationships to a political and revolutionary “party line,” la línea. This generation comprises people born at the end of, or after, the 1980–92 civil war. They have little or no memory of the war but have grown up in intense violence. The authors worked with members of this generation in distinct sites: in Segundo Montes Community, in a corner of the country once guerrilla territory, and in San Salvador, among middle‐class activists. Their self‐recognition as politically consequential, echoing youth around the globe, first developed through moments of hope—in memory of struggle and in the electoral victory of the party of former revolutionaries—and then through frustration, as those in power, including ex‐guerrilla leaders, resisted opening to new generations and proved themselves as corrupt as their predecessors.
Fibular and metatarsal osteosynthesis in a southern brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans)
Authors: Surita Lívia Eichenberg , Nicknich Daniela , dos Santos Eduardo Almeida Ruivo , Picoli Roberta , Monteiro Eduardo Raposo , Alievi Marcelo Meller
Published: October 2020

Here we describe a successful surgical management of a distal fibular fracture combined with a tarsocrural luxation and multiple metatarsal fractures in the left foot of a southern brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans). We achieved satisfactory outcome by applying intramedullary pinning for each of the bone fractures and closed reduction of joint luxation—kept in place only by bone alignment, without further ligament reconstruction. Bone healing occurred uneventfully within eight weeks and the monkey's foot regained its normal function. Therefore, we could properly release the patient back into the wild.
A multi‐omic analysis of the dorsal striatum in an animal model of divergent genetic risk for alcohol use disorder
Authors: Grecco Gregory G. , Haggerty David L. , Doud Emma H. , Fritz Brandon M. , Yin Fuqin , Hoffman Hunter , Mosley Amber L. , Simpson Edward , Liu Yunlong , Baucum Anthony J. , Atwood Brady K.
Published: October 2020

The development of selectively bred high and low alcohol‐preferring mice (HAP and LAP, respectively) has allowed for an assessment of the polygenetic risk for pathological alcohol consumption and phenotypes associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Accumulating evidence indicates that the dorsal striatum (DS) is a central node in the neurocircuitry underlying addictive processes. Therefore, knowledge of differential gene, protein, and phosphorylated protein expression in the DS of HAP and LAP mice may foster new insights into how aberrant DS functioning may contribute to AUD‐related phenotypes. To begin to elucidate these basal differences, a complementary and integrated analysis of DS tissue from alcohol‐naïve male and female HAP and LAP mice was performed using RNA sequencing, quantitative proteomics, and phosphoproteomics. These datasets were subjected to a thorough analysis of gene ontology, pathway enrichment, and hub gene assessment. Analyses identified 2,108, 390, and 521 significant differentially expressed genes, proteins, and phosphopeptides, respectively between the two lines. Network analyses revealed an enrichment in the differential expression of genes, proteins, and phosphorylated proteins connected to cellular organization, cytoskeletal protein binding, and pathways involved in synaptic transmission and functioning. These findings suggest that the selective breeding to generate HAP and LAP mice may lead to a rearrangement of synaptic architecture which could alter DS neurotransmission and plasticity differentially between mouse lines. These rich datasets will serve as an excellent resource to inform future studies on how inherited differences in gene, protein, and phosphorylated protein expression contribute to AUD‐related phenotypes.

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Effects of prenatal stress on neuroactive steroid responses to acute stress in adult male and female rats
Authors: Sze Ying , Brunton Paula J.
Published: October 2020

Acute swim stress results in the robust production of several neuroactive steroids, which act as mediators of the stress response. These steroids include glucocorticoids, and positive GABAA receptor modulatory steroids such as allopregnanolone and tetrahydrocorticosterone (THDOC), which potentiate inhibitory GABA signalling, thereby playing a role in the negative control of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis. Prenatally stressed (PNS) offspring exhibit increased vulnerability to stress‐related disorders and frequently display exaggerated HPA axis responses to stressors during adulthood, which may be a result of reduced neuroactive steroid production and consequently inhibitory signalling. Here, we investigated whether exposure of rats to prenatal social stress from gestational day 16‐20 altered neuroactive steroid production under non‐stress conditions and in response to an acute stressor (swim stress) in adulthood. Using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, nine neuroactive steroids were quantified (corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone [DOC], dihydrodeoxycorticosterone, THDOC, progesterone, dihydroprogesterone, allopregnanolone, pregnenolone, testosterone) in plasma and in five brain regions (frontal cortex, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, brainstem) of male and female control and PNS rats. There was no difference in the neuroactive steroid profile between control and PNS rats under basal conditions. The increase in circulating corticosterone induced by acute swim stress was similar in control and PNS offspring. However, greater stress‐induced corticosterone and DOC concentrations were observed in the brainstem of male PNS offspring, whereas DOC concentrations were lower in the hippocampus of PNS females compared to controls, following acute stress. Although PNS rats did not show deficits in allopregnanolone responses to acute stress, there were modest deficits in the production of THDOC in the brainstem, amygdala, and frontal cortex of PNS males and in the frontal cortex of PNS females. The data suggest that neuroactive steroid modulation of GABAergic signalling following stress exposure may be affected in a sex‐ and region‐specific manner in PNS offspring.
Guillain‐Barré syndrome associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: A systematic review and individual participant data meta‐analysis
Authors: Hasan Imran , Saif‐Ur‐Rahman KM , Hayat Shoma , Papri Nowshin , Jahan Israt , Azam Rufydha , Ara Gulshan , Islam Zhahirul
Published: October 2020

Several published reports have described a possible association between Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. This systematic review aimed to summarize and meta‐analyze the salient features and prognosis of SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated GBS. We searched the PubMed (Medline), Web of Science and Cochrane databases for articles published between 01 January 2020 and 05 August 2020 using SARS‐CoV‐2 and GBS‐related keywords. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, antecedent symptoms, clinical, serological and electrophysiological features, and hospital outcomes were recorded. We included 45 articles from 16 countries reporting 61 patients with SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated GBS. Most (97.7%) articles were from high‐ and upper‐middle‐income countries. Forty‐two (68.9%) of the patients were male; median (interquartile range) age was 57 (49‐70) years. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for SARS‐CoV‐2 was positive in 90.2% of patients. One report of SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated familial GBS was found which affected a father and daughter of a family. Albuminocytological dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid was found in 80.8% of patients. The majority of patients (75.5%) had a demyelinating subtype of GBS. Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis were given to 92.7% and 7.3% of patients, respectively. Around two‐thirds (65.3%) of patients had a good outcome (GBS‐disability score ≤ 2) on discharge from hospital. Two patients died in hospital. SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated GBS mostly resembles the classical presentations of GBS that respond to standard treatments. Extensive surveillance is required in low‐ and lower‐middle‐income countries to identify and report similar cases/series. Further large‐scale case‐control studies are warranted to strengthen the current evidence. PROSPERO Registration Number CRD42020201673.
Forelimb myology of armadillos (Xenarthra: Cingulata, Chlamyphoridae): Anatomical correlates with fossorial ability
Authors: Marshall Sarah K. , Superina Mariella , Spainhower Kyle B. , Butcher Michael T.
Published: October 2020

Descriptions of myology reflect adaptations of the post‐cranium and are essential for understanding the functional morphology of animal limbs. Armadillos (Cingulata) are the most species‐rich group of the basal superorder Xenarthra, which is evident by their various lifestyles (subterranean vs. terrestrial) and levels of fossoriality (fossorial vs. semi‐fossorial). While there have been several studies on limb bone proportions in numerous armadillos, limb myology has been reported for a limited number of species. Many of these descriptions need updating, and detailed quantitative muscle data are available only for nine‐banded armadillos. The main objective of this study is to assess the forelimb myology of the pichi (Zaedyus pichiy), screaming hairy (Chaetophractus vellerosus), large hairy (Chaetophractus villosus), and pink fairy (Chlamyphorus truncatus) armadillos with comparisons to previous observations to specify muscle traits that indicate scratch‐digging specializations in cingulates. Several myological features are variable among the species studied, including the origin of m. trapezius pars cervicalis, presence of a distinct m. rhomboideus profundus and m. omotransversarius, and number of heads present for m. triceps brachii and m. flexor digitorum profundus, all of which can be associated with variability in their respective habitats and functional habits. These traits are consistently observed in the members of the Euphractinae, whereas they are slightly divergent (i.e., reduced complexity) in the pink fairy armadillo despite a similar distribution of muscle mass in the limb retractors, elbow extensors, and carpal/digital flexors across species. The ecomorphology observed here among cingulates also confirms their recent reorganization into separate families and subfamilies.
Introduction to the special section on subsistence marketplaces
Authors: Viswanathan Madhubalan , Chakrabarti Ronika , Ingenbleek Paul , Venugopal Srinivas
Published: October 2020

We provide an introduction to the special issue on subsistence marketplaces. We briefly describe the stream of subsistence marketplaces, and the conference series associated with the call for papers. We provide a brief overview of the diverse set of papers in the special section.
Nutrient sensing in Leishmania: Flagellum and cytosol
Authors: Kelly Felice D. , Yates Phillip A. , Landfear Scott M.
Published: October 2020

Parasites are by definition organisms that utilize resources from a host to support their existence, thus, promoting their ability to establish long‐term infections and disease. Hence, sensing and acquiring nutrients for which the parasite and host compete is central to the parasitic mode of existence. Leishmania are flagellated kinetoplastid parasites that parasitize phagocytic cells, principally macrophages, of vertebrate hosts and the alimentary tract of sand fly vectors. Because nutritional supplies vary over time within both these hosts and are often restricted in availability, these parasites must sense a plethora of nutrients and respond accordingly. The flagellum has been recognized as an “antenna” that plays a core role in sensing environmental conditions, and various flagellar proteins have been implicated in sensing roles. In addition, these parasites exhibit non‐flagellar intracellular mechanisms of nutrient sensing, several of which have been explored. Nonetheless, mechanistic details of these sensory pathways are still sparse and represent a challenging frontier for further experimental exploration.