bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parents' education and Pasifika children's oral health in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A national linked data study using Aotearoa/New Zealand's integrated data infrastructure
Authors: Ruhe Troy , Broadbent Jonathan M. , Schluter Philip J. , Bowden Nicholas , Theodore Reremoana , Richards Rosalina , Kokaua Jesse
Published: September 2022

Objectives

A wide inequality in incidence and severity of childhood oral health conditions between Pasifika and non‐Pasifika in Aotearoa/New Zealand (Aotearoa/NZ) persists with some evidence that the gap is widening. To develop an evidence base for strengths‐based solutions, this study seeks to investigate the association between parental education and detected oral health conditions in Pasifika children.

Method

A secondary cross‐sectional analysis of linked routinely collected national databases of children (Pasifika and Non‐Māori non‐Pasifika [NMNP]) aged 0–9 years in 2013 who completed a Before School Check (B4SC) and had their birth parents file a 2013 New Zealand census return. Parental education is represented by their self‐reported highest qualification level gained. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate childhood caries and hospitalisations related to oral health conditions after adjusting for social and economic factors.

Results

During the five‐year period of 2013–2017, 21 744 (10.2%) children (Pasifika and NMNP) completed the B4SC and experienced caries. Pasifika children experienced caries three times more than NMNP children (23.6% and 7.9%, respectively) and 1.8 times more dental hospitalisations (6.0% and 3.4%, respectively). Each additional level of parental education reduced their Pasifika child's odds of experiencing caries (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.82–0.85) and dental hospitalization (unadjusted OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87–0.91). Less than half of the reduced odds for parental education could be attributed to other covariate factors, by 43% and 25%; respectively, for caries and hospitalisations.

Conclusions

Our findings show good educational achievement is associated with better oral health for offspring beyond other benefits that can be attributed to non‐education influences. Increased education for Pasifika parents is likely to directly confer better oral health for their children. The findings from this study may provide meaningful evidence for future developments in Pasifika education policy as an investment into the health of subsequent generations of Pasifika children.
Differential diagnosis and pathogenesis of the neurological signs and symptoms in COVID‐19 and long‐COVID syndrome
Authors: Baig Abdul Mannan
Published: September 2022

Neurological features have now been reported very frequently in the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. The neurological deficits associated features are observed in both acute and chronic stages of COVID‐19 and they appear to overlap with wide‐ranging symptoms that can be attributed to being of non‐neural origins, thus obscuring the definitive diagnosis of neuro‐COVID. The pathogenetic factors acting in concert to cause neuronal injury are now emerging, with SARS‐CoV‐2 directly affecting the brain coupled with the neuroinflammatory factors have been implicated in the causation of disabilities in acute COVID‐19 and patients with Long‐COVID syndrome. As the differentiation between a neural origin and other organ‐based causation of a particular neurological feature is of prognostic significance, it implores a course of action to this covert, yet important neurological challenge.
Statistical Learning of Language: A Meta‐Analysis Into 25 Years of Research
Authors: Isbilen Erin S. , Christiansen Morten H.
Published: September 2022

Statistical learning is a key concept in our understanding of language acquisition. Ample work has highlighted its role in numerous linguistic functions—yet statistical learning is not a unitary construct, and its consistency across different language properties remains unclear. In a meta‐analysis of auditory‐linguistic statistical learning research spanning the last 25 years, we evaluated how learning varies across different language properties in infants, children, and adults and surveyed the methodological trends in the literature. We found robust learning across stimuli (syllables, words, etc.) in infants, and across stimuli and structures (adjacent dependencies, non‐adjacent dependencies, etc.) in adults, with larger effect sizes when multiple cues were present. However, the analysis also showed significant publication bias and revealed a tendency toward using a narrow range of simplified language properties, including in the strength of the transitional probabilities used during training. Bayes factor analyses revealed prevalent data insensitivity of moderators commonly hypothesized to impact learning, such as the amount of exposure and transitional probability strength, which contradict core theoretical assumptions in the field. Methodological factors, such as the tasks used at test, also significantly impacted effect sizes in adults and children, suggesting that choice of task may critically constrain current theories of how statistical learning operates. Collectively, our results suggest that auditory‐linguistic statistical learning has the kind of robustness needed to play a foundational role in language acquisition, but that more research is warranted to reveal its full potential.
Prehospital Respiratory Early Warning Score for airway management in‐ambulance: A score comparison
Authors: Martín‐Rodríguez Francisco , López‐Izquierdo Raúl , Sanz‐García Ancor , Ortega Guillermo J. , del Pozo Vegas Carlos , Delgado‐Benito Juan F. , Castro Villamor Miguel A. , Soriano Joan B.
Published: September 2022

Background

Prehospital Respiratory Early Warning Scores to estimate the requirement for advanced respiratory support is needed. To develop a prehospital Respiratory Early Warning Score to estimate the requirement for advanced respiratory support.

Methods

Multicentre, prospective, emergency medical services (EMS)‐delivered, longitudinal cohort derivationvalidation study carried out in 59 ambulances and five hospitals across five Spanish provinces. Adults with acute diseases evaluated, supported and discharged to the Emergency Department with high priority were eligible. The primary outcome was the need for invasive or non‐invasive respiratory support (NIRS or IRS) in the prehospital scope at the first contact with the patient. The measures included the following: epidemiological endpoints, prehospital vital signs (respiratory rate, pulse oximetry saturation, fraction of inspired oxygen, systolic and diastolic mean blood pressure, heart rate, tympanic temperature and consciousness level by the GCS).

Results

Between 26 Oct 2018 and 26 Oct 2021, we enrolled 5793 cases. For NIRS prediction, the final model of the logistic regression included respiratory rate and pulse oximetry saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio. For the IRS case, the motor response from the Glasgow Coma Scale was also included. The REWS showed an AUC of 0.938 (95% CI: 0.918–0.958), a calibration‐in‐large of 0.026 and a higher net benefit as compared with the other scores.

Conclusions

Our results showed that REWS is a remarkably aid for the decision‐making process in the management of advanced respiratory support in prehospital care. Including this score in the prehospital scenario could improve patients' care and optimise the resources' management.
Political uncertainty and foreign direct investment—Evidence from the government official vacancy in China's cities
Authors: Cheng Maoyong , Yao Yutong , Meng Yu
Published: September 2022

This study focuses on a new political uncertainty phenomenon, that is, the government official vacancy, and examines its effects on foreign direct investment in China's cities. Using hand‐collected data about the vacancies of the municipal party secretary in China from 2003 to 2018, we find that the government official vacancy reduces foreign direct investment. A one unit (month) increase in the government official vacancy leads to a −2.225% decrease in foreign direct investment. Second, we show three possible channels through which the government official vacancy reduces foreign direct investment: reducing government efficiency, increasing economic policy uncertainty and increasing corruption. Finally, our results show that the effects of government official vacancies on foreign direct investment are stronger in cities with a strong media environment, cities with a low level of innovation and entrepreneurship and cities in the middle region of China. Our main results pass a series of robustness tests. Overall, our research offers novel evidence that political uncertainty has a negative impact on foreign direct investment.
Potential new roles for glycogen in epilepsy
Authors: Dienel Gerald A. , Gillinder Lisa , McGonigal Aileen , Borges Karin
Published: September 2022

Seizures often originate in epileptogenic foci. Between seizures (interictally), these foci and some of the surrounding tissue often show low signals with 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in many epileptic patients, even when there are no radiologically detectable structural abnormalities. Low FDG‐PET signals are thought to reflect glucose hypometabolism. Here, we review knowledge about metabolism of glucose and glycogen and oxidative stress in people with epilepsy and in acute and chronic rodent seizure models. Interictal brain glucose levels are normal and do not cause apparent glucose hypometabolism, which remains unexplained. During seizures, high amounts of fuel are needed to satisfy increased energy demands. Astrocytes consume glycogen as an additional emergency fuel to supplement glucose during high metabolic demand, such as during brain stimulation, stress, and seizures. In rodents, brain glycogen levels drop during induced seizures and increase to higher levels thereafter. Interictally, in people with epilepsy and in chronic epilepsy models, normal glucose but high glycogen levels have been found in the presumed brain areas involved in seizure generation. We present our new hypothesis that as an adaptive response to repeated episodes of high metabolic demand, high interictal glycogen levels in epileptogenic brain areas are used to support energy metabolism and potentially interictal neuronal activity. Glycogenolysis, which can be triggered by stress or oxidative stress, leads to decreased utilization of plasma glucose in epileptogenic brain areas, resulting in low FDG signals that are related to functional changes underlying seizure onset and propagation. This is (partially) reversible after successful surgery. Last, we propose that potential interictal glycogen depletion in epileptogenic and surrounding areas may cause energy shortages in astrocytes, which may impair potassium buffering and contribute to seizure generation. Based on these hypotheses, auxiliary fuels or treatments that support glycogen metabolism may be useful to treat epilepsy.
Do high‐risk couples profit more or less from couple relationship education programs than low‐risk couples? Room for improvement and vulnerability effects
Authors: Conradi Henk Jan , Noordhof Arjen , Dingemanse Pieter , Kamphuis Jan H.
Published: September 2022

In recent years it has been discussed whether high‐risk couples benefit more from Couple Relationship Education programs (CREs) than low‐risk couples due to larger room for improvement, or profit less due to greater vulnerability. Pertinent response prediction studies yielded inconclusive results. Careful review suggests this may be due to: statistical handling (not disentangling room for improvement and vulnerability effects), time frame analyzed (not disentangling opposing effects during intervention and follow‐up), sampling, and selection of risk factors. We used an analytic strategy that maximized odds for replicability and tested two hypotheses: (1) room for improvement: pre‐intervention relationship dissatisfaction predicts gain in satisfaction during intervention, and decline during follow up, and (2) vulnerability: when adjusted for room for improvement (pre‐intervention relationship dissatisfaction), risk factors show negative or negligible, but no positive associations with gain in satisfaction. Actor‐Partner Interdependence Modeling (APIM) was employed in 79 self‐referred (SR) couples and 50 clinician‐referred (CR) couples who had completed the ‘Hold me Tight’ program, a CRE based on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. Our findings supported both the room for improvement hypothesis, with pre‐intervention dissatisfaction predicting more gain during intervention (both samples) and decline during follow‐up (SR sample, for the CR sample the effect was negligible), and the vulnerability hypothesis, as several negative, but no positive effects of risk factors were observed during intervention and follow‐up. Specific risk factors did not replicate between samples. To promote replicable results in future research, we advocate disentangling room for improvement and vulnerability effects, separately testing effects during intervention and follow‐up, purposeful sampling, and studying a large set of risk factors including partner variables.
A study on modified P‐S‐N curve of notched specimens based on small sample under multiaxial loading
Authors: Pan Xuemei , Liu Jianhui , Li Youtang , Hua Feilong , Chen Xiaochuang
Published: September 2022

The small sample data under the highest stress level are augmented based on the improved Bootstrap method, and then the augmented data are converted to sample data under the lower stress levels with the Principle of Fatigue Life Probability Percentiles Consistency. Furthermore, the augmented sample data and the original data are fused into the equivalent large sample data to establish the P‐S‐N curve with higher accuracy. Meanwhile, a new method for calculating the fatigue damage parameter of the notched specimens is proposed based on the two‐point method. A modified P‐S‐N curve is established to predict the fatigue life of other specimens with different stress concentration coefficients under different stress levels. In addition, the experimental data of three kinds of materials are collected to verify the feasibility and accuracy of the new method. The results show that the predicted fatigue life is in good agreement with the experimental life.
Soft song provokes stronger aggressive responses than broadcast song in the Plain Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus davidi)
Authors: Liu Pengfei , Lloyd Huw , Lou Yingqiang , Sun Yuehua
Published: September 2022

Many bird species produce low‐amplitude acoustic signals, known as soft songs, which are widely believed to function primarily in aggressive interactions. However, there are surprisingly few experimental studies that have examined whether soft songs are reliable signalling strategies for escalating aggressive interactions. Here, we investigate the functions of soft song in a colour‐marked population of the Plain Laughingthrush Pterorhinus davidi, using playback experiments combined with specimen‐based simulated territory intrusions. We found that playback of male soft song provoked quicker response and stronger aggressive intent by territorial pairs compared with playback of male broadcast song. Responses by territorial pairs to male soft song playback were significantly stronger compared with responses to broadcast song playback, with a greater number of flights over the speaker, more time spent within 1 m of the speaker and closer approaches to the speaker. Furthermore, closer approach with the production of soft song by focal males was the best predictor of aggressive intent in combined playback and specimen intrusion experiments. Our results suggest that male soft song is used as an aggressive signal in the Plain Laughingthrush, and represents the first evidence of such for a monogamous temperate duetting species.
‘Word without Measure’: The (Ir)reducible History of Jesus Christ in John Webster
Authors: Rempel Brent A.
Published: September 2022

John Webster's Christology bears a twofold character. First, Webster attends to the particular identity of the Son of God who is and acts in and as Jesus Christ. Second, Webster articulates, in increasing measure, the rootedness of the Word's assumption of the flesh in the Son's eternal relation to Father and the Holy Spirit. Both features of Jesus' history – namely its irreducible particularity and architectural traceability – establish God's self‐correspondence: the concrete history of God with us corresponds to God's eternal being and act. Webster's later work accords material priority to the Son's antecedent existence as the second person of the Holy Trinity. I locate the impetus for this shift in Webster's theological construal of history which serves, in turn, to inform and revise the dogmatic task of unfolding Jesus' history. No longer inhibited by a predominately modern view of human history, Webster more readily traces the history of Jesus Christ to the eternal procession of the Son of God.
Expanding Multimodal Artistic Expression and Appreciation Methods through Integrating Augmented Reality
Authors: Lim Kyungeun
Published: September 2022

Increasing usage of digital technologies in daily life has affected even tech savvy students. With the prominent development of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality technologies, this study concentrates on the ongoing development of AR in art education and its potential in art education. As an educator in visual arts at a higher education institution, the author explored AR‐integrated curriculum by introducing an AR creation tool (Adobe Aero) and AR education tool (Merge Cube) into visual arts education classes. The lessons were designed with multimodal delivery methods for learning effectiveness with AR, and students learned about the concepts of arts integration and AR technologies. This study examines how newly developed AR‐based curriculum expanded students’ art expression and represented artwork in real and virtual spaces. In outlining the results, this study explains the practice of two‐dimensional (2D) and virtual‐based three‐dimensional (3D) hybrid art creations in AR, and digital storytelling with AR. This study also discusses the positive impacts on students' learning engagement and satisfaction and understanding of layers and spatial structures.
Variation in shape and consistency of selection between populations of the threatened Hihi (Notiomystis cincta)
Authors: Rutschmann Alexis , Santure Anna W. , Brekke Patricia , Ewen John G. , Shanahan Danielle , de Villemereuil Pierre
Published: September 2022

The shape and intensity of natural selection can vary between years, potentially resulting in a chronic reduction of fitness as individuals need to track a continually changing optimum of fitness (i.e., a “lag load”). In endangered species, often characterized by small population size, the lack of genetic diversity is expected to limit the response to this constant need to adjust to fluctuating selection, increasing the fitness burden and thus the risk of extinction. Here, we use long‐term monitoring data to assess whether the type of selection for a key fitness trait (i.e., lay date) differs between two reintroduced populations of a threatened passerine bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). We apply recent statistical developments to test for the presence or absence of fluctuation in selection in both the Tiritiri Mātangi Island and the Kārori sanctuary populations. Our results support the presence of stabilizing selection in Tiritiri Mātangi with a potential moving optimum for lay date. In Kārori our results favour a regime of directional selection. Although the shape of selection may differ, for both populations an earlier lay date generally increases fitness in both environments. Further, the moving optimum models of lay date on Tiritiri Mātangi, suggesting that selection varies between years, imply a substantial lag load in addition to the fitness burden caused by the population laying too late. Our results highlight the importance of characterizing the form and temporal variation of selection for each population to predict the effects of environmental change and to inform management.
Understanding health information exchange processes within Canadian long‐term care: A scoping review
Authors: Cotton Kendra , Booth Richard G. , McMurray Josephine , Treesh Rianne
Published: September 2022

Background

Providing supportive care to long‐term care residents with complex medical conditions generates substantial amounts of health information. This information must be documented, shared and acted upon by the various care providers within the circle of care.

Objectives

The purpose of this scoping review is to describe the current digital health information exchange (HIE) processes used within Canadian long‐term care facilities (LTCFs).

Methods

The scoping review followed Arksey and O′Malley's approach to the methodology. Electronic databases (e.g. CINAHL, MEDLINE and SCOPUS) were searched between 2010 and 2020 using terms including ‘health information exchange’, ‘communication’ and ‘health information technology’. Articles were included if they were Canadian‐based and relevant to our definition of health information exchange.

Results

The search yielded 2091 citations for title and abstract screening; 78 citations were selected for independent full‐text review, 42 of those met study criteria. The findings revealed gaps between the expectations of HIE for quality health care and the realities of HIE processes that impact the provision of care in long‐term care.

Conclusions

We conclude that increased provider engagement and effective use of HIE processes is recommended to improve the safety and quality of health care in the long‐term care sector.

Implications for Practice

HIE implementation should be preceded a review of various aspects of workflow to identify information gaps and inefficiencies that can be addressed by digitization.
Correlation between C7–T1 Intervertebral Foramen Area and Sagittal Parameters in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Zhang Lilong , Cui Zijian , Yuan Chen , Zhang Xueli , Ren Zhishuai , Wang Wei , Xia Ping , Zhu Rusen
Published: September 2022

Objective

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is an incomplete spinal cord injury characterized with pain and stiffness in the neck and motor and sensory dysfunction. This study aims to determine whether C7–T1 intervertebral foramen area could be used as a parameter to evaluate the sagittal curvature of cervical spine.

Methods

Patients with clinical manifestations of spinal cord compression were hospitalized in our hospital from September 2018 to August 2019. All patients were diagnosed with CSM by nuclear magnetic imaging and other imaging methods. C2–C7 Cobb angle and T1 slop (T1S) were measured on the sagittal, T2‐weighted magnetic resonance image of cervical spine, and C7–T1 intervertebral foramen area were measured using oblique cervical spine X‐rays. Patients were divided into two groups according to the value of C2–C7 Cobb angle, including lordosis group (C2–C7 Cobb angle >10°, n = 45) and straight group (C2–7 Cobb angle ≤10°, n = 55). The reliability of the data was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the correlation of the imaging parameters was analyzed by Pearson correlation.

Results

A total of 100 patients diagnosed with CSM hospitalized in our department were included. The ICC of the cervical parameters was 0.73. C7–T1 intervertebral foramen area was 40.69 ± 11.44 and 39.95 ± 10.94 mm2 in lordosis and straight group, respectively. The results showed that C7–T1 intervertebral foramen area was positively correlated with both C2–C7 Cobb angle (r = 0.23, p = 0.02) and T1S (r = 0.21, p = 0.03). In lordosis group, there was a positive correlation between C7 and T1 intervertebral foramen area and C2–C7 Cobb angle (r = 0.69, p < 0.01) and T1S (r = 0.34, p = 0.02). However, in straight group, C7–T1 intervertebral foramen area was not correlated with either C2–C7 Cobb angle or T1S.

Conclusion

C7–T1 intervertebral foramen area measured by oblique X‐ray could be an effective method to evaluate the sagittal balance of cervical vertebrae for CSM patients with cervical lordosis.
Exploring the impact on primary care mental health practitioners of the death of a patient by suicide: An IPA study
Authors: Sandford David M. , Kirtley Olivia J. , Thwaites Richard , O'Connor Rory C.
Published: September 2022

Objectives

There have been numerous qualitative studies into the impact of the death of a patient by suicide on clinicians, but the majority of studies have focussed on psychiatrists and psychologists, primarily in inpatient or secondary care settings. To date, little has been done to explore the impact of such deaths on other mental health practitioners working in primary care, such as those working in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services.

Design

This qualitative study used purposive sampling and adopted an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methodology.

Method

All participants had experienced the death of a patient in their role as a practitioner in an IAPT service. Seven practitioners were recruited from services across the North of England. Semi‐structured, one‐hour telephone interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed verbatim.

Results

Analysis of the transcripts identified a number of themes, which were represented in the majority of cases. Specifically, the analyses yielded four superordinate themes: (1) feeling shocked and upset about the death of a patient; (2) attempting to understand the causes of the suicide; (3) learning from the tragic event; and (4) reflections on what helped in coping with the tragic event. The emotional responses of shock, upset, guilt and fear of blame by IAPT practitioners following the death of a patient through suicide is consistent with that found in studies of other mental health practitioners.

Conclusions

It is hoped that the current study will help raise awareness amongst primary care mental health practitioners, services and training centres, of the impact of losing a patient to suicide and will encourage them to consider how best to prepare and support practitioners in this eventuality. Recommendations include raising awareness of the potential for patient suicide in primary care services, providing clarity on the individualised support available and on the requirements of investigations.
Acquisition of hypoxia inducibility by oxygen sensing N‐terminal cysteine oxidase in spermatophytes
Authors: Weits Daan A. , Zhou Lina , Giuntoli Beatrice , Carbonare Laura Dalle , Iacopino Sergio , Piccinini Luca , Lombardi Lara , Shukla Vinay , Bui Liem T. , Novi Giacomo , van Dongen Joost T. , Licausi Francesco
Published: September 2022

N‐terminal cysteine oxidases (NCOs) use molecular oxygen to oxidise the amino‐terminal cysteine of specific proteins, thereby initiating the proteolytic N‐degron pathway. To expand the characterisation of the plant family of NCOs (plant cysteine oxidases [PCOs]), we performed a phylogenetic analysis across different taxa in terms of sequence similarity and transcriptional regulation. Based on this survey, we propose a distinction of PCOs into two main groups. A‐type PCOs are conserved across all plant species and are generally unaffected at the messenger RNA level by oxygen availability. Instead, B‐type PCOs appeared in spermatophytes to acquire transcriptional regulation in response to hypoxia. The inactivation of two A‐type PCOs in Arabidopsis thaliana, PCO4 and PCO5, is sufficient to activate the anaerobic response in young seedlings, whereas the additional removal of B‐type PCOs leads to a stronger induction of anaerobic genes and impairs plant growth and development. Our results show that both PCO types are required to regulate the anaerobic response in angiosperms. Therefore, while it is possible to distinguish two clades within the PCO family, we conclude that they all contribute to restrain the anaerobic transcriptional programme in normoxic conditions and together generate a molecular switch to toggle the hypoxic response.
Drought and low temperature‐induced NF‐YA1 activates FT expression to promote citrus flowering
Authors: Zhou Huan , Zeng Ren‐Fang , Liu Tian‐Jia , Ai Xiao‐Yan , Ren Meng‐Ke , Zhou Jing‐Jing , Hu Chun‐Gen , Zhang Jin‐Zhi
Published: September 2022

Flower induction in adult citrus is mainly regulated by drought and low temperatures. However, the mechanism of FLOWERING LOCUS T regulation of citrus flowering (CiFT) under two flower‐inductive stimuli remains largely unclear. In this study, a citrus transcription factor, nuclear factor YA (CiNF‐YA1), was found to specifically bind to the CiFT promoter by forming a complex with CiNF‐YB2 and CiNF‐YC2 to activate CiFT expression. CiNF‐YA1 was induced in juvenile citrus by low temperature and drought treatments. Overexpression of CiNF‐YA1 increased drought susceptibility in transgenic citrus, whereas suppression of CiNF‐YA1 enhanced drought tolerance in silenced citrus plants. Furthermore, a GOLDEN2−LIKE protein (CiFE) that interacts with CiFT protein was also isolated. Further experimental evidence showed that CiFE binds to the citrus LEAFY (CiLFY) promoter and activates its expression. In addition, the expressions of CiNF‐YA1 and CiFE showed a seasonal increase during the floral induction period and were induced by artificial drought and low‐temperature treatments at which floral induction occurred. These results indicate that CiNF‐YA1 may activate CiFT expression in response to drought and low temperatures by binding to the CiFT promoter. CiFT then forms a complex with CiFE to activate CiLFY, thereby promoting the flowering of adult citrus.
Neural underpinnings of default mode network on empathy revealed by intracranial stereoelectroencephalography
Authors: Mo Jiajie , Zhang Jianguo , Hu Wenhan , Wang Xiu , Zhao Baotian , Zhang Kai , Zhang Chao
Published: September 2022

Background

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is fundamental to emotional intelligence and social iterations. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that empathy activates brain regions associated with the social cognition network.

Aim

To explore the neural underpinnings of empathy revealed by stereoelectroencephalography utilizing recurrence quantification analysis (RQA).

Methods

This retrospective cohort included 38 epilepsy patients with stereoelectroencephalography implantation. RQA metrics were applied to parameterize the network organization of default mode network (DMN) brain regions. The relationships between DMN, seizure burden activity, and empathy, as measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, were examined using partial least‐square regression and mediation analysis.

Results

RQA metrics with DMN (R2 = 0.75, PBonferroni < 0.001) and its subsystems (medial temporal subsystem: R2 = 0.53, PBonferroni < 0.001; core subsystem: R2 = 0.70, PBonferroni < 0.001; dorsal medial subsystem: R2 = 0.48, PBonferroni < 0.001) were positively correlated with empathy scores. Of 13 RQA metrics, the mean diagonal line length, entropy of the diagonal line lengths, trapping time, maximal vertical line length, and recurrence time of second type were found to be statistically higher in patient cohorts with reportedly high empathy. Furthermore, DMN characteristics (b path: F = 3.69, P = 0.04), rather than seizure burdens (direct effect: t = 0.33, P = 0.74, c′ = − 0.007), mediated empathy status.

Conclusion

The present study used various RQA metrics to parameterize the network organization of DMN and determine the neural underpinning of DMN for empathy modulation.
Managing contributor performance in knowledge‐sharing communities: A dynamic perspective
Authors: Jin Yue , Tan Yong , Huang Jinghua
Published: September 2022

Knowledge sharing has become an important practice in the era of knowledge economy. This paper concerns the management of contributor performance in social knowledge‐sharing communities. Based on ability‐motivation‐opportunity theory, we propose a hidden Markov model to characterize the change in a knowledge contributor's latent state, which then determines the performance of knowledge sharing in terms of quantity and quality. The proposed model is calibrated using data from a social question‐and‐answer community. Three latent states are identified: unmotivated, exploratory, and sophisticated. Several factors influence the state‐transition process. Specifically, the increase in followers encourages contributors in the unmotivated state to transition to the motivated states and, therefore, contribute knowledge. When the contributors are in the exploratory state, observing the behavior of their followees increases the probability of their transitioning to the sophisticated state, in which they will make high‐quality contributions. These results suggest that followers influence mainly the quantity of contributions, while followees help mainly to increase the quality of contributions. This study contributes to the literature by revealing the dynamics of contributor performance in the context of knowledge sharing and by showing the roles of different social factors in influencing contributor performance. The modeling framework and findings of this study can help managers to identify the latent contribution states and then intervene in the performance of knowledge contributors in a variety of settings.
Joint patient selection and scheduling under no‐shows: Theory and application in proton therapy
Authors: Saghafian Soroush , Trichakis Nikolaos , Zhu Ruihao , Shih Helen A.
Published: September 2022

We study how to admit and schedule heterogeneous patients by using simple, interpretable, yet effective policies when capacity is scarce, no‐show behavior is patient‐ and time‐dependent, service duration and reward are deterministic but patient‐dependent, and overtime is costly. Our work is motivated by the aforementioned operational challenges that typically face adopters of new technologies in the healthcare sector. We anchor our study on a partnership with the proton therapy center of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which offers a new radiation technology for cancer patients. We formulate the problem as a nonlinear integer optimization problem. However, as the solution to this formulation lacks both tractability and interpretability, to be relevant to practice, we limit our study to simple and interpretable policies. In particular, we propose a simple index‐based rule and derive analytical performance guarantees for it. We also calibrate our model using empirical data from our partner hospital, and conduct a series of experiments to evaluate the performance of our proposed policy under practical circumstances. The analytical performance guarantees and our numerical experiments demonstrate (a) the strong performance of the proposed policies, and (b) their robustness to various practical considerations (e.g., to potential misspecification of no‐show probabilities). Our results show that our proposed policy, despite being a simple and interpretable index‐based rule, is capable of improving performance by about 20% at an organization such as MGH, and of delivering results that are not far from being optimal across a wide range of parameters that might vary between organizations. This suggests that the proposed policy can be viewed as an effective “one‐fits‐all” capacity allocation rule that can be used in a variety of environments in which operational challenges such as no‐shows and overtime costs need to be navigated using simple and interpretable rules.
Who Sponsors the President's Program in the Opposition's House?
Authors: Dionne Lee E.
Published: September 2022

Who sponsors the president's program when the opposition controls the House presents a puzzle because the president's copartisan members arguably lack agenda‐setting power and the president cannot compel the opposition to consider legislation. Attracting opposition sponsors to their bills is one way presidents hope to enact their agendas when in the minority. Doing so allows the opposition to share or take credit for bills in the president's program. New OMB data about presidents' programs (Kernell et al. 2019) open a window to these dynamics of divided government between the 97th (1981–82) and 109th (2005–6) Congress. In contrast to the near monopolization of program bills by presidents' copartisans when they are in control, these data demonstrate that opposition members sponsor most bills in presidents' programs when the opposition is in the majority. Opposition members with committee and subcommittee chair status, long tenure, and high legislative effectiveness scores (Volden and Wiseman 2014) are especially likely to sponsor presidents' program bills when the opposition controls the House.
Restrictive transfusion thresholds: Have we left patient‐centered outcomes behind?
Authors: Mo Allison , Higgins Alisa M.
Published: September 2022

See article on page 1973–1983, in this issue
Effects of corneoconjunctival transposition, posterior lamellar keratoplasty and modified deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty on streak retinoscopy in equine cadaver eyes
Authors: Charnock Lauren N. , Boveland Shannon D. , Groover Erin S. , Moore Phillip A. , McMullen Richard J.
Published: September 2022

Objective

Evaluate the effects of corneoconjunctival transposition (CCT), posterior lamellar keratoplasty (PLK) and modified deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) on streak retinoscopy in equine cadaver eyes.

Methods

Intraocular pressure (IOP) was maintained at 25 ± 3 mmHg in 35 equine cadaver eyes. Streak retinoscopy was performed prior to (NO VISCO) and following (VISCO) intracameral injection of 1.0 ml of viscoelastic. Following optical coherence tomography (OCT), an axial CCT [n = 11] or PLK [n = 12], or peripheral DLEK [n = 12] was performed. Streak retinoscopy and OCT were repeated postoperatively.

Results

Postsurgical net meridional and spherical refraction for CCT [Horizontal (H): 3.4 (95% CI 2.4–4.4) diopters (D), p < .001, Vertical (V): 3.5 (95% CI 2.7–4.4) D, p < .001, Spherical: 3.5 (95% CI 2.6–4.3) D, p < .001] and PLK [H: 3.2 (95% CI 2.2–4.1) D, p < .001, V: 2.8 (95% CI 2.0–3.6) D, p < .001, Spherical: 3.0 (95% CI 2.2–3.8) D, p < .001] were significantly increased from presurgical (VISCO) values. No difference between presurgical (VISCO) and postsurgical values were identified for the DLEK. Postoperative OCT revealed space between anterior and posterior corneal grafts and corneal undulation associated with suture placement.

Conclusion

Meridional and spherical refraction had a hyperopic shift following CCT and PLK, with a significantly higher value in the vertical meridian for the CCT. Pre‐ and postoperative refraction was not significantly different for the DLEK. This supports that the DLEK has a lesser effect on immediate postoperative refraction compared with CCT or PLK.
Placental calcifications after coronavirus disease 2019 in first trimester of pregnancy: ultrasound and pathology findings
Authors: Kouba Insaf , Bracero Luis , Millington Karmaine , Blitz Matthew J.
Published: September 2022

The effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on placental tissue is unclear. We present a case of symptomatic first trimester SARS-CoV-2 infection in which longitudinal ultrasound images demonstrated diffuse areas of echogenic foci. Her 39-week delivery, following an elective induction of labor, was uncomplicated, and placental pathol-ogy evaluation noted extensive calcifications. Such findings are sometimes seen in late and post-term pregnancies and those complicated by smoking, hypertensive disorders, diabetes, and viral infections. In this case, no other potential etiology was identified. Thus, we conclude that placental calcifications may be associated with SAR-CoV-2 infection in early pregnancy.
Analysis of phase derivatives of speech signals
Authors: Yegnanarayana B.
Published: September 2022

This paper examines the phase derivatives of speech signals. The instantaneous complex spectra obtained in the single frequency filtering (SFF) analysis of signals is used to derive the phase function. The problem of phase wrapping is avoided by using the proposed modification to SFF analysis to derive a scaled down version of the phase function. We consider the derivatives of the exponent (i.e., logarithm) of the complex SFF spectra, with respect to frequency, time, and both frequency and time. The imaginary part of the exponent is the phase function, and the real part is the log magnitude function. The negative derivative of phase with respect to frequency is the group delay (GD) function, and the derivative of the phase with respect to time is the instantaneous frequency (IF) function. The features of speech production displayed through the GD function are compared with the features displayed through the derivative with respect to frequency of the corresponding log magnitude function. Likewise, the features of production displayed through the IF function are compared with the features displayed through the derivative with respect to time of the corresponding log magnitude function. The speech production characteristics reflected in these representations of phase derivatives are examined for different types of utterances.
Evaluation of MetaSystems Automated Fluorescent Microscopy System for the Machine-Assisted Detection of Acid-Fast Bacilli in Clinical Samples
Authors: Tomasello Gianna , Foroughi Farnaz , Padron Danielle , Moreno Angel , Banaei Niaz
Published: September 2022

Manual reading of fluorescent acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy slides is time-intensive and technically demanding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MetaSystems’ automated fluorescent AFB slide scanner and analyzer.
The gC1qR Binding Site Mutant PCV2 Is a Potential Vaccine Strain That Does Not Impair Memory CD4
+
T-Cell Generation by Vaccines
Authors: Du Qian , Yang Xuefeng , Ma Mengyu , Zhang Qi , Zhu Changlei , Shi Tengfei , He Mingrui , Tong Dewen , Huang Yong
Published: September 2022

PCV2 is one of the costliest pathogens in pigs worldwide. Usage of PCV2 vaccines can prevent the PCV2 infection-induced clinical syndromes but not the viral spread.
Genome Capture Sequencing Selectively Enriches Bacterial DNA and Enables Genome-Wide Measurement of Intrastrain Genetic Diversity in Human Infections
Authors: Hayden Hillary S. , Joshi Snehal , Radey Matthew C. , Vo Anh T. , Forsberg Cara , Morgan Sarah J. , Waalkes Adam , Holmes Elizabeth A. , Klee Sara M. , Emond Mary J. , Singh Pradeep K. , Salipante Stephen J.
Published: September 2022

Genetic diversity evolves in bacterial strains during human infections and could affect disease manifestations and treatment resistance. However, the extent of diversity presentin vivoand its changes over time are difficult to measure by conventional methods.
Preexisting Heterogeneity of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression Drives Differential Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Macrophages
Authors: Rutschmann Ophélie , Toniolo Chiara , McKinney John D.
Published: September 2022

In this report, we demonstrate that fluctuations in the expression of antimicrobial genes can define how single host cells control bacterial infections. We show that preexisting cell-to-cell variation in the expression of a single gene, that for inducible nitric oxide synthase, is sufficient to explain why some macrophages kill intracellular
M. tuberculosis
while others fail to control bacterial replication, possibly leading to disease progression.
Desaturation of the Sphingofungin Polyketide Tail Results in Increased Serine Palmitoyltransferase Inhibition
Authors: Hoefgen Sandra , Bissell Alexander U. , Huang Ying , Gherlone Fabio , Raguž Luka , Beemelmanns Christine , Valiante Vito
Published: September 2022

Targeting the cellular sphingolipid metabolism is often discussed as a potential approach to treat associated human diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Alternatively, it is also a possible target for the development of antifungal compounds, which are direly needed.
Molecular Determinants of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Central Africa between 2016 and 2021: Wide Geographic Spread of Highly Mutated
Pfdhfr
and
Pfdhps
Alleles
Authors: Wang Xiaoxiao , Zhang Xuan , Chen Hualiang , Lu Qiaoyi , Ruan Wei , Chen Zhiping
Published: September 2022

Monitoring drug resistance is important for malaria control because its early detection enables timely action to prevent its spread and mitigate its impact. The wide geographic spread and the increasing trend of highly resistant
Pfdhfr
genes between 2016 and 2021 found in our study are worrisome and emphasize the urgency to monitor their updated status in central Africa.
Rare atypical presentation of a polymicrobial gastropericardial fistula
Authors: Piszker Alexander , McManus Nicholas , Foreman Mark
Published: September 2022

We present the unique case of a gastropericardial fistula with a rare, delayed presentation in a man in his 70s. Relevant surgeries include Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure device placement 1 year prior to arrival and gastric bypass surgery 20 years prior to arrival. The patient presented to the emergency department with weakness, diarrhoea and left knee pain. He was admitted for cellulitis of the left lower extremity, prosthetic septic arthritis of the left knee and group G streptococcus bacteraemia. His hospital course was complicated by acute chest pain and dyspnoea. Imaging revealed pneumopericardium. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy visualisation confirmed the diagnosis of gastropericardial fistula. The patient could not be transferred to a tertiary centre for definitive management because of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on tertiary hospital volumes. After pericardial drainage and administration of antimicrobials without improvement, the patient was discharged to hospice care at his request and died 1 day after discharge.
Interventions to prevent hypothermia in extremely preterm low-weight infants undergoing cardiac catheterisation
Authors: Alhalabi Eliane , Zestos Maria , Kobayashi Daisuke , Mckelvey George M , Taylor Rachel A
Published: September 2022

Background

In January 2019, a new device called the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus in infants weighing more than 700 g and of postnatal age more than 3 days. Premature low-weight infants are predisposed to hypothermia when transported outside of the thermo-neutral environment. At our institution, 90% of extremely preterm low-weight infants developed transient moderate hypothermia in the cardiac catheterisation suite.

Methods

We conducted a study testing multiple hypotheses aimed at preventing hypothermia in the cardiac catheterisation suite. Interventions included increasing ambient room temperature, reducing exposure to cold environment and reducing overall time spent in the remote location. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who developed transient hypothermia at the start of the procedure in the cardiac catheterisation suite. The secondary measures included mean core body temperature at four different instances, as well as anaesthesia time, procedure time and radiation exposure.

Results

During the study period, 10 patients were enrolled in each group. The postintervention group saw a reduction in transient hypothermia from 90% to 40% (absolute risk reduction 50%, p=0.02). Data analysis showed an improvement in mean core body temperature (35.4°C vs 36.4°C, p<0.01) as well as a smaller percentage drop in temperature (4% vs 1.3%, p<0.01) between the two groups, both of which were statistically significant. The anaesthesia time, procedure time and radiation exposure reduced between the two groups.

Conclusion

The application of the interventions reduced hypothermia in this high-risk population. The implementation of a protocol with collaboration of a multidisciplinary team is indispensable in providing optimal care to extremely preterm infants.