bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the usefulness of citizen science data for habitat suitability modelling: Opportunistic reporting versus sampling based on a systematic protocol
Authors: Henckel Laura , Bradter Ute , Jönsson Mari , Isaac Nick J. B. , Snäll Tord
Published: July 2020

Aim

To evaluate the potential of models based on opportunistic reporting (OR) compared to models based on data from a systematic protocol (SP) for modelling species distributions. We compared model performance for eight forest bird species with contrasting spatial distributions, habitat requirements and rarity. Differences in the reporting of species were also assessed. Finally, we tested potential improvement of models when inferring high‐quality absences from OR based on questionnaires sent to observers.

Location

Both datasets cover the same large area (Sweden) and time period (2000–2013).

Methods

Species distributions were modelled using logistic regression. Predictive performance of OR models to predict SP data was assessed based on AUC. We quantified the congruence in spatial predictions using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. We related these results to species characteristics and reporting behaviour of observers. We also assessed the gain in predictive performance of OR models by adding inferred absences. Finally, we investigated the potential impact of sampling bias in OR.

Results

For all species, and despite the sampling biases, results from OR overall agreed well with those of SP, for the nationwide spatial congruence of habitat suitability maps and the selection and directions of species–environment relationships. The OR models also performed well in predicting the SP data. The predictive performance of the OR models increased with species rarity and even outperformed the SP model for the rarest species. No significant impact of observer behaviour was found.

Main conclusions

Relatively simple analyses with inferred absences could produce reliable spatial predictions of habitat suitability. This was especially true for rare species. OR data should be seen as a complement to SP, as the weakness of one is the strength of the other, and OR may be especially useful at large spatial scales or where no systematic data collection protocols exist.
Social entrepreneurship, co‐production, and post‐disaster recovery
Authors: Rayamajhee Veeshan , Storr Virgil Henry , Bohara Alok K.
Published: July 2020

Post‐disaster recovery requires co‐production; that is, the inputs of citizens are essential for successful community recovery to occur. Citizens contribute to post‐disaster recovery by volunteering, taking on consultative and decision‐making roles within their communities, and directly participating in post‐disaster reconstruction efforts. Without meaning ful contributions from citizens—the intended beneficiaries—unilateral efforts by public officials and authorities will inevitably fail. This study shows that social entrepreneurs can thus play a critical role in spurring post‐disaster recovery by facilitating co‐production. It focuses on the role of social entrepreneurs after disasters and centres on one rural village, Giranchaur Namuna Basti in the Sindhupalchowk District of Nepal. Specifically, the study uses the case of the Dhurmus Suntali Foundation's Namuna village project in Giranchaur following the 7.8‐magnitude earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015 to examine the pivotal role that social entrepreneurs assume in promoting voluntary activities, community engagement, and participation in post‐disaster recovery efforts.
Hand–arm bimanual intensive therapy and daily functioning of children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Figueiredo Priscilla R P , Mancini Marisa C , Feitosa Aline M , Teixeira Claudia M M F , Guerzoni Vanessa P D , Elvrum Ann‐Kristin G , Ferre Claudio L , Gordon Andrew M , BrandÃo Marina B
Published: July 2020

Aim

To examine the efficacy of Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) on daily functioning, unimanual dexterity, and bimanual performance of children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP) compared with customary care.

Method

Forty‐one children with bilateral CP, aged 4 to 16 years, classified in levels I to III of the Manual Ability Classification System, were randomly assigned to HABIT (90h) (n=21) or to customary care (4.5h) (n=20). Participants’ daily functioning (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory [PEDI], Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]), unimanual dexterity (Jebsen–Taylor Test of Hand Function, Box and Blocks Test [BBT]), and bimanual performance (Both Hands Assessment) were assessed pre‐, post‐, and 6 months after the intervention. Linear mixed‐effects models were used for inferential analysis.

Results

Children participating in HABIT showed greater improvements in daily functioning (COPMperformance: =9.50, p<0.01; COPMsatisfaction: =5.07, p<0.05; PEDIfunctional skills: =6.81, p<0.01; PEDIcaregiver assistance: =6.23, p<0.05) and in the dexterity of the dominant hand (BBT: =3.99, p<0.05) compared with children maintaining customary care. Group or time effects did not explain any variance in bimanual performance or in the dexterity of the non‐dominant hand.

Interpretation

HABIT may be beneficial for children with bilateral CP, with benefits evidenced for daily functioning outcomes.

What this paper adds

Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) improved daily functioning of children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Bimanual performance, measured by the Both Hands Assessment, did not change after HABIT in children with bilateral CP.

Children with asymmetric and symmetric hand use exhibited similar improvements after HABIT.
Normal insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, gut incretin and pancreatic hormone responses in adults with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Gether Lise , Thyssen Jacob P. , Gyldenløve Mette , Hartmann Bolette , Holst Jens J. , Foghsgaard Signe , Vilsbøll Tina , Knop Filip K.
Published: July 2020

Aim

To examine whether adults with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) had reduced insulin sensitivity and/or exhibited other gluco‐metabolic disturbances compared with carefully matched healthy controls.

Materials and methods

Sixteen adult, non‐obese, non‐diabetic patients with mild to moderate AD and 16 gender‐, age‐ and body mass index (BMI)‐matched healthy controls underwent a hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp (insulin infusion rate: 40 mU/m2/minute) and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with frequent blood sampling for gut and pancreatic hormones.

Results

The two groups were similar in age (33 ± 3 vs. 33 ± 3 years, mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]), gender (56% women), BMI (24.5 ± 0.7 vs. 24.4 ± 0.7 kg/m2), physical activity level, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. Patients with AD had a mean Eczema Area and Severity Index score of 8.5 ± 1.0 (moderate disease) and a mean AD duration of 28 ± 3 years. During the OGTT, circulating glucose, insulin, C‐peptide, glucagon and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, respectively, were similar in the two groups, except glucagon‐like peptide‐1, which was higher in patients with AD. The clamp showed no differences in insulin sensitivity between groups (M‐value 9.2 ± 0.6 vs. 9.8 ± 0.8, P = .541, 95% CI −1.51; 2.60), or circulating insulin, C‐peptide and glucagon levels.

Conclusions

Using OGTT and the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique, we found no difference in insulin sensitivity or other gluco‐metabolic characteristics between patients with mild to moderate AD and matched healthy controls, suggesting that the inflammatory skin disease AD has little or no influence on glucose metabolism.
Diastolic strain time as predictor for systolic dysfunction among patients with active breast cancer
Authors: Hochstadt Aviram , Arnold Joshua , Rosen Roni , Sherez Chen , Sherez Jack , Mor Liat , Derakhshesh Matthew , Moshkovits Yonatan , Merdler Ilan , Arbel Yaron , Kapusta Livia , Rozenbaum Zach , Topilsky Yan , Laufer‐Perl Michal
Published: July 2020

Background

Although diastolic dysfunction is common among patients treated with cancer therapy, no clear evidence has been shown that it predicts systolic dysfunction. This study evaluated the correlation of diastolic strain time (Dst) with the routine echocardiography diastolic parameters and estimated its role in the early detection of cardiotoxicity among patients with active breast cancer.

Methods

Data were collected as part of the Israel Cardio‐Oncology Registry (ICOR), a prospective registry enrolling all adult patients referred to the cardio‐oncology clinic. All patients with breast cancer, planned for Doxorubicin therapy, were included. Echocardiography, including global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) and Dst, was assessed at baseline before chemotherapy (T1), during Doxorubicin therapy (T2) and after the completion of Doxorubicin therapy (T3). Cardiotoxicity was determined by GLS relative reduction of ≥15%. Dst was assessed as the time measured (ms) of the myocardium lengthening during diastole.

Results

Among 69 patients, 67 (97.1%) were females with a mean age of 52 ± 13 years. Dst was significantly associated with the routine diastolic parameters. Significant GLS reduction was observed in 10 (20%) patients at T3. Both in a univariate and a multivariate analyses, the change in Ds basal time from T1 to T2 emerged to be significantly associated with GLS reduction at T3 (P < .04).

Conclusions

Among breast cancer patients, Dst showed high correlation to the routine diastolic echocardiography parameters. Change in Ds basal time emerged associated with clinically significant systolic dysfunction as measured by GLS reduction.
Nitric oxide increases gain in the ventral cochlear nucleus of guinea pigs with tinnitus
Authors: Hockley Adam , Berger Joel I. , Palmer Alan R. , Wallace Mark N.
Published: July 2020

Previous work has led to the hypothesis that, during the production of noise‐induced tinnitus, higher levels of nitric oxide (NO), in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN), increase the gain applied to a reduced input from the cochlea. To test this hypothesis, we noise‐exposed 26 guinea pigs, identified evidence of tinnitus in 12 of them and then compared the effects of an iontophoretically applied NO donor or production inhibitor on VCN single unit activity. We confirmed that the mean driven firing rate for the tinnitus and control groups was the same while it had fallen in the non‐tinnitus group. By contrast, the mean spontaneous rate had increased for the tinnitus group relative to the control group, while it remained the same for the non‐tinnitus group. A greater proportion of units responded to exogenously applied NO in the tinnitus (56%) and non‐tinnitus groups (71%) than a control population (24%). In the tinnitus group, endogenous NO facilitated the driven firing rate in 37% (7/19) of neurons and appeared to bring the mean driven rate back up to control levels by a mechanism involving N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. By contrast, in the non‐tinnitus group, endogenous NO only facilitated the driven firing rate in 5% (1/22) of neurons and there was no facilitation of driven rate in the control group. The effects of endogenous NO on spontaneous activity were unclear. These results suggest that NO is involved in increasing the gain applied to driven activity, but other factors are also involved in the increase in spontaneous activity.
Comparing two theories about the nature of soil phosphate
Authors: Barrow N. J.
Published: July 2020

Two theories about the nature of phosphate in soil are current. One holds that soil phosphate is mostly present as particles of iron, aluminium and calcium phosphates: the precipitate‐particulate theory. The other holds that phosphate is mostly adsorbed and penetrates heterogeneous, variable‐charge particles: the adsorption‐penetration theory. This is the only theory that is consistent with and can be deduced from observations. It is my contention that the persistence of the precipitate‐particulate theory leads to: wasted research effort in trying to identify the supposed phosphate fractions; failure to recognize the long‐term changes in soil phosphate due to repeated applications, and thus to over‐fertilisation; and misapprehension about the effects of pH on phosphate availability.
Internet‐Based Proctored Assessment: Security and Fairness Issues
Authors: Langenfeld Thomas
Published: July 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic has accelerated the shift toward online learning solutions necessitating the need for developing online assessment solutions. Vendors offer online assessment delivery systems with varying security levels designed to minimize unauthorized behaviors. Combating cheating and securing assessment content, however, is not solely the responsibility of the delivery system. Assessment design practices also effectively minimize cheating and protect content. In developing online assessment solutions, organizations also must strive to ensure that all students have the opportunity to test.
Parameter reductions in N‐soft sets and their applications in decision‐making
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Ali Ghous , Alcantud José C. R. , Fatimah Fatia
Published: July 2020

Parameter reduction is an important operation for improving the performance of decision‐making processes in various uncertainty theories. The theory of N‐soft sets is emerging as a powerful mathematical tool for dealing with uncertainties beyond the standard formulation of the soft set theory. In this research article, we extend the notion of parameter reduction to N‐soft set theory, and we also justify its practical calculation. To this purpose, we define related theoretical concepts (e.g. N‐soft subset, reduct N‐soft set and redundant parameter) and examine some of their fundamental properties. Then, we argue that the idea of attributes reduction from the rough set theory cannot be employed in the N‐soft set theory in order to reduce the number of parameters. Consequently, we take an original position in order to adequately define and compute parameter reductions in N‐soft sets. Finally, we develop an application of parameter reduction of N‐soft sets.
Parent–Emerging‐Adult‐Child Attachment and Overparenting
Authors: Jiao Jian , Segrin Chris
Published: July 2020

Objective

To examine the relationship between parent–child attachment and overparenting during emerging adulthood.

Background

Overparenting, a form of developmentally inappropriate parenting that features parental over‐involvement and autonomy‐constraining behavior, has been found to relate to a variety of negative child outcomes; however, there is currently a great need for research that attempts to explain why parents engage in overparenting.

Method

Cross‐sectional data were collected from 213 parent–emerging‐adult‐child dyads. Parents completed questionnaires assessing attachment toward their child and overparenting. Emerging‐adult children completed questionnaires assessing attachment toward their parent.

Results

Multiple regression results showed parents' attachment anxiety with their children positively predicted overparenting, and parents' attachment avoidance negatively predicted overparenting. Additionally, a positive association was observed between children's attachment avoidance with their parents and overparenting.

Conclusion

Overall, the results show that parents were practicing overparenting largely as a function of their own attachment needs rather than their child's attachment characteristics.

Implications

The results indicate that those who engage in overparenting may in fact be regulating their own affect as opposed to considering their emerging‐adult child's developmental needs.
Secondary School Success in Times of Parental Divorce
Authors: Baert Stijn , Van der Straeten Greet
Published: July 2020

Objective

We investigated how educational performance during secondary education evolves in the years before, during, and after parental divorce.

Background

Theoretical models predict different divorce effect patterns in the school year of the divorce and in the years around it. However, we are not aware of any existing studies attempting to measure this pattern.

Method

The study was based on unique panel data capturing parental divorce and school results for 2,685 Belgian pupils. We employed this panel to correct for time‐invariant, unobservable drivers of educational performance, as well as to take into account time‐variant unobserved drivers.

Results

The results indicate that the divorce penalty peaks in the school year of the divorce. A zero treatment effect in the preceding and subsequent years cannot be rejected. Moreover, simpler econometric strategies tended to overestimate the divorce penalty.

Conclusion

Our findings are mostly in line with the parental adjustment and life stress theories. From a policy perspective, we suggest that it is essential to support children in the months before and after parental divorce, while special treatment in later years may be less necessary.
Thermodynamic entropy as a marker of high‐cycle fatigue damage accumulation: Example for normalized SAE 1045 steel
Authors: Teng Zhenjie , Wu Haoran , Boller Christian , Starke Peter
Published: July 2020

A nondestructive thermographic methodology is utilized to determine the fracture fatigue entropy for evaluating the fatigue damage in metals within the high‐cycle fatigue regime. Thermodynamic entropy is shown to play an important role in the fatigue process to trace the fatigue damage as an irreversible degradation of a metallic material being subjected to cyclic elastic‐plastic loading. This paper presents a method to evaluate fatigue damage in the normalized SAE 1045 steel being based on the concept of thermodynamic entropy and its nonlinearities. The procedure looks to be applicable to constant and load increase tests proven by experiments.
Price anchors and short‐term reversals
Authors: Zhu Zhaobo , Sun Licheng , Stivers Chris
Published: July 2020

We find that price anchors have a role in understanding short‐run reversals in 1‐month (1 M) stock returns in conjunction with the well‐known liquidity provision channel. Specifically, we determine that 1 M reversal strategies perform much better for stocks that have (a) a low price relative to their 52‐week high (George and Hwang) and (b) a low capital gains overhang (Grinblatt and Han). Further, we uncover striking asymmetries in the reversal behavior between past winners and past losers depending upon the stock's price relative to the price reference points. These reversal asymmetries fit with the hypothesized price anchoring biases.
Are the risk attitudes of professional investors affected by personal catastrophic experiences?
Authors: Bernile Gennaro , Bhagwat Vineet , Kecskés Ambrus , Nguyen Phuong‐Anh
Published: July 2020

We adopt a novel empirical approach to show that the risk attitudes of professional investors are affected by their catastrophic experiences—even for catastrophes without any meaningful economic impact on these investors or their portfolio firms. We study the portfolio risk of U.S.‐based mutual funds that invest outside the United States before and after fund managers personally experience severe natural disasters. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, we compare managers in disaster versus nondisaster counties matched on prior disaster probability and fund characteristics. We find that monthly fund return volatility decreases by roughly 60 basis points in year +1 and the effect disappears by year +3. Systematic risk drives the results. Additional analyses do not support wealth effects (using disasters with no property damage) or managerial agency, skill, and catering explanations.
Personal, technical and organisational factors affect whether physicians seek answers to clinical questions during patient care: a literature review
Authors: Daei Azra , Soleymani Mohammad Reza , Ashrafi‐rizi Hasan , Kelishadi Roya , Zargham‑Boroujeni Ali
Published: July 2020

Background

Numerous questions are generated for physicians during patient care. Facilitators and barriers affect the physicians' clinical information‐seeking behaviour. While most health studies have focused on barriers, few have dealt with facilitators.

Objective

This review aimed to identify facilitators in physicians' information‐seeking behaviour to help respond to clinical questions raised during patient care.

Methods

A narrative review was conducted, and 9 databases were searched. Selection criteria included original articles in the context of patient care and full‐text articles published in the English language from 2002 to 2019. The articles were selected and analysed by group discussions.

Results

Analysis of studies disclosed personal, technical and organisational facilitators including 26 themes. Internet utilisation and information searching skills, more available time, personal interests and knowing preferred sites or textbooks were among the personal factors. The most common technical factors included providing navigation support, and ease of searching and finding needed information. The most commonly reported factors at the organisational level are closeness to Internet facility and access during the consultation.

Conclusion

Information systems designers, health service managers and librarians may need to work together to provide systems and settings that encourage doctors to seek information to answer their clinical questions during patient care.
Hybrid Li‐S pouch cell with a reinforced sulfide glass solid‐state electrolyte film separator
Authors: Yersak Thomas , Salvador James R. , Schmidt Robert D. , Cai Mei
Published: July 2020

In this paper, sulfide glass electrolyte powder with a nominal composition of (Li2S)60(SiS2)28(P2S5)12 is hot pressed at a 330°C and 12 MPa into separator films using non‐woven fiberglass reinforcement. The reinforced separator films are 93% dense, bendable, and have an ionic conductivity of 0.7 mS/cm at room temperature. When integrated into hybrid Li‐S coin cells with liquid electrolyte, these reinforced glass separators blocked the parasitic polysulfide shuttle sufficiently to enable reversible cycling without LiNO3 co‐salt. Furthermore, the scalability of the reinforced glass separator technology is demonstrated by assembling and testing a hybrid single‐layer pouch cell.
How does patient provider communication affect patients' risk perception? A scenario experiment and an exploratory investigation
Authors: Sun Chao , Wei Dong , Gong Haiyan , Ding Xue , Wu Xue
Published: July 2020

Aim

The aim of the study was to examine whether patient–provider communication interacts with treatment outcomes to influence patients' risk perception.

Background

Medical uncertainties and risks are among the most serious problems faced by patients. This is exacerbated by communication failure in patient–provider relationships and poor treatment outcomes. However, we do not know how communication and treatment outcomes shape patients' risk perception and concern about uncertainty.

Design

The study is a two‐by‐two between‐subjects design.

Methods

Two studies were conducted and data were collected in 2019. Each study used a different research design and different samples: Study 1 used a scenario experiment with 120 undergraduate students; and Study 2 surveyed 200 inpatients in clinical settings.

Results

The convergent results found a significant interaction between patient–provider communication and treatment outcome on the perception of medical risks among the participants.

Conclusion

Patient–provider communication interacts with treatment outcome to influence patients' perceived risk about uncertainties for healthcare. Clinicians and nurses should be aware of the effects of patient–provider communication on patients' risk perception in their concerns about the uncertainties of treatment and pay much more attention to good healthcare relationship building in addition to the improvement of objective treatment outcome.
Individual differences in effective interview design: Factors affecting question choice
Authors: Speer Andrew B. , Tenbrink Andrew P. , Schwendeman Michael G. , Wegmeyer Lauren J.
Published: July 2020

Despite the evidence that structured interviews are superior to unstructured interviews, interviewers remain reluctant to use them for personnel selection. The current research replicated and extended recent research examining how individual differences relate to the ability to identify effective interview questions. Question judgments were made across questions that varied substantially in quality and across two different jobs. Across two samples of data, respondents evaluated past behavioral and traditional interview questions more favorably than oddball questions and questions about job‐irrelevant competencies. Furthermore, general mental ability and social aptitude were strongly related to skill in identifying effective interview questions, with results suggesting these traits are associated with customizing questions to specific job contexts.
Prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence among Chinese immigrant women
Authors: Li Yang , Bloom Tina , Herbell Kayla , Bullock Linda F. C.
Published: July 2020

Aims

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence among Chinese immigrant women residing in the USA.

Design

A cross‐sectional study using the online survey approach.

Methods

A total of 475 Chinese immigrant women were recruited online between April–June 2019. We measured past year intimate partner violence, sociodemographic, relationship‐related and immigration‐related factors, religion, social support, acculturation, adverse childhood experiences, and gender role beliefs.

Results

Twenty‐one percent of Chinese immigrant women experienced past year intimate partner violence. Younger age, cohabiting relationship, lower levels of relationship satisfaction and social support, older age at arrival, longer length of stay, religious belief, and adverse childhood experiences were associated with the occurrence of intimate partner violence.

Conclusion

Chinese immigrant women experience higher rates of intimate partner violence compared with other populations of women. Future research is still needed to elucidate abused Chinese immigrant women's violence experiences, help‐seeking behaviours, availability of resources and needs for services to tailor prevention and intervention programs culturally.

Impact

The findings added to our understanding of intimate partner violence among this largest Asian immigrant group. Modifiable risk factors such as social support should be targeted in future preventions and interventions for abused Chinese immigrant women residing in the USA.
The emerging role of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes‐mediated synovitis in osteoarthritis: An update
Authors: Han Dafei , Fang Yilong , Tan Xuewen , Jiang Haifei , Gong Xun , Wang Xinming , Hong Wenming , Tu Jiajie , Wei Wei
Published: July 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most ubiquitous degenerative disease affecting the entire joint, is characterized by cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. Although the pathogenesis of OA remains poorly understood, synovial inflammation is known to play an important role in OA development. However, studies on OA pathophysiology have focused more on cartilage degeneration and osteophytes, rather than on the inflamed and thickened synovium. Fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) produce a series of pro‐inflammatory regulators, such as inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). These regulators are positively associated with the clinical symptoms of OA, such as inflammatory pain, joint swelling and disease development. A better understanding of the inflammatory immune response in OA‐FLS could provide a novel approach to comprehensive treatment strategies for OA. Here, we have summarized recently published literatures referring to epigenetic modifications, activated signalling pathways and inflammation‐associated factors that are involved in OA‐FLS‐mediated inflammation. In addition, the current related clinical trials and future perspectives were also summarized.
Early detection of euglycemic ketoacidosis during thoracic surgery associated with empagliflozin in a patient with type 2 diabetes: A case report
Authors: Kitahara Chie , Morita Shuhei , Kishimoto Shohei , Matsuno Shohei , Uraki Shinsuke , Takeshima Ken , Furukawa Yasushi , Inaba Hidefumi , Iwakura Hiroshi , Ariyasu Hiroyuki , Furuta Hiroto , Nishi Masahiro , Akamizu Takashi
Published: July 2020

We report the first case of intraoperatively detected euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) associated with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors during thoracic surgery. A 59‐year‐old man had a 12‐year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with insulin and empagliflozin. The patient developed bacterial empyema and was initiated with antibiotics at a local hospital. Owing to the persistence of his symptoms, he was transferred to our hospital after the medication of empagliflozin the day before surgery. After overnight fasting, the patient underwent thoracoscopic debridement and intrathoracic lavage surgery. During this surgery, he was noted to have euglycemic ketosis and acidosis, and diagnosed as euglycemic DKA. Immediately after the consultation in our department, the patient underwent treatment for DKA. He awoke from anesthesia normally and showed no symptoms of DKA. DKA gradually resolved over the next 24 h. Early identification and management are critical for rapid recovery from perioperative euglycemic DKA associated with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, especially during thoracic surgery.
Predicting high‐protein bar processing ability from rheological and tribological analyses
Authors: Sparkman Kristen , Smith Brennan , Joyner Helen S.
Published: July 2020

With the growth of the high‐protein bar market, predictive models for good processing ability would assist bar manufactures in development of bar formulations. The objective of this study was to create predictive models for high‐protein bar model formulations based on empirical testing and instrumental data. The predictive models generated had relatively high accuracy rates (> 85%). However, three misclassifications were seen for oil‐ and shortening‐based formulations, leaving gray areas of predictive values and indicating that data from additional formulations is needed to improve model accuracy. Model validation testing showed that cold flow was best for predicting processing ability of oil‐based formulations. For shortening‐based formulations, wear rate and at 4% strain and 10 rad/s best predicted processing ability. These models provide valuable information about ingredient ranges and instrumental tests that could be used to assist in the determination of processing ability.

Practical applications

The results of this study may be used by high‐protein bar manufacturers and manufacturers of similar products to determine the processing ability of novel formulations with a rapid test that requires only a small amount of sample. There are no similar methods currently used except for manipulating samples by hand. Judging processing ability from hand manipulation requires significant experience working with the product, whereas the tests used to create data for the models outlined in this article can be performed by inexperienced personnel to rapidly screen novel formulations.
Feasibility of Clinicians Aligning Health Care with Patient Priorities in Geriatrics Ambulatory Care
Authors: Freytag Jennifer , Dindo Lilian , Catic Angela , Johnson Adrienne L. , Bush Amspoker Amber , Gravier Anna , Dawson Darius B. , Tinetti Mary E. , Naik Aanand D.
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Aligning healthcare decisions with patients’ priorities may improve care for older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). We conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility of identifying patient priorities in routine geriatrics care and to compare clinicians’ recommendations for patients who did or did not have their priorities identified.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Veterans Administration Medical Center Geriatrics Clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults with MCCs receiving Patient Priorities Care (PPC; n = 35) were matched with patients receiving usual care (UC; n = 35). Both PPC and UC patients were cared for by three primary care providers (PCPs) in an ambulatory geriatric clinic.

INTERVENTION

In the PPC group, a clinician facilitator met with each patient to identify their healthcare priorities and transmitted patients’ priorities in the electronic health record (EHR). Trained PCPs then sought to align healthcare decisions with patients’ priorities. In the UC group, patients received usual care from the same PCPs.

MEASUREMENTS

We matched patients by clinician seen, patient’s age, number of active conditions, medications, hospitalizations, functional status, and prior hospitalizations. EHRs were reviewed to identify care decisions including medications added or stopped, referrals and consults added or avoided, referrals to community services and supports, self‐management activities added or avoided, and total number of changes to care. Mean differences in recommended care between PPC and UC patients from the same PCPs were examined.

RESULTS

Clinician facilitators could identify patient priorities during routine clinic encounters. Compared with patients in the UC group, those in the PPC group had, on average, fewer medications added (P = .05), more referrals to community services and supports (P = .03), and more priorities‐aligned self‐management tasks added (P = .005).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the feasibility of identifying and documenting patient priorities during routine encounters. Results also suggest that clinicians use patient priorities in recommending care.
Legitimacy Revisited: Disentangling Propriety, Validity, and Consensus
Authors: Haack Patrick , Schilke Oliver , Zucker Lynne
Published: July 2020

Recent research has conceptualized legitimacy as a multi‐level phenomenon comprising propriety and validity. Propriety refers to an individual evaluator’s belief that a legitimacy object is appropriate for its social context, whereas validity denotes an institutionalized, collective‐level perception of appropriateness. In this article, we refine this multi‐level understanding of legitimacy by adding a third, meso‐level construct of ‘consensus’, which we define as the agreement between evaluators’ propriety beliefs. Importantly, validity and consensus are distinct and can be incongruent, given that an institutionalized perception can hide underlying disagreement. Disentangling validity from consensus is a crucial extension of the multi‐level theory of legitimacy, because it enables an improved understanding of the legitimacy processes that precede sudden and unanticipated institutional change. In particular, while previous works considered revised propriety beliefs as the starting point for institutional change, our account emphasizes that the disclosure of the actual (vs. merely assumed) belief distribution within a social context may instigate institutional change. To study the interplay of propriety, validity, and consensus empirically, we propose a set of experimental designs specifically geared towards improving knowledge of the role of legitimacy and its components in institutional change.
Signs and symptoms, quality of life and psychosocial data in 1331 post‐traumatic trigeminal neuropathy patients seen in two tertiary referral centres in two countries
Authors: Van der Cruyssen Fréderic , Peeters Frederik , Gill Thomas , De Laat Antoon , Jacobs Reinhilde , Politis Constantinus , Renton Tara
Published: July 2020

Background

Post‐traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTN) is a disturbance of function or pathological change of the trigeminal nerve branches following trauma and has an important impact on patient's quality of life (QoL).

Objectives

To provide diagnostic data on PTN and illustrate differences in aetiology, injured nerve, pain distribution, sensory profile and QoL between PTN subgroups.

Methods

1331 patients with painful or non‐painful PTN were retrospectively reviewed in two centres, extracting demographic data, time and cause of trauma, clinical findings including signs and symptoms, basic neurosensory testing, imaging modalities, treatments, and QoL or psychosocial assessment.

Results

More females were represented (70%) than males. The inferior alveolar nerve was most frequently damaged (60%) followed by the lingual nerve (28%). Wisdom teeth removal was considered the main cause (48%). Pain was reported in 63% of patients and pain frequency increased with age without clinically significant gender differences. Numbness was reported in 50% of PTN patients. Neurosensory testing showed larger affected dermatome involvement in persistent injuries, with no differences between the non‐painful and painful PTN groups. Patient clustering indicated different sensory profile distributions when stratified according to aetiology or affected nerve branch. High interference with lifestyle was reported (78%), and patients suffering from painful PTN had worse QoL and psychosocial outcomes.

Conclusion

Patients with painful PTN had different clinical profiles and lower QoL scores than those with non‐painful PTN. Sensory profiles may provide important prognostic and therapeutic information; however, more research is needed to assess the clustering procedure and link these clusters to therapeutic guidelines.
Variation in Abuse‐Deterrent Formulation Opioid Prescribing in California, Florida, and Kentucky in 2018
Authors: Brown John R. , Oh GYeon , Wang Yanning , Slavova Svetla , Delcher Chris , Dasgupta Nabarun , Freeman Patricia R.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Abuse‐deterrent formulation (ADF) opioid analgesics have been developed as a means to address prescription opioid abuse. ADF opioid use in clinical practice is not well described in the literature. This study characterizes ADF opioid prescribing patterns in 3 diverse states.

Methods

This study used data from prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) in California, Florida, and Kentucky. The sample includes all ADF opioid prescriptions for patients ≥18 years old during the study period (CY 2018). Standardized prescribing rates were calculated by age, sex, and county rurality. The ADF opioid prescribing rate was calculated per 1,000 adult recipients of opioid analgesics.

Findings

The rate of ADF prescribing per 1,000 adult recipients of opioid analgesics was nearly twice as high in Florida (14.57; 95% CI: 14.44‐14.69) than in California (8.30; 95% CI: 8.22‐8.37) or Kentucky (8.20; 95% CI: 8.01‐8.39). ADF prescribing rates were highest among adults ages 55‐74 years and among males. ADF opioid prescribing in rural counties represented a greater proportion of total patients using opioid analgesics than in metro counties in California (RR 1.40; CI: 1.28‐1.53). Opposite and less pronounced variation was observed in Kentucky (RR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88‐0.98), and a significant difference was not observed in Florida (RR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.38‐1.19).

Conclusions

There were significant differences in the ADF prescribing rates among the 3 states and in rural versus metro counties within 2 states. ADF opioid prescribing by age and sex showed similar trends within states. Further research is needed to elucidate contextual factors which may lead to prescribing variation.
Modern pollen rain predicts shifts in plant trait composition but not plant diversity along the Andes–Amazon elevational gradient
Authors: van der Sande Masha T , Bush Mark B , Urrego Dunia H , Silman Miles , Farfan‐Rios William , García Cabrera Karina , Shenkin Alexander , Malhi Yadvinder , McMichael Crystal H , Gosling William
Published: July 2020

Aims

Terrestrial ecosystems are changing in biodiversity, species composition and functional trait composition. To understand the underlying causes of these changes and predict the long‐term resilience of the ecosystem to withstand future disturbances, we can evaluate changes in diversity and composition from fossil pollen records. Although diversity can be well estimated from pollen in temperate ecosystems, this is less clear for the hyperdiverse tropics. Moreover, it remains unknown whether functional composition of plant assemblages can be accurately predicted from pollen assemblage composition. Here, we evaluate how community‐weighted mean (CWM) traits and diversity indices change along elevation.

Location

Amazon–Andes elevation gradient in Peru.

Methods

We used 82 modern pollen samples and 59 vegetation plots along the elevation gradient, and calculated CWM traits and diversity indices for each pollen sample and vegetation plot. We also quantified the degree to which taxa are over‐ or underrepresented by their pollen, by dividing the relative pollen abundance by the relative basal area abundance in the nearby vegetation survey plots (i.e. the R‐rel values).

Results

We found that CWM wood density increased, and CWM adult height and leaf area decreased with elevation. This change was well predicted by pollen assemblages, indicating that CWM trait–environment relationships based on pollen abundance data provide meaningful results. Diversity (richness, Shannon and Simpson) decreased with elevation for vegetation plots, but these trends could not be observed from pollen assemblages.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that more research is needed to develop methods that lead to accurate diversity estimates from pollen data in these tropical ecosystems, but that CWM traits can be calculated from pollen data to assess spatial shifts in functional composition. This opens opportunities to calculate CWM traits from fossil pollen data sets in the tropics, with broad implications for improving our understanding and predictions of forest dynamics, functioning and resilience through time.
Long‐term clinical benefits of Sofosbuvir‐based direct antiviral regimens for patients with chronic hepatitis C in Central and West Africa
Authors: Baudoin Mael , Woode Maame E. , Nishimwe Marie Libérée , Lemoine Maud , Sylla Babacar , Kouanfack Charles , Moh Raoul , Seydi Moussa , Rouveau Nicolas , Attia Alain , Lacombe Karine , Boyer Sylvie
Published: July 2020

Background

In Sub‐Saharan Africa, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a major public health issue. We estimated the long‐term clinical benefits of treating CHC with sofosbuvir‐based regimens in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal using Markov model combining data from the literature with estimates of direct‐acting antiviral (DAAs) effectiveness in West and Central Africa.

Methods

Disease progression was simulated with and without treatment in fictive cohorts of patients “diagnosed” with CHC in Cameroon (n = 3224), Côte d'Ivoire (n = 9748) and Senegal (n = 6358). Lifetime treatment benefits were assessed using (a) life‐years saved (LYS); (b) life‐years (LY) avoided in compensated cirrhosis (CC), decompensated cirrhosis (DC) and hepatocellular carcinoma; and (c) comparison of the proportions of patients at each disease stage with and without treatment. Probabilistic and determinist sensitivity analyses were performed to address uncertainty.

Results

Sofosbuvir‐based treatment would save [mean, 95% confidence intervals] 3.3 (2.5; 5.7) LY per patient in Cameroon, 2.7 (2.1; 4.8) in Côte d'Ivoire and 3.6 (2.8; 6.3) in Senegal. With treatment, approximately 6% (1%) of the patients still alive in each of the study countries would be in the CC (DC) health state 11 (15) years after CHC diagnosis, vs 15% (5%) without treatment. Scenario analysis showed earlier diagnosis and treatment initiation would dramatically improve LYS and morbidity.

Conclusion

Sofosbuvir‐based treatment could significantly reduce CHC‐related mortality and help control CHC‐related liver disease progression in West and Central Africa. However, the goal of disease elimination necessitates a substantial decrease in DAAs prices, greater political commitment and increases in both national and external health expenditures.
Epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility, risk factors and mortality of invasive candidiasis in neonates and children in a tertiary teaching hospital in Southwest China
Authors: Zeng Zhangrui , Tian Gang , Ding Yinhuan , Yang Kui , Deng Jian , Liu Jinbo
Published: July 2020

Background

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates and children; however, little information on the epidemiology of IC in paediatric patients in China is available.

Methods

A 7‐year retrospective study was conducted to analyse the prevalence, species distributions, antifungal susceptibility, risk factors and mortality among paediatric inpatients with IC in a regional tertiary teaching hospital in Southwest China.

Results

A total of 86 paediatric inpatients with IC during the seven‐year study period were identified, with a mean annual incidence of 1.04 cases per 1000 admissions and a neonatal incidence of 2.72 cases per 1000 admissions. The species distributions of Candida albicans and non‐albicans Candida were 48.8% and 51.2%, respectively. The total resistance rates to fluconazole (FCA), itraconazole (ITR) and voriconazole (VRC) were 8.1%, 26.7% and 14.0%, respectively. Age, length of hospital stay, respiratory dysfunction, hospitalisation duration > 30 days and IC due to C albicans and Candida glabrata were associated with neonatal mortality (P < 0.05) according to univariate analyses. Respiratory dysfunction [odds ratio (OR), 50.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.47‐721.44; P = 0.004] was the only independent predictor of neonatal mortality. The overall mortality rate was 8.1%, and only neonatal IC patients died, with a neonatal mortality rate of 13.0%.

Conclusions

This report shows that the incidence and mortality of IC among neonatal patients warrants increased attention in Southwest China. Clinical interventions should be actively applied to reduce the incidence and mortality of neonatal infection. Fluconazole was a reasonable choice for the treatment of IC prior to species identification.
STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) reveals the nanoscale organization of pathological aggregates in human brain
Authors: Codron P. , Letournel F. , Marty S. , Renaud L. , Bodin A. , Duchesne M. , Verny C. , Lenaers G. , Duyckaerts C. , Julien J.‐P. , Cassereau J. , Chevrollier A.
Published: July 2020

Aims

Histological analysis of brain tissue samples provides valuable information about the pathological processes leading to common neurodegenerative disorders. In this context, the development of novel high‐resolution imaging approaches is a current challenge in neuroscience.

Methods

To this end, we used a recent super‐resolution imaging technique called STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) to analyse human brain sections. We combined STORM cell imaging protocols with neuropathological techniques to image cryopreserved brain samples from control subjects and patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Results

This approach allowed us to perform 2D‐, 3D‐ and two‐colour‐STORM in neocortex, white matter and brainstem samples. STORM proved to be particularly effective at visualizing the organization of dense protein inclusions and we imaged with a <50 nm resolution pathological aggregates within the central nervous system of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia and fronto‐temporal lobar degeneration. Aggregated Aβ branches appeared reticulated and cross‐linked in the extracellular matrix, with widths from 60 to 240 nm. Intraneuronal Tau and TDP‐43 inclusions were denser, with a honeycomb pattern in the soma and a filamentous organization in the axons. Finally, STORM imaging of α‐synuclein pathology revealed the internal organization of Lewy bodies that could not be observed by conventional fluorescence microscopy.

Conclusions

STORM imaging of human brain samples opens further gates to a more comprehensive understanding of common neurological disorders. The convenience of this technique should open a straightforward extension of its application for super‐resolution imaging of the human brain, with promising avenues to current challenges in neuroscience.