bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Caregiver-Reported Risks in Predicting Adverse Pediatric Outcomes
Authors: Vaz Louise E , Wagner David V , Jungbauer Rebecca M , Ramsey Katrina L , Jenisch Celeste , Koskela-Staples Natalie , Everist Steven , Austin Jared P , Harris Michael A , Zuckerman Katharine E
Published: July 2020

Objective

Certain social risk factors (e.g., housing instability, food insecurity) have been shown to directly and indirectly influence pediatric health outcomes; however, there is limited understanding of which social factors are most salient for children admitted to the hospital. This study examines how caregiver-reported social and medical characteristics of children experiencing an inpatient admission are associated with the presence of future health complications.

Methods

Caregivers of children experiencing an inpatient admission (N = 249) completed a predischarge questionnaire designed to capture medical and social risk factors across systems (e.g., patient, caregiver, family, community, healthcare environment). Electronic health record (EHR) data were reviewed for child demographic data, chronic disease status, and subsequent emergency department visits or readmissions (i.e., acute events) 90 days postindex hospitalization. Associations between risk factors and event presence were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CI), both unadjusted and adjusted OR (aOR) for chronic disease and age.

Results

Thirty-three percent (N = 82) of children experienced at least one event. After accounting for child age and chronic disease status, caregiver perceptions of child’s health being generally “poor” or “not good” prior to discharge (aOR = 4.7, 95% CI = 2.3, 9.7), having high care coordination needs (aOR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.6, 6.1), and experiencing difficulty accessing care coordination (aOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.4, 4.7) were significantly associated with return events.

Conclusions

Caregiver report of risks may provide valuable information above and beyond EHR records to both determine risk of future health problems and inform intervention development.
The diverse and unanticipated roles of histone deacetylase 9 in coordinating plant development and environmental acclimation
Authors: de Rooij Peter G H , Perrella Giorgio , Kaiserli Eirini , van Zanten Martijn
Published: July 2020

Plants tightly control gene transcription to adapt to environmental conditions and steer growth and development. Different types of epigenetic modifications are instrumental in these processes. In recent years, an important role for the chromatin-modifying RPD3/HDA1 class I HDAC HISTONE DEACETYLASE 9 (HDA9) emerged in the regulation of a multitude of plant traits and responses. HDACs are widely considered transcriptional repressors and are typically part of multiprotein complexes containing co-repressors, DNA, and histone-binding proteins. By catalyzing the removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues of histone protein tails, HDA9 negatively controls gene expression in many cases, in concert with interacting proteins such as POWERDRESS (PWR), HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENES 15 (HOS15), WRKY53, ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), ABA INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4), and EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3). However, HDA9 activity has also been directly linked to transcriptional activation. In addition, following the recent breakthrough discovery of mutual negative feedback regulation between HDA9 and its interacting WRKY-domain transcription factor WRKY53, swift progress in gaining understanding of the biology of HDA9 is expected. In this review, we summarize knowledge on this intriguing versatile—and long under-rated—protein and propose novel leads to further unravel HDA9-governed molecular networks underlying plant development and environmental biology.
Abiotic stress signalling in extremophile land plants
Authors: Boulc’h Pierre-Nicolas , Caullireau Emma , Faucher Elvina , Gouerou Maverick , Guérin Amandine , Miray Romane , Couée Ivan
Published: July 2020

Plant life relies on complex arrays of environmental stress sensing and signalling mechanisms. Extremophile plants develop and grow in harsh environments with extremes of cold, heat, drought, desiccation, or salinity, which have resulted in original adaptations. In accordance with their polyphyletic origins, extremophile plants likely possess core mechanisms of plant abiotic stress signalling. However, novel properties or regulations may have emerged in the context of extremophile adaptations. Comparative omics of extremophile genetic models, such as Arabidopsis lyrata, Craterostigma plantagineum, Eutrema salsugineum, and Physcomitrella patens, reveal diverse strategies of sensing and signalling that lead to a general improvement in abiotic stress responses. Current research points to putative differences of sensing and emphasizes significant modifications of regulatory mechanisms, at the level of secondary messengers (Ca2+, phospholipids, reactive oxygen species), signal transduction (intracellular sensors, protein kinases, transcription factors, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis) or signalling crosstalk. Involvement of hormone signalling, especially ABA signalling, cell homeostasis surveillance, and epigenetic mechanisms, also shows that large-scale gene regulation, whole-plant integration, and probably stress memory are important features of adaptation to extreme conditions. This evolutionary and functional plasticity of signalling systems in extremophile plants may have important implications for plant biotechnology, crop improvement, and ecological risk assessment under conditions of climate change.
Ethylene functions as a suppressor of volatile production in rice
Authors: Mujiono Kadis , Tohi Tilisa , Sobhy Islam S , Hojo Yuko , Ho Nhan Thanh , Shinya Tomonori , Galis Ivan
Published: July 2020

We examined the role of ethylene in the production of rice (Oryza sativa) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which act as indirect defense signals against herbivores in tritrophic interactions. Rice plants were exposed to exogenous ethylene (1 ppm) after simulated herbivory, which consisted of mechanical wounding supplemented with oral secretions (WOS) from the generalist herbivore larva Mythimna loreyi. Ethylene treatment highly suppressed VOCs in WOS-treated rice leaves, which was further corroborated by the reduced transcript levels of major VOC biosynthesis genes in ethylene-treated rice. In contrast, the accumulation of jasmonates (JA), known to control VOCs in higher plants, and transcript levels of primary JA response genes, including OsMYC2, were not largely affected by ethylene application. At the functional level, flooding is known to promote internode elongation in young rice via ethylene signaling. Consistent with the negative role of ethylene on VOC genes, the accumulation of VOCs in water-submerged rice leaves was suppressed. Furthermore, in mature rice plants, which naturally produce less volatiles, VOCs could be rescued by the application of the ethylene perception inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene. Our data suggest that ethylene acts as an endogenous suppressor of VOCs in rice plants during development and under stress.
Gamma-ray flux depressions of the Crab Nebula in the high-energy range
Authors: Pshirkov M S , Nizamov B A , Bykov A M , Uvarov Yu A
Published: July 2020

The giant gamma-ray flares of the Crab Nebula discovered by AGILE and Fermi observatories came as a surprise and have challenged the existing models of pulsar wind nebulae. We have carried out an analysis of 10.5 yr of Fermi-LAT observations (August 2008 to February 2019) and investigated variability of the Crab Nebula in the 100–300 MeV range. Besides the flares, we found several month long depressions of the gamma-ray flux and identified several cases of sharp flux drops, where during 1 week the flux decreased by an order of magnitude with respect to its average value. No statistically significant variations of the nebula flux in the E > 10 GeV range were found in the data. We discuss possible implications of the observed gamma-ray flux depressions on the model of synchrotron emission of the Crab Nebula.
On the gamma-ray signals from UCMH/mini-spike accompanying the DAMPE 1.4 TeV e+e− excess
Authors: Cheng Ji-Gui , Li Shang , Gan Ying-Ying , Liang Yun-Feng , Lu Rui-Jing , Liang En-Wei
Published: July 2020

The tentative 1.4 TeV e+e− excess observed by DAMPE, if not a statistical fluctuation, may be explained by dark matter (DM) annihilation within a nearby subhalo with a distance of <0.3 kpc. The process of DM annihilating to e+e− is accompanied by the production of gamma-ray photons, which could lead to detectable signals of Fermi-LAT. In this work, we focus on the model that the tentative 1.4 TeV signal is from a nearby ultracompact mini halo (UCMH). Due to the small angular extension, the counterpart gamma-ray signal would be hidden among Fermi-LAT unassociated point sources. We examine the point sources in 4FGL systematically by analyzing the Fermi-LAT data, aiming to investigate whether there exist sources with gamma-ray properties consistent with the UCMH model of the 1.4 TeV excess. We find more than 10 sources could be the candidates. Furthermore, we test the possibility that the excess signal is from a DM mini-spike around the nearest BH, but our result does not favour such a scenario.
The roles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dark cloud chemistry: new constraints on sulphur-bearing species
Authors: Ge Jixing , Mardones Diego , Inostroza Natalia , Peng Yaping
Published: July 2020

The recent detection of c-C6H5CN in the dark cloud TMC-1 provides a new evidence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dark clouds. However, knowledge of PAHs in dark cloud chemistry is still very limited. In this study, we investigate the effects of PAHs on the chemistry in dark clouds by coupling published PAH-related chemistry with a gas–grain reaction network. We found that abundances of some ice species, such as OCS, OCN, C2H5OH and HCOOCH3, are enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude due to the inclusion of PAHs in the gas–grain chemistry through accretion and subsequent reactions in ice. Especially, combining PAHs with gas–grain chemistry in dark clouds provides an alternative way to reach a good overall agreement of sulphur-bearing species in both the gas and solid phases using the cosmic value of sulphur. With the inclusion of PAHs, CS + O $\longrightarrow$ OCS makes a contribution of ∼5–10 per cent to solid-phase OCS together with CO + S $\longrightarrow$ OCS (∼80−90 per cent), depending on the initial abundances, chemical age and PAH parameters.
A dark matter profile to model diverse feedback-induced core sizes of ΛCDM haloes
Authors: Lazar Alexandres , Bullock James S , Boylan-Kolchin Michael , Chan T K , Hopkins Philip F , Graus Andrew S , Wetzel Andrew , El-Badry Kareem , Wheeler Coral , Straight Maria C , Kereš Dušan , Faucher-Giguère Claude-André , Fitts Alex , Garrison-Kimmel Shea
Published: July 2020

We analyse the cold dark matter density profiles of 54 galaxy haloes simulated with Feedback In Realistic Environments (FIRE)-2 galaxy formation physics, each resolved within $0.5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the halo virial radius. These haloes contain galaxies with masses that range from ultrafaint dwarfs ($M_\star \simeq 10^{4.5}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) to the largest spirals ($M_\star \simeq 10^{11}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$) and have density profiles that are both cored and cuspy. We characterize our results using a new, analytic density profile that extends the standard two-parameter Einasto form to allow for a pronounced constant density core in the resolved innermost radius. With one additional core-radius parameter, rc, this three-parameter core-Einasto profile is able to characterize our feedback-impacted dark matter haloes more accurately than other three-parameter profiles proposed in the literature. To enable comparisons with observations, we provide fitting functions for rc and other profile parameters as a function of both M⋆ and M⋆/Mhalo. In agreement with past studies, we find that dark matter core formation is most efficient at the characteristic stellar-to-halo mass ratio M⋆/Mhalo ≃ 5 × 10−3, or $M_{\star } \sim 10^9 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, with cores that are roughly the size of the galaxy half-light radius, rc ≃ 1−5 kpc. Furthermore, we find no evidence for core formation at radii $\gtrsim 100\ \rm pc$ in galaxies with M⋆/Mhalo < 5 × 10−4 or $M_\star \lesssim 10^6 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$. For Milky Way-size galaxies, baryonic contraction often makes haloes significantly more concentrated and dense at the stellar half-light radius than DMO runs. However, even at the Milky Way scale, FIRE-2 galaxy formation still produces small dark matter cores of ≃ 0.5−2 kpc in size. Recent evidence for a ∼2 kpc core in the Milky Way’s dark matter halo is consistent with this expectation.
Parameter inference for weak lensing using Gaussian Processes and MOPED
Authors: Mootoovaloo Arrykrishna , Heavens Alan F , Jaffe Andrew H , Leclercq Florent
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we propose a Gaussian Process (GP) emulator for the calculation both of tomographic weak lensing band powers, and of coefficients of summary data massively compressed with the MOPED algorithm. In the former case cosmological parameter inference is accelerated by a factor of ∼10–30 compared with Boltzmann solver class applied to KiDS-450 weak lensing data. Much larger gains of order 103 will come with future data, and MOPED with GPs will be fast enough to permit the Limber approximation to be dropped, with acceleration in this case of ∼105. A potential advantage of GPs is that an error on the emulated function can be computed and this uncertainty incorporated into the likelihood. However, it is known that the GP error can be unreliable when applied to deterministic functions, and we find, using the Kullback–Leibler divergence between the emulator and class likelihoods, and from the uncertainties on the parameters, that agreement is better when the GP uncertainty is not used. In future, weak lensing surveys such as Euclid, and the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, will have up to ∼104 summary statistics, and inference will be correspondingly more challenging. However, since the speed of MOPED is determined not the number of summary data, but by the number of parameters, MOPED analysis scales almost perfectly, provided that a fast way to compute the theoretical MOPED coefficients is available. The GP provides such a fast mechanism.
Eukaryote-Conserved Methylarginine Is Absent in Diplomonads and Functionally Compensated inGiardia
Authors: Emery-Corbin Samantha J , Hamey Joshua J , Ansell Brendan R E , Balan Balu , Tichkule Swapnil , Stroehlein Andreas J , Cooper Crystal , McInerney Bernie V , Hediyeh-Zadeh Soroor , Vuong Daniel , Crombie Andrew , Lacey Ernest , Davis Melissa J , Wilkins Marc R , Bahlo Melanie , Svärd Staffan G , Gasser Robin B , Jex Aaron R
Published: July 2020

Methylation is a common posttranslational modification of arginine and lysine in eukaryotic proteins. Methylproteomes are best characterized for higher eukaryotes, where they are functionally expanded and evolved complex regulation. However, this is not the case for protist species evolved from the earliest eukaryotic lineages. Here, we integrated bioinformatic, proteomic, and drug-screening data sets to comprehensively explore the methylproteome of Giardia duodenalis—a deeply branching parasitic protist. We demonstrate that Giardia and related diplomonads lack arginine-methyltransferases and have remodeled conserved RGG/RG motifs targeted by these enzymes. We also provide experimental evidence for methylarginine absence in proteomes of Giardia but readily detect methyllysine. We bioinformatically infer 11 lysine-methyltransferases in Giardia, including highly diverged Su(var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste and Trithorax proteins with reduced domain architectures, and novel annotations demonstrating conserved methyllysine regulation of eukaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha. Using mass spectrometry, we identify more than 200 methyllysine sites in Giardia, including in species-specific gene families involved in cytoskeletal regulation, enriched in coiled-coil features. Finally, we use known methylation inhibitors to show that methylation plays key roles in replication and cyst formation in this parasite. This study highlights reduced methylation enzymes, sites, and functions early in eukaryote evolution, including absent methylarginine networks in the Diplomonadida. These results challenge the view that arginine methylation is eukaryote conserved and demonstrate that functional compensation of methylarginine was possible preceding expansion and diversification of these key networks in higher eukaryotes.
MtDNA sequence features associated with ‘selfish genomes’ predict tissue-specific segregation and reversion
Authors: Røyrvik Ellen C , Johnston Iain G
Published: July 2020

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes cellular machinery vital for cell and organism survival. Mutations, genetic manipulation, and gene therapies may produce cells where different types of mtDNA coexist in admixed populations. In these admixtures, one mtDNA type is often observed to proliferate over another, with different types dominating in different tissues. This ‘segregation bias’ is a long-standing biological mystery that may pose challenges to modern mtDNA disease therapies, leading to substantial recent attention in biological and medical circles. Here, we show how an mtDNA sequence’s balance between replication and transcription, corresponding to molecular ‘selfishness’, in conjunction with cellular selection, can potentially modulate segregation bias. We combine a new replication-transcription-selection (RTS) model with a meta-analysis of existing data to show that this simple theory predicts complex tissue-specific patterns of segregation in mouse experiments, and reversion in human stem cells. We propose the stability of G-quadruplexes in the mtDNA control region, influencing the balance between transcription and replication primer formation, as a potential molecular mechanism governing this balance. Linking mtDNA sequence features, through this molecular mechanism, to cellular population dynamics, we use sequence data to obtain and verify the sequence-specific predictions from this hypothesis on segregation behaviour in mouse and human mtDNA.
Characterizing and classifying neuroendocrine neoplasms through microRNA sequencing and data mining
Authors: Nanayakkara Jina , Tyryshkin Kathrin , Yang Xiaojing , Wong Justin J M , Vanderbeck Kaitlin , Ginter Paula S , Scognamiglio Theresa , Chen Yao-Tseng , Panarelli Nicole , Cheung Nai-Kong , Dijk Frederike , Ben-Dov Iddo Z , Kim Michelle Kang , Singh Simron , Morozov Pavel , Max Klaas E A , Tuschl Thomas , Renwick Neil
Published: July 2020

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are clinically diverse and incompletely characterized cancers that are challenging to classify. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that can be used to classify cancers. Recently, a morphology-based classification framework for evaluating NENs from different anatomical sites was proposed by experts, with the requirement of improved molecular data integration. Here, we compiled 378 miRNA expression profiles to examine NEN classification through comprehensive miRNA profiling and data mining. Following data preprocessing, our final study cohort included 221 NEN and 114 non-NEN samples, representing 15 NEN pathological types and 5 site-matched non-NEN control groups. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of miRNA expression profiles clearly separated NENs from non-NENs. Comparative analyses showed that miR-375 and miR-7 expression is substantially higher in NEN cases than non-NEN controls. Correlation analyses showed that NENs from diverse anatomical sites have convergent miRNA expression programs, likely reflecting morphological and functional similarities. Using machine learning approaches, we identified 17 miRNAs to discriminate 15 NEN pathological types and subsequently constructed a multilayer classifier, correctly identifying 217 (98%) of 221 samples and overturning one histological diagnosis. Through our research, we have identified common and type-specific miRNA tissue markers and constructed an accurate miRNA-based classifier, advancing our understanding of NEN diversity.
The Dream Catcher experiment: blinded analyses failed to detect markers of dreaming consciousness in EEG spectral power
Authors: Wong William , Noreika Valdas , Móró Levente , Revonsuo Antti , Windt Jennifer , Valli Katja , Tsuchiya Naotsugu
Published: July 2020

The Dream Catcher test defines the criteria for a genuine discovery of the neural constituents of phenomenal consciousness. Passing the test implies that some patterns of purely brain-based data directly correspond to the subjective features of phenomenal experience, which would help to bridge the explanatory gap between consciousness and brain. Here, we conducted the Dream Catcher test for the first time in a step-wise and simplified form, capturing its core idea. The Dream Catcher experiment involved a Data Team, which measured participants’ brain activity during sleep and collected dream reports, and a blinded Analysis Team, which was challenged to predict, based solely on brain measurements, whether or not a participant had a dream experience. Using a serial-awakening paradigm, the Data Team prepared 54 1-min polysomnograms of non-rapid eye movement sleep—27 of dreamful sleep and 27 of dreamless sleep (three of each condition from each of the nine participants)—redacting from them all associated participant and dream information. The Analysis Team attempted to classify each recording as either dreamless or dreamful using an unsupervised machine learning classifier, based on hypothesis-driven, extracted features of electroencephalography (EEG) spectral power and electrode location. The procedure was repeated over five iterations with a gradual removal of blindness. At no level of blindness did the Analysis Team perform significantly better than chance, suggesting that EEG spectral power could not be utilized to detect signatures specific to phenomenal consciousness in these data. This study marks the first step towards realizing the Dream Catcher test in practice.
The role of activin: the other side of chronic kidney disease–mineral bone disorder?
Authors: Cianciolo Giuseppe , La Manna Gaetano , Capelli Irene , Gasperoni Lorenzo , Galassi Andrea , Ciceri Paola , Cozzolino Mario
Published: July 2020

Chronic kidney disease–mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) plays a pivotal role in the excess of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with CKD. There is now a growing awareness that pathways involved in CKD-MBD, like canonical Wnt signalling, are activated from the earliest stages of CKD, playing a role in the development of adynamic bone disease with unknown consequences on vasculature. These changes occur before the classic changes in mineral metabolism: secondary hyperparathyroidism, calcitriol deficiency and hyperphosphataemia. Furthermore, vascular calcification is frequently associated and evolves with decreased bone mineral density and deranged bone turnover, while bone and arterial mineralization share common pathways. Therefore, results of clinical trials focused on mineral bone disorder, aimed at preserving bone and cardiovascular health, are considered unsatisfactory. In order to identify more effective therapeutic strategies, it is necessary to clarify the pathways modulating the cross-talk between bone and vasculature and identify new mediators involved in the pathogenesis of CKD-MBD. Much attention has been paid recently to the role of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily members in renal disease, and in particular of activin A (ActA). Preclinical studies demonstrate an upgrade of ActA signalling in kidney, skeleton, vasculature and heart during CKD. This supports the idea that an endocrine factor produced in the kidney during renal disease, in addition to promoting the progression of kidney damage, deranges other organs’ homoeostasis and participates in CKD-MBD. In this review, we analyse the contribution of ActA to kidney fibrosis and inflammation as well as its role in the development of CKD-MBD.
Updated review of reported cases of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome
Authors: Walters G I , Huntley C C
Published: July 2020

Background

A previous systematic review of the diagnosis of reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), undertaken from 1985 to 2004, found a lack of standardization of case reporting, thus misattribution of symptoms can occur.

Aims

We aimed to update the systematic review, update the list of reported causes and see whether a more structured approach to reporting has been adopted.

Methods

We undertook a systematic literature review, using the databases EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE, with search terms ‘reactive airways dysfunction syndrome’ or ‘asthma AND acute irritant’, and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. We included papers and abstracts published from January 2005 to September 2019, and articles were grouped by the presence or absence of diagnostic features: ‘definite’ RADS (met Brooks’ criteria) or ‘possible’ RADS (Brooks’ criteria not met or insufficient data). We collected demographic and diagnostic data for cases, where given.

Results

Eleven papers and six conference abstracts met the inclusion criteria, 13 of which were case series or reports, and comprised 752 cases in total; seven articles met Brooks’ criteria for RADS diagnosis. A variety of agents were implicated, with chlorine or chlorine-releasing molecules most frequently reported.

Conclusions

A lack of standardized reporting of RADS remains. The majority of published articles and conference abstracts either do not meet, or contain insufficient data to judge against, Brooks’ criteria, particularly in relation to onset of symptoms and bronchial hyper-reactivity or variability of airflow obstruction. Some novel agents are described, in keeping with recognized structural taxonomies.
Occupational health physicians as users of electronic health records
Authors: Nissinen S , Leino T , Tarvainen K , Soini S
Published: July 2020

Background

Electronic health records (EHRs)’ purpose is to facilitate the documentation of patient data and to improve the exchange of information between the professionals involved in a patient’s care.

Aims

To investigate occupational health (OH) physicians’ experiences of EHRs and the factors hampering work.

Methods

An electronic questionnaire was sent to physicians working in OH services in April 2017 and a total of 342 OH physicians participated in the study. The results were reported as quantities and percentages. The survey text was analysed using data-driven content analysis.

Results

The respondents considered their EHR stable in terms of technical features but the routine tasks with EHR were not straightforward. Also, the documentation of patient data for statistical purposes took an unreasonable amount of time and the access to patient data from other organizations was poor. Instead, a well-functioning feature of EHRs were electronic prescriptions. The factors, which hampered respondents’ work, were constant or frequent time pressure, too little time to do their job properly and a stress caused by uncompleted tasks.

Conclusions

This study showed that the usability problems of EHRs were the slowness, unexpected downtimes and difficulties in obtaining patient data. Also, respondents felt very often a lack of time in their work. OH physicians’ work is best supported by EHRs that consider their specific role in healthcare, i.e. the assessment of work ability, the co-ordination of care and rehabilitation and support for return to work.
Do Online Voter Guides Empower Citizens?
Authors: Munzert Simon , BarberÁ Pablo , Guess Andrew , Yang JungHwan
Published: July 2020

Voting Advice Applications (VAAs), which provide citizens with information on the party that best represents their political preferences, are often cited as evidence of the empowering capabilities of digital tools. Aside from the informational benefits of these voter guides, observational studies have suggested a strong effect on political participation and vote choice. However, existing impact evaluations have been limited by a reliance on convenience samples, lack of random assignment, or both. This raises questions about self-selection and the precise mechanisms underlying how voters learn about politics. Here, we provide evidence from a field experiment with survey outcomes conducted with a sample of over 1,000 German citizens in the 2017 federal election campaign. Using linked panel survey and digital trace data combined with a randomized encouragement to complete a VAA, we assess respondents’ compliance with treatment and observe how the use of this tool affects political behavior, attitudes, media consumption, political knowledge, and even social media activity. Our findings reveal that the overwhelming consensus in favor of positive effects on turnout and vote choice should be treated with caution, as we find no such effects. Rather, the actual virtue of VAAs in a complex online information environment lies in increasing knowledge about parties’ positions on issues—exactly the kind of information these tools were designed to provide.
Maternal and foetal placental vascular malperfusion in pregnancies with anti-phospholipid antibodies
Authors: Spinillo Arsenio , Bellingeri Camilla , Cavagnoli Chiara , Maggio Irene De , Riceputi Greta , Ruspini Beatrice , Cesari Stefania , Beneventi Fausta
Published: July 2020

Objective

The objective of the study was to evaluate the rates of pathological placental lesions among pregnant subjects positive for aPL antibodies.

Methods

We performed a longitudinal case–control study including 27 subjects with primary APS, 51 with non-criteria APS, 24 with aPL antibodies associated with other well-known CTDs enrolled at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy and 107 healthy controls.

Results

Compared with controls and after correction for multiple comparisons, primary, non-criteria APS and aPL associated to CTD, subjects had lower placental weight, volume and area. After penalized logistic regression analysis to correct for potential confounders, placental lesions suggesting severe maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) were more common among primary [odds ratio (OR) 11.7 (95% CI 1.3, 108)] and non-criteria APS [OR 8.5 (95% CI 1.6, 45.9)] compared with controls. The risk of foetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) was higher in primary APS [OR 4.5 (95% CI 1.2, 16.4)], aPL associated with CTDs [OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.5, 6.7)] and non-criteria APS [OR 5.9 (95% CI 1.7, 20.1)] compared with controls. Among clinical and laboratory criteria of APS, first trimester aCL IgG >40 UI/ml [OR 4.4 (95% CI 1.3, 14.4)], LA positivity [OR 6.5 (95% CI 1.3, 33.3)] and a history of pre-eclampsia at <34 weeks [OR 32.4 (95% CI 6.5, 161)] were the best independent first trimester predictors of severe MVM [area under the curve 0.74 (95% CI 0.6, 0.87)].

Conclusion

Compared with healthy controls, pregnant subjects with aPL antibodies have an increased risk of placental lesions, suggesting MVM and FVM. First-trimester variables such as aCL IgG >40 UI/ml and a history of pre-eclampsia were significant predictors of both severe MVM and FVM.
BOLD activity during emotion reappraisal positively correlates with dietary self-control success
Authors: Maier Silvia U , Hare Todd A
Published: July 2020

We combined established emotion regulation and dietary choice tasks with fMRI to investigate behavioral and neural associations in self-regulation across the two domains in human participants. We found that increased BOLD activity during the successful reappraisal of positive and negative emotional stimuli was associated with dietary self-control success. This cross-task correlation was present in medial and lateral prefrontal cortex as well as the striatum. In contrast, BOLD activity during the food choice task was not associated with self-reported emotion regulation efficacy. These results suggest that neural processes utilized during the reappraisal of emotional stimuli may also facilitate dietary choices that override palatability in favor of healthfulness. In summary, our findings indicate that the neural systems supporting emotion reappraisal can generalize to other behavioral contexts that require reevaluation of rewarding stimuli and outcomes to promote choices that conform with the current goal.
Stakeholder perspectives and sustainability of an integrated care model for the prevention and management of obesity: the Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) project
Authors: Lee Rebecca E , Parker Nathan H , Hallett Allen M , Kao Dennis , Modelska Maria J , Rifai Hanadi S , Soltero Erica G , O’Connor Daniel P
Published: July 2020

Although reliable strategies exist to promote healthy habits that reduce childhood obesity, the sustainability of these strategies remains an ongoing public health challenge. This study aimed to identify factors experienced in a large, multisite project aimed at reducing childhood obesity that might contribute to project sustainability. Hypothesized constructs underpinning sustainability included replicability, continuation of benefits, institutionalization, and community capacity. Key informants (n = 27) completed 60 min, in-depth interviews, which were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were first coded using a combined deductive and inductive approach. Four major themes emerged (with numerous subthemes): developing partnerships, challenges to the sustainability of implemented programming, the importance of intervening in multiple settings, and ongoing implementation and evaluation strategies. Replicability of complex childhood obesity interventions is possible when there are strong partnerships. Benefits can continue to be conferred from programming, particularly when evidence-based strategies are used that employ best practices. Implementation is facilitated by institutionalization and policies that buffer challenges, such as staffing or leadership changes. Community capacity both enhances the sustainability of interventions and develops as a result of strengthening partnerships and policies that support childhood obesity programming.
Long-term therapy with Bevacizumab in a young patient affected by NF2. Stop or continue treatment? An update of a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Nigro Olga , Coppola Andrea , Tartaro Tiziana , Tuzi Alessandro , Vallini Ilaria , Pinotti Graziella
Published: July 2020

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant condition caused by pathogenic variants in the NF2 gene. To date, cytotoxic chemotherapy has no established role in the treatment of NF-2. Historical case reports of malignant schwannomas have documented responses to chemotherapies with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and doxorubicin, in patients who develop pulmonary metastases. Recently, several studies proposed the use of anti-HER2, anti-EGFR, anti-platelet-derived growth factor receptors. As reported in our previous review of the literature, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-1 have been detected in schwannomas with the best results. We described the case of a young patient with NF2 treated for long time with Bevacizumab. Here, we report the update of the previous case report.
Is α-Amylase an Important Biomarker to Detect Aspiration of Oral Secretions in Ventilated Patients?
Authors: Sole Mary Lou , Talbert Steven R. , Rathbun Kimberly P. , Mehta Devendra I.
Published: July 2020

Alpha-amylase has emerged as a biomarker of interest in detecting aspiration of oral secretions. In several studies, most ventilated patients have α-amylase values detected in pulmonary secretions. Values of α-amylase are high (as expected) in oral secretions and lowest in bronchoalveolar lavage samples. Around 5–7% of oral α-amylase is detectable in tracheal secretions. Once secretions are aspirated, the duration of detection of α-amylase in pulmonary secretions is unknown. Evidence varies on the relationship between α-amylase and clinical outcomes. Although detection of α-amylase in pulmonary secretions is useful to identify that aspiration has occurred, the lack of standardized reference values, the lack of knowledge regarding duration of detection following aspiration, and mixed findings related to clinical outcomes, limit its usefulness as a measurement tool. If α-amylase is to be used in research and/or clinical practice, additional data are needed to assist in interpretation and application of findings.
Increasing Engagement of African American Patients with Glaucoma during Medical Encounters: Creation of a Pre-visit Video
Authors: Sleath Betsy , Davis Scott A. , Carpenter Delesha M. , Robin Alan L. , Muir Kelly W. , Lee Charles , Garcia Nacire , Budenz Donald L.
Published: July 2020

SIGNIFICANCE

The developed video can be accessed by African American patients with glaucoma from across the United States on YouTube to learn why it is important to ask eye care providers any questions they might have about glaucoma and/or its treatment.

PURPOSE

Our objective was to develop an educational video for African Americans with glaucoma to watch before their ophthalmology office visits to help motivate them to be actively involved in their care.

METHODS

The Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of the video. We conducted three focus groups with African American patients with glaucoma and three focus groups with providers who care for African American patients with glaucoma. The research team reviewed the transcripts of the focus groups and then developed a plan for video production.

RESULTS

The themes that both patients and providers felt should be covered in the video to motivate patient question-asking included the following: what is glaucoma, glaucoma treatment, glaucoma testing, and treatment adherence. Based on focus group results, the resulting video had one male African American physician and four African American patients covering the themes that emerged.

CONCLUSIONS

Ophthalmologists and African Americans with glaucoma gave us excellent insight into developing videos to increase patient involvement during their visits.
Case Report: Nutritional and Toxic Optic Neuropathy: A Diagnostic Dilemma
Authors: Monferrer-Adsuara Clara , García-Villanueva Carolina , Mata-Moret Lucía , Ortiz-Salvador Miguel , Remolí-Sargues Lidia , Cervera-Taulet Enrique
Published: July 2020

SIGNIFICANCE

Nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies are rare disorders characterized by visual impairment due to optic nerve damage by a toxin, usually with coexisting nutritional deficiencies. Its pathophysiology is still unclear, and multiple mechanisms implicated act synergistically to bring about this condition. The decline in its incidence and its confusing clinical appearance make diagnosing nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies challenging.

PURPOSE

This is an observational clinical case report of an atypical clinical case of a nutritional and toxic optic neuropathy with a subacute presentation and papilledema at the time of diagnosis. The patient provided written informed consent for medical information and images to be published.

CASE REPORT

A 47-year-old man presented with progressive, painless bilateral decrease in central vision over 15 days. The patient had a long-standing history of alcohol abuse and was a heavy smoker. The examination revealed dyschromatopsia, 20/400 visual acuity on both eyes, and no relative afferent pupillary defect. Funduscopy revealed bilateral papilledema. A visual field test showed generalized depression with centrocecal involvement in the left eye. Laboratory studies evidenced decreased vitamin B12/B1 and red blood cell folate levels, increased acute phase reactants, hypertransaminasemia, and macrocytic anemia. Serologies and methanol in urine were negative. After the discontinuation of tobacco use and alcohol accompanied by vitamin supplementation, our patient's visual field, visual acuity, and papilledema improved remarkably. After 5 months, visual acuity and funduscopy were normal.

CONCLUSIONS

Although some hallmark signs were visible in this case, its subacute presentation and the presence of papilledema at diagnosis caused some diagnostic uncertainty. Nutritional and toxic optic neuropathy is a rare and challenging diagnosis because of a lack of biomarkers. Eye care clinicians should consider nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies to prevent severe and irreversible visual damage resulting from underdiagnosis and mismanagement.
Lateral Position With Gantry Tilt Further Improves Computed Tomography Image Quality Reconstructed Using Single-Energy Metal Artifact Reduction Algorithm in the Oral Cavity
Authors: Onodera Maki , Aratani Kazunori , Shonai Takaharu , Ogura Keishi , Kamo Ken-ichi , Ogi Kazuhiro , Kondo Atsushi , Hatakenaka Masamitsu
Published: July 2020

Objective

To assess the limitations of single-energy metal artifact reduction algorithm in the oral cavity and evaluate the availability of a solution by setting the patient in a lateral position (LP) with the use of a gantry tilt (GT).

Methods

We analyzed 88 patients with dental metals retrospectively in study 1, and 74 patients prospectively in study 2. Patients were classified: metal I with dental metals in 1 region, metal II in 2 regions, and metal III in 3 regions. Patients underwent neck computed tomography examinations in a supine position (SP) in study 1, and 2 positions, an LP with a GT and an SP, in study 2. All images were reconstructed with this algorithm. Image quality was scored using a 4-point scale: 1 = severe artifact, 2 = moderate artifact, 3 = slight artifact, 4 = no artifact. The scores were compared between metal I, metal II, and metal III using the Mann-Whitney U test in study 1, and between an LP with a GT and an SP using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test in study 2.

Results

The scores outside the dental arch were significantly higher in metal I than in metal II and metal III (3.0 ± 0.6 vs 2.3 ± 0.5 vs 2.2 ± 0.4; P < 0.0001 for metal I vs metal II and for metal I vs metal III) and significantly higher in an LP with a GT than an SP (3.2 ± 0.4 vs 2.3 ± 0.4; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Single-energy metal artifact reduction algorithm could reduce metal artifacts adequately in patients with dental metals in 1 region, but not in 2 or more regions. However, even for the latter, combination of this algorithm and an LP with a GT could further improve the image quality.
Differentiation of Focal-Type Autoimmune Pancreatitis From Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Using Radiomics Based on Multiphasic Computed Tomography
Authors: E Linning , Xu Yan , Wu Zhifeng , Li Li , Zhang Na , Yang Hao , Schwartz Lawrence H. , Lu Lin , Zhao Binsheng
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to develop a radiomics model for a differential diagnosis of focal-type autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

A total of 96 patients, 45 with AIP and 51 with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent pretreatment abdominal computed tomography imaging acquired at noncontrast, arterial, and venous phases. Furthermore, 1160 radiomics features were extracted from each phasic image to build radiomics models. The performance of radiomics model was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The results of radiomics model were also compared with those of radiologists' visual assessments.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the optimal radiomics model were 93.3%, 96.1%, and 94.8%, respectively. They were higher than those of the radiologists' assessments with sensitivity of 57.78% and 73.33%, specificity of 88.24% and 90.20%, and accuracy of 75.00% and 81.25%, respectively.

Conclusion

Radiomics is helpful for a differential diagnosis of AIP in clinical practice as a noninvasive and quantitative method.
Diagnostic Value of Global Cardiac Strain in Patients With Myocarditis
Authors: Secchi Francesco , Monti Caterina Beatrice , Alì Marco , Carbone Francesco Saverio , Cannaò Paola Maria , Sardanelli Francesco
Published: July 2020

Background

Cardiac strain represents an imaging biomarker of contractile dysfunction.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of cardiac strain obtained by feature-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) in acute myocarditis.

Materials and Methods

Cardiac MR examinations of 46 patients with myocarditis and preserved ejection fraction at acute phase and follow-up were analyzed along with cardiac MR of 46 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Global circumferential strain and global radial strain were calculated for each examination, along with myocardial edema and late gadolinium enhancement, and left ventricle functional parameters, through manual contouring of the myocardium. Correlations were assessed using Spearman ρ. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U test were used to assess differences between data. Receiver operating characteristics curves and reproducibility were obtained to assess the diagnostic role of strain parameters.

Results

Global circumferential strain was significantly lower in controls (median, −20.4%; interquartile range [IQR], −23.4% to −18.7%) than patients in acute phase (−18.4%; IQR, −21.0% to −16.1%; P = 0.001) or at follow-up (−19.2%; IQR, −21.5% to −16.1%; P = 0.020). Global radial strain was significantly higher in controls (82.4%; IQR, 62.8%–104.9%) than in patients during the acute phase (65.8%; IQR, 52.9%–79.5%; P = 0.001). Correlations were found between global circumferential strain and global radial strain in all groups (acute, ρ = −0.580, P < 0.001; follow-up, ρ = −0.399, P = 0.006; controls, ρ = −0.609, P < 0.001), and between global circumferential strain and late gadolinium enhancement only in myocarditis patients (acute, ρ = 0.035, P = 0.024; follow-up, ρ = 0.307, P = 0.038).

Conclusions

Cardiac strain could potentially have a role in detecting acute myocarditis in low-risk acute myocarditis patients where cardiac MR is the main diagnosing technique.
Ageing, computation and the evolution of neural regeneration processes
Authors: Ollé-Vila Aina , Seoane Luís F. , Solé Ricard
Published: July 2020

Metazoans gather information from their environments and respond in predictable ways. These computational tasks are achieved with neural networks of varying complexity. Their performance must be reliable over an individual’s lifetime while dealing with the shorter lifespan of cells and connection failure—thus rendering ageing a relevant feature. How do computations degrade over an organism’s lifespan? How reliable can they remain throughout? We tackle these questions with a multi-objective optimization approach. We demand that digital organisms equipped with neural networks solve a computational task reliably over an extended lifespan. Neural connections are costly (as an associated metabolism in living beings). They also degrade over time, but can be regenerated at some expense. We investigate the simultaneous minimization of both these costs and the computational error. Pareto optimal trade-offs emerge with designs displaying a broad range of solutions: from small networks with high regeneration rate, to large, redundant circuits that regenerate slowly. The organism’s lifespan and the external damage act as evolutionary pressures. They improve the exploration of the space of solutions and impose tighter optimality constraints. Large damage rates can also constrain the space of possibilities, forcing the commitment of organisms to unique strategies for neural systems maintenance.