bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Effectiveness of Cardiac Noninvasive Diagnostic Testing in Patients Discharged From the Emergency Department for Chest Pain
Authors: Roifman Idan , Han Lu , Koh Maria , Wijeysundera Harindra C. , Austin Peter C. , Douglas Pamela S. , Ko Dennis T.
Published: November 2019

Background

More than 4 million cardiac noninvasive diagnostic tests are performed annually in the United States. However, questions remain regarding their effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes. We sought to evaluate whether noninvasive diagnostic tests were associated with lower rates of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death when compared with no testing.

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective, population‐based cohort study of adults evaluated for chest pain and discharged home from an emergency department in Ontario, Canada. Propensity score matching was employed to reduce confounding between the testing and nontesting groups. There were 370 863 patients evaluated in our cohort. Rates of the composite outcome were low for both groups after propensity‐score matching (0.29% and 0.78% for the nontesting group at 90 days and 1 year, respectively, and 0.34% and 0.68% for the noninvasive diagnostic test group at 90 days and 1 year respectively). Over 1 year, patients undergoing noninvasive diagnostic testing had a small but statistically significant lower hazard of developing the composite outcome of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95%
CI
, 0.78–0.96 [
P
<0.01]), which appears to be driven by the high‐risk subgroup (hazard ratio, 0.75; 95%
CI
, 0.61–0.92 [
P
<0.01]).

Conclusions

We report a lower observed rate of the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction associated with noninvasive diagnostic testing following evaluation for chest pain in the emergency department. This lower rate was driven by the high‐risk subgroup. These results suggest that risk‐based testing should be considered for patients discharged from the emergency department for chest pain.
Mediterranean mysteries: notes on Plantago sect. Lancifolia (Plantaginaceae)

Authors: HASSEMER GUSTAVO
Published: November 2019

Plantago sect. Lancifolia is a Mediterranean group of species with complicated nomenclature and taxonomy. In this work I present nomenclatural clarifications and taxonomic rectifications for P. altissima, P. lacustris, P. lanceolata subsp. cyrenaica, P. leiopetala and P. malato-belizii. Plantago maireana is proposed as a new name for P. lanceolata subsp. cyrenaica, and P. pilgeriana for P. lanceolata var. lacustris. Concerning P. malato-belizii and P. maireana, the conclusions presented here have important implications for biodiversity conservation, as these species are geographically very restricted. I also provide a revised identification key to all species in Plantago sect. Lancifolia.
Caridina biyiga sp. nov., a new freshwater shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) from Leichhardt Springs, Kakadu National Park, Australia, based on morphological and molecular data, with a preliminary illustrated key to Northern Territory Caridina
Authors: SHORT JOHN W. , PAGE TIMOTHY J. , HUMPHREY CHRISTOPHER L.
Published: November 2019

Caridina biyiga sp. nov. is described from Leichhardt Springs, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species is highly distinctive among its congeners in having the dactylus of pereiopod 5 similar to the dactyli of pereiopods 3–4 and lacking the comb-like row of spiniform setae typical of the genus. The branchial formula is also distinctive for the genus in lacking an arthrobranch at the base of pereiopod 1 and in having a vestigial epipod on maxilliped 1.                Despite the distinctive morphology of the new species, the molecular data did not provide strong support for the recognition of a new genus. Phylogenetic analyses of Australian Caridina using the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene fragment placed the new species in a well-supported clade containing at least one typical species of Caridina. Within this clade, referred to as the ‘thermophila’ group, Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) genetic distances of 16S rDNA between the new species and sister taxa ranged from 5.1–6.0%. Analyses using the mitochondrial 3’ COI gene fragment from species of the ‘thermophila’ group yielded K2P genetic distances between the new species and its sister taxa ranging from 10.4–15.1%.                A preliminary illustrated key to Northern Territory Caridina is provided. The conservation significance of Leichhardt Springs and its aquatic fauna are also briefly discussed.
Facile Synthesis of Polypyrrole Nanofibers/Co-MOF Composite and Its Lithium Storage Properties
Authors: Wang Jinlei , Cao Na , Du Huiling , Du Xian , Lu Hai , Wang Haiting , Xi Xueyan
Published: November 2019

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as promising electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, poor electrical conductivity in most MOFs limits their electrochemical performance. In this work, the integration of flaky cobalt 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate
(Co-BDC) MOF with conductive polypyrrole (PPy) nanofibers via in-situ growth strategy was explored for developing novel anode materials for LIBs. Electrochemical studies showed that PPy/Co-BDC composites exhibited enhanced cycling performance (a reversible capacity of ca. 364 mA h g–1
at a current density of 50 mA g–1 after 100 cycles) and rate capability, com- pared with the pristine Co-BDC. The well dispersion of Co-BDC on polypyrrole nanofibers and the decrease in charge-transfer resistance of the composite electrodes accounted for the improvement of
electrochemical properties.
Effects of Silane Coupling Agents on the Adhesion Strength of a Printed Cu Circuit on Polyimide
Authors: Lee Choong-Jae , Park Bum-Geun , Jung Kwang-Ho , Kim Yongil , Jung Seung-Boo
Published: November 2019

It is difficult to maintain high adhesion strength between a printed metal circuit and polymer substrate due to the weak chemical bonding of metal and organic materials. Therefore, an additional process is necessary to improve the adhesion strength. Silane coupling agents (SCAs), which
are capable of forming bonds with metals and organic materials, can provide a solution. Here, SCAs were placed on polyimide (PI) substrates and coated with various functional groups to compare the effects of various functionalized SCAs on the adhesion strength between a screen-printed copper
(Cu) circuit and the PI substrate, where the printed Cu patterns were fabricated on the coated PI substrate. Chemical bonding between the coated silane coupling agent and the PI substrate interface was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adhesion strength of the screen-printed
Cu circuit and PI substrate interface was measured by a roll-type 90° peel test. The surface free energy was calculated using the contact angle. The failure mode was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The silane coupling agent containing an amine functional group
significantly improved the adhesion strength because it facilitates a superior bond between organic substrates and metals via chemical reactions such as copolymerization and graft copolymerization. As a result, the adhesion strength between the printed Cu pattern and PI increased about 4.26
times with the use of SCAs.
Influence Research of Al and Zn Addition for Twin Roll Casting Magnesium During Multi-Pass Hot Rolling
Authors: Yao Jia , Zha Min , Wang Huiyuan , Lu Wei
Published: November 2019

This study was aimed at revealing the influence of Al and Zn additions on microstructure, texture evolution and mechanical properties of twin roll casting Mg during multi-pass hot rolling. Firstly, both pure Mg and AZ31 sheets were rolled 9 passes with ∼80% thickness reduction.
More effective grain refinement in AZ31 compared to pure Mg after hot rolling, which caused by the pinning effect from fine Mg17Al12 particles present in AZ31 alloy. Meanwhile a strong basal texture gradually formed with increasing thickness reduction in pure Mg. With
Al and Zn adding, the texture intensity of AZ31 was much lower than pure Mg in each rolling-pass. The 5th AZ31 sample features a maximum intensity of ∼12.9, which is reduced by 50.6% as compared to the value of ∼26.1 for pure Mg. Compared to pure Mg, the Al and Zn solutes and weakened
texture in AZ31 favor the strong work hardening, which promotes a simultaneous high ultimate tensile strength of ∼270 MPa and ductility of ∼22% in the 5th AZ31 sample. The results will be helpful for the TRCed Mg alloys with huge potential for industrial application.
El Niño–Related Tropical Land Surface Water and Energy Response in MERRA-2
Authors: Bosilovich Michael G. , Robertson Franklin R. , Stackhouse Paul W.
Published: November 2019

Although El Niño events each have distinct evolutionary character, they typically provide systematic large-scale forcing for warming and increased drought frequency across the tropical continents. We assess this response in the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), reanalysis and in a 10-member-model Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) ensemble. The lagged response (3–4 months) of mean tropical land temperature to El Niño warming in the Pacific Ocean is well represented. MERRA-2 reproduces the patterns of precipitation in the tropical regions, and the AMIP ensemble reproduces some regional responses that are similar to those observed and some regions that are not simulating the response well. Model skill is dependent on event forcing strength and temporal proximity to the peak of the sea surface warming. A composite approach centered on maximum Niño-3.4 SSTs and lag relationships to energy fluxes and transports is used to identify mechanisms supporting tropical land warming. The composite necessarily moderates weather-scale variability of the individual events while retaining the systematic features across all events. We find that reduced continental upward motions lead to reduced cloudiness and more shortwave radiation at the surface, as well as reduced precipitation. The increased shortwave heating at the land surface, along with reduced soil moisture, leads to warmer surface temperature, more sensible heating, and warming of the lower troposphere. The composite provides a broad picture of the mechanisms governing the hydrologic response to El Niño forcing, but the regional and temporal responses can vary substantially for any given event. The 2015/16 El Niño, one of the strongest events, demonstrates some of the forced response noted in the composite, but with shifts in the evolution that depart from the composite, demonstrating the limitations of the composite and individuality of El Niño.
Does Remittance Inflow Granger-Cause Economic Growth in South Africa? A Dynamic Multivariate Causality Test
Authors: Nyasha Sheilla , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: November 2019

In this study, we examine the dynamic causal relationship between remittances and economic growth in South Africa during the period from 1970 to 2017. Although South Africa is well-known for being a source of cross-border remittances to various countries, especially in the African continent, remittance inflows to South Africa have grown in the recent past. The growth in remittances, on one hand, and the need to fight against poverty and inequality in South Africa and ultimately improve economic growth, on the other hand, prompted the need for this study. The study uses the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach within a multivariate Granger-causality setting to examine the remittance-growth causal link—in an effort to address the variable-omission bias. The empirical findings of the study show that remittances and economic growth are not causally related in South Africa, irrespective of whether the estimations are done in the long run or in the short run. This finding, though contrary to the expectation, is not surprising, given the level of financial sector development in South Africa.
Development Through Epistemicide: The Case of Indigo
Authors: Mukherjee Krishnamurari
Published: November 2019

This essay strives to probe the trajectory of politics of knowledge in the context of India’s politics of development in two specific time periods—the colonial and the post-colonial. The chosen empirical case through which the inquiry will be undertaken is the case of cultivation of the indigo dye. The primary interrogation of this work stands as follows: can a case for epistemicide be made with regards to certain practices of development instantiated herein by the cultivation of the indigo dye in the time-periods cited above? If so, then how? Furthermore, the essay also seeks to understand the differences that exist in the way which the politics of epistemicide plays out in both these temporal contexts. Hence, if there are any differences, what would they be? Finally, how does such politics of knowledge implicate a developmental democracy like India? The methodology pursued is analytical and comparative.
Book review: Shubhra Chakrabarti and Utsa Patnaik (eds), Agrarian and other Histories: Essays for Binay Bhushan Chaudhuri
Authors: Ray Rajat Kanta
Published: November 2019

Shubhra Chakrabarti and Utsa Patnaik (eds), Agrarian and other Histories: Essays for Binay Bhushan Chaudhuri, Tulika Books, New Delhi, 2017, xxiv + 328 pp., ₹995.
Bien agiter avant l’emploi. De l’activation des politiques d’emploi à l’agitation des chômeurs
Authors: Orianne Jean-François , Beuker Laura
Published: November 2019

By articulating a pragmatic approach of the labor market intermediaries with a systemic approach of the interactions at the State’s counters, the authors study the follow-up and accompaniment procedure of jobseekers in Belgium, within three public employment services. This procedure appears today as the most successful realization of a reform process, within the employment policies, that is still in progress since the middle of the 1990, under the influence of the European institutions (the European employment strategy). The authors analyze the role of the National Employment Office’s facilitators, the agents who are in charge of the jobseekers’ following-up procedure, that is the control of their effort to find a job. They also focus on the role of the employment counselors of two regional public services by showing that the employability – the official target of the activation policies – operate as a way to speak abstractly of employment and unemployment, as a way to sustain and to intensify the communication at the State’s counters. The action of the labor market intermediaries, qualified by the authors as a moral enterprise, can be characterized by its self-referential nature: to socialize the job seekers, to make them sensitive to the norms and standards of employability that are at stake in the three public employment services. According to the authors, the ‘labor market’ acts as a fiction: a simplified reconstruction of the world of work, within the political system, that serve as a readily available reference for the public action of intermediation.
The frame of the house: How elite news sources framed Taiwan’s housing policy
Authors: Chang Kuang-Kuo , Lee Tien-Tsung
Published: November 2019

This study content analyzed how elite news sources framed Taiwan’s housing policy and inequality that underlies its major social problems in the press. Results show that reports used pro-market rhetoric, not pro-social equality justification. Official sources causally assigned unaffordable housing to individuals, whereas nonofficial sources blamed the government’s failed policy. This research added to the scarce literature on framing of economic issues. It’s also among the first framing studies incorporating a time element in analysis.
From Health to Financial Problems: Multiproblems Among Victims of Partner and Non-Partner Physical Violence, and Matched Nonvictims
Authors: van der Velden Peter G. , Das Marcel , Contino Carlo , van der Knaap Leontien M.
Published: November 2019

Previous research suggests that victims of partner physical violence (PPV) often face multiple distinct problems, but comparative population-based studies focusing on the prevalence of multiple problems are lacking. Aim of the present study is to gain insight in the prevalence of multiple problems among individuals victimized by PPV in the past 12 months, compared with matched nonvictims and victims of non-partner physical violence (non-PPV). For this purpose, data were extracted from two population-based surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019 on potentially traumatic events in the Netherlands. We focused on problems identified in previous studies on PPV and non-PPV and related problems, varying from physical health, mental health, financial and legal problems, to lack of social support and being exposed to other potentially traumatic and stressful life events (LFEs). In total, 49 respondents were victimized by PPV and 89 by non-PPV in the past 12 months. They were compared with pairwise matched groups not affected by any traumatic or stressful LFEs in this period ( nPPV victims comparison group = 245, nnon-PPV comparison group = 445). Results showed that PPV victims significantly more often faced all 12 distinct problems than matched nonvictims (2.31 ≤ odds ratio [OR] ≤ 15.48) and non-PPV victims (2.12 ≤ OR ≤ 4.52). PPV victims more often had any problem than non-PPV victims (OR = 8.19), but no significant differences were found between PPV and non-PPV victims with regard to mental health problems. Findings stress the necessity of a multidisciplinary coordinated community response to help PPV victims.
Influence of selective heating on strain-based formability and pore closure rate of sintered powder metallurgy preforms during upsetting
Authors: Tharmaraj R , Davidson M Joseph
Published: November 2019

An investigation on strain-based formability and pore closure rate of selectively heated sintered powder metallurgical aluminum–titanium composites has been carried out to evaluate the role of heating on the curing of stresses accumulated during mechanical working. Samples with an initial relative density of 90% and an aspect ratio of 1 were prepared through the powder metallurgy technique by applying suitable powder compaction pressures with different titanium contents such as 2%, 4% and 6%. A series of upsetting tests have been carried out on the prepared porous specimens using a 0.5 MN capacity hydraulic press and the failure zone was identified through the experimental work. It was found that failure occurs in the equatorial region of the workpiece due to the accumulation of stresses and the presence of higher amounts of pores. The magnitude of these accumulated stresses and the level of pores affect the formability of the components during cold upsetting. Therefore, there is a need to relieve the accumulated stresses and reduce the pores at the failure zone of the metals. Hence, this work is aimed at relieving the accumulated stresses, reducing the porosity amounts by adopting a novel mechanism of heating in the equatorial region of the samples for various temperatures such as 100 °C, 140 °C, 195 °C, 220 °C and 250 °C. As a result, the forming limit and pore closing rate were found to improve by selectively heating the specimens at locations where stresses have accumulated. Selectively heating this location relieves the accumulated stresses and decreases the number of pores present in the preforms, thereby enabling the metal to reach still higher strain levels before the onset of failure.
Quality characteristic decoupling planning of different meta-action units for computer numerical control machine tool
Authors: Ran Yan , Zhang Teng , Mu Zongyi , Zhang Genbao , Wang Hongwei , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2019

Since computer numerical control machine tool is composed of multiple meta-action units to achieve one specific function, including the meta-action units' own quality, it still needs to control the coupling relationships among different meta-action units' quality characteristics to guarantee the whole machine's quality. In this article, a method of quality characteristic decoupling planning based on meta-action unit for computer numerical control machine tool was proposed. Firstly, the coupling constraint models based on meta-action unit were established. Secondly, the comprehensive coupling strengths of meta-action units were calculated and introduced into the design structure matrices. Thirdly, multidisciplinary design optimization method was adopted to obtain the optimized control sequence of different meta-action units' quality characteristics. What is more, automatic pallet changer rotary motion of computer numerical control machine tool was taken as an example to illustrate the rightness and effectiveness of this method.
Modification of the generalized quasi-likelihood model in the analysis of the Add Health study
Authors: Irimata Katherine E , Wilson Jeffrey R
Published: November 2019

The relationship between the mean and variance is an implicit assumption of parametric modeling. While many distributions in the exponential family have a theoretical mean–variance relationship, it is often the case that the data under investigation are correlated, thus varying from the relation. We present a generalized method of moments estimation technique for modeling certain correlated data by adjusting the mean–variance relationship parameters based on a canonical parameterization. The proposed mean–variance form describes overdispersion using two parameters and implements an adjusted canonical parameter which makes this approach feasible for all distributions in the exponential family. Test statistics and confidence intervals are used to measure the deviations from the mean–variance relation parameters. We use the modified relation as a means of fitting generalized quasi-likelihood models to correlated data. The performance of the proposed modified generalized quasi-likelihood model is demonstrated through a simulation study and the importance of accounting for overdispersion is highlighted through the evaluation of adolescent obesity data collected from a U.S. longitudinal study.
Relationship Outcomes Following Involuntary Pregnancy Loss: The Role of Perceived Incongruent Grief
Authors: McDonald Stacy A. , Dasch-Yee Kimberly B. , Grigg Jenai
Published: November 2019

Involuntary pregnancy loss is a common and often traumatic event for couples. To examine the impact of pregnancy loss on relationship stability, this study examined how perceived incongruent grief (i.e., differences in grief responses as perceived by mothers) influenced relationship outcomes. Thirty-nine women who had experienced an involuntary pregnancy loss participated in an online survey that measured women’s self-reported grief, perceptions of their partner’s grief, and relationship satisfaction and commitment. It was predicted that perceived incongruent grief would be negatively related to satisfaction and commitment, and satisfaction would mediate the association between incongruent grief and commitment. T tests indicated that women perceived that they grieved more intensely than their partners. Regression analyses demonstrated that women’s grief negatively predicted satisfaction. Perceived incongruent grief was also negatively related to satisfaction but not commitment. Considering the impact of perceived incongruent grief on satisfaction, these findings have implications for mental health professionals working with couples following pregnancy loss.
How Important Is Word of Mouth to College Students When Considering Jobs? A Policy-Capturing Study of Organizational Attraction
Authors: Patel Kajal R. , Dahling Jason J.
Published: November 2019

This research examines the effect of reputational word of mouth (WoM) from trusted sources on naive job applicants’ organizational attraction toward a possible employer. We used a policy-capturing experiment to identify the weight placed on WoM relative to other types of hypothetical information that college students with limited work experience might have about a job. Our within-person results show that WoM affects attraction over and above other types of company-dependent information about pay, benefits, and learning opportunities, which underscores the importance of WoM to inexperienced job seekers. Further, our between-person results demonstrate that the weight placed on WoM depends on individual differences in career decision self-efficacy (CDSE). Specifically, people with higher CDSE placed a greater weight on WoM than people with lower CDSE. These findings are important to career counselors who work with college students to understand how they appraise and make decisions about jobs to pursue. Further, these findings have value to organizations by underscoring the importance of reputational information to entry-level job seekers.
The Utility of the Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) Assay in Detecting Abnormalities in Lipid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Risk in an HIV-Infected South African Cohort
Authors: Mayne Elizabeth S. , Moabi Hellen , Grobbee Diederick E. , Barth Roos E. , Klipstein-Grobusch Kersten , Stevens Wendy S. , Vos Alinda G. , Louw Susan
Published: November 2019

People with HIV (PWH) have an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to uninfected patients. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) catalyzes the synthesis of pro-inflammatory lipids that recruit monocytes. Current guidelines for assessing cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients suggest that Lp-PLA2 may be a useful surrogate marker for CVD health in this patient population. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, lipids, glucose, physical parameters, and carotid intimal–medial thickness (CIMT) were measured in 98 participants (49 HIV-uninfected, 27 antiretroviral therapy [ART]-naive PWH, and 22 ART-treated PWH). HIV viral load (VL) and CD4+ T-cell count were measured in HIV-infected participants. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 was increased in participants on protease inhibitor (PI) ART (median 50.5 vs 127.0 nmol/mL, P = .05) and correlated with age, body mass index, and cholesterol. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 was not related to Framingham risk score or CIMT but correlated directly with VL ( r = .323, P = .025) and inversely with CD4+ T-cell count ( r = −.727, P < .001). Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 was increased in HIV-infected participants on PIs and correlated strongly with VL and CD4+ T-cell count suggesting that HIV-associated inflammation is linked to increased Lp-PLA2, providing a mechanistic link between HIV and CVD.
Remyelination and ageing: Reversing the ravages of time
Authors: Neumann Bjoern , Segel Michael , Chalut Kevin J , Franklin Robin JM
Published: November 2019

Remyelination is a neuroprotective regenerative response to demyelination that restores saltatory conduction and decreases the vulnerability of axons to irreversible degeneration. It is a highly efficient process: however, as with all regenerative processes, its efficiency declines with ageing. Here we argue that this age-related decline in remyelination has a major impact on the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease often of several decades’ duration. We describe recent work on (1) how ageing changes the function of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), the cells primarily responsible for generating new myelin-forming oligodendrocytes in remyelination, (2) how these changes are induced by age-related changes in the OPC niche and (3) how these changes can be reversed, thereby opening up the possibility of therapeutically maintaining remyelination efficiency throughout the disease, preserving axonal health and treating the progressive phase of MS.
A circle of research on disadvantaged schools, improvement and test-based accountability
Authors: Huilla Heidi
Published: November 2019

This study analyses how studies on disadvantaged schools, improvement and test-based accountability relate to each other. The analysis covers 69 studies on disadvantaged schools reported in prestigious educational journals and conducted in 1995–2015. Educational policies related to evaluation and accountability define the official goals of schooling, and the aim in this article is to analyse how the chosen studies discuss these educational policies and understand school success and failure. The following questions were asked: What typologies related to test-based accountability can be constructed in research on disadvantaged schools? What understandings of good schools are embedded in the identified typologies? Disadvantaged schools are at the centre of improvement and therefore also the target of evaluative policy practices. The results show that research supports test-based accountability practices, and that critical studies on school improvement are in the minority.
Comparative Outcomes of Supera Interwoven Nitinol vs Bare Nitinol Stents for the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Disease: Insights From the XLPAD Registry
Authors: Armstrong Ehrin J. , Jeon-Slaughter Haekyung , Kahlon Ravi S. , Niazi Khusrow A. , Shammas Nicolas W. , Banerjee Subhash
Published: November 2019

Purpose: To report a propensity score analysis comparing outcomes of the Supera interwoven nitinol stent to bare nitinol stents (BNS) in the femoropopliteal segment. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted utilizing data extracted from the Excellence in Peripheral Artery Disease (XLPAD) registry ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01904851) on 871 patients (mean age 65.1 years; 713 men) who underwent femoropopliteal balloon angioplasty with either Supera stent implantation in 118 limbs or other contemporary BNS in 753 limbs between January 2006 and December 2016. All patients in both groups were matched for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics in a 1:1 propensity score matching using the nearest neighbor method to create the 118-patient matched BNS cohort. One-year outcomes included all-cause mortality, target vessel revascularization (TVR), and target limb revascularization (TLR). An additional core laboratory analysis was conducted to measure the deployed length of Supera stents. Results: In unmatched data, the Supera stent group had a numerically lower rate of TVR (7.6% vs 13.4%, p=0.08) and a significantly lower 1-year TLR rate (7.6% vs 16.2%, p=0.02) compared to the BNS group. Both groups had similar 1-year mortality (2.5% vs 2.7%, p=0.9). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the Supera group had a significantly lower risk of TVR (p=0.02) and TLR (p=0.002) than the BNS group. After propensity matching, the 1-year TVR estimate was lower for Supera stents (7.6% vs 12.7%, p=0.08) and significantly lower for TLR (7.6% vs 13.6%, p=0.04) than the BNS group. There was no statistically significant association between Supera stent elongation (>10% of the labeled stent length) and 1-year risk of TLR (p=0.6). Conclusion: Supera stent usage in femoropopliteal intervention was associated with reduced risk of 1-year repeat target limb revascularization compared with BNS treatment in both unmatched and matched cohorts.
Comparing mismatch strategies for patients being considered for ischemic stroke tenecteplase trials
Authors: Bivard Andrew , Huang Xuya , Levi Christopher R , Campbell Bruce CV , Cheripelli Bharath K , Chen Chushuang , Kalladka Dheeraj , Moreton Fiona C , Ford Ian , Davis Stephen M , Donnan Geoffrey A , Muir Keith W , Parsons Mark W
Published: November 2019

Background

Currently there are multiple variations of imaging-based patient selection mismatch methods in ischemic stroke. In the present study, we sought to compare the two most common mismatch methods and identify if there were different effects on the outcome of a randomized clinical trial depending on the mismatch method used.

Aims

Investigate the effect of clinical and imaging-based mismatch criteria on patient outcomes of a pooled cohort from randomized trials of intravenous tenecteplase versus alteplase.

Methods

Baseline clinical and imaging scores were used to categorize patients as meeting either the DAWN mismatch (baseline NIHSS ≥ 10, and age cut-offs for ischemic core volume) or DEFUSE 2 mismatch criteria (mismatch volume > 15 mL, mismatch ratio > 1.8 and ischemic core < 70 mL). We then investigated whether tenecteplase-treated patients had favorable odds of less disability (on modified Rankin scale, mRS) compared to those treated with alteplase, for clinical and imaging mismatch, respectively.

Results

From 146 pooled patients, 71 received alteplase and 75 received tenecteplase. The overall pooled group did not show improved patient outcomes when treated with tenecteplase (mRS 0-1 OR 1.77, 95% CI 0.89–3.51, p = 0.102) compared with alteplase. A total of 39 (27%) patients met both clinical and imaging mismatch criteria, 25 (17%) patients met only imaging criteria, 36 (25%) met only clinical mismatch criteria and, finally, 46 (31%) did not meet either of imaging or mismatch criteria. Patients treated with tenecteplase had more favorable outcomes when they met either imaging mismatch (mRS 0–1, OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.13–5.94, p = 0.032) or clinical mismatch criteria (mRS 0–1, OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.142, 8.732, p = 0.027) but with differing proportions.

Conclusion

Target mismatch selection was more inclusive and exhibited in a larger treatment effect between tenecteplase and alteplase.
Identifying the World Health Organization’s fifth moment for hand hygiene: Infection prevention in the operating room
Authors: Smith Fiona , Lee Karen , Binnie-McLeod Eleanor , Higgins Mark , Irvine Elizabeth , Henderson Angela , Orr Ann , Clark Fiona , Spence Joanne
Published: November 2019

Background:

The World Health Organization have designed the fifth of their ‘5 moments’ for hand hygiene to account for microbial transfer from patients to equipment in a narrow area around that patient, known as the patient zone. The study was prompted by emerging local confusion about application of the patient zone in the operating room (OR).

Aim/Objectives:

In two phases, we aimed to create a ‘5 moments’ style poster displaying an OR patient zone: phase 1, quantify equipment, in direct contact with the patient and, touched by non-scrubbed staff immediately after touching the patient; and phase 2, categorise equipment identified in phase 1 into patient zone and healthcare zone. An objective is to produce a ‘5 moments’ poster for the OR.

Methods:

The first phase used non-participant direct overt observation. In phase 2, phase 1 data were collaboratively assigned to patient zone or healthcare zone. Photography and graphic design were used to produce the OR ‘5 moments’ poster.

Results:

In 11 full-length surgeries, 20 pieces of equipment were in direct contact with the patient and 57 pieces of equipment were touched. In phase 2, a ‘5 moments’ poster showing an OR patient zone was designed.

Discussion:

Content of the patient zone was identified and displayed in a novel resource. Having shared understanding of the patient zone has potential to sustain hand hygiene compliance and equipment cleaning in the OR.

Conclusion:

Limitations in methods were balanced by collaboration with frontline staff. The study has been used as a teaching tool in the OR and similar settings.
Misfit medicine and queer geographies: The diverse economy and politics of cannabis in carceral Los Angeles
Authors: Chlala Robert
Published: November 2019

Fundamentally shaped by queer and trans activism and labor, Los Angeles’ cannabis markets offer an opportunity to understand how “diverse economies,” as defined by Gibson-Graham, are dynamic, contingent political projects that require contending with power and difference. With data from nearly four years of ethnographic observation and 70-plus interviews, I analyze how numerous Black, Latinx, Native, and Asian and Pacific Islander queer women and transgender economic actors in cannabis have developed labor relations, collective institutional forms, and reciprocal exchange to make cannabis dispensaries a space of care and solidarity. Starting with AIDS crisis-era medical marijuana activism, queer economic actors have built affective relations at the scale of the body with patients, owners, and each other in ways that transcend profit imperatives and bridge across difference. More recently, in the face of economic exclusion and the pervasive gendered division of intimate labor, queer and trans workers of color have turned to the body as a scaffolding for collective action across scales. Drawing from resurgent social movement unionism in the region, they have led intersectional campaigns to protect more-than-capitalist elements of the industry and challenge the carceral state’s drug war. Bridging feminist economic and political geography allows insight to the spatially and temporally contingent nature of diverse, queer economies and their embedding in broader relations of racial, carceral, and homonormative capitalism. At the same time, such an approach centering the active politics of diverse economies surfaces the potentialities for multi-scalar movements to develop and sustain alternatives to capitalism.
Metabolites in a mouse cancer model enhance venous thrombogenicity through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor–tissue factor axis
Authors: Belghasem Mostafa , Roth Daniel , Richards Sean , Napolene Marc Arthur , Walker Joshua , Yin Wenqing , Arinze Nkiruka , Lyle Chimera , Spencer Cheryl , Francis Jean M. , Thompson Cristal , Andry Christopher , Whelan Stephen A. , Lee Norman , Ravid Katya , Chitalia Vipul C.
Published: November 2019

Currently, we have insufficient understanding of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. In this article, the authors reveal a novel mechanism for colon cancer-associated venous thrombosis using a murine model.
A practical genome-enabled legitimacy assay for oil palm breeding and seed production
Authors: Teh Chee-Keng , Lee Heng-Leng , Abidin Hafiza , Ong Ai-Ling , Mayes Sean , Chew Fook-Tim , Appleton David
Published: November 2019

Background

Legitimacy in breeding and commercial crop production depends on optimised protocols to ensure purity of crosses and correct field planting of material. In oil palm, the presence of three fruit forms permits these assumptions to be tested, although only after field planting. The presence of incorrect fruit forms in a cross is a clear sign of illegitimacy. Given that tenera forms produce 30% more oil for the same weight of fruit as dura, the presence of low levels of dura contamination can have major effect during the economic lifespan of an oil palm, which is around 25 years. We evaluated two methods for legitimacy test 1) The use of SHELL markers to the gene that determines the shell-thickness trait 2) The use of SNP markers, to determine the legitimacy of the cross.

Results

Our results indicate that the SHELL markers can theoretically reduce the major losses due to dura contamination of tenera planting material. However, these markers cannot distinguish illegitimate tenera, which reduces the value of having bred elite tenera for commercial planting and in the breeding programme, where fruit form is of limited utility, and incorrect identity could lead to significant problems. We propose an optimised approach using SNPs for routine quality control.

Conclusions

Both dura and tenera contamination can be identified and removed at or before the nursery stage. An optimised legitimacy assay using SNP markers coupled with a suitable sampling scheme is now ready to be deployed as a standard control for seed production and breeding in oil palm. The same approach will also be an effective solution for other perennial crops, such as coconut and date palm.
Low free triiodothyronineis predicts worsen neurological outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke: a retrospective study with bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Zhang Shanchao , Zhao Xia , Xu Shan , Yuan Jing , Si Zhihua , Yang Yang , Qiao Shan , Xu Xuxu , Wang Aihua
Published: November 2019

Backgroud

Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) often experience low serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), but the association of low FT3 with stroke severity, subtype and prognosis has not yet been thoroughly studied, and the molecular events underlying these clinical observation were also unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively collected 221 cases of AIS and 182 non-AIS cases with detailed clinical data from our department. FT3 concentrations were measured on admission to predict functional outcome within 3 months using multivariable models adjusted for other risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to define the best cutoff value of FT3 of stroke severity, subtypes and neurological outcome. Gene set enrichment, pathway mapping and network analyses of deferentially expressed genes (DEGs) were performed.

Results

FT3 was significantly decreased in AIS patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) > 3 and 3-months modified Rankin Scale (mRS) > 2. The cut-off value of FT3 for NIHSS on admission was 4.30 pmol/L. Also, FT3 level was significantly lower in large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) group and cardioembolism (CE) group than that in small vessel occlusion (SVO). FT3 value served as an independent predictor for neurological outcomes for which the cut-off value of FT3 was 4.38 pmol/l. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the biological function of DEGs was mainly enriched in multicellur organism, neuron differentiation and cellular response to hypoxia. The cellular components were involved in extracelluar region, exosome and matrix, and the molecular functions were transcriptional activator activity, DNA binding and nuclear hormone receptor binding. Signal pathways analysis was indicative of neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, thyroid hormone signaling pathway, and protein digestion and absorption these DEGs were involved in. Six related gene were identified as hubs from the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Three modules were selected from PPI, of which MMP4, ADRA2C and EIF3E were recognized as the seed genes.

Conclusions

Low FT3 value on admission was associated with stroke severity, subtype and prognosis. In addition, DEGs identified from bioinformatics analysis are likely to be candidates for elucidating clinical outcomes with low FT3, and provide us with therapeutic targets for improving stroke prognosis.
Impact of parturition on maternal cardiovascular and neuronal integrity in a high risk cohort – a prospective cohort study
Authors: Evers Katrina Suzanne , Huhn Evelyn Annegret , Fouzas Sotirios , Barro Christian , Kuhle Jens , Fisch Urs , Bernasconi Luca , Lapaire Olav , Wellmann Sven
Published: November 2019

Background

To better understand the profound multisystem changes in maternal physiology triggered by parturition, in particular in the underexplored neuronal system, by deploying a panel of pre- vs post-delivery maternal serum biomarkers, most notably the neuronal cytoskeleton constituent neurofilament light chain (NfL). This promising fluid biomarker is not only increasingly applied to investigate disease progression in numerous brain diseases, particularly in proteopathies, but also in detection of traumatic brain injury or monitoring neuroaxonal injury after ischemic stroke.

Methods

The study was nested within a prospective cohort study of pregnant women at risk of developing preeclampsia at the University Hospital of Basel. Paired ante- and postpartum levels of progesterone, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), copeptin (CT-proAVP), and NfL were measured in 56 women with complete clinical data.

Results

Placental delivery significantly decreased all placental markers: progesterone 4.5-fold, PlGF 2.2-fold, and sFlt-1 1.7-fold. Copeptin and MR-proANP increased slightly (1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively). Unexpectedly, NfL levels (median [interquartile range]) increased significantly post-partum: 49.4 (34.7–77.8) vs 27.7 (16.7–31.4) pg/ml(p < 0.0001). Antepartum NfL was the sole independent predictor of NfL peri-partum change; mode of delivery, duration of labor, clinical characteristics and other biomarkers were all unrelated. Antepartum NfL levels were themselves independently predicted only by maternal age.

Conclusions

Parturition per se increases maternal serum NfL levels, suggesting a possible impact of parturition on maternal neuronal integrity.
Transcriptomic analysis associated with reversal of cisplatin sensitivity in drug resistant osteosarcoma cells after a drug holiday
Authors: Niveditha Divya , Sharma Harshita , Majumder Syamantak , Mukherjee Sudeshna , Chowdhury Rajdeep , Chowdhury Shibasish
Published: November 2019

Background

Resistance to chemotherapy is one of the major hurdles in current cancer therapy. With the increasing occurrence of drug resistance, a paradigm shift in treatment strategy is required. Recently “medication vacation” has emerged as a unique, yet uncomplicated strategy in which withdrawal of drug pressure for certain duration allowed tumor cells to regain sensitivity to the drug. However, little is known about the molecular alterations associated with such an outcome.

Methods

In this study, human osteosarcoma (OS) cells resistant to the extensively used drug cisplatin, were withdrawn from drug pressure, and thereafter cytotoxic response of the cells to the drug was evaluated. We further performed next-generation RNA sequencing and compared transcriptome between parental (OS), resistant (OS-R) and the drug withdrawn (OS-DW) cells. Differentially expressed transcripts were identified, and biological association network (BAN), gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of the differentially regulated transcripts were performed to identify key events associated with withdrawal of drug pressure.

Results

Following drug withdrawal, the sensitivity of the cells to the drug was found to be regained. Analysis of the expression profile showed that key genes like, IRAK3, IL6ST, RELA, AKT1, FKBP1A and ADIPOQ went significantly down in OS-DW cells when compared to OS-R. Also, genes involved in Wnt signaling, PI3K-Akt, Notch signaling, and ABC transporters were drastically down-regulated in OS-DW cells compared to OS-R. Although, a very small subset of genes maintained similar expression pattern between OS, OS-R and OS-DW, nonetheless majority of the transcriptomic pattern of OS-DW was distinctively different and unique in comparison to either the drug sensitive OS or drug resistant OS-R cells.

Conclusion

Our data suggests that though drug withdrawal causes reversal of sensitivity, the transcriptomic pattern does not necessarily show significant match with resistant or parental control cells. We strongly believe that exploration of the molecular basis of drug holiday might facilitate additional potential alternative treatment options for aggressive and resistant cancers.