bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ST2 expression and release by the bronchial epithelium is downregulated in asthma
Authors: Kaur Davinder , Chachi Latifa , Gomez Edith , Sylvius Nicolas , Singh Shailendra R. , Ramsheh Mohammadali Y. , Saunders Ruth , Brightling Christopher E.
Published: June 2020

Background

The airway epithelium plays an important role in wound repair, host defense and is involved in the immunopathogenesis of asthma. Genome wide association studies have described associations between ST2/Interleukin (IL)‐33 genes in asthma, but its role in bronchial epithelium is unclear.

Methods

ST2 expression was examined in subjects with asthma and healthy controls in bronchial epithelium from biopsies (n = 27 versus n = 9) and brushings (n = 34 versus n = 20) by immunohistochemistry and RNA‐Seq. In human primary bronchial epithelial cells ST2 mRNA and protein expression were assessed by qPCR, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. IL‐33 function in epithelial cells was examined by intracellular calcium measurements, wound healing assays, and synthetic activation by gene array and ELISA.

Results

Bronchial epithelial ST2 protein expression was significantly decreased in biopsies in subjects with asthma compared to healthy controls (P = .039). IL1RL1 gene expression in bronchial brushes was not different between health and disease. In vitro primary bronchial epithelial cells expressed ST2 and IL‐33 stimulation led to an increase in intracellular calcium, altered gene expression, but had no effect upon wound repair. Epithelial cells released sST2 spontaneously, which was reduced following stimulation with TNFα or poly‐IC. Stimulation by TNFα or poly‐IC did not affect the total ST2 expression by epithelial cell whereas surface ST2 decreased in response to TNFα, but not poly‐IC.

Conclusion

In asthma, bronchial epithelium protein expression of ST2 is decreased. Our in vitro findings suggest that this decrease might be a consequence of the pro‐inflammatory environment in asthma or in response to viral infection.
Risks to healthcare workers following tracheal intubation of patients with COVID‐19: a prospective international multicentre cohort study
Authors: El‐Boghdadly K. , Wong D. J. N. , Owen R. , Neuman M. D. , Pocock S. , Carlisle J. B. , Johnstone C. , Andruszkiewicz P. , Baker P. A. , Biccard B. M. , Bryson G. L. , Chan M. T. V. , Cheng M. H. , Chin K. J. , Coburn M. , Jonsson Fagerlund M. , Myatra S. N. , Myles P. S. , O’Sullivan E. , Pasin L. , Shamim F. , van Klei W. A. , Ahmad I.
Published: June 2020

Healthcare workers involved in aerosol‐generating procedures, such as tracheal intubation, may be at elevated risk of acquiring COVID‐19. However, the magnitude of this risk is unknown. We conducted a prospective international multicentre cohort study recruiting healthcare workers participating in tracheal intubation of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID‐19. Information on tracheal intubation episodes, personal protective equipment use and subsequent provider health status was collected via self‐reporting. The primary endpoint was the incidence of laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 diagnosis or new symptoms requiring self‐isolation or hospitalisation after a tracheal intubation episode. Cox regression analysis examined associations between the primary endpoint and healthcare worker characteristics, procedure‐related factors and personal protective equipment use. Between 23 March and 2 June 2020, 1718 healthcare workers from 503 hospitals in 17 countries reported 5148 tracheal intubation episodes. The overall incidence of the primary endpoint was 10.7% over a median (IQR [range]) follow‐up of 32 (18–48 [0–116]) days. The cumulative incidence within 7, 14 and 21 days of the first tracheal intubation episode was 3.6%, 6.1% and 8.5%, respectively. The risk of the primary endpoint varied by country and was higher in women, but was not associated with other factors. Around 1 in 10 healthcare workers involved in tracheal intubation of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID‐19 subsequently reported a COVID‐19 outcome. This has human resource implications for institutional capacity to deliver essential healthcare services, and wider societal implications for COVID‐19 transmission.
Zombie Firms and Soft Budget Constraints in the Chinese Stock Market*
Authors: Zhang Chenyan , Chen Yongqiao , Zhou Huiyu
Published: June 2020

The growth of zombie firms has caused increasing concern. The present study seeks to understand why zombie firms have been emerging in recent 10 years and to further explore the mechanisms of their formation. Based on a dataset of Chinese listed companies from 2012 to 2016 and empirical analysis, the present study ascribes the prevalence of zombie firms to soft budget constraints. After using a modified identification model in the Chinese context, we concluded that zombie firms have access to some external resources such as credit support from banks and governmental subsidies, substantiating soft budget constraints among zombie firms. To explain this phenomenon, further analysis reveals that zombie firms bear a heavier policy burden by hiring excess employees, which will bring them more subsidies and a stronger relationship with government in return. This result indicates that policy burden is the reason for soft budget constraints, which exacerbates the zombie firm problems in China.
Consumers' Valuation of Geographical Indication‐Labeled Food: The Case of Hom Mali Rice in Bangkok*
Authors: Lee Ji Yong , Pavasopon Noppawong , Napasintuwong Orachos , Nayga Rodolfo M.
Published: June 2020

This study investigated consumers' valuation of geographical indication (GI) and protected geographical indication (PGI)‐labeled rice in Bangkok using a non‐hypothetical experimental auction in a field setting. We also examined the effects of sequentially providing information about geographical indications on product valuation. The results suggest that consumers are willing to pay premiums for rice with geographical certifications, with the highest premium for the rice with both GI and PGI certifications. The provision of detailed information about the geographical indications further increases the premiums. However, consumers suffer a welfare loss under the current high market prices for rice with geographical certifications. A price reduction of approximately 10 percent would be needed to gain consumer welfare from the introduction of GI and PGI certification.
Administration of L. salivarius expressing 3D8 scFv as a feed additive improved the growth performance, immune homeostasis, and gut microbiota of chickens
Authors: Sureshkumar Shanmugam , Jung Sun Keun , Kim Dongjun , Oh Keon Bong , Yang Hyeon , Lee Hwi Cheul , Jo Yong Jin , Lee Hae Sun , Lee Sukchan , Byun Sung June
Published: June 2020

Probiotics have been defined as live microorganisms that are administered in an appropriate amount to provide health benefits to the host animal. In this study, we investigated the effect of L. salivarius DJ‐sa‐01 secreting the 3D8 single‐chain variable fragment (3D8 scFv) on the growth performance, cytokine secretion, and intestinal microbial flora of chickens. The experiment was divided into the control group and L. salivarius expressing 3D8 scFv experimental group. Chicken was fed 109 colony‐forming units (CFUs) of wild‐type (WT) L. salivarius or 3D8 scFv‐secreting L. salivarius daily for 35 days. The administration of L. salivarius expressing 3D8 scFv significantly improved the body weight of chickens compared with the administration of WT L. salivarius. A 16S ribosomal RNA metagenomic analysis showed that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in both experimental groups. At the genus level, Lactobacillus was more abundant (22.82%) in the L. salivarius/3D8 group compared with the WT L. salivarius group. The serum levels of cytokines, such as IL‐8, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IGF1, were significantly reduced in the L. salivarius/3D8‐treated chickens. In summary, our results suggest that L. salivarius expressing 3D8 scFv could be considered a feed additive for improving the growth performance, immune function, and disease resistance of poultry.
Comparison of selected indices of internal environment and condition of laying hens kept in furnished cages and in aviaries
Authors: Krivankova Tereza , Voslarova Eva , Vecerek Vladimir , Bedanova Iveta , Blahova Jana , Chloupek Jan
Published: June 2020

Biochemical and hematological examination of blood and individual assessment of the birds were performed in Lohman Brown laying hens at 45 weeks of age housed in different systems. The biochemical examination revealed higher (p < .01) corticosterone levels, creatine kinase, and aspartate aminotransferase activity and lower (p < .01) levels of lactate, triglycerides, albumin, calcium, and phosphorus in aviary hens compared to hens housed in furnished cages. Hematological examination of hens housed in aviaries revealed higher (p < .05) hematocrit, leukocytes, heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and H/L ratio. Furthermore, hens housed in aviaries had lower (p < .01) body weight than hens in furnished cages, they were worse feathered (p < .001), had more damaged combs (p < .05), and poorer physical condition (p < .01). In contrast, caged hens showed worse (p < .01) feather condition of the wings due to abrasion and claws due to overgrowth. The results have shown that the housing system has a significant impact on the internal environment and condition of birds and that housing in aviaries without taking into account the specifics of such housing may lead to significant stress and disturbance to the welfare of laying hens.
Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on growth performance, plasma metabolites and hormones, and rumen fermentation in Holstein calves during pre‐ and post‐weaning periods
Authors: Takemura Kei , Shingu Hiroyuki , Ikuta Kentaro , Sato Shigeru , Kushibiki Shiro
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) during the pre‐ and post‐weaning periods on growth, metabolic and hormonal responses, and rumen fermentation in calves. Three‐week‐old Holstein calves were assigned to either control (n = 12) or SC group (n = 12), the latter of which received 2 × 109 cfu/day of SC. The experiment was conducted over a period of 7 weeks around weaning. Daily gain (DG) in the SC group was higher (p < .05) than that in the control group. In the SC group, plasma glucose, insulin, and growth hormone (GH) concentrations were higher (p < .05) and concentrations of glucagon and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) tended to be higher (p < .1) than in the control group. Proportion of rumen propionate and concentration of rumen ammonia nitrogen at 10 weeks of age were greater (p < .05) in the SC group than that in the control group. Supplementation of SC around weaning may improve dietary nutrient and energy availability and increase plasma GH and IGF‐1 concentrations. These changes observed in SC‐supplemented calves could be closely related to the improvement of DG.
Validation of the UK myeloma research alliance risk profile, a new clinical prediction model for outcome in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma not eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation; a population‐based study from the Danish national multiple myeloma registry
Authors: Redder Louise , Klausen Tobias W. , Vangsted Annette Juul , Gregersen Henrik , Andersen Niels F. , Pedersen Robert S. , Szabo Agoston G. , Frederiksen Mikael , Frølund Ulf C. , Helleberg Carsten , Nielsen Lene Kongsgaard , Pedersen Per T. , Salomo Morten , Gimsing Peter , Frederiksen Henrik , Abildgaard Niels
Published: June 2020

In 2019 the UK Myeloma Research Alliance introduced the Myeloma Risk Profile (MRP) for prediction of outcome in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation. To validate the MRP in a population‐based setting we performed a study of the entire cohort of transplant ineligible MM patients above 65 years in the Danish National MM Registry. Our data confirmed the value of the MRP. In a cohort of 1,377 patients, the MRP score separated patients into three distinct risk‐groups with an observed hazard ratio of 2.91 for early death in high‐risk versus low‐risk patients.
Impact of COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home orders on weight‐related behaviours among patients with obesity
Authors: Almandoz Jaime P. , Xie Luyu , Schellinger Jeffrey N. , Mathew Matthew Sunil , Gazda Chellse , Ofori Ashley , Kukreja Sachin , Messiah Sarah E.
Published: June 2020

How the impact of the COVID‐19 stay‐at‐home orders is influencing physical, mental and financial health among vulnerable populations, including those with obesity is unknown. The aim of the current study was to explore the health implications of COVID‐19 among a sample of adults with obesity. A retrospective medical chart review identified patients with obesity from an obesity medicine clinic and a bariatric surgery (MBS) practice. Patients completed an online survey from April 15, 2020 to May 31, 2020 to assess COVID‐19 status and health behaviours during stay‐at‐home orders. Logistic regression models examined the impact of these orders on anxiety and depression by ethnic group. A total of 123 patients (87% female, mean age 51.2 years [SD 13.0]), mean BMI 40.2 [SD 6.7], 49.2% non‐Hispanic white (NHW), 28.7% non‐Hispanic black, 16.4% Hispanic, 7% other ethnicity and 33.1% completed MBS were included. Two patients tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and 14.6% reported symptoms. Then, 72.8% reported increased anxiety and 83.6% increased depression since stay‐at‐home orders were initiated. Also 69.6% reported more difficultly in achieving weight loss goals, less exercise time (47.9%) and intensity (55.8%), increased stockpiling of food (49.6%) and stress eating (61.2%). Hispanics were less likely to report anxiety vs NHWs (adjusted odds ratios 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05‐0.49; P = .009). Results here showed the COVID‐19 pandemic is having a significant impact on patients with obesity regardless of infection status. These results can inform clinicians and healthcare professionals about effective strategies to minimize COVID‐19 negative outcomes for this vulnerable population now and in post‐COVID‐19 recovery efforts.
Autophagy changes in lung tissues of mice at 30 days after carbon black‐metal ion co‐exposure
Authors: He Wei , Peng Hongzhen , Ma Jifei , Wang Qisheng , Li Aiguo , Zhang Jichao , Kong Huating , Li Qingnuan , Sun Yanhong , Zhu Ying
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Accumulating studies have investigated the PM2.5‐induced pulmonary toxicity, while gaps still remain in understanding its toxic mechanism. Due to its high specific surface area and adsorption capacity similar to nanoparticles, PM2.5 acts as a significant carrier of metals in air and then leads to altered toxic effects. In this study, we aimed to use CBs and Ni as model materials to investigate the autophagy changes and pulmonary toxic effects at 30 days following intratracheal instillation of CBs‐Ni mixture.

Materials and methods

Groups of mice were instilled with 100 µL normal saline (NS), 20 µg CBs, and 4 µg Ni or CBs‐Ni mixture, respectively. At 7 and 30 days post‐instillation, all the mice were weighed and then sacrificed. The evaluation system was composed of the following: (a) autophagy and lysosomal function assessment, (b) trace element biodistribution observation in lungs, (c) pulmonary lavage biomedical analysis, (d) lung histopathological evaluation, (e) coefficient analysis of major organs and (f) CBs‐Ni interaction and cell proliferation assessment.

Results

We found that after CBs‐Ni co‐exposure, no obvious autophagy and lysosomal dysfunction or pulmonary toxicity was detected, along with complete clearance of Ni from lung tissues as well as recovery of biochemical indexes to normal range.

Conclusions

We conclude that the damaged autophagy and lysosomal function, as well as physiological function, was repaired at 30 days after exposure of CBs‐Ni. Our findings provide a new idea for scientific assessment of the impact of fine particles on environment and human health, and useful information for the comprehensive treatment of air pollution.
The function and mechanism of circular RNAs in gastrointestinal tumours
Authors: Nie Hui , Wang Yutong , Liao Zhiming , Zhou Jianhua , Ou Chunlin
Published: June 2020

Gastrointestinal tumours are tumours that originate in the digestive tract and have extremely high morbidity and mortality. The main categories include: oesophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers. Circular RNAs are a new class of non‐coding RNAs with a covalent closed‐loop structure without a 5’ cap or a 3’ poly A tail, which can encode a small amount of polypeptide. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs are involved in multiple biological processes during the development of gastrointestinal tumours including proliferation, invasion and metastasis, radio‐ and chemoresistance, and inflammatory responses. Also, the clinical and pathological characteristics of the patient, such as staging and lymph node metastasis, are closely associated with the expression level of circRNAs. Further investigation of the function and the role of circRNAs in the development of gastrointestinal tumours will provide new directions for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Early and recurrent hospitalization after kidney transplantation: Analysis of a contemporary canadian cohort of kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Bergman Joel , Tennankore Karthik , Vinson Amanda
Published: June 2020

Hospital readmission is a common occurrence following kidney transplantation, but less is known about the predictors of early and recurrent hospitalization. We analyzed a cohort of adult kidney transplant recipients in Nova Scotia, Canada, from January 2010 to December 2015. Readmission rates for 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year were calculated as a proportion of total transplants. Factors independently associated with early readmission were investigated using multivariable Cox hazards models with multivariable Anderson‐Gill Cox models being used for factors independently associated with recurrent readmission. Of the 213 patients included, 41 (19.2%), 78 (36.6%), and 88 (41.3%) were readmitted to hospital within 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year, respectively. On multivariable analyses, a history of congestive heart failure (HR 1.741, 95% CI 1.039‐2.918), peptic ulcer disease (HR 2.290, 95% CI 1.054‐4.973), and liver disease (HR 2.492, 95% CI 1.162‐5.344) was associated with higher risk of first rehospitalization. Recurrent hospital admission was associated with initial hospital duration ≥ 8 days (HR 2.140, 95% CI 1.265‐3.618), congestive heart failure (HR 1.366, 95% CI 1.044‐1.787), and liver disease (HR 1.785, 95% CI 1.257‐2.534). Increasing duration of initial hospitalization, congestive heart failure, and liver disease are important to consider when evaluating a patient's risk for recurrent readmission following kidney transplant.
Alcohol use and injury risk in Thailand: A case‐crossover emergency department study
Authors: Sornpaisarn Bundit , Sornpaisarn Sarnti , Shield Kevin D. , Rehm Jürgen
Published: June 2020

Introduction and Aims

While injuries and alcohol contribute to a large proportion of the disease burden in Thailand, no well‐designed underlying study has yet been published. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between acute alcohol consumption and injury risk in Thailand.

Design and Methods

Using the case‐crossover design, this study examined 520 injured patients aged 18 years and older from two emergency departments in Meuang District, Chiang‐Mai Province, Thailand, from June to August of 2016. The case period was defined as 6 h prior to injury, the two control periods as the same 6‐h period at 1 day and 7 days prior to injury. Alcohol exposure and the amount consumed were measured for these periods.

Results

Twenty percent of injured patients consumed alcohol within the 6 h prior to injury, averaging 6.9 drinks during that time. The odds of injury for those individuals consuming alcoholic beverages was 5.0 (95% confidence interval 3.0, 8.2) times greater compared to non‐exposure individuals; every additional drink consumed increased the odds of injury by 1.3 (95% confidence interval 1.2, 1.4). Alcohol use significantly increased the odds of sustaining an unintentional injury, intentional injury inflicted by someone else or experiencing a road traffic injury (among drivers). The dose–response analysis indicated alcohol use significantly increased the risks of unintentional injury and road traffic injuries (among drivers).

Discussion and Conclusions

Exposure to alcohol increased the odds of injury in a dose‐dependent fashion; hence, comprehensive, cost‐effective strategies should be implemented in Thailand to reduce alcohol exposure, binge drinking and drunk driving.
Physician variation in ordering of transthoracic echocardiography in outpatient pediatric cardiac clinics
Authors: Stern Kenan W. D. , McCracken Courtney E. , Gillespie Scott E. , Lang Sean M. , Statile Christopher J. , Lopez Leo , Verghese George R. , Choueiter Nadine F. , Sachdeva Ritu
Published: June 2020

Background

The pediatric Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for outpatient transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) aim to reduce practice variation. Little is known on variation in TTE use between physicians. Understanding this variation will help identify areas for improvement in standardization of TTE use.

Methods and Results

This is a retrospective review of initial outpatient visits at 6 pediatric cardiology centers in the United States prior to AUC release. Variation in TTE use was examined using multilevel generalized mixed effects models. Forward selection identified combinations of variables that explained the most variance in TTE use between physicians. Due to collinearity, physician compensation model and center were analyzed separately. Of 2883 encounters, the most common indication was murmur (36%), followed by chest pain (15.2%). Overall TTE use was 41.9%, and varied widely between centers (22.9%‐52.6%), and between physicians within centers. Center alone explained 29% of this physician variance. Adding physician characteristics increased the variance explained to 57%, which only minimally improved by adding patient characteristics. The variance explained was driven by subspecialty. The center‐based multivariable model explained more variance over compensation model.

Conclusions

Center was the single largest determinant of physician variance in TTE use, followed by physician subspecialty. Efforts to reduce practice variation, such as the AUC, should be employed across centers and all pediatric cardiac providers. Center appears to have a stronger impact on variance than compensation model, though in this dataset the effect of center and compensation are hard to separate from each other and deserve further evaluation.
A comparison of diversity estimators applied to a database of host–parasite associations
Authors: Teitelbaum Claire S. , Amoroso Caroline R. , Huang Shan , Davies T. Jonathan , Rushmore Julie , Drake John M. , Stephens Patrick R. , Byers James E. , Majewska Ania A. , Nunn Charles L.
Published: June 2020

Understanding the drivers of biodiversity is important for forecasting changes in the distribution of life on earth. However, most studies of biodiversity are limited by uneven sampling effort, with some regions or taxa better sampled than others. Numerous methods have been developed to account for differences in sampling effort, but most methods were developed for systematic surveys in which all study units are sampled using the same design and assemblages are sampled randomly. Databases compiled from multiple sources, such as from the literature, often violate these assumptions because they are composed of studies that vary widely in their goals and methods. Here, we compared the performance of several popular methods for estimating parasite diversity based on a large and widely used parasite database, the Global Mammal Parasite Database (GMPD). We created artificial datasets of host–parasite interactions based on the structure of the GMPD, then used these datasets to evaluate which methods best control for differential sampling effort. We evaluated the precision and bias of seven methods, including species accumulation and nonparametric diversity estimators, compared to analyzing the raw data without controlling for sampling variation. We find that nonparametric estimators, and particularly the Chao2 and second‐order jackknife estimators, perform better than other methods. However, these estimators still perform poorly relative to systematic sampling, and effect sizes should be interpreted with caution because they tend to be lower than actual effect sizes. Overall, these estimators are more effective in comparative studies than for producing true estimates of diversity. We make recommendations for future sampling strategies and statistical methods that would improve estimates of global parasite diversity.
Domain problem‐solving expert identification in community question answering
Authors: Tang Weizhao , Lu Tun , Gu Hansu , Zhang Peng , Gu Ning
Published: June 2020

Question‐Answering (Q&A) services provide internet users with platforms to exchange knowledge and ideas. The development of Q&A sites, or Community Question Answering (CQA), mainly depends on the high‐quality content continuously contributed by users with high‐level expertise, who can be recognized as experts. Expert finding is an important task for the authorities of Q&A communities to encourage commitment. In a highly competitive market environment, CQA managers have to take measures to retain and nurture users, especially superior contributors. However, current expertise scoring techniques adopted in CQA often give much credit to very active users and fail to identify real experts. This study aims to develop a robust and practical expert identification framework for Q&A communities, by combining well‐designed expertise scoring technique and probabilistic clustering model. With regard to expert identification, a numerical metric of users' expertise is developed as the optimal expert finding strategy, and a clustering algorithm based on Gaussian‐Gamma mixture model (GGMM) is proposed to efficiently distinguish experts from nonexperts. In the experiments, the proposed method is applied to real‐world datasets collected from subcommunities of Stack Exchange Q&A networks. Results obtained from comparative experiments show that our method achieves better performance than the state‐of‐the‐art methods and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The analysis shows that the framework which combines the proposed expertise scoring technique and Gaussian–Gamma mixture clustering model is capable of detecting excellent domain problem‐solving experts who exhibit both domain interest and expertise.
Digitally mediated remote learning of pragmatics
Authors: Taguchi Naoko
Published: June 2020

The COVID‐19 outbreak has greatly impacted world language education. With social distancing in practice, teachers, and students have been forced to adopt distance learning. As an effort to support this shift, this paper presents a range of resources and activities available for technology‐mediated remote learning of pragmatics in three categories: structured, semistructured, and unstructured digital spaces. The paper illustrates the benefits of attempts in each area and presents implicatures for teaching.
Establishing professional online communities for world language educators
Authors: Knight Stephanie W. P.
Published: June 2020

Professional isolation, a familiar issue in world language education, has been exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. This article addresses this issue by providing world language educators with practical guidance related to establishing high‐functioning professional networks online. Empirical findings related to computer‐mediated communication (CMC) in language learning and teacher training contexts support the articulation of four critical considerations for successful online professional communities: that participants (a) possess requisite technical knowledge to navigate the platforms being utilized; (b) develop requisite reflective and evaluative competencies; (c) exhibit ongoing, sustained engagement; and (d) engage collaboratively with other participants. In concert, successful treatment of these considerations not only provides practitioners with a temporary solution to engage in physically distant collaboration, but also may help establish a more robust, sustainable professional development infrastructure for world language teachers in the future.
Nontariff measures, trade deflection, and market expansion of exporters in China
Authors: Hu Xuqian , He Canfei
Published: June 2020

This study focuses on the influence of Nontariff Measures (NTMs) on market expansion of exporters using the Chinese custom database during 2003–2011. Besides confirming the negative effect of prior export activity and positive effect of neighboring spillovers, this paper finds robust negative effects of NTMs on entry of new markets at the firm‐market level. The empirical results show that a trade deflection effect exists at the microscale and prefers the markets with lower degree of NTMs. Furthermore, exporters with fewer trade links or in processing trade seem lacking in ability to channel new markets under the pressure of NTMs in their existing markets.
Relationship between surrounding tissue morphology and directional collective migration of the posterior lateral line primordium in zebrafish
Authors: Karaiwa Akari , Yamada Sohei , Yamamoto Hodaka , Wakasa Mizuho , Ishijima Hannosuke , Akiyama Ryutaro , Hosokawa Yoichiroh , Bessho Yasumasa , Matsui Takaaki
Published: June 2020

Collective cell migration, in which cells assemble and move together, is an essential process in embryonic development, wound healing and cancer metastasis. Chemokine signaling guides cell assemblies to their destinations. In zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium (PLLP), a model system for collective cell migration, it has been proposed that the chemokine ligand Cxcl12a secreted from muscle pioneer cells (MPs) and muscle fast fibers (MFFs), which are distributed along with the horizontal midline, binds to the receptor Cxcr4b in PLLP and that Cxcl12a–Cxcr4b signaling guides the anterior‐to‐posterior migration of PLLP along the horizontal midline. However, how the surrounding tissues affect PLLP migration remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the relationship between the PLLP and the surrounding tissues and found that a furrow between the dorsal and ventral myotomes is generated by Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling‐dependent MP and MFF differentiation and that the PLLP migrates in this furrow. When transient inhibition of Shh signaling impaired both the furrow formation and differentiation of cxcl12a‐expressing MPs/MFFs, directional PLLP migration was severely perturbed. Furthermore, when differentiated MPs and MFFs were ablated by femtosecond laser irradiations, the furrow remained and PLLP migration was relatively unaffected. These results suggest that the furrow formation between the dorsal and ventral myotomes is associated with the migratory behavior of PLLP.
Changes in the human gut microbiota composition caused by Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ye Qunqun , Shao Xiaona , Shen Ruiwei , Chen Dawei , Shen Jianwei
Published: June 2020

Background

The short‐term and long‐term effect of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) eradication on the gut microbiota is controversial; hence, this study aimed to clarify changes in the gut microbiome and microbial diversity after H pylori eradication.

Materials and Methods

Articles published in PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched up to March 20, 2020, with English‐language restriction. The outcomes including gut microbiota and alpha diversity were extracted to analysis. And then, Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct the data analysis.

Results

At phylum level, next‐generation sequencing was performed. Meta‐analysis results showed that Actinobacteria decreased compared with baseline throughout the follow‐up period. Proteobacteria increased during short‐term follow‐up and then returned to normal. In addition, Bacteroidetes decreased and Firmicutes increased only during long‐term follow‐up. At family or genus level, conventional microbiological culturing was performed. Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus both increased during the short‐term and interim follow‐up. In addition, Lactobacillus only showed a decreasing trend during short‐term follow‐up, but it appeared statistical decreasing during interim follow‐up. Moreover, relatively sufficient evidence showed that alpha diversity decreased during short‐term follow‐up, and no reliable data were obtained to confirm the change of alpha diversity during interim and long‐term follow‐up.

Conclusion

In different follow‐up periods after H pylori eradication, changes in gut microbiota were inconsistent. Microbial diversity decreased in the short‐term follow‐up, while there was no data to confirm subsequent alterations. The results provided a basis for the rational selection of probiotics in the eradication process. However, further studies are needed to obtain more clues.
Validation of albumin, bilirubin, and platelet criteria for avoiding screening endoscopy in patients with advanced fibrosis
Authors: Tamaki Nobuharu , Kurosaki Masayuki , Higuchi Mayu , Kirino Sakura , Inada Kento , Yamashita Koji , Sekiguchi Shuhei , Hayakawa Yuka , Osawa Leona , Takaura Kenta , Maeyashiki Chiaki , Kaneko Shun , Yasui Yutaka , Tsuchiya Kaoru , Nakanishi Hiroyuki , Itakura Jun , Izumi Namiki
Published: June 2020

Aim

The albumin, bilirubin, and platelet (ABP) criteria was proposed to avoid screening endoscopy for detecting high‐risk varices (HRV) and it has high diagnostic accuracy. We carried out a retrospective cross‐sectional study to verify the diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

A total of 610 patients with advanced fibrosis were enrolled in the study. ABP criteria are defined as follows: albumin >4.0 g/dL, bilirubin <22 μmol/L, and platelets >114 000/μL.

Results

Background liver disease were hepatitis C/hepatitis B/non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease/others:405 (66.4%)/67 (10.5%)/78 (12.8%)/60 (10.3%). A total of 105 patients (17.2%) had HRV. In multivariate analysis, serum bilirubin <22 μmol/L (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.2–3.4), albumin >4.0 g/dL (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.7–3.8), and platelets >114 000/μL (HR 3.52, 95% CI 2.1–5.8) levels were independently associated with no presence of HRV. When the ABP criteria were examined, 200 patients (32.8%) fulfilled the criteria, and 194 patients had no HRV (positive predictive value 97.0%) When classified by etiologies (hepatitis C/hepatitis B/non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease), positive predictive value were 97.7/100/92.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

The ABP criteria are easy to examine, because they use only standard laboratory tests, and they are available for screening patients who might avoid endoscopy regardless of etiologies.
Medieval European peasant women: A fragmented historiography
Authors: Wright Sharon Hubbs
Published: June 2020

This article provides a comprehensive review of scholarship since 1980 concerning medieval peasant women (roughly 1000–1500 CE) in the regions studied by German, French, Italian, and Spanish scholars. It examines research that focuses directly on medieval peasant women but does not discuss the great agrarian and economic histories or studies of peasant families that merely mention but do not focus on women. Many of the major themes and questions within women's history of the past four decades—questions about women's status, agency, and wage inequality— are reflected in scholarship on medieval European peasant women; however, European scholars have been resistant to critical analysis of their data and have worked within regional frameworks without much comparative engagement with scholars working in other locations. Reviewing the state of the field makes it clear that there are many opportunities for future research, especially comparative analysis.
Low‐contact and high‐interconnectivity pathology (LC&HI Path): post‐COVID19‐pandemic practice of pathology
Authors: Arends Mark J , Salto‐Tellez Manuel
Published: June 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic situation may be viewed as an opportunity to accelerate some of the ongoing transformations in modern pathology. This refers primarily to the digitalisation of the practice of tissue and cellular pathology diagnostics. However, it is also an opportunity to analyse the modus operandi of a discipline that has been practised in a similar manner for more than 100 years. The challenge is to define the next generation of interconnectivity tools that would be necessary to achieve a new operational model that, while ensuring low face‐to‐face interaction between the main players of the diagnostic pipeline, allows maximum interconnectivity to serve our patients and the immediate teaching and research needs associated with clinical tissue/cellular samples. This viewpoint aims to describe what this new paradigm, a low‐contact and high‐interconnectivity pathology (LC&HC Path) operation, may require in the near future.
TEMPORALITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY
Authors: SASTRAWAN WAYAN JARRAH
Published: June 2020

The challenge of globalizing historical theory requires that theorization be grounded in material from all parts of the world. Southeast Asia is a world region that is somewhat underrepresented in the theorization of history. The distinctive historical traditions of Southeast Asia present an opportunity to bring new insights to existing theories of history. In this article, I offer a theoretical approach to historical temporality that is grounded in close readings of texts from this region by focusing on how these texts construe temporality through choices of narrative organization. I develop a toolkit for analyzing the temporalities in historical texts from equatorial Southeast Asia (the region covering present‐day Indonesia and Malaysia), which includes a precise analytical vocabulary to fully account for their diversity. This approach leads to a theoretical stance that supersedes the conceptual dichotomies of linear/cyclical time and empty/full time, in favor of a more pluralistic understanding of temporalities. The grounded theory presented in this article is not only better suited to working with Southeast Asian materials, but it can also be placed in useful dialogue with existing theories, such as the narrativist approach of Hayden White and recent theorizations of the medieval historiography of Western Europe.
OBJECTS OF HISTORY: THE PAST MATERIALIZED1
Authors: Findlen Paula
Published: June 2020

What is the role of material culture in understanding the past? This review essay explores two principal approaches—the history of museums and antiquities and environmental history—to reflect on their shared investment in historical materialism. It reviews Timothy LeCain's The Matter of History and Peter Miller's History and Its Objects, discussing their perspectives on objects and the writing of history. One important part of this history concerns the relationship of academic historians to the idea of a history museum, curatorial practices, and public history. What kinds of history can we do in a museum, with things, that might not occur without the presence of objects? Why were nineteenth‐ and early twentieth‐century efforts to encourage a close relationship between historical research and the history museum largely abandoned in favor of a document‐driven approach?

The second dimension of current interest in historical materialism concerns new approaches to environmental history. It draws inspiration from Deep History as well as recent work in archaeology and STS (Science and Technology Studies) to argue for a more integrated history of humans and nature that demonstrates how things have made us. The history of successive efforts to remake the environment in different parts of the world and their consequences offers crucial object lessons in how humans have responded to nature's own creativity. Both approaches to historical materialism highlight the virtues of a more interdisciplinary approach to historical scholarship, in the museum or in the field, but most important, in our own sensibilities about what it means to think historically with artifacts and to treat them as compelling evidence of a shared history of humanity and nature.
TOWARD A MULTIDIRECTIONAL FUTURE OF HISTORIOGRAPHY: GLOBALITY, INTERDISCIPLINARITY, AND POSTHUMANITY
Authors: Wang Q. Edward
Published: June 2020

Compared with the survey offered in the New Perspectives on Historical Writing nearly three decades earlier, historical practices around the world today have witnessed a remarkable change on several fronts. First, marked expansions occurred in such fields as gender history, history of memory, history of knowledge, and visual history, resulting in their noticeable transformation (for example, “gender history” to “history of sexuality” and “visual history” to “history of things”). Second, by exploring and presenting the “other(s)” in modern historiography, new areas are opened up in postcolonial history, global history, emotions history, and so on, which have prompted historians to reconceptualize their notions of time and space. Third, menacing global climate change and notable breakthroughs in various areas of modern technology have exerted an unprecedented impact on historical writing, exemplified by the new developments in environmental history, neurohistory, digital history, and animal history. Science and technology help historians to rejuvenate their research methodology and teaching pedagogy, but they have also demanded that historians acquire a better understanding of the interaction and co‐evolution of humans and nonhumans in history, or to take the nonanthropocentric and nonanthropomorphic approach. In sum, what lies ahead for historians and history students today is a multidirectional future, which is at once an opportunity and a challenge.
A DYNAMIC DISCRETE CHOICE MODEL OF REVERSE MORTGAGE BORROWER BEHAVIOR
Authors: Blevins Jason R. , Shi Wei , Haurin Donald R. , Moulton Stephanie
Published: June 2020

Using unique data on reverse mortgage borrowers in the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, we semiparametrically estimate a dynamic discrete choice model of borrower behavior. Our estimator is based on a new identification result we develop for models with multiple terminating actions. We show that the per‐period utility functions and discount factor are identified without restrictive, ad hoc identifying restrictions that lead to incorrect counterfactual implications. Our estimates provide insights about factors that influence HECM refinance, default, and termination decisions and allow us to quantify the trade‐offs involved for proposed program modifications, such as income and credit requirements.
Low‐dose oral minoxidil as treatment for non‐scarring alopecia: a systematic review
Authors: Sharma Ajay N. , Michelle Lauren , Juhasz Margit , Muller Ramos Paulo , Atanaskova Mesinkovska Natasha
Published: June 2020

Background

Topical minoxidil has been used for almost 40 years to treat alopecia. There is growing evidence supporting off‐label use of low‐dose oral minoxidil.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review evaluating the use of oral minoxidil for all types of alopecia.

Methods

A primary literature search was conducted using PubMed in May 2019, utilizing the search term “oral minoxidil AND (hair loss OR alopecia OR baldness)”. Reviews, non‐English studies, and articles concerning only topical minoxidil were excluded.

Results

Ten articles were included for review comprising a total 19,218 patients (215 women and 19,003 men). Oral minoxidil dose ranged from 0.25 to 5 mg daily to twice daily. The strongest evidence existed for androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata (AA), with 61–100% and 18–82.4% of patients demonstrating objective clinical improvement. Successful treatment of female pattern hair loss, chronic telogen effluvium, monilethrix, and permanent chemotherapy‐induced alopecia was also reported. The most common adverse effects with oral minoxidil included hypertrichosis and postural hypotension.

Conclusion

Oral minoxidil is a safe and successful treatment of androgenic alopecia and AA. In addition to its therapeutic benefits, practical advantages over topical minoxidil stem from improved patient compliance.
Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp: causes and treatments
Authors: Karanfilian Katrice M. , Wassef Cindy
Published: June 2020

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is a rare condition which primarily affects older women after local trauma and has historically been treated with topical steroids. As it is a rare entity and resembles other dermatologic conditions, it may easily be misdiagnosed. Identifying the causes and evaluating the efficacy of treatments of erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (EPDS) is of great importance to both avoid misdiagnosis and ensure optimal treatment of this rare condition. There are numerous causes. In addition to surgeries and physical injuries, topical and procedural treatments for actinic keratoses and androgenetic alopecia can trigger the development of lesions. There are also documented associations with several autoimmune and systemic conditions. Besides corticosteroids, topical tacrolimus and photodynamic therapy were the most commonly used treatments for EPDS. They were effective with few recurrences and adverse effects. Other successful treatment options were topical dapsone, silicone gels, calcipotriol, acitretin, and isotretinoin. Oral dapsone can be used in cases of disseminated disease. Zinc sulfate should be considered with low‐serum zinc levels. While cyclosporine was effective, there were adverse effects that may limit its use. It is important for dermatologists to be aware of the wide array of potential causes of erosive pustular dermatosis and include it on their differential. Additionally, although high‐potency topical steroids have been historically used as the first‐line treatment, there are many other effective treatments that may avoid recurrence and skin atrophy, particularly in the elderly population.
Potential molecular mechanisms of negative pressure in promoting wound healing
Authors: Dong Jiaoyun , Qing Chun , Song Fei , Wang Xiqiao , Lu Shuliang , Tian Ming
Published: June 2020

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been widely used in various lesions. This study aimed to explore the biological effects of negative pressure on the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), macrophages, and epidermal keratinocyte cells involved in wound healing. PMNs differentiated from HL‐60, macrophages were derived from THP‐1 monocytes, and keratinocytes were cultured in vitro, and they were treated with 0, −0.03 mp, and −0.05 mp, respectively. Cell ultrastructure; viability; apoptosis; and protein factors such as tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin‐17 (IL‐17), and cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), CCK8, flow cytometry (FCM), ELISA, and simple Western assays, respectively. After negative pressure stimulation, the cell ultrastructure of PMNs and macrophages cells was presented with a marked increase of lysosomes and a relative decrease of mitochondria. In addition, the cell viability was enhanced in PMNs and macrophages in a pressure‐dependent manner and apoptosis ratios were significantly reduced in PMNs and macrophages. In addition, under −0.05 negative pressure, IFN‐γ and IL‐17 were significantly increased in PMNs or macrophages. Moreover, increased EGF and EGFR and Cdc42 levels in keratinocytes induced by the −0.05 mpa were detected, indicating that the migration chemotaxis of keratinocyte cells was enhanced. Negative pressure might promote cell proliferation, accelerate inflammatory responses, and promote epithelialisation during wound healing by increasing IFN‐γ, IL‐17, Cdc42, EGF, and EGFR in PMNs, macrophages, or keratinocytes under different negative pressures.