bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trajectory optimization of an unmanned aerial–aquatic rotorcraft navigating between air and water
Authors: Su Xichao , Wu Yu , Guo Fang , Cui Jiapeng , Yang Ge
Published: March 2021

Unmanned aerial–aquatic vehicles are a new type of aircraft that can navigate in air and underwater. An unmanned aerial–aquatic rotorcraft (UAAR) is introduced to complete the task of navigating between air and underwater, and the trajectory optimization problem for this task is focused on in this study. The dynamics of a four-axle rotorcraft with eight rotors operating in air and underwater is described. On this basis, the trajectory optimization model is established, wherein the constraints on control variables and states in different media are included. The optimization index is denoted as the weighted sum of the terminal states. In view of the weakness of the teaching- and learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm, the formula for updating the individual grade in the teaching process is modified. Thus, this ensures that the algorithm avoids converging at the local optimum and improves the solution quality. Finally, an improved TLBO (ITLBO)-based trajectory optimization method for UAAR navigating between air and water is developed. The control variables are discretized with respect to height at a set of Chebyshev collocation points to reduce the terminal error of states, and the values of control variables at other heights are obtained via interpolation. In the simulation studies, the ITLBO-based method exhibits better performance in terms of optimizing the index when compared to the other two algorithms. Furthermore, the effects of the distribution and number of collocation points on the results are analyzed.
Chagas disease is an independent predictor of stroke and death in a cohort of heart failure patients
Authors: Cerqueira-Silva Thiago , Gonçalves Beatriz MM , Pereira Camila B , Porto Louise M , Marques Maria EL , Santos Leila SB , Oliveira Murilo A , Félix Iuri F , de Sousa Paulo RS P , Muiños Pedro JR , Maia Renata M , Catto Marília B , Andrade Alisson L , Jesus Pedro AP , Aras Roque , Oliveira-Filho Jamary
Published: March 2021

Background and Aims

Chagas disease is a common cause of heart failure (HF) and death in developing countries. Although stroke is known to occur in these patients, an accurate estimate of stroke incidence is lacking. We aimed to determine the incidence of stroke and death in patients with HF, comparing Chagas and non-Chagas etiologies.

Methods

Cohort of stroke-free patients with HF (Framingham criteria) followed in a university-based outpatient clinic in Brazil. Baseline characteristics included sociodemographic, risk factor assessment, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings. Chagas disease was defined by appropriate serologic tests. Cause-specific Cox regression was used to search for predictors of stroke or death as separate outcomes.

Results

We studied 565 patients with HF between January 2003 and December 2018, mean age 54.3 ± 12.9 years, 305 (54.0%) females, 271/535 (50.7%) with Chagas disease. Chagas patients were older (55.5 vs. 53.1 years), more frequently women (60.5% vs. 47.3%), less frequently harbored coronary artery disease (14.5% vs. 34.1%) when compared to non-Chagas patients. Echocardiography showed more severe disease among non-Chagas patients [median left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) 37.3% vs. 47.0%]. Over a mean 42.9 (±34.4) months, we followed 404 (71.5%) patients, completing 1442 patient-years of follow-up. Stroke incidence was higher in Chagas when compared to non-Chagas patients (20.2 vs. 13.9 events per 1000 patient-years), while death rate was similar (41.6 vs. 43.1 deaths per 1000 patient-years). In the multivariable analysis for stroke outcome adjusted for LVEF and arrhythmias, cause-specific hazard ratio (CSHR) for Chagas was 2.54 (95% confidence interval 1.01–6.42, p = 0.048). Chagas disease was also associated with increased risk of death (CSHR 1.83; 95% confidence interval 1.04–3.24, p = 0.037).

Conclusion

Chagas disease is associated with increased risk of stroke and death when compared to other etiologies of HF, independently of HF severity or cardiac arrhythmias, suggesting other factors contribute to increased stroke risk and mortality in Chagas disease. Early prevention and treatment of Chagas disease is imperative to reduce a later risk of stroke in endemic areas.
Effect of genetic liability to visceral adiposity on stroke and its subtypes: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yan Bin , Yang Jian , Qian Li , Gao Fengjie , Bai Ling , Wang Gang , Ma Xiancang
Published: March 2021

Background

Observational studies have found an association between visceral adiposity and stroke.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and genetic effect of visceral adipose tissue accumulation on stroke and its subtypes.

Methods

In this two-sample Mendelian randomization study, genetic variants (221 single nucleotide polymorphisms; P < 5 × 10−8) using as instrumental variables for Mendelian randomization analysis was obtained from a genome-wide association study of visceral adipose tissue. The outcome datasets for stroke and its subtypes were obtained from the MEGASTROKE consortium (up to 67,162 cases and 453,702 controls). Mendelian randomization standard analysis (inverse variance weighted method) was conducted to investigate the effect of genetic liability to visceral adiposity on stroke and its subtypes. Sensitivity analyses (Mendelian randomization-Egger, weighted median, Mendelian randomization-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier) were also utilized to assess horizontal pleiotropy and remove outliers. Multi-variable Mendelian randomization analysis was employed to adjust potential confounders.

Results

In the standard Mendelian randomization analysis, genetically determined visceral adiposity (per 1 SD) was significantly associated with a higher risk of stroke (odds ratio (OR) 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21–1.41, P = 1.48× 10−11), ischemic stroke (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.20–1.41, P = 4.01 × 10−10) and large artery stroke (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.22–1.83, P = 1.16 × 10−4). The significant association was also found in sensitivity analysis and multi-variable Mendelian randomization analysis.

Conclusions

Genetic liability to visceral adiposity was significantly associated with an increased risk of stroke, ischemic stroke, and large artery stroke. The effect of genetic susceptibility to visceral adiposity on the stroke warrants further investigation.
The course of physical functioning in the first two years after stroke depends on peoples’ individual movement behavior patterns
Authors: Wondergem Roderick , Pisters Martijn F , Wouters Eveline JM , de Bie Rob A , Veenhof Cindy , Visser-Meily Johanna MA
Published: March 2021

Background and purpose

Deterioration of physical functioning after stroke in the long term is regarded as a major problem. Currently, the relationship between “peoples'” movement behavior patterns (the composition of sedentary behavior and physical activity during waking hours) directly after stroke and the development of physical functioning over time is unknown. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the course of physical functioning within the first two years after returning home after stroke, and (2) the association between physical functioning and baseline movement behavior patterns.

Method

In the longitudinal RISE cohort study, 200 persons with a first-ever stroke discharged to the home-setting were included. Participants’ physical functioning was assessed within three weeks, at six months, and one and two years after discharge using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) 3.0 subscale physical and the five-meter walk test (5MWT). Three distinct movement behavior patterns were identified in a previous study at baseline and were used in the current study: (1) sedentary exercisers (sufficiently active and 64% of waking hours sedentary) , (2) sedentary movers’ (inactive and 63% of waking hours sedentary) , and (3) sedentary prolongers (inactive and >78% of waking hours sedentary accumulated in long prolonged bouts) . The association between movement behavior patterns and the course of physical functioning was determined using longitudinal generalized estimating equations analyses.

Results

Overall participants’ physical functioning increased between discharge and six months and declined from six months up to two years. Physical functioning remained stable during the first two years after stroke in sedentary exercisers. Physical functioning improved during the first six months after discharge in sedentary movers and sedentary prolongers and deteriorated in the following six months. Only physical functioning (SIS) of sedentary prolongers further declined from one up to two years. A similar pattern was observed in the 5MWT.

Conclusion

Movement behavior patterns identified directly after returning home in people with stroke are associated with and are predictive of the course of physical functioning. Highly sedentary and inactive people with stroke have unfavorable outcomes over time than individuals with higher amounts of physical activity.
Long-term neurobehavioral correlates of brain cortical microinfarcts in a memory clinic cohort in Singapore
Authors: Xu Xin , Ni Kan Cheuk , Li-Hsian Chen Christopher , Hilal Saima
Published: March 2021

Background

Cortical cerebral microinfarcts are a small vessel disease biomarker underlying cognitive impairment and dementia. However, it is unknown whether cortical cerebral microinfarcts are associated with neuropsychiatric disturbances, and whether its effects are independent of conventional small vessel disease markers.

Aims

We investigated the associations of cortical cerebral microinfarcts burden with incidence and progression of neuropsychiatric subsyndromes in a memory clinic cohort of elderly in Singapore.

Methods

In this prospective cohort, 496 subjects underwent detailed neuropsychological and clinical assessments, 3T brain MRI, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory assessment at baseline and two years later. Cortical cerebral microinfarcts and other small vessel disease markers, including white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, and microbleeds, were graded according to established criteria. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) were clustered into subsyndromes of hyperactivity, psychosis, affective, and apathy following prior findings. Functional decline was determined using the clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale.

Results

The presence of multiple cortical cerebral microinfarcts (≥2) was associated with higher total NPS scores ( β = 4.19, 95% CI = 2.81–5.58, p < 0.001), particularly hyperactivity ( β = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.30–2.71, p < 0.01) and apathy ( β = 1.42, 95% CI = 0.65–2.18, p < 0.01) at baseline. Between baseline and year-2, multiple cortical cerebral microinfarcts were associated with accelerated progression in total NPS scores ( β = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.06–0.53, p = 0.015), driven by hyperactivity ( β = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.17–0.72, p < 0.01). Subjects with multiple cortical cerebral microinfarcts also had a faster functional decline, as measured with the CDR-sum-of-boxes scores, when accompanied with progression ( β = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.11–0.51, p < 0.01) or hyperactivity in total NPS ( β = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.13–0.56, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Cortical cerebral microinfarcts are associated with incidence and progression of geriatric neurobehavioral disturbances, independent of conventional small vessel disease markers. The impact of incident cortical cerebral microinfarcts on neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric trajectories warrants further investigations.
Associations between dysbiosis-inducing drugs, overall survival and tumor response in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Gaucher Louis , Adda Leslie , Séjourné Alice , Joachim Camille , Guillaume Chaby , Poulet Claire , Liabeuf Sophie , Gras-Champel Valérie , Masmoudi Kamel , Houessinon Aline , Bennis Youssef , Batteux Benjamin
Published: March 2021

Background:

There are conflicting data on the effects of dysbiosis-inducing drugs, and especially antibiotics (ATBs), on clinical outcomes in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). There is a particular lack of data for patients with melanoma.

Methods:

We performed a single-center retrospective study of the associations between ATBs and other drugs known to modify the gut microbiota (proton pump inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, statins, opioids, anti-vitamin K, levothyroxine, vitamin D3, antiarrhythmics, metformin and phloroglucinol), overall survival (OS) and tumor response in consecutive cancer patients (particularly those with melanoma) treated with an ICI (ipilimumab, nivolumab or pembrolizumab) over a 9-year period.

Results:

A total of 372 patients were included. The mean ± standard deviation age was 64.0 ± 12.1 years. The most frequently prescribed ICI was nivolumab (in 58.3% of patients) and the most frequent indications were lung cancer (44.6%) and melanoma (29.6%). Overall, 112 patients (30.1%) had received ATBs. ATB use was associated with (1) shorter OS in the study population as a whole [adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 1.38 (1.00–1.90), p = 0.048] and in patients with melanoma [adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI): 2.60 (1.06–6.39), p = 0.037], and (2) a lower response rate in the study population as a whole [8.1%, versus 31.1% in patients not treated with ATBs; adjusted odds ratio (95% CI): 6.06 (2.80–14.53), p < 0.001] and in patients with melanoma [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI): 4.41 (1.04–22.80), p = 0.045]. Sensitivity analyses that minimized the indication bias did not reveal an association between OS and the presence of an infection requiring ATBs (quantified as the severity of infection, hospitalization for an infection, or ICI discontinuation). Other dysbiosis-inducing drugs were not associated with a difference in OS.

Conclusion:

Unlike other dysbiosis-inducing drugs, ATBs were associated with poorer clinical outcomes in ICI-treated patients overall and in the subset of patients with melanoma.
Immunotherapy as a treatment strategy in advanced stage and recurrent endometrial cancer: review of current phase III immunotherapy clinical trials
Authors: Eskander Ramez N. , Powell Matthew A.
Published: March 2021

The treatment of advanced stage, metastatic or recurrent endometrial cancer remains a clinically difficult scenario. Although combination carboplatin and paclitaxel is an effective standard-of-care regimen, alternate strategies have shown promise, particularly in biomarker select populations. In an effort to improve oncologic outcomes, investigators are exploring novel immunotherapy combinations. In this review, we discuss the clinical rationale and design of current phase III immuno-oncology clinical trials in patients with advanced stage or recurrent endometrial cancer.
Segmenting Hedonic Wine Tourists Using Push–Pull Winescape Attributes
Authors: Quintal Vanessa Ann , Thomas Ben , Phau Ian , Soldat Zorana
Published: March 2021

The present research addresses the push–pull winescape traits of the hedonic wine tourism segment and discusses their attitudinal and behavioral intentions. The self-governing pen-and-paper survey conveniently sampled 301 wine tourists in situ at the Swan Valley winery in Western Australia. Push–pull winescape qualities generated a segmentation basis for cluster analysis, which defined four divisions— Inspireds, Self-Drivens, Market-Drivens, and Inerts. Inspireds exhibited the most favorable attitude toward the winery and were the most willing to recommend the winery, whereas Inerts demonstrated the converse effect. Theoretically, the segmentation bases, building on the Push–Pull winescape properties, provide a fresh and more nuanced description of the wine tourism categories in Australia’s rising wine tourism sector. Idealistically, this new image is important in delivering marketing insights to fewer Australian wine producers whose only connection to regional retail and export markets is via direct sales at the winery gates.
Vibrational analysis of nanoplate with surface irregularity via Kirchhoff plate theory
Authors: Selim Mahmoud M , Nofal Taher A
Published: March 2021

In this work, an attempt is done to apply the Kirchhoff plate theory to find out the vibrational analyses of a nanoplate incorporating surface irregularity effects. The effects of surface irregularity on natural frequency of vibration of nanomaterials, especially for nanoplates, have not been investigated before, and most of the previous research have been carried for regular nanoplates. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the vibrations of irregular nanoplate are novel and applicable for the nanodevices, in which nanoplates act as the main structure of the nanocomposite. The surface irregularity is assumed in the parabolic form at the surface of the nanoplate. A novel equation of motion and frequency equation is derived. The obtained results provide a better representation of the vibration behavior of irregular nanoplates. It has been observed that the presence of surface irregularity affects considerably on the natural frequency of vibrational nanoplates. In addition, it has been seen that the natural frequency of nanoplate decreases with the increase of surface irregularity parameter. Finally, it can be said, the present results may serve as useful references for designing oscillators and nanoscale devices, in which nanoplates act as a structural component for most prevalent nanocomposites structural element.
Reimagining School Nursing: Lessons Learned From a Virtual School Nurse
Authors: Marrapese Bill , Gormley Jenny M. , Deschene Kristen
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has required thousands of public schools to quickly adapt to hybrid or fully remote models. These new models have presented unprecedented challenges for school nurses as they learn how to optimize their interactions with parents and students to provide ongoing support and monitoring of health. The growing reliance on virtual and hybrid public education is also placing new demands on school nurses to be versed in telehealth and school physicians to support their work. Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) and other public virtual schools have been meeting these challenges for many years prior to the pandemic and have “lessons learned” to share with traditional “brick-and-mortar” nursing staff. GCVS students benefit from a climate that rewards collaboration between the health team, parents, teachers, and administrators, and this article will describe the role, job description, and other practices related to school nursing in a primarily virtual world.
Paying Professional Taxes for Promotion and Tenure: The Costs of Justice Work for Black Faculty
Authors: Arnold Noelle , Osanloo Azadeh F. , Sherman Newcomb Whitney
Published: March 2021

This article examines the costs faculty pay to gain status and security in the academy. Academics receive salaries for their work, but also “pay taxes” in order to maintain a positive trajectory toward the ultimate “prize”—promotion and tenure (PT). The psychology of narrative method is used to examine the articulation of the PT process for two Black faculty in educational leadership. Findings offer that the taxes assessed are: credibility tax, leading edge tax, group status tax, and retaliation tax. Narratives culminate in a discussion of the academic labor costs and racial battle fatigue of justice work for Black faculty.
Reflections on School Board Evaluation Practices to Support Meaningful Feedback for Superintendent Growth and Improvement
Authors: Henrikson Robin
Published: March 2021

Evaluating the superintendent is the paramount duty of the school board. Current evaluation practices are inconsistent and meaningless for providing effective feedback. The researcher was interested in understanding this issue from the school board’s perspective. Research questions addressed were: (1) What current evaluation practices exist? (2) What further training and support do school board members need? and (3) How does a school board member’s relationship with the superintendent affect their perception of the superintendent evaluation? In this qualitative study, findings confirm inadequate and inconsistent evaluation practices and a desire for ongoing support in evaluation training.
Oral Cancer: Raising Awareness of the Importance of Suspicion in Early Detection
Authors: Ahmed Farooq , Bolooki Honieh , Ariyaratnam Senathrajah , Pemberton Michael N.
Published: March 2021

Oral cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this article we present two cases of potentially innocuous looking lesions, initially thought to be traumatic in origin, but later diagnosed as cancer. The first patient presented with a persistent laceration thought to be caused by an accidental shaving injury, which was subsequently diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. The second patient presented with a hyperplastic mucosal lesion, suspected as forming due to denture-clasp irritation, which was subsequently diagnosed as proliferative verrucous carcinoma. The importance of early detection and palpation of suspicious lesions is emphasised in this article.
Traumatic Dental Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Woolley Julian , Djemal Serpil
Published: March 2021

This paper details the characteristics of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) during the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 at an Urgent Dental Care hub at King’s College Hospital Dental Institute, London, UK. For comparisons to be made, the characteristics of TDIs from a similar period in 2019 was also collected. Data was collected retrospectively from clinical records of patients suffering from dental trauma during both periods. An analysis was completed and conclusions drawn. The results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the frequency, aetiology and type of TDIs. In order to suitably manage the provision of dental services, consideration must be given to the influence of pandemics on the characteristics of dental emergencies.
Changes in Occlusal Philosophies for Full Mouth Rehabilitation
Authors: Kelleher Martin G.D. , Ooi Hui Lynn , Blum Igor R.
Published: March 2021

This article reviews some of the main tenets of different occlusal philosophies involved in ‘full mouth rehabilitation’ and evolved since the late 19th century. This review is not intended as a comprehensive historical review of all the people who wrote, researched, or taught on the topic, and it is certainly not intended to disparage their well-meaning contributions. It is intended to highlight some of the changes that occurred in relation to full mouth rehabilitation occlusal concepts along with the dates when they were articulated.
YouTube as Alternative Television in Russia: Political Videos During the Presidential Election Campaign 2018
Authors: Litvinenko Anna
Published: March 2021

Previous studies on “youtubification” of political communication (May, 2010) have largely focused on democratic contexts. This study aims at exploring the role of the global video-sharing platform in non-democratic political communication, using the example of the Russian presidential election of 2018. It draws on the qualitative content analysis of 169 political videos collected from the “Popular” section of Russian YouTube during the last 2 months of the presidential campaign. The results show that oppositional discourse dominated the most popular political videos of Russian YouTube and that pro-state actors tried to co-opt the platform, publishing videos made in amateur and semi-professional styles that imitated user-generated content. Drawing on the findings, I discuss the risks and benefits of YouTube publics for the Russian authoritarian regime and the role of social media platforms in consultative authoritarianism.
Organizational Hashtags During Times of Crisis: Analyzing the Broadcasting and Gatekeeping Dynamics of #PorteOuverte During the November 2015 Paris Terror Attacks
Authors: Reilly Paul , Vicari Stefania
Published: March 2021

Twitter hashtags allow citizens to share vital information and make sense of acute crisis events such as terrorist attacks. They also enable those watching from afar to express their sympathy and solidarity with the victims. Perhaps the most well known of these has been #PorteOuverte (translated into English as “Open Door”), first used during the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris before re-emerging during subsequent atrocities in Brussels (March 2016) and Nice (July 2016). The hashtag was originally created by journalist Sylvain Lapoix in order to connect those in Paris looking for somewhere to stay with those able to offer them refuge, before reaching an international audience courtesy of its amplification by public figures and citizens based overseas. This article adds to this emergent literature by analyzing the networked gatekeeping dynamics of #PorteOuverte during the Paris terror attacks. It does so by reviewing the literature on Twitter hashtags and acute crisis events, exploring how Twitter was used during the Paris terror attacks, and presenting the results of a Social Network Analysis (SNA) of 399,256 #PorteOuverte tweets posted as the attacks unfolded on 13 November 2015. Results indicate that professional journalists were key broadcasters during four identified peaks within #PorteOuverte, helping to promote the informational hashtag and connect those directly affected. However, citizens and bloggers played an increasingly important gatekeeping function in the aftermath of events such as the Bataclan siege in Paris.
Health Disparities in Calorie Knowledge and Confidence Among the U.S. Adult Population
Authors: Lando Amy M. , Ferguson Martine S. , Verrill Linda , Wu Fanfan , Jones-Dominic Olivia E. , Punzalan Cecile , Wolpert Beverly J.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Obesity prevalence has reached an all-time high in the US, affecting >40% of the population. This study’s objective was to evaluate associations between demographics and self-reported calorie knowledge and self-perceived confidence in calorie knowledge (“calorie confidence”). The relationships between body mass index (BMI) and calorie knowledge and confidence were also explored.

Methods

We analyzed data from participants (n = 2171) in the crosssectional, nationally representative 2019 FDA Food Safety and Nutrition Survey using logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and confidence intervals (95% CIs) for associations between BMI and calorie knowledge (correct/incorrect), calorie confidence (confident/not confident), and demographic characteristics, and the Wald chi square test to evaluate relationships between BMI and both calorie knowledge and confidence.

Results

Many of the same subgroups were more likely than others to report lack of calorie knowledge and lack of confidence in knowing the typical daily calorie intake needed to maintain a healthy weight [respective AORs (95% CIs): age (years), >60 vs 51-60, 1.7 (1.1-2.5), and 1.4 (1.0-2.0); sex, male vs female, 1.7 (1.3-2.3), and 1.7 (1.3-2.1); race/ethnicity, non-Hispanic Black vs non-Hispanic white, 3.4 (2.1-5.5), and 2.4 (1.6-3.8); education, ≤high school vs college grad, 1.5 (1.0- 2.3), and 1.9 (1.3-2.7)]. BMI was significantly correlated with calorie confidence ( P = .047), such that those reporting less confidence were more likely overweight or obese [underweight/healthy (BMI < 25): 29%, overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30): 34%, obese (BMI ≥ 30): 37%].

Conclusion

In certain demographic subgroups associations between calorie knowledge and confidence differed. Tailored education and outreach for these groups may help to address these disparities.
Associations of Resting Heart Rate and Intelligence With General and Specific Psychopathology: A Prospective Population Study of 899,398 Swedish Men
Authors: Pettersson Erik , Lichtenstein Paul , Larsson Henrik , D’Onofrio Brian M. , Lahey Benjamin B. , Latvala Antti
Published: March 2021

We examined longitudinal associations of resting heart rate (RHR) and general intelligence (IQ) with two psychopathology models (correlated factors and general factor model). RHR and IQ were measured during conscription (mean age = 18.23 years; N = 899,398 Swedish males). A correlated factors model of register-based outcomes (including 10 psychiatric diagnoses, criminal convictions, and prescription of anxiolytic medications; mean age at follow-up = 43.09 years) identified internalizing, externalizing, and psychotic dimensions; the general factor model additionally identified a general dimension. All correlated factors were inversely associated with IQ; however, the general factor model showed that several of these associations were attributable to general variance rather than specific variance. In both psychopathology models, RHR weakly but significantly predicted higher internalizing but lower externalizing problems. Intelligence might be a transdiagnostic risk factor for any form of psychopathology, and the internalizing and externalizing spectra might be differentiated by psychobiological processes related to sensitivity to punishment.
The Use of Discourse Maps to Teach Contract Negotiation Communicative Practices
Authors: Townley Anthony
Published: March 2021

This article reports on the use of discourse maps in conjunction with genre and discourse analysis to help teach communicative practices for contract negotiation. Using one map as a baseline to understand the intertextual process of negotiating a contract in communication with business clients and counterpart lawyers, other maps can zoom in and examine the discursive features of email genres, cover letters, and different versions of the contract under negotiation. The type of discourse maps developed in this study can be utilized for task-based writing materials and role-play activities that facilitate the authentic experience of negotiating a business deal.
European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines on management of transient ischaemic attack
Authors: Fonseca Ana Catarina , Merwick Áine , Dennis Martin , Ferrari Julia , Ferro José M , Kelly Peter , Lal Avtar , Ois Angel , Olivot Jean Marc , Purroy Francisco
Published: March 2021

The aim of the present European Stroke Organisation Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) management guideline document is to provide clinically useful evidence-based recommendations on approaches to triage, investigation and secondary prevention, particularly in the acute phase following TIA. The guidelines were prepared following the Standard Operational Procedure for a European Stroke Organisation guideline document and according to GRADE methodology. As a basic principle, we defined TIA clinically and pragmatically for generalisability as transient neurological symptoms, likely to be due to focal cerebral or ocular ischaemia, which last less than 24 hours. High risk TIA was defined based on clinical features in patients seen early after their event or having other features suggesting a high early risk of stroke (e.g. ABCD2 score of 4 or greater, or weakness or speech disturbance for greater than five minutes, or recurrent events, or significant ipsilateral large artery disease e.g. carotid stenosis, intracranial stenosis). Overall, we strongly recommend using dual antiplatelet treatment with clopidogrel and aspirin short term, in high-risk non-cardioembolic TIA patients, with an ABCD2 score of 4 or greater, as defined in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We further recommend specialist review within 24 hours after the onset of TIA symptoms. We suggest review in a specialist TIA clinic rather than conventional outpatients, if managed in an outpatient setting. We make a recommendation to use either MRA or CTA in TIA patients for additional confirmation of large artery stenosis of 50% or greater, in order to guide further management, such as clarifying degree of carotid stenosis detected with carotid duplex ultrasound. We make a recommendation against using prediction tools (eg ABCD2 score) alone to identify high risk patients or to make triage and treatment decisions in suspected TIA patients as due to limited sensitivity of the scores, those with score value of 3 or less may include significant numbers of individual patients at risk of recurrent stroke, who require early assessment and treatment. These recommendations aim to emphasise the importance of prompt acute assessment and relevant secondary prevention. There are no data from randomised controlled trials on prediction tool use and optimal imaging strategies in suspected TIA.
Differential inclusion through education: Reforms and spatial justice in Finnish education policy
Authors: Kettunen Marika , Prokkola Eeva-Kaisa
Published: March 2021

The paper studies the changing spatial rationalizations of Finnish education policy with a particular focus on upper secondary education, which has gone through significant reforms in recent decades. The fostering of social and spatial equality has long represented the cornerstone of Finland’s Nordic welfare state education system. The establishment of a widespread network of educational institutions also formed an important means of building social and territorial cohesion in the country. Since the late 1980s, Finnish education policies have turned towards neoliberal ideals, underlining economic rationalizations, individualization and flexibility. Also, education policy has come to play an increasingly important role in the constitution of the knowledge-based economy and embedded spatial restructuring. The paper scrutinizes recent state upper secondary education reforms from the perspective of spatial justice and its scalar dimensions, underlining the consequential juncture of choosing between upper secondary education paths. It is shown how the rationalization of Finnish education policy differentiates places, favouring urban over rural, and produces particular citizen-subjects: while general upper secondary education forms a site for producing skilled and globally minded citizens, vocational education prioritizes the availability of regional workforce and the prevention of youth marginalization. Rather than providing equal opportunities, it is argued that the dual-path Finnish education policy reinforces spatial differentiation and the differential inclusion of citizen-subjects in the knowledge-based economy.
The System Quality and Customer Satisfaction with Website Quality as Mediator in Online Purchasing: A Developing Country Perspectives
Authors: Kumar Anil , Lata Suman
Published: March 2021

The present era sees an increasing trend of online purchasing all over the globe, and India is no more an exception. India is likely to become the hub for online market because it is second in terms of population in the world. The study is an effort to understand whether system quality really matters for customer satisfaction, particularly in developing countries, and the website quality works as a mediator or not. The study proposes the theoretical framework of the impact of system quality on customer satisfaction after a rigor literature review. With the help of purposive sampling, data were collected and model tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that system quality and website quality have a direct and positive impact on customer satisfaction and website quality partially mediated. Based on these empirical findings, managerial implications, limitations, and recommendations for further future research are given in the study.
Clustering and prioritization to design a risk-based monitoring program in groundwater sources for drinking water
Authors: Sjerps Rosa M. A. , Brunner Andrea M. , Fujita Yuki , Bajema Bernard , de Jonge Martin , Bäuerlein Patrick S. , de Munk Joost , Schriks Merijn , van Wezel Annemarie
Published: March 2021

Background

The number of chemical parameters included in monitoring programs of water utilities increased in the last decade. In accordance with the European Drinking Water Directive, utilities aim at a tailored risk-based monitoring (RBM) program. Here, such a RBM program was developed for the largest Dutch water utility, mostly using groundwater as a source. Data from target analyses and high-resolution mass spectrometry-based suspect screening was used to cluster the different source waters. Targets were prioritized based on (preliminary) drinking water guideline values or the threshold of toxicological concern. Suspects were prioritized for further identity confirmation based on semi-quantitative occurrence concentrations combined with in vitro toxicity information. Finally, a RBM program was suggested for each cluster of source waters.

Results

Out of 731 target chemicals, 153 were detected at least once over a 5-year period. Roughly 10% of the detected non-target screening features matched to suspects. 108 source waters were clustered into 7 clusters. Source waters with low numbers and concentrations of organic chemicals were located in areas with all land-use types, while clusters of source waters with higher numbers of chemicals were related to infiltrated surface water. For perfluorinated chemicals, 25 suspects matched features detected in source waters and 7 features detected in drinking water. For the target chemicals, simple treatment showed the lowest and sorption-based techniques relatively high removal efficiencies. The chemical composition of all drinking waters related to non-contaminated source waters. (Preliminary) guideline values were available for 45 of the retrieved target chemicals, and used for prioritization for monitoring frequencies. These chemicals individually posed no appreciable concern to human health. Suspects were prioritized for further identity confirmation based on semi-quantitative occurrence in produced water, detection frequencies and information on toxic potency. Once confirmed and assessed as relevant, the suspects could be added to target monitoring.

Conclusion

This approach provided a feasible workflow for RBM of target chemicals for clusters of groundwater sources, connected to a feed of new relevant chemicals based on suspect screening.
Signal, bias, and the role of transcriptome assembly quality in phylogenomic inference
Authors: Spillane Jennifer L. , LaPolice Troy M. , MacManes Matthew D. , Plachetzki David C.
Published: March 2021

Background

Phylogenomic approaches have great power to reconstruct evolutionary histories, however they rely on multi-step processes in which each stage has the potential to affect the accuracy of the final result. Many studies have empirically tested and established methodology for resolving robust phylogenies, including selecting appropriate evolutionary models, identifying orthologs, or isolating partitions with strong phylogenetic signal. However, few have investigated errors that may be initiated at earlier stages of the analysis. Biases introduced during the generation of the phylogenomic dataset itself could produce downstream effects on analyses of evolutionary history. Transcriptomes are widely used in phylogenomics studies, though there is little understanding of how a poor-quality assembly of these datasets could impact the accuracy of phylogenomic hypotheses. Here we examined how transcriptome assembly quality affects phylogenomic inferences by creating independent datasets from the same input data representing high-quality and low-quality transcriptome assembly outcomes.

Results

By studying the performance of phylogenomic datasets derived from alternative high- and low-quality assembly inputs in a controlled experiment, we show that high-quality transcriptomes produce richer phylogenomic datasets with a greater number of unique partitions than low-quality assemblies. High-quality assemblies also give rise to partitions that have lower alignment ambiguity and less compositional bias. In addition, high-quality partitions hold stronger phylogenetic signal than their low-quality transcriptome assembly counterparts in both concatenation- and coalescent-based analyses.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the importance of transcriptome assembly quality in phylogenomic analyses and suggest that a portion of the uncertainty observed in such studies could be alleviated at the assembly stage.
A study of the heterochronic sense/antisense RNA representation in florets of sexual and apomictic Paspalum notatum
Authors: Podio Maricel , Colono Carolina , Siena Lorena , Ortiz Juan Pablo A. , Pessino Silvina Claudia
Published: March 2021

Background

Apomixis, an asexual mode of plant reproduction, is a genetically heritable trait evolutionarily related to sexuality, which enables the fixation of heterozygous genetic combinations through the development of maternal seeds. Recently, reference floral transcriptomes were generated from sexual and apomictic biotypes of Paspalum notatum, one of the most well-known plant models for the study of apomixis. However, the transcriptome dynamics, the occurrence of apomixis vs. sexual expression heterochronicity across consecutive developmental steps and the orientation of transcription (sense/antisense) remain unexplored.

Results

We produced 24 Illumina TruSeq®/ Hiseq 1500 sense/antisense floral transcriptome libraries covering four developmental stages (premeiosis, meiosis, postmeiosis, and anthesis) in biological triplicates, from an obligate apomictic and a full sexual genotype. De novo assemblies with Trinity yielded 103,699 and 100,114 transcripts for the apomictic and sexual samples respectively. A global comparative analysis involving reads from all developmental stages revealed 19,352 differentially expressed sense transcripts, of which 13,205 (68%) and 6147 (32%) were up- and down-regulated in apomictic samples with respect to the sexual ones. Interestingly, 100 differentially expressed antisense transcripts were detected, 55 (55%) of them up- and 45 (45%) down-regulated in apomictic libraries. A stage-by-stage comparative analysis showed a higher number of differentially expressed candidates due to heterochronicity discrimination: the highest number of differential sense transcripts was detected at premeiosis (23,651), followed by meiosis (22,830), postmeiosis (19,100), and anthesis (17,962), while the highest number of differential antisense transcripts were detected at anthesis (495), followed by postmeiosis (164), meiosis (120) and premeiosis (115). Members of the AP2, ARF, MYB and WRKY transcription factor families, as well as the auxin, jasmonate and cytokinin plant hormone families appeared broadly deregulated. Moreover, the chronological expression profile of several well-characterized apomixis controllers was examined in detail.

Conclusions

This work provides a quantitative sense/antisense gene expression catalogue covering several subsequent reproductive developmental stages from premeiosis to anthesis for apomictic and sexual P. notatum, with potential to reveal heterochronic expression between reproductive types and discover sense/antisense mediated regulation. We detected a contrasting transcriptional and hormonal control in apomixis and sexuality as well as specific sense/antisense modulation occurring at the onset of parthenogenesis.
Genomic imprinted genes in reciprocal hybrid endosperm of Brassica napus
Authors: Rong Hao , Yang Wenjing , Zhu Haotian , Jiang Bo , Jiang Jinjin , Wang Youping
Published: March 2021

Background

Genomic imprinting results in the expression of parent-of-origin-specific alleles in the offspring.Brassica napusis an oil crop with research values in polyploidization. Identification of imprinted genes inB. napuswill enrich the knowledge of genomic imprinting in dicotyledon plants.

Results

In this study, we performed reciprocal crosses betweenB. napusL. cultivars Yangyou 6 (Y6) and Zhongshuang 11 (ZS11) to collect endosperm at 20 and 25 days after pollination (DAP) for RNA-seq. In total, we identified 297 imprinted genes, including 283 maternal expressed genes (MEGs) and 14 paternal expressed genes (PEGs) according to the SNPs between Y6 and ZS11. Only 36 genes (35 MEGs and 1 PEG) were continuously imprinted in 20 and 25 DAP endosperm. We found 15, 2, 5, 3, 10, and 25 imprinted genes in this study were also imprinted inArabidopsis, rice, castor bean, maize,B. rapa, and otherB. napuslines, respectively. Only 26 imprinted genes were specifically expressed in endosperm, while other genes were also expressed in root, stem, leaf and flower bud ofB. napus. A total of 109 imprinted genes were clustered on rapeseed chromosomes. We found the LTR/Copia transposable elements (TEs) were most enriched in both upstream and downstream of the imprinted genes, and the TEs enriched around imprinted genes were more than non-imprinted genes. Moreover, the expression of 5AGLsand 6 pectin-related genes in hybrid endosperm were significantly changed comparing with that in parent endosperm.

Conclusion

This research provided a comprehensive identification of imprinted genes inB. napus, and enriched the gene imprinting in dicotyledon plants, which would be useful in further researches on how gene imprinting regulates seed development.
Chromosome behavior during meiosis in pollen mother cells from Saccharum officinarum × Erianthus arundinaceus F1 hybrids
Authors: Li Xueting , Huang Fei , Chai Jin , Wang Qiusong , Yu Fan , Huang Yongji , Wu Jiayun , Wang Qinnan , Xu Liangnian , Zhang Muqing , Deng Zuhu
Published: March 2021

Background

In recent years, sugarcane has attracted increasing attention as an energy crop. Wild resources are widely used to improve the narrow genetic base of sugarcane. However, the infertility of F1 hybrids between Saccharum officinarum (S. officinarum) and Erianthus arundinaceus (E. arundinaceus) has hindered sugarcane breeding efforts. To discover the cause of this infertility, we studied the hybridization process from a cytological perspective.

Results

We examined the meiotic process of pollen mother cells (PMCs) in three F1 hybrids between S. officinarum and E. arundinaceus. Cytological analysis showed that the male parents, Hainan 92–77 and Hainan 92–105, had normal meiosis. However, the meiosis process in F1 hybrids showed various abnormal phenomena, including lagging chromosomes, micronuclei, uneven segregation, chromosome bridges, and inability to form cell plates. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) showed unequal chromatin distribution during cell division. Interestingly, 96.70% of lagging chromosomes were from E. arundinaceus. Furthermore, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed using 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA as probes. Either 45S rDNA or 5S rDNA sites were lost during abnormal meiosis, and results of unequal chromosomal separation were also clearly observed in tetrads.

Conclusions

Using cytogenetic analysis, a large number of meiotic abnormalities were observed in F1. GISH further confirmed that 96.70% of the lagging chromosomes were from E. arundinaceus. Chromosome loss was found by further investigation of repeat sequences. Our findings provide insight into sugarcane chromosome inheritance to aid innovation and utilization in sugarcane germplasm resources.