bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tradeoff between efficiency and perceived quality: evidence from patient-level data
Authors: Bashir Saima , Nasir Muhammad
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To estimate technical efficiency scores of District Headquarter Hospitals (DHQHs) for obstetric services and to explore the relationship between the efficiency of DHQHs and the patients’ satisfaction about the quality of services provided.

Design, Setting and Participants

Data from Health Facility Assessment (HFA) survey is used for efficiency measurement. The data on patient’s perceptions and other control variables are taken from Client Exit Interviews part of the HFA survey. Two-stage residual inclusion, Ordered Logistic Regression and Least square dummy variable techniques are used to investigate the relationship between technical efficiency and patients’ satisfaction level.

Main Outcome Measure(s) and Results

The average efficiency score for Pakistan’s DHQHs is 0.52, and not a single hospital is fully efficient. Moreover, the relationship between technical efficiency and patients’ satisfaction is found to be negative and statistically significant indicating that an increase in hospital efficiency tends to decrease patients’ satisfaction. The disaggregated analysis reveals that patients’ satisfaction associated with the healthcare provider attitude and communication is more affected by technical efficiency.

Conclusion

Patients’ satisfaction level is more sensitive to physician’s attitude and communication. This makes sense because the longer the consultation time, the more accurate the diagnosis would be. This, together with a comforting and confident physician, is likely to achieve better patients’ satisfaction.
Natural Disasters, Forced Migration, and Conflict: The Importance of Government Policy Responses
Authors: Mitchell Sara McLaughlin , Pizzi Elise
Published: August 2020

Understanding the connections between environmental change, migration, and conflict is urgent as natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity. Countries that experience natural disasters face greater risks for intrastate conflicts, especially for rapid-onset disasters. Migration is one response to these environmental changes. Existing literature suggests that environmental migration can cause violent conflict as migrants lose livelihoods, move to new areas, or compete over scarce resources. However, the path through which migration leads to conflict—and the policy responses that either fuel conflict or promote stability—is not well understood. Some countries develop adequate proactive (e.g., infrastructure) and reactive post-disaster (e.g., reconstruction) policies to mitigate grievances and conflict risks from forced migration. Other countries fail to respond adequately to disasters, opening the door for insurgent groups to garner support. We argue that we must analyze government policies related to relocation programs, restrictions on movement, and post-disaster reconstruction to identify trigger situations where disasters and migration are most likely to produce violence.
A new genus and species from Brazil of the resurrected family Macromaxillocarididae Alvarez, Iliffe & Villalobos, 2006 and a worldwide list of Stenopodidea (Decapoda)
Authors: Bochini Gabriel L , Cunha Andressa M , Terossi Mariana , Almeida Alexandre O
Published: August 2020

A new genus and species, Chicosciencea pernambucensisgen. nov., sp. nov., is described from two localities along the coast of Pernambuco state, northeastern Brazil. Considering the unresolved situation of the families of Stenopodidea in previous studies, the position of this new genus is discussed based on morphological, molecular (16S mtDNA), and ecological data. The morphological analysis revealed that Chicoscienceagen. nov. differs from all stenopodidean genera by a combination of characters. The inferred molecular phylogeny recovered a monophyletic group including Chicoscienceagen. nov., MacromaxillocarisAlvarez, Iliffe & Villalobos, 2006, and MicroprosthemaStimpson, 1860, which comprise free-living (i.e., not-sponge associated), shallow-water species. Based on this monophyletic group and on their morphological and ecological similarities, we herein formally propose the resurrection of Macromaxillocarididae Alvarez, Iliffe & Villalobos, 2006 to include those genera. We also provide an updated world list of Stenopodidea. With the description of Chicoscienceagen. nov., the infraorder Stenopodidea now comprises 13 genera and 92 species.
Fishbone perforation of the small bowel mimicking internal herniation and obstruction in a patient with previous gastric bypass surgery
Authors: Traynor Paul , Stupalkowska Weronika , Mohamed Tahira , Godfrey Edmund , Bennett John M H , Gourgiotis Stavros
Published: August 2020

Intestinal perforation following the ingestion of fishbone is unusual and rarely diagnosed preoperatively, as clinical and radiological findings are non-specific. We report a case of a female patient post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) for obesity, who presented with severe abdominal pain and guarding in left iliac fossa. Computed tomography (CT) suggested internal herniation with compromised vascular supply to the bowel. Exploratory laparotomy identified a perforation site in the blind loop of the RYGBP due to a protruding fishbone. After extraction, primary suture repair was performed. In retrospect, the fishbone was identified on CT but misinterpreted as suture line at the enteroenterostomy site. This case emphasizes that although rare, the ingestion of fishbone can lead to severe complications and should therefore be included in the differential for an acute abdomen. On CT, it should be noted that fishbone may simulate suture line within the bowel if the patient has history of previous surgery.
Fulminant necrotizing fasciitis to the hand in a patient on high-dose steroids: A case report of successful limb salvage
Authors: Johnson Miguel , Berner Juan , Christopoulos George , Hamilton Preci , Pearl Robert
Published: August 2020

Glucocorticoids are commonly used in the management of patients with brain Tumour for reducing peritumoral and vasogenic edema. However, they may lead to development of limb and life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis (NF). NF is a rare but potentially lethal condition. Early detection and aggressive treatment may lead to decreased mortality and limb salvage. The diagnosis is predominately clinical but may be supported by laboratory and radiological investigations. Chronic steroid use not only predisposes to the development of NF but also may mask early features delaying presentation and diagnosis. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion especially in patients on chronic steroid therapy as this may aid in early detection and treatment. We present a case report of a successful limb salvage that exemplifies these points.
Huge true aneurysm of the facial artery treated with internal trapping and surgical excision: a case report
Authors: Nakagawa Kiyoko , Yasuda Takuji , Kobayashi Natsuko , Urabe Kazuhiko
Published: August 2020

A report of true aneurysms is extremely rare. There are only five previous case reports of true aneurysm of the facial artery. In the previously reported cases, there was no case that underwent trapping and surgical excision. In this case report, we describe the procedure of internal trapping before the surgical excision of a huge true aneurysm of the right facial artery for a 79-year-old woman. There was no recurrence of the aneurysm during a 6-month follow-up period.
Special type trocar-site hernia with evisceration of the appendix following laparoscopic repair of a perforated duodenal ulcer
Authors: Byrne Jim , Kehoe John D , Kayyal Mohammed Yasser
Published: August 2020

Trocar-site hernia is an uncommon complication of laparoscopic surgery and can be classified as early-onset, late-onset or special type. Special type hernias usually occur in the early postoperative period and result in evisceration of intra-abdominal contents through all layers of the abdominal wall without an overlying hernia sac. We present a case of special type herniation of the appendix through a 5-mm trocar site in the right iliac fossa following laparoscopic repair of a perforated duodenal ulcer. In this case, herniation occurred after removal of a drain inserted through the trocar site intraoperatively and was treated with emergent open appendicectomy. A number of patient and technical factors may be associated with an increased risk of trocar-site herniation including increasing age, elevated body mass index, increasing trocar size, longer procedure duration and absence of fascial closure. These factors must be borne in mind when planning trocar placement and number to reduce the risk of herniation.
Social distancing to combat COVID-19 led to a marked decrease in food-borne infections and sexually transmitted diseases in Spain
Authors: de Miguel Buckley R , Trigo E , de la Calle-Prieto F , Arsuaga M , Díaz-Menéndez M
Published: August 2020

Data from a recent epidemiological surveillance network showed a decrease in the reported number of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and food-borne infections. We reflect on the possible drivers and consequences of a decrease in these transmittable infectious diseases linked to human contact in relation to social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Madrid (Spain).
By hook or by crook: how and why do compound leaves stay curved during development?
Authors: Meroz Yasmine , Silk Wendy K
Published: August 2020

This article comments on:

Rivière M, Corre Y, Peaucelle A, Derr J, Douady S. 2020. The hook shape of growing leaves results from an active regulatory process. Journal of Experimental Botany 71, 6408–6417.
Massively parallel Bayesian inference for transient gravitational-wave astronomy
Authors: Smith Rory J E , Ashton Gregory , Vajpeyi Avi , Talbot Colm
Published: August 2020

Understanding the properties of transient gravitational waves (GWs) and their sources is of broad interest in physics and astronomy. Bayesian inference is the standard framework for astrophysical measurement in transient GW astronomy. Usually, stochastic sampling algorithms are used to estimate posterior probability distributions over the parameter spaces of models describing experimental data. The most physically accurate models typically come with a large computational overhead which can render data analsis extremely time consuming, or possibly even prohibitive. In some cases highly specialized optimizations can mitigate these issues, though they can be difficult to implement, as well as to generalize to arbitrary models of the data. Here, we investigate an accurate, flexible, and scalable method for astrophysical inference: parallelized nested sampling. The reduction in the wall-time of inference scales almost linearly with the number of parallel processes running on a high-performance computing cluster. By utilizing a pool of several hundreds or thousands of CPUs in a high-performance cluster, the large wall times of many astrophysical inferences can be alleviated while simultaneously ensuring that any GW signal model can be used ‘out of the box’, i.e. without additional optimization or approximation. Our method will be useful to both the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaborations and the wider scientific community performing astrophysical analyses on GWs. An implementation is available in the open source gravitational-wave inference library pBilby (parallel bilby).
Sensitivity studies on the thermal beta+ decay and thermal neutrino decay rates in the one-zone X-ray burst model
Authors: Lau Rita
Published: August 2020

We investigated how the thermal beta+ decay rates and their corresponding neutrino energy loss rates affect the properties of X-ray bursts. Previous studies carried out showed how the beta+ decay rates alone affect the properties of X-ray bursts. Here, we performed the sensitivity studies on neutrino energy loss rates and their impact on X-ray bursts. Furthermore, all the experimental beta+ decay rates related to X-ray bursts were measured. However, the temperature of X-ray bursts can be as high as 1.5 GK. Thus, at such a high temperature, the nuclei can be in excited states due to thermal effects. Experiments cannot directly measure the thermal beta decay rates and thermal neutrino loss rates. We performed sensitivity tests on the thermal beta+ decay rates and their thermal neutrino losses in one-zone X-ray burst models in different ignition conditions. We discovered that beta decays due to thermal effects do affect the light curves in some ignition conditions. The thermal beta decay rates of 68Se also have major effects on the final abundances in most circumstances. We further found that a neutrino energy loss rate of 64Ga has noticeable effects on the light curves of X-ray bursts in general.
Is PSR J0726–2612 a dim isolated neutron star progenitor?
Authors: Özcan Ş , Gençali A A , Ertan Ü
Published: August 2020

The rotational properties and X-ray luminosity of PSR J0726–2612 are close to those of dim isolated neutron stars (XDINs). It was proposed that the source could be the first XDIN with observable pulsed radio emission. We have investigated the long-term evolution of the source to test this possibility in the fallback disc model. Reasonable model curves that can account for the evolution of PSR J0726–2612 consistently with its radio pulsar property are similar to those of high-B radio pulsars with dipole field strength B0 ∼ a few × 1012 G at the pole of the star. In the same model, XDINs are estimated to have relatively weak fields (B0 ≲ 1012 G) locating them well below the pulsar death line. From the simulations, we estimate that PSR J0726–2612 is at an age of t ∼ 5 × 104 yr, and will achieve the rotational properties of a normal radio pulsar within ∼105 yr, rather than the XDIN properties.
Multiple AGN activity during the BCG assembly of XDCPJ0044.0-2033 at z ∼ 1.6
Authors: Travascio A , Bongiorno A , Tozzi P , Fassbender R , De Gasperin F , Cardone V F , Zappacosta L , Vietri G , Merlin E , Bischetti M , Piconcelli E , Duras F , Fiore F , Menci N , Mazzotta P , Nastasi A
Published: August 2020

Undisturbed galaxy clusters are characterized by a massive and large elliptical galaxy at their centre, i.e. the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG). How these central galaxies form is still debated. According to most models, a typical epoch for their assembly is $z$ ∼ 1–2. We have performed a detailed multiwavelength analysis of the core of XMM–Newton Distant Cluster Project (XDCP) J0044.0-2033 (XDCP0044), one of the most massive and densest galaxy clusters currently known at redshift $z$ ∼ 1.6, whose central galaxy population shows high star formation compared to lower z clusters and an X-ray active galactic nuclei (AGN) located close to its centre. SINFONI J-, H-, and KMOS YJ-, H-bands spectroscopic data have been analysed, together with deep archival HST photometric data in F105W, F140W, and F160W bands, Chandra X-ray, radio JVLA data at 1–2 GHz, and ALMA band-6 observations. In the very central region of the cluster (∼70 kpc × 70 kpc), two systems of interacting galaxies have been identified and studied (Complex A and B), with a total of seven confirmed cluster members. These galaxies show perturbed morphologies and three of them show signs of AGN activity. In particular, two type-1 AGN with typical broad lines have been found at the centre of each complex (both of them X-ray obscured and highly accreting with $\rm \lambda _{Edd}\sim 0.4-0.6$), while a type-2 AGN has been discovered in Complex A. The AGN at the centre of Complex B is also detected in X-ray, while the other two are spatially related to radio emission. The three AGN provide one of the closest AGN triple at $z$ > 1 revealed so far with a minimum (maximum) projected distance of 10 (40) kpc. The observation of high star formation, merger signatures, and nuclear activity in the core of XDCP0044 suggests that all these processes are key ingredients in shaping the nascent BCG. According to our data, XDCP0044 could form a typical massive galaxy of $M_{\star }\sim 10^{12} \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, hosting a black hole of $\rm 2 \times 10^8\!-\!10^9 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, in a time-scale of the order of ∼2.5 Gyr.
tfaw survey – I. Wavelet-based denoising of K2 light curves. Discovery and validation of two new Earth-sized planets in K2 campaign 1
Authors: del Ser D , Fors O
Published: August 2020

The wavelet-based detrending and denoising method tfaw is applied for the first time to EVEREST 2.0-corrected light curves to further improve the photometric precision of almost all K2 observing campaigns (C1–C8, C12–C18). The performance of both methods is evaluated in terms of 6 h combined differential photometric precision (CDPP), simulated transit detection efficiency, and planet characterization in different SNR regimes. On average, tfaw median 6 h CDPP is ${\sim} 30{\rm {per \, cent}}$ better than the one achieved by EVEREST 2.0 for all observing campaigns. Using the transit least-squares (tls) algorithm, we show that the transit detection efficiency for simulated Earth–Sun-like systems is ∼8.5× higher for tfaw-corrected light curves than that for EVEREST 2.0 ones. Using the light curves of two confirmed exoplanets, K2-44 b (high SNR) and K2-298 b (low SNR), we show that tfaw yields better Markov chain Monte Carlo posterior distributions, transit parameters compatible with the catalogued ones but with smaller uncertainties, and narrows the credibility intervals. We use the combination of tfaw’s improved photometric precision and tls enhancement of the signal detection efficiency for weak signals to search for new transit candidates in K2 observing campaign 1. We report the discovery of two new K2-C1 Earth-sized planets statistically validated, using the vespa software: EPIC 201170410.02, with a radius of 1.047$^{+0.276}_{-0.257}\mathrm{ R}_{\oplus }$ planet orbiting an M-type star, and EPIC 201757695.02, with a radius of 0.908$^{+0.059}_{-0.064}\mathrm{ R}_{\oplus }$ planet orbiting a K-type star. EPIC 201757695.02 is the 9th smallest planet ever discovered in K2-C1, and the 39th smallest in all K2 campaigns.
Giant pulses from J1823−3021A observed with the MeerKAT telescope
Authors: Abbate F , Bailes M , Buchner S J , Camilo F , Freire P C C , Geyer M , Jameson A , Kramer M , Possenti A , Ridolfi A , Serylak M , Spiewak R , Stappers B W , Venkatraman Krishnan V
Published: August 2020

The millisecond pulsar J1823−3021A is a very active giant pulse emitter in the globular cluster NGC 6624. New observations with the MeerKAT radio telescope have revealed 14350 giant pulses over 5 h of integration time, with an average wait time of about 1 s between giant pulses. The giant pulses occur in phases compatible with the ordinary radio emission, follow a power-law distribution with an index of −2.63 ± 0.02, and contribute 4 per cent of the total integrated flux. The spectral index of the giant pulses follows a Gaussian distribution centred around −1.9 with a standard deviation of 0.6 and is on average flatter than the integrated emission, which has a spectral index of −2.81 ± 0.02. The waiting times between the GPs are accurately described by a Poissonian distribution, suggesting that the time of occurrence of a GP is independent from the times of occurrence of other GPs. 76 GPs show multiple peaks within the same rotation, a rate that is also compatible with the mutual independence of the GP times of occurrence. We studied the polarization properties of the giant pulses finding, on average, linear polarization only at the 1 per cent level and circular polarization at the 3 per cent level, similar to the polarization percentages of the total integrated emission. In four cases, it was possible to measure the RM of the GPs that are highly variable and, in two cases, is inconsistent with the mean RM of the total integrated pulsar signal.
SEDIGISM-ATLASGAL: dense gas fraction and star formation efficiency across the Galactic disc
Authors: Urquhart J S , Figura C , Cross J R , Wells M R A , Moore T J T , Eden D J , Ragan S E , Pettitt A R , Duarte-Cabral A , Colombo D , Schuller F , Csengeri T , Mattern M , Beuther H , Menten K M , Wyrowski F , Anderson L D , Barnes P J , Beltrán M T , Billington S J , Bronfman L , Giannetti A , Kainulainen J , Kauffmann J , Lee M-Y , Leurini S , Medina S-N X , Montenegro-Montes F M , Riener M , Rigby A J , Sánchez-Monge A , Schilke P , Schisano E , Traficante A , Wienen M
Published: August 2020

By combining two surveys covering a large fraction of the molecular material in the Galactic disc, we investigate the role spiral arms play in the star formation process. We have matched clumps identified by APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL) with their parental giant molecular clouds (GMCs) as identified by SEDIGISM, and use these GMC masses, the bolometric luminosities, and integrated clump masses obtained in a concurrent paper to estimate the dense gas fractions (DGFgmc = ∑Mclump/Mgmc) and the instantaneous star formation efficiencies (i.e. SFEgmc = ∑Lclump/Mgmc). We find that the molecular material associated with ATLASGAL clumps is concentrated in the spiral arms (∼60 per cent found within ±10 $\rm {km\,s}^{-1}$ of an arm). We have searched for variations in the values of these physical parameters with respect to their proximity to the spiral arms, but find no evidence for any enhancement that might be attributable to the spiral arms. The combined results from a number of similar studies based on different surveys indicate that, while spiral-arm location plays a role in cloud formation and H i to H2 conversion, the subsequent star formation processes appear to depend more on local environment effects. This leads us to conclude that the enhanced star formation activity seen towards the spiral arms is the result of source crowding rather than the consequence of any physical process.
Excitation of the main giant pulses from the Crab pulsar
Authors: Bespalov Peter A , Savina Olga N
Published: August 2020

A model for the source of microwave main giant pulses (GPs) from the Crab pulsar is proposed and partly investigated. Pulse excitation takes place in a relativistic pair plasma with a strong magnetic field through the beam pulse amplifier (BPA) mechanism, in which short noise pulses of a certain type are amplified by energetic electrons at the Cherenkov resonance, even without strong anisotropy in the distribution function. The wave gain is shown to be as high as with an instability of hydrodynamic type, and wave escaping from the excitation region into the pulsar magnetosphere may not involve significant attenuation. The basic parameters of the source which explains the observed characteristics of the GP electromagnetic bursts have been analysed and are consistent with accepted ideas about physical conditions in the pulsar magnetosphere. The BPA mechanism explains the important properties of the GPs, such as the extremely short pulse duration (extreme nanoshots), the extremely high brightness temperature of the radiation source, the formation of radiation in a wide frequency range, and the possibility of radiation reaching the periphery of the pulsar magnetosphere.
Normalizing single-cell RNA sequencing data with internal spike-in-like genes
Authors: Lin Li , Song Minfang , Jiang Yong , Zhao Xiaojing , Wang Haopeng , Zhang Liye
Published: August 2020

Normalization with respect to sequencing depth is a crucial step in single-cell RNA sequencing preprocessing. Most methods normalize data using the whole transcriptome based on the assumption that the majority of transcriptome remains constant and are unable to detect drastic changes of the transcriptome. Here, we develop an algorithm based on a small fraction of constantly expressed genes as internal spike-ins to normalize single-cell RNA sequencing data. We demonstrate that the transcriptome of single cells may undergo drastic changes in several case study datasets and accounting for such heterogeneity by ISnorm (Internal Spike-in-like-genes normalization) improves the performance of downstream analyses.
The Human, The Animal and the Prehistory of COVID-19*
Authors: Sivasundaram Sujit
Published: August 2020

In Asia, pangolins have generated a rich set of indigenous oral traditions. These contrast with the often confused, or failed, colonial and Western scientific practices of classifying, domesticating and collecting the pangolin. More recently this long-standing encounter between the pangolin and human has shifted into exponential killing. The pangolin has become the mammal which is most trafficked by humans. This trade has been a global one, a fact that is important to remember given the racist ideas and inequalities that have been highlighted through the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. The changing relationship between the pangolin and the human in modern history is used here as a window onto the interlinked histories of the pandemic and environmental crisis, both of which arose partly from human encroachment into biodiverse and forested areas, including pangolin habitats. The phases of the pangolin–human relationship can be read for the preconditions of these interlinked crises that face the planet and its historians in 2020. It is vital that historians respond confidently and fully to causation at the interspecies frontier without using the pandemic to mount theoretically naive ‘compare and contrast’ exercises with past disease events to provide lessons for the present. A post-pandemic historiography will surely be interdisciplinary, with critical, philosophical and collaborative engagement with scientists.
Are Illness Perceptions Associated with Pain and Disability in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Antunovich Dana R , Horne Juliette C , Tuck Natalie L , Bean Debbie J
Published: August 2020

Objective

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a complex and often poorly understood condition, and people with CRPS will have diverse beliefs about their symptoms. According to the self-regulation model, these beliefs (termed “illness perceptions”) influence health behaviors and outcomes. Previous studies have found that psychological factors influence CRPS outcomes, but few studies have investigated CRPS patients’ illness perceptions specifically. The present study examined whether illness perceptions were related to pain intensity and other relevant outcomes in people with CRPS.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 53 patients with CRPS (type 1 and type 2) completed questionnaires assessing illness perceptions, pain, disability, and psychological factors. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine whether illness perceptions were associated with pain intensity, disability, depression, and kinesiophobia, after controlling for possible covariates (including clinical and demographic factors, pain catastrophizing, and negative affect).

Results

Negative illness perceptions were associated with greater pain, disability, and kinesiophobia, but not depression. Specifically, attributing more symptoms to CRPS (more negative illness identity perceptions) was associated with greater pain intensity, and reporting a poorer understanding of CRPS (lower illness coherence scores) was associated with greater disability and kinesiophobia.

Conclusions

Patients with CRPS with more negative illness perceptions (particularly perceptions indicating a poor understanding of their condition) also experience greater pain, disability, and kinesiophobia. Future research could investigate whether altering CRPS patients’ illness perceptions influences clinical outcomes.
On the Compatibility of Rational Deliberation and Determinism: Why Deterministic Manipulation Is Not a Counterexample
Authors: Caruso Gregg D
Published: August 2020

This paper aims to defend deliberation-compatibilism against several objections, including a recent counterexample by Yishai Cohen that involves a deliberator who believes that whichever action she performs will be the result of deterministic manipulation. It begins by offering a Moorean-style proof of deliberation-compatibilism. It then turns to the leading argument for deliberation-incompatibilism, which is based on the presumed incompatibility of causal determinism and the ‘openness’ required for rational deliberation. The paper explains why this argument fails and develops a coherent account of how one can rationally deliberate and believe in causal determinism without inconsistency. The second half of the paper then takes up Cohen's proposed counterexample and his Four-Case Deliberation Argument (FCDA) against deliberation-compatibilism, which is meant to mirror Derk Pereboom's famous Four-Case Manipulation Argument. In response, the author defends a hard-line reply to FCDA but also argues that the notion of ‘sourcehood’ relevant to rational deliberation differs from that involved in free will.
Concordance in parent and offspring cortico-basal ganglia white matter connectivity varies by parental history of major depressive disorder and early parental care
Authors: Abraham Eyal , Posner Jonathan , Wickramaratne Priya J , Aw Natalie , van Dijk Milenna T , Cha Jiook , Weissman Myrna M , Talati Ardesheer
Published: August 2020

Social behavior is transmitted cross-generationally through coordinated behavior within attachment bonds. Parental depression and poor parental care are major risks for disruptions of such coordination and are associated with offspring’s psychopathology and interpersonal dysfunction. Given the key role of the cortico-basal ganglia (CBG) circuits in social communication, we examined similarities (concordance) of parent–offspring CBG white matter (WM) connections and how parental history of major depressive disorder (MDD) and early parental care moderate these similarities. We imaged 44 parent–offspring dyads and investigated WM connections between basal-ganglia seeds and selected regions in temporal cortex using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. We found significant concordance in parent–offspring strength of CBG WM connections, moderated by parental lifetime-MDD and care. The results showed diminished neural concordance among dyads with a depressed parent and that better parental care predicted greater concordance, which also provided a protective buffer against attenuated concordance among dyads with a depressed parent. Our findings provide the first neurobiological evidence of concordance between parents-offspring in WM tracts and that concordance is diminished in families where parents have lifetime-MDD. This disruption may be a risk factor for intergenerational transmission of psychopathology. Findings emphasize the long-term role of early caregiving in shaping the neural concordance among at-risk and affected dyads.
Patent citations, knowledge flows, and catching-up: Evidences of different national experiences for the period 1982–2006
Authors: Britto Jorge Nogueira de Paiva , Ribeiro Leonardo Costa , Araújo Lucas Teixeira , Albuquerque Eduardo da Motta e
Published: August 2020

This paper uses information about patent citations to track the evolution of knowledge flows in selected countries engaged in catching-up processes. The analysis comprises patent citation data extracted from the USPTO database for the period 1982-2006. The data are presented through technological interaction matrices displaying the interaction between the technological fields of cited and citing patents. Each matrix cell matches the technological field(s) of one cited patent to the technological field(s) of its citing patent(s). The hypothesis is that the intensification and diversification of knowledge flows to a greater number of fields broadens the possibilities of identifying attractive opportunities for innovation, thereby multiplying the opportunities of development and catching-up. The analysis seeks to identify which technological fields concentrate the absorption and diffusion of knowledge in a given country over different periods, a consideration which tends to be related to the possibilities of catching-up processes.
Co-culture of human alveolar epithelial (A549) and macrophage (THP-1) cells to study the potential toxicity of ambient PM2.5: a comparison of growth under ALI and submerged conditions
Authors: Wang Guanghe , Zhang Xiaofeng , Liu Xinyan , Zheng Jing
Published: August 2020

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the ambient atmosphere is strongly associated with detrimental health effects. However, these particles from various sources and regions are unlikely equally toxic. While animal studies are impractical for high-throughput toxicity testing, appropriate in vitro models are urgently needed. Co-culture of A549 and THP-1 macrophages grown at air–liquid interface (ALI) or under submerged conditions was exposed to same concentrations of ambient PM2.5 to provide accurate comparisons between culture methods. Following 24-h incubation with PM2.5 collected in Harbin in China, biological endpoints being investigated include cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and pro-inflammatory mediators. The co-culture grown under submerged condition demonstrated a significant increase in ROS levels and all tested pro-inflammatory indicators [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α] in mRNA expression and released protein levels. Similar but a declining response trend was observed using the same PM2.5 incubation after grown at ALI. We further observed a significant increase of PM2.5-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and activation of NF-κB p65 in a dose-dependent trend for co-cultures grown under submerged condition. These results provide important implications that culture conditions (ALI versus submerged) can induce different extents of biological responses to ambient PM2.5; the co-culture grown at ALI is less likely to produce false-positive results than submerged culture. Hence, culture conditions should be discussed when comparing in vitro methods used for high-throughput PM2.5 toxicity assessment in future.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Fire Blight Pathogen Strain Erwinia amylovora Ea1189
Authors: Yu Menghao , Singh Jugpreet , Khan Awais , Sundin George W. , Zhao Youfu
Published: August 2020

Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight, the most devastating bacterial disease of apples and pears in the United States and worldwide. The model strain E. amylovora Ea1189 has been extensively used to understand bacterial pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of bacterial-plant interactions. In this work, we sequenced and assembled the de novo genome of Ea1189, using a combination of long Oxford Nanopore Technologies and short Illumina sequence reads. A complete gapless genome assembly of Ea1189 consists of a 3,797,741-bp circular chromosome and a 28,259-bp plasmid with 3,472 predicted genes, including 78 transfer RNAs, 22 ribosomal RNAs, and 20 noncoding RNAs. A comparison of the Ea1189 genome to previously sequenced E. amylovora complete genomes showed 99.94 to 99.97% sequence similarity with 314 to 946 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We believe that the availability of the complete genome sequence of strain Ea1189 will further support studies to understand evolution, diversity and structural variations of Erwinia strains, as well as the molecular basis of E. amylovora pathogenesis and its interactions with host plants, thus facilitating the development of effective management strategies for this important disease.
The evolution of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma staging system over a 10-year period: implications for future revisions
Authors: Tang Si-Qi , Mao Yan-Ping , Xu Cheng , Guo Rui , Li Wen-Fei , Tang Ling-Long , Sun Ying , Ma Jun
Published: August 2020

Background

The classification criteria and staging groups for nasopharyngeal carcinoma described in the Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) staging system have been revised over time. This study assessed the proportion of patients whose staging and treatment strategy have changed due to revisions of the UICC/AJCC staging system over the past 10 years (ie, from the sixth edition to the eighth edition), to provide information for further refinement.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 1901 patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in our cancer center between November 2009 and June 2012. The Akaike information criterion and Harrell concordance index were applied to evaluate the performance of the staging system.

Results

In total, 25 (1.3%) of the 1901 patients who were staged as T2a according to the sixth edition system were downgraded to T1 in the eighth edition; 430 (22.6%) staged as N0 in the sixth edition were upgraded to N1 in the eighth edition; 106 (5.6%) staged as N1/2 in the sixth edition were upgraded to N3 in the eighth edition. In addition, 51 (2.7%) and 25 (1.3%) of the study population were upstaged from stage I to stage II and stage II to stage IVa, respectively; 10 (0.5%) was downgraded from stage II to stage I. The survival curves of adjacent N categories and staging groups defined by eighth classification system were well-separated. However, there was no significant difference in the locoregional failure-free survival (P = 0.730) and disease-free survival (P = 0.690) rates between the T2 and T3 categories in the eighth edition classification system.

Conclusions

Modifications to the tumor-node-metastasis staging system over the past 10 years have resulted in N classification changes in numerous cases. Although the eighth edition tumor-node-metastasis staging system better predicts survival outcomes, the T classification could be simplified in future revisions.
Systemic lupus erythematosus: year in review 2019
Authors: Fan Yong , Hao Yan-Jie , Zhang Zhuo-Li
Published: August 2020

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with extreme heterogeneity and potentially involvement of any organ or system. Numerous unanswered questions and challenges in SLE always prompt further exploration. In 2019, great progress in various aspects of SLE emerged. Both the classification criteria and management recommendation for SLE were updated. New promising medications have been widely developed and tested, although subsequent clinical studies are warranted. As an emerging number of most notable studies in SLE were published in both clinical area and basic research in 2019, we aim to summarize the highest quality data on SLE regarding novel insights of pathogenesis, updated recommendations, hot-spot issues on clinical manifestations, new understanding of disease prognosis, and most importantly, the therapeutic advances in SLE in this review.
Kikuchi–Fujimoto Disease Triggered by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection—A Report of a Case and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Müller Cornelia S. L. , Vogt Thomas , Becker Sören L.
Published: August 2020

Kikuchi–Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis that was described for the first time in 1972 in Japan. Its etiology is still not fully understood. It has been reported in association with many different agents, diseases, and triggering factors without any conclusive result. To the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time a case of KFD with systemic lupus erythematosus in a child in association with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive throat swab for Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Although difficult to prove, the acute M. pneumoniae infection might have served as a triggering event for the development of KFD in our case. We encourage further studies to investigate a potential relationship between KFD and M. pneumoniae, which should also use PCR-based testing for this pathogen in patients with KFD.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and menopausal symptoms: a cross-sectional study from the data registry on experiences of aging, menopause, and sexuality
Authors: Faubion Stephanie S. , King Amanda , Kattah Andrea G. , Kuhle Carol L. , Sood Richa , Kling Juliana M. , Mara Kristin C. , Kapoor Ekta
Published: August 2020

Objective:

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and menopausal symptoms, specifically vasomotor symptoms, have both been associated with cardiovascular disease risk in women. However, data are sparse on the association between these two female-specific cardiovascular risk factors. This study was conducted to investigate the association between a history of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and menopausal symptoms.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of women aged 40 to 65 years seen for specialty consultation in women's health clinics at Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN and Scottsdale, AZ, between May, 2015 and September, 2019. A self-reported history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy served as the independent variable, and menopause symptoms as assessed by the Menopause Rating Scale were the primary outcome measure.

Results:

Of 2,684 women included in the analysis, 180 had a self-reported history of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. The total menopausal symptom scores as well as somatic and psychological domain scores were higher in women with a history of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy compared to women without a history of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy or to women without a pregnancy. On multivariable analysis, women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy using hormone therapy had significantly higher total menopause symptom scores than women with no such history.

Conclusions:

In this large cross-sectional study, a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was associated with more bothersome menopausal symptoms. Additional study is needed to determine the strength of this association, underlying mechanisms of the association, and clinical implications for cardiovascular risk prediction in women.
The effect of pathophysiological changes in the vaginal milieu on the signs and symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)
Authors: Qi Wenhui , Li Huiyang , Wang Chen , Li Huanrong , Fan Aiping , Han Cha , Xue Fengxia
Published: August 2020

Importance and objective:

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the most recent literature on genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), to explore the key elements of GSM diagnosis, and the potential impact of pathophysiological changes in the vaginal milieu on vulvovaginal symptoms.

Methods:

The MEDLINE database was searched, and only articles written in English were considered. Additional references were identified by hand searching the bibliographies of the included articles.

Discussions and conclusion:

The vaginal milieu plays important roles in producing bothersome symptoms in the host. In women with GSM, low hormone states can result in pathophysiological changes in the vaginal milieu, including the vaginal microbiome and the mucosal immunity. Hormone-associated disruption of the balance of the indigenous microbiota and the dysregulation of these immune responses are the pathophysiological basis of GSM symptoms. However, whether the microbiome and mucosal immunity are markers of vulvovaginal disorder or agents actively promoting a healthy vagina are still not fully understood. It is an important area of focus.
The Academic Fellowship in Physician Assistant Education
Authors: Herrick Amber , Leiken Shuli , Hoover Eve B. , Feirstein Jennifer , Bonnin Kirsten J. , Stoehr James D.
Published: August 2020

The rapid growth of the physician assistant (PA) profession has required PA programs to increase their efforts in the recruitment and retention of experienced faculty. One approach was the establishment of the academic fellowship concept in 1998. Since then, 5 PA programs have designed fellowships, 3 of which were implemented and graduated fellows. To institute and develop an academic fellowship takes time, resources, and buy-in from faculty and students. The structure of the curricula within the fellowships has been similar since 1998 and includes faculty development opportunities, lecture development and delivery, student assessment, small group facilitation, interprofessional education, and committee work. Most fellowship-trained educators have entered faculty positions after completion of their fellowship. They appear to use sound educational strategies in their teaching and are successful in their scholarly productivity. Academic fellowships are just one route in the transition to PA education, and while they may require a significant investment from the sponsoring institution and program, they can provide a unique opportunity for PAs to immerse themselves in the faculty experience before the full commitment to a career change.
Effect of Electrode to Modiolus Distance on Electrophysiological and Psychophysical Parameters in CI Patients With Perimodiolar and Lateral Electrode Arrays
Authors: Degen Chantal Vanessa , Büchner Andreas , Kludt Eugen , Lenarz Thomas
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

To investigate the intracochlear position of the latest Cochlear Nucleus 532 electrode array compared with the straight Nucleus 522 and the precurved 512 arrays and determine the effect of the electrode–modiolus distance on electrically evoked compound action potential, C-levels, electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds (ESRTs), and impedances.

Methods:

Postoperative high-resolution cone beam computational tomography images of 30 patients with Cochlear Nucleus 532, 522, and 512 implants were evaluated using the Comet (Cochlea Measurement Tool) program to determine the distance between the 22 individual electrode contacts and the medial wall. ESRTs were documented intraoperatively and electrophysiological as well as psychophysical parameters were measured at multiple time points including the first fitting after the initial activation.

Results:

The electrode–modiolus distance in perimodiolar arrays is uniformly small across the array, whereas in a straight electrode carrier it varies significantly along the length of the array. Electrically evoked compound action potential thresholds and C-levels are larger with increased distance to the modiolus. Impedances and stapedius reflex thresholds do not differ significantly between the arrays. Our results show that the electrode position has a significant effect on both electrophysiological and psychophysical parameters, while impedances and ESRTs are not impacted.

Conclusion:

Novel tools can be used in the evaluation of high resolution cone beam computational tomography images to determine individual electrode–modiolus distances after cochlear implantation. The results of this study suggest that the correlations between electrode–modiolus distance and electrophysiological and psychophysical parameters are not sufficiently strong to adjust CI-fitting based on imaging data.