bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atezolizumab in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for heavily treated small cell lung cancer
Authors: Kataoka Nobutaka , Kunimatsu Yusuke , Tachibana Yusuke , Sugimoto Takumi , Sato Izumi , Tani Nozomi , Ogura Yuri , Hirose Kazuki , Takeda Takayuki
Published: July 2020

Atezolizumab was the first immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) to be introduced as a first‐line treatment option for extensive‐stage small cell lung cancer (ES‐SCLC), in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (CE) chemotherapy. However, SCLC treatment options after progression to first‐line chemotherapy are limited, warranting the readministration of previously used drugs. In combination with atezolizumab, CE readministration may theoretically be effective, based on two tentative mechanisms: its additive and synergistic effects on cytotoxic chemotherapy. The additive effect is based on the IFCT‐1603 trial in which the Kaplan‐Meier estimates of both progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the atezolizumab group exhibited a tail plateau in the selected population. Conversely, an anti‐PD‐L1 antibody synergistic effect on platinum compounds was assessed in a preclinical study, which was reinforced by clinical data. Thus, atezolizumab in combination with CE may be a treatment option in heavily treated patients. Here, we describe the first case of a heavily treated ES‐SCLC patient treated with chemoimmunotherapy, resulting in a partial response and a durable PFS.

Key points

Significant findings of the study and what this study adds

CE readministration with atezolizumab may be effective based on two tentative mechanisms. Additive and synergistic effects of atezolizumab on CE have been previously suggested via a clinical trial and preclinical study, respectively. This is reflected in the current case in clinical settings.
Changes in the incidence of assault after restrictions on late‐night alcohol sales in New Zealand: evaluation of a natural experiment using hospitalization and police data
Authors: Connor Jennie , Maclennan Brett , Huckle Taisia , Romeo Jose , Davie Gabrielle , Kypri Kypros
Published: July 2020

Aims

To estimate the effect of national restrictions on late‐night availability of alcohol on alcohol‐related assault at a population level as indicated by (1) change in hospitalizations for weekend assaults and (2) change in the proportion of assaults documented by police that occur at night.

Design

Evaluation of a natural experiment, involving: (1) pre–post comparisons of age‐specific incidence rates, adjusted for seasonality and background trend using Poisson regression; and (2) interrupted time–series analyses, using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models of national data with no control site.

Setting

New Zealand.

Participants

(1) Inpatients discharged from NZ hospitals following assault during the weekend (Friday–Sunday) from 2004 to 2016 (n = 14 996) and (2) cases of assault recorded by NZ Police from 2012 to 2018. Intervention: introduction of national maximum trading hours for all on‐licence (8 a.m.–4 a.m.) and off‐licence premises (7 a.m.–11 p.m.), abolishing existing 24‐hour licences, on 18 December 2013.

Measurements

(1) Age‐specific incidence of hospitalization for assault on Friday, Saturday or Sunday from the national hospital discharge data set, excluding short‐stay emergency department admissions and (2) proportion of weekly police‐documented assaults occurring between 9 p.m. and 5.59 a.m., from NZ Police Demand and Activity data set.

Findings

Following the restrictions, weekend hospitalized assaults declined by 11% [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.84, 0.94], with the greatest reduction among 15–29‐year‐olds (IRR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.76, 0.89). There was an absolute reduction (step change) of 1.8% (95% CI = 0.2, 3.5%) in the proportion of police‐documented assaults occurring at night, equivalent to 9.70 (95% CI = 0.10, 19.30) fewer night‐time assaults per week, out of 207.4.

Conclusions

The 2013 implementation of national maximum trading hours for alcohol in NZ was followed by reductions in two complementary indicators of alcohol‐related assault, consistent with beneficial effects of modest nation‐wide restrictions on the late‐night availability of alcohol.
Chronic odontogenic nasal discharge: report of two cases
Authors: Hoang MD , Saha A , McMillan B
Published: July 2020

Supernumerary teeth are those that form in excess to the normal dental formula and while there is no clear pathogenesis for their formation, they are known to vary in size, morphology, location and presentation. We present two cases of otherwise healthy patients who presented with pain, discomfort and discharge from the nasal passages. CT imaging identified a tooth‐like density present in the bone of the nasal floor in both patients. In both cases, the tooth was extracted surgically under anaesthetic. A symptomatic supernumerary in the nasal floor might cause a plethora of symptoms and complications, decreasing the overall quality of life for a patient. Patients who present with a supernumerary tooth in the nasal floor should be further investigated with a simple nasal speculum examination and a CT scan. Their surgical management is simple and brings near immediate relief of symptoms.
Profiling neovascular age‐related macular degeneration choroidal neovascularization lesion response to anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor therapy using SSOCTA
Authors: Told Reinhard , Reiter Gregor S. , Mittermüller Tamara J. , Schranz Markus , Reumueller Adrian , Schlanitz Ferdinand G. , Weigert Günther , Pollreisz Andreas , Sacu Stefan , Schmidt‐Erfurth Ursula
Published: July 2020

Purpose

To identify the changes in distinct vascular parameters of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eyes with treatment‐naïve neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) during the primary response to anti‐VEGF therapy using aflibercept.

Methods

Patients were prospectively followed during the first 3 months according to a standardized protocol with mandatory visits at days 7 and 14 after each anti‐VEGF treatment up to day 90. Fourteen eyes were seen in addition at days 1 and 3 post‐initial injection. Aflibercept was administered at baseline (BL), day 30 and 60. 6 × 6mm SSOCTA (PlexElite, Zeiss) images were acquired. Using the semi‐automated AngioTool, CNV area, vessel area, vessel density (VD), the number of junctions, junctions density, total vessel length, average vessel length, total number of endpoints and lacunarity were assessed.

Results

Thirty‐two consecutive patients presenting with treatment‐naïve, SSOCTA‐positive CNV lesions were included. Close follow‐up showed a characteristic neovascular response curve with a dynamic decrease in lesion size within days and a reactive increase following 2 weeks after initial treatment. An undulating pattern was seen for all neovascular parameters except for vascular density, with variable statistical significance. Due to a flattening of the therapeutic response as early as after the second treatment, CNV lesion size and most of the related parameters had an increase in activity above baseline values at the end of the loading phase. Lesion size was the leading feature of reactivation by a mean increase of 19.3% after three monthly aflibercept injections. Subgroup analysis based on lesion size revealed a significant correlation between best‐corrected visual acuity and quantitative change in lesion size over time, but not baseline size.

Conclusions

Using SSOCTA, a morphologic neovascular response pattern can be identified in anti‐VEGF treatment of CNV. A synchronized early decrease and consecutive reactivation in a large spectrum of neovascular biomarkers including size and internal structure are visualized in a qualitative and quantitative manner. SSOCTA analyses allow new insights in CNV morphology changes and therapeutic response.
The Kg‐antigen, RhAG with a Lys164Gln mutation, gives rise to haemolytic disease of the newborn
Authors: Tanaka Mitsunobu , Abe Takaaki , Minamitani Takeharu , Akiba Hiroki , Horikawa Toshihiro , Tobita Ryutaro , Isa Kazumi , Ogasawara Kenichi , Takahashi Hideo , Tateyama Hidemi , Tone Satomi , Tsumoto Kouhei , Yasui Teruhito , Kimura Takafumi , Fujimura Yoshihiro , Hirayama Fumiya , Tani Yoshihiko , Takihara Yoshihiro
Published: July 2020

The Kg‐antigen was first discovered in an investigation of a mother whose infant had haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). The antibody against the Kg‐antigen is believed to be responsible for HDN. The Kg‐antigen is provisionally registered under the number 700045, according to the Red Cell Immunogenetics and Blood Group Terminology. However, the molecular nature of the Kg‐antigen has remained a mystery for over 30 years. In this study, a monoclonal antibody against the Kg‐antigen and the recombinant protein were developed that allowed for the immunoprecipitation analysis. Immunoprecipitants from the propositus' red blood cell ghosts were subjected to mass spectrometry analysis, and DNA sequence analysis of the genes was also performed. A candidate for the Kg‐antigen was molecularly isolated and confirmed to be a determinant of the Kg‐antigen by cell transfection and flow cytometry analyses. The Kg‐antigen and the genetic mutation were then screened for in a Japanese population. The molecular nature of the Kg‐antigen was shown to be RhAG with a Lys164Gln mutation. Kg phenotyping further clarified that 0.22% of the Japanese population studied was positive for the Kg‐antigen. These findings provide important information on the Kg‐antigen, which has been clinically presumed to give rise to HDN.
Innovation, patents and trade: A firm‐level analysis
Authors: Chalioti Evangelia , Drivas Kyriakos , Kalyvitis Sarantis , Katsimi Margarita
Published: July 2020

Using microdata of firm exports and international patent activity, we find that Greek innovative exporters, identified by their patent filing activity, have substantially higher export revenues by selling higher quantities rather than charging higher prices. To account for this evidence, we set up a horizontally differentiated product model in which an innovative exporter competes for market share in a destination against many non‐innovative rivals. We argue that as the competition among the exporters of the non‐innovative product becomes more intense, the innovative firm exports more compared with its non‐innovative rivals in more distant markets, a prediction that is empirically confirmed in the dataset for Greek innovative exporters.

Innovation, brevets et commerce : analyse au niveau de l’entreprise. À l’aide de microdonnées d’entreprises relatives aux exportations et aux activités de brevetage international, nous montrons que les exportateurs grecs innovants, identifiés par leurs dépôts de brevets, réalisent des gains à l’exportation nettement supérieurs en misant davantage sur les volumes de vente que sur l’augmentation des prix. Pour expliquer cette situation, nous avons élaboré un modèle de différenciation horizontale de produits dans lequel les exportateurs novateurs sont en compétition avec de nombreux concurrents non innovants afin de gagner des parts de marché. Nous montrons qu’à mesure que la compétition s’intensifie entre les exportateurs de produits non innovants, l’entreprise innovante exporte davantage que ses concurrents vers les marchés plus éloignés ; cette prédiction se vérifie de façon empirique grâce aux données relatives aux exportateurs grecs innovants.
SYMMETRIC SCORING RULES AND A NEW CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BORDA COUNT
Authors: Heckelman Jac C. , Ragan Robi
Published: July 2020

Young developed a classic axiomatization of the Borda rule almost 50 years ago. He proved it is the only voting rule satisfying the normative properties of decisiveness, neutrality, reinforcement, faithfulness and cancellation. Often overlooked is that the uniqueness of Borda applies only to variable populations. We present a different set of properties which only Borda satisfies when both the set of voters and the set of alternatives can vary. It is also shown Borda is the only scoring rule which will satisfy all of the new properties when the number of voters stays fixed. (JEL D71, D02, H00)
Spatiotemporal analysis of the daily growth traits of the prerecruits of a small pelagic fish in response to environmental drivers
Authors: Hernández Alejandra , Plaza Guido , Gutiérrez Jairo , Cerna Francisco , Niklitschek Edwin J.
Published: July 2020

A comparative analysis of daily growth patterns was carried out for prerecruits (PR) of Engraulis ringens, collected from spring to summer (2015–2016) in northern (18º25'S–24º40'S) and southern nursery areas (32º40'S–41º00'S) off the Chilean coast. Prerecruits ranged from 2.2 to 7.3 cm TL (4.27 ± 0.88) and from 27 to 102 days (54.68 ± 15.92) of age and were hatched mainly in spring 2015. Growth traits were addressed through otolith microstructure analysis to determine the increment width profiles (IW), back‐calculated growth rates (BIGR), and overall absolute growth rates (AGR), whereas the Chl–a and sea‐surface temperature (SST) variations were assessed by analyzing satellite and field‐based data. The IWs (5.42 ± 1.94 µm versus 1.02 ± 0.37 µm), BIGRs (1.02 ± 0.37 versus 0.72 ± 0.26 mm·day−1), and AGRs (0.93 ± 0.15 versus 0.62 ± 0.08 mm·day−1) were significantly higher in the northern than in the southern stocks. The SST ranged from 17°C to 23°C (19.42 ± 1.45) and from 12°C to 18°C (14.81 ± 1.31) and varied significantly between stocks and months, whereas the higher concentration of Chl–α (~8 mg/m3), occurred close to the shallow coastal areas irrespective of stocks. A parabolic relationship between the recent otolith growth rates (ROGR) (as a proxy of recent daily somatic growth rates) and SST recorded at the date of capture estimated a maximum ROGR of 13.4 µm·day−1 at 18°C. These results demonstrated that water temperature seemed to be an important daily growth controller for early juveniles of E. ringens in the Humboldt Current System and that the field‐based growth–temperature relationship obtained will contribute to future potential bioenergetics models for this important forage species.
Coastal Resiliency Groundwater Considerations
Authors: Rozell Daniel J.
Published: July 2020

The potential for rising groundwater is an important consideration in any coastal resiliency assessment. Unlike other groundwater modeling that focuses mostly on contaminant tracking, coastal groundwater resiliency assessments are primarily concerned with the potential for groundwater emergence induced by sea level rise. This provides more options for modelers that range from simplified water table elevation models to fully integrated groundwater and storm water models. The selection is dependent on available data and project needs. However, despite the relative simplicity of some of the techniques, all the methods benefit from a professional with hydrogeological training.
Physician behaviours that optimize patient‐centred care: Focus groups with migrant women
Authors: Gagliardi Anna R. , Kim Claire , Jameel Bismah
Published: July 2020

Background

No prior research studied how to implement patient‐centred care (PCC) for migrant women, who face inequities in health‐care quality. This study explored migrant women's views about what constitutes PCC and how to achieve it.

Design

We conducted a qualitative study involving three focus groups with migrant women living in Toronto, Canada, recruited from English language classes at a community settlement agency, used constant comparative technique to inductively analyse transcripts and interpreted themes against a published PCC framework.

Participants

Twenty‐three migrant women aged 25‐78 from 10 countries participated.

Results

Women articulated 28 physician behaviours important to them across six PCC domains: foster a healing relationship, exchange information, address concerns, manage uncertainty, share decisions and enable self‐care. They emphasized the PCC domain of exchanging information, which included 13 (46.4%) of 28 behaviours: listen to reason for visit, ask questions, provided detailed explanations, communicate clearly, ensure privacy and provide additional information. Women said that instead of practising these behaviours, physicians rushed through discussions, and ignored or dismissed their concerns and questions. As a result, women said that physicians may not fully understand their problem, and they may refrain from stating important details or avoid seeking care.

Conclusions

This research characterized the lack of PCC experienced by migrant women and revealed specific physician behaviours to optimize PCC for migrant women. Research is needed to develop and evaluate the impact of strategies targeted at migrant women, physicians and health‐care systems to support PCC for migrant women.
Behaviours of adolescents towards safety measures at school and in traffic and their health beliefs for injuries
Authors: Kılınç Eda , Gür Kamer
Published: July 2020

Aim

The aim of this work is to determine the behaviours of adolescents towards safety measures at school and in traffic and their health beliefs for injuries.

Background

Adolescents are more prone to injuries, as they are more willing to try risky health behaviours.

Methods

This descriptive and cross‐sectional study was conducted at high schools in Turkey. The data were collected from high school students based on the self‐report method between October 2017 and January 2018. Frequency, percentage, chi‐square, t test, and logistic regression were used to analyse the data.

Results

A total of 481 adolescents participated in the study. The response rate is 96.05%. As a result of the research, 12.5% of the adolescents reported that they were injured in traffic and 18.9% of them were injured at school. Adolescents who did not have an accident had higher scores of health beliefs than those who had an accident (p < 0.05). The most important predictors of injury are being male (OR: 2.52, 95% CI [1.19, 53.00]), parents' separation (OR: 2.82, 95% CI [0.98, 8.09]), and not believing that traffic rules were safe (OR: 3.15, 95% CI [1.42, 6.97]).

Conclusion

Adolescents have risky behaviours at school and in traffic, and these risk behaviours are related to demographic characteristics and health beliefs. School nurses should plan health belief model‐based injury prevention programs.
Canada’s unemployment insurance in crisis
Authors: Ferdosi Mohammad
Published: July 2020

The past several decades in Canada have been marked by systematic attempts to restructure the federally regulated unemployment insurance system, despite growing unemployment and the need for labour market relief. Several program changes, including tightening eligibility requirements, lowering benefits, increasing administrative burdens, limiting enrolment duration and intensifying surveillance have significantly impacted the level and quality of support available to some of the most vulnerable sections of the population. Although Canada weathered the 2008 crisis relatively well, it undertook similar cuts as some of the worst hit European Union members. In line with OECD recommendations, Canadian measures have been rationalised as a means of strengthening work incentives, stimulating growth and reducing deficits. The effect of the coronavirus has been to challenge these longstanding assumptions and policies, pointing to the need for expanded state efforts to cushion social and economic risks in the face of clear evidence of market failure.
Three‐dimensional structure of seminiferous tubules in the Syrian hamster
Authors: Nakata Hiroki , Yoshiike Miki , Nozawa Shiari , Sato Yoko , Iseki Shoichi , Iwamoto Teruaki , Mizokami Atsushi
Published: July 2020

The hamster is useful for the study of male reproductive biology. However, unlike in the mouse and rat, the gross structure of seminiferous tubules in the hamster is largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to clarify the precise 3‐dimensional (3D) structure of seminiferous tubules in hamsters. We reconstructed all seminiferous tubules in 3 and 1 testes from 0‐day (P0) and 10‐week (adult) Syrian hamsters, respectively, using serial paraffin sections and high‐performance 3D reconstruction software. In P0 hamsters, the average numbers of seminiferous tubules, terminating points, branching points, and blind ends per testis were 9.0, 89.7, 93.0, and 0.7, respectively. There were two types of tubules: shorter and dominant ones. The dominant tubules, 2–4 in number per testis and accounting for 86% of the total tubule length, had many terminating and branching points and appeared to be derived from the anastomosis of many shorter tubules. In an adult hamster, there were 11 seminiferous tubules with a total length of 22 m, 98 terminating points, 88 branching points, and 2 blind ends per testis. Three of the 11 tubules were dominant ones, accounting for 83% of the total length, and occupied the testis from the surface over the circumference to the center, while the others were short and occupied only one side of the testis. The amplitude and direction of the curves of tubules were random, and there were no funnel‐shaped networks of tubules present, in contrast to the mouse testis. The present study revealed the 3D structure of seminiferous tubules in developing and adult Syrian hamsters, which is different from that in mice and rats.
The Stenting versus Aggressive Medical Therapy for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis Trial: Reanalysis Using the FDA “On Label” Criteria
Authors: Qureshi Adnan I. , Ishfaq Muhammad F. , Balasetti Vamshi K. S. , Lobanova Iryna , Uzun Guven , Siddiq Farhan , Gomez Camilo R.
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Due to higher rates of 1‐month stroke and death with Wingspan intracranial stent placement observed in SAMMPRIS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a more limited indication for Wingspan stent.

METHODS

We compared the results of intracranial stent placement with best medical treatment in patients recruited in SAMMPRIS who met the new “on label” criteria with those who were categorized as “off label.” The primary endpoint was any stroke or death occurring within 30 days of enrollment, or an ischemic stroke in the territory of the symptomatic intracranial artery from day 31 after study entry to completion of follow‐up.

RESULTS

A total of 31 (7%) among 451 recruited patients met the “on label” criteria. The relative risk of primary endpoint was lower in “on label” patients treated with stent placement compared with best medical treatment (relative risk .61, 95% confidence interval .2‐1.7) but higher in “off label” patients (relative risk 1.81, 95% confidence interval 1.2‐2.6). Primary endpoint was seen in 20% and 23.4% of patients treated with stent placement in “on label” and “off label” patients, respectively. Primary endpoint was seen in 25% and 14.2% of patients treated with best medical treatment in “on label” and “off label” patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The new FDA “on label” criteria may identify a small group of people, who may benefit from intracranial stent placement due to higher risk of primary endpoint in those treated with best medical treatment.
Mitigating Mechanisms for the Dark Side of Collaborative Buyer–Supplier Relationships: A Mixed‐Method Study
Authors: Villena Verónica H. , Choi Thomas Y. , Revilla Elena
Published: July 2020

Scholars have called attention to the dark side of collaborative buyer–supplier relationships (BSRs). For instance, the loss of objectivity, relational inertia, and redundant knowledge bases emerging from too much collaboration may result in declining performance. We extend this line of research by investigating the feasibility of potential mitigating mechanisms. Drawing from the literature on governance in inter‐organizational relationships and the interviews with practitioners that have experienced the dark side, we have identified three mechanisms: challenging goals, contractual explicitness, and expectation of continuity. We examine these mechanisms empirically through two consecutive studies. The first study collected data on 132 buying firms and 28 matched suppliers from two sources (survey and archival database). The results provide support for challenging goals and contractual explicitness but offer mixed results for expectation of continuity. The data also allow us to identify buyers suffering from excessive collaboration with their suppliers. In the second study, we gathered qualitative data on five pairs of such buyers and their matched suppliers. Different pairs show different behaviors. Some buyer and supplier firms seem unaware of their predicament, while others are grappling with fighting back the dark side. This qualitative study also offers additional manifestations of the dark side and mechanisms beyond the ones examined in our first study and explains why expectation of continuity received mixed results. This research advances the BSR literature by demonstrating that it is possible to mitigate the dysfunctionalities emerging from too much collaboration and by providing some evidence for its subtle manifestations. It also reveals the managerial complexity surrounding the dark side and provides future research directions for this important topic.
Tenofovir‐based combination therapy or monotherapy for multidrug‐resistant chronic hepatitis B: Long‐term data from a multicenter cohort study
Authors: Yim Hyung Joon , Suh Sang Jun , Jung Young Kul , Hwang Seong Gyu , Seo Yeon Seok , Um Soon Ho , Lee Sae Hwan , Kim Young Seok , Jang Jae Young , Kim In Hee , Kim Hyoung Su , Kim Ji Hoon , Lee Young Sun , Yoon Eileen L. , Song Myeong Jun , Park Jun Yong
Published: July 2020

The treatment of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is challenging. Herein, we report a multicenter prospective cohort study for the evaluation of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)‐based therapy for MDR CHB in a real‐life setting. The inclusion criteria comprised patients with resistance to more than two nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) classes and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level of ≥200 IU/mL. The primary end‐point was virologic response (VR), defined as undetectable HBV DNA (<20 IU/mL) after 60 months. A total of 236 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean HBV DNA level was 4.16 ± 1.44 log IU/mL; 26.7% of patients had liver cirrhosis. Before the initiation of TDF, 33.5%, 44.9% and 21.6% of patients had mutations resistant to L‐NA + adefovir, L‐NA + entecavir (ETV) and L‐NA + adefovir + ETV, respectively. A total of 184 patients received TDF‐based combination therapy [TDF + ETV (n = 178) or TDF + L‐NA (n = 6)], and 52 patients received TDF monotherapy. In the entire cohort, the VR rates were 77.2%, 89.9% and 92.2% at 12, 36 and 60 months, respectively. The VR rates were not significantly different between the combination therapy and the monotherapy group after 12 (76.2% vs 80.4%, P = .533), 36 (89.8% vs 90.3%, P = 1.000) or 60 (92.9% vs 87.5%, P = .499) months. Also, there was no significant difference in the cumulative VR rates for 5 years between the treatment groups (P = .910). Newly developed antiviral resistance was not observed. TDF‐based therapy was effective for the treatment of MDR CHB. The efficacy of TDF monotherapy was not different from that of the TDF‐based combination therapy.
Agl22 and Agl23 are involved in the synthesis and utilization of the lipid‐linked intermediates in the glycosylation pathways of the halophilic archaeaon Haloarcula hispanica
Authors: Lu Hua , Pei Caixia , Zhou Hui , Lü Yang , He Yun , Li Yunsen , Han Jing , Xiang Hua , Eichler Jerry , Jin Cheng
Published: July 2020

Like both eukaryotes and bacteria, archaea can decorate proteins with N‐ and O‐linked glycans. Whereas pathways and roles of N‐glycosylation have been studied in several model archaeal organisms, little is known of O‐glycosylation. To explore commonalities and variations of these two versions of glycosylation, we used Haloarcula hispanica as a model. Our previous work showed that H. hispanica S‐layer glycoproteins are modified by an N‐linked glucose‐α‐(1, 2)‐[sulfoquinovosamine‐β‐(1, 6)‐]galactose trisaccharide and an O‐linked glucose‐α‐(1, 4)‐galactose disaccharide. Here, we found that H. hispanica membrane contains C60 dolichol phosphate (DolP) as a lipid carrier for glycosylation. As revealed by bioinformatics, gene deletion and phenotype analysis, gene HAH_1571, renamed agl22, encodes a predicted glucosyltransferase that transfers glucose from glucose‐DolP onto galactose‐DolP to form the glucose‐α‐(1, 4)‐galactose‐DolP precursor of the N‐glycosylation. Gene HAH_2016, renamed agl23, encodes a putative flippase‐associated protein responsible for flipping of hexose‐DolPs across the membrane to face the exterior. Our results also suggested that the synthesis of the N‐ and O‐linked glycans onto target protein occurs on the outer surface of the cell using hexose‐DolPs as sugar donors. Deletion mutant showed that N‐ and O‐glycosylation are required for growth in the defined medium mimicking the natural habitat of H. hispanica.
Patient perception of vitality and measured physical activity in patients receiving haemodialysis
Authors: Leme Juliana , Guedes Murilo , Larkin John , Han Maggie , Barra Ana Beatriz Lesqueves , Canziani Maria Eugenia F. , Cuvello Neto Américo Lourenço , Poli‐de‐Figueiredo Carlos Eduardo , de Moraes Thyago Proenca , Pecoits‐Filho Roberto ,   for the HDFIT Study Investigators
Published: July 2020

Aim

Fatigue in haemodialysis (HD) patients can be captured in quality of life questionnaires and by the dialysis recovery time (DRT) question. The associations between fatigue and measured physical activity has not been explored until the present. We tested our hypothesis that the patient perception of chronic and post dialysis fatigue would be associated with lower physical activity.

Methods

This study was a cross sectional evaluation of baseline data from HD patients recruited in the HDFIT trial. Vitality scores from the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL‐36) and the dialysis recovery time (DRT) question were used as indicators of chronic and post dialysis fatigue, respectively. Granular physical activity was measured by accelerometers as part of the study protocol.

Results

Among 176 patients, Vitality score was 63 ± 21 and the DRT was ≤30 minutes in 57% of patients. The mean number of steps was 5288 ± 3540 in 24 hours after HD and 953 ± 617 in the 2‐hour post‐HD period. The multivariable analysis confirmed Vitality scores were associated with physical activity in the 24‐hour post‐HD period. In contrast, DRT was not associated with physical activity captured by the accelerometer in the period immediately (2 hours) after the HD session.

Conclusion

Chronic fatigue was negatively associated with step counts, while patient perception of post‐dialysis fatigue was not associated with physical activity. These patterns indicate limitations in interpretation of DRT. Since physical activity is an important component of a healthy life, our results may partially explain the associations between fatigue and poor outcomes in HD patients.
The vulnerability of lingual plate of the mesioangular impacted mandibular third molars: a measurement on CBCT images
Authors: Nguyen D.P.‐A. , Le S.H. , Nguyen C.T.K. , Dien V.H.A. , Nguyen L.T.‐B.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

The innate fragility of lingual plate (LP) is assumed to be the main reason leading to injuries of lingual neurovascular bundles and surrounding fascial spaces during mandibular third molar (MTM) surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the LP and lingual cortical plate (LCP) thickness of mesioangular impacted MTM.

Methods

A total of 130 cone beam computed topography images were collected and studied. The related landmarks of MTM roots and LP were identified for measurements. At three positions of each root, including middle third, apical third and apex, the integrity of LP together with thickness of LP and LCP were evaluated.

Results

The results showed that mean values of LP and LCP thickness of the most lingual root at apical third were 0.89 and 0.57 mm respectively. The average values of LP and LCP thickness surrounding mesial root were significantly smaller than those of distal root at all examined positions, except LP thickness at the apex. Moreover, the thickness of LP presumably increased together with the horizontal and vertical impacted levels according to Pell–Gregory classification. The percentage of losing LP integrity was determined as 89.5%, 93.4% and 77.4% at middle third, apical third and apex, respectively.

Conclusion

In conclusion, LP surrounding the mesioangular impacted MTM is considerably thin, which can be the reason of lingual neurovascular bundles traumas and fascial spaces damages, especially at the apical third of the mesial root and in class A MTM.
How Do Education and Family Planning Accelerate Fertility Decline?
Authors: Liu Daphne H. , Raftery Adrian E.
Published: July 2020

Education and family planning can both be influenced by policy and are thought to accelerate fertility decline. However, questions remain about the nature of these effects. Does the effect of education operate through increasing educational attainment of women or educational enrollment of children? At which educational level is the effect strongest? Does the effect of family planning operate through increasing contraceptive prevalence or reducing unmet need? Is education or family planning more important?

We assessed the quantitative impact of education and family planning in high‐fertility settings using a regression framework inspired by Granger causality. We found that women's attainment of lower secondary education is key to accelerating fertility decline and found an accelerating effect of contraceptive prevalence for modern methods. We found the impact of contraceptive prevalence to be substantially larger than that of education. These accelerating effects hold in sub‐Saharan Africa, but with smaller effect sizes there than elsewhere.
Frost and drought: Effects of extreme weather events on stem carbon dynamics in a Mediterranean beech forest
Authors: D'Andrea Ettore , Rezaie Negar , Prislan Peter , Gričar Jozica , Collalti Alessio , Muhr Jan , Matteucci Giorgio
Published: July 2020

The effects of short‐term extreme events on tree functioning and physiology are still rather elusive. European beech is one of the most sensitive species to late frost and water shortage. We investigated the intra‐annual C dynamics in stems under such conditions. Wood formation and stem CO2 efflux were monitored in a Mediterranean beech forest for 3 years (2015–2017), including a late frost (2016) and a summer drought (2017). The late frost reduced radial growth and, consequently, the amount of carbon fixed in the stem biomass by 80%. Stem carbon dioxide efflux in 2016 was reduced by 25%, which can be attributed to the reduction of effluxes due to growth respiration. Counter to our expectations, we found no effects of the 2017 summer drought on radial growth and stem carbon efflux. The studied extreme weather events had various effects on tree growth. Even though late spring frost had a strong impact on beech radial growth in the current year, trees fully recovered in the following growing season, indicating high resilience of beech to this stressful event.
Volatility as a Transmitter of Systemic Risk: Is there a Structural Risk in Finance?
Authors: Mieg Harald A.
Published: July 2020

This article discusses the role of volatility in the context of systemic risk in finance. The main argument is that volatility transmits risks within the financial system and beyond, shaking the financial system and threatening in particular small or vulnerable clients (SMEs, households, and also low‐ and middle‐income countries). In addition, it is argued that volatility‐induced threats result from structural characteristics of the financial markets themselves (reactivity, reflexivity, and recursivity). The article introduces the concept of volatility, and different approaches to understanding risks related to the financial system (e.g., financial analysis, systems analysis). Two cases related to systemic risk are presented. The first concerns the role of volatility in three major financial crises (stock crash 1987, Asian crisis 1996–1997, global banking crisis 2007–2008), documenting that volatility spillovers have become a “new normal.” The second case concerns the moderate reflection of systemic risk within The Journal of Finance (the leading financial journal). The two cases show that volatility plays a role in systemic risks, but that this role has not yet been examined in detail by the scientific community.
Calls to helplines in Australia following media reports of Robin Williams’ suicide
Authors: Pirkis Jane , Currier Dianne , Too Lay San , Bryant Marc , Bartlett Sara , Sinyor Mark , Spittal Matthew J.
Published: July 2020

Objective

In the United States, there was an increase in calls to helplines following media reporting of Robin Williams’ suicide. We aimed to determine whether this was the case in Australia.

Method

The helpline services Lifeline and Beyond Blue provided us with weekly data on calls received for 2013–2015. We conducted interrupted time series regression analyses to determine whether there was an increase in the average weekly number of calls received by each helpline in two periods after the story about Williams’ suicide broke (1 week and 4 weeks).

Results

We found strong evidence of an increase in calls to Lifeline (incidence rate ratio [IRR] =1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.02–1.25; p = 0.016) and Beyond Blue (IRR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.09–1.59; p = 0.004) in the week after Williams’ suicide was first reported. We found no evidence of higher than normal call volumes for Lifeline (IRR = 1.04; 95% CI = 0.99–1.10; p = 0.104) or Beyond Blue (IRR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.00–1.22; p = 0.058) over the four weeks following Williams’ death, however, suggesting that calls leveled out over this period.

Conclusion

Suicide prevention experts and media professionals must work together to minimize the negative impacts of reports on suicide and maximize their positive ones. In cases where the story is likely to receive extensive international coverage, it may be important for local media to encourage help‐seeking.
Absence of an aging‐related increase in fiber type grouping in athletes and non‐athletes
Authors: Messa Guy A. M. , Piasecki Mathew , Rittweger Jörn , McPhee Jamie S. , Koltai Erika , Radak Zsolt , Simunic Bostjan , Heinonen Ari , Suominen Harri , Korhonen Marko T. , Degens Hans
Published: July 2020

The aging‐related loss of muscle mass is thought to be partly attributable to motor neuron loss and motor unit remodeling that result in fiber type grouping. We examined fiber type grouping in 19‐ to 85‐year‐old athletes and non‐athletes and evaluated to which extent any observed grouping is explained by the fiber type composition of the muscle. Since regular physical activity may stimulate reinnervation, we hypothesized that fiber groups are larger in master athletes than in age‐matched non‐athletes. Fiber type grouping was assessed in m. vastus lateralis biopsies from 22 young (19‐27 years) and 35 healthy older (66‐82 years) non‐athletes, and 14 young (20‐29 years), 51 middle‐aged (38‐65 years), and 31 older (66‐85 years) athletes. An “enclosed fiber” was any muscle fiber of a particular type surrounded by fibers of the same type only. A fiber type group was defined as a group of fibers with at least one enclosed fiber. Only type II fiber cross‐sectional area (FCSA) showed an age‐related decline that was greater in athletes (P < .001) than in non‐athletes (P = .012). There was no significant age‐related effect on fiber group size or fiber group number in athletes or non‐athletes, and the observed grouping was similar to that expected from the fiber type composition. At face value, these observations do 1) neither show evidence for an age‐related loss and remodeling of motor units nor 2) improved reinnervation with regular physical activity, but 3) histological examination may not reveal the full extent of aging‐related motor unit remodeling.
The Dual Identity of Asian Americans
Authors: Lu Fan
Published: July 2020

Objective

This article investigates whether gains in ethnic identity reduce pan‐ethnic identity among Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

Methods

Ordered logit regression using data from the 2016 National Asian American Survey (NAAS).

Results

Gains in ethnic identity do not reduce pan‐ethnic identity among AAPI. As importance of ethnic identity moves from “not at all” to “extremely,” log odds of reporting higher levels of pan‐Asian identity are about three to four times higher. Furthermore, AAPI who value both ethnic and pan‐Asian identities show similar support for AAPI political candidates as those who identify in only ethnic or only pan‐Asian terms.

Conclusion

Identity politics and disaggregated AAPI data are not inherently divisive.
Analysis of Youths’ Perspective in India On and During the Pandemic of COVID‐19
Authors: Basu Aman , Roy Ajishnu , Hazra Amit Kumar , Pramanick Kousik
Published: July 2020

Objective

In this COVID‐19 pandemic, there are not many sound studies focusing on the extensive socioeconomic impact ushered in with this disaster. This work aims to understand the thought of the youth, their opinions and understanding of various aspects of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methodology

Using a combined qualitative–quantitative approach, Q‐method, we tried to assess people's discernment from different perspectives. This was done through a questionnaire survey method during the national‐level lockdown 1.0 in India.

Results

We have differentiated the perceptions of youth respondents into seven factors, including six subdimensions, on COVID‐19 pandemic (viz., science, society, environment, economy, politics, and religion). The choices and opinions have been segregated into two major groups: quantitative and qualitative.

Conclusion

This work yielded a firsthand ground‐level insight into the comprehensive yet diverse responses from youths regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic in India. There are various topics that arise from this study, for example, misinformation, misinterpretation of science, dubious nature of faith in governance and policy, turbid understanding of strategy, polarization of opinion, and so forth. Following this work of identification, the next steps would be to understand how to mitigate the problems toward betterment in the COVID‐19 pandemic situation or similar widespread crisis events in the foreseeable future.
Ethnic Cues, Latino Skin Tone, and Voter Preferences: An Experimental Test
Authors: Anderson Ben , Bird Garrett , Kornrumpf Richard , Macaluso Maria , Mundkur Natasha , Swingholm Madison , Gainous Jason
Published: July 2020

Objective

Research suggests that voters rely on cognitive heuristics to simplify the evaluative process. Such heuristics include candidate race and other visible characteristics. We set out to test whether Americans use Latino ethnicity as a heuristic to evaluate candidates, and whether the darkness of Latino candidates’ skin tone influences these judgments. Finally, we examine individual‐level partisan differences in the application of these heuristics.

Methods

We leverage a large sample posttest experimental design that manipulates candidate ethnicity and skin tone.

Results

Some respondents in our sample clearly use ethnicity as a heuristic but skin tone does not seem to matter. Democrats evaluated Latino candidates, regardless of skin tone, more positively than they did a white candidate. Republicans seemed immune to ethnic cues or skin tone.

Conclusion

These results shed light on how Latino ethnicity shapes voter preferences, but these tests need to be extended to cross‐sectional data.
Maximum likelihood estimation based on the Laplace approximation forp2network regression models
Authors: Bellio Ruggero , Soriani Nicola
Published: July 2020

The class ofp2models is suitable for modeling binary relation data in social network analysis. Ap2model is essentially a regression model for bivariate binary responses, featuring within‐dyad dependence and correlated crossed random effects to represent heterogeneity of actors. Despite some desirable properties, these models are used less frequently in empirical applications than other models for network data. A possible reason for this is due to the limited possibilities for this model for accounting for (and explicitly modeling) structural dependence beyond the dyad as can be done in exponential random graph models. Another motive, however, may lie in the computational difficulties existing to estimate such models by means of the methods proposed in the literature, such as joint maximization methods and Bayesian methods. The aim of this article is to investigate maximum likelihood estimation based on the Laplace approximation approach, that can be refined by importance sampling. Practical implementation of such methods can be performed in an efficient manner, and the article provides details on a software implementation usingR. Numerical examples and simulation studies illustrate the methodology.
The economic benefits of trade facilitation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise programme
Authors: Roberts Bryan , Prager Fynnwin , Baschnagel Charles , Rose Adam , Shears Brett
Published: July 2020

We evaluate the impacts of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) Program on the U.S. trade community. CBP established ten CEEs in order to facilitate trade by removing non‐tariff barriers. CEEs process importers at “virtual” centres as opposed to individual ports of entry, and they are specialised according to particular sectors. CEEs were anticipated to use government resources more efficiently, reduce paperwork, improve information flows and contribute towards a single window for documenting trade. We use difference‐in‐difference (DID) analysis of CBP administrative data to identify the impacts of importer membership in a CEE on key outcomes, including import shipment examination rates and form filings. We also use survey‐generated data on importer administrative and business costs in order to monetise the value of impacts. These data reveal that the cost to importers of having a shipment examined at a port is roughly ten to twenty times higher than the cost of importers having to file a form with a CEE. Estimated impact results suggest that two of the ten CEEs‐‐Electronics and Automotive‐‐had a statistically significant negative impact on examination rates. We review the reasons for these results, which underscore the need when doing an impact analysis for careful understanding of the underlying data and processes involved in order to develop and explain impact results. For the two CEEs that had significant impacts on import examinations, we quantify the monetary value of these impacts and estimate that they saved their members roughly $1 million in trade examination costs in FY 2014. We also estimate that expanding membership to cover more importers could yield savings of between $7 million and $18 million annually. Finally, we find that CBP could redirect approximately 9,000 import examinations and 7,000 form filings from lower‐risk CEE importers to higher‐risk importers, possibly increasing trade‐enforcement effectiveness.