bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevational gradients do not affect thermal tolerance at local scale in populations of livebearing fishes of the genusLimia(Teleostei, Poeciliidae)
Authors: Silva Rodet Rodriguez , Schlupp Ingo
Published: December 2020

One of the main assumptions of Janzen’s (1976) mountain passes hypothesis is that due the low overlap in temperature regimes between low and high elevations in the tropics, organisms living in high-altitude evolve narrow tolerance for colder temperatures while low-altitude species develop narrow tolerance for warmer temperatures. Some studies have questioned the generality of the assumptions and predictions of this hypothesis suggesting that other factors different to temperature gradients between low and high elevations may explain altitudinal distribution of species in the tropics. We assessed variation in tolerance to extreme temperatures (measured as critical thermal minimum (CTmin) and maximum (CTmax)) and also compared thermal breadth for populations of eight species of livebearing fishes of the genusLimiaoccurring in three Caribbean islands and that occupy different altitudinal distribution. Our results showed that species analyzed had significant differences in thermal limits and ranges. Generally, species distributed in high and low elevations did not differ in thermal limits and showed a wider range of thermal tolerance. However, species living in mid-elevations had narrower range of temperature tolerance. We found no significant effect of phylogeny on CTmin, CTmax and thermal ranges among species. This study did not provide evidence supporting Janzen’s hypothesis at a local scale since thermal tolerance and altitudinal distribution ofLimiaspecies were not related to temperature gradients expected in nature. Phylogeny also did not explain the patterns we observed. We suggest that biotic factors such as species interactions, diet specializations, and others should be taken into account when interpreting current distribution patterns ofLimiaspecies.
Measuring thermodynamic preferences to form non-native conformations in nucleic acids using melting experiments reveals a rich sequence-specific DNA conformational landscape
Authors: Rangadurai Atul , Shi Honglue , Xu Yu , Liu Bei , Assi Hala Abou , Boom John D. , Zhou Huiqing , Kimsey Isaac J. , Al-Hashimi Hashim M.
Published: December 2020

Thermodynamic preferences to form non-native conformations are crucial for understanding how nucleic acids fold and function. However, they are difficult to measure experimentally because this requires accurately determining the population of minor low-abundance (<10%) conformations in a sea of other conformations. Here we show that melting experiments enable facile measurements of thermodynamic preferences to adopt non-native conformations in DNA and RNA. The key to this ‘delta-melt’ approach is to use chemical modifications to render specific minor non-native conformations the major state. The validity and robustness of delta-melt is established for four different non-native conformations under various physiological conditions and sequence contexts through independent measurements of thermodynamic preferences using NMR. delta-melt is fast, simple, cost-effective, and enables thermodynamic preferences to be measured for exceptionally low-populated conformations. Using delta-melt, we obtained rare insights into conformational cooperativity, obtaining evidence for significant cooperativity (1.0-2.5 kcal/mol) when simultaneously forming two adjacent Hoogsteen base pairs. We also measured the thermodynamic preferences to form G-C+and A-T Hoogsteen and A-T base open states for nearly all sixteen trinucleotide sequence contexts and found distinct sequence-specific variations on the order of 2-3 kcal/mol. This rich landscape of sequence-specific non-native minor conformations in the DNA double helix may help shape the sequence-specificity of DNA biochemistry. Thus, melting experiments can now be used to access thermodynamic information regarding regions of the free energy landscape of biomolecules beyond the native folded and unfolded conformations.

Significance Statement

Thermodynamic preferences of nucleic acids to adopt non-native conformations are crucial for understanding how they function but prove difficult to measure experimentally. As a result, little is known about how these thermodynamic preferences vary with sequence and structural contexts, physiological conditions, and chemical modifications. Here, we show that modifications stabilizing non-native conformations and rendering them the major state, in conjunction with melting experiments, enable facile measurements of thermodynamic preferences to form various non-native conformations in DNA and RNA. delta-melt provided rare insights into the cooperativity of forming tandem Hoogsteen base pairs and revealed large and distinct sequence-specific preferences to form G-C+and A-T Hoogsteen and A-T base open conformations in DNA, which may contribute to sequence-specific DNA biochemistry.
Offending patterns – alone or in a group – and severe conduct problems: secondary analysis of cross-sectional questionnaire data
Authors: Gilbert Emma , Padmore Jane , Norman Ian
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to builds upon the hypothesis that “gang” offenders have greater mental health vulnerabilities than both the offender and the general population. This study aims to determine whether there is a difference between the mental health difficulties experienced by young people who may be committing offenses or who may be non-offenders while exploring the interplay of conduct disorder (CD).

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data analysis was conducted of a cross-sectional survey of 449 young people in two secondary schools and the data was compared to the scores on the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). A diagnosis of CD was given to the respondents scoring “abnormal” for conduct on the SDQ and the findings were compared to the total difficulties score of those without a diagnosis of CD.

Findings

Those committing offenses both alone and within a group setting had significantly higher scores across all domains of the SDQ, indicating the prevalence of inattention and hyperactivity, emotional problems, lower prosocial behaviors and peer problems over other offending groups. The total difficulties scores on the SDQ were significantly higher for the offending groups that had a diagnosis of CD.

Originality/value

The results suggest that offending patterns are included within the screening for CD subtypes and support the need for further research into tailored interventions that involve multi-agency collaboration. This research offers a new approach to the identification of severe CD with callous and unemotional traits by examining offensive behavior.
Terrorist risk assessment in the regions of the Russian Federation
Authors: Novikov Andrey Vadimovich , Koshkin Andrey Petrovich , Abramov Ruslan Agarunovich
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to identify the characteristics of terrorist risks in the regional aspect by using the example of the Russian Federation.

Design/methodology/approach

The cluster analysis revealed four groups of regions that differ in the level of terrorist risk. Then, based on comparison of regression analysis results for the selected regions and the country as a whole, a characteristic of factors contributing to and preventing terrorism was presented.

Findings

The research results showed that the main problems affecting the growth of terrorism, both at the national and regional levels, are the low level of economic freedom, as well as high political instability, crime rates, corruption and digital globalization processes. Therefore, when developing and implementing a counter-terrorism policy, more attention should be paid to these areas.

Originality/value

Assessing terrorist risk across national regions is a relevant problem. The identification of patterns in the commission of terrorist attacks and their regional distribution are of great importance for national counter-terrorism strategies.
The strategic role of corporate online references: building social capital through signaling in business networks
Authors: Tóth Zsófia , Naudé Peter , Henneberg Stephan C. , Diaz Ruiz Carlos Adrian
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptualize corporate reference management as a strategic signaling activity in business networks. While research has extensively outlined how firms develop and maintain social capital through business-to-business (B2B) relationships, less is known about how they signal their participation in business networks to develop this social capital. Therefore, this paper conceptualizes B2B references, in particular corporate online references (COR), as a tool through which firms “borrow” attractiveness from their business network. Through the lens of structural social capital theory, COR is shown to capture advantages related to interconnectedness between firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on a two-step qualitative and quantitative research design. First, the authors undertook a qualitative study that reports on the COR practices of senior business managers. A quantitative study then uses social network analysis (SNA) to audit a digital business network comprising 1,098 firms in a metropolitan area of the UK, referencing to each other through their corporate websites using COR.

Findings

The analyses find that COR practices contribute to building structural social capital in networks through strategic signaling. Firms do so by managing B2B references to craft strategic signals, using five steps: requesting, granting, curating, coding and decoding references. While the existing literature on business marketing portrays reference management as a routine and operational management practice, this investigation conceptualizes reference management, in particular COR, as a strategic activity.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use SNA to represent B2B references in the form of COR as a network, which overlaps with (but is not entirely identical to) the business network. Further, the study re-conceptualizes reference management as a strategic signaling activity that leverages the firm’s participation in business networks to build structural social capital by borrowing attractiveness of prestigious business partners that leverages existing structural social capital. Finally, the paper coins and conceptualizes COR as an exemplar of referencing management and offers propositions for further research.
An integrated model to explain online review helpfulness in hospitality
Authors: Moro Sérgio , Esmerado Joaquim
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to propose a model to explain online review helpfulness grounded on both previously identified constructs (e.g. review length) and new ones, which have been analyzed in other online reviews’ contexts but not to explain helpfulness.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 112,856 reviews published in TripAdvisor about 21 Las Vegas hotels were collected and a random forest model was trained to assess if a review has received a helpful vote or not.

Findings

After confirming the validity of the proposed model, each of the constructs was evaluated to assess its contribution to explaining helpfulness. Specifically, a newly proposed construct, the response lag of the manager’s replies to reviews, was among the most relevant constructs.

Originality/value

The achieved results suggest that hoteliers should invest not only in responding to the most interesting reviews from the hotel’s perspective but also that they should do it quickly to increase the likeliness of the review being considered helpful to others.
Customized reputation generation of entities using sentiment analysis
Authors: Gupta Arpita , Priyani Saloni , Balakrishnan Ramadoss
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In this study, the authors have used the customer reviews of books and movies in natural language for the purpose of sentiment analysis and reputation generation on the reviews. Most of the existing work has performed sentiment analysis and reputation generation on the reviews by using single classification models and considered other attributes for reputation generation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have taken review, helpfulness and rating into consideration. In this paper, the authors have performed sentiment analysis for extracting the probability of the review belonging to a class, which is further used for generating the sentiment score and reputation of the review. The authors have used pre-trained BERT fine-tuned for sentiment analysis on movie and book reviews separately.

Findings

In this study, the authors have also combined the three models (BERT, Naïve Bayes and SVM) for more accurate sentiment classification and reputation generation, which has outperformed the best BERT model in this study. They have achieved the best accuracy of 91.2% for the movie review data set and 89.4% for the book review data set which is better than the existing state-of-art methods. They have used the transfer learning concept in deep learning where you take knowledge gained from one problem and apply it to a similar problem.

Originality/value

The authors have proposed a novel model based on combination of three classification models, which has outperformed the existing state-of-art methods. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no existing model which combines three models for sentiment score calculation and reputation generation for the book review data set.
From ‘Judicial Mind’ to ‘Democratic Soul’: Law and Politics on the Bureaucratic Frontline
Authors: O'Brien Nick
Published: December 2020

This article considers the relationship between law and democratic politics as manifest in the practice of ‘street‐level bureaucracy’. By glancing back to debates about citizenship and public administration between the two world wars, it sets contemporary concerns about the political constitution in broader context. In doing so, it discloses a fundamental division between conceptions of the state derived from Roman jurisprudence on the one hand, and ancient Athenian political practice on the other. It finds in the tragic dilemmas posed for street‐level bureaucrats—by the competing claims on their values—a test of individual moral agency and of democracy as the management of diversity. It concludes that what is at stake in our estimation of street‐level bureaucracy is not so much the purity of the ‘judicial mind’ as the complexity of the ‘democratic soul’ and the ‘connected society’.
Arylalkalamine N‐acetyltransferase‐1 functions on cuticle pigmentation in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Miao‐Zhen , Chen Zhao‐Hui , Tang Yu , Liao Cheng‐Hong , Han Qian
Published: December 2020

Arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase (aaNAT) catalyzes the acetylation of dopamine, 5‐hydroxy‐tryptamine, tryptamine, octopamine, norepinephrine and other arylalkylamines to form respective N‐acetyl‐arylalkylamines. Depending on the products formed, aaNATs are involved in a variety of physiological functions. In the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, a number of aaNATs and aaNAT‐like proteins have been reported. However, the primary function of each individual aaNAT is yet to be identified. In this study we investigated the function of Ae. aegypti aaNAT1 (Ae‐aaNAT1) in cuticle pigmentation and development of morphology. Ae‐aaNAT1 transcripts were detected at all stages of development with highest expressions after pupation and right before adult eclosion. Ae‐aaNAT1 mutant mosquitoes generated using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) – CRISPR‐associated protein 9 had no obvious effect on larval and pupal development. However, the mutant mosquitoes exhibited a roughened exoskeletal surface, darker cuticles, and color pattern changes suggesting that Ae‐aaNAT1 plays a role in development of the morphology and pigmentation of Ae. aegypti adult cuticles. The mutant also showed less blood feeding efficiency and lower fecundity when compared with the wild‐type. The mutation of Ae‐aaNAT1 influenced expression of genes involved in cuticle formation. In summary, Ae‐aaNAT1 mainly functions on cuticular pigmentation and also affects blood feeding efficiency and fecundity.
Environment and host species identity shape gut microbiota diversity in sympatric herbivorous mammals
Authors: Fu Haibo , Zhang Liangzhi , Fan Chao , Liu Chuanfa , Li Wenjing , Cheng Qi , Zhao Xinquan , Jia Shangang , Zhang Yanming
Published: December 2020

The previous studies have reported that the mammalian gut microbiota is a physiological consequence; nonetheless, the factors influencing its composition and function remain unclear. In this study, to evaluate the contributions of the host and environment to the gut microbiota, we conducted a sequencing analysis of 16S rDNA and shotgun metagenomic DNA from plateau pikas and yaks, two sympatric herbivorous mammals, and further compared the sequences in summer and winter. The results revealed that both pikas and yaks harboured considerably more distinct communities between summer and winter. We detected the over‐representation of Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria in pikas, and Archaea and Bacteroidetes in yaks. Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, associated with energy‐efficient acquisition, significantly enriched in winter. The diversity of the microbial community was determined by the interactive effects between the host and season. Metagenomic analysis revealed that methane‐metabolism‐related pathway of yaks was significantly enriched in summer, while some pathogenic pathways were more abundant in pikas. Both pikas and yaks had a higher capacity for lipid degradation in winter. Pika and yak shared more OTUs when food shortage occurred in winter, and this caused a convergence in gut microbial composition and function. From winter to summer, the network module number increased from one to five in pikas, which was different in yaks. Our study demonstrates that the host is a dominant factor in shaping the microbial communities and that seasonality promotes divergence or convergence based on dietary quality across host species identity.
Transcriptional profiling of the stringent response mutant strain E. coli SR reveals enhanced robustness to large‐scale conditions
Authors: Ziegler Martin , Zieringer Julia , Takors Ralf
Published: December 2020

In large‐scale fed‐batch production processes, microbes are exposed to heterogeneous substrate availability caused by long mixing times. Escherichia coli, the most common industrial host for recombinant protein production, reacts by recurring accumulation of the alarmone ppGpp and energetically wasteful transcriptional strategies. Here, we compare the regulatory responses of the stringent response mutant strain E. coli SR and its parent strain E. coli MG1655 to repeated nutrient starvation in a two‐compartment scale‐down reactor. Our data show that E. coli SR can withstand these stress conditions without a ppGpp‐mediated stress response maintaining fully functional ammonium uptake and biomass formation. Furthermore, E. coli SR exhibited a substantially reduced short‐term transcriptional response compared to E. coli MG1655 (less than half as many differentially expressed genes). E. coli SR proceeded adaptation via more general SOS response pathways by initiating negative regulation of transcription, translation and cell division. Our results show that locally induced stress responses propagating through the bioreactor do not result in cyclical induction and repression of genes in E. coli SR, but in a reduced and coordinated response, which makes it potentially suitable for large‐scale production processes.
Risk factors for cancer‐associated myositis: A large‐scale multicenter cohort study
Authors: Li Yimin , Jia Xiaohui , Sun Xiaolin , Shi Lianjie , Lin Fuan , Gan Yuzhou , Zhang Xuewu , Gao Xiaojuan , Miao Miao , Hong Daojun , Li Yuhui , He Jing
Published: December 2020

Aim

The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors and prognosis of patients with cancer‐associated myositis (CAM).

Method

Four hundred and eighty‐seven patients with dermatomyositis (DM), clinical amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) and polymyositis (PM) from 3 clinical centers were enrolled retrospectively in this study. Clinical and laboratory data of CAM and non‐CAM patients were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors of CAM.

Results

Out of the 487 patients with DM/CADM/PM, 7.0% (34/487) of patients were classified as CAM. Older age (53.91 ± 13.32 vs. 48.76 ± 14.34 years), heliotrope rash (61.8% vs. 41.9%), shawl sign (41.2% vs. 22.1%), V sign (58.8% vs. 38.6%) were observed significantly more commonly in patients with CAM than those without CAM (all P < .05). Fever (17.7% vs. 37.8%), arthralgia/arthritis (23.5% vs. 45.7%), interstitial lung disease (ILD, 38.2% vs 68.9%) were significantly less common in the CAM group than the non‐CAM group. Age at onset (odds ratio [OR] 1.036, 95% CI 1.001‐1.072, P = .042), shawl sign (OR 2.748, 95% CI 1.107‐6.822, P = .029), anti‐transition initiation factor (TIF)‐1γ antibody (OR 4.012, 95% CI 1.268‐12.687, P = .018) were identified as the initial risk factors for the onset of CAM, and ILD was identified as a protective factor for CAM (OR 0.292, 95% CI 0.115‐0.739, P = .009). All‐cause mortality was significantly higher in CAM patients compared with non‐CAM patients (P = .001).

Conclusion

The mortality of patients with CAM was higher than DM/CADM/PM patients without cancer. Malignancy should be screened in DM/CADM/PM patients especially with risk factors, including older age, shawl sign, anti‐TIF‐1γ antibody, and lack of ILD.
Differences in nutrient mineralisation between native and invasive grazing catfish during the invasion process
Authors: Zandonà Eugenia , Moraes Maíra , Neres‐Lima Vinicius , Dalton Christopher M. , Flecker Alexander S. , Mazzoni Rosana
Published: December 2020

In the highly diverse Rio Ubatiba in Brazil, the native and historically abundant armoured catfish Hypostomus punctatus (Loricariidae) has been declining since the 1990s, concomitantly with the introduction of the non‐native loricariid, Parotocinclus maculicauda. Here, we assess over an 18‐year period the potential impact of the establishment of invasive armoured catfish by examining dietary, tissue and excretion nutrients of these two species and the consequences of species substitution on nutrient remineralisation. To scale these differences up to the ecosystem, we also estimated the total areal excretion of each species over 18 years, pre‐ and post‐introduction of P. maculicauda. Parotocinclus maculicauda had greater tissue %P, while H. punctatus had greater %N and %C. P. maculicauda showed a diet richer in nutrients. It also excreted significantly less mass‐specific NH4–N than the native species, but the two species did not differ in their mass‐specific PO4–P excretion rates. H. punctatus had higher per capita excretion rates for both nutrients, which was expected due to its greater body size. After the introduction of P. maculicauda, areal nutrient excretion dropped, due to the sharp decrease in overall loricariid biomass and the substitution of P. maculicauda, with its lower excretion rate than H. punctatus. These results indicate the two species have different stoichiometric niches and that the invasive P. maculicauda have not replaced the functional role of the native H. punctatus in nutrient mineralisation. This lack of functional replacement was mostly due to the lower biomass of P. maculicauda after the invasion compared to H. punctatus before the invasion. This species substitution can have important consequences at the ecosystem level, potentially altering nutrient cycling in the entire food web. Future studies should further investigate the causes that have led to P. maculicauda invasion and H. punctatus population decreases.
Predictors of occult stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Karjalainen Päivi K. , Gillor Moshe , Dietz Hans Peter
Published: December 2020

Background

Causes for occult stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are poorly recognised.

Aims

To explore the mechanisms behind occult SUI. We hypothesised that cystocele type affects the risk of occult SUI.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective, cross‐sectional study on 878 consecutive women assessed at a tertiary urogynaecologic clinic between July 2016 and November 2018. The population of this study consisted of 424 women with urodynamic stress incontinence. Women with previous anti‐incontinence surgery were excluded. All women underwent a standardised interview, clinical examination and urodynamic testing. Translabial ultrasound was used to categorise cystoceles into Green type II (cystocele with open retrovesical angle) and Green type III (cystocele with intact retrovesical angle). We compared women with overt SUI to those with occult SUI (defined as stress incontinence only observed after prolapse reduction) for demographic characteristics, urodynamic findings and functional anatomy. Predictors for occult SUI were identified with a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

Of 424 women, 362 (85%) had overt, and 62 (15%) occult SUI. There were 136 (32%) women who had a significant cystocele on imaging; 57 (42%) were classified as type II and 79 (58%) as type III. On multivariable regression, age and cystocele type were significantly associated with occult SUI. Odds for occult SUI was 10.9 times higher with type III (cystocele with an intact retrovesical angle) than with type II cystocele (cystocele with an open retrovesical angle; 95% CI 1.3–90.9).

Conclusions

Cystocele type affects the risk of occult SUI. Type III cystocele (intact retrovesical angle) associates with occult SUI.
Seeing from Below: Scuba Diving and the Regressive Cyborg
Authors: Raycraft Justin
Published: December 2020

This article reimagines scuba diving as a form of ethnographic immersion that allows humans to experience life on earth from an underwater perspective. I argue that scuba divers are both posthuman in their cyborgian transcendence of the basic limitations of our species and prehuman in their metaphorical regression into womb‐like oceans, from which all life on earth evolved. I conceptualize divers as (p)reborn humans. Underwater, symbolic modes of human communication devolve to iconic and indexical forms of gesturing that are more in tune with surrounding ecosystems. Scuba diving involves shamanic navigation between lifeworlds, processes that are deeply ritualistic and psychoanalytically significant. Through first‐hand narrative accounts, divers bring new forms of relational knowledge into the public sphere. Bearing in mind the politics of being underwater, I contend that scuba diving can foster a change in how humans apprehend the ocean, from top‐down representation to bottom‐up lived experience. Scuba diving reshapes attention in ways that could inspire collective appreciation for the blue planet that sustains us. Against the backdrop of global environmental change, I call for a shift in the way that humans see and think about the ocean, from above water to below.
Endoxifen: A new, protein kinase C inhibitor to treat acute and mixed mania associated with bipolar I disorder
Authors: Ahmad Ateeq , Sheikh Saifuddin , Khan Mujtaba Ali , Chaturvedi Alok , Patel Piyush , Patel Ronak , Buch Bakul Chandrakant , Anand Rajendra Someshwar , Shah Timirkumar Chandrakant , Vora Vaishal Nareshchandra , Ramasubramanian Vikhram , Rao Satyanarayana , Kumar Narendra , Prasad B. S. V. , Sathianathan Ramanathan , Verma Kamal Kumar , Jhanwar Venu Gopal , Kumar Nand , Shah Sandip , Dalal Pronob Kumar , Sindhu Brahmdeep , Talukdar Payel , Ahmad Imran
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Endoxifen is a protein kinase C inhibitor. The objective of the present phase III study was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of endoxifen in treating bipolar I disorder (BPD I) patients.

Methods

A multicenter, double‐blind, active‐controlled study was conducted using a daily dose of 8 mg endoxifen compared to 1000 mg divalproex, the current standard treatment, in patients with BPD I acute manic episodes with/without mixed features. The primary endpoint of our study was the mean change in total Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score at day 21.

Results

Endoxifen (n = 116) significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced total YMRS score (from 33.1 to 17.8. A significant (p < 0.001) improvement in Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score was observed for endoxifen (4.8 to 2.5). Early time to remission of the disease was observed with endoxifen compared to divalproex. None of the patients required rescue medication and there was no drug‐associated withdrawals. Changes in Clinical Global Impressions‐Bipolar Disorder and Clinical Global Impression‐Severity of Illness scores showed that treatment with endoxifen was well‐tolerated.

Conclusions

Endoxifen at a low daily dose of 8 mg was as efficacious and safe in patients with BPD I acute manic episodes with/without mixed features.
Why would I want to be more self‐compassionate? A qualitative study of the pros and cons to cultivating self‐compassion in individuals with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Kelly Allison , Katan Aleece , Sosa Hernandez Linda , Nightingale Bethany , Geller Josie
Published: December 2020

Objective

Although self‐compassion facilitates eating disorder symptom remission, individuals with eating disorders are fearful of developing it and higher fears of self‐compassion are associated with poorer treatment outcomes. In‐depth exploration of individuals’ pros and cons of behaviour change is generally helpful at resolving ambivalence; however, no research has examined the pros and cons individuals with eating disorders perceive to be associated with developing self‐compassion, limiting our understanding of their personal experiences when confronted with self‐compassion. Given the research suggesting higher resistance to self‐compassion development in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), the present study used qualitative methods to gain a deeper understanding of their perceived pros and cons to self‐compassion.

Methods

Thirty‐seven women with typical (64%) and atypical (36%) AN signed up for a study on self‐help strategies for daily distress. Upon learning that the intervention would entail cultivating self‐compassion, they identified their perceived pros and cons of developing self‐compassion by typing them out.

Results

Thematic analysis was used to extract themes. Three superordinate cons and four superordinate pros of self‐compassion emerged. Perceived cons were as follows: self‐compassion leading to personal shortcomings; apprehension and doubt about the efficacy of self‐compassion; and emotional challenges associated with developing self‐compassion. Perceived pros were as follows: improved health; personal development (e.g., growth, coping); improved outlook; and enhanced social relationships.

Conclusions

These findings reveal the various advantages and disadvantages that women with AN perceive to be associated with developing self‐compassion. Results may help clinicians work more sensitively and effectively when trying to cultivate self‐compassion in patients who have AN.

Practitioner points

This research suggests that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) perceive various disadvantages to cultivating self‐compassion, but also certain advantages.

By familiarizing themselves with the pros and cons to self‐compassion identified by individuals with AN, clinicians may be able to more effectively listen to and communicate with their patients about ambivalence about self‐compassion development.

Clinicians may want to listen for and explore concerns in their AN patients that self‐compassion will lead to personal shortcomings, fail to be beneficial, and be emotionally challenging.

Clinicians may want to listen for and help patients elaborate upon their beliefs about how self‐compassion might benefit their outlook, health, personal development, and relationships.
Piloting ‘Clever Kids’: A randomized‐controlled trial assessing feasibility, efficacy, and acceptability of a socioemotional well‐being programme for children with dyslexia
Authors: Boyes Mark E. , Leitão Suze , Claessen Mary , Dzidic Peta , Badcock Nicholas A. , Nayton Mandy
Published: December 2020

Children with dyslexia are at elevated risk of internalizing (emotional) and externalizing (behavioural) problems. Clever Kids is a nine‐week socioemotional well‐being programme developed specifically for upper primary school children with dyslexia. In a small randomized‐controlled trial, we tested the feasibility, efficacy, and acceptability of the Clever Kids programme.

‘Forty children (Mage = 10.45 years, 65% male) with clinically diagnosed dyslexia too part in the study. Children were randomized to either attend Clever Kids (n = 20) or to a wait‐list control condition (n = 20). Coping skills, self‐esteem, resilience, emotion regulation, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms were measured at pre‐programme, post‐programme, and at three‐month follow‐up.

Recruitment and retention rates indicate high feasibility for further evaluation of the programme. There was a significant interaction between intervention condition and time for non‐productive coping [F(2, 76) = 4.29, p = 0.017, f2 = 0.11]. Children who attended Clever Kids significantly reduced their use of non‐productive coping strategies, and this was maintained at three‐month follow‐up assessment. For all other outcomes, the interactions between intervention condition and time were non‐significant. The programme appears acceptable to children with dyslexia and their families, but may be improved by further reducing the number of activities involving reading and writing.

Clever Kids improved the coping skills of children with dyslexia; however, a larger trial is needed to replicate this finding and investigate whether programme attendance is associated with additional improvements in children’s socioemotional well‐being.
Complications of synthetic mesh inserted for stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Morton Simon , Wilczek Yasmine , Harding Christopher
Published: December 2020

Objective

To provide an update on the literature regarding the management of complications secondary to synthetic mesh placed to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods

We performed a systematic review of the literature using a multi‐database structured search within OVID, the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), the Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE) and Cochrane library databases; using the keywords: urology, incontinence, mesh and surgery.

Results

Several million synthetic polypropylene meshes have been inserted into women worldwide to manage SUI. Unfortunately, a significant number of women have now reported life‐changing complications. We found a paucity of studies, heterogeneity of cohorts, poor long‐term follow‐up, and lack of evidence on the effective management of mesh‐related complications.

Conclusions

The contemporary evidence is low‐level and often contradictory, which prevents robust recommendations regarding treatment. A prospective registry will be required to generate meaningful outcome data and help in the complex management of patients who have mesh‐related complications.
A relook at the 8th edition of the AJCC TNM staging system of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A SEER‐based study
Authors: Xiang Jingzhe , Wang Zhihong , Sun Wei , Zhang Hao
Published: December 2020

Objective

In the 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumour‐node‐metastasis (TNM) staging system (TNM‐8), changes have been made regarding anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) compared with the 7th edition (TNM‐7). The major changes are that anaplastic ATC now has the same T stage definitions as differentiated thyroid cancer, and new staging of IVA and IVB is implemented. However, the clinical impact of the new edition for ATC remains unclear due to scarce and conflicting data. In this study, we compared the AJCC TNM‐7 and TNM‐8 in the same group of patients.

Design

In this retrospective study, we included patients who were diagnosed with ATC between 2004 and 2015; data were gathered from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.

Methods

Overall survival (OS) was evaluated according to T stage and TNM stage according to the 7th and 8th editions. Kaplan–Meier and log‐rank testing was used to analyse OS. The effect of potential predictors was estimated using the Cox regression model.

Results

We included 669 patients in the study. The median age of the cohort was 70 years. During the follow‐up, 600 (89.7%) patients died, 528 of whom died of thyroid cancer. The TNM‐8 T staging more effectively predicted survival than the 7th edition (proportion of variation explained: 3.53% vs. 1.72%). However, the clinical stage was almost unchanged according to the TNM‐8 (proportion of variation explained: 10.69% vs. 10.73%).

Conclusions

The new T classification is an effective predictor of survival for patients with ATC. The results support the use of T definitions as per those of differentiated thyroid cancer. However, whether lymph node metastasis should be taken into account for defining ATC TNM staging should be reconsidered.
Management and entrepreneurship management mechanism of college students based on support vector machine algorithm
Authors: Wang Chao , Dong Yazhi , Xia Yuejun , Li Guoxu , Martínez Oscar Sanjuán , Crespo Rubén González
Published: December 2020

For the employment and entrepreneurship management of college students, the application of big data technology can effectively improve their work efficiency, that is, the support vector machine algorithm is applied to the employment and entrepreneurship management of college students. Based on deep learning technology, the deep neural network is constructed based on SVR and restrictive Boltzmann machine, namely, SVR‐DBN, including theoretical derivation of model architecture, design and selection of model training algorithms, and the modeling steps and flow charts are given, and finally applied to the influence factor analysis. The multiangle comparison proves that the proposed depth model has excellent feature extraction ability and regression prediction. The results show that the algorithm has higher accuracy and has a 26% improvement over traditional algorithms. The research is of great significance to the improvement of the efficiency of employment and entrepreneurship management and the application of support vector machine algorithms.
Donor‐derived cell‐free DNA is associated with cardiac allograft vasculopathy
Authors: Holzhauser Luise , Clerkin Kevin J. , Fujino Takeo , Alenghat Francis J. , Raikhelkar Jayant , Kim Gene , Sayer Gabriel , Uriel Nir
Published: December 2020

Background

The role of donor‐derived cell‐free DNA (dd‐cfDNA) in screening for cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is unknown. We hypothesized that dd‐cfDNA correlates with CAV, markers of inflammation, and angiogenesis in stable heart transplant (HT) recipients.

Methods

Sixty‐five HT recipients ≥2 years post‐transplant, without recent rejection, were stratified by high (≥0.12%) versus low levels (<0.12%) of dd‐cfDNA. A targeted amplification, next‐generation sequencing assay (AlloSure®; CareDx, Inc.) was used to detect dd‐cfDNA. Peripheral blood inflammatory and angiogenesis markers were assessed using a multiplex immunoassay system (Bioplex®).

Results

Of 65 patients, 58 patients had a known CAV status and were included. Thirty had high levels of dd‐cfDNA (≥0.12%), and 28 had low levels (<0.12%). CAV was present in 63% of patients with high dd‐cfDNA vs. 35% with low dd‐cfDNA (p = .047). Donor‐specific antibodies were present in 25% of patients with high dd‐cfDNA vs. 3.8% in those with low dd‐cfDNA (p = .03). There were no differences in rejection episodes, inflammatory, or angiogenesis markers. Importantly, dd‐cfDNA levels were not different when stratified by time post‐transplant.

Conclusions

Higher dd‐cfDNA levels were associated with CAV in stable chronic HT recipients. Further studies are warranted to investigate a possible association between dd‐cfDNA levels and CAV severity and whether dd‐cfDNA can predict CAV progression.
Clinical outcome of kidney transplantation after bariatric surgery: A single‐center, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Outmani Loubna , Kimenai Hendrikus J. A. N. , Roodnat Joke I. , Leeman Marjolijn , Biter Ulas L. , Klaassen René A. , IJzermans Jan N. M. , Minnee Robert C.
Published: December 2020

Patients with class II and III obesity and end‐stage renal disease are often ineligible for kidney transplantation (KTx) due to increased postoperative complications and technically challenging surgery. Bariatric surgery (BS) can be an effective solution for KTx candidates who are considered inoperable. The aim of this study is to evaluate outcomes of KTx after BS and to compare the outcomes to obese recipients (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) without BS. This retrospective, single‐center study included patients who received KTx after BS between January 1994 and December 2018. The primary outcome was postoperative complications. The secondary outcomes were graft and patient survival. In total, 156 patients were included, of whom 23 underwent BS prior to KTx. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications. After a median follow‐up of 5.1 years, death‐censored graft survival, uncensored graft survival, and patient survival were similar to controls (log rank test p = .845, .659, and .704, respectively). Dialysis pre‐transplantation (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.55; 95%CI 1.03–6.34, p = .043) and diabetes (HR 2.41; 95%CI 1.11–5.22, p = .027) were independent risk factors for all‐cause mortality. A kidney from a deceased donor was an independent risk factor for death‐censored graft loss (HR 1.98; 95%CI 1.04–3.79, p = .038). Patients who received a KTx after BS have similar outcomes as obese transplant recipients.
Follow‐up of human adenovirus viral load in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Peker Bilal Olcay , Tüysüz Kintrup Gülen , Sağlık İmran , Can Sarınoğlu Rabia , Güler Elif , Mutlu Derya , Küpesiz Osman Alphan , Çolak Dilek
Published: December 2020

Background

The spectrum of human adenovirus (HAdV)–related disease is broad, and the virus acts on many organs and systems in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of HAdV‐DNA positivity with clinical and laboratory findings 4 months after HSCT.

Methods and results

We retrospectively investigated HAdV‐DNA in 153 HSCT recipients (≤18 years) by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RealStar; Altona Diagnostics). The results of samples from January 2014 to December 2017 are included. HAdV‐DNA was positive for at least one sample type in 50 (32.67%) patients. HAdV‐DNA positivity rate was 8.92% (N: 145/1625), 40.25% (N: 64/159), and 25% (N: 2/8) for plasma, stool, and urine samples, respectively. HAdV‐DNA was positive in the plasma of 38 (24.83%) patients at a median 16 (range: 1–58 days) days after HSCT. The mortality rate was 23.68% and 6.95% in plasma HAdV‐positive and HAdV‐negative patients (p = .014). Moreover, HAdV‐DNA positivity had an impact on overall survival for allogeneic‐HSCT (p = .013), with the cumulative effect including graft‐versus‐host disease state in multivariate analysis (p = .014).

Conclusions

Plasma HAdV‐DNA positivity is a potential influencer that decreases survival in the early post‐transplant period. Due to the high mortality rates, close monitoring is required of HAdV infections after HSCT with sensitive methods, especially at the early stage.
The impact of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic and COVID‐19 on lung transplantation in the UK: Lessons learned from the first wave
Authors: Hardman Gillian , Sutcliffe Ruth , Hogg Rachel , Mumford Lisa , Grocott Laura , Mead‐Regan Sarah‐Jane , Nuttall Jane , Dunn Stephanie , Seeley Philip , Clark Stephen , Quigley Richard , Al‐Attar Nawwar , Booth Karen , Dark John H. , Fisher Andrew J. ,   the NHS Blood, Transplant Cardiothoracic Advisory Group Clinical Audit Group
Published: December 2020

Background

Lung transplantation is particularly susceptible to the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic, and evaluation of changes to practice is required to inform future decision‐making.

Methods

A retrospective review of the UK Transplant Registry (UKTR) and national survey of UK lung transplant centers has been performed.

Results

There was geographic variation in the prevalence of COVID‐19 infection across the UK. The number of donors fell by 48% during the early pandemic period. Lung utilization fell to 10% (compared with 24% for the same period of 2019). The number of lung transplants performed fell by 77% from 53, March to May 2019, to 12. Seven (58%) of these were performed in a single‐center, designated “COVID‐light.” The number of patients who died on the lung transplant waiting list increased, compared to the same period of 2019 (p = .0118). Twenty‐six lung transplant recipients with confirmed COVID‐19 infection were reported during the study period.

Conclusion

As the pandemic continues, reviewing practice and implementing the lessons learned during this period, including the use of robust donor testing strategies and the provision of “COVID‐light” hospitals, are vital in ensuring the safe continuation of our lung transplant program.
Evolving utilization of donation after circulatory death livers in liver transplantation: The day of DCD has come
Authors: Haque Omar , Yuan Qing , Uygun Korkut , Markmann James F.
Published: December 2020

Compared to donation after brain death (DBD), livers procured for transplantation from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors experience more ischemia‐reperfusion injury and higher rates of ischemic cholangiopathy due to the period of warm ischemic time (WIT) following withdrawal of life support. As a result, utilization of DCD livers for liver transplant (LT) has generally been limited to short WITs and younger aged donor grafts, causing many recovered DCD organs to be discarded without consideration for transplant. This study assesses how DCD liver utilization and outcomes have changed over time, using OPTN data from adult, first‐time, deceased donor, whole‐organ LTs between January 1995 and December 2019. Results show that increased clinical experience with DCD LT has translated into increased use of livers from DCD donors, shorter ischemic times, shorter lengths of hospitalization after transplant, and lower rates of retransplantation. The data also reveal that over the past decade, the rate of increase in DCD LTs conducted in the United States has outpaced that of DBD. Together, these trends signal an opportunity for the field of liver transplantation to mitigate the organ shortage by capitalizing on DCD liver allografts that are currently not being utilized.
Echocardiographic differences between D‐TGA and L‐TGA in adult patients
Authors: Kheiwa Ahmed , Harris Ian S. , Varadarajan Padmini
Published: December 2020

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a common cardiac malformation in which the great arteries are discordant relative to the ventricles. The two common forms of transposition include D‐TGA, which presents with cyanosis early in life, and L‐TGA, which on the other hand, may permit survival to adulthood without being diagnosed in childhood. There are remarkable differences between these two forms of TGA in the clinical presentation, echocardiographic findings, and long‐term outcomes. Multimodality imaging in patients with TGA usually provides diagnostic and hemodynamic assessment for routine follow‐up and preoperative planning prior to surgical or transcatheter intervention. In this review, we present a summary of the fundamental echocardiographic aspects of these two forms of TGA with emphasis in the adult congenital heart disease population.