bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concomitant treatment of atrial fibrillation during mitral valve surgery
Authors: Halas Monika , Kruse Jane , McCarthy Patrick M.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Surgical management of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well‐established method of preventing complications and late mortality in patients presenting with AF before mitral valve (MV) surgery. However, despite a substantial body of evidence and a Class I recommendation to apply surgical ablation (SA) concomitant to MV surgery, the utilization of SA remains low.

Methods

In this study, we sought to summarize the current trends in the SA of AF during MV surgery and update the medical community on its advantages, including perioperative mortality and morbidity, freedom from AF, as well as long‐term survival and stroke rates.

Results

The data indicate that SA can be added with no increased risk (and perhaps a reduction in perioperative risk) and improved late survival compared to patients with AF left untreated during MV surgery.

Discussion

Inconsistent application of SA may be related to inaccurate perceptions regarding the complexity of the procedure itself, extended cross‐clamp and bypass times with attendant increased risks, views that it is ineffective, and increased need for an early pacemaker.

Conclusion

Education in the proper performance of SA, including careful placement of the lesions and attainment of the full transmural effect, contributes to procedure success. Propagating the safety and positive outcomes may also address the concerns.
Delayed pericardial effusion after left atrial appendage closure with the LAmbre device: Importance of a fully open umbrella
Authors: Xiao Fangyi , Chen Yanyan , Chen Yihe , Zhou Xiaodong , Wu Xinlei , Chen Xiao , Wang Liangguo , Fang Ying , Su Lan , Huang Weijian
Published: March 2021

Introduction

We aimed to investigate whether a modified implantation method facilitating a fully open umbrella can reduce the pericardial effusion/pericardial tamponade (PE/PT) rate after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with the LAmbre device compared with the conventional method (CM) in patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods and Results

Patients with NVAF who received either isolated LAAC or combined catheter ablation and LAAC using the LAmbre device at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to December 2019 were enrolled. CM was used for device implantation in the initial 59 patients, while a modified method (MM) was used in the remaining 165 patients. Successful implantation was achieved in 98.3% of patients in the CM group and 98.8% in the MM group. A higher rate of a fully open umbrella (98.8% vs. 69%, p < .001), less requirement for recapture (46% vs. 62.1%, p = .036), and a lower incidence of delayed PE/PT (1.2% vs. 8.6%, p = .005) were found in the MM group compared with the CM group. All of the five delayed PT events occurred in patients with combined treatment. An umbrella that was not fully open was the only factor associated with delayed PE/PT events in a multivariable Cox model.

Conclusions

LAAC with the LAmbre device using an MM significantly increases the rate of a fully open umbrella and decreases the requirement for recapture and the incidence of delayed PE/PT. This method is more effective in patients with combined treatment.
Cardiac perforation due to a fracture of a recalled Accufix bipolar active fixation pacing lead 29 years after implantation: A case report
Authors: Kimura Takashi , Kitamura Takeshi , Tokioka Sayuri , Takahashi Masao , Hojo Rintaro , Fukamizu Seiji
Published: March 2021

The Accufix bipolar active fixation atrial pacing lead (Model 330‐801; Telectronics) can have mechanical complications due to a fracture of its J retention wire. An 80‐year‐old man had the Accufix atrial pacing lead implanted 29 years prior, and surgical removal was required because a part of the lead was perforating the apex of the right ventricle. Regular follow‐up examinations are recommended to eliminate the possibility of protrusion and detachment of the J retention wire, even if the clinical course after implantation is stable for a prolonged period.
Efficacy of catheter ablation for premature ventricular contractions in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Authors: Assis Fabrizio R. , Sharma Apurva , Daimee Usama A. , Murray Brittney , Tichnell Crystal , Agafonova Julia , James Cynthia A. , Calkins Hugh , Tandri Harikrishna
Published: March 2021

Background

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) may be found in any stage of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and have been associated with the risk of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Objective

To investigate the role of PVC ablation in ARVC patients.

Methods

We studied consecutive ARVC patients who underwent PVC ablation due to symptomatic high PVC burden. Mean daily PVC burden and antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use were assessed before and after the procedure. Complete long‐term success was defined as more than 80% reduction in PVC burden off of membrane‐active AADs.

Results

Eight patients (37 ± 15 years; 4 males) underwent PVC ablation. The mean daily PVC burden before ablation ranged from 5.4% to 24.8%. A total of 7 (87.5%) patients underwent epicardial ablation. Complete acute elimination of PVCs was achieved in 4 (50%) patients (no complications). The mean daily PVC burden variation ranged from an 87% reduction to a 26% increase after the procedure. Over a median follow‐up of 345 days (range: 182–3004 days), only one (12.5%) patient presented complete long‐term success, and 6 (75%) patients either maintained or increased the need for Class I or Class III AADs. A total of 2 (25%) patients experienced sustained VT for the first time following the ablation procedure, requiring repeat ablation. No death or heart transplantation occurred.

Conclusion

PVC ablation was not associated with a consistent reduction of the PVC burden in ARVC patients with symptomatic, frequent PVCs. PVC ablation may be reserved for highly symptomatic patients who failed AADs. Additional investigation is required to improve the efficacy of PVC ablation in ARVC patients.
Accuracy of the novel Peguero Lo‐Presti criterion for electrocardiographic detection of left ventricular hypertrophy in a black African population
Authors: Nyaga Ulrich Flore , Boombhi Jerôme , Menanga Alain , Mokube Morike , Ndomo Mevoula Carine Sandrine , Kingue Samuel , Noubiap Jean Jacques
Published: March 2021

The diagnostic accuracy of the electrocardiogram for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is limited. Recently, Peguero and collaborators proposed a novel voltage criterion for its detection with reportedly higher accuracy than the commonly used Cornell and Sokolow‐Lyon criteria. While studies done in various populations have confirmed it, there are no available data from black African populations. We conducted a cross‐sectional study in a population from Cameroon to compare the Peguero‐Lo Presti criterion to the older Cornell, Sokolow‐Lyon, and Cornell product criteria, pertaining to their sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), with echocardiography as the reference standard. The study population consisted of 238 participants (54.2% female) with a mean age of 58 (SD 13) years. On echocardiography, the prevalence of LVH was 45.3% (n = 108). The sensitivity was 48.14%, 63.89%, 63.89%, and 67.29% for the Sokolow‐Lyon, Peguero‐Lo Presti, Cornell, and Cornell product criteria, respectively. The specificity was 73.84%, 75.97%, 79.23%, and 82.31% for the Peguero‐Lo Presti, Cornell product, Cornell, and Sokolow‐Lyon criteria, respectively. The overall accuracy of the Peguero‐Lo Presti (AUC = 0.689) was not significantly different from that of the Cornell (AUC = 0.714), the Cornell product (AUC = 0.717), and the Sokolow‐Lyon (AUC = 0.652) (all p ˃ .05). Hypertension and gender influenced the agreement between ECG criteria and echocardiography in the detection of LVH. In conclusion, in this black African population, Peguero‐Lo Presti was not significantly more or less accurate than Cornell or Sokolow‐Lyon.
Should vaccination be mandated? Individuals' perceptions on mandatory vaccination in Greece
Authors: Giannouchos Theodoros V. , Steletou Evaggelia , Saridi Maria , Souliotis Kyriakos
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence individuals' attitudes towards mandatory vaccination in Greece.

Methods

A nationally representative cross‐sectional telephone survey was conducted via a random multistage selection process in October 2019 in Greece. The survey was designed to obtain information about whether vaccination should be mandated or not among adults 18 years of age or older. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between individuals' sociodemographic, contextual and clinical characteristics, utilization, satisfaction, and trust in the healthcare system and providers and their preference over mandatory vaccination.

Results

A total of 901 participants fully completed the survey (response rate 90%‐901/1001). About 85% of the respondents supported mandatory vaccination. Individuals who used preventive services more often compared to those who never or rarely used such, those who reported increased trust in official healthcare authorities' guidelines and recommendations compared to those who reported no trust and those who had underage children living in the household were significantly more likely to support mandatory vaccination. No differences were observed for sociodemographic factors and mandatory vaccination support.

Conclusion

This survey revealed that most Greek citizens support mandatory vaccination, which was critically affected by the utilization of preventive services and trust in healthcare authorities. Our results suggest that healthcare policy interventions should promote mandatory vaccination through multi‐level initiatives to improve healthcare providers' and the general public's understanding of the value of vaccination.
Deoxycholic acid enhancement of lymphocyte migration through direct interaction with the intestinal vascular endothelium
Authors: Shibuya Naoki , Higashiyama Masaaki , Akita Yoshihiro , Shirakabe Kazuhiko , Ito Suguru , Nishii Shin , Mizoguchi Akinori , Inaba Kenichi , Tanemoto Rina , Sugihara Nao , Hanawa Yoshinori , Wada Akinori , Horiuchi Kazuki , Yoshikawa Kenichi , Kurihara Chie , Okada Yoshikiyo , Watanabe Chikako , Komoto Shunsuke , Tomita Kengo , Saruta Masayuki , Hokari Ryota
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim

The small intestine plays a central role in gut immunity, and enhanced lymphocyte migration is involved in the pathophysiology of various enteropathy. Bile acid (BA) is closely related to lipid metabolism and gut microbiota and essential for gut homeostasis. However, the effects of BA on gut immunity have not been studied in detail, especially on the small intestine and lymphocyte migration. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of BA on small intestinal lymphocyte microcirculation.

Methods

The effect of deoxycholic acid (DCA), taurocholic acid (tCA), or cholic acid (CA) on the indomethacin (IND)‐induced small intestinal enteropathy in mice was investigated. Lymphocyte movements were evaluated after exposure to BA using intravital microscopy. The effects of BA on surface expression of adhesion molecules on the vascular endothelium and lymphocytes through BA receptors were examined in vitro.

Results

IND‐induced small intestinal enteropathy was histologically aggravated by DCA treatment alone. The expression of adhesion molecules ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 was significantly enhanced by DCA. Exposure to DCA increased lymphocyte adhesion in the microvessels of the ileum, which was partially blocked by anti‐α4β1 integrin antibody in vivo. The expression of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 was significantly enhanced by DCA in vitro, which was partially suppressed by the sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) antagonist. The S1PR2 antagonist significantly ameliorated IND‐induced and DCA‐exaggerated small intestinal injury.

Conclusion

DCA exacerbated IND‐induced small intestinal enteropathy. DCA directly acts on the vascular endothelium and enhances the expression levels of adhesion molecules partially via S1PR2, leading to enhanced small intestinal lymphocyte migration.
Predictors of Early and Late Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Readmission: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Son Youn‐Jung , Kim Gi‐Ock , Lee Yun Mi , Oh Minkyung , Choi JiYeon
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Intensive care unit (ICU) readmission is considered one of the major quality indicators of critical care. Reducing ICU readmission can improve patients’ outcomes and optimize health resources, but there are limited data on the predictors of unplanned ICU readmission. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with unplanned ICU readmission within 48 hr (early) and after 48 hr (late) from ICU discharge.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Data were collected from patients’ electronic medical records in a 24‐bed medical ICU at a tertiary academic medical center in Busan, South Korea. Among all the patients admitted to the medical ICU (n= 1,033) between January 2015 and December 2017, 739 eligible patients were analyzed. A multivariable multinomial logistic regression model was conducted to identify predictors of ICU readmission.

Findings

Out of the 739 patients analyzed, 66 (8.9%) were readmitted to the medical ICU: 13 (1.8%) as early readmission and 53 (7.1%) as late readmission. Two significant predictors were identified for early readmission: ICU admission from the ward (odds ratio [OR] = 4.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25, 13.67) and mechanical ventilation support >14 days (OR= 13.25; 95% CI 1.78, 98.89). For late ICU admission, there were four risk factors: ICU admission from the ward (OR= 2.69; 95% CI 1.44, 5.05), tracheostomy placement (OR= 3.58; 95% CI 1.49, 8.59), mechanical ventilation support >14 days (OR= 4.77; 95% CI 1.67, 13.63), and continuous renal replacement therapy (OR= 4.57; 95% CI 2.42, 8.63).

Conclusions

To prevent unplanned ICU readmission in patients at high risk, it is necessary to investigate further the role of clinical judgment and communication within the ICU clinical team and institutional‐level support regarding ICU readmission events.

Clinical Relevance

Both ICU nurses and nurses in post‐ICU settings should be aware of the potential risk factors associated with early and late ICU readmission. Predictors and readmission strategies may be different for early and late readmissions. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to examine how these factors influence post‐ICU outcomes.
Time Variation of the Equity Term Structure
Authors: GORMSEN NIELS JOACHIM
Published: March 2021

I study the term structure of one‐period expected returns on dividend claims with different maturity. I find that the slope of the term structure is countercyclical. The countercyclical variation is consistent with theories of long‐run risk and habit, but these theories cannot explain the average downward slope. At the same time, the cyclical variation is inconsistent with recent models constructed to match the average downward slope. More generally, the average and cyclicality of the slope are hard to reconcile with models with a single risk factor. I introduce a model with two priced factors to solve the puzzle.
The provenance of what is proven: exploring (mock) jury deliberation in Scottish rape trials
Authors: CHALMERS JAMES , LEVERICK FIONA , MUNRO VANESSA E.
Published: March 2021

This article presents findings from the largest research study of the nature of mock jury deliberations in rape cases undertaken in the UK to date – and the first such study to be undertaken in the Scottish context. The study found considerable evidence of the expression of problematic attitudes towards rape complainers. These included the belief that a ‘real’ rape victim would have extensive external and internal injuries and would resist attack by inflicting injuries on her attacker and shouting for help, that even a short delay in reporting a rape is suspicious, and that false allegations of rape are commonly made by women and difficult to refute. There was, however, also evidence that some jurors were willing to challenge these attitudes and that they often relied – explicitly or implicitly – on third‐sector campaigns to do so. The article concludes by drawing out the implications of this research for policy and practice.
MRI Diffusion‐Weighted Imaging to Measure Infarct Volume: Assessment of Manual Segmentation Variability
Authors: Cimflova Petra , Kral Jiri , Volny Ondrej , Horn MacKenzie , Ojha Piyush , Cabal Martin , Kasickova Linda , Havelka Jaroslav , Jonszta Tomas , Bar Michal , Qiu Wu
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Manual segmentation of infarct volume on follow‐up MRI diffusion‐weighted imaging (MRI‐DWI) is considered the gold standard but is prone to rater variability. We assess the variability of manual segmentations of MRI‐DWI infarct volume.

METHODS

Consecutive patients (May 2018 to May 2019) with the anterior circulation stroke and endovascularly treated were enrolled. All patients underwent 24‐ to 32‐hour follow‐up MRI. Three users manually segmented DWI infarct volumes slice by slice twice. The reference standard of DWI infarct volume was generated by the STAPLE algorithm. Intra‐ and interrater reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) by comparing manual segmentations with the reference standard. Spatial measurements were evaluated using metrics of the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Volumetric measurements were compared using the lesion volume.

RESULTS

The dataset consisted of 44 patients, mean (SD) age was 70.1 years (±10.3), 43% were women, and median baseline NIHSS score was 16. Among three users, the mean DSC for MRI‐DWI infarct volume segmentations ranged from 80.6% ± 11.7% to 88.6% ± 7.5%, and the mean absolute volume difference was 2.8 ± 6.8 to 13.0 ± 14.0 ml. Interrater ICC among the users for DSC and infarct volume was .86 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: .78‐.91) and .997 (95% CI: .995‐.998). Intrarater ICC for the three users was .83 (95% CI: .69‐.93), .84 (95% CI: .72‐.91), and .80 (95% CI: .64‐.89) for DSC, and .99 (95% CI: .987‐.996), .991 (95% CI: .983‐.995), and .996 (95% CI: .993‐.998) for infarct volume.

CONCLUSIONS

Manual segmentation of infarct volume on follow‐up MRI‐DWI shows excellent agreement and good spatial overlap with the reference standard, suggesting its usefulness for measuring infarct volume on 24‐ to 32‐hour MRI‐DWI.
Digital pain drawings are a useful and reliable tool for assessing patients with temporomandibular disorders
Authors: Pitance Laurent , De Longhi Benjamin , Gerard Eve , Cayrol Timothee , Roussel Nathalie , Cescon Corrado , Falla Deborah , Barbero Marco
Published: March 2021

Background

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are characterised by complex symptomatology and their assessment can be enhanced using pain drawings (PD).

Objectives

To evaluate the location and extent of pain in people TMD using digital PD, and to explore their association with clinical features. Reliability of pain extent and pain location using PD was also assessed.

Methods

Forty volunteers with TMD completed two consecutive digital PDs. Clinical features were captured from self‐reported questionnaire. Additionally, secondary hyperalgesia was measured using the pressure pain threshold (PPT). The correlation between pain extent and clinical features was investigated using Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Reliability of pain extent was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland‐Altman plots. The Jaccard index was computed to assess the reliability of pain location.

Results

Analysis of the PDs indicated that people with TMD commonly experience pain in other body regions including the neck, the shoulder and the low back. Except for PPT and pain catastrophising, all other clinical features were significantly correlated with pain extent. The ICCs of pain extent for all body charts were very high (ICCs 95% CI from 0.73 to 0.96), and Bland‐Altman plots showed mean biases close to zero with narrow limits of agreement. The reliability of pain location was also supported by Jaccard index mean scores above 0.68.

Conclusions

People with TMD showed widespread pain, and pain extent was associated with pain intensity, neck and headache‐related disability, depression, anxiety, hyperventilation and central sensitivity. The reliability of measuring pain extent and pain location was confirmed.
Normative Beliefs about Social Withdrawal in Adolescence
Authors: Wood Katherine R. , Coplan Robert J. , Hipson Will E. , Bowker Julie C.
Published: March 2021

The goal of this study is to explore normative beliefs about social withdrawal during adolescence. Participants were N = 419 adolescents (Mage = 16.13 years), who completed measures of normative beliefs about social withdrawal and their own social withdrawal (shyness, unsociability). Among the results, adolescents reported greater overall acceptance of unsociability compared to shyness, however, some gender differences also emerged. Specifically, adolescents were more accepting of unsociability when depicted by hypothetical females, and more accepting of shyness when depicted by hypothetical males. Participant social withdrawal was associated with greater acceptance of socially withdrawn behaviors in others. These findings provide a first look at normative beliefs about social withdrawal during a developmentally critical age period for this construct.
GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CHARGE HISTORY OF OIL IN THE UPPER CRETACEOUS M1 SANDSTONES (NAPO FORMATION) IN BLOCK T, ORIENTE BASIN, ECUADOR
Authors: Zhongzhen Ma , Heping Chen , Xiaofa Yang , Yubing Zhou , Zuoji Tian , Dandan Wang , Yaming Liu , Yongbin Zhao
Published: March 2021

Major oil discoveries have recently been made in Block T in the north of the Oriente Basin, Ecuador. The oil is reservoired in the M1 Sandstones of the Upper Cretaceous Napo Formation. To investigate the origin and charge history of the petroleum, a detailed geochemical study was carried out on 43 crude oil samples from 42 producing wells in Block T together with fluid inclusion analyses of three core samples from two wells.

According to the results of GC/GC‐MS analyses of the oil samples, the oils contain n‐alkanes with a peak carbon number at C15‐C17 and a subordinate peak at C25‐C30. The nC21‐/nC22+ ratio ranges from 0.64 to 1.69, and the Carbon Preference Index from 0.95 to 1.23. The odd‐over‐even predominance is 1.02–1.27. A cross‐plot of C22/C21 versus C24/C23 tricyclic terpanes indicates that the source rock is a marine marl mixed with a small amount of terrigenous material. C27 regular steranes are more dominant than C28 ≈ C29 and the C29/C27 ratio ranges from 0.67 to 0.94 indicating a source rock dominated by marine algal material with minor terrigenous input. Rc calculated using the MPI index was 0.83% to 1.11%, indicating that the oils were generated during the early to peak oil generation stage. A cross‐plot of C29ααα20S/(20S+20R) versus C29αββ/(ββ+αα), and ratios of C31L‐hopane 22S/(22S + 22R) and C32L‐hopane 22S/(22S + 22R), gave similar maturity results.

The presence in the same oil samples of a complete n‐alkane series together with an unresolved UCM hump and 25‐norhopanes indicates at least two stages of oil charging, with severe biodegradation of the early‐stage oil and a later charge of fresh, unaltered oil.

The homogenization temperatures of 36 fluid inclusions in samples from Block T wells F20 and F67 range from 81 to 95°C. A reconstructed burial and geothermal history of well F20 indicates that the M1 Sandstones in this area reached a temperature of 81°C at 19–16 Ma, after which temperatures increased continuously to 95–100°C at the present day. The homogenization temperatures of the analysed fluid inclusions combined with the geothermal history indicate that oil charging into the M1Sandstones began in the early Miocene and continues at the present day.
Dental pain in adult and elderly homeless people: Prevalence, associated factors, and impact on the quality of life in Midwest Brazil
Authors: do Carmo Matias Freire Maria , de Campos Lawder Juliana Aparecida , de Souza João Batista , de Matos Marcos André
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with dental pain and its impact on the quality of life of adult and elderly homeless people in Midwest Brazil.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 353 individuals aged ≥18 attending a public homeless shelter in a Brazilian state capital (Goiânia). Data on sociodemographic, psychosocial, drug use and oral health‐related factors, and quality of life [Oral Impact on Daily Performance scale (OIDP)] were collected through interviews. Pearson's Chi‐square tests and robust Poisson regression were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The prevalence of dental pain in the past 6 months was 50 percent. Most of the respondents reported very severe pain and self‐management including medication and tooth extraction. In the adjusted regression, the prevalence of pain was 1.48 times higher among individuals who last visited the dentist within the past 2 years, compared to those who had visited more than 2 years ago; and nearly five times higher among those with a perceived need for dental treatment, compared to those with no need. The prevalence of oral impact on daily performance was 80.1 percent and the most affected activities were “difficulty eating” and “feeling ashamed to smile or speak.” The adjusted prevalence of impact was higher among individuals who had dental pain, regardless of their sociodemographic characteristics.

Conclusions

The prevalence, intensity, and self‐management of dental pain were high among the Brazilian homeless people studied. Reporting of pain was associated with factors related to dental care and negatively affected their quality of life.
The Effect of Speaker Proficiency on Intelligibility, Comprehensibility, and Accentedness in L2 Spanish: A Conceptual Replication and Extension of Munro and Derwing (1995a)
Authors: Huensch Amanda , Nagle Charlie
Published: March 2021

This study investigated the relationship among intelligibility, comprehensibility, and accentedness in the speech of second language learners of Spanish of varying proficiency in instructed contexts. It conceptually replicated studies by Munro and Derwing (1995a) and Derwing and Munro (1997), who found partial independence among the three speech dimensions but also evidence that proficiency may mediate the relationship between linguistic features of stimuli (e.g., phonemic and grammatical error rates) and speech dimensions. Speech data from 42 second language learners of Spanish recruited from two different universities were elicited via a semispontaneous speaking task: the picture‐based narration from the initial study. Amazon Mechanical Turk was used to recruit 80 native Spanish listeners to transcribe and rate extracted utterances. The utterances were coded for grammatical and phonemic errors, goodness of prosody, and speaking rate. Analyses included mixed‐effects models that allowed estimation of individual variation across facets of the data, particularly those of listeners.
First insights on the horizontal movements of short‐finned pilot whales in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: García‐Aguilar María C. , Pardo Mario A. , Fajardo‐Yamamoto Arturo , Ramírez‐León Mario Rafael , Sosa‐Nishizaki Oscar
Published: March 2021

This study is the first assessment on how short‐finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) move within the Gulf of Mexico. In April 2018, seven adult animals were tagged using location‐only satellite transmitters in the south‐western Gulf (18°59′N and 95°19′W). When tagged, all animals were in a medium‐size aggregation that split after a week and followed two routes, indicating that the initial aggregation was consisted of at least two social units. Regardless of the route, short‐finned pilot whales moved at a low travel rate (mean = 3.4 km/hr; 50% IC: 1.5–4.8) on the south‐western continental shelf‐break, between the 500‐ and 800‐m isobaths. The oceanography and hydrographic features of the south‐western Gulf's continental shelf‐break would favour the aggregation of prey, influencing the low dispersion observed during the transmission period, as well as the co‐occurrence of several social units. However, given the relatively short period covered (up to 87 days) and the few animals tagged, the movement patterns described here could vary at longer temporal and spatial scales.
Simulating risk measures via asymptotic expansions for relative errors
Authors: Jiang Wei , Kou Steven
Published: March 2021

Risk measures, such as value‐at‐risk and expected shortfall, are widely used in finance. With the necessary sample size being computed using asymptotic expansions for relative errors, we propose a general framework to simulate these risk measures for a wide class of dependent data. The asymptotic expansions are new even for independent and identical data. An extensive numerical study is conducted to compare the proposed algorithm against existing algorithms, showing that the new algorithm is easy to implement, fast and accurate, even at the 0.001 quantile level. Applications to the estimation of intra‐horizon risk and to a comparison of the relative errors of value‐at‐risk and expected shortfall are also given.
Smartphone Addiction, Loneliness, Narcissistic Personality, and Family Belonging Among University Students: A Path Analysis
Authors: Gökçearslan Şahin , Yildiz Durak Hatice , Berikan Burcu , Saritepeci Mustafa
Published: March 2021

Background

The relationship between smartphone addiction (SPA) and loneliness is examined in several studies, however, the mediating effects of the variables related to narcissism and the family on the relationship between SPA and loneliness are not yet available in the literature.

Objective

The present study investigates the role of SPA on loneliness and the moderating effects of narcissistic personality and family belonging on loneliness.

Participants and Setting

Data required for research were obtained via an online survey from undergraduate students (n = 500) studying at a public university.

Methods

In the study, the relationship between the variables was determined by path analysis.

Results

The results of the path analysis show that there is a significant positive relationship between SPA and loneliness. According to the model, no significant relationship was found between narcissistic personality and family‐belonging level. There is a negative and significant mediation effect between SPA and narcissistic personality traits. There is a positive and significant mediation effect between SPA and family belonging. The results of the research are discussed with regard to university students and future directions.

Conclusions

According to these research results, SPA predicts loneliness. As the level of family belonging decreases, SPA increases. The relationship between university students and their families and environments is among the variables that should be considered when evaluating SPA.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis induced by Toxoplasma gondii infection diagnosed by a bone marrow biopsy and DNA next‐generation sequencing in an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient
Authors: Obeid Karam M. , Grzywacz Bartosz , Ferrieri Patricia , Arbefeville Sophie , Slungaard Arne , Betts Brian
Published: March 2021

In the United States, toxoplasmosis following allogeneic hematopoietic stem transplant (allo‐HCT) is very rare with a rate only between 0.5% and 2%. The reported rates of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) following allo‐HCT range between 0.3% and 17%. Secondary HLH due to toxoplasmosis infection is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of secondary HLH due to toxoplasmosis following allo‐HCT. The diagnosis was reached by a bone marrow biopsy and confirmed by DNA next generation sequencing and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The IHC staining included CD1a, a stain previously known to react with cells infected by Leishmania, here we show CD1a staining of macrophages infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Our report highlights the utility of bone marrow biopsy in diagnosing parasitic infection underlying HLH in post‐transplant settings. The pre‐transplant evaluation of patients from low endemic countries, is a great opportunity to obtain a travel history to determine the risks and the preventative measures against opportunistic infections including toxoplasmosis.
Closing the protein gap in plant chronobiology
Authors: Mehta Devang , Krahmer Johanna , Uhrig R. Glen
Published: March 2021

Our modern understanding of diel cell regulation in plants stems from foundational work in the late 1990s that analysed the dynamics of selected genes and mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana. The subsequent rise of transcriptomics technologies such as microarrays and RNA sequencing has substantially increased our understanding of anticipatory (circadian) and reactive (light‐ or dark‐triggered) diel events in plants. However, it is also becoming clear that gene expression data fail to capture critical events in diel regulation that can only be explained by studying protein‐level dynamics. Over the past decade, mass spectrometry technologies and quantitative proteomic workflows have significantly advanced, finally allowing scientists to characterise diel protein regulation at high throughput. Initial proteomic investigations suggest that the diel transcriptome and proteome generally lack synchrony and that the timing of daily regulatory events in plants is impacted by multiple levels of protein regulation (e.g., post‐translational modifications [PTMs] and protein–protein interactions [PPIs]). Here, we highlight and summarise how the use of quantitative proteomics to elucidate diel plant cell regulation has advanced our understanding of these processes. We argue that this new understanding, coupled with the extraordinary developments in mass spectrometry technologies, demands greater focus on protein‐level regulation of, and by, the circadian clock. This includes hitherto unexplored diel dynamics of protein turnover, PTMs, protein subcellular localisation and PPIs that can be masked by simple transcript‐ and protein‐level changes. Finally, we propose new directions for how the latest advancements in quantitative proteomics can be utilised to answer outstanding questions in plant chronobiology.
Economist as public intellectual: Max Corden’s journey through life
Authors: Athukorala Prema‐chandra , Hill Hal , Jayasuriya Sisira
Published: March 2021

This paper examines the intellectual contributions of Professor W. M. (‘Max’) Corden to Economics. We focus on three main fields: trade theory and practice, especially his pioneering work on the theory of effective protection; open economy macroeconomics, including exchange rate policy, the international monetary system, Dutch Disease and economic crises; and Australian economic policy. We emphasise Max's motivation for working on these topics, as he sought to understand real‐world economic issues and challenges and to employ economic theory and expositional clarity in search of policy reform. We also draw attention to his personal life history, and how it has shaped his thinking on major economic and political questions.
Effect of light exposure on growth rate of veterinary clinical dermatophyte isolates
Authors: Elwart Olivia E. , Pieper Jason B. , Oh Soon‐Hwan , Wilcoxen Travis E. , Hoyer Lois L.
Published: March 2021

Background

Veterinary textbooks and literature suggest that exposure to light is inhibitory to growth of clinical dermatophyte isolates.

Hypothesis/objectives

We hypothesized that this idea was derived from experiments that examined the effect of high doses of ultraviolet and visible light exposure on dermatophyte growth, and that exposure to typical room lighting would not adversely affect dermatophyte growth rate.

Methods and materials

Isolates of common veterinary dermatophytes (three each of Microsporum canis, Nannizia gypsea and Trichophyton benhamiae) were exposed to typical fluorescent room lighting, incubated in a closed drawer, or exposed at close range to fluorescent wide‐spectrum light. Dermatophytes were grown on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SAB) and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM). Colony diameter was measured and growth rate (expressed as colony diameter increase mm/day) calculated at the linear portion of the culture growth curve. Statistical analyses compared growth rates across the various incubation conditions and among dermatophyte isolates.

Results

There was little difference in growth rate between cultures incubated under typical fluorescent room lighting and those placed in the dark. Exposure to the close‐range light increased growth rate as a consequence of the elevated incubation temperature created by the lamp. Significant differences in growth rate were noted among strains of the same dermatophyte species. Dermatophytes grew more rapidly on SAB than DTM agar.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Exposure to typical lighting conditions in a clinical environment does not inhibit growth of dermatophyte colonies. Veterinary clinicians may conduct routine dermatophyte cultures without incubating them in the dark.
Administration of 3% Sodium Chloride Through Peripheral Intravenous Access: Development and Implementation of a Protocol for Clinical Practice
Authors: Jannotta Gemi E. , Gulek Bernice G. , Dempsey John S. , Blissitt Patricia A. , Sullivan Helen C. , Tran Kim , Joffe Aaron , Lele Abhijit V.
Published: March 2021

Background

Patients with traumatic brain injury, cerebral edema, and severe hyponatremia require rapid augmentation of serum sodium levels. Three percent sodium chloride is commonly used to normalize or augment serum sodium level, yet there are limited data available concerning the most appropriate route of administration. Traditionally, 3% sodium chloride is administered through a central venous catheter (CVC) due to the attributed theoretical risk of phlebitis and extravasation injuries when hyperosmolar solution is administered peripherally. CVCs are associated with numerous complications, including arterial puncture, pneumothorax, infection, thrombosis, and air embolus. Peripherally infused 3% sodium chloride may bypass these concerns.

Aims

To explore the evidence for peripherally infused 3% sodium chloride and to implement the findings.

Methods

The Iowa Model of Evidence‐Based Practice (EBP) was used to guide the project. A multidisciplinary team was established, and they developed an evidence‐based protocol for the administration of 3% sodium chloride using peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVs), identified potential barriers to implementation, and developed targeted education to implement this practice change in a large academic medical center.

Results

Of the 103 patients in this project, only three (2.9%) identified adverse events. Two were associated with continuous infusions, and one was associated with a bolus infusion.

Linking Action to Evidence

This is the first study to describe a multidisciplinary protocol development and implementation process for the administration of 3% sodium chloride peripherally. Utilizing a multidisciplinary team is critical to the success of an EBP project. Implementing an evidence‐based PIV protocol with stringent monitoring criteria for the administration of 3% sodium chloride has the potential to reduce adverse events related to CVC injury.
Failure Mechanisms of the Wellbore Mechanical Barrier Systems: Implications for Well Integrity
Authors: Ahmed Shawgi , Salehi Saeed
Published: March 2021

Energy sustainability is the main motive behind the evolution of the concept of well integrity in the oil and gas industry. The concept of well integrity adopts technical, operational, environmental, organizational, and safety measurements to secure the energy supply throughout the life of the well. Technically, a high quality well performance can be maintained by establishing robust barrier systems that are responsible for preventing, controlling, and mitigating potential risks that could arise during the well life cycle. A barrier system is conventionally nested from one or multiple elements that act individually or collectively to scaffold the well integrity. The protection layers in a wellbore can be lost if the integrity of the barrier system is compromised according to the failure of one or all of its elements. Failure can be triggered by technical or non-technical factors. In this study, technical aspects that drive barrier failure mechanisms have given more emphasis. The failure mechanisms of the key mechanical barrier systems, such as casing strings, cement, diverters, blowout preventers (BOPs), production stream valves, and seal assemblies, have been thoroughly investigated. In this study, a comprehensive review of barriers failure mechanisms has been conducted to identify the roots of failures and to outline some of the essential safety measures adopted to avoid the loss of well control. The major findings of this paper revealed that well barrier systems are highly susceptible to failure in unconventional reservoirs, deep and ultra-deep offshore wells, and geothermal wells. The predominant failures identified are casing collapse resulting from cyclic loads, cement percolation by gas migration, cement carking by hoop stress, BOPs wear and tear promoted by frequent tests, and elastomeric materials disintegration caused by acidic gases. Considering these failure mechanisms while designing a wellbore can help the engineers improve the construction quality. In addition, it can assist the operation and maintenance crews in optimizing safe operation boundaries.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Thermo-Ecological Criteria-Based Performance Parameters of Reheat and Regenerative Braysson Cycle
Authors: Chandramouli R. , Ravi Kiran Sastry G. , Gugulothu S. K. , Srinivasa Rao M. S. S.
Published: March 2021

The reheat and regenerative Braysson cycle being an alternative for combined cycle power plants needs to be optimized for its efficient utilization of energy resources. Therefore, to obtain the best possible overall pressure ratio, regenerator effectiveness, and pressure ratio across multistage compression in order to simultaneously maximize exergy efficiency, nondimensional power density (NDPD), and ecological coefficient of performance (ECOP) for three different maximum temperature situations, multi-objective optimization of the above cycle is carried out using nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). The optimal solutions given by the Pareto frontier are further assessed through widely used decision makers namely LINMAP, TOPSIS, and Bellman–Zadeh techniques. The optimal solutions attained by the decision-making process are further evaluated for their deviation from the nonideal and ideal solutions. The optimal solution obtained through TOPSIS possesses the minimum deviation index. Finally, the results are authenticated by performing an error analysis. Such optimal scenarios achieved for the three maximum temperatures are further analysed to achieve the final objective of the most optimal solution which happens to be at 1200 K. The simultaneous optimization of performance parameters which reflect the thermo-ecological criteria to be satisfied by a power plant has resulted in values of 0.479, 0.327, and 0.922 for exergy efficiency, nondimensional power density, and ecological coefficient of performance, respectively. These optimized performance parameters are obtained for an overall pressure ratio of 7.5, regenerator effectiveness of 0.947, and pressure ratio across multistage compression of 1.311.
Experimental Validation of Transient Spectral Finite Element Simulation Tools Dedicated to Guided Wave-Based Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Mesnil Olivier , Recoquillay Arnaud , Druet Tom , Serey Valentin , Hoang Huu Tinh , Imperiale Alexandre , Demaldent Edouard
Published: March 2021

In guided wave structural health monitoring (GW-SHM), a strong need for reliable and fast simulation tools has been expressed throughout the literature to optimize SHM systems or demonstrate performance. Even though guided wave simulations can be conducted with most finite elements software packages, computational and hardware costs are always prohibitive for large simulation campaigns. A novel SHM module has been recently added to the civa software and relies on unassembled high-order finite elements to overcome these limitations. This article focuses on the thorough validation of civa for SHM to identify the limits of the models. After introducing the key elements of the civa SHM solution, a first validation is presented on a stainless steel pipe representative of the oil and gas industry. Second, validation is conducted on a composite panel with and without stiffener representative of some structures in the aerospace industry. Results show a good match between the experimental and simulated datasets, but only if the input parameters are fully determined before the simulations.
Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Discrete Element Method Coupling for Influence of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Lubricant Particle on Friction of Elastic Coarse-Grained Micronscale Iron
Authors: Sang Le Van , Yano Akihiko , Osaka Ai I. , Sugimura Natsuko , Washizu Hitoshi
Published: March 2021

The present study uses the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and discrete element method (DEM) coupling to investigate influence of the hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) particles on friction of the elastic coarse-grained micronscale iron. The hBN lubricant particles significantly improve the friction performance of iron in various simulation behaviors. The particle size, the air/water background containing the particles, and its temperature result in reduction of the friction coefficient. The surface mending, the protective film, and the energy dissipation are the main mechanisms related to the friction reduction. Additionally, it is worthy to note that the static friction and the kinetic friction can be clearly observed by this elastic coarse-graining.
In Vitro
Activity of the Ultrabroad-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor QPX7728 in Combination with Multiple Beta-Lactam Antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Lomovskaya Olga , Rubio-Aparicio Debora , Nelson Kirk , Sun Dongxu , Tsivkovski Ruslan , Castanheira Mariana , Lindley Jill , Loutit Jeffery , Dudley Michael
Published: March 2021

QPX7728 is an ultra-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor with potent inhibition of key serine and metallo beta-lactamases. QPX7728 enhances the potency of multiple beta-lactams in beta-lactamase-producing
Enterobacterales
and
Acinetobacter
spp.
Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection with LamPORE, a High-Throughput Platform Combining Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification and Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Peto Leon , Rodger Gillian , Carter Daniel P. , Osman Karen L. , Yavuz Mehmet , Johnson Katie , Raza Mohammad , Parker Matthew D. , Wyles Matthew D. , Andersson Monique , Justice Anita , Vaughan Alison , Hoosdally Sarah , Stoesser Nicole , Matthews Philippa C. , Eyre David W. , Peto Timothy E. A. , Carroll Miles W. , de Silva Thushan I. , Crook Derrick W. , Evans Cariad M. , Pullan Steven T.
Published: March 2021

LamPORE is a novel diagnostic platform for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification with Nanopore sequencing, which could potentially be used to analyze thousands of samples per day on a single instrument. We evaluated the performance of LamPORE against reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) using RNA extracted from spiked respiratory samples and stored nose and throat swabs collected at two UK hospitals.
Species-Specific Deamidation of RIG-I Reveals Collaborative Action between Viral and Cellular Deamidases in HSV-1 Lytic Replication
Authors: Huang Huichao , Zhao Jun , Wang Ting-Yu , Zhang Shu , Zhou Yuzheng , Rao Youliang , Qin Chao , Liu Yongzhen , Chen Yongheng , Xia Zanxian , Feng Pinghui
Published: March 2021

Herpesviruses are ubiquitous pathogens in human and establish lifelong persistence despite host immunity. The ability to evade host immune response is pivotal for viral persistence and pathogenesis.