bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Book review: Nayan Mitra and René Schmidpeter (Eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility in India: Cases and Developments after the Legal Mandate
Authors: Gupta Aruna Das
Published: December 2020

Nayan Mitra and René Schmidpeter (Eds.), Corporate Social Responsibility in India: Cases and Developments after the Legal Mandate. Cham: Springer, 2016, 238 pp., ₹135.19 (Hardback). ISBN: 978-3-319-41781-3.
Predictors of Discontinuation of Modern Spacing Contraceptives in India
Authors: Begum Shahina , Chaurasia Himanshu , Moray Kusum V. , Joshi Beena
Published: December 2020

Data from National Family Health Survey (2015-2016) was analyzed to examine the contraceptive acceptance, discontinuation rates, and associated factors among reproductive age women in India over one year. Findings revealed that 11.7% accepted modern methods of which 68% were for spacing. Only 5% switched to other methods. Discontinuation rate was high among condom (56.8%) and oral contraceptive pill users (34.5%), among women aged less than 25 years, with parity less than 2, belonging to rural area, and having no education. Health concerns/side effects, husband’s disapproval, or method failure were most common reasons cited for discontinuation. The data show high discontinuation rates among some subgroups of women and for certain methods. Hence, women need to be provided options to switch methods to meet changing contraceptive needs and health priorities. Continuum of care with follow-up and counselling can facilitate sustained contraceptive use to avert unintended pregnancies.
Talent Development Plans Help Guide Consistent, Equitable Service Delivery
Authors: Plucker Jonathan A. , Barber Houston
Published: December 2020

Talent development plans are well-articulated representations of a district’s or school’s advanced learning opportunities. These plans show how a bright student progresses through the available programming and provide families with information about their child’s options and opportunities. In addition to reviewing the basic pieces of a talent development plan, this article describes the experiences of one school district that uses such a plan to help guide its improvement efforts, which include extensive use of community and private sector partnerships. Examples of district talent development plans are included.
Real-World Outcomes of Treating Advanced Breast Cancer Patients With Palbociclib: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study in Japan—The KBCOG-14 Study
Authors: Odan Nina , Kikawa Yuichiro , Matsumoto Hajime , Minohata Junya , Suwa Hirofumi , Hashimoto Takashi , Okuno Toshitaka , Miyashita Masaru , Saito Masaru , Yamagami Kazuhiko , Takao Shintaro
Published: December 2020

Background:

Clinical studies have shown that palbociclib improves progression-free survival in hormone receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2−) patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, there are insufficient data on its use in a real-world setting in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness, predictive factors, and safety of palbociclib among Japanese patients in routine clinical practice.

Methods:

Between December 1, 2017, and April 30, 2019, we recruited patients from 9 hospitals and retrospectively evaluated the data on HR+/HER2− patients with ABC who received palbociclib for at least 1 week. The correlation between time-to-treatment discontinuation (TTD) and clinical background was investigated via univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox hazards models.

Results:

A total of 177 women were available for analysis. Of these patients, 58 (33%) patients were treated with palbociclib with an aromatase inhibitor and 117 (66%) patients were treated with palbociclib and a selective estrogen receptor degrader. Approximately three-fourths of the patients (n = 130, 73%) received palbociclib as third- or later-line therapy. One-third of the patients had 3 or more metastatic sites (n = 59, 33%), and one-third of the patients had liver metastasis (n = 59, 33%). The median follow-up duration at the time of data cutoff was 8.9 months, the median TTD was 6.3 months, and the median overall survival was not reached. Liver metastasis (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.54 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.03-2.27]), high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (>300 U/L) (HR: 2.58 [95% CI: 1.49-4.26]), and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (⩾3.0) (HR: 1.76 [95% CI: 1.13-2.69]) were significantly associated with shorter TTD. The most common hematologic adverse event was neutropenia, which occurred in 93% of the patients.

Conclusion:

Based on the results of the pivotal phase 3 trials, the median TTD recorded in this study was shorter than expected. Our results suggest that liver metastasis, serum LDH level, and NLR may be predictive factors for HR+/HER2− ABC treatment outcomes.
Covid-19 and the civilizing process
Authors: van Krieken Robert
Published: December 2020

This article outlines the key elements of Norbert Elias’s theory of the civilizing process that can usefully be drawn upon to develop a detached, less present-focused sociological understanding of the Covid-19 pandemic. Three ideas are highlighted: first, this is in fact an old story, in the sense that we’re in the middle of a constellation of long-term processes, and this matters in a number of ways. Second, human civilization, understood as based on expanding and intensifying forms of global interdependence, is both a cause and part of the solution to the problems we are facing. Third, the causes, effects and possible responses to the Covid-19 pandemic are tightly bound up with what kinds of persons we are. It concludes that a sustainable response to crises like pandemics will only be organized around rational reflection to a limited extent: in significant ways it will be constituted by shifts at the emotional and psychological level, in the realm of culture and habitus, by the formation of particular ways of being a person.
HIV Patient Navigation in the United States: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of Navigators’ Experiences
Authors: Roland Katherine B. , Higa Darrel H. , Leighton Carolyn A. , Mizuno Yuko , DeLuca Julia B. , Koenig Linda J.
Published: December 2020

Patient navigation is increasingly used to link and (re)engage persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to care. A more holistic understanding of patient navigation can be achieved by exploring the experiences of navigators, the persons who comprise half of the navigation process. We conducted a meta-synthesis of navigator experiences with HIV patient navigation using a phenomenological approach. We identified nine relevant studies. Data were analyzed using thematic synthesis. Analysis identified two overarching themes relating to (1) the breadth and depth of bidirectional relationships and functional activities that navigators undertake to connect their clients to care and (2) the inherently personal experience of delivering navigation services. From these thematic findings, we recommend that HIV patient navigators exhibit capacity and expertise in developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with clients and health care systems/providers and develop self-care practices and emotional boundaries with clients. Our review seeks to advance public health research and practice by articulating key experiences and perspectives of HIV patient navigators, drawing findings and recommendations applicable to the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV patient navigation.
A novel superframe structure and optimal time slot allocation algorithm for IEEE 802.15.4–based Internet of things
Authors: Khan Sangrez , Alvi Ahmad Naseem , Khan Mohammad Zubair , Javed Muhammad Awais , Alhazmi Omar H , Bouk Safdar Hussain
Published: December 2020

IEEE 802.15.4 standard is specifically designed for a low-rate and low-processing Internet of things (IoT) applications and offers guaranteed time slots. A beacon-enabled IEEE 802.15.4 consists of a superframe structure that comprises of the contention access period and contention-free period. During contention-free period, nodes transfer their data using guaranteed time slots without any collision. The coordinator node receives data transmission requests in one cycle and allocates guaranteed time slots to the nodes in the next cycle. This allocation process may cause large delay that may not be acceptable for few applications. In this work, a novel superframe structure is proposed that significantly reduces guaranteed time slots allocation delay for the nodes with data requests. The proposed superframe structure comprises of two contention access periods and one contention-free period, where contention-free period precedes both contention access periods with reduced slot size. In addition, the knapsack algorithm is modified for better guaranteed time slots allocation by allowing more guaranteed time slots requesting nodes to send their data as compared to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The simulation and analytical results show that the proposed superframe structure reduces the network delay by up to 80%, increases contention-free period utilization up to 50%, and allocates guaranteed time slots up to 16 nodes in a single superframe duration.
High accuracy robust attitude tracking control application on quadrotor UAV with the prescribed performance
Authors: Dou Jingxin , Tang Qiansheng , Wen Bangchun
Published: December 2020

In this paper, a high accuracy attitude tracking control is presented for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under the model uncertainties and external unpredictable disturbances by using a robust feedback control method. First, the cascade attitude dynamics of a quadrotor UAV is derived with the lumped disturbances. Then, a backstepping adaptive modified robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) control is designed to improve the robustness of the control system against the disturbances. For arriving high accuracy tracking under the disturbances, a prescribed performance control algorithm is employed in combination to hold the transient state performance where the convergence rate is faster than the prescribed value, and the maximum overshoot is less than the prescribed value. The stability analysis is carried out to prove that the presented controller could guarantee that the closed-loop system is asymptotically stable, and the tracking feedback errors can converge to an arbitrarily small value near zero. The superior performance of the proposed control method is illustrated in simulations against the nonlinear lumped disturbances, and the benefits of the proposed robust controller is corroborated by comparing with the existed controller.
Beyond wildlife crime: Towards the concept of ‘mundane fauna crime’
Authors: Goodall Orlando
Published: December 2020

Research and theorisation on crimes against non-human species in rural regions have been conducted with less conceptual refinement than crimes against anthropocentric victims. The dominant conception of ‘wildlife crime’ predominantly advanced by the rational choice school of criminology is a nebulous ‘chaotic concept’. This article disaggregates crimes against common and relatively abundant species from that capacious categorisation and offers the original concept of ‘mundane fauna crime’ as a more precise alternative. The original concept aims to supersede the wildlife crime terminology using realist social relations theory and to offer researchers a rational abstraction to advance aetiological explanations. The additional category of ‘illegal taking’ is offered to complement the central conceptualisation, thus supplanting the terms of ‘wildlife poaching’. The new model is intended to contribute to the advancement of comprehensive theorisation and practically adequate knowledge on mundane fauna crimes in rural regions.
Evoking Embodied Presence: These Things, Songwriting, Filmmaking, and Borrowing a Performative Trick From Bob Dylan
Authors: Douglas Kitrina , Carless David
Published: December 2020

Our performative contribution to the 2019 Special Interest Group in autoethnography provided an opportunity to consider the materiality of absence and presence. Using the film These Things and the research-inspired song that underpins the film, we explore how a 5-min multimedia performative act opened possibilities for solidarity and resistance, offering ways to include the absent other.
EMDR treatment for anxiety in MS patients: A pilot study
Authors: Wallis Olga C , de Vries Jolanda
Published: December 2020

Background

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience high levels of anxiety, specifically about the (unpredictable) future related to MS. Worries about physical and cognitive declines can cause frightening mental representations of future ‘worst-case scenarios’. Evidence of the applicability of eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) using flash-forward on anxiety is growing.

Objective

This pilot study examines the flash-forward EMDR procedure as a treatment option in MS patients suffering from anxiety specifically related to future MS problems.

Methods

Eight MSpatients suffering from anxiety were treated with one to three sessions of EMDR with a flash-forward target. Treatment effects were evaluated with the use of questionnaires on anxiety, depression, worry, cognitive avoidance, and quality of life at three time points: pre-treatment, direct post-treatment, and three-month follow-up.

Results

Significant improvement was shown post-treatment compared to pre-treatment on anxiety, depression, and worry. In a case series analysis, all but one participant showed a clinically important difference in anxiety.

Conclusion

Before implementation on a larger scale can be recommended, the value of EMDR with flash forward targets for anxiety in MS need to be further examined. However, the positive results on this pilot can be seen as promising and motivation for future studies.
Adolescent COVID-19-Associated Fatal Rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Anwar Huda , Al Lawati Anwaar
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become an urgent global health priority. Although most patients with COVID-19 manifest with fever and respiratory tract symptoms, COVID-19 infections may also involve other organs and extrarespiratory manifestations, including cardiac, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, and neurological symptoms. This case describes a 16-year-old boy who presented with fever, sore throat, myalgia, and subsequently with shortness of breath. A diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. His condition deteriorated and he died within 3 days of admission. An evaluation of his past medical history confirmed an episode of viral illness which had progressed to myositis and rhabdomyolysis 1 year prior. Clinicians should be aware of this complication and maintain a high index of suspicion in cases of COVID-19 presenting with extrapulmonary symptoms.
Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by Rakhine Indigenous Communities in Patuakhali and Barguna District of Southern Bangladesh
Authors: Islam A. T. M. Rafiqul , Hasan Mahadiy , Islam Tahidul , Rahman Ashikur , Mitra Shawon , Das Subroto K.
Published: December 2020

An extensive study has been made to identify, document, and investigate the ethnomedicinal plants used by Rakhine ethnic minorities in Patuakhali and Barguna District of southern Bangladesh for the term of April 2018 to June 2019. In this article, we have focused on the Rakhine population trends, management concerns, and some actions for conserving the Rakhine population diversity in the study area. In this study, we have identified the locations where Rakhine population lives in Patuakhali and Barguna districts. A total of 86 plant species belonging to 71 genera and 43 families were reported to be used for treating more than 57 various physical ailments under 14 illness categories from the study area. For each of the species, the botanic name, common name, Rakhine name, family, habit, parts used and traditional medicinal uses of the plant species have been presented. The maximum numbers of ethnomedicinal plant species were utilized to treat gastrointestinal complaints (43) taken after by the treatment of dermatological issues (36). The highly cited (75.60%) plant species were found to be Ananas comosus and Aegle marmelos used for gastro-intestinal (Stomach pain, indigestion, and dysentery) digestive disorders and subsequently followed by Colocasia esculenta (70.73%) used for cut, bleeding and wound healing. The results of this study have shown that Rakhine indigenous communities still depend on conventional plant-based medication to remedy various diseases and therapeutic purposes in the study area. Our findings have also shown that despite there have adequate phytodiversity in the natural habitat of the study area but the number of Rakhine population has been declining significantly day-by-day. As an ultimate result, we have lost the plant-based traditional medicinal knowledge of Rakhine indigenous communities in Bangladesh. As a rich source of traditional knowledge and cultural diversity, it calls for urgent initiatives to conserve the cultural heritage of the Rakhine community as well as the diversity of Rakhine ethnic group.
International Index of Erectile Functioning-5: A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Bilal Ahmad , Abbasi Najam ul Hasan
Published: December 2020

Background:

Some studies have reported methodological flaws and shortcomings in the International Index of Erectile Functioning-5 (IIEF-5) which is a self-report measure for the assessment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim:

The aim of this research is to point out methodological flaws and shortcomings in IIEF-5 when used with Pakistani men.

Settings and Design:

Two independent clinical trials were run to assess the efficacy of different forms of treatment for ED in young Pakistani men.

Materials and Methods:

The IIEF-5 in Urdu version was employed to diagnose and assess the severity of ED in young men at 3 time points.

Results and Conclusions:

Several flaws and shortcomings were noted including the unidimensionality of the scale, categorization of the scale into severity categories based on cutoff points, the inability of the scale to differentiate between organic and nonorganic ED, double barrel item statement, and lack of standardized translation in local or regional languages of Pakistan. The validity of IIEF-5 can be increased if the above-mentioned flaws and shortcomings are addressed.
In silico ranking of phenolics for therapeutic effectiveness on cancer stem cells
Authors: Mandal Monalisa , Sahoo Sanjeeb Kumar , Patra Priyadarsan , Mallik Saurav , Zhao Zhongming
Published: December 2020

Background

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have features such as the ability to self-renew, differentiate into defined progenies and initiate the tumor growth. Treatments of cancer include drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy or a combination. However, treatment of cancer by various therapeutic strategies often fail. One possible reason is that the nature of CSCs, which has stem-like properties, make it more dynamic and complex and may cause the therapeutic resistance. Another limitation is the side effects associated with the treatment of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. To explore better or alternative treatment options the current study aims to investigate the natural drug-like molecules that can be used as CSC-targeted therapy. Among various natural products, anticancer potential of phenolics is well established. We collected the 21 phytochemicals from phenolic group and their interacting CSC genes from the publicly available databases. Then a bipartite graph is constructed from the collected CSC genes along with their interacting phytochemicals from phenolic group as other. The bipartite graph is then transformed into weighted bipartite graph by considering the interaction strength between the phenolics and the CSC genes. The CSC genes are also weighted by two scores, namely, DSI (Disease Specificity Index) and DPI (Disease Pleiotropy Index). For each gene, its DSI score reflects the specific relationship with the disease and DPI score reflects the association with multiple diseases. Finally, a ranking technique is developed based on PageRank (PR) algorithm for ranking the phenolics.

Results

We collected 21 phytochemicals from phenolic group and 1118 CSC genes. The top ranked phenolics were evaluated by their molecular and pharmacokinetics properties and disease association networks. We selected top five ranked phenolics (Resveratrol, Curcumin, Quercetin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, and Genistein) for further examination of their oral bioavailability through molecular properties, drug likeness through pharmacokinetic properties, and associated network with CSC genes.

Conclusion

Our PR ranking based approach is useful to rank the phenolics that are associated with CSC genes. Our results suggested some phenolics are potential molecules for CSC-related cancer treatment.
Fingerprint restoration using cubic Bezier curve
Authors: Tu Yanglin , Yao Zengwei , Xu Jiao , Liu Yilin , Zhang Zhe
Published: December 2020

Background

Fingerprint biometrics play an essential role in authentication. It remains a challenge to match fingerprints with the minutiae or ridges missing. Many fingerprints failed to match their targets due to the incompleteness.

Result

In this work, we modeled the fingerprints with Bezier curves and proposed a novel algorithm to detect and restore fragmented ridges in incomplete fingerprints. In the proposed model, the Bezier curves’ control points represent the fingerprint fragments, reducing the data size by 89% compared to image representations. The representation is lossless as the restoration from the control points fully recovering the image. Our algorithm can effectively restore incomplete fingerprints. In the SFinGe synthetic dataset, the fingerprint image matching score increased by an average of 39.54%, the ERR (equal error rate) is 4.59%, and the FMR1000 (false match rate) is 2.83%, these are lower than 6.56% (ERR) and 5.93% (FMR1000) before restoration. In FVC2004 DB1 real fingerprint dataset, the average matching score increased by 13.22%. The ERR reduced from 8.46% before restoration to 7.23%, and the FMR1000 reduced from 20.58 to 18.01%. Moreover, We assessed the proposed algorithm against FDP-M-net and U-finger in SFinGe synthetic dataset, where FDP-M-net and U-finger are both convolutional neural network models. The results show that the average match score improvement ratio of FDP-M-net is 1.39%, U-finger is 14.62%, both of which are lower than 39.54%, yielded by our algorithm.

Conclusions

Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can successfully repair and reconstruct ridges in single or multiple damaged regions of incomplete fingerprint images, and hence improve the accuracy of fingerprint matching.
Effect of APOE ε4 on multimodal brain connectomic traits: a persistent homology study
Authors:   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Li Jin , Bian Chenyuan , Chen Dandan , Meng Xianglian , Luo Haoran , Liang Hong , Shen Li
Published: December 2020

Background

Although genetic risk factors and network-level neuroimaging abnormalities have shown effects on cognitive performance and brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), little is understood about how apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, the best-known genetic risk for AD, affect brain connectivity before the onset of symptomatic AD. This study aims to investigate APOE ε4 effects on brain connectivity from the perspective of multimodal connectome.

Results

Here, we propose a novel multimodal brain network modeling framework and a network quantification method based on persistent homology for identifying APOE ε4-related network differences. Specifically, we employ sparse representation to integrate multimodal brain network information derived from both the resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dw-MRI) data. Moreover, persistent homology is proposed to avoid the ad hoc selection of a specific regularization parameter and to capture valuable brain connectivity patterns from the topological perspective. The experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms the competing methods, and reasonably yields connectomic patterns specific to APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers.

Conclusions

We have proposed a multimodal framework that integrates structural and functional connectivity information for constructing a fused brain network with greater discriminative power. Using persistent homology to extract topological features from the fused brain network, our method can effectively identify APOE ε4-related brain connectomic biomarkers.
The shape of gene expression distributions matter: how incorporating distribution shape improves the interpretation of cancer transcriptomic data
Authors: de Torrenté Laurence , Zimmerman Samuel , Suzuki Masako , Christopeit Maximilian , Greally John M. , Mar Jessica C.
Published: December 2020

Background

In genomics, we often assume that continuous data, such as gene expression, follow a specific kind of distribution. However we rarely stop to question the validity of this assumption, or consider how broadly applicable it may be to all genes that are in the transcriptome. Our study investigated the prevalence of a range of gene expression distributions in three different tumor types from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results

Surprisingly, the expression of less than 50% of all genes was Normally-distributed, with other distributions including Gamma, Bimodal, Cauchy, and Lognormal also represented. Most of the distribution categories contained genes that were significantly enriched for unique biological processes. Different assumptions based on the shape of the expression profile were used to identify genes that could discriminate between patients with good versus poor survival. The prognostic marker genes that were identified when the shape of the distribution was accounted for reflected functional insights into cancer biology that were not observed when standard assumptions were applied. We showed that when multiple types of distributions were permitted, i.e. the shape of the expression profile was used, the statistical classifiers had greater predictive accuracy for determining the prognosis of a patient versus those that assumed only one type of gene expression distribution.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the value of studying a gene’s distribution shape to model heterogeneity of transcriptomic data and the impact on using analyses that permit more than one type of gene expression distribution. These insights would have been overlooked when using standard approaches that assume all genes follow the same type of distribution in a patient cohort.
LDscaff: LD-based scaffolding of de novo genome assemblies
Authors: Zhao Zicheng , Zhou Yingxiao , Wang Shuai , Zhang Xiuqing , Wang Changfa , Li Shuaicheng
Published: December 2020

Background

Genome assembly is fundamental forde novogenome analysis. Hybrid assembly, utilizing various sequencing technologies increases both contiguity and accuracy. While such approaches require extra costly sequencing efforts, the information provided millions of existed whole-genome sequencing data have not been fully utilized to resolve the task of scaffolding. Genetic recombination patterns in population data indicate non-random association among alleles at different loci, can provide physical distance signals to guide scaffolding.

Results

In this paper, we proposeLDscafffor draft genome assembly incorporating linkage disequilibrium information in population data. We evaluated the performance of our method with both simulated data and real data. We simulated scaffolds by splitting the pig reference genome and reassembled them. Gaps between scaffolds were introduced ranging from 0 to 100 KB. The genome misassembly rate is 2.43% when there is no gap. Then we implemented our method to refine the Giant Panda genome and the donkey genome, which are purely assembled by NGS data. AfterLDscafftreatment, the resulting Panda assembly has scaffold N50 of 3.6 MB, 2.5 times larger than the original N50 (1.3 MB). The re-assembled donkey assembly has an improved N50 length of 32.1 MB from 23.8 MB.

Conclusions

Our method effectively improves the assemblies with existed re-sequencing data, and is an potential alternative to the existing assemblers required for the collection of new data.
Compositional zero-inflated network estimation for microbiome data
Authors: Ha Min Jin , Kim Junghi , Galloway-Peña Jessica , Do Kim-Anh , Peterson Christine B.
Published: December 2020

Background

The estimation of microbial networks can provide important insight into the ecological relationships among the organisms that comprise the microbiome. However, there are a number of critical statistical challenges in the inference of such networks from high-throughput data. Since the abundances in each sample are constrained to have a fixed sum and there is incomplete overlap in microbial populations across subjects, the data are both compositional and zero-inflated.

Results

We propose the COmpositional Zero-Inflated Network Estimation (COZINE) method for inference of microbial networks which addresses these critical aspects of the data while maintaining computational scalability. COZINE relies on the multivariate Hurdle model to infer a sparse set of conditional dependencies which reflect not only relationships among the continuous values, but also among binary indicators of presence or absence and between the binary and continuous representations of the data. Our simulation results show that the proposed method is better able to capture various types of microbial relationships than existing approaches. We demonstrate the utility of the method with an application to understanding the oral microbiome network in a cohort of leukemic patients.

Conclusions

Our proposed method addresses important challenges in microbiome network estimation, and can be effectively applied to discover various types of dependence relationships in microbial communities. The procedure we have developed, which we refer to as COZINE, is available online athttps://github.com/MinJinHa/COZINE.
Correction to: MicroBVS: Dirichlet-tree multinomial regression models with Bayesian variable selection - an R package
Authors: Koslovsky Matthew D. , Vannucci Marina
Published: December 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Blood loss from transverse versus longitudinal uterine incision in abdominal myomectomy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Elguindy Alaa , Hemeda Hosam , Shawky Mohamed Esmat , Elsenity Mohamed , Elsayed Medhat Adel , Fahim Ahmed , Afifi Khaled , Nawara Maii
Published: December 2020

Background

It is unclear whether transverse uterine incision is non-inferior to longitudinal incision during myomectomy with regard to bleeding. Our aim was to compare between transverse and longitudinal uterine incisions in myomectomy.

Methods

A parallel randomized controlled single-blinded study in a university affiliated hospital, in the period between January 2017 and April 2018, in which 52 women candidates for abdominal myomectomy were randomized into transverse uterine incision or longitudinal uterine incision groups (26 in each group). Intraoperative blood loss (estimated directly by blood volume in suction bottle and linen towels and indirectly by difference between preoperative and postoperative hematocrit), operative time and postoperative fever were analyzed.

Results

No statistically significant difference was found between transverse and longitudinal incisions regarding intraoperative blood loss (389.7 ± 98.56 ml vs 485.04 ± 230.6 ml respectively, p value = 0.07), operative time (59.96 ± 16.78 min vs 66.58 ± 17.33 min respectively, p value = 0.18), and postoperative fever (4% vs 8.33%, p value = 0.6).

Conclusion

Transverse uterine incision does not cause more blood loss than longitudinal incision and is a reasonable option during abdominal myomectomy.

Trial registration: NCT03009812 at clinicaltrials.gov, registered January 2017
Beliefs, knowledge and the impact of COVID19 on menopause therapies in Spanish women: COMEM-treatment study
Authors:   The COMEM Study Spanish investigators, Baquedano Laura , Espiau Andrea , Fasero María , Ortega Silvia , Ramirez Isabel , Mendoza Nicolás
Published: December 2020

Objective

To study what women think about menopause treatments and assess their knowledge about them. To analyze adherence to treatment during COVID-19 confinement as a secondary objective.

Methods

A multi-center cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a survey of 2500 women between January and June 2019. This was administered following a non-probability sampling procedure including women between 35 and 75 years. An extension study was conducted during the coronavirus pandemic, between March and June 2020.

Results

The responses of 2355 surveyed women were analyzed. Of this sample, 42% knew about menopause hormone therapy (MHT). The most frequently identified indication was the treatment of hot flashes (65.6%). The MHT risks most frequently perceived were weight gain (24.2%) and breast cancer (21.7%); the main reason for rejecting MHT was a lack of information (96.1%). Comparative analyses were conducted according to age, menopausal status, type of menopause, place of residence, type of health care and level of education. During the coronavirus confinement period, 85 women using MHT were located, of which 84.7% continued it.

Conclusions

Women hold certain false beliefs about menopause, and their knowledge of the available treatments is somewhat limited. Adherence to MHT during the COVID-19 confinement in Spain has been high.
The impact of death and dying on the personhood of medical students: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Ho Chong Yao , Kow Cheryl Shumin , Chia Chin Howe Joshua , Low Jia Ying , Lai Yong Hao Melvin , Lauw Sarah-Kei , How Ashley Ern Hui , Tan Lorraine Hui En , Ngiam Xin Ling Lisa , Chan Natalie Pei Xin , Kuek Tze Yin Joshua , Kamal Nur Haidah Ahmad , Chia Jeng Long , Abdurrahman Ahmad Bin Hanifah Marican , Chiam Min , Ong Yun Ting , Chin Annelissa Mien Chew , Toh Ying Pin , Mason Stephen , Krishna Lalit Kumar Radha
Published: December 2020

Background

The re-introduction of medical students into healthcare systems struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns as to whether they will be supported when confronted with death and dying patients in resource-limited settings and with reduced support from senior clinicians. Better understanding of how medical students respond to death and dying will inform educationalists and clinicians on how to best support them.

Methods

We adopt Krishna’s Systematic Evidence Based Approach to carry out a Systematic Scoping Review (SSR in SEBA) on the impact of death and dying on medical students. This structured search process and concurrent use of thematic and directed content analysis of data from six databases (Split Approach) enhances the transparency and reproducibility of this review.

Results

Seven thousand six hundred nineteen were identified, 149 articles reviewed and 52 articles included. The Split Approach revealed similar themes and categories that correspond to the Innate, Individual, Relational and Societal domains in the Ring Theory of Personhood.

Conclusion

Facing death and dying amongst their patients affect how medical students envisage their personhood. This underlines the need for timely, holistic and longitudinal support systems to ensure that problems faced are addressed early. To do so, there must be effective training and a structured support mechanism.
Pinpointing miRNA and genes enrichment over trait-relevant tissue network in Genome-Wide Association Studies
Authors: Li Binze , Dong Julian , Yu Jiaqi , Fan Yuqi , Shang Lulu , Zhou Xiang , Bai Yongsheng
Published: December 2020

Background

Understanding gene regulation is important but difficult. Elucidating tissue-specific gene regulation mechanism is even more challenging and requires gene co-expression network assembled from protein–protein interaction, transcription factor and gene binding, and post-transcriptional regulation (e.g., miRNA targeting) information. The miRNA binding affinity could therefore be changed by SNP(s) located at the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTR) of the target messenger RNA (mRNA) which miRNA(s) interacts with. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) has reported significant numbers of loci hosting SNPs associated with many traits. The goal of this study is to pinpoint GWAS functional variants located in 3′UTRs and elucidate if the genes harboring these variants along with their targeting miRNAs are associated with genetic traits relevant to certain tissues.

Methods

By applying MIGWAS, CoCoNet, ANNOVAR, and DAVID bioinformatics software and utilizing the gene expression database (e.g. GTEx data) to study GWAS summary statistics for 43 traits from 28 GWAS studies, we have identified a list of miRNAs and targeted genes harboring 3′UTR variants, which could contribute to trait-relevant tissue over miRNA-target gene network.

Results

Our result demonstrated that strong association between traits and tissues exists, and in particular, the Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) trait has the most significant p-value for all 180 tissues among all 43 traits used for this study. We reported SNPs located in 3′UTR regions of genes (SFMBT2, ZC3HAV1, and UGT3A1) targeted by miRNAs for PBC trait and its tissue association network. After employing Gene Ontology (GO) analysis for PBC trait, we have also identified a very important miRNA targeted gene over miRNA-target gene network, PFKL, which encodes the liver subunit of an enzyme.

Conclusions

The non-coding variants identified from GWAS studies are casually assumed to be not critical to translated protein product. However, 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of genes harbor variants can often change the binding affinity of targeting miRNAs playing important roles in protein translation degree. Our study has shown that GWAS variants could play important roles on miRNA-target gene networks by contributing the association between traits and tissues. Our analysis expands our knowledge on trait-relevant tissue network and paves way for future human disease studies.
Retraction Note to: Long non-coding RNA LBX2-AS1 enhances glioma proliferation through downregulating microRNA-491-5p
Authors: Chen Qunbang , Gao Jian , Zhao Yingjia , Hou Ruizhe
Published: December 2020

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-020-01712-y.
Calcium mediated functional interplay between myocardial cells upon laser-induced single-cell injury: an in vitro study of cardiac cell death signaling mechanisms
Authors: Sridhar Krishna Chander , Hersch Nils , Dreissen Georg , Merkel Rudolf , Hoffmann Bernd
Published: December 2020

Background

The electromechanical function of myocardial tissue depends on the intercellular communication between cardiomyocytes (CMs) as well as their crosstalk with other cell types. Cell injury, and subsequent death trigger inflammation as in myocardial infarction (MI) resulting in myocardial remodeling. Although mechanisms underlying myocardial cell death have been studied so far, the signaling events following single cell death and spontaneous response of connected cells in the myocardial tissue is still barely understood.

Methods

Here, we investigated the effect of laser-induced single cell death on Calcium (Ca2+) concentrations and transport in myocardial cell clusters in vitro. Spatial and temporal changes in intracellular Ca2+concentrations [Ca2+]iwere studied using a fluorescent calcium indicator, Fluo-4AM. Spontaneous signaling events following cell death were studied in rat embryonic cardiomyocytes and non-myocytes using separate cell culture systems.

Results

Cell death triggered spontaneous increase in intracellular Ca2+levels ([Ca2+]i) of surrounding cells. The spread of the observed propagating Ca2+signal was slow and sustained in myocytes while it was rapid and transient in fibroblasts (Fbs). Further, sustained high Ca2+levels temporarily impaired the contractility in CMs. The cell-type specific effect of ablation was confirmed using separate cultures of CMs and Fbs. Comparing Ca2+propagation speed in myocytes and fibroblasts, we argue for a diffusion-driven Ca2+propagation in myocytes, but not in fibroblasts. Radial and sequential Ca2+diffusion across the CMs through cell–cell contacts and presence of Cx43-based intercellular junctions indicated a gap junction flow of Ca2+.

Conclusions

These findings illustrate the spontaneous Ca2+-mediated functional interplay in myocardial cell clusters upon mechanical injury and, further, the difference in Ca2+signaling in cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts.
Correction to: Living as an infertile woman: the case of southern and northern Ghana
Authors: Ofosu-Budu Dorcas , Hanninen Vilma
Published: December 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Genetic variation in the Middle East—an opportunity to advance the human genetics field
Authors: Abou Tayoun Ahmad N. , Rehm Heidi L.
Published: December 2020

We highlight the current lack of representation of the Middle East from large genomic studies and emphasize the expected high impact of cataloging its variation. We discuss the limiting factors and possible solutions to generating and accessing research and clinical sequencing data from this part of the world.
Sustaining primary care teams in the midst of a pandemic
Authors: Sullivan Erin E. , Phillips Russell S.
Published: December 2020

The challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems have tested primary care clinicians, who are on the front lines of care delivery. To ensure the longevity of the primary care workforce, strong interprofessional teams are one important solution to alleviating burnout and increasing clinician and patient satisfaction, but the pandemic has demonstrated that the operating manual needs to be adapted for virtual work. Essential principles of primary care, including preventative care, communication and collaboration, and building strong relationships, can be applied to strengthen virtual primary care teams.
New fractional inequalities of Hermite–Hadamard type involving the incomplete gamma functions
Authors: Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Abdeljawad Thabet , Baleanu Dumitru , Kashuri Artion , Hamasalh Faraidun , Agarwal Praveen
Published: December 2020

A specific type of convex functions is discussed. By examining this, we investigate new Hermite–Hadamard type integral inequalities for the Riemann–Liouville fractional operators involving the generalized incomplete gamma functions. Finally, we expose some examples of special functions to support the usefulness and effectiveness of our results.
Investigating the relationship between COVID-19-related and distress and ICD-11 adjustment disorder: two cross-sectional studies
Authors: Ben-Ezra Menachem , Hou Wai Kai , Goodwin Robin
Published: December 2020

Background

To assess the prevalence of elevated risk of serious mental illness and probable ICD-11 adjustment disorder in the UK population at two time points during COVID-19, and their association with COVID-19-related stressful events.

Aims

To check the dose–response model for stress between the number of COVID-19-related stressful events and mental health indices.

Method

We conducted two cross-sectional studies, using internet survey samples across the UK (N = 1293 for study 1; N = 1073 for study 2). Samples used internet panel surveys during March–April 2020 and 3 months later (June 2020), and used random stratified samples. Studies assessed prevalence of serious risk of mental illness and probable ICD-11 adjustment disorder.

Results

Elevated risk of serious mental illness was found among those with COVID-19-related social life or occupationally stressful events (study 1). Elevated risk of serious mental illness and probable ICD-11 adjustment disorder was evident among those reporting COVID-19-related stressful events (personal health problems and caregiving; study 2). Cumulative COVID-19-related stressful events were associated with elevated risk of serious mental illness in study 1 (odds ratio 1.65; 95% CI 1.03–2.64; P = 0.037), and with both elevated risk of serious mental illness (odds ratio 2.19; 95% CI 1.15–4.15; P = 0.017) and probable ICD-11 adjustment disorder (odds ratio 2.45; 95% CI 1.27–4.72; P = 0.007) in study 2.

Conclusions

Psychiatrists should be aware that COVID-19-related stressful events can lead to serious psychological problems. Mental health professionals need to pay particular attention to patients who report cumulative COVID-19-related stressful events, and consider them for mental health assessment and treatment.
The role of psychiatry in championing positive life outcomes for children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families
Authors: Newbold Yvonne , Busk Mary
Published: December 2020

Children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders make up an estimated 10% of the population. Addressing health inequalities and poorer life outcomes is essential to deliver better quality care. Two parent-carers working in national roles in England suggest ways to increase understanding and work together in coproduction to achieve this.
No Longer Home: The Smellscape of Mexico City, 1500–1600
Authors: Mundy Barbara E.
Published: December 2020

During the course of the sixteenth century, the Aztec (or Mexica) city of Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco (present-day Mexico City) was transformed from a sweet-smelling lacustrine city into a foul one, the direct result of the Spanish invasion (1519–21). This article reconstructs both the sources of odors and culturally situated ideas about smell among the city’s Nahuatl-speaking residents. They are opposed to the ideas about smell held by settler colonists, derived from the framework of Hippocratic medicine. These imported ideas about acceptable smells (like those of urban slaughterhouses) and dangerous smells (swamps) came to have disastrous consequences as they played out in the unique environment of the Basin of Mexico.
Synthesis of Chloroauric Acid from Gold Electrodes in Alkali Halide Salt Solution by AC Electrolysis and the Sequential Formation of Gold Nanoparticles by Turkevich Method
Authors: Oya Kei , Aoshika Kei , Ageishi Masaki , Magara Hideyuki , Ogawa Shuichi , Takakuwa Yuji , Takami Tomohide
Published: December 2020

Gold nanoparticles have been commonly made by a wet process from chloroauric acid or dry process using vacuum evaporation to solid surfaces. Here, we have shown a method to make gold particle from gold electrodes in potassium chloride solution by AC electrolysis and the following Turkevich method. The developed AC electrolysis method provides an environment-friendly process to produce gold particles from gold electrodes without using any strong acids such as aqua regia or hydrochloric acid.