bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MULTIMODAL IMAGING OF CRB1 RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA WITH A PERIPHERAL RETINAL TUMOR
Authors: Corvi Federico , Juhn Alexander , Corradetti Giulia , Nguyen Tieu Vy , Fawzi Amani A. , Sarraf David , Sadda SriniVas R.
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

To report the multimodal imaging findings of a patient with gene-crumbs 1–associated retinitis pigmentosa (RP) characterized by preservation of para-arteriolar retinal pigment epithelium and a peripheral retinal tumor.

Methods:

A 27-year-old woman was referred to our center because of progressive decreased vision in both eyes with a diagnosis of gene-crumbs 1–associated RP. Fundus examination was remarkable for attenuated retinal vessels and bone spicule migration that was bilateral and symmetric. In addition, an elevated yellow–white mass with dilated retinal vessels was noted in the superotemporal midperiphery of the retina in the left eye without any associated exudation.

Results:

Diffuse retinal pigment epithelium mottling was present but spared the area along the retinal arterioles. Swept-source optical coherence tomography showed diffuse outer retinal atrophy. Optical coherence tomography angiography of the peripheral lesion illustrated extensive vascularity and a possible retinal feeder vessel communicating with the tumor at its inferior margin. The phenotype of the lesion showed overlap with a vasoproliferative tumor or an astrocytic hamartoma. Over a period of 5 years of follow-up, the peripheral tumor was unchanged. No significant progression of the peripheral retinal degeneration was evidenced by autofluorescent imaging over this time period although the central acuity continued to decrease.

Conclusion:

Gene-crumbs 1–associated RP may be characterized by preservation of the para-arteriolar retinal pigment epithelium and slow progression and may also feature a benign peripheral retinal tumor.
Atypical Cogan Syndrome Featuring Orbital Myositis and Dacryoadenitis
Authors: Zhou Henry W. , Tran Ann Q. , Tooley Andrea A. , Miyauchi Jeremy T. , Kazim Michael
Published: September 2020

A 39-year-old male presented with bilateral hearing loss and progressive left eye vision loss over a 14-month period. The development of systemic symptoms including arthralgias, enlarged lymph nodes, and profound leg weakness, prompted a workup for lymphoproliferative disease, infection, and autoimmune inflammatory conditions which was unrevealing. Subsequently, the right visual acuity declined from 20/25 to 20/70 and the left to hand motions due to corneal interstitial keratitis. There was limitation of left infraduction. Neuroimaging revealed dural thickening of the internal auditory canals, cavernous sinuses, cerebellum, and along the optic nerves. There was fusiform enhancing enlargement of the left inferior and medial rectus muscles and pathologic enlargement of the left lacrimal gland. Biopsy of the left lacrimal gland and left inferior rectus revealed fibrosis and lymphocytic infiltration. The patient was diagnosed with atypical Cogan syndrome and treated with oral prednisone, with improvement in visual acuity of the right eye, motility of the left eye, and systemic weakness.
Late-onset angle closure in pseudophakic eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses
Authors: Krawitz Brian D. , Misra Poonam , Bearelly Srilaxmi , Al-Aswad Lama A.
Published: September 2020

Two patients presented with angle closure many years after cataract extraction. The first patient presented with acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and closed iridocorneal angle that resolved with a laser iridotomy. The second patient presented with an insidious course of high IOP and progressive narrowing of the iridocorneal angle, ultimately requiring a pars plana vitrectomy and glaucoma valve implant, with subsequent normalization of pressure and angle anatomy. Although rare, angle closure in eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses is a dangerous complication that can occur many years after cataract extraction. Retained lens fragments, and perhaps repeated intravitreal injections, might place susceptible patients at risk.
Tourniquets in Major Extremity Trauma
Authors: Fuchs Susan
Published: September 2020

Much has been learned about hemorrhage control using tourniquets from wartime experiences, and recent mass casualty events. The use of tourniquets for extremity hemorrhage is a lifesaving skill for all providers to learn.
Albumin Saturated With Fatty Acids Prevents Decompensation in a Rat Hemorrhagic Shock Trauma Model With Tourniquet and Hypotensive Resuscitation
Authors: Penn Alexander H. , Dubick Michael A. , Torres Filho Ivo P.
Published: September 2020

Decompensation is a major prehospital threat to survival from trauma/hemorrhage shock (T/HS) after controlling bleeding. We recently showed higher than expected mortality from a combat-relevant rat model of T/HS (27 mL/kg hemorrhage) with tourniquet (TQ) and permissive hypotensive resuscitation (PHR) with Plasmalyte. Mortality and fluid requirements were reduced by resuscitation with 25% albumin presaturated with oleic acid (OA-sat) compared with fatty-acid -free albumin or Plasmalyte. The objective of this follow-up analysis was to determine the role of decompensation and individual compensatory mechanisms in those outcomes. We observed two forms of decompensation: slow (accelerating fluid volumes needed to maintain blood pressure) and acute (continuous fluid administration unable to prevent pressure drop). Combined incidence of decompensation was 71%. Nearly all deaths (21 of 22) were caused by acute decompensations that began as slow decompensations. The best hemodynamic measure for predicting acute decompensation was diastolic arterial pressure. Decompensation was due to vascular decompensation rather than loss of cardiac performance. Albumin concentration was lower in decompensating groups, suggesting decreased stressed volume, which may explain the association of low albumin on admission with poor outcomes after trauma. Our findings suggest that acute decompensation may be common after trauma and severe hemorrhage treated with TQ and PHR and OA-sat albumin may benefit early survival and reduce transfusion volume by improving venous constriction and preventing decompensation.
Effect of Early Central Venous Catheterization on Mortality Among Patients with Severe Sepsis: A Nationwide Inpatient Database Study
Authors: Edakubo Shunsuke , Inoue Norihiko , Fushimi Kiyohide
Published: September 2020

Background:

Clinical guidelines for the management of sepsis have accelerated the utilization of central venous catheterization (CVC). However, risks associated with CVC may be high in the initial phase of severe sepsis because of patient instability. The timing of CVC itself has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between CVC in the initial care of patients with severe sepsis and corresponding mortality rates.

Patients and Methods:

We conducted a nationwide retrospective analysis using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2016. We identified patients who received CVC within 30 days from hospital admission. We compared the 30-day mortality between two groups: patients who received CVC within 2 days (early) after admission and those who received CVC 3 or more days (delayed) after admission, using marginal structural models with inverse probability treatment weighting.

Results:

We identified 6,028 eligible patients from 911 hospitals among 27,497 patients with severe sepsis for this study; 4,544 (75.4%) received early CVC. Patients with early CVC had poor prognostic baselines and received more intense treatment than patients with delayed CVC. After adjusting for baseline and time-dependent treatment variables, we found that there were no significant differences between patients who received CVC within 2 days after admission and those who received CVC 3 or more days after admission (hazard ratio 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.62–1.10).

Conclusions:

Among patients with severe sepsis, early CVC was not associated with improved in-hospital mortality rates.
SARS-CoV-2 Uses CD4 to Infect T Helper Lymphocytes
Authors: Brunetti Natália S. , Davanzo Gustavo G. , de Moraes Diogo , Ferrari Allan J. R. , de Souza Gabriela F. , Muraro Stefanie P. , Knittel Thiago L. , Boldrini Vinícius O. , Monteiro Lauar B. , Virgilio-da-Silva João Victor , Profeta Gerson S. , Wassano Natália S. , Santos Luana N. , Carregari Victor C. , Dias Artur H. S. , Veras Flavio P. , Tavares Lucas A. , Forato Julia , Castro Ícaro , Silva-Costa Lícia C. , Palma Andre , Mansour Eli , Ulaf Raisa G. , Bernardes Ana F. , Nunes Thyago A. , Ribeiro Luciana C. , Agrela Marcus V. , Moretti Maria Luiza , Buscaratti Lucas I. , Crunfli Fernanda , Ludwig Raissa G. , Gerhardt Jaqueline A. , Munhoz-Alves Natália , Marques Ana M. , Sesti-Costa Renata , Amorim Mariene R. , Texeira Daniel A. T. , Parise Pierina L. , Martini Matheus C. , Bispo-dos-Santos Karina , Simeoni Camila L. , Granja Fabiana , Silvestrini Virginia C. , de Oliveira Eduardo B. , Faça Vitor M. , Carvalho Murilo , Castelucci Bianca G. , Pereira Alexandre B. , Coimbra Laís D. , Dias Marieli M. G. , Rodrigues Patricia B. , S. P. Gomes Arilson Bernardo , Pereira Fabricio B. , Santos Leonilda M. B. , Bloyet Louis-Marie , Stumpf Spencer , Pontelli Marjorie C. , Whelan Sean P. J. , Sposito Andrei C. , Carvalho Robson F. , Vieira Andre S. , Vinolo Marco A. R. , Damasio André , Velloso Licio A. , M. Figueira Ana Carolina , da Silva Luis L. P. , Cunha Thiago M. , Nakaya Helder I. , Marques-Souza Henrique , Marques Rafael E. , Martins-de-Souza Daniel , Skaf Munir S. , Proença-Modena José Luiz , Moraes-Vieira Pedro M. , Mori Marcelo A. , Farias Alessandro S.
Published: September 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality1,2. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+T helper cells, but not CD8+T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.
Sleep apnoea is a risk factor for severe COVID-19
Authors: Strausz Satu , Kiiskinen Tuomo , Broberg Martin , Ruotsalainen Sanni E. , Koskela Jukka , Bachour Adel ,   FinnGen, Palotie Aarno , Palotie Tuula , Ripatti Samuli , Ollila Hanna M.
Published: September 2020

Objective

To investigate if obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19. To examine whether the risk for contracting COVID-19 is elevated among OSA patients.

Design and setting

Registry based retrospective case-control study using Finnish nationwide health registries and the FinnGen Study cohort.

Participants

Information regarding OSA diagnosis and COVID-19 infection was extracted from the FinnGen study (N=260,405) with a total of 305 patients who had a recorded PCR-validated COVID-19 infection including 26 (8.5%) individuals who were also OSA patients. Severe COVID-19 (N=83; 27.2%) was defined as an infection requiring hospitalization. Among the hospitalized individuals there were 16 (19.3%) with OSA diagnosis. In addition, we also included in our analysis previously reported risk factors for both severe COVID-19 or risk factors and comorbidities for OSA from FinnGen.

Main outcome measures

OSA diagnosis, information concerning COVID-19 infection such as hospitalization, were derived from Finnish National Hospital Discharge Registry, Causes of Death Registry and the National Infectious Diseases Registry.

Results

We show that OSA is a risk factor for COVID-19 hospitalization independent from age, sex, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), (p-unadjusted=1.04×10−4, OR-adjusted=5.24 [95%CI 1.33 to 23.43], p-adjusted=0.022). OSA was not associated with the risk of contracting COVID-19 (p=0.49).

Conclusion

While an OSA patient’s risk of contracting COVID-19 is the same as non-OSA individuals, the OSA patients have a five-fold risk to be hospitalized when affected by COVID-19 than non-OSA individuals. Our findings suggest that, in assessment of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, OSA needs to be recognized as one of the comorbidity risk factors for developing a severe form of the disease.
Trajectory of COVID-19 epidemic in Europe
Authors: Colombo Marco , Mellor Joseph , Colhoun Helen M , M Gomes M Gabriela , McKeigue Paul M
Published: September 2020

The classic Susceptible-Infected-Recovered model formulated by Kermack and McKendrick [1] assumes that all individuals in the population are equally susceptible to infection. From fitting such a model to the trajectory of mortality from COVID-19 in 11 European countries up to 4 May 2020 Flaxman et al. concluded that “major non-pharmaceutical interventions – and lockdowns in particular – have had a large effect on reducing transmission” [2]. We show that relaxing the assumption of homogeneity to allow for individual variation in susceptibility or connectivity gives a model that has better fit to the data and more accurate 14-day forward prediction of mortality. Allowing for heterogeneity reduces the estimate of “counterfactual” deaths that would have occurred if there had been no interventions from 3.2 million to 262,000, implying that most of the slowing and reversal of COVID-19 mortality is explained by the build-up of herd immunity. The estimate of the herd immunity threshold depends on the value specified for the infection fatality ratio (IFR): a value of 0.3% for the IFR gives 15% for the average herd immunity threshold.
Strong impact of closing schools, closing bars and wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a simple and revealing analysis
Authors: Matzinger Polly , Skinner Jeff
Published: September 2020

Many complex mathematical and epidemiological methods have been used to model the Covid-19 pandemic. We took a different approach. Making no assumptions, we simply plotted cases, hospitalizations and deaths, on a log2 Y axis and a linear date-based X axis, and analyzed them using segmented regression. The data fit straight lines with correlation coefficients ranging from 92% - 99%, and these lines broke at interesting intervals, revealing that school closings dropped infection rates in half, lockdowns dropped the rates 3 to 4 fold, and other actions (such as closing bars and mandating masks) brought the rates even further down. Hospitalizations and deaths lagged, but paralleled cases. The graphs, which are easy to read, have several implications for modeling and policy development during this and future pandemics. Overall three interventions had the most impact: closing schools, closing bars and wearing masks: a message easily understood by the public.

One Sentence Summary

Regression analysis showed that closing schools, closing bars, and wearing masks had major effects on infections, hospitalizations and death rates in the US during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A novel haemocytometric COVID-19 prognostic score developed and validated in an observational multicentre European hospital-based study
Authors: Linssen Joachim , Ermens Anthony , Berrevoets Marvin , Seghezzi Michela , Previtali Giulia , Sar-van der Brugge Simone van der , Russcher Henk , Verbon Annelies , Gillis Judith , Riedl Jürgen , de Jongh Eva , Saker Jarob , Münster Marion , Munnix Imke CA , Dofferhoff Anthonius , Scharnhorst Volkher , Ammerlaan Heidi , Deiteren Kathleen , Bakker Stephan JL , van Pelt Lucas Joost , Hingh Yvette Kluiters-de , Leers Mathie PG , van der Ven André
Published: September 2020

COVID-19 induces haemocytometric changes. Complete blood count changes, including new cell activation parameters, from 982 confirmed COVID-19 adult patients from 11 European hospitals were retrospectively analysed for distinctive patterns based on age, gender, clinical severity, symptom duration and hospital days. The observed haemocytometric patterns formed the basis to develop a multi-haemocytometric-parameter prognostic score to predict, during the first three days after presentation, which patients will recover without ventilation or deteriorate within a two-week timeframe, needing intensive care or with fatal outcome. The prognostic score, with ROC curve AUC at baseline of 0.753 (95% CI 0.723-0.781) increasing to 0.875 (95% CI 0.806-0.926) on day 3, was superior to any individual parameter at distinguishing between clinical severity. Findings were confirmed in a validation cohort. Aim is that the score and haemocytometry results are simultaneously provided by analyser software, enabling wide applicability of the score as haemocytometry is commonly requested in COVID-19 patients.
The effect of cation–π interactions on the stability and electronic properties of anticancer drug Altretamine: a theoretical study
Authors: Alirezapour Fahimeh , Khanmohammadi Azadeh
Published: September 2020

The present work utilizes density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the influence of cation–π interactions on the electronic properties of the complexes formed by Altretamine [2,4,6-tris(dimethylamino)-1,3,5-triazine], an anticancer drug, with mono- and divalent (Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+and Ca2+) metal cations. The structures were optimized with the M06-2X method and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set in the gas phase and in solution. The theory of `Atoms in Molecules' (AIM) was applied to study the nature of the interactions by calculating the electron density ρ(r) and its Laplacian at the bond critical points. The charge-transfer process during complexation was evaluated using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The results of DFT calculations demonstrate that the strongest/weakest interactions belong to Be2+/K+complexes. There are good correlations between the achieved densities and the amounts of charge transfer with the interaction energies. Finally, the stability and reactivity of the cation–π interactions can be determined by quantum chemical computation based on the molecular orbital (MO) theory.
A psychological model of transparent communication effectiveness
Authors: Hopp Toby , Fisher Jolene
Published: September 2020

Purpose

When it comes to tactics that organizational communicators can undertake to elicit positive gains with stakeholders, transparent communication ranks high on lists proposed by both the scholarly and trade literatures. However, little is known about why such communication tactics are effective on a psychological level. Thus, this study aims to propose and test a psychological model of transparent communication effectiveness in the context of proactive, socially responsible brand communication. The model was based on three propositions: (1) transparent communication offers audiences an important opportunity to learn more about organizational functioning, (2) learning elicits an organizationally relevant positive affective state and (3) positive affect facilitates a robust relationship between perceived learning outcomes and positive evaluation of the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an experiment to test the hypothesized model.

Findings

Support was found for the proposed model. Specifically, the data indicated that the use of transparent massaging elicited higher levels of perceived learning. Perceived learning was associated with positive brand-relevant affect. Finally, positive brand relevant-affect predicted positive summary brand evaluation.

Originality/value

Taken as a whole, the current findings inform theorizing on transparent organizational and brand communication by describing the foundational roles played by perceived knowledge gain and positive affect in encouraging positive message-related outcomes.
CO2emissions, agricultural productivity and welfare in Ethiopia
Authors: Eshete Zerayehu Sime , Mulatu Dawit Woubishet , Gatiso Tsegaye Ginbo
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Climate change has become one of the most important development challenges worldwide. It affects various sectors, with agriculture the most vulnerable. In Ethiopia, climate change impacts are exacerbated due to the economy’s heavy dependence on agriculture. The Ethiopian Government has started to implement its climate-resilient green economy (CRGE) strategy and reduce CO2emissions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of CO2emission on agricultural productivity and household welfare.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to fill these significant research and knowledge gaps using a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model to investigate CO2emissions’ impact on agricultural performance and household welfare.

Findings

The results indicate that CO2emissions negatively affect agricultural productivity and household welfare. Compared to the baseline, real agricultural gross domestic product is projected to be 4.5% lower in the 2020s under a no-CRGE scenario. Specifically, CO2emissions lead to a decrease in the production of traded and non-traded crops, but not livestock. Emissions also worsen the welfare of all segments of households, where the most vulnerable groups are the rural-poor households.

Originality/value

The debate in the area is not derived from a rigorous analysis and holistic economy-wide approach. Therefore, the paper fills this gap and is original by value and examines these issues methodically.
Investigating the determinants of behavioral intentions of generation Z for recycled clothing: an evidence from a developing economy
Authors: Chaturvedi Pallavi , Kulshreshtha Kushagra , Tripathi Vikas
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of environmental concern, perceived value, personal norms and willingness to pay on generation Z’s purchase intention for recycled clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from five Indian universities. A total of 497 usable responses were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for examining the validity and reliability of the scales. Further, the structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationship among the constructs.

Findings

Findings suggested that willingness to pay, environmental concern, perceived value and personal norms influence generation Z’s purchase intention for recycled clothing. Willingness to pay, environmental concern and perceived value were major predictors of purchase intention for recycled clothing.

Practical implications

This study holds much importance to the marketers of recycled clothing as it provides useful insights for formulating the appropriate promotional strategies. The study also contributes to the consumer behavior literature by addressing the existing research gap.

Originality/value

Most of the studies existing in this area have focused on the manufacturing side only except few which explored the consumption side of recycled clothing. Hence, the current study is an attempt to fill this research gap.
Artificial night light helps account for observer bias in citizen science monitoring of an expanding large mammal population
Authors: Ditmer Mark A. , Iannarilli Fabiola , Tri Andrew N. , Garshelis David L. , Carter Neil H.
Published: September 2020

The integration of citizen scientists into ecological research is transforming how, where, and when data are collected, and expanding the potential scales of ecological studies. Citizen‐science projects can provide numerous benefits for participants while educating and connecting professionals with lay audiences, potentially increasing the acceptance of conservation and management actions. However, for all the benefits, collection of citizen‐science data is often biased towards areas that are easily accessible (e.g. developments and roadways), and thus data are usually affected by issues typical of opportunistic surveys (e.g. uneven sampling effort). These areas are usually illuminated by artificial light at night (ALAN), a dynamic sensory stimulus that alters the perceptual world for both humans and wildlife.

Our goal was to test whether satellite‐based measures of ALAN could improve our understanding of the detection process of citizen‐scientist‐reported sightings of a large mammal.

We collected observations of American black bears Ursus americanus (n = 1,315) outside their primary range in Minnesota, USA, as part of a study to gauge population expansion. Participants from the public provided sighting locations of bears on a website. We used an occupancy modelling framework to determine how well ALAN accounted for observer metrics compared to other commonly used metrics (e.g. housing density).

Citizen scientists reported 17% of bear sightings were under artificially lit conditions and monthly ALAN estimates did the best job accounting for spatial bias in detection of all observations, based on AIC values and effect sizes ( = 0.81, 0.71–0.90 95% CI). Bear detection increased with elevated illuminance; relative abundance was positively associated with natural cover, proximity to primary bear range and lower road density. Although the highest counts of bear sightings occurred in the highly illuminated suburbs of the Minneapolis‐St. Paul metropolitan region, we estimated substantially higher bear abundance in another region with plentiful natural cover and low ALAN (up to ~375% increased predicted relative abundance) where observations were sparse.

We demonstrate the importance of considering ALAN radiance when analysing citizen‐scientist‐collected data, and we highlight the ways that ALAN data provide a dynamic snapshot of human activity.
Novel in vivo and in vitro mechanisms of positive inotropic effect of atractylodin
Authors: Gao Li , Wang Yuwei , Zhang Wenhui , Zhu Xiaojia , Gao Qianwen , Xiao Yujie , Chen Kesu , Liu Fuming , Chen Long
Published: September 2020

This study was to investigate the inotropic effect of atractylodin and its underlying mechanism. The cardiac pressure–volume loop (P–V loop), Langendroff‐perfused isolated rat heart, patch‐clamp, Ca2+ transient and western blot techniques were used. The results demonstrated that atractylodin (3 mg/kg, ip) remarkably increased the left ventricular stroke work, cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, ejection fraction, end‐systolic pressure, peak rates of rise and fall of left ventricular pressures (+dP/dtmax, −dP/dtmax), the slopes of end‐systolic pressure–volume relationship (also named as end‐systolic elastance, Ees) and reducing end‐systolic volume and end‐diastolic volume in the in vivo rat study. Also, atractylodin (3 mg/kg, ip) significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure and the arterial elastance (Ea) without significant systolic blood pressure change. In addition, atractylodin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L) also increased the isolated rat heart left ventricular developed pressure which is the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure in non‐pacing and pacing modes. Furthermore, JMV‐2959 (1 μmol/L), a ghrelin receptor unbiased antagonist, blocked the increased left ventricular developed pressure of atractylodin in isolated rat hearts. Finally, atractylodin (5 µmol/L) increased the amplitude of Ca2+ transient by enhancing SERCA2a activity, the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content and the phosphorylation of phospholamban at 16‐serine. These results demonstrated that atractylodin had a positive inotropic effect by enhancing SERCA2a activity which might be mediated by acting ghrelin receptor in myocardium. In conclusion, atractylodin which had the positive inotropic effect and decreased diastolic blood pressure might serve as an agent for the treatment of heart failure in clinical settings.
Occasional loss of fecundity in peripheral coral populations
Authors: Suzuki Go , Kadota Tatsuru , Yatsuya Kousuke , Muko Soyoka , Arakaki Seiji , Kiyomoto Setuo , Yoshimura Taku
Published: September 2020

Reproductive ecology of scleractinian corals remains poorly known, particularly at the periphery of their distribution in temperate regions. However, understanding the reproductive mechanisms of these peripheral populations is important for assessing distributional changes such as poleward expansion in corals. Here, the reproductive status of two dominant Acropora coral species (Acropora cf. glauca and A. solitaryensis) was recorded over 8 years (2012–2019) to clarify annual changes in the fecundity of colonies and the timing of maturation at the periphery of their distribution. In addition, the hypothesis that the subsurface seawater temperature (S3T) affects the fecundity of Acropora corals was tested by examining the changes in ambient S3T and its effect on fecundity. As a result, the significant positive correlation between the average winter S3T (December–March) and fecundity was identified using a generalized linear model. The findings showed that temperate Acropora corals refrained from gametogenesis in the summer if average S3T during the previous winter was approximately 1°C lower than the long‐term average during 2006–2019 (i.e., <15°C), potentially limiting the distribution of coral populations.
MmbR, a master transcription regulator that controls fatty acid β‐oxidation genes in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis
Authors: Xu Hui , Su Zhi , Li Weihui , Deng Yimin , He Zheng‐Guo
Published: September 2020

An unusually high lipid content and a complex lipid profile are the most distinctive features of the mycobacterial cell envelope. However, our understanding of the regulatory mechanism underlying mycobacterial lipid metabolism is limited, and the major regulators responsible for lipid homeostasis remain to be characterized. Here, we identified MmbR as a novel master regulator that is essential for maintaining lipid homeostasis in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis. We found that MmbR controls fatty acid β‐oxidation and modulates biofilm formation in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis. Although MmbR possesses the properties of nucleoid‐associated proteins, it acts as a TetR‐like transcription factor, directly regulating and intensively repressing the expression of a group of core genes involved in fatty acid β‐oxidation. Furthermore, both long‐chain acyl‐Coenzyme A and fatty acids appear to regulate the signal molecules modulated by MmbR. The deletion of mmbR led to a significant reduction in intracellular fatty acid content and a decrease in the relative lipid composition of the biofilm. The lack of mmbR led to morphological changes in the mycobacterial colony, defects in biofilm formation and enhanced sensitivity to anti‐tuberculosis drugs. Our study is the first to establish a link between the transcriptional regulation of fatty acid β‐oxidation genes and lipid homeostasis in mycobacteria.
#FlattenTheCurve
Authors: Dixon Robert
Published: September 2020

In this paper I adapt a common model used in economics to study the diffusion of innovations to model the transmission of a virus. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of the number of new infections and the cumulative total number of infections over time and how they might be influenced by different policies. Although the model is very simple it does yield some useful implications for public policy.
The Australian Labour Market and the Early Impact of COVID‐19: An Assessment
Authors: Borland Jeff , Charlton Andrew
Published: September 2020

From March to June 2020 was the most dramatic four months in the history of the Australian labour market. Never before has a such a substantial decrease in labour demand (and partial reversal) occurred so quickly. In this article, we present an overview of the early impact of COVID‐19: the main drivers it brought into play and the consequent labour market developments. Aggregate effects and how impacts differed by type of job and worker are described. We conclude with a brief review of the main government response to COVID‐19, the JobKeeper program.
Evidence‐Based Management Competency Model for Managers in Hospital Settings
Authors: Daouk‐Öyry Lina , Sahakian Tina , van de Vijver Fons
Published: September 2020

Evidence‐based management (EBMgt), which refers to using the best‐quality evidence from different sources in decision‐making, is becoming an imperative for managers in both profit and non‐profit sectors. Yet, the competencies underlying EBMgt have not yet received much attention. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the foundational and functional competencies of evidence‐driven managers working in hospital settings and develop an empirically based competency model for evidence‐driven managers. We collected qualitative data using semi‐structured interviews and the critical incident technique from 36 executive managers from 11 hospitals in Lebanon about the competencies of managers who use EBMgt when approaching problems and making decisions. Using inductive coding, we identified 13 competencies that we grouped into four dimensions: technical, cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal. We further classified the specific competencies underlying each of the dimensions into foundational and functional, and highlighted those that are critical for the practice of EBMgt in hospital settings, including open mindedness, research knowledge and skills, ethicality in research, resourcefulness and relationship management.
A comparison of embodied methods to improve Chinese children's reading comprehension: observed and participant performed manipulations
Authors: Xu Zhengye , Liu Duo
Published: September 2020

Background

Physically manipulating objects according to texts can improve reading performance. This study examined whether these benefits can also be achieved via observing these manipulations or whether, because of an additional involvement of an action system, the physical manipulation might induce larger effects.

Methods

In total, 134 second graders and 140 fourth graders completed tasks measuring reading comprehension, nonverbal intelligence, rapid automatised naming, working memory, morphological awareness and phonological awareness. Each child was assigned to one of three groups: rereading, observed manipulation and participant‐performed manipulation. Those in the observed manipulation group were asked to reread the story while simultaneously watching a video of corresponding manipulations. Those in the participant‐performed manipulation group were instructed to manipulate objects to represent the story's content. The next period was concerned with the practice effects of the manipulations. The children in the observed manipulation group were instructed to read a new story using the participant‐performed manipulation approach. Those in the other two groups were asked to read the new story using the same strategies they had used in the former period.

Results

The results for the acute improvement showed that, for the fourth graders, the participant‐performed manipulation led to a greater improvement than the observed one, and both of the manipulations provided greater improvements than the rereading. Our examination of the practice effect indicated that the participant‐performed manipulation group only had an advantage over the rereading group, not the observed manipulation group, in text comprehension as a result of experience with object manipulation.

Conclusions

The current results suggest that the observed and physical manipulations make unique contributions to reading comprehension. In addition, these two manipulations lead to similar facilitating effects of subsequent object manipulation on text comprehension.
Relationship between nutritional status on admission to the intensive care unit and clinical outcomes
Authors: Kaddoura Ranim , Shanks Alison , Chapman Marianne , O'Connor Stephanie , Lange Kylie , Yandell Rosalie
Published: September 2020

Aim

To determine the prevalence of malnutrition on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the relationship between nutritional status on admission and clinical outcomes in adult critically ill patients.

Methods

This was a prospective study in an adult ICU. Patients with expected length of stay (LOS) >48 hours in ICU were assessed for nutritional status using the patient generated‐subjective global assessment (PG‐SGA) within 48 hours of admission to ICU.

Results

Primary outcomes were ICU and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital LOS and length of mechanical ventilation. A total of 166 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were aged 59 ± 17 years on average with a mean BMI of 29 ± 7 kg/m2 and a mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 19 ± 7. The prevalence of malnutrition in critically ill patients was 36% (n = 60).

Mortality rate of malnourished patients was 9% (n = 15) compared to 7.8% (n = 13) in well‐nourished patients (adjusted odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.9‐5.03, P = .069). There was no difference in hospital mortality between malnourished patients and well‐nourished patients (10.2% vs 10.2% adjusted odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.89‐4.19, P = .096). There was no relationship between nutritional status and length of mechanical ventilation (3.0 vs 1.0 days, P = .382)or ICU LOS (4.7 vs 4.8 days, P = .59). Malnourished patients had a longer LOS in hospital than well‐nourished patients (24 vs 17 days, P = .03).

Conclusion

Malnutrition is an independent risk factor for increased hospital LOS.
Enhancement of polyphenolic content extraction rate with maximal antioxidant activity from green tea leaves by cold plasma
Authors: Keshavarzi Maryam , Najafi Gholamhassan , Ahmadi Gavlighi Hassan , Seyfi Pourya , Ghomi Hamid
Published: September 2020

A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma was evaluated as a tool to increase the extraction rate of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity from green tea leaves. The effects of nitrogen DBD cold plasma on changes of color and surface morphology were investigated. Optimum conditions of cold plasma treatment (treatment time and generation power) were obtained by response surface methodology. After the nitrogen DBD cold plasma at 15 W of the generation power for 15 min, the TPC and antioxidant activity of green tea increased by 41.14% and 41.06%, respectively. The catechin also increased by 103.12%. The scanning electron microscopy results showed cell ablation and ruptures of the green tea leaf surface after nitrogen DBD cold plasma treatment.

Practical Application

The developed DBD cold plasma source fed by nitrogen gas can be a suitable procedure for green and useful extraction of phenolic compounds from natural sources in the food industries.
When Hedging Goes Wrong: Lessons from Ukraine’s Failed Hedge of the EU and Russia
Authors: Smith Nicholas Ross
Published: September 2020

When confronted by the competing zero‐sum regional strategies of the EU and Russia between 2010 and 2013, Ukraine chose to aggressively pursue a dual‐aligned hedge. This policy choice, in part, helped precipitate a disastrous outcome: the Ukraine crisis. Using the insights of the literature on smaller power hedging and regional security complex theory, it is argued that Viktor Yanukovych misperceived the geopolitical feedback emanating from the Eastern Europe security complex, leading it to pursuing a suboptimal foreign policy. Hedging was still the optimal foreign policy for Ukraine, but arguably a more modest form of hedging was required. It is argued that Ukraine’s experience raises important questions about the actorness of smaller powers to pursue hedging strategies in geopolitically‐charged regional security complexes.
Lung adenocarcinoma with tumor resolution and dystrophic calcification after salvage surgery following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A case report
Authors: Sumi Toshiyuki , Uehara Hirofumi , Masaoka Toshiaki , Tada Makoto , Keira Yoshiko , Kamada Koki , Shijubou Naoki , Yamada Yuichi , Nakata Hisashi , Mori Yuji , Chiba Hirofumi
Published: September 2020

A clinical trial of immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer reported an overall survival plateau with a long tail to the survival curve, suggesting that immune checkpoint inhibitors prolong survival. However, little evidence supports the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We performed salvage surgery on a patient who was treated with an anti‐programmed cell death protein‐1 (PD‐1) antibody and whose tumor size had not changed over time. A 69‐year‐old Japanese female with advanced lung adenocarcinoma was initially administered pembrolizumab therapy; however, owing to the development of various immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), the patient was switched to chemotherapy following steroid therapy. The tumor continued to shrink and calcification within the tumor increased. We performed salvage surgery following which the tumor cells disappeared and necrosis and calcification were detected in the tumor. We concluded that if calcification develops within the tumor and tumor shrinkage is maintained after treatment with anti‐PD‐1 drugs, the calcification may be dystrophic owing to drug‐induced tumor necrosis, and salvage surgery might be beneficial in removing the tumor.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

If calcification develops within the tumor and tumor shrinkage is maintained after treatment with anti‐PD‐1 drugs, the calcification may be dystrophic owing to tumor necrosis caused by drug effects, and salvage surgery might be beneficial in removing the tumor.

What this study adds

This study showed the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors as neoadjuvant chemotherapy to be followed by salvage surgery for unresectable advanced lung adenocarcinoma.
Prognostic factors for survival in patients with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma: An analysis of the SEER database
Authors: Campos‐Balea Begoña , de Castro Carpeño Javier , Massutí Bartomeu , Vicente‐Baz David , Pérez Parente Diego , Ruiz‐Gracia Pedro , Crama Leonardo , Cobo Dols Manuel
Published: September 2020

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) is the main cause of death related to lung cancer. The aim of this study was to identify poor prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in patients with stage IV lung ADC in real‐world clinical practice.

Methods

Patients were selected from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Chi‐square bivariate analysis was used for the association of binary qualitative variables. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of these prognostic factors on OS.

Results

A total of 46 030 patients were included (51.3% men, mean age 67.03 ± 11.6), of whom 41.3% presented with metastases in bone, 28.9% in brain, 17.1% in liver and 31.8% in lung. Patients with liver metastases presented with two or more metastatic sites more frequently than patients without liver metastases (P < 0.001). Male sex (HR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.76–0.80), age ≥ 65 years (HR 1.37, 95% CI: 1.33–1.40), lack of family support (HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.78–0.81) and presence of liver (HR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.40–1.50), bone (HR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18–1.24) or brain metastases (HR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.15–1.21) were identified as poor prognostic factors for OS. Patients with liver metastasis showed the highest hazard ratio value (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The presence of liver metastases was the worst prognostic factor for patients with metastatic lung ADC. This factor should be considered as a stratification factor for future studies evaluating new cancer treatments including immunotherapy.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

Regression analysis identified poor prognostic factors for overall survival. Factors were male sex, age ≥ 65 years, lack of family support and presence of liver, bone and brain metastases.

Patients with liver metastasis showed the highest HR (HR = 1.45 95% CI: 1.40–1.50).

This study included the highest number of adenocarcinoma patients analyzed so far (N = 46 030).

What this study adds

The presence of liver metastases should be considered as a stratification factor for future studies evaluating new cancer treatments including immunotherapy.
Mathematical and simulation methods for deriving extinction thresholds in spatial and stochastic models of interacting agents
Authors: Ovaskainen Otso , Somervuo Panu , Finkelshtein Dmitri
Published: September 2020

In ecology, one of the most fundamental questions relates to the persistence of populations, or conversely to the probability of their extinction. Deriving extinction thresholds and characterizing other critical phenomena in spatial and stochastic models is highly challenging, with few mathematically rigorous results being available for discrete‐space models such as the contact process. For continuous‐space models of interacting agents, to our knowledge no analytical results are available concerning critical phenomena, even if continuous‐space models can arguably be considered to be more natural descriptions of many ecological systems than lattice‐based models.

Here we present both mathematical and simulation‐based methods for deriving extinction thresholds and other critical phenomena in a broad class of agent‐based models called spatiotemporal point processes. The mathematical methods are based on a perturbation expansion around the so‐called mean‐field model, which is obtained at the limit of large‐scale interactions. The simulation methods are based on examining how the mean time to extinction scales with the domain size used in the simulation. By utilizing a constrained Gaussian process fitted to the simulated data, the critical parameter value can be identified by asking when the scaling between logarithms of the time to extinction and the domain size switches from sublinear to superlinear.

As a case study, we derive the extinction threshold for the spatial and stochastic logistic model. The mathematical technique yields rigorous approximation of the extinction threshold at the limit of long‐ranged interactions. The asymptotic validity of the approximation is illustrated by comparing it to simulation experiments. In particular, we show that species persistence is facilitated by either short or long spatial scale of the competition kernel, whereas an intermediate scale makes the species vulnerable to extinction.

Both the mathematical and simulation methods developed here are of very general nature, and thus we expect them to be valuable for predicting many kinds of critical phenomena in continuous‐space stochastic models of interacting agents, and thus to be of broad interest for research in theoretical ecology and evolutionary biology.