bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Checklist of brachyuran mangrove crabs of Kerala, India
Authors: Abraham Kurian Mathew , Prakasan Apreshgi Kolothuthara
Published: November 2020

Checklist of Brachyuran mangrove crabs from Kerala, west coast of India has been listed in this paper with re-validation of nomenclature since many of the crab species has been re-named so far and no report has been made from Kerala mangroves. A total of 18 truly mangrove crabs were identified from different mangroves associated with estuaries along western coastline of Kerala state. Among which 4 crab genera were re-named and re-validated and all species were photo-documented during the present study. The paper enlists the taxonomic account of the true mangrove crabs known so far from Kerala mangrove ecosystems
Diversity of scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve, Sri Lanka
Authors: Wijesooriya Kumudu B. , Weerasekara Lakshani S. , Ranawana Kithsiri B.
Published: November 2020

Sri Lanka harbours 20 scorpion species belonging to four families, of which 15 are endemic.  The distribution and ecology of scorpion fauna in Sri Lanka is poorly known.  In this study, we surveyed the diversity of scorpions in the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve in the dry zone of Sri Lanka.  Microhabitats were thoroughly observed using the direct visual encounter method and UV lights from July to November 2018 for about seven hours (19.00–02.00 h) by two to three observers.  Species, abundance, age/sex, and microhabitat features were recorded.  Diversity indices, including α-diversity and β-diversity, were calculated. Heterometrus swammerdami was the most abundant species recorded, while Isometrus thwaitesi was the rarest.  Reddyanus loebli and R. besucheti were common in both open and forest habitat types.  Charmus laneus was recorded for the first time in Polonnaruwa.  The highest Shannon Index and Margalef Diversity Index values were recorded in open habitats, but species evenness was low compared to forest habitats.  Sørensen index values showed a 58% species similarity between two habitats.  The results presented here contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of scorpions in these historically significant sites.  This can serve as a basis for future research on the impact of habitat modification and fragmentation on populations, distribution and ecology of scorpions.
Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Patients by Morbidity Burden: Insights From Get With The Guidelines‐Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Dalgaard Frederik , Xu Haolin , Matsouaka Roland A. , Russo Andrea M. , Curtis Anne B. , Rasmussen Peter Vibe , Ruwald Martin H. , Fonarow Gregg C. , Lowenstern Angela , Hansen Morten L. , Pallisgaard Jannik L. , Alexander Karen P. , Alexander John H. , Lopes Renato D. , Granger Christopher B. , Lewis William R. , Piccini Jonathan P. , Al‐Khatib Sana M.
Published: November 2020

Background

Knowledge is scarce regarding how multimorbidity is associated with therapeutic decisions regarding oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods and Results

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation using the Get With The Guidelines‐Atrial Fibrillation registry from 2013 to 2019. We identified patients ≥65 years and eligible for OAC therapy. Using 16 available comorbidity categories, patients were stratified by morbidity burden. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the odds of receiving OAC prescription at discharge by morbidity burden. We included 34 174 patients with a median (interquartile range) age of 76 (71–83) years, 56.6% women, and 41.9% were not anticoagulated at admission. Of these patients, 38.6% had 0 to 2 comorbidities, 50.7% had 3 to 5 comorbidities, and 10.7% had ≥6 comorbidities. The overall discharge OAC prescription was high (85.6%). The prevalence of patients with multimorbidity increased from 59.7% in 2014 to 64.3% in 2019 (
P
trend=0.002). Using 0 to 2 comorbidities as the reference, the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of OAC prescription were 0.93 (0.82, 1.05) for patients with 3 to 5 comorbidities and 0.72 (0.60, 0.86) for patients with ≥6 comorbidities. In those with ≥6 comorbidities, the most common reason for nonprescription of OACs were frequent falls/frailty (31.0%).

Conclusions

In a contemporary quality‐of‐care database of hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation eligible for OAC therapy, multimorbidity was common. A higher morbidity burden was associated with a lower odds of OAC prescription. This highlights the need for interventions to improve adherence to guideline‐recommended anticoagulation in multimorbid patients with atrial fibrillation.
Consider the (Feral) Cat: Ferality, Biopower, and the Ethics of Predation
Authors: Holm Nicholas
Published: November 2020

Cats confound clear distinctions: not least that between the human and natural worlds. As a consequence, they are prime examples of “ferality”: a category of nonhuman subjects who are neither domestic, nor wild, but instead move between those realms. It is argued that that potential for movement informs particular social anxieties and debates that emerge regarding cat hunting behaviors. Drawing on the biopolitical work of Michel Foucault, in conjunction with the ethical paradox of the “predator problem,” it is argued that the ethical indictment of cat predation is best understood as a consequence of cats’ abilities to move across the different regulatory and ethical spaces of the home and the wild. Ferality thus functions as a means by which human ethics are brought to bear on nonhuman nature, and predation is thereby framed as an unnecessary, “unnatural,” and even evil act.
The Importance of Religion for the Evaluation of Everyday Ecological Decisions by German Adolescents
Authors: Altmeyer Stefan , Dreesmann Daniel
Published: November 2020

Although previous research has addressed the relationship between religion and ecology in a variety of ways, little is known concerning how religious orientation affects concrete everyday ecological decisions, although these are centrally important for environmental education. Being interested in elucidating the preconditions of ecological learning in Biology and Religious Education in schools, the authors have developed an approach based on maximum concretion with regard to the ecological decision in which the influence of religion should be evaluated. With this goal in mind, they conducted an empirical study among secondary school students in central Western Germany (N = 815), who were confronted with an everyday ecological dilemma and asked about their reasons for evaluating this situation. The results provide insight into the potential role of German young people’s religious orientations in ecological matters and call for a decisive profiling of how cross-disciplinary education can contribute to this key question for future.
Thermoregulation in a saxicolous population of the lizard Urosaurus ornatus from the northern Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico
Authors: Gadsden Hector , Lara-Reséndiz Rafael A. , Minjarrez-Flores Nallely F. , Gatica-Colima Ana , Smith Geoffrey R.
Published: November 2020

Environmental temperatures often regulate the activity and physiological processes of ectotherms. Because environmental temperatures can vary significantly among seasons, lizards exposed to different thermal conditions in different months could differ in how they thermoregulate or behave. Here, we present a combination of field, laboratory, and modeling approaches to examine thermoregulation, habitat thermal quality, and hours of thermal restriction on activity in a saxicolous population of Urosaurus ornatus in two thermally contrasting months (June and October) in a micro-insular mountain system in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico. Both active and preferred body temperatures did not vary between months. In this population, U. ornatus is an active thermoregulator with highly accurate and efficient thermoregulation despite the thermal quality in both months. However, during the breeding season (June) activity is restricted (i.e., high number of hours of restriction) compared to the non-breeding season (October). Therefore, our results suggest that this saxicolous population of U. ornatus could be threatened by global climate change and it is essential to determine a conservation strategy for this population.
The Imaginary Species
Authors: McWhinney† Will , Brice William David , Katzenstein James , Webber James B.
Published: November 2020

This article is a work of theory that establishes a fundamental mental basis for the diversity of worldviews that underlie every seemingly unsolvable conflict between nations, political parties, organizations, and individuals. The four-part typology postulated here is found, with different labels, throughout the history of human philosophy and underscores four basic worldviews people use to view their understanding of, and relationship with, the world. These four types fundamentally underlie cultural values and beliefs. Understanding this fundamental fact about human mentality will illuminate why persistent conflicts around the world are seemingly unsolvable and why populations can become so deeply polarized that political repression or civil war can come to seem to be a rationally conceivable way to rectify the situation.
The Participation of Non-Governmental Organisations and National Human Rights Institutions in the Execution of Judgments of the Strasbourg Court
Authors: Erken Elif
Published: November 2020

Although relatively unknown, a formal role has been devised for non-governmental organisations and National Human Rights Institutions in the execution process of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. By virtue of Rule 9 of the Rules of the Committee of Ministers, ngos and nhris are empowered to be involved in this process by submitting written Communications for consideration by the Committee of Ministers. This exploratory research identifies the role ngos and nhris play through Rule 9, and demonstrates the added value of involving these actors in this respect. As such, this article provides a first inventory and exploration of these Rule 9 Communications, detailing the extent to which Rule 9 is made use of, by whom, in what way and, finally, whether these Communications (visibly) play a role in the supervision process. Combined, this reveals that ngos and nhris use Rule 9 to review, assess and report on the performance of domestic authorities with regard to the execution of judgments of the ECtHR. In doing so, they appear to act as an amicus in the execution process, by providing valuable observations at the echr level and, as such, it is argued that their participation is a welcome one.
Study on spinning stability and microstructure of mesophase pitch
Authors: Chen Shi-Lin , Ma Zhi-Cheng , Fan Chang-Ling , Liang Yu-Lin , Ye Chong
Published: November 2020

The effect of spinning temperature on phase stability, rheological stability, and thermal stability of mesophase pitch (MP), naphthalene-based mesophase pitch (AR) and microstructure of pitch filament were investigated in this study. Results showed that the interface stratification
of anisotropic and isotropic phases, local enrichment of isotropic phases and extensive enrichment of isotropic phases existed in the spinning process for mesophase pitch. The local enrichment of isotropic phase was observed in MP and AR at the spinning temperature of 320 °C. The interface
stratification of anisotropic and isotropic phases and extensive enrichment of isotropic phases were generated in MP when the spinning temperature reached 340 °C. This phase separation reduced the rheological stability and thermal stability of mesophase pitch and then affected the spinning
ability. The inhomogeneous pores were also formed in the MP and AR mesophase pitch filament at the spinning temperature of 340 °C.
The synergetic effect of straining and N-doping in graphene for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction performance
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Yuan Lijun , Zhang Zhenhua , Zhang Xuefeng , Guan Pengfei , Sun Junting , Bandaru Sateesh , Guo Junjie
Published: November 2020

Carbon-based catalysts are engineered by either atomic-scale heteroatom doping or intrinsic structural tuning. However, their synergistic effects are yet to be well-understood. Herein, we report a theoretical investigation, based on first-principles simulations, devoted to the catalytic
characteristics of graphene in an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), where graphene is designed with different curvatures and doped with individual N atoms. We discover that the synergistic effect of straining and nitrogen doping (N-doping) can be more effective in improving the performance
of ORR compared to N-doped graphene, strained graphene, and other graphenerelated structures. Such a synergistic effect can be attributed to the fact that N-doping reduces the bandgap, promotes electron mobility, and facilitates the transfer of electrons to O2, whereas straining
enhances the electronic orbit coupling interaction between the substrate and the adsorbed O2. In the future, our study will have important implications in understanding the synergistic mechanism of straining and N-doping in graphene, and thus, designing novel carbon-based catalysts.
Oxycodone versus morphine for titration analgesia after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in postanesthesia care unit: A prospective, randomized trial
Authors: Zhao Xiyue , Zhou Songyi , Wang Liangrong , Lin Lina , Chen Lei , Zhou Jiahao
Published: November 2020

We want to compare the efficacy and side effects of oxycodone and morphine in the management of postoperative pain by titration in patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery because of neglect of postoperative analgesia and rare literature of intravenous oxycodone used
in PACU, China. Thirty adult female patients were scheduled for elective laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to either morphine sulfate injection group (Group M, n = 15 cases) or oxycodone hydrochloride injection group (Group
O, n = 15 cases). All the patients were given an intravenous PEG nanometer drug delivery system. Furthermore, when they arrived at the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), a visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate postoperative pain. Also, the patients were given 3 mg oxycodone or
morphine for titration when the pain VAS score was more than 30 mm, and the pain and sedation scores were re-evaluated after 5 minutes. The titration stopped if the VAS score was ≤ 30 mm otherwise the titration continued as per the above method until the VAS score was less than 30 mm. The
required titration dosage, times, and time of oxycodone titration were noted and they were all remarkably lower than those of morphine titration group (P < 0.05). The incidence of side effects in Group M was statistically significantly higher in Group O (P < 0.05). More
so, oxycodone titration showed faster analgesic effects, less analgesic drug consumption, and lower incidence of adverse complications during postoperative pain management when compared to morphine titration. The reliability and effectiveness of the PEG nanometer drug delivery system were
simultaneously proved.
Hydrothermal synthesis of porous TiO2 microspheres as an efficient sulfur host for enhanced lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Song Haishen , Kuang Qiujuan , Yuan Hailiang , Chen Hezhang , Xu Guorong , Tang Anping , Liu Lihua
Published: November 2020

A porous TiO2 particle is synthesized and used as a sulfur host. The obtained TiO2 material provides a large number of pores that can accommodate sulfur, and the porous structure also enables effective contact between the host material and lithium polysulfides.
The TiO2/S electrode shows excellent electrochemical performance, exhibiting a capacity loss of 0.17% per cycle and a Coulombic efficiency of 97.7% during cycling at 0.5 C. The appealing results are due to the porous characteristics of the TiO2 material and the chemical
adsorption between the TiO2 and lithium polysulfides.
Research on CuxSy/CoSz/graphene supercapacitor electrode materials
Authors: Duan Xiaobo , Ding Yanhong , Yu Meng
Published: November 2020

Multilayer graphene was prepared in this study by microwave burst method. Cu9S5/CoS/graphene and CuS/CoS2/graphene composites were obtained by hydrothermal method to regulate the molecular structure and combination of Cu and Co metal sulfides on graphene
substrate. Graphite oxide was doped by hydrothermal method, and then Cu9S5/CoS/graphene composite was prepared by microwave explosion method. Raman, SEM and TEM were used to characterize the self-made graphene. Results showed that the multilayer graphene had a bag-like
structure which was beneficial to anchor sulfide. Three graphene-based composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy spectrum analysis and electrochemical properties. Moreover, results showed that CuS/CoS2/graphene had the best electrochemical
performance, and its specific capacity reached 324 F/g when the current density was 1 A · g–1, which was much higher than that of the other two samples. Capacity retention rate, interfacial charge transfer resistance and electrolyte diffusion resistance also have advantages.
Beyond Aggregation: How Voice Disparity Relates to Team Conflict, Satisfaction, and Performance
Authors: Brykman Kyle M. , O’Neill Thomas A.
Published: November 2020

In this manuscript, we conceptualize voice disparity based on the extent to which voice is (un)evenly communicated within a team and demonstrate its empirical utility beyond team aggregate voice. Specifically, we propose that voice disparity is negatively related to task conflict and positively related to relationship conflict, whereas the inverse holds for aggregate voice, and that conflict mediates the effects of team-level voice on team outcomes. Results of our study of 178 engineering-student teams generally supported this model. Overall, we demonstrate the complexities of voice as a multilevel phenomenon, which depends on how often and equally team members express voice.
Reflections on ‘doing’ participatory data analysis with women experiencing long-term homelessness
Authors: Vaccaro Mary-Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

This paper draws on the lessons learned from the [in]visible project, a community-based research partnership that aimed to learn more about the experiences of women, without children in their care, who experience chronic homelessness in Hamilton, Ontario. Through involving 70 women as participants, we used narrative and arts-based research methods to learn about the experiences and housing needs of this population. The purpose of the [in]visible project was to involve women in identifying gaps in housing services and generate recommendations on how permanent housing for women should be developed. This paper demonstrates how the participation of the women in three distinct data analysis activities including arts-based think tanks, participatory theorizing, and the creation of a conference workshop supported the participation of women at all stages of the data analysis process. This paper contributes to limited scholarship on participatory data analysis by presenting pragmatic and low-barrier ways of ensuring the findings and the direction of advocacy efforts reflect the social justice and change priorities of the women involved.
The clinical phenotype of bronchiectasis and its clinical guiding implications
Authors: Gao Li , Qin Ke-Ru , Li Ting , Wang Hai-Long , Pang Min
Published: November 2020

Bronchiectasis is a chronic airway disease with abnormal and persistent bronchial dilatation caused by a variety of reasons. In recent years, numerous reports have shown that bronchiectasis is heterogeneous, the clinical characteristics of patients with different phenotypes are different, and the efficacy of a treatment regimen may vary greatly in patients with different bronchiectasis phenotypes. This paper summarizes the current clinical phenotypic classification of bronchiectasis from the perspective of etiology, microbiology, and the frequency of acute exacerbation, and cluster analysis was used to determine new clinical phenotypes and their statistical and clinical significance. Different tools for assessing disease severity yield different outcomes. This article summarizes the research progress in the above areas, hoping to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the disease.
Between Conflict and Politics: Understanding Popular Support for the FARC’s Political Involvement
Authors: García-Sánchez Miguel , Plata-Caviedes Juan Camilo
Published: November 2020

Political participation of former combatants is a central component of peace agreements. Similarly, people’s acceptance of political parties derived from such agreements is a crucial element towards peace building. Considering the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC), we ask “What factors shape popular support for the FARC’s political involvement?” We argue that attitudes towards the political integration of the former guerrilla are influenced by conflict experiences and partisan identities. Relying on survey data, our results indicate that conflict experiences and political identities alone are not correlated with attitudes towards the political integration of former insurgents. However, public support for former combatants having a political party is associated with conflict experiences only for those who feel close to parties that took a hawkish stance towards the agreement.
Role of comorbidities in heart failure prognosis Part 2: Chronic kidney disease, elevated serum uric acid
Authors: Tedeschi Andrea , Agostoni Piergiuseppe , Pezzuto Beatrice , Corra’ Ugo , Scrutinio Domenico , La Gioia Rocco , Raimondo Rosa , Passantino Andrea , Piepoli Massimo F
Published: November 2020

Despite improvements in pharmacotherapy, morbidity and mortality rates in community-based populations with chronic heart failure still remain high. The increase in medical complexity among patients with heart failure may be reflected by an increase in concomitant non-cardiovascular comorbidities, which are recognized as independent prognostic factors in this population. Heart failure and chronic kidney disease share many risk factors, and often coexist. The presence of kidney failure is associated with incremented risk of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality in heart failure patients. Chronic kidney disease is also linked with underutilization of evidence-based heart failure therapy that may reduce morbidity and mortality. More targeted therapies would be important to improve the prognosis of patients with these diseases. In recent years, serum uric acid as a determinant of cardiovascular risk has gained interest. Epidemiological, experimental and clinical data show that patients with hyperuricaemia are at increased risk of cardiac, renal and vascular damage and cardiovascular events. Moreover, elevated serum uric acid predicts worse outcome in both acute and chronic heart failure. While studies have raised the possibility of preventing heart failure through the use of uric acid lowering agents, the literature is still inconclusive on whether the reduction in uric acid will result in a measurable clinical benefit. Available evidences suggest that chronic kidney disease and elevated uric acid could worsen heart failure patients’ prognosis. The aim of this review is to analyse a possible utilization of these comorbidities in risk stratification and as a therapeutic target to get a prognostic improvement in heart failure patients.
Role of comorbidities in heart failure prognosis Part I: Anaemia, iron deficiency, diabetes, atrial fibrillation
Authors: Paolillo Stefania , Scardovi Angela B , Campodonico Jeness
Published: November 2020

Cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidities are frequently observed in heart failure patients, complicating the therapeutic management and leading to poor prognosis. The prompt recognition of associated comorbid conditions is of great importance to optimize the clinical management, the follow-up, and the treatment of patients affected by chronic heart failure. Anaemia and iron deficiency are commonly reported in all heart failure forms, have a multifactorial aetiology and are responsible for reduced exercise tolerance, impaired quality of life, and poor long-term prognosis. Diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in heart failure and a poor glycaemic control is associated with worst outcome. Two specific heart failure forms are usually observed in diabetic patients: an ischaemic cardiomyopathy or a typical diabetic cardiomyopathy. The implementation of use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors will much improve in the near future the long-term prognosis of patients affected by heart failure and diabetes. Among cardiovascular comorbidities, atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmic disease of heart failure patients and it is still not clear whether its presence should be considered as a prognostic indicator or as a marker of advanced disease. The aim of the present review was to explore the clinical and prognostic impact of anaemia and iron deficiency, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation in patients affected by chronic heart failure.
Comparison among different multiparametric scores for risk stratification in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Corrà Ugo , Magini Alessandra , Paolillo Stefania , Frigerio Maria
Published: November 2020

Heart failure is a serious condition with high prevalence (about 2% in the adult population in developed countries, and more than 8% in patients older than 75 years). About 3–5% of hospital admissions are linked with heart failure incidents. The guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure have identified individual markers in patients with heart failure, including demographic data, aetiology, comorbidities, clinical, radiological, haemodynamic, echocardiographic and biochemical parameters. Several scoring systems have been proposed to identify adverse events, such as destabilizations, re-hospitalizations and mortality. This article reviews scoring systems for heart failure prognostication, with particular mention of those models with exercise tolerance objective definition. Although most of the models include readily available clinical information, quite a few of them comprise circulating levels of natriuretic peptides and a more objective evaluation of exercise tolerance. A literature review was also conducted to (a) identify heart failure risk-prediction models, (b) assess statistical approach, and (c) identify common variables.
Measuring polycentric structures of megaregions in China: Linking morphological and functional dimensions
Authors: Chen Wei , Golubchikov Oleg , Liu Zhigao
Published: November 2020

The idea of megaregions, which focuses on polycentricity, competitiveness, and integration attracts much attention in research and policy. China has used megaregions as a normative governance framework that leverages polycentric regional development for balancing economic competitiveness and spatial development. This paper explores to what extent these megaregions actually reveal polycentric versus monocentric structures. The analysis demonstrates a divergence between the morphological and functional organization of China’s megaregions. Five types of megaregions are identified as per the relationships between the morphological and functional dimensions. Functionally, the Pearl River Delta, Shandong Peninsula, and Yangtze River Delta are among the most polycentric megaregions. The majority of others, even where morphologically polycentric, do not exhibit high degrees of functional polycentricity. The study demonstrates a problematic nature of megaregions as a governance agenda for regional polycentricity. It argues that if China genuinely wants to achieve greater levels of polycentricity and spatial cohesion, differentiated policies should be implemented for megaregions.
Auxin, Abscisic Acid and Jasmonate Are the Central Players in Rice Sheath Rot Caused by Sarocladium oryzae and Pseudomonas fuscovaginae
Authors: Peeters K. J. , Ameye M. , Demeestere K. , Audenaert K. , Höfte M.
Published: November 2020

Sheath rot is an emerging rice disease that causes severe yield losses worldwide. The main causal agents are the toxin producers Sarocladium oryzae and Pseudomonas fuscovaginae. The fungus S. oryzae produces helvolic acid and cerulenin and the bacterium P. fuscovaginae produces cyclic lipopeptides. Helvolic acid and the lipopeptide, fuscopeptin, inhibit membrane-bound H+-ATPase pumps in the rice plant. To manage rice sheath rot, a better understanding of the host response and virulence strategies of the pathogens is required. This study investigated the interaction of the sheath rot pathogens with their host and the role of their toxins herein. Japonica rice was inoculated with high- and low-helvolic acid-producing S. oryzae isolates or with P. fuscovaginae wild type and fuscopeptin mutant strains. During infection, cerulenin, helvolic acid and the phytohormones abscisic acid, jasmonate, auxin and salicylic acid were quantified in the sheath. In addition, disease severity and grain yield parameters were assessed. Rice plants responded to high-toxin-producing S. oryzae and P. fuscovaginae strains with an increase in abscisic acid, jasmonate and auxin levels. We conclude that, for both pathogens, toxins play a core role during sheath rot infection. S. oryzae and P. fuscovaginae interact with their host in a similar way. This may explain why both sheath rot pathogens cause very similar symptoms despite their different nature.
Multiple imputation and direct estimation for qPCR data with non-detects
Authors: Sherina Valeriia , McMurray Helene R. , Powers Winslow , Land Harmut , Love Tanzy M. T. , McCall Matthew N.
Published: November 2020

Background

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is one of the most widely used methods to measure gene expression. An important aspect of qPCR data that has been largely ignored is the presence of non-detects: reactions failing to exceed the quantification threshold and therefore lacking a measurement of expression. While most current software replaces these non-detects with a value representing the limit of detection, this introduces substantial bias in the estimation of both absolute and differential expression. Single imputation procedures, while an improvement on previously used methods, underestimate residual variance, which can lead to anti-conservative inference.

Results

We propose to treat non-detects as non-random missing data, model the missing data mechanism, and use this model to impute missing values or obtain direct estimates of model parameters. To account for the uncertainty inherent in the imputation, we propose a multiple imputation procedure, which provides a set of plausible values for each non-detect. We assess the proposed methods via simulation studies and demonstrate the applicability of these methods to three experimental data sets. We compare our methods to mean imputation, single imputation, and a penalized EM algorithm incorporating non-random missingness (PEMM). The developed methods are implemented in the R/Bioconductor package .

Conclusions

The statistical methods introduced here reduce discrepancies in gene expression values derived from qPCR experiments in the presence of non-detects, providing increased confidence in downstream analyses.
Determination of the ED95 of intrathecal hyperbaric prilocaine with sufentanil for scheduled cesarean delivery: a dose-finding study based on the continual reassessment method
Authors: Goffard P. , Vercruysse Y. , Leloup R. , Fils J-F , Chevret S. , Kapessidou Y.
Published: November 2020

Background

Scheduled cesarean section is routinely performed under spinal anesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine. The current study was undertaken to determine the clinically relevant 95% effective dose of intrathecal 2% hyperbaric prilocaine co-administered with sufentanil for scheduled cesarean section, using continual reassessment method.

Methods

We conducted a dose-response, prospective, double-blinded study to determine the ED95 values of intrathecal hyperbaric prilocaine used with 2,5 mcg of sufentanil and 100 mcg of morphine for cesarean delivery. Each parturient enrolled in the study received an intrathecal dose of hyperbaric prilocaine determined by the CRM and the success or failure of the block was assessed as being the primary endpoint.

Results

The doses given for each cohort varied from 35 to 50 mg of HP, according to the CRM, with a final ED95 lying between 45 and 50 mg of Prilocaine after completion of the 10 cohorts. Few side effects were reported and patients were globally satisfied.

Conclusions

The ED95 of intrathecal hyperbaric prilocaine with sufentanil 2.5 μg and morphine 100 μg for elective cesarean delivery was found to be between 45 and 50 mg. It may be an interesting alternative to other long-lasting local anesthetics in this context.

Trial registration

The study was registered on January 30, 2017 – retrospectively registered – and results posted at the public database clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03036384).
Predictors of three-month mortality among hospitalized older adults in Togo
Authors: Gbeasor-Komlanvi Fifonsi Adjidossi , Tchankoni Martin Kouame , Bakoubayi Akila Wimima , Lokossou Matthieu Yaovi , Sadio Arnold , Zida-Compaore Wendpouiré Ida Carine , Djibril Mohaman , Belo Mofou , Agbonon Amegnona , Ekouevi Didier Koumavi
Published: November 2020

Background

Assessing hospital mortality and its predictors is important as some of these can be prevented through appropriate interventions. Few studies have reported hospital mortality data among older adults in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the mortality and associated factors among hospitalized older adults in Togo.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study from February 2018 to September 2019 among patients ≥50 years admitted in medical and surgical services of six hospitals in Togo. Data were recorded during hospitalization and through telephone follow-up survey within 90 days after admission. The main outcome was all-cause mortality at 3 months. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of mortality.

Results

The median age of the 650 older adults included in the study period was 61 years, IQR: [55–70] and at least one comorbidity was identified in 59.7% of them. The all-cause mortality rate of 17.2% (95%CI: 14.4–20.4) and the majority of death (93.7%) occurred in hospital. Overall survival rate was 85.5 and 82.8% after 30 and 90 days of follow-up, respectively. Factors associated with 3-month mortality were the hospital level in the health pyramid, hospitalization service, length of stay, functional impairment, depression and malignant diseases.

Conclusion

Togolese health system needs to adjust its response to an aging population in order to provide the most effective care.
High anemia prevalence in Korean older adults, an advent healthcare problem: 2007–2016 KNHANES
Authors:   on the behalf of the Red Blood Cell Disorder Working Party of The Korean Society of Hematology, Chueh Hee Won , Jung Hye Lim , Shim Ye Jee , Choi Hyoung Soo , Han Jin Yeong
Published: November 2020

Background

Anemia is associated with high morbidity and mortality in older people. However, the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in older individuals are not fully understood, and national data on these aspects in older Korean adults are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in older adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which is a nationwide cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Methods

Data from a total of 62,825 participants of the 2007–2016 KNHANES were compiled and analyzed to investigate differences in participant characteristics and potential risk factors for anemia. Differences in clinical characteristics of participants were compared across subgroups using the chi-square test for categorical variables and independent t-test for continuous variables. Univariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression were performed to identify related clinical factors.

Results

The prevalence of anemia was higher in the population aged ≥65 years than in the younger population. Anemia was also more prevalent among females than among males, but this difference was not significant in people aged > 85 years. Being underweight, receiving a social allowance, living alone, and having comorbidities such as hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer, and chronic renal failure (CRF) were more common among older adults with anemia than among the population without anemia. In univariate and multivariate analyses, older age, female sex, underweight, and presence of comorbidities including rheumatoid arthritis, DM, cancer, and CRF were associated with an increased risk of anemia.

Conclusions

This study revealed that age, female sex, underweight, and the presence of comorbidities such as rheumatoid arthritis, DM, cancer, and CRF were associated with an increased risk of anemia in older Korean adults. Further study on causal relationships between anemia and other variables in the older population is necessary.
First submicroscopic inversion of the OPA1 gene identified in dominant optic atrophy – a case report
Authors: Weisschuh Nicole , Mazzola Pascale , Heinrich Tilman , Haack Tobias , Wissinger Bernd , Tonagel Felix , Kelbsch Carina
Published: November 2020

Background

Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is an inherited optic neuropathy that mainly affects visual acuity, central visual fields and color vision due to a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons that form the optic nerve. Approximately 45–90% of affected individuals with DOA harbor pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene. The mutation spectrum of OPA1 comprises nonsense, canonical and non-canonical splice site, frameshift and missense as well as copy number variants, but intragenic inversions have not been reported so far.

Case presentation

We report a 33-year-old male with characteristic clinical features of DOA. Whole-genome sequencing identified a structural variant of 2.4 kb comprising an inversion of 937 bp at the OPA1 locus. Fine mapping of the breakpoints to single nucleotide level revealed that the structural variation was an inversion flanked by two deletions. As this rearrangement inverts the entire first exon of OPA1, it was classified as likely pathogenic.

Conclusions

We report the first DOA case harboring an inversion in the OPA1 gene. Our study demonstrates that copy-neutral genomic rearrangements have to be considered as a possible cause of disease in DOA cases.
Abnormal rich club organization in end-stage renal disease patients before dialysis initiation and undergoing maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Ma Shaohui , Zhang Ming , Liu Yang , Ding Dun , Li Peng , Ma Xueying , Liu Hongjuan , Mu Junya
Published: November 2020

Background

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are at a substantially higher risk for developing cognitive impairment compared with the healthy population. Dialysis is an essential way to maintain the life of ESRD patients. Based on previous research, there isn’t an uncontested result whether cognition was improved or worsened during dialysis.

Methods

To explore the impact of dialysis treatment on cognitive performance, we recruited healthy controls (HCs), predialysis ESRD patients (predialysis group), and maintenance hemodialysis ESRD patients (HD group). All ESRD patients performed six blood biochemistry tests (hemoglobin, urea, cystatin C, Na+, K+, and parathyroid hormone). Neuropsychological tests were used to measure cognitive function. By using diffusion tensor imaging and graph-theory approaches, the topological organization of the whole-brain structural network was investigated. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were performed to investigate blood biochemistry predictors of the neuropsychological tests and the results of graph analyses in the HD group and predialysis group.

Results

Neuropsychological analysis showed the HD group exhibited better cognitive function than the predialysis group, but both were worse than HCs. Whole-brain graph analyses revealed that increased global efficiency and normalized shortest path length remained in the predialysis group and HD group than the HCs. Besides, a lower normalized clustering coefficient was found in the predialysis group relative to the HCs and HD group. For the GLM analysis, only the Cystatin C level was significantly associated with the average fiber length of rich club connections in the predialysis group.

Conclusions

Our study revealed that dialysis had a limited effect on cognitive improvement.
Use of the Robson classification to understand the increased risk of cesarean section in case of maternal obesity
Authors: Crequit Simon , Korb Diane , Morin Cécile , Schmitz Thomas , Sibony Olivier
Published: November 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of pregnant women with obesity that contribute to increased cesarean rate.

Methods

Retrospective cohort in a single academic institution between 2012 and 2019. Women who delivered during this period were classified according to the Robson classification. Women with normal body mass index (N = 11,797) and with obesity (N = 2991) were compared. The contribution of each Robson group to the overall caesarean rate were compared.

Results

The overall cesarean rate was higher for women with (28.1%) than without (14.2%, p < 0.001) obesity. This result came mainly from Robson group 5a (history of one cesarean). After adjustment for medical factors within this group, the association between maternal obesity and cesarean during labor was significant.

Conclusions

The higher cesarean rate in women with obesity is explained by Robson group 5a in which obesity is an independent risk factor of in labor cesarean delivery.
Effects of reduced platelet count on the prognosis for patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with EGFR-TKI: a retrospective study
Authors: Xu Lu , Xu Fangzhou , Kong Haobo , Zhao Meiling , Ye Yuanzi , Zhang Yanbei
Published: November 2020

Background

Progressive lung cancer is associated with abnormal coagulation. Platelets play a vital part in evading immune surveillance and angiogenesis in the case of tumor metastasis. The study aimed to analyze the predictive and prognostic effects of platelet count on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs).

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed the prognostic effects of platelets on 52 NSCLC patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant following EGFR-TKI treatment. Related data, together with the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were collected before and after 2 cycles of treatments (60 days).

Results

The anti-EGFR treatment markedly reduced the platelet count in 33 (63.5%) patients after 2 cycles of treatment. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that, the decreased platelet count was closely correlated with the longer OS (HR = 0.293; 95%CI: 0.107-0.799; p = 0.017). Besides, the median OS was 326 days in the decreased platelet count group and 241 days in the increased platelet count group (HR = 0.311; 95%CI: 0.118-0.818; P = 0.018), as obtained from the independent baseline platelet levels and other clinical features.

Conclusions

The platelet count may predict the prognosis for EGFR-TKI treatment without additional costs. Besides, changes in platelet count may serve as a meaningful parameter to establish the prognostic model for NSCLC patients receiving anti-EGFR targeted therapy.
Feasibility and outcome of metacognitive therapy for major depressive disorder: a pilot study
Authors: Winter Lotta , Schweiger Ulrich , Kahl Kai G.
Published: November 2020

Background

Several studies have shown the effectiveness of Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) in treating different mental disorders. Most of these studies were performed in English speaking countries using the original English version of the manual. Our study aimed to examine the feasibility of the translated MCT manual in a sample of German patients with major depressive disorder.

Methods

Twenty outpatients (6 male, 14 female, mean age 42.1y) with major depressive disorder were included. The main outcome was drop-out rate and satisfaction with the treatment; secondary outcomes were changes in metacognitive beliefs assessed with the metacognitive questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30), and symptom reduction measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-2 sum score (BDI-2).

Results

No drop-outs during the treatment and the follow-up phase were observed. Patients and therapists were highly satisfied with MCT treatment. The MCQ-30 significantly declined over the treatment course, paralleled by a significant reduction of the BDI-2 sum scores (from 29 ± 8.6 at T0 to 8.4 ± 9.6 at the end of treatment). The average treatment duration was 10 ± 4 sessions.

Conclusions

Applying the German version of the manual for Metacognitive Therapy proved to be feasible in the treatment of depressed patients in an outpatient setting. The treatment was well tolerated by German patients. Outcome in terms of reduction of depressive symptoms was good. Remarkable is the comparably short treatment duration which should be investigated further in future studies.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00023644, 17.11.2020 (retrospectively registered).