bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Event dependence in the analysis of cardiovascular readmissions postpercutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Vasudevan Anupama , Choi James W , Feghali Georges A , Lander Stuart R , Jialiang Li , Schussler Jeffrey M , Stoler Robert C , Vallabhan Ravi C , Velasco Carlos E , McCullough Peter A
Published: January 2019

Recurrent hospitalizations are common in longitudinal studies; however, many forms of cumulative event analyses assume recurrent events are independent. We explore the presence of event dependence when readmissions are spaced apart by at least 30 and 60 days. We set up a comparative framework with the assumption that patients with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will be at higher risk for recurrent cardiovascular readmissions than those with elective procedures. A retrospective study of patients who underwent PCI (January 2008–December 2012) with their follow-up information obtained from a regional database for hospitalization was conducted. Conditional gap time (CG), frailty gamma (FG) and conditional frailty models (CFM) were constructed to evaluate the dependence of events. Relative bias (%RB) in point estimates using CFM as the reference was calculated for comparison of the models. Among 4380 patients, emergent cases were at higher risk as compared with elective cases for recurrent events in different statistical models and time-spaced data sets, but the magnitude of HRs varied across the models (adjusted HR [95% CI]: all readmissions [unstructured data]—CG 1.16 [1.09 to 1.22], FG 1.45 [1.33 to 1.57], CFM 1.24 [1.16 to 1.32]; 30-day spaced—CG1.14 [1.08 to 1.21], FG 1.28 [1.17 to 1.39], CFM 1.17 [1.10 to 1.26]; and 60-day spaced—CG 1.14 [1.07 to 1.22], FG 1.23 [1.13 to 1.34] CFM 1.18 [1.09 to 1.26]). For all of the time-spaced readmissions, we found that the values of %RB were closer to the conditional models, suggesting that event dependence dominated the data despite attempts to create independence by increasing the space in time between admissions. Our analysis showed that independent of the intercurrent event duration, prior events have an influence on future events. Hence, event dependence should be accounted for when analyzing recurrent events and challenges contemporary methods for such analysis.
Memoranda of understanding: a tobacco industry strategy to undermine illicit tobacco trade policies
Authors: Crosbie Eric , Bialous Stella , Glantz Stanton A
Published: January 2019

Objective

Analyse the transnational tobacco companies’ (TTCs) memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on illicit trade and how they could undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (Protocol).

Methods

Review of tobacco industry documents and websites, reports, news and media items using standard snowball search methods.

Results

Facing increasing pressure from governments and the FCTC to address illicit tobacco trade during the late 1990s, TTCs entered into voluntary partnerships embodied in MoUs with governments’ law enforcement and customs agencies. One of the earliest known MoUs was between Philip Morris International and Italy in 1999. TTCs agreed among themselves to establish MoUs individually but use the Italian MoU as a basis to establish similar connections with other governments to pre-empt more stringent regulation of illicit trade. TTCs report to have signed over 100 MoUs since 1999, and promote them on their websites, in Corporate Social Responsibility reports and in the media as important partnerships to combat illicit tobacco trade. There is no evidence to support TTCs’ claims that these MoUs reduce illicit trade. The terms of these MoUs are rarely made public. MoUs are non-transparent partnerships between government agencies and TTCs, violating FCTC Article 5.3 and the Protocol. MoUs are not legally binding so do not create an accountability system or penalties for non-compliance, rendering them ineffective at controlling illicit trade.

Conclusion

Governments should reject TTC partnerships through MoUs and instead ratify and implement the FCTC and the Protocol to effectively address illicit trade in tobacco products.
Effects of ontogeny and invasive crayfish on feeding ecology and mercury concentrations of predatory fishes
Authors: Prestie Kate , Phillips Iain D. , Chivers Douglas P. , Jardine Timothy D.
Published: January 2019

Lake food web structure dictates the flow of energy and contaminants to top predators, and addition of invasive species can shift these flows. We examined trophic position (TP), proportional reliance on the littoral zone (Proplittoral), and mercury (Hg) concentrations across the life-span of two predatory fishes, walleye (Sander vitreus) and northern pike (Esox lucius), in lakes with and without invasive virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis). The littoral zone was the dominant foraging zone for both species regardless of size, accounting for 59% and 80% of the diet of walleye and pike, respectively. Both species increased in TP and Hg with body size, as did crayfish. Walleye in crayfish-present lakes had lower Proplittoral, TP, and Hg concentrations compared with non-present lakes, but trophic magnification of Hg through the food web was consistent across all six lakes. These findings underscore a strong role for the littoral zone in channeling energy and contaminants to higher trophic levels and how invasive species can occupy new habitats at low abundance while altering food web structure and contaminant bioaccumulation.
A reexamination of the metabolic response of the genus Peromyscus to a climatic gradient
Authors: McNab Brian K.
Published: January 2019

An earlier analysis demonstrated that the mass-independent energy expenditure of five species of the genus Peromyscus Gloger, 1841 decreased with increasing aridity along a mesic–xeric climatic gradient. Each species was represented by two populations that were located along the gradient. These data are reexamined with new analytical techniques. A mass analysis accounted for the basal rates of six populations within 10% of the measured rates. The analysis accounted for the rates of all eight populations within 10% when it included the gradient. An apparent limit to this response may restrict the geographic distributions of Peromyscus in desert environments, which may have distributional and survival consequences with climate change. One species, the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus (Gambel, 1848)), did not conform to the analysis of the other species, which may reflect the presence of unidentified biological or environmental factors present in this and the other species. A successful analysis of the energy expenditures of species must include their characteristics and those of the environment in which they live because these are the factors that define species and their performance. To determine the effectiveness of an analysis, the estimated expenditures are compared with the measured expenditures, acceptable estimates being within 10% of the measured expenditures.
Giving birth to touch devices
Authors: Gerpheide George E.
Published: January 2019

A finger swipe to control your device---what could be simpler? Yet bringing that simple concept to commercial success was anything but simple. Here's a story for those who seek to make an impact.
Promises of the virtual museum
Authors: Brooks Jas
Published: January 2019

Have we escaped the hype and death cycles that have plagued the history of virtual reality? In the last few years, as commercial virtual reality headsets and systems have become accessible, content developers, film festivals, and---most intriguing---galleries and museums are dipping their toes in the virtual pool.
The benchtop human
Authors: Sah Siddharth Kumar , Jindal Soumya
Published: January 2019

The artificial creation of human skin, tissue, and internal organs may sound like a futuristic dream but, incredibly, much of it is happening right now. In research facilities and hospitals around the world, scientists and medical researchers are using scanners and printers, traditionally reserved for auto design, model building, and product prototyping, to develop completely personalized treatments.
Artificial intelligence technologies: Eight viewpoints
Authors: Schacht Johanna
Published: January 2019

Every year, the ACM Special Interest Group on Artificial Intelligence sponsors a student essay writing contest. This article presents a clear perspective on last year's winners, which represent a diverse collection of opinions on artificial intelligence.
Prognostic Factors of Mortality among Adult Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in India: A Hospital Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Joseph Nitin , Sinha Ushasti , Tiwari Nishtha , Ghosh Pritha , Sindhu Patneedi
Published: January 2019

Introduction. HIV related deaths still continue to occur in large numbers in spite of good quality drugs being freely available in India. This study was therefore done to assess the prognostic factors of mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). This would help in planning strategies for further improving their survival. Materials and Methods. Record based data from baseline and follow-up visits of a cohort of patients aged above 14 years on ART was retrospectively reviewed over a seven-year period. The Kaplan-Meier models were used to estimate life time survival probability, and Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine independent prognostic factors of death, among patients, after initiation of ART. Results. Mean age of the total 285 patients enrolled in this study was 45.8±9.7 years. Mean duration of treatment on ART was 1127±611.8 days. During the follow-up period, 44/285(15.4%) patients died, resulting in incidence density of death rate as 3.12 per 100 person years. Good adherence with treatment was reported by 267(93.7%) patients. Nearly half of the deaths, i.e., 21(47.7%), occurred within three months of them starting ART. The mean survival time after initiation of ART was 2084.0±55.3 days (95% CI is 1975.5-2192.5). The presence of opportunistic infections (OIs) and tuberculosis before and poor/average adherence to ART and alcohol usage after starting ART were independent prognostic factors of mortality among patients. Conclusion. Several prognostic factors influencing mortality among adult HIV patients receiving treatment were identified in this study. Screening efforts is essential in early detection and management of OIs among PLHIV. Good counselling and monitoring is recommended to improve adherence and also to prevent alcohol usage after initiation of ART. Such measures would help in further reducing mortality among HIV patients in the settings.
Changing Sources of Stigma against Patients with HIV/AIDS in the Rapid Expansion of Antiretroviral Treatment Services in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Bach Xuan , Than Phung Quoc Tat , Tran Tung Thanh , Nguyen Cuong Tat , Latkin Carl A.
Published: January 2019

Stigmatization against HIV/AIDS greatly hinders efforts to increase the accessibility and utilization of HIV/AIDS services to meet the 90-90-90 goal. This study assessed the stigmatization and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) across multiple social settings such as family, community, and healthcare facilities in Vietnam. A total of 1,016 patients (63.8% males, mean age = 35.4) participated in a cross-sectional study using a culturally tailored HIV stigma measure in three HIV-epidemic-concentrated cities in Vietnam. Zero-inflated Poisson models were used to examine factors associated with the number of types of stigma that patients experienced. 86.2% PLWH reported experiencing stigma against HIV/AIDS, more frequently from their community (62.8%) and family (30.2%) than from health care facilities (8%). The level of stigma from community reported by PLWH is associated with socioeconomic status (e.g., income, occupation). The poor and middle economic classes and unemployed patients reported more stigmatization and discrimination from the community. Across all settings, PLWH experienced fewer stigmatization over the course of ART indicating the benefits of rapidly expanded ART programs. PLWH reported more stigmatization and discrimination at the provincial level of the health administration. Those with the history of drug injection reported significantly less stigmatization from healthcare setting. More culturally tailored interventions to reduce stigmatization overall to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of PLWH should be warranted to achieve the 90-90-90 goal. Improving HIV-related knowledge of the general population and providing opportunities for PLWH to be reintegrated into should be considered. Using mass media with positive messages and images would also foster positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among the population and could potentially change social values. Continuous training of health staffs’ attitude could minimize the occurrence of stigmatization and discrimination at healthcare facilities.
Microextraction by Packed Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Combined Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for the Determination of Levofloxacin in Human Plasma
Authors: Meng Jia , Wang Xu
Published: January 2019

Fluoroquinolones are considered as gold standard for the prevention of bacterial infections. To improve assessment of antibacterial efficacy, a novel method for determination of levofloxacin was developed and validated. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as only green solvent were used as a porogen for preparation of water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with a pseudotemplate. The DESs-MIPs were characterized in detail, including scanning electron microscope, nitrogen sorption porosimetry, and Fourier transform-infrared spectra. Clearly, the maximum binding capacity of levofloxacin on DESs-MIPs in water and methanol was 0.216 and 0.077 μmol g−1, respectively. The DESs-MIPs as adsorbing materials were applied in microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), and the DESs-MIPs-MEPS conditions were optimized. The DESs-MIPs-MEPS coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was used to determine levofloxacin in human plasma. The method was found linear over 0.05–10 μg mL−1 with coefficient of correlation equal to 0.9988. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.012 and 0.04 μg mL−1, respectively. At three spiked levels, the precision of proposed method was between 95.3% and 99.7% with intraday and interday relative standard deviations ≤8.9%. Finally, the developed method was used to examine levofloxacin from human plasma of 20 hospitalized patients after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy, and the average concentration (±SD) of levofloxacin was 2.35 ± 0.99 μg mL−1 in plasma.
Misleading Westerns: Common Quantification Mistakes in Western Blot Densitometry and Proposed Corrective Measures
Authors: Butler Trent A. J. , Paul Jonathan W. , Chan Eng-Cheng , Smith Roger , Tolosa Jorge M.
Published: January 2019

Densitometry data generated for Western blots are commonly used to compare protein abundance between samples. In the last decade, it has become apparent that assumptions underpinning these comparisons are often violated in studies reporting Western blot data in the literature. These violations can lead to erroneous interpretations of data and may contribute to poor reproducibility of research. We assessed the reliability of Western blot data obtained to study human myometrial tissue proteins. We ran dilution series of protein lysates to explore the linearity of densitometry data. Proteins analysed included αSMA, HSP27, ERK1/2, and GAPDH. While ideal densitometry data are directly proportional to protein abundance, our data confirm that densitometry data often deviate from this ideal, in which case they can fit nonproportional linear or hyperbolic mathematical models and can reach saturation. Nonlinear densitometry data were observed when Western blots were detected using infrared fluorescence or chemiluminescence, and under different SDS-PAGE conditions. We confirm that ghosting artefacts associated with overabundance of proteins of interest in Western blots can skew findings. We also confirm that when data to be normalised are not directly proportional to protein abundance, it is a mistake to use the normalisation technique of dividing densitometry data from the protein-of-interest with densitometry data from loading control protein(s), as this can cause the normalised data to be unusable for making comparisons. Using spiked proteins in a way that allowed us to control the total protein amount per lane, while only changing the amount of spiked proteins, we confirm that nonlinearity and saturation of densitometry data, and errors introduced from normalisation processes, can occur in routine assays that compare equal amounts of lysate. These findings apply to all Western blot studies, and we highlight quality control checks that should be performed to make Western blot data more quantitative.
TIGIT and PD-1 Mark Intratumoral T Cells with Reduced Effector Function in B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Josefsson Sarah E. , Beiske Klaus , Blaker Yngvild N. , Førsund Mette S. , Holte Harald , Østenstad Bjørn , Kimby Eva , Köksal Hakan , Wälchli Sébastien , Bai Baoyan , Smeland Erlend B. , Levy Ronald , Kolstad Arne , Huse Kanutte , Myklebust June H.
Published: January 2019

Checkpoint blockade can reverse T-cell exhaustion and promote antitumor responses. Although blocking the PD-1 pathway has been successful in Hodgkin lymphoma, response rates have been modest in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Coblockade of checkpoint receptors may therefore be necessary to optimize antitumor T-cell responses. Here, characterization of coinhibitory receptor expression in intratumoral T cells from different NHL types identified TIGIT and PD-1 as frequently expressed coinhibitory receptors. Tumors from NHL patients were enriched in CD8+ and CD4+ T effector memory cells that displayed high coexpression of TIGIT and PD-1, and coexpression of these checkpoint receptors identified T cells with reduced production of IFNγ, TNFα, and IL2. The suppressed cytokine production could be improved upon in vitro culture in the absence of ligands. Whereas PD-L1 was expressed by macrophages, the TIGIT ligands CD155 and CD112 were expressed by lymphoma cells in 39% and 50% of DLBCL cases and in some mantle cell lymphoma cases, as well as by endothelium and follicular dendritic cells in all NHLs investigated. Collectively, our results show that TIGIT and PD-1 mark dysfunctional T cells and suggest that TIGIT and PD-1 coblockade should be further explored to elicit potent antitumor responses in patients with NHL.
Cancers Preceding Parkinson’s Disease after Adjustment for Bias in a Danish Population-Based Case-Control Study
Authors: Cui Xin , Liew Zeyan , Hansen Johnni , Lee Pei-Chen , Arah Onyebuchi A. , Ritz Beate
Published: January 2019

Cancer patients are at lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared with the general population. One explanation is the negative association between smoking and PD, but PD risk is also lower for cancers not related to smoking. Another explanation is survival bias where death from cancer may act as a competing risk. We conducted a large population-based case-control study in Denmark and investigated whether cancer diagnosis reduced the risk of developing PD even after adjusting for important risk factors including smoking, physical activity, and lifetime oestrogen status. Using probabilistic bias analysis we quantified the influence of survival bias. We estimated negative point estimates (ORs) between cancers and PD for all cancers except skin, female breast, and ill-defined and unspecified 0.85 (95% CI 0.59–1.21); smoking-related cancers 0.75 (95% CI 0.45–1.23); and cancers not related to smoking 0.82 (95% CI 0.49–1.38) that are very similar to those previously reported for a much larger Danish register only based study, even though our confidence intervals include the null. These effect estimates shifted towards the null after accounting for survival bias but most bias-adjusted ORs remained below 1 within the range of priors considered in simulations. Overall, cancer patients have a lower risk of developing PD even after controlling for cancer-related lifestyles factors and correcting for survival bias.
Possible Digenic Disease in a Caucasian Family with COL4A3 and COL4A5 Mutations
Authors: Choi Mira , Anistan Yoland-Marie , Eckardt Kai-Uwe , Gollasch Maik , Nickel Peter
Published: January 2019

Microscopic hematuria is a common feature of patients with Alport syndrome, a familial nephropathy due to mutations in COL4A3, COL4A4 or COL4A5. These genes encode for α3, α4, and α5 type IV collagen polypeptide chains (collagen IV α345), crucial for the structural component of the glomerular basement membrane. Even patients with mild phenotype, namely isolated microhematuria (X-linked females with thin basement membrane on electron microscopy or heterozygous carriers of COL4A3 or COL4A4 mutations), can potentially progress to proteinuria and to end-stage renal disease. Recent pedigree analyses provided evidence for digenic inheritance of Alport syndrome by concomitant mutations in COL4A3/COL4A4 or COL4A4/COL4A5. We describe a Caucasian family with concomitant COL4A3 and COL4A5 mutations, consisting of a novel c.4484A>G COL4A3 (p.Gln1495Arg) mutation and a previously reported c.1871G>A COL4A5 (p.Gly624Asp) mutation. Our segregation analysis raises the possibility that Alport syndrome resembles also digenic inheritance by COL4A3/COL4A5.
Value and Values in Cancer Care. Assessing the Benefit of Treatment in Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Schildmann Jan
Published: January 2019

In recent years, the term “value-based healthcare” has been increasingly used in debates about costs and outcomes of health interventions in cancer care. This paper distinguishes 2 meanings of the term “value” and explores the relevance of both meanings of the word for assessing the “value” of cancer drugs. At the focus of the analysis are value judgments which form an integral part of the assessment of benefit of cancer drugs. The review concludes with a reflection on individual competences and systemic factors which are relevant to decision making about the value of treatment in situations of non-curative cancer.
Patients' Preferences in Non-Curable Cancer Disease
Authors: Laryionava Katsiaryna , Winkler Eva C.
Published: January 2019

Eliciting and integrating patients' preferences in decision-making in palliative oncology is an important criterion for the quality of end-of-life care. It is an essential prerequisite in supporting the integrity of patients' decision-making process, enhancing patients' right to self-determination and facilitating patients' autonomy. In this review we summarize the data on: (1) patients' preference for a decisional model in advanced cancer, (2) patients' preferences for quality versus length of life and the enrollment of patients in early-phase clinical studies, and (3) preferences for caregiver involvement in decision-making. Timely assessment of patients' preferences enables advance care planning with respect to considering patients' values, discussing therapy goals and planning for patients' end-of-life care. It helps avoiding overtreatment near the end of life and giving care that is aligned to patients' wishes and family capacities.
Rapid Progression of Low-Grade Cervical Dysplasia into Invasive Cancer during Natalizumab Treatment for Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Wan King Man , Oehler Martin K.
Published: January 2019

A 25-year-old patient treated for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with natalizumab had a rapid progression of a low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion to a FIGO stage 1B1 squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix within 2 years. She was treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy and subsequently developed a vault recurrence within 2 years. The recurrence was treated with definitive synchronous chemo-radiotherapy and she has been disease free for 7 years. This case and existing evidence on increased risk of developing cervical dysplasia under natalizumab show that MS patients under immunosuppressive therapy require close annual cervical screening with immediate investigation of abnormal test results.
Severe Hemorrhagic Cystitis Caused by Cyclophosphamide and Capecitabine Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients: Two Case Reports and Literature Review
Authors: Tanaka Toshihiro , Nakashima Yuta , Sasaki Hidenori , Masaki Michio , Mogi Ai , Tamura Kazuo , Takamatsu Yasushi
Published: January 2019

Combined oral cyclophosphamide and capecitabine (XC) chemotherapy is used for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. We report herein two MBC patients who developed severe hemorrhagic cystitis after XC therapy. Case 1: A 67-year-old woman with MBC had received XC therapy for 2.5 years. After a sudden onset of lower abdominal pain and gross hematuria, cystoscopy revealed a urinary bladder mucosa showing diffuse dilation of the capillaries and a large blood clot. A total dose of 60.8 g cyclophosphamide had been given and the XC regimen was discontinued immediately. The patient experienced frequent episodes of bladder tamponade over 18 months and underwent continuous bladder irrigation and cystoscopic fulguration. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) provided only temporary relief and the patient subsequently developed hemorrhagic shock. A bilateral ureterostomy was eventually performed. Case 2: A 65-year-old woman with MBC was given XC for 3 years, but this was discontinued after she developed new lung lesions. The patient was given a total dose of 78.4 g of cyclophosphamide. A month later, the patient complained of intermittent gross hematuria, which progressed to persistent macroscopic hematuria for 1 week. She underwent continuous bladder irrigation with saline, without an improvement in her bladder tamponade. Subsequently, the bleeding ceased completely after HBOT. Some MBC cases can be controlled for a long time with XC therapy. For those cases, we need to realize that severe hemorrhagic cystitis may occur. Even at a low dose, requires testing periodically for occult blood in the urine to detect the early stages of cystitis.
Brain Morphology in Patients with Genetic Generalized Epilepsy: Its Heterogeneity among Subsyndromes
Authors: Park Kang Min , Kim Sung Eun , Lee Byung In , Hur Yun Jung
Published: January 2019

Background: We aimed to evaluate the brain morphology of patients with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) compared to healthy subjects. In addition, we investigated whether there are differences in brain morphology among different GGE syndromes. Methods: We enrolled 100 patients with a clinical diagnosis of GGE. The patients were classified into different syndrome groups according to their predominant seizure type, age of seizure onset, and electroencephalography characteristics (12 childhood absence epilepsy [AE], 13 juvenile AE, 56 juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and 19 epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic alone). We used surface-based morphometry of brain magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate brain morphology. Results: We found significantly widespread alterations of brain morphology, including cortical thickness and volumes in several regions in the patients with GGE compared to healthy controls. In addition, we observed significant differences in alterations of cortical thickness and volumes among the different GGE syndromes. However, there were no differences in cortical surface areas between the patients with GGE and healthy controls. There was a significantly negative correlation between the duration of epilepsy and most of the each measures of abnormal brain morphology. Conclusions: The main finding of this study is that brain morphology in patients with GGE is significantly different from that in healthy controls. In addition, we found that the different GGE syndromes show distinct structural brain morphology, especially cortical thickness, which can help us understand the pathogenesis of GGE syndromes.
Evidence for Linear but Not Helical Automatic Representation of Pitch in the Human Auditory System
Authors: Regev Tamar I. , Nelken Israel , Deouell Leon Y.
Published: January 2019

The perceptual organization of pitch is frequently described as helical, with a monotonic dimension of pitch height and a circular dimension of pitch chroma, accounting for the repeating structure of the octave. Although the neural representation of pitch height is widely studied, the way in which pitch chroma representation is manifested in neural activity is currently debated. We tested the automaticity of pitch chroma processing using the MMN—an ERP component indexing automatic detection of deviations from auditory regularity. Musicians trained to classify pure or complex tones across four octaves, based on chroma—C versus G (21 participants, Experiment 1) or C versus F# (27, Experiment 2). Next, they were passively exposed to MMN protocols designed to test automatic detection of height and chroma deviations. Finally, in an “attend chroma” block, participants had to detect the chroma deviants in a sequence similar to the passive MMN sequence. The chroma deviant tones were accurately detected in the training and the attend chroma parts both for pure and complex tones, with a slightly better performance for complex tones. However, in the passive blocks, a significant MMN was found only to height deviations and complex tone chroma deviations, but not to pure tone chroma deviations, even for perfect performers in the active tasks. These results indicate that, although height is represented preattentively, chroma is not. Processing the musical dimension of chroma may require higher cognitive processes, such as attention and working memory.
Notes on the genus Hyalolaena (Apiaceae) with description of a new species H. zhang-minglii from Xinjiang, western China
Authors: LYSKOV DMITRY , KLJUYKOV EUGENE , UKRAINSKAJA ULIANA , TOJIBAEV KOMILJON
Published: January 2019

Hyalolaena zhang-minglii (Apiaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from the Eastern Tian Shan, Narat Range, China. The species is related to H. issykkulensis but differs by filiform terminal segments of basal leaves, equal narrow-winged fruit ribs, short root, and greater number of secretory ducts on commissural side of mericarp. Hyalolaena depauperata is synonymized under H. jaxartica. Two species of Hyalolaena, namely H. bupleuroides and H. intermedia, are newly recorded for Uzbekistan.
New Entodiniomorphid Ciliates, Buetschlia minuta n. sp., B. cirrata n. sp.,
Charonina elephanti n. sp., from Asian Elephants of Turkey
Authors: GÜRELLİ GÖZDE
Published: January 2019

Three new entodiniomorphid species, Buetschlia minuta n. sp., Buetschlia cirrata n. sp., and Charonina elephanti n. sp., were described from the hindgut of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) from Gaziantep, Turkey. B. minuta n. sp. has an ovoid body shape with a truncated anterior end and a rounded posterior end, an adoral ciliary zone surrounding the cytostome, somatic ciliary rows in the anterior two thirds of the body, an ovoid macronucleus without a constant position, and a concretion vacuole in the anterior one third of the body. B. cirrata n. sp. has an ovoid body shape with the anterior end truncated and the posterior end rounded, an adoral ciliary zone surrounding the cytostome, unevenly distributed somatic cilia, an ovoid macronucleus without a constant position, and a concretion vacuole in the anterior one third of the body. C. elephanti n. sp. has an ovoid body shape with both ends rounded, an ovoid macronucleus without a constant position, two buccal ciliary zones, an adoral ciliary zone, a vestibular ciliary zone, three somatic ciliary zones, a dorsal ciliary zone, two posterior ciliary zones, dorsal and ventral, and a vestibulum with a Y-shaped infraciliature.
Interannual Variability of Summer Surface Air Temperature over Central India: Implications for Monsoon Onset
Authors: Zhou Zhen-Qiang , Zhang Renhe , Xie Shang-Ping
Published: January 2019

Year-to-year variability of surface air temperature (SAT) over central India is most pronounced in June. Climatologically over central India, SAT peaks in May, and the transition from the hot premonsoon to the cooler monsoon period takes place around 9 June, associated with the northeastward propagation of intraseasonal convective anomalies from the western equatorial Indian Ocean. Positive (negative) SAT anomalies during June correspond to a delayed (early) Indian summer monsoon onset and tend to occur during post–El Niño summers. On the interannual time scale, positive SAT anomalies of June over central India are associated with positive SST anomalies over both the equatorial eastern–central Pacific and Indian Oceans, representing El Niño effects in developing and decay years, respectively. Although El Niño peaks in winter, the correlations between winter El Niño and Indian SAT peak in the subsequent June, representing a post–El Niño summer capacitor effect associated with positive SST anomalies over the north Indian Ocean. These results have important implications for the prediction of Indian summer climate including both SAT and summer monsoon onset over central India.
Local Decision Making for Implementing Social Distancing in Response to Outbreaks
Authors: Katz Rebecca , Vaught Andrea , Simmens Samuel J.
Published: January 2019

Objectives:

Social distancing is the practice of restricting contact among persons to prevent the spread of infection. This study sought to (1) identify key features of preparedness and the primary concerns of local public health officials in deciding to implement social distancing measures and (2) determine whether any particular factor could explain the widespread variation among health departments in responses to past outbreaks.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey of health departments in the United States in 2015 to understand factors influencing health departments’ decision making when choosing whether to implement social distancing measures. We paired survey results with data on area population demographic characteristics and analyzed them with a focus on broad trends.

Results:

Of 600 health departments contacted, 150 (25%) responded. Of these 150 health departments, 63 (42%) indicated that they had implemented social distancing in the past 10 years. Only 10 (7%) health departments had a line-item budget for isolation or quarantine. The most common concern about social distancing was public health impact (n = 62, 41%). Concerns about law, politics, finances, vulnerable populations, and sociocultural issues were each identified by 7% to 10% of health departments. We were unable to clearly predict which factors would influence these decisions.

Conclusions:

Variations in the decision to implement social distancing are likely the result of differences in organizational authority and resources and in the primary concerns about implementing social distancing. Research and current social distancing guidelines for health departments should address these factors.
Can the emergency department sustain the first strike? Experience from the 2016 earthquake in Tainan
Authors: Yang I-Ching , Peng An-Chi , Hsu Chien-Chin , Chen Kuo-Tai
Published: January 2019

Background:

After the main shock of a major earthquake, casualties cluster in a short period and may overwhelm the capacities of health care facilities. An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Tainan City causing 117 fatalities and 513 injuries.

Objectives:

We conducted a retrospective study to review the medical records of emergency department after the attack of earthquake. The aim of this study was delineating the medical resource requirements after the disaster.

Methods:

We reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to the emergency department of Chi Mei Medical Center. Each chart indicating that the emergency department visit was earthquake-related was reviewed. After the earthquake struck, the Chi Mei Medical Center mobilized off-duty staff through a preset 333 code. Subsequently, routine surgeries and nonurgent admissions were postponed to reserve the maximal capacity for wounded patients.

Results:

A total of 150 patients were reviewed during the study period. In all, 25 cases (23.8%) required admission, and 9 of them (8.6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Patients with earthquake-related injuries constituted 62.8% of all traumatic patients in the 24-h aftermath. The requirements for wound sutures, blood component transfusion, numbers of radiographic/computed tomographic scans, and invasive procedures increased dramatically (earthquake-related/total: 66.0%, 30.0%, 72.1%/57.4%, and 47.7%, respectively).

Conclusion:

Patients with earthquake-related injuries arrived at the emergency department soon after the earthquake occurred and substantial emergency department resources were utilized in the 24-h aftermath. Each hospital should have a preset mobilization signal to call in off-duty workers to treat casualties resulting from the main shock of an earthquake. Subsequently, hospital-based mobilization should be initiated to provide comprehensive care to severely injured patients.
Effect of real-time feedback during cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on quality of performances: A prospective cluster-randomized trial
Authors: Kong So Yeon Joyce , Song Kyoung Jun , Shin Sang Do , Ro Young Sun , Myklebust Helge , Birkenes Tonje Soraas , Kim Tae Han , Park Kwan Jin
Published: January 2019

Background:

The evidence supporting delivery of quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation is growing and significant attention has been focused on improving bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation education for laypeople. The aim of this randomized trial was to assess the effectiveness of instructor’s real-time objective feedback during cardiopulmonary resuscitation training compared to conventional feedback in terms of trainee’s cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality.

Methods:

We performed a cluster-randomized trial of community cardiopulmonary resuscitation training classes at Nowon District Health Community Center in Seoul. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training classes were randomized into either intervention (instructor’s objective real-time feedback based on the QCPR Classroom device) or control (conventional, instructor’s judgment-based feedback) group. The primary outcome was total cardiopulmonary resuscitation score, which is an overall measure of chest compression quality. Secondary outcomes were individual cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance parameters, including compression rate, depth, and release. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the outcome data, accounting for both random and fixed effects.

Results:

A total of 149 training sessions (2613 trainees) were randomized into 70 intervention (1262 trainees) and 79 control (1351 trainees) groups. Trainees in the QCPR feedback group significantly increased overall cardiopulmonary resuscitation score performance compared with those in the conventional feedback group (model-based mean Δ increment from baseline to session 5: 11.2 (95% confidence interval 9.2–13.2) and 8.0 (6.0–9.9), respectively; p = 0.02). Individual parameters of compression depth and release also showed higher improvement among trainees in QCPR group with positive trends (p < 0.08 for both).

Conclusion:

This randomized trial suggests beneficial effect of instructor’s real-time objective feedback on the quality of layperson’s cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance.
Criminalising infection: Questioning the assumption that transmitting HIV constitutes grievous bodily harm
Authors: Poberezny-Lynch Thomas
Published: January 2019

This article considers whether, in light of medical advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, the intentional or reckless transmission of human immunodeficiency virus should constitute grievous bodily harm in New South Wales law. The author argues that as a result of the major medical advances in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, it should no longer be simply assumed that human immunodeficiency virus is grievous. The article also considers a related question of statutory interpretation, namely how should the word ‘disease’ in s 4(1)(c) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which provides that grievous bodily harm includes ‘a grievous bodily disease’, be interpreted.
Connexin-43 Enhances the Redesigned Cytosine Deaminase Activity for Suicide Gene Therapy in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Raza Asif , Ghosh Siddhartha Sankar
Published: January 2019

Background:

Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase (CD) converts 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), a prodrug, into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic drug. However, the poor binding affinity of CD towards 5-FC as compared to the natural substrate cytosine, limits its application towards a successful suicide gene therapy. Although F186W mutant was developed to enhance the effect of wild-type CD, still scope for its improvement remains to further minimize the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of the drugs. Hence, in this study, we employ the anti-tumour attribute of the gap junction forming protein connexin-43 (Cx43) in conjunction with CD or F186W mutant.

Methods:

Lipofectamine was used to co-transfect CD/F186W-pVITRO2 and Cx43-pEGFP-N1 plasmids construct into MCF-7 cells. Comparative analysis of cell viability was observed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium-bromide (MTT) and trypan blue–based assays. To further confirm the mode of cell death was apoptosis, propidium iodide and annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD)-based apoptosis assays were performed.

Results:

Semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the expression of both Cx43 and CD/F186W genes after transfection. Furthermore, cell viability assays revealed the enhanced activity of F186W-Cx43 compared with CD-Cx43 and F186W alone. The trend of the reduction in cell viability was also reflected in the flow cytometry–based apoptosis analyses. Overall, F186W-Cx43 combination demonstrated its superiority over the CD-Cx43 and F186W mutant alone.

Conclusions:

The enhanced cytotoxic activity of F186W mutant was further amplified by gap junction protein Cx43.
The Impact of a Risk-Based Breast Cancer Screening Decision Aid on Initiation of Mammography Among Younger Women: Report of a Randomized Trial
Authors: Schapira Marilyn M. , Hubbard Rebecca A. , Seitz Holli H. , Conant Emily F. , Schnall Mitchell , Cappella Joseph N. , Harrington Tory , Inge Carrie , Armstrong Katrina
Published: January 2019

Background. Guidelines recommend that initiation of breast cancer screening (BCS) among women aged 40 to 49 years include a shared decision-making process. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of a breast cancer screening patient decision-aid (BCS-PtDA) on the strength of the relationship between individual risk and the decision to initiate BCS, knowledge, and decisional conflict. Methods. We conducted a randomized clinical trial of a BCS-PtDA that included individual risk estimates compared with usual care. Participants were women 39 to 48 years of age with no previous mammogram. Primary outcomes were strength of association between breast cancer risk and mammography uptake at 12 months, knowledge, and decisional conflict. Results. Of 204 participants, 65% were Black, the median age (interquartile range [IQR]) was 40.0 years (39.0–42.0), and median (IQR) breast cancer lifetime risk was 9.7% (9.2–11.1). Women who received mammography at 12 months had higher breast cancer lifetime risk than women who had not in both intervention (mean, 95% CI): 12.2% (10.8–13.6) versus 10.5% (9.8–11.2), P = 0.04, and control groups: 11.8% (10.4–13.1) versus 9.9% (9.2–10.6), P = 0.02. However, there was no difference between groups in the strength of association between mammography uptake and breast cancer risk ( P = 0.87). Follow-up knowledge (0–5) was greater in the intervention versus control group (mean, 95% CI): 3.84 (3.5–4.2) versus 3.17 (2.8–3.5), P = 0.01. There was no change in decisional conflict score (1–100) between the intervention versus control group (mean, 95% CI): 24.8 (19.5–30.2) versus 32.4 (25.9–39.0), P = 0.07. Conclusions. The BCS-PtDA improved knowledge but did not affect risk-based decision making regarding age of initiation of BCS. These findings indicate the complexity of changing behaviors to incorporate objective risk in the medical decision-making process.
Appropriation of affordances of multiliteracies for Chinese literacy teaching in Canada
Authors: Kim Mi Song , Xing Xiaotong
Published: January 2019

Innovative literacy teaching and learning approaches have proved that multiliteracies enables teachers to work with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. However, few studies have shed light on examining Chinese teachers’ understanding and practices of multiliteracies in Canada. To respond to this challenge, this qualitative case study aims to understand how Chinese teachers who pursued multiliteracies graduate studies perceive and implement multiliteracies in teaching young CLD children Chinese literacy in Canada. We investigated narratives of two Chinese teachers to provide useful insights into their lived experiences of multiliteracies for Chinese literacy teaching. A constant comparison approach was adopted to analyze three data sources through narrative analysis: interviews, reflective writings, and curriculum materials. Findings suggest that these teachers actively appropriated affordances of multiliteracies for Chinese literacy teaching in Canada drawing upon graduate courses in multiliteracies. The paper concludes with the pertaining implications to highlight the importance of teacher professional development.
Patients With Breast Cancer: Report From a National Hospital–Based Cancer Registry in Argentina, 2012 to 2016
Authors: Abriata María Graciela , Macías Guillermo Raúl
Published: January 2019

Purpose

To describe sociodemographic, epidemiologic, and clinical characteristics of patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer and registered in the Institutional Tumor Registry of Argentina (RITA) as of April 2016.

Methods

This was an observational, descriptive case study in patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer between April 2012 and April 2016 and registered in RITA. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were done, including delay from symptoms to first consultation, delay from diagnosis to treatment (opportunities), as well as patients’ survival (Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests).

Results

There were 4,883 identified patients and 4,950 tumors. The mean age of patients was 57.6 years (median, 56 years); 60% of patients had completed elementary studies, 46.8% had some health coverage, and 85.4% of diagnoses were made by tumor histology (TNM stage: T2 19%, N0 20%, M0 29.1%; clinical stages II and III: 34.7%). In terms of morphology, 89.6% of primary tumors had malignant behavior (76% ductal, 8% lobular); and for immunohistochemistry, 34.3% were estrogen receptor positive/progesterone receptor positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative. The longest delays analyzed were from diagnosis date to the beginning of first treatment. Survival rates were 96% for up to 24 months and 84.7% for up to 36 months.

Conclusion

For the first time in Argentina, there is systematized information on the care of oncology patients at public health institutions, which is useful for improving patients’ care. We found that RITA collects important information for the identification of groups with similar sociodemographic and clinical characteristics that could show different vulnerabilities along the disease process.