bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence and Hypertension: Recent Advances and Future Outlook
Authors: Chaikijurajai Thanat , Laffin Luke J , Tang Wai Hong Wilson
Published: June 2020

Prevention and treatment of hypertension (HTN) are a challenging public health problem. Recent evidence suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) has potential to be a promising tool for reducing the global burden of HTN, and furthering precision medicine related to cardiovascular (CV) diseases including HTN. Since AI can stimulate human thought processes and learning with complex algorithms and advanced computational power, AI can be applied to multimodal and big data, including genetics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, CV imaging, socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors. AI demonstrates the ability to identify risk factors and phenotypes of HTN, predict the risk of incident HTN, diagnose HTN, estimate blood pressure (BP), develop novel cuffless methods for BP measurement, and comprehensively identify factors associated with treatment adherence and success. Moreover, AI has also been used to analyze data from major randomized controlled trials exploring different BP targets to uncover previously undescribed factors associated with CV outcomes. Therefore, AI-integrated HTN care has the potential to transform clinical practice by incorporating personalized prevention and treatment approaches, such as determining optimal and patient-specific BP goals, identifying the most effective antihypertensive medication regimen for an individual, and developing interventions targeting modifiable risk factors. Although the role of AI in HTN has been increasingly recognized over the past decade, it remains in its infancy, and future studies with big data analysis and N-of-1 study design are needed to further demonstrate the applicability of AI in HTN prevention and treatment.
What Was “Southern Literature”?
Authors: Greeson Jennifer Rae
Published: June 2020

Three books that treat periods from the antebellum to the modernist eras, taken together, provide an opportunity both to review the damnable ideological origins of the category "southern literature" and to observe the forms in which the category persists or is eschewed in current scholarship.
Analysis of within-individual variation in extrapair paternity in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) shows low repeatability and little effect of changes in neighborhood
Authors: Beck Kristina B , Valcu Mihai , Kempenaers Bart
Published: June 2020

Many studies investigated variation in the frequency of extrapair paternity (EPP) among individuals. However, our understanding of within-individual variation in EPP remains limited. Here, we comprehensively investigate variation in EPP at the within-individual level in a population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Our study is based on parentage data comprising >10 000 genotyped offspring across 11 breeding seasons. First, we examined the repeatability of the occurrence of EPP, the number of extrapair offspring, the number of extrapair partners, and the occurrence of paternity loss using data from males and females that bred in multiple years. Second, we tested whether within-individual changes in EPP between breeding seasons relate to between-year changes in the local social environment. Repeatabilities were generally low but significant for the occurrence and number of extrapair young in females and for whether a male sired extrapair young or not. We found no evidence that the presence of the former social partner or changes in the proportion of familiar individuals or in phenotypic traits of the neighbors influenced changes in levels of EPP in females. However, in adult males, a decrease in the average body size of male neighbors was associated with higher extrapair siring success. If confirmed, this result suggests that the competitive ability of a male relative to its neighbors influences his extrapair mating success. We suggest that alternative hypotheses, including the idea that within-individual changes in EPP are due to “chance events” rather than changes in an individual’s social breeding environment, deserve more consideration.
Cyclase-associated protein 2 dimerization regulates cofilin in synaptic plasticity and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Pelucchi Silvia , Vandermeulen Lina , Pizzamiglio Lara , Aksan Bahar , Yan Jing , Konietzny Anja , Bonomi Elisa , Borroni Barbara , Padovani Alessandro , Rust Marco B , Di Marino Daniele , Mikhaylova Marina , Mauceri Daniela , Antonucci Flavia , Edefonti Valeria , Gardoni Fabrizio , Di Luca Monica , Marcello Elena
Published: June 2020

Regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics in dendritic spines is crucial for learning and memory formation. Hence, defects in the actin cytoskeleton pathways are a biological trait of several brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Here, we describe a novel synaptic mechanism governed by the cyclase-associated protein 2, which is required for structural plasticity phenomena and completely disrupted in Alzheimer's disease. We report that the formation of cyclase-associated protein 2 dimers through its Cys32 is important for cyclase-associated protein 2 binding to cofilin and for actin turnover. The Cys32-dependent cyclase-associated protein 2 homodimerization and association to cofilin are triggered by long-term potentiation and are required for long-term potentiation-induced cofilin translocation into spines, spine remodelling and the potentiation of synaptic transmission. This mechanism is specifically affected in the hippocampus, but not in the superior frontal gyrus, of both Alzheimer's disease patients and APP/PS1 mice, where cyclase-associated protein 2 is down-regulated and cyclase-associated protein 2 dimer synaptic levels are reduced. Notably, cyclase-associated protein 2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid are significantly increased in Alzheimer's disease patients but not in subjects affected by frontotemporal dementia. In Alzheimer's disease hippocampi, cofilin association to cyclase-associated protein 2 dimer/monomer is altered and cofilin is aberrantly localized in spines. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into structural plasticity mechanisms that are defective in Alzheimer's disease.
Etiology of Diarrhea Requiring Hospitalization in Bangladesh by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction, 2014–2018
Authors: Taniuchi Mami , Islam Kamrul , Sayeed Md Abu , Platts-Mills James A , Islam Md Taufiqul , Khabir Md Imam Ul , Rahman Muntasir , Khan Zahid Hasan , Begum Yasmin Ara , Khanam Farhana , Khan Ashraful Islam , Liu Jie , Houpt Eric R , Qadri Firdausi
Published: June 2020

Background

Diarrhea remains a major public health problem and characterization of its etiology is needed to prioritize interventions. However, most data are from single-site studies of children. We tested samples from participants of any age from 11 geographically diverse hospitals in Bangladesh to describe pathogen-specific burdens of diarrhea.

Methods

We utilized 2 existing diarrhea surveillance systems: a Nationwide network at 10 sentinel hospitals and at the icddr,b hospital. We tested stools from enrolled participants and nondiarrheal controls for enteropathogens using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and calculated pathogen-specific attributable fractions (AFs) of diarrhea.

Results

We analyzed 5516 patients with diarrhea and 735 controls. Overall, rotavirus had the highest attributable burden of diarrhea (Nationwide AF, 17.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14.3–20.9%; icddr,b AF, 39.9%; 38.0–41.8%), followed by adenovirus 40/41 (Nationwide AF, 17.9%; 95% CI: 13.9–21.9%; icddr,b AF, 16.6%; 95% CI, 14.4–19.4%) and Vibrio cholerae (Nationwide AF, 10.2%; 95% CI, 9.1–11.3%; icddr,b AF, 13.3%; 95% CI: 11.9–15.1%). Rotavirus was the leading pathogen in children <5 years and was consistent across the sites (coefficient of variation = 56.3%). Adenovirus 40/41 was the second leading pathogen in both children and adults. Vibrio cholerae was the leading pathogen in individuals >5 years old, but was more geographically variable (coefficient of variation = 71.5%). Other attributable pathogens included astrovirus, norovirus, Shigella, Salmonella, ETEC, sapovirus, and typical EPEC.

Conclusions

Rotavirus, adenovirus 40/41, and V. cholerae were the leading etiologies of infectious diarrhea requiring hospitalization in Bangladesh. Other pathogens were important in certain age groups or sites.
Community-acquired Coinfection in Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Observational Experience
Authors: Lehmann Christopher J , Pho Mai T , Pitrak David , Ridgway Jessica P , Pettit Natasha N
Published: June 2020

Community-acquired coinfection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not well defined. Current literature describes coinfection in 0–40% of COVID-19 patients. In this retrospective report, coinfection was identified in 3.7% of patients and 41% of patients admitted to intensive care (P < .005). Despite infrequent coinfection, antibiotics were used in 69% of patients.
Rapid Reorganization of an Academic Infectious Diseases Program During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Detroit: A Novel Unit-based Group Rounding Model
Authors: Vahia Amit T , Chaudhry Zohra S , Kaljee Linda , Parraga-Acosta Tommy , Gudipati Smitha , Maki Gina , Tariq Zain , Shallal Anita , Nauriyal Varidhi , Williams Jonathan D , Suleyman Geehan , Abreu-Lanfranco Odaliz , Chen Anne , Yared Nicholas , Herc Erica , McKinnon John E , Brar Indira , Bhargava Pallavi , Zervos Marcus , Ramesh Mayur , Alangaden George
Published: June 2020

The surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations at our 877-bed quaternary care hospital in Detroit led to an emergent demand for Infectious Diseases (ID) consultations. The traditional 1-on-1 consultation model was untenable. Therefore, we rapidly restructured our ID division to provide effective consultative services. We implemented a novel unit-based group rounds model that focused on delivering key updates to teams and providing unit-wide consultations simultaneously to all team members. Effectiveness of the program was studied using Likert-scale survey data. The survey captured data from the first month of the Detroit COVID-19 pandemic. During this period there were approximately 950 patients hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19. The survey of trainees and faculty reported an overall 95% positive response to delivery of information, new knowledge acquisition, and provider confidence in the care of COVID-19 patients. This showed that the unit-based consult model is a sustainable effort to provide care during epidemics.
Emergence of Clinical Clostridioides difficile Isolates With Decreased Susceptibility to Vancomycin
Authors: Darkoh Charles , Keita Kadiatou , Odo Chioma , Oyaro Micah , Brown Eric L , Arias Cesar A , Hanson Blake M , DuPont Herbert L
Published: June 2020

Background

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-associated antibiotic-related diarrhea and deaths worldwide. Vancomycin is one of the few antibiotics recommended for both nonsevere and severe CDI cases. We sought to determine whether vancomycin nonsusceptible C. difficile strains are circulating in the patient population.

Methods

Stool samples from patients with CDI were collected from 438 and 98 patients at a large university hospital in Houston, Texas, and Nairobi, Kenya, respectively. The stools were examined for the presence of vancomycin and metronidazole nonsusceptible C. difficile using broth dilution culture, Etest (BioMérieux, France), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whole-genome sequencing, and in vivo testing in a CDI mouse model.

Results

Of the Houston stool samples, 114/438 (26%) had vancomycin nonsusceptible C. difficile isolates and 128/438 (29%) were metronidazole nonsusceptible. Similarly, 66 out of 98 (67%) and 83/98 (85%) of the Nairobi patients harbored vancomycin and metronidazole nonsusceptible isolates, respectively. Vancomycin treatment of a CDI mouse model infected with a vancomycin nonsusceptible isolate failed to eradicate the infection. Whole-genome sequencing analyses did not identify vanA genes, suggesting a different mechanism of resistance.

Conclusions

C. difficile strains exhibiting reduced susceptibility to vancomycin are currently circulating in patient populations. The spread of strains resistance to vancomycin, a first-line antibiotic for CDI, poses a serious therapeutic challenge. Routine susceptibility testing may be necessary.
Prolonged Maternal Shedding and Maternal-fetal Transmission of Measles Virus
Authors: Charlier Caroline , Dina Julia , Freymuth François , Vabret Astrid , Lortholary Olivier , Antona Denise , Lecuit Marc
Published: June 2020

Prolonged measles virus detection in maternal saliva and blood was evidenced in 6 pregnant women. Maternal-fetal transmission was evidenced in 2 of 4 infants who were asymptomatic at birth, 21–24 weeks after maternal infection. Whereas peripartum congenital measles is severe, asymptomatic measles virus vertical transmission can occur earlier in pregnancy.
Invasive Disease Potential of Pneumococcal Serotypes in Children After PCV13 Implementation
Authors: Cohen Robert , Levy Corinne , Ouldali Naim , Goldrey Marie , Béchet Stéphane , Bonacorsi Stéphane , Varon Emmanuelle
Published: June 2020

We aimed to assess the invasive disease potential of non-PCV13 serotypes after the implementation of this vaccine. Most non-PCV13 serotypes had low invasive disease potential. Among serotypes with the highest invasive disease potential (12F, 24F, 38, 8, 33F, 22F, and 10A), all but 24F and 38 were included in PCV20.
Distinct Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Mortality in Female Inpatients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Sex-stratified, Large-scale Cohort Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Chen Jing , Bai Hualin , Liu Jia , Chen Ge , Liao Qiuyue , Yang Jie , Wu Peng , Wei Juncheng , Ma Ding , Chen Gang , Ai Jihui , Li Kezhen
Published: June 2020

Background

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak accelerates worldwide, it is important to evaluate sex-specific clinical characteristics and outcomes, which may affect public health policies.

Methods

Patients with COVID-19 admitted to Tongji Hospital between 18 January and 27 March 2020 were evaluated. Clinical features, laboratory data, complications, and outcomes were compared between females and males. Risk factors for mortality in the whole population, females, and males were determined respectively.

Results

There were 1667 (50.38%) females among the 3309 patients. The mortality rate was 5.9% in females but 12.7% in males. Compared with males, more females had no initial symptoms (11.1% vs 8.3%, P = .008). Complications including acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, septic shock, cardiac injury, and coagulation disorder were less common in females; critical illness was also significantly less common in females (31.1% vs 39.4%, P < .0001). Significantly fewer females received antibiotic treatment (P = .001), antiviral therapy (P = .025), glucocorticoids treatment (P < .0001), mechanical ventilation (P < .0001), and had intensive care unit admission (P < .0001). A lower risk of death was found in females (OR, .44; 95% CI, .34–.58) after adjusting for age and coexisting diseases. Among females, age, malignancy, chronic kidney disease, and days from onset to admission were significantly associated with mortality, while chronic kidney disease was not a risk factor in males.

Conclusions

Significantly milder illness and fewer deaths were found in female COVID-19 inpatients and risk factors associated with mortality varied among males and females.
Predicting acute kidney injury in critically ill patients using comorbid conditions utilizing machine learning
Authors: Shawwa Khaled , Ghosh Erina , Lanius Stephanie , Schwager Emma , Eshelman Larry , Kashani Kianoush B
Published: June 2020

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) carries a poor prognosis. Its incidence is increasing in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our purpose in this study is to develop and externally validate a model for predicting AKI in the ICU using patient data present prior to ICU admission.

Methods

We used data of 98 472 adult ICU admissions at Mayo Clinic between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2017 and 51 801 encounters from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) cohort. A gradient-boosting model was trained on 80% of the Mayo Clinic cohort using a set of features to predict AKI acquired in the ICU.

Results

AKI was identified in 39 307 (39.9%) encounters in the Mayo Clinic cohort. Patients who developed AKI in the ICU were older and had higher ICU and in-hospital mortality compared to patients without AKI. A 30-feature model yielded an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.690 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.682–0.697] in the Mayo Clinic cohort set and 0.656 (95% CI 0.648–0.664) in the MIMIC-III cohort.

Conclusions

Using machine learning, AKI among ICU patients can be predicted using information available prior to admission. This model is independent of ICU information, making it valuable for stratifying patients at admission.
A Genetically Based Combination of Visual Saliency and Roughness for FR 3D Mesh Quality Assessment: A Statistical Study
Authors: Nouri Anass , Charrier Christophe , Lézoray Olivier
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we present a full-reference quality assessment metric based on the information of visual saliency. The saliency information is provided under the form of degrees associated to each vertex of the surface mesh. From these degrees, statistical attributes reflecting the structures of the reference and distorted meshes are computed. These are used by four comparisons functions genetically optimized that quantify the structure differences between a reference and a distorted mesh. We also present a statistical comparison study of six full-reference quality assessment metrics for 3D meshes. We compare the objective metrics results with humans subjective scores of quality considering the 3D meshes in one hand and the distorsion types in the other hand. Also, we show which metrics are statistically superior to their counterparts. For these comparisons we use the Spearman Rank Ordered Correlation Coefficient and the hypothetic test of Student (ttest). To attest the pertinence of the proposed approach, a comparison with a ground truth saliency and an application associated to the assessment of the visual rendering of smoothing algorithms are presented. Experimental results show that the proposed metric is very competitive with the state-of-the-art.
Nonlinear maternal effects on personality in a rodent species with fluctuating densities
Authors: Vanden Broecke Bram , Bongers Aurelia , Mnyone Ladslaus , Matthysen Erik , Leirs Herwig
Published: June 2020

Consistent among-individual variation in behavior, or animal personality, is present in a wide variety of species. This behavioral variation is maintained by both genetic and environmental factors. Parental effects are a special case of environmental variation and are expected to evolve in populations experiencing large fluctuations in their environment. They represent a non-genetic pathway by which parents can transmit information to their offspring, by modulating their personality. While it is expected that parental effects contribute to the observed personality variation, this has rarely been studied in wild populations. We used the multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis as a model system to investigate the potential effects of maternal personality on offspring behavior. We did this by repeatedly recording the behavior of individually housed juveniles which were born and raised in the lab from wild caught females. A linear correlation, between mother and offspring in behavior, would be expected when the personality is only affected by additive genetic variation, while a more complex relationship would suggests the presence of maternal effects. We found that the personality of the mother predicted the behavior of their offspring in a non-linear pattern. Exploration behavior of mother and offspring was positively correlated, but only for slow and average exploring mothers, while this correlation became negative for fast exploring mothers. This may suggests that early maternal effects could affect personality in juvenile M. natalensis, potentially due to density-dependent and negative frequency-dependent mechanisms, and therefore contribute to the maintenance of personality variation.
Comparison of Esophagectomy outcomes between a National Center, a National Audit Collaborative, and an International database using the Esophageal Complications Consensus Group (ECCG) standardized definitions
Authors: Reynolds John V , Donlon Noel , Elliott Jessie A , Donohoe Claire , Ravi Narayanasamy , Kuppusamy Madhan Kumar , Low Donald E
Published: June 2020

The ECCG developed a standardized platform for reporting operative complications, with consensus definitions. The Dutch Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Audit (DUCA) published a national comparison against these benchmarks. This study compares ECCG data from the Irish National Center (INC) with both published benchmark studies. All patients undergoing multimodal therapy or surgery with curative intent from 2014 to 2018 inclusive were studied, with data recorded prospectively and entered onto a secure online database (Esodata.org). 219 patients (mean age 67; 77% male) underwent open resection, 66.6% via transthoracic en bloc resection. 30-day and 90-day mortality were 0.0 and 0.9%,nrespectively. Anastomotic leak rate was 5.4%, pneumonia 18.2%, respiratory failure 10%, ARDS 2.7%, atrial dysrhythmia 22.8%, recurrent nerve injury 3%, and delirium in 5% of patients. Compared with both ECCG and DUCA, where MIE constituted 47 and 86% of surgical approaches, respectively, overall complications were similar, as were severity of complications; however, anastomotic leak rate was several-fold less, and mortality was significantly lower (P < 0.001). In this consecutive series and comparative audit with benchmark averages from the ECCG and DUCA publications, a low mortality and anastomotic leak rate were the key differential findings. Although not risk stratified, the severity of complications from this ‘open’ series is consistent with series containing large numbers of total or hybrid MIE, highlighting a need to adhere to these strictly defined definitions in further prospective research and randomized studies.
Current options and recommendations for the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease: an expert consensus document of the European Society for Cardiology (ESC) Working Group of Cardiovascular Surgery, the ESC Working Group on Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases, the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) of the ESC and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)
Authors: Czerny Martin , Pacini Davide , Aboyans Victor , Al-Attar Nawwar , Eggebrecht Holger , Evangelista Arturo , Grabenwöger Martin , Stabile Eugenio , Kolowca Maciej , Lescan Mario , Micari Antonio , Muneretto Claudio , Nienaber Christoph , de Paulis Ruggero , Tsagakis Konstantinos , Rylski Bartosz , Braverman Alan C , Di Marco Luca , Eagle Kim , Falk Volkmar , Gottardi Roman
Published: June 2020

Since its clinical implementation in the late nineties, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the standard treatment of several acute and chronic diseases of the thoracic aorta. While TEVAR has been embraced by many, this disruptive technology has also stimulated the continuing evolution of open surgery, which became even more important as late TEVAR failures do need open surgical correction justifying the need to unite both treatment options under one umbrella. This fact shows the importance of—in analogy to the heart team—aortic centre formation and centralization of care, which stimulates continuing development and improves outcome . The next frontier to be explored is the most proximal component of the aorta—the aortic root, in particular in acute type A aortic dissection—which remains the main challenge for the years to come. The aim of this document is to provide the reader with a synopsis of current evidence regarding the use or non-use of TEVAR in acute and chronic thoracic aortic disease, to share latest recommendations for a modified terminology and for reporting standards and finally to provide a glimpse into future developments.
Lions, tigers and kittens too: ACE2 and susceptibility to COVID-19
Authors: Mathavarajah Sabateeshan , Dellaire Graham
Published: June 2020

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2) has been reported to infect domesticated animals in a species-specific manner, where cats were susceptible but not dogs. Using the recently published crystal structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein complexed with the human host cell receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), we characterized the structure and evolution of ACE2 in several of these species and identify a single interacting amino acid residue conserved between human and Felidae ACE2 but not in Canidae that correlates with virus susceptibility. Using computational analyses we describe how this site likely affects ACE2 targeting by the virus. Thus, we highlight how evolution-based approaches can be used to form hypotheses and study animal transmission of such viruses in the future.
Measuring Senior Technology Acceptance: Development of a Brief, 14-Item Scale
Authors: Chen Ke , Lou Vivian Wei Qun
Published: June 2020

Background and Objectives

Technology has the potential to provide assistance and enrichment to older people; however, the desired outcomes are dependent on users’ acceptance and usage. The senior technology acceptance model (STAM) was developed as a multidimensional measure assessing older people’s acceptance of general technology. It contained 11 constructs measured by 38 items and had shown satisfactory psychometric properties. However, the length of the questionnaire increased respondent burden and limited its utilization. The study aimed to develop a brief, reliable, and valid version of scale to measure older people’s technology acceptance by shortening the full, 38-item STAM questionnaire.

Research Design and Methods

The research method included (1) a sequential item-reduction strategy maximizing internal consistency, (2) convergent and discriminant validity analysis based on confirmative factor analysis, and (3) an expert review of resultant items. Data previously collected for developing the original STAM questionnaire were used to create the brief version. The data were collected from 1,012 community-dwelling individuals aged 55 and older in Hong Kong. Internal consistency and construct validity of the shortened questionnaire were examined. Two experts were invited for reviewing content validity.

Results

The final 14-item, brief version of the STAM questionnaire consisted of a 4-factor structure, representing classical technology acceptance constructs and age-related health characteristics. Theoretical relationships in the brief version showed similar patterns to the original STAM. The 14-item STAM demonstrated robustness in psychometrics by preserving the reliability and validity of the original STAM questionnaire.

Discussion and Implications

The availability of a reliable and valid assessment tool of the short STAM can help researchers and practitioners to measure older adults’ acceptance of technology and its effective usage. The short STAM could save administration time, reduce the burden on respondents, and be included in large-scale surveys.
Patterns of Dyadic Appraisal of Decision-Making Involvement of African American Persons Living With Dementia
Authors: Bonds Kalisha , Song MinKyoung , Whitlatch Carol J , Lyons Karen S , Kaye Jeffrey A , Lee Christopher S
Published: June 2020

Background and Objectives

Greater everyday decision-making involvement by persons living with dementia (PLWD) and congruent appraisal between PLWDs and their caregivers have been associated with a better quality of life (QOL) for both members of the dyad. However, no study has examined the association between the appraisals of everyday decision-making involvement of PLWDs and their QOL among African Americans.

Research Design and Methods

A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 62 African American dementia dyads was conducted. Multilevel and latent class mixture modeling was used to characterize dyadic appraisal of the decision-making involvement of African American PLWDs and identify distinct patterns thereof.

Results

Three distinct patterns were observed. “Incongruent, PLWD Low Involvement” labeled 19.4% of the sample, 53.2% were labeled “Incongruent, PLWD Moderate Involvement,” and 27.4% were labeled “Congruent, PLWD High Involvement.” The Congruent, PLWD High Involvement pattern consisted of PLWDs who were significantly younger and had significantly less cognitive impairment than PLWDs in the other patterns. In the Incongruent, PLWD Moderate Involvement pattern, PLWDs had significantly better QOL than PLWDs in the Incongruent, PLWD Low Involvement pattern, but QOL did not significantly differ from PLWDs in the Congruent, PLWD High Involvement pattern.

Discussion and Implications

There is a need to tailor strategies to optimize QOL in African American dementia dyads. While increasing everyday decision-making involvement for PLWDs in the Incongruent, PLWD Low Involvement pattern is an important goal, other strategies may be needed to improve the QOL of PLWDs in the remaining patterns.
The effect of school intervention programs on the body mass index of adolescents: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Saavedra Dias R , Barros A N , Silva A J , Leitão J C , Narciso J , Costa Aldo M , Tallon J M
Published: June 2020

Effective obesity interventions in adolescent populations have been identified as an immediate priority action to stem the increasing prevalence of adult obesity. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to make a quantitative analysis of the impact of school-based interventions on body mass index during adolescence. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science databases. Results were pooled using a random-effects model with 95% confidence interval considered statistically significant. Of the 18 798 possible relevant articles identified, 12 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The global result showed a low magnitude effect, though it was statistically significant (N = 14 428), global e.s. = −0.055, P = 0.004 (95% CI = −0.092, −0.017). Heterogeneity was low among the studies (I2 = 9.017%). The funnel plot showed no evidence of publication bias. The rank-correlation test of Begg (P = 0.45641) and Egger’s regression (P = 0.19459) confirmed the absence of bias. This meta-analysis reported a significant effect favoring the interventions; however, future research are needed since the reported the evidence was of low magnitude, with the studies following a substantial range of approaches and mostly had a modest methodological quality.
Do children’s expectations about future physical activity predict their physical activity in adulthood?
Authors: Pongiglione Benedetta , Kern Margaret L , Carpentieri J D , Schwartz H Andrew , Gupta Neelaabh , Goodman Alissa
Published: June 2020

Background

Much of the population fails to meet recommended physical activity (PA) levels, but there remains considerable individual variation. By understanding drivers of different trajectories, interventions can be better targeted and more effective. One such driver may be a person’s physical activity identity (PAI)—the extent to which a person perceives PA as central to who they are.

Methods

Using survey information and a unique body of essays written at age 11 from the National Child Development Study (N = 10 500), essays mentioning PA were automatically identified using the machine learning technique support vector classification and PA trajectories were estimated using latent class analysis. Analyses tested the extent to which childhood PAI correlated with activity levels from age 23 through 55 and with trajectories across adulthood.

Results

42.2% of males and 33.5% of females mentioned PA in their essays, describing active and/or passive engagement. Active PAI in childhood was correlated with higher levels of activity for men but not women, and was correlated with consistently active PA trajectories for both genders. Passive PAI was not related to PA for either gender.

Conclusions

This study offers a novel approach for analysing large qualitative datasets to assess identity and behaviours. Findings suggest that at as young as 11 years old, the way a young person conceptualizes activity as part of their identity has a lasting association with behaviour. Still, an active identity may require a supportive sociocultural context to manifest in subsequent behaviour.
Finiteness Properties of Affine Difference Algebraic Groups
Authors: Wibmer Michael
Published: June 2020

We establish several finiteness properties of groups defined by algebraic difference equations. One of our main results is that a subgroup of the general linear group defined by possibly infinitely many algebraic difference equations in the matrix entries can indeed be defined by finitely many such equations. As an application, we show that the difference ideal of all difference algebraic relations among the solutions of a linear differential equation is finitely generated.
Asymptotics for the Nodal Components of Non-Identically Distributed Monochromatic Random Waves
Authors: Enciso Alberto , Peralta-Salas Daniel , Romaniega Álvaro
Published: June 2020

We study monochromatic random waves on ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ defined by Gaussian variables whose variances tend to zero sufficiently fast. This has the effect that the Fourier transform of the monochromatic wave is an absolutely continuous measure on the sphere with a suitably smooth density, which connects the problem with the scattering regime of monochromatic waves. In this setting, we compute the asymptotic distribution of the nodal components of random monochromatic waves, showing that the number of nodal components contained in a large ball $B_R$ grows asymptotically like $R/\pi $ with probability $p_n>0$ and is bounded uniformly in $R$ with probability $1-p_n$ (which is positive if and only if $n\geqslant 3$). In the latter case, we show the existence of a unique noncompact nodal component. We also provide an explicit sufficient stability criterion to ascertain when a more general Gaussian probability distribution has the same asymptotic nodal distribution law.
Epstein-Barr Virus-Based Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Risk Prediction Scores Are Elevated in NPC Multiplex Family Members in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Mei-Hsuan , Huang Yu-Han , Coghill Anna E , Liu Zhiwei , Yu Kelly J , Hsu Wan-Lun , Chien Yin-Chu , Wang Cheng-Ping , Chen Tseng-Cheng , Chen Chien-Jen , Hildesheim Allan
Published: June 2020

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is more likely to occur in susceptible families. Whether genetic susceptibility operates through altered EBV control is incompletely understood. We used a NPC risk prediction model based on 14 EBV markers to compare risk score distribution in unaffected members from multiplex families with that in population-based controls. Despite the absence of NPC at the time of antibody measurement, we observed an upward shift in risk score among multiplex family members compared to the general population, consistent with the possibility that genetic factors affect NPC risk through alterations in EBV control.
Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography during a military mission in a French role II in Mali: is it useful to learn this practice?
Authors: Martin Paul-Vincent , Chataigneau Anaïs , Arnaud François-Xavier , Rozwadowski Faye , Cournac Jean-Marie , Martin Anne-Céline
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Ultrasound is now recognized as a key tool in the practice of medicine in isolated situations. This study aims to evaluate the impact of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in a military mission when performed by a trained military practitioner (MP).

Materials and Methods

We conducted a 2-month retrospective observational study on the use of TTE in a French medical complex in Mali with a mission that included providing a medical aid to the population. All patients were included. Every ultrasound performed by the MP was listed, and the epidemiologic data, indication for the exam and results were collected for each TTE.

Results

A total of 349 patients were included, 16 were war-wounded patients and 333 came for a general medical consultation. In all, 153 ultrasounds were performed, including 48 TTEs. Sixteen TTEs were performed to evaluate injuries in war-wounded patients. During the 333 medical consultations, 32 TTEs were realized. The indications were dyspnoea (10), heart murmur (7), acute chest pain (5) and assessment of heart disease (10). TTE permitted a direct positive diagnosis for 18 patients: 7 with acute heart failure and 11 with morphologic problems. The normality of the exam was a supplementary argument to exclude a cardiac implication for eight patients.

Conclusions

TTE can provide important information with a direct impact on the management of patients. Faced with cardiac emergencies, an adapted training can be proposed for the MP. Thereby, the transfer of conventional cardiac views could facilitate the advice of a cardiologist.
Horseshoe co-orbitals of Earth: current population and new candidates
Authors: Kaplan Murat , Cengiz Sergen
Published: June 2020

Most co-orbital objects in the Solar system are thought to follow tadpole-type orbits, behaving as Trojans. However, most of Earth’s identified co-orbitals are moving along horseshoe-type orbits. The current tally of minor bodies considered to be Earth co-orbitals amounts to 18; of them, 12 are horseshoes, 5 are quasi-satellites, and 1 is a Trojan. The semimajor axis values of all these bodies librate between 0.983 and 1.017 au. In this work, we have studied the dynamical behaviour of objects following orbits with semimajor axis within this range that may be in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with Earth. Our results show that asteroids 2016 CO246, 2017 SL16, and 2017 XQ60 are moving along asymmetrical horseshoe-type orbits; the asteroid 2018 PN22 follows a nearly symmetric or regular horseshoe-type orbit. Asteroids 2016 CO246, 2017 SL16, and 2017 XQ60 can remain in the horseshoe co-orbital state for about 900, 3300, and 2700 yr, respectively. Asteroid 2018 PN22 has a more chaotic dynamical behaviour; it may not stay in a horseshoe co-orbital state for more than 200 yr. The horseshoe libration periods of 2016 CO246, 2017 SL16, 2017 XQ60, and 2018 PN22 are 280, 255, 411, and 125 yr, respectively.
New insight into the origin of the GeV flare in the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 from the 2017 periastron passage
Authors: Chernyakova M , Malyshev D , Mc Keague S , van Soelen B , Marais J P , Martin-Carrillo A , Murphy D
Published: June 2020

PSR B1259-63 is a gamma-ray binary system hosting a radio pulsar orbiting around an O9.5Ve star, LS 2883, with a period of ∼3.4 yr. The interaction of the pulsar wind with the LS 2883 outflow leads to unpulsed broad-band emission in the radio, X-rays, GeV, and TeV domains. While the radio, X-ray, and TeV light curves show rather similar behaviour, the GeV light curve appears very different with a huge outburst about a month after a periastron. The energy release during this outburst seems to significantly exceed the spin-down luminosity of the pulsar and both the GeV light curve and the energy release vary from one orbit to the next. In this paper, we present for the first time the results of optical observations of the system in 2017, and also reanalyse the available X-ray and GeV data. We present a new model in which the GeV data are explained as a combination of the bremsstrahlung and inverse Compton emission from the unshocked and weakly shocked electrons of the pulsar wind. The X-ray and TeV emission is produced by synchrotron and inverse Compton emission of energetic electrons accelerated on a strong shock arising due to stellar/pulsar winds collision. The brightness of the GeV flare is explained in our model as a beaming effect of the energy released in a cone oriented, during the time of the flare, in the direction of the observer.
Wide binaries are rare in open clusters
Authors: Deacon N R , Kraus A L
Published: June 2020

The population statistics of binary stars are an important output of star formation models. However, populations of wide binaries evolve over time due to interactions within a system’s birth environment and the unfolding of wide, hierarchical triple systems. Hence, the wide binary populations observed in star-forming regions or OB associations may not accurately reflect the wide binary populations that will eventually reach the field. We use Gaia DR2 data to select members of three open clusters, Alpha Per, the Pleiades, and Praesepe and to flag cluster members that are likely unresolved binaries due to overluminosity or elevated astrometric noise. We then identify the resolved wide binary population in each cluster, separating it from coincident pairings of unrelated cluster members. We find that these clusters have an average wide binary fraction in the 300–3000 au projected separation range of 2.1$\pm ^{0.4}_{0.2}$ per cent increasing to 3.0$\pm ^{0.8}_{0.7}$ per cent for primaries with masses in the 0.5–1.5 M⊙ range. This is significantly below the observed field wide binary fraction, but shows some wide binaries survive in these dynamically highly processed environments. We compare our results with another open cluster (the Hyades) and two populations of young stars that likely originated in looser associations (young moving groups and the Pisces-Eridanus stream). We find that the Hyades also has a deficit of wide binaries while the products of looser associations have wide binary fractions at or above field level.
Cooling of hybrid neutron stars with microscopic equations of state
Authors: Wei J-B , Burgio G F , Schulze H-J , Zappalà D
Published: June 2020

We model the cooling of hybrid neutron stars combining a microscopic nuclear equation of state in the Brueckner–Hartree–Fock approach with different quark models. We then analyse the neutron star cooling curves predicted by the different models and single out the preferred ones. We find that the possibility of neutron p-wave pairing can be excluded in our scenario.
Incidental De Novo Cerebral Microhemorrhages are Predictive of Future Symptomatic Macrohemorrhages After Surgical Revascularization in Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Li Yiping , Esene Ignatius , Mandel Mauricio , Bigder Mark , Steinberg Gary K
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Patients with moyamoya disease who develop incidental cerebral microhemorrhages (CMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have higher risk of developing subsequent symptomatic repeat macro hemorrhages.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of surgical revascularization on development of de novo CMHs and assess its correlation with repeat hemorrhage rates and functional outcome in hemorrhagic onset moyamoya disease (HOMMD).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively managed departmental database of all patients presenting with HOMMD treated between 1987 and 2019. The search yielded 121 patients with adequate MRI follow-up for inclusion into the study.

RESULTS

In total, 42 preoperative CMHs were identified in 18 patients (15%). Patients presenting with preoperative CMH were more likely to develop de novo CMH after surgical revascularization. 7 de novo CHMs were identified in 6 patients (5%) on routine postoperative MRI at distinct locations from previous sites of hemorrhage or CMH. Symptomatic repeat macro hemorrhage was confirmed radiographically in 15 patients (12%). A total 5 (83%) of 6 patients with de novo CMHs later suffered symptomatic repeat macro hemorrhage with 4 of 5 (80%) hemorrhages occurring at sites of previous CMH. On univariate and multivariate analysis, de novo CMHs was the only significant variable predictive for developing repeat symptomatic hemorrhage. Development of delayed repeat symptomatic hemorrhage was prognostic for higher modified Rankin Score and therefore poorer functional status, whereas preoperative functional status was predictive of final outcome.

CONCLUSION

De novo CMHs after surgical revascularization might serve as a radiographic biomarker for refractory disease and suggest patients are at risk for future symptomatic macro hemorrhage.
Neuro-Oncology Practice Clinical Debate: Early treatment or observation for patients with newly diagnosed oligodendroglioma and small-volume residual disease
Authors: Fogh Shannon E , Boreta Lauren , Nakamura Jean L , Johnson Derek R , Chi Andrew S , Kurz Sylvia C
Published: June 2020

Advances in treatment of oligodendroglioma represent arguably the most significant recent development in the treatment of brain tumors, with multiple clinical trials demonstrating that median survival is approximately doubled in patients with World Health Organization grade II and III 1p/19q codeleted gliomas (ie, oligodendrogliomas) treated with procarbazine, lomustine, vincristine chemotherapy and radiation vs radiation alone. However, chemoradiotherapy itself is not without morbidity, including both short-term toxicities primarily related to chemotherapy and longer-term cognitive issues likely due to radiation. Patients and physicians both desire maximally effective therapy with minimal toxicity, and it remains unclear whether some patients with macroscopic residual disease after surgery can safely delay therapy, to avoid or delay toxicity, while simultaneously preserving the full benefits of treatment. In this article, experts in the field discuss the rationale for the approaches of up-front treatment with chemoradiotherapy and initial observation, respectively.
The LRXs-RALFs-FER module controls plant growth and salt stress responses by modulating multiple plant hormones
Authors: Zhao Chunzhao , Jiang Wei , Zayed Omar , Liu Xin , Tang Kai , Nie Wenfeng , Li Yali , Xie Shaojun , Li Yuan , Long Tiandan , Liu Linlin , Zhu Yingfang , Zhao Yang , Zhu Jian-Kang
Published: June 2020

Salt stress is a major environmental factor limiting plant growth and productivity. We recently discovered an important new salt tolerance pathway, where the cell wall leucine-rich repeat extensins LRX3/4/5, the RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR (RALF) peptides RALF22/23 and receptor-like kinase FERONIA (FER) function as a module to simultaneously regulate plant growth and salt stress tolerance. However, the intracellular signaling pathways that are regulated by the extracellular LRX3/4/5-RALF22/23-FER module to coordinate growth, cell wall integrity and salt stress responses are still unknown. Here, we report that the LRX3/4/5-RALF22/23-FER module negatively regulates the levels of jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Blocking JA pathway rescues the dwarf phenotype of the lrx345 and fer-4 mutants, while disruption of ABA biosynthesis suppresses the salt-hypersensitivity of these mutants. Many salt stress-responsive genes display abnormal expression patterns in the lrx345 and fer-4 mutants, as well as in the wild type plants treated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an inhibitor of pectin methylesterases, suggesting cell wall integrity as a critical factor that determines the expression pattern of stress-responsive genes. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is constitutively increased in the lrx345 and fer-4 mutants, and inhibition of ROS accumulation suppresses the salt-hypersensitivity of these mutants. Together, our work provides strong evidence that the LRX3/4/5-RALF22/23-FER module controls plant growth and salt stress responses by regulating hormonal homeostasis and ROS accumulation.