bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the IGS rRNA Region and Applicability for Leishmania (V.) braziliensis Characterization
Authors: de Goes Tayná C. , de Morais Rayana C. S. , de Melo Maria G. N. , e Silva Rômulo P. , Rezende Antônio M. , de Paiva-Cavalcanti Milena
Published: October 2020

The causative species is an important factor influencing the evolution of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Due to its wide distribution in endemic areas, Leishmania (V.) braziliensis is considered one of the most important species in circulation in Brazil. Molecular targets derived from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) were used in studies to identify Leishmania spp.; however, the Intergenic Spacer (IGS) region has not yet been explored in parasite species differentiation. Besides, there is a shortage of sequences deposited in public repositories for this region. Thus, it was proposed to analyze and provide sequences of the IGS rRNA region from different Leishmania spp. and to evaluate their potential as biomarkers to characterize L. braziliensis. A set of primers was designed for complete amplification of the IGS rRNA region of Leishmania spp. PCR products were submitted to Sanger sequencing. The sequences obtained were aligned and analyzed for size and similarity, as well as deposited in GenBank. Characteristics of the repetitive elements (IGSRE) present in the IGS rRNA were also verified. In addition, a set of primers for L. braziliensis identification for qPCR was developed and optimized. Sensitivity (S), specificity (σ), and efficiency (ε) tests were applied. It was found that the mean size for the IGS rRNA region is 3 kb, and the similarity analysis of the sequences obtained demonstrated high conservation among the species. It was observed that the size for the IGSRE repetitive region varies between 61 and 71 bp, and there is a high identity between some species. Fifteen sequences generated for the IGS rRNA partial region of nine different species were deposited in GenBank so far. The specific primer system for L. braziliensis showed S=10 fg, ε=98.08%, and logσ=103 for Leishmania naiffi; logσ=104 for Leishmania guyanensis; and logσ=105 for Leishmania shawi. This protocol system can be used for diagnosis, identification, and quantification of a patient’s parasite load, aiding in the direction of a more appropriate therapeutic management to the cases of infection by this etiological agent. Besides that, the unpublished sequences deposited in databases can be used for multiple analyses in different contexts.
Comparison of Machine-Learning Algorithms for Near-Surface Air-Temperature Estimation from FY-4A AGRI Data
Authors: Zhou Ke , Liu Hailei , Deng Xiaobo , Wang Hao , Zhang Shenglan
Published: October 2020

Six machine-learning approaches, including multivariate linear regression (MLR), gradient boosting decision tree, k-nearest neighbors, random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and deep neural network (DNN), were compared for near-surface air-temperature (Tair) estimation from the new generation of Chinese geostationary meteorological satellite Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) observations. The brightness temperatures in split-window channels from the Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) of FY-4A and numerical weather prediction data from the global forecast system were used as the predictor variables for Tair estimation. The performance of each model and the temporal and spatial distribution of the estimated Tair errors were analyzed. The results showed that the XGB model had better overall performance, with R2 of 0.902, bias of −0.087°C, and root-mean-square error of 1.946°C. The spatial variation characteristics of the Tair error of the XGB method were less obvious than those of the other methods. The XGB model can provide more stable and high-precision Tair for a large-scale Tair estimation over China and can serve as a reference for Tair estimation based on machine-learning models.
Prevalence and Predictors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Youth at the Time of COVID-19: An Online Cross-Sectional Multicountry Study
Authors: Al Omari Omar , Al Sabei Sulaiman , Al Rawajfah Omar , Abu Sharour Loai , Aljohani Khalid , Alomari Khaled , Shkman Lina , Al Dameery Khloud , Saifan Ahmed , Al Zubidi Bushara , Anwar Samh , Alhalaiqa Fadwa
Published: October 2020

Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental illnesses among young people. Crisis like the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may increase the current prevalence of these illnesses. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to (1) explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among youth and (2) identify to what extent certain variables related to COVID-19 could predict depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) among young people in six different countries. Participants were requested to complete an online survey including demographics and the DAS scale. A total of 1,057 participants from Oman (n=155), Saudi Arabia (n=121), Jordan (n=332), Iraq (n=117), United Arab Emirates (n=147), and Egypt (n=182) completed the study. The total prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 57%, 40.5%, and 38.1%, respectively, with no significant differences between countries. Significant predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression were being female, being in contact with a friend and/or a family member with mental illness, being quarantined for 14 days, and using the internet. In conclusion, COVID-19 is an epidemiological crisis that is casting a shadow on youths’ DAS. The restrictions and prolonged lockdowns imposed by COVID-19 are negatively impacting their level of DAS. Healthcare organisations, in collaboration with various sectors, are recommended to apply psychological first aid and design appropriate educational programmes to improve the mental health of youth.
Antarctic Krill Oil Attenuates Oxidative Stress via the KEAP1‐NRF2 Signaling in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Wen Chengfei , Jiang Mi , Huang Weixin , Liu Shumei
Published: October 2020

Background. Antarctic krill oil (AKO) has strong antioxidant activities and is effective for alleviating coronary heart disease (CHD). Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1‐NF‐E2‐related factor 2 (KEAP1‐NRF2) axis is a crucial antioxidant signaling pathway. Thus, AKO may exert its antioxidant effects on CHD patients via KEAP1‐NRF2 signaling. Methods. AKO fatty acid (FA) profiles were analyzed by using gas chromatography (GC). One hundred CHD patients were divided into the intervention (IG, AKO) and control (CG, placebo) groups. Before and after 1, 2, and 3 months of intervention, we measured serum levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and KEAP1 and NRF2 levels in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs). Serum FAs were measured by GC at baseline and after 3‐month intervention. Results. AKO contains rich eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is more than 27% of total FA. The levels of EPA and DHA, KEAP1, and NRF2 in the IG group were higher than those in the CG group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of ROS, 8‐OHdG, NO, and MDA in the IG group were lower than those in the CG group, whereas the levels of SOD, GSH, and GPx in the IG group were higher than those in the CG group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of saturated fatty acids (UFA) in the IG group were higher than those in the CG group, whereas reverse results were obtained for the levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA). Serum levels of EPA and DHA had a strong negative relationship with the level of ROS, whereas the ROS level had a strong negative relationship with the levels of KEAP1‐NRF2. Conclusion. AKO increases antioxidant capacities of CHD patients via the KEAP1‐NRF2 signaling in the PBL.
Risk Assessment of Pedestrian Evacuation under the Influence of Fire Products
Authors: Ye Chenghao , Liu Yuechan , Sun Chao
Published: October 2020

Traditional methods are using FDS and Pathfinder for numerical simulation of fire evacuation and do not consider the impact of fire products on pedestrians, which will lead to erroneous evacuation results. In order to explore the impact of fire products on pedestrian evacuation when a fire occurs in a building, the pedestrian evacuation risk assessment results are closer to the actual situation. By establishing a full-scale model based on the pedestrian evacuation speed coefficient, a numerical simulation of the evacuation of pedestrians under the influence of fire products is carried out, and the influence of spray intensity and smoke exhaust rate on pedestrian evacuation is analysed at the same time. The results show that, compared with traditional methods, the fire evacuation model based on the evacuation speed coefficient can better reflect the evacuation effect of the real fire scene. At the same time, adding spray and smoke exhaust devices can give pedestrians more time to escape.
Nonlinear Fractionalq-Difference Equation with Fractional Hadamard and Quantum Integral Nonlocal Conditions
Authors: Wongcharoen Athasit , Thatsatian Arisa , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Tariboon Jessada
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we establish existence and uniqueness results for a boundary value problem consisting by a nonlinear fractionalq-difference equation subject to a new type of boundary condition, combining the fractional Hadamard and quantum integrals. Our analysis is based on Banach’s fixed point theorem, a fixed point theorem for nonlinear contractions, Krasnosel’skii˘’s fixed point theorem, and Leray-Schauder nonlinear alternative. Examples are given to illustrate our results.
Novel Methylated DNA Markers in the Surveillance of Colorectal Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Xie Hao , Mahoney Douglas W. , Foote Patrick H. , Burger Kelli N. , Doering Karen A. , Taylor William R. , Then Sara S. , Cao Xiaoming , McGlinch Maria , Berger Calise K. , Wu Tsung-Teh , Hubbard Joleen M. , Allawi Hatim T. , Kaiser Michael W. , Lidgard Graham P. , Ahlquist David A. , Kisiel John B.
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

We aimed to assess the concordance of colorectal cancer–associated methylated DNA markers (MDM) in primary and metastatic colorectal cancer for feasibility in detection of distantly recurrent/metastatic colorectal cancer in plasma.

Experimental Design:

A panel of previously discovered colorectal cancer–associated MDMs was selected. MDMs from primary and paired metastatic colorectal cancer tissue were assayed with quantitative methylation-specific PCR. Plasma MDMs were measured blindly by target enrichment long-probe quantitative-amplified signal assays. Random forest modeling was used to derive a prediction algorithm of MDMs in archival plasma samples from primary colorectal cancer cases. This algorithm was validated in prospectively collected plasma samples from recurrent colorectal cancer cases. The accuracy of the algorithm was summarized as sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC).

Results:

Of the 14 selected MDMs, the concordance between primary and metastatic tissue was considered moderate or higher for 12 MDMs (86%). At a preset specificity of 95% (91%–98%), a panel of 13 MDMs, in plasma from 97 colorectal cancer cases and 200 controls, detected stage IV colorectal cancer with 100% (80%–100%) sensitivity and all stages of colorectal cancer with an AUC of 0.91 (0.87–0.95), significantly higher than carcinoembryonic antigen [AUC, 0.72 (0.65–0.79)]. This panel, in plasma from 40 cases and 60 healthy controls, detected recurrent/metastatic colorectal cancer with 90% (76%–97%) sensitivity, 90% (79%–96%) specificity, and an AUC of 0.96 (0.92–1.00). The panel was positive in 0.30 (0.19–0.43) of 60 patients with no evidence of disease in post-operative patients with colorectal cancer.

Conclusions:

Plasma assay of novel colorectal cancer–associated MDMs can reliably detect both primary colorectal cancer and distantly recurrent colorectal cancer with promising accuracy.
In-depth Clinical and Biological Exploration of DNA Damage Immune Response as a Biomarker for Oxaliplatin Use in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Malla Sudhir B. , Fisher David J. , Domingo Enric , Blake Andrew , Hassanieh Sylvana , Redmond Keara L. , Richman Susan D. , Youdell Michael , Walker Steven M. , Logan Gemma E. , Chatzipli Aikaterina , Amirkhah Raheleh , Humphries Matthew P. , Craig Stephanie G. , McDermott Ultan , Seymour Matthew T. , Morton Dion G. , Quirke Philip , West Nicholas P. , Salto-Tellez Manuel , Kennedy Richard D. , Johnston Patrick G. , Tomlinson Ian , Koelzer Viktor H. , Campo Letitia , Kaplan Richard S. , Longley Daniel B. , Lawler Mark , Maughan Timothy S. , Brown Louise C. , Dunne Philip D.
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

The DNA damage immune response (DDIR) assay was developed in breast cancer based on biology associated with deficiencies in homologous recombination and Fanconi anemia pathways. A positive DDIR call identifies patients likely to respond to platinum-based chemotherapies in breast and esophageal cancers. In colorectal cancer, there is currently no biomarker to predict response to oxaliplatin. We tested the ability of the DDIR assay to predict response to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer and characterized the biology in DDIR-positive colorectal cancer.

Experimental Design:

Samples and clinical data were assessed according to DDIR status from patients who received either 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or 5FUFA (bolus and infusion 5-FU with folinic acid) plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) within the FOCUS trial (n = 361, stage IV), or neoadjuvant FOLFOX in the FOxTROT trial (n = 97, stage II/III). Whole transcriptome, mutation, and IHC data of these samples were used to interrogate the biology of DDIR in colorectal cancer.

Results:

Contrary to our hypothesis, DDIR-negative patients displayed a trend toward improved outcome for oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy compared with DDIR-positive patients. DDIR positivity was associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) and colorectal molecular subtype 1. Refinement of the DDIR signature, based on overlapping IFN-related chemokine signaling associated with DDIR positivity across colorectal cancer and breast cancer cohorts, further confirmed that the DDIR assay did not have predictive value for oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Conclusions:

DDIR positivity does not predict improved response following oxaliplatin treatment in colorectal cancer. However, data presented here suggest the potential of the DDIR assay in identifying immune-rich tumors that may benefit from immune checkpoint blockade, beyond current use of MSI status.
Heparan Sulfate Synthesized by Ext1 Regulates Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling and Promotes Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors in GBM
Authors: Ohkawa Yuki , Wade Anna , Lindberg Olle R. , Chen Katharine Y. , Tran Vy M. , Brown Spencer J. , Kumar Anupam , Kalita Mausam , James C. David , Phillips Joanna J.
Published: October 2020

Signaling from multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) contributes to therapeutic resistance in glioblastoma (GBM). Heparan sulfate (HS), present on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix, regulates cell signaling via several mechanisms. To investigate the role for HS in promoting RTK signaling in GBM, we generated neural progenitor cells deficient for HS by knockout of the essential HS-biosynthetic enzyme Ext1, and studied tumor initiation and progression. HS-null cells had decreased proliferation, invasion, and reduced activation of multiple RTKs compared with control. In vivo tumor establishment was significantly decreased, and rate of tumor growth reduced with HS-deficient cells implanted in an HS-poor microenvironment. To investigate if HS regulates RTK activation through platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) signaling, we removed cell surface HS in patient-derived GBM lines and identified reduced cell surface PDGF-BB ligand. Reduced ligand levels were associated with decreased phosphorylation of PDGFRα, suggesting HS promotes ligand–receptor interaction. Using human GBM tumorspheres and a murine GBM model, we show that ligand-mediated signaling can partially rescue cells from targeted RTK inhibition and that this effect is regulated by HS. Indeed, tumor cells deficient for HS had increased sensitivity to EGFR inhibition in vitro and in vivo.

Implications:

Our study shows that HS expressed on tumor cells and in the tumor microenvironment regulates ligand-mediated signaling, promoting tumor cell proliferation and invasion, and these factors contribute to decreased tumor cell response to targeted RTK inhibition.
The Genetics Analysis of Molecular Pathogenesis for Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Lin Guanchuan , Ji Kaiyuan , Li Shiyu , Ma Wenli , Pan Xinghua
Published: October 2020

Introduction: The molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still not clear, and the relationship between gene expression profile for different brain regions has not been studied. Objective: Bioinformatic analysis at the genetic level has become the best way for the pathogenesis research of AD, which can analyze the abovementioned relationship. Methods: In this study, the datasets of AD were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Qlucore Omics Explorer (QOE) software was used to screen differentially expressed genes of GSE36980 and GSE9770 and verify gene expression of GSE63060. The Gene Ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis of these selected genes was conducted by Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), and then the gene/protein interaction network was established by STRING to find the related proteins. R language was used for drafting maps and plots. Results: There were 20 differentially expressed genes related to AD selected from GSE36980 (p = 6.2e−6, q = 2.9422e−4) and GSE9770 (p = 3.3e−4, q = 0.016606). Their expression levels of the AD group were lower than those in the control group and varied among different brain regions. Cellular morphogenesis and establishment or maintenance of cell polarity were enriched, and LRRTM1 and RASAL1 were identified by the integration network. Moreover, the analysis of GSE63060 verified the expression level of LRRTM1 and RASAL1 in Alzheimer’s patients, which was much lower than that in normal people aged >65 years. Conclusions: The pathogenesis of AD at molecular levels may link to cell membrane structures and signal transduction; hence, a list of 20 genes, including LRRTM1 and RASAL1,potentially are important for the discovery of treatment target or molecular marker of AD.
Persistent Peristomal Leakage from Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Successfully Treated with Argon Plasma Coagulation
Authors: Macedo Cláudia , Almeida Nuno , Alves Ana Rita , Ferreira Ana Margarida , Figueiredo Pedro
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a safe and effective technique and its use is widely spread. Peristomal leakage may occur within the first few days after gastrostomy tube placement and also in the mature gastrostomy tract. The initial treatment involves conservative measures. If the leakage does not resolve, different endoscopic interventions could be necessary with consequent impairing of enteral nutrition and, in some cases, the need of creating a new gastro-cutaneous fistula. Case Report: We present 4 consecutive cases complicated with late peristomal leakage and medical treatment failure. These patients underwent upper digestive endoscopy, and circumferential fulguration of the mucosa surrounding the tube with pulsed argon plasma coagulation (APC) at 50 W and 1 L/min flow rate was performed. Additional long through-the-scope clips were applied in 2 cases, since the inner orifice remained enlarged, in order to obtain a better closure. Complete leakage and skin changes resolution occurred between 2 and 6 weeks after the procedure (mean 3.5 weeks). The overall mean follow-up was 19 months after the endoscopic procedure (maximum 30 months, minimum 10 months). There was no recurrence of leakage. Conclusion: The use of APC alone or combined with long through-the-scope clips in large internal stoma orifice resolved persistent leakage from percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in all 4 presented cases without complications. In our case series, this technique appeared to be an effective, safe, and relatively low-cost alternative to the treatment of persistent peristomal leakage of the mature gastrostomy tract.
Natural History of Hypertension in Turner Syndrome During a 12-Year Pragmatic Interventional Study
Authors: Sandahl Kristian , Wen Jan , Erlandsen Mogens , Andersen Niels H. , Gravholt Claus H.
Published: October 2020

Turner syndrome is caused by complete or partial X monosomy in some or all cells. Cardiovascular complications are dominant, including increased blood pressure (BP), leading to early-onset hypertension. The aim is to describe the debut, development, and treatment of hypertension in Turner syndrome during a 12-year pragmatic interventional study to help identify risk factors associated with hypertension. One hundred and two women (aged 38±11 years, range: 18–62 years) with Turner syndrome verified by karyotyping (45, X: n=58 [57%]) were included consecutively. Ambulatory BPs were recorded over 24 hours with oscillometric measurements every 20 minutes. Antihypertensive treatment was recommended if the BP was above 135/85 mm Hg during the daytime. Overall, systolic BP, diastolic BP, and pulse pressure increased during the study, while heart rate decreased. The number of patients treated with antihypertensive medicine increased from 29 (28.71%) at baseline to 34 (53.13%) at the end of study. Twenty-four–hour systolic BP and 24-hour pulse pressure increased significantly with age, while 24-hour heart rate decreased with age, and diastolic BP was insignificantly affected by age. Antihypertensive treatment lowered systolic BP (24-hour: −5 mm Hg), diastolic BP (24-hour: −5 mm Hg), and diminished the pulse pressure (24-hour: −6 mm Hg) but did not affect nighttime systolic BP. Antihypertensive treatment did not affect heart rate. Our study showed that both systolic and diastolic BP increases significantly in women with Turner syndrome resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidities. This increment should be considered of multifactorial origin with many contributing factors which is supported by our results.
Primary Cilia in Trophoblastic Cells
Authors: Ritter Andreas , Roth Susanne , Kreis Nina-Naomi , Friemel Alexandra , Hoock Samira Catharina , Steglich Souto Alice , Eichbaum Christine , Neuhoff Annemarie , Chen Qi , Solbach Christine , Louwen Frank , Yuan Juping
Published: October 2020

The pathogenesis of preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related disease, is not completely understood. The primary cilium transduces a diverse array of signaling pathways important for vital cellular activities. Primary cilia were reported to facilitate trophoblastic cell invasion. We hypothesized their further functions in trophoblasts and were interested in related molecular mechanisms. We systematically examined the presence, length and percentage of the primary cilium, its mediated signal transduction, and its connection to trophoblast function. Various cellular and molecular methods were used including immunofluorescence staining, spheroid formation, gene analysis, invasion and tube formation assays with trophoblastic cell lines, primary trophoblasts, and placental tissues. We show that primary cilia are present in various trophoblastic cell lines derived from first trimester placentas. Cilia are also observable in primary trophoblasts, though in a small quantity. Importantly, primary cilia are shortened in trophoblastic cells derived from preeclamptic placentas. Mechanistically, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α or sera from patients with preeclampsia are able to reduce the length of primary cilia and impair the important sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. Functionally, trophoblastic cells with defective cilia display severe failures in their key functions, like migration, invasion and tube formation, also observed in trophoblastic cells depleted of the intraflagellar transport protein 88. This is accompanied by reduced gene expression of matrix metallopeptidases, vascular endothelial growth factor, and placental growth factor. This work highlights the significance of primary cilia in the functions of trophoblastic cells. Dysfunctional cilia may lead to compromised migration, invasion, and endothelial remodeling of trophoblastic cells, contributing to the development of preeclampsia.
Antecedent Administration of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists and Survival After Hospitalization for COVID‐19 Syndrome
Authors: Palazzuoli Alberto , Mancone Massimo , De Ferrari Gaetano M. , Forleo Giovanni , Secco Gioel G. , Ruocco Gaetano M. , D'Ascenzo Fabrizio , Monticone Silvia , Paggi Anita , Vicenzi Marco , Palazzo Anna G. , Landolina Maurizio , Taravelli Erika , Tavazzi Guido , Blasi Francesco , Infusino Fabio , Fedele Francesco , De Rosa Francesco G. , Emmett Michael , Schussler Jeffrey M. , Tecson Kristen M. , McCullough Peter A.
Published: October 2020

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) utilizes the angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2 (ACE‐2) receptor to enter human cells. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARB) are associated with ACE‐2 upregulation. We hypothesized that antecedent use of ACEI/ARB may be associated with mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).

Methods and Results

We used the Coracle registry, which contains data of patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 in 4 regions of Italy, and restricted analyses to those ≥50 years of age. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Among these 781 patients, 133 (17.0%) used an ARB and 171 (21.9%) used an ACEI. While neither sex nor smoking status differed by user groups, patients on ACEI/ARB were older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure. The overall mortality rate was 15.1% (118/781) and increased with age (
P
Trend
<0.0001). The crude odds ratios (ORs) for death for ACEI users and ARB users were 0.98, 95% CI, 0.60–1.60,
P
=0.9333, and 1.13, 95% CI, 0.67–1.91,
P
=0.6385, respectively. After adjusting for age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure, antecedent ACEI administration was associated with reduced mortality (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31–0.98,
P
=0.0436); a similar, but weaker trend was observed for ARB administration (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.32–1.07,
P
=0.0796).

Conclusions

In those aged ≥50 years hospitalized with COVID‐19, antecedent use of ACEI was independently associated with reduced risk of inpatient death. Our findings suggest a protective role of renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system inhibition in patients with high cardiovascular risk affected by COVID‐19.
Cost-Effectiveness of Tenecteplase Before Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Gao Lan , Moodie Marj , Mitchell Peter J. , Churilov Leonid , Kleinig Timothy J. , Yassi Nawaf , Yan Bernard , Parsons Mark W. , Donnan Geoffrey A. , Davis Stephen M. , Campbell Bruce C.V. ,   for the EXTEND-IA TNK Investigators
Published: October 2020

Background and Purpose:

Tenecteplase improved functional outcomes and reduced the requirement for endovascular thrombectomy in ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion in the EXTEND-IA TNK randomized trial. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of tenecteplase versus alteplase in this trial.

Methods:

Post hoc within-trial economic analysis included costs of index emergency department and inpatient stroke hospitalization, rehabilitation/subacute care, and rehospitalization due to stroke within 90 days. Sources for cost included key study site complemented by published literature and government websites. Quality-adjusted life-years were estimated using utility scores derived from the modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days. Long-term modeled cost-effectiveness analysis used a Markov model with 7 health states corresponding to 7 modified Rankin Scale scores. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results:

Within the 202 patients in the randomized controlled trial, total cost was nonsignificantly lower in the tenecteplase-treated patients (40 997 Australian dollars [AUD]) compared with alteplase-treated patients (46 188 AUD) for the first 90 days(
P
=0.125). Tenecteplase was the dominant treatment strategy in the short term, with similar cost (5412 AUD [95% CI, −13 348 to 2523];
P
=0.181) and higher benefits (0.099 quality-adjusted life-years [95% CI, 0.001–0.1967];
P
=0.048), with a 97.4% probability of being cost-effective. In the long-term, tenecteplase was associated with less additional lifetime cost (96 357 versus 106 304 AUD) and greater benefits (quality-adjusted life-years, 7.77 versus 6.48), and had a 100% probability of being cost-effective. Both deterministic sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analyses yielded similar results.

Conclusions:

Both within-trial and long-term economic analyses showed that tenecteplase was highly likely to be cost-effective for patients with acute stroke before thrombectomy. Recommending the use of tenecteplase over alteplase could lead to a cost saving to the healthcare system both in the short and long term.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02388061.
Polite Speech Emerges From Competing Social Goals
Authors: Yoon Erica J. , Tessler Michael Henry , Goodman Noah D. , Frank Michael C.
Published: October 2020

Language is a remarkably efficient tool for transmitting information. Yet human speakers make statements that are inefficient, imprecise, or even contrary to their own beliefs, all in the service of being polite. What rational machinery underlies polite language use? Here, we show that polite speech emerges from the competition of three communicative goals: to convey information, to be kind, and to present oneself in a good light. We formalize this goal tradeoff using a probabilistic model of utterance production, which predicts human utterance choices in socially sensitive situations with high quantitative accuracy, and we show that our full model is superior to its variants with subsets of the three goals. This utility-theoretic approach to speech acts takes a step toward explaining the richness and subtlety of social language use.
Grouping Mechanisms in Numerosity Perception
Authors: Ciccione Lorenzo , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: October 2020

Enumeration of a dot array is faster and easier if the items form recognizable subgroups. This phenomenon, which has been termed “groupitizing,” appears in children after one year of formal education and correlates with arithmetic abilities. We formulated and tested the hypothesis that groupitizing reflects an ability to sidestep counting by using arithmetic shortcuts, for instance, using the grouping structure to add or multiply rather than just count. Three groups of students with different levels of familiarity with mathematics were asked to name the numerosity of sets of 1–15 dots in various arrangements, for instance, 9 represented as a single group of 9 items, three distinct groups of 2, 3, and 4 items (affording addition 2 + 3 + 4), or three identical groups of 3 items (affording multiplication 3 × 3). Grouping systematically improved enumeration performance, regardless of whether the items were grouped spatially or by color alone, but only when an array was divided into subgroups with the same number of items. Response times and error patterns supported the hypothesis of a multiplication process. Our results demonstrate that even a simple enumeration task involves mental arithmetic.
Groehnaltica batophiloides, a new genus and species of flea-beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Baltic amber, described using X-ray microtomography
Authors: BUKEJS ANDRIS , REID CHRIS A. M. , BIONDI MAURIZIO
Published: October 2020

Based on a well-preserved specimen from Eocene Baltic amber, Groehnaltica batophiloides gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) is described and illustrated using X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). The new monotypic genus is compared with fossil and extant flea-beetle genera. In the extant Eurasian fauna Groehnaltica shows most similarity to Batophila Foudras, 1859. However, it is also similiar to a Palaeotropical group of genera, including Bikasha Maulik, 1931, and Lanka Maulik, 1926. Groehnaltica batophiloides is the tenth member of Alticini to be described from Baltic amber, adding to our understanding of the evolutionary history of this diverse group of beetles.
When Does the Saharan Air Layer Impede the Intensification of Tropical Cyclones?
Authors: Huang W. T. K. , Poberaj C. Schnadt , Enz B. , Horat C. , Lohmann U.
Published: October 2020

We investigate the circumstances under which the Saharan air layer (SAL) has a negative impact on the intensification of tropical cyclones (TCs) over the North Atlantic Ocean. Using hurricane tracking, aerosol optical depth (AOD) data, and meteorological analyses, we analyze the interaction of the SAL with 52 named TCs that formed over the east and central Atlantic south of the Cape Verde islands between 2004 and 2017. Following the categorization of negative SAL influences on TC intensification by Dunion and Velden, only 21% of the investigated storms can be classified (28% of all storms that encountered the SAL), and 21% of the storms continue to intensify despite the presence of the SAL. We show that among TCs that encounter the SAL, there is evidence supporting a weak negative correlation between the magnitude of TC intensification and the ambient AOD. However, above-average Saharan dust abundance in the vicinity of TCs is not a good independent indicator for storm nonintensification. To better understand the specific processes involved, a composite study is carried out, contrasting storms that intensify in the presence of the SAL against those that do not. We find that sheared air masses on the north side and drier air from the northeast of the storm early on during its lifetime, in addition to higher AOD, are associated with TC nonintensification in proximity to the SAL.
Undertriage Despite Use of Geriatric-Specific Trauma Team Activation Guidelines
Authors: Anantha Ram V. , Painter Matthew D. , Diaz-Garelli Franck , Nunn Andrew M. , Miller Preston R. , Chang Michael C. , Jason Hoth J.
Published: October 2020

Background

Elderly trauma patients are at risk for undertriage, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine whether implementation of geriatric-specific trauma team activation (TTA) protocols appropriately identified severely-injured elderly patients.

Methods

This single-center retrospective study evaluated all severely injured (injury severity score [ISS] >15), geriatric (≥65 years) patients admitted to our Level 1 tertiary-care hospital between January 2014 and September 2017. Undertriage was defined as the lack of TTA despite presence of severe injuries. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were mortality within 48 hours of admission and urgent hemorrhage control. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of appropriate triage in this study.

Results

Out of 1039 severely injured geriatric patients, 628 (61%) did not undergo TTA. Undertriaged patients were significantly older and had more comorbidities. In-hospital mortality was 5% and 31% in the undertriaged and appropriately triaged groups, respectively ( P < .0001). One percent of undertriaged patients needed urgent hemorrhage control, compared to 6% of the appropriately triaged group ( P < .0001). One percent of undertriaged patients died within 48 hours compared to 19% in the appropriately triaged group ( P < .0001). Predictors of appropriate triage include GCS, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, lactic acid, ISS, shock, and absence of dementia, stroke, or alcoholism.

Discussion

Geriatric-specific TTA guidelines continue to undertriage elderly trauma patients when using ISS as a metric to measure undertriage. However, undertriaged patients have much lower morbidity and mortality, suggesting the geriatric-specific TTA guidelines identify those patients at highest risk for poor outcomes.
Meta-Analysis on the Efficacy and Safety of Laparoscopic Surgery for Large Gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Yu Miao , Wang Deng-chao , Wei Jian , Lei Yue-hua , Fu Zhao-jun , Yang Yu-hui
Published: October 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis comparing the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic versus open resection for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) larger than 5 cm.

Method

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase for relevant articles. Randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials were identified and included in this study. Searching for related articles on large GIST (>5 cm) for laparoscopic resection (laparoscopic group [LAPG]) and open resection (open group [OG]), RevMan 5.3 was used for data analysis, comparing 2 groups of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, length of hospital stay, recurrence rate, disease-free survival, and overall survival.

Results

Seven studies including 440 patients were identified for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that LAPG had less bleeding, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and a better 5-year disease-free survival. There was no significant difference between LAPG and OG in operation time, postoperative complications, recurrence rate, and overall survival.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic resection of large (>5 cm) GIST is safe and feasible and has the advantages of less intraoperative blood loss and fast postoperative recovery, with a good outcome in the recent oncology.
Recurrent Hemoptysis: A Bronchial Dieulafoy’s Lesion in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Ruthberg Jeremy S. , Abrol Anish , Howard N. Scott
Published: October 2020

Objective:

This paper presents a case of a bronchial Dieulafoy’s lesion in a pediatric patient with recurrent hemoptysis.

Case report:

A 11-year old female presented multiple times with dry cough and hemoptysis to an outside hospital, each time leading to a diagnosis of epistaxis and subsequent discharge. When she arrived to our tertiary center with heavy hemoptysis and no evidence of epistaxis, the patient was urgently taken to the operating room by both the otolaryngology and pediatric pulmonology services. Active bleeding from a Dieulafoy’s lesion on the right lower bronchus was found and selective embolization of two tortuous arteries was subsequently performed. The patient was discharged in stable condition without recurrence of hemoptysis over the last two months.

Conclusion:

While rare, especially in pediatric patients, bronchial Dieulafoy’s lesions may cause severe hemoptysis and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when the etiology for hemoptysis is unclear.
Developmental Patterns of Religiosity in Relation to Criminal Trajectories among Serious Offenders moving from Adolescence to Young Adult
Authors: Guo Siying
Published: October 2020

Using Group-Based Trajectory Models and Growth Curve Models, this study aimed to identify distinctive trajectories of religious attendance, religious importance and spirituality and how these trajectories related to changes in crime. The findings varied by measures of religiosity and types of crime. Generally, different measures of religiosity had little to do with initial offenses. A few trajectories of religious attendance and importance associated with both violent and income offenses, while changes in spirituality only related to violent offenses. Losses in religiosity may associate with elevated risks of recidivism. A small range of gains and losses in religiosity may increase the risk of recidivism, while maintaining high religiosity over time may result in a smaller growth change in recidivism.
Book review: Julien Chaisse (Ed.), Sixty Years of European Integration and Global Power Shifts: Perceptions, Interactions and Lessons
Authors: Erlings Esther
Published: October 2020

Julien Chaisse (Ed.), Sixty Years of European Integration and Global Power Shifts: Perceptions, Interactions and Lessons. Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2020, £91.80, 520 pp., ISBN: 9781509933747.
News reporting of suicidal behaviour in Nigeria: Adherence assessment to World Health Organization guidelines
Authors: Oyetunji Tosin Philip , Arafat SM Yasir , Oluwaseyi Famori Stephen , Oluwasanmi Obafemi , Afolami Michael , Ajayi Faith Moyo
Published: October 2020

Background:

Sensible media reporting has been considered an important suicide prevention strategy which is an under-researched issue in Nigeria. There is a dearth of research assessing how the media has been reporting suicidal news to the general population in Nigeria.

Aim:

It was aimed to see the adherence of news reports to the World Health Organization (WHO) suicide reporting guidelines while reporting the events.

Methods:

We searched the published contents of 10 English newspapers of Nigeria and assessed the adherence to the WHO media guidelines for reporting suicide from January 2010 to December 2019.

Results:

Most of the reports (85.31%) mentioned completed suicides, 4.4% recorded suicides, and 9.5% recorded suicide-related homicides. The majority of the reports mentioned the name (85.6%) and profession (63.8%) of the person; the name of the method (92%) and life events (67.8%). The word ‘suicide’ was mentioned in the headline of 87.6% of the reports; the method was mentioned in the headline of 22.8% of the reports, and 31.7% of the reports referred to life events in the headline. Only 8.8% of reports had traced mental illness, 33.3% traced the warning signs, 2.8% mentioned evidence of substance abuse and very few reports mentioned educative materials.

Conclusion:

The study found that Nigeria’s online newspapers are poorly adherent to the WHO media reporting guidelines. Explicit descriptions of the person, methods, life events, and mono-causal explanations were frequently published. Negligible initiatives have been found to educate the general people in the reports.
Memory Effects of Manipulating Text Column Width: Eye-Movement Induced Attentional Processes Interfere With Prose Encoding Among Consistent Handers
Authors: Prichard Eric C. , Christman Stephen D.
Published: October 2020

Performing bilateral saccadic eye-movements has enhanced subsequent verbal recall among consistent handers (people who use their dominant hands for virtually all tasks) but not inconsistent handers (people who use their non-dominant hands for some tasks); but eye-movements prior to encoding have disrupted recall in consistent handers. We sought to better understand how this research might be applied to recalling written text presented in ways that differentially affected eye movements. We manipulated text column width in order to test whether induced eye movements and resultant right hemisphere activations would lead consistent handed (versus inconsistent handed) readers to experience encoding disruptions and poorer recall of the written passage. We presented participants, divided by handedness consistency and gender, with a story about a fictional island in which the lines of text were either ∼28 or ∼120 characters wide. We later asked participants to answer 20 questions about the story and measured their memory performance by both their percentage of correct answers and by their correct answers adjusted for a guessing tendency. We found a handedness by text width interaction. Consistent handers who read the story in a narrower column width showed poorer recall than both inconsistent handers and consistent handers who read the story in the wider text column. We suggest a chain of events such that text width altered eye-movements that, in turn, activated right hemisphere brain processes associated with orienting attention and attentional control, competing with consistent handers’ encoding.
Sexual and Gender Minority Status and Firearms in the Household: Findings From the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Surveys, California and Texas
Authors: Blosnich John R. , Clark Kirsty A. , Mays Vickie M. , Cochran Susan D.
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have a higher prevalence of reporting a lifetime suicide attempt than non-LGBT people, suicide prevention research on access to lethal means (eg, firearms) among LGBT people is limited. Our study examined (1) the presence of firearms in the home and (2) among respondents with firearms in the home, the storage of firearms as stored unloaded, stored as loaded and locked, or stored as loaded and unlocked.

Methods

We used data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys from California and Texas (N = 11 694), which were the only states to include items about both sexual orientation and gender identity and the status of firearms in the home. We used logistic regression analysis to assess the association of sexual orientation and gender identity with having firearms in the home while accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and survey state. All analyses were weighted to account for the complex sampling design.

Results

Approximately 4.2% of the sample identified as lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB). About 18.2% of LGB people reported firearms in the home compared with 29.9% of their heterosexual peers. After adjusting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and military veteran status, LGB respondents had significantly lower odds of reporting firearms in the home than their heterosexual peers (adjusted odds ratio = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.84). Among respondents with firearms in the home, firearm storage did not differ by sexual orientation.

Conclusions

Further research is needed to examine whether lower odds of firearms in the home are protective against suicide deaths among LGB populations.
Three Pathways for Enlarging Critical African Psychology
Authors: Ratele Kopano , Malherbe Nick , Suffla Shahnaaz , Cornell Josephine , Taliep Naiema
Published: October 2020

Departing from the position that critical African psychology is an endeavour whose objective is to harness psychological knowledge in, by, for, and with Africa, as well as the world, but also to critically think Africa into psychology, this article considers space as a key idea to consider in the further development of African psychology, and more specifically, a critically inclined African psychology. Taking critical African psychology as one of the orientations within Africa(n)-centred psychology, we argue for constructing and enlarging space so as to resist ruling epistemes in psychology in and of Africa and to create oppositional spaces that adduce alternative readings and makings of psychology-in-place. We outline three pathways, namely, (1) collective thinking and writing, (2) transdisciplinarity, and (3) affective community building, via which to realise and work from a critical African psychological position. These by no means exhaust all the pathways that can be charted by critical African psychologists and are instead offered as illustrations with which our collective has been engaging, thinking together, and experimenting.
Economic growth and environmental sustainability from renewable energy applications
Authors: Kung Chih-Chun , Lee Tsung-Ju , Chen Li-Jiun
Published: October 2020

The use of fossil fuel causes severe environmental problem such as climate change in the global scale and acid rain in the regional level. Along with its nonrenewable property, renewable and clean energy sources must be explored so as to keep the economy growing sustainably. Nowadays many renewable energy alternatives such as bioenergy, solar power, hydro power, and wind power have been employed, and each of them has their own pros and cons. This special issue focuses on the use of urban and rural wastes in several aspects such as (i) the use agricultural residuals in bioenergy production; (ii) treatments of municipal solid waste in pyrolysis and biochar application; (iii) sewer sludge and other organic matters in renewable energy production; and (iv) plastic materials in wind farm construction and production of solar panels, to assist the production of renewable energy to improve the resource management and maintain the environment.