bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering the fate and function of human T-Cells via 3D bioprinting
Authors: Jin Zhizhong , Li Xinda , Zhang Xinzhi , DeSousa Paul , Xu Tao , Wu Anhua
Published: December 2020

T-cell immunotherapy holds promise for the treatment of cancer, infection, and autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, T-cell therapy is limited by low cell expansion efficiency ex vivo and functional deficits. Here we describe two 3D bioprinting systems made by different biomaterials that mimic the in vivo formation of natural lymph vessels and lymph nodes which modulate T-cell with distinct fates and functions. We observe that coaxial alginate fibers promote T-cell expansion, less exhausted and enable CD4+ T-cell differentiation into central memory-like phenotype (Tcm), CD8+ T-cells differentiation into effector memory subsets (Tem), while alginate-gelatin scaffolds bring T-cells into a relatively resting state. Both of the two bioprinting methods are strikingly different from a standard suspension system. The former bioprinting method yields a new system for T-cell therapy and the latter method can be useful for making an immune-chip to elucidate links between immune response and disease.
Deep learning for x-ray or neutron scattering under grazing-incidence: extraction of distributions
Authors: Van Herck Walter , Fisher Jonathan , Ganeva Marina
Published: December 2020

Grazing-incidence small-angle scattering (GISAS) is a technique of significant importance for the investigation of thin multilayered films containing nano-sized objects. It provides morphology information averaged over the sample area. However, this averaging together with multiple reflections and the well-known phase problem make the data analysis challenging and time consuming. In the present paper we show that densely connected neural networks (DenseNets) can be applied for GISAS data analysis and deliver fast and plausible results. The extraction of the rotational distributions of hexagonal nanoparticle arrangements is taken as a case study.
Preparation and characterization of Cr-doped tungsten oxide by liquid-liquid doping precursor
Authors: Guozuan Xu , Liu Rutie , Qiumin Yang , Chenghui Yang , Guohui Huang , Xiang Xiong
Published: December 2020

The tungsten oxides with uniformly grain growth inhibitor elements can significantly improve the distribution of inhibitors in the subsequent WC powders, and finally enhanced the properties of ultra-fine grained cemented carbides. Thus, a new liquid-liquid doping method was used to prepare the tungsten oxide composite powders with grain growth inhibitor elements by spray drying-calcining process. The microstructure and phase transition of Cr-doped and undoped tungsten oxide composite powders were studied by TG/DSC, XRD, SEM, and XPS. The results showed that Cr doping has little effect on the morphology of the precursor powders after spray drying. However, the existence of ammonium chromate had a significant effect on the properties of the calcined tungsten oxide. The volume expansion of ammonium chromate could reduce the decomposition temperature of ammonium tungstate precursor powders. Additionally, the formation of thermodynamic instability Cr-O-W compound could be the reason for the exothermic peak appeared at 486.3 °C. Moreover, the ‘liquid-liquid’ doping method guaranteed the uniform distribution of Cr2O3, which was favourable for the stable existence of hexagonal metastable h-WO3. The tungsten oxide powders calcined at 600 °C have a flaky morphology due to the uniform distribution of Cr2O3, and the uniform distribution of Cr2O3 in the powder can also prevent the grain growth of WO3.
Influence of ytterbium (Yb) dopant on the optical properties of electrochemically deposited zinc oxide (ZnO) films
Authors: Ikhioya Imosobomeh L , Akpu Nwamaka I , Nkele Agnes C
Published: December 2020

Undoped and ytterbium-doped ZnO films were synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive substrates using zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3).6H2O), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ytterbium nitrate penta-hydride (Yb (NO3)3.5H2O) as sources of Zn2+, O2−and Yb2+ions respectively through electrodeposition method. The structure, elemental composition, and optical features were determined via x-ray diffractometry (XRD), Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV–vis), four-point probe technique, and scanning electron microscopy respectively. The impact of Yb on ZnO crystallographic, elemental, optical, and energy band gap features of the ZnO materials have been studied. Structural results revealed polycrystalline films while the EDX spectrum affirms the presence of the basic elemental composition of deposits. The optical result showed high absorbance feature and decreased energy band gaps of zinc oxide films after introducing ytterbium as dopant. The energy band gap value observed for the undoped zinc oxide film which was 3.05 eV recorded a decreased range from 2.79 eV to 2.64 eV upon doping. The films exhibited increasing resistivity with thickness and granular nanocrystals distributed over the substrate surface. The low transmitting property and decreased energy band gaps of the Yb-doped ZnO films make it useful materials for solar thermal energy collectors and photovoltaic applications.
Research on corona discharge suppression of high-voltage direct-current transmission lines based on dielectric-film-covered conductor
Authors: JIANG Yuze , LI Qiying , ZHANG Xuekai , JIANG Diwen , LIU Shiqiang , PENG Bangfa , LI Jie
Published: December 2020

Corona discharge suppression for high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission lines at line terminals such as converter stations is a subject that requires attention. In this paper, a method based on a conductor covered with dielectric film is proposed and implemented through a bench-scale setup. Compared with the bare conductor, the corona discharge suppression effect of the dielectric-film-covered conductor under positive polarity is studied from the composite field strength and ion current density using a line-plate experimental device. The influences of film thickness and film material on the corona discharge suppression effect are investigated. The charge accumulation and dissipation characteristics of different film materials are also studied. The results show that the conductor covered with dielectric film has excellent ability to inhibit corona discharge. The ground-level composite field strength of the conductor covered with dielectric film is lower than its nominal field strength, and its ion current density is at the nA m−2 level. The corona threshold voltage can be promoted by increasing the film thickness, but the ability to inhibit corona discharge becomes weak. The larger the surface electric field strength, the more charge accumulated, but the faster the charge dissipation rate. Compared with polyvinyl chloride film, cross-linked polyethylene film has stronger charge accumulation ability and slower charge dissipation rate, which can better restrain the corona discharge of HVDC transmission lines.
Climate-Mediated Changes to Linked Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems across the Northeast Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest Margin
Authors: Bidlack Allison L , Bisbing Sarah M , Buma Brian J , Diefenderfer Heida L , Fellman Jason B , Floyd William C , Giesbrecht Ian , Lally Amritpal , Lertzman Ken P , Perakis Steven S , Butman David E , D'Amore David V , Fleming Sean W , Hood Eran W , Hunt Brian P V , Kiffney Peter M , McNicol Gavin , Menounos Brian , Tank Suzanne E
Published: December 2020

Coastal margins are important areas of materials flux that link terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Consequently, climate-mediated changes to coastal terrestrial ecosystems and hydrologic regimes have high potential to influence nearshore ocean chemistry and food web dynamics. Research from tightly coupled, high-flux coastal ecosystems can advance understanding of terrestrial–marine links and climate sensitivities more generally. In the present article, we use the northeast Pacific coastal temperate rainforest as a model system to evaluate such links. We focus on key above- and belowground production and hydrological transport processes that control the land-to-ocean flow of materials and their influence on nearshore marine ecosystems. We evaluate how these connections may be altered by global climate change and we identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of the source, transport, and fate of terrestrial materials along this coastal margin. Finally, we propose five priority research themes in this region that are relevant for understanding coastal ecosystem links more broadly.
Minsky’s legacy: two strands
Authors: Bezemer Dirk J
Published: December 2020

This review article assesses the legacy of Hyman Minsky on the occasion of two newly published books. It identifies two strands of research building on Minsky’s ideas and his research practice, which was eclectic. These two strands draw inspiration from, respectively, a ‘Money View Minsky’ and a ‘Model Minsky’. They represent different ways of doing economics, and they highlight, respectively, the microeconomic and macroeconomic dimensions of the Minskian analysis. Their compatibility hinges on the contested issue of aggregation in the financial instability hypothesis. This paper presents reviews of the books, and it highlights the diversity and the tensions in interpretations of Minsky’s work.
The ‘Antipoet of the Greeks’, or, how Euripides became a modernist
Authors: Gabriel Kay
Published: December 2020

This essay pursues the history of the widespread and influential claim that the ancient Greek tragedian Euripides anticipates the social concerns of modernity and the formal strategies of modernism. The claim originated at the same time as the development of the canon of German tragic criticism at the turn of the nineteenth century. Building on but importantly altering the ancient criticism of Euripides from Aristophanes and Aristotle, Friedrich and August Wilhelm Schlegel and Friedrich Schiller each understood Euripides in close and uncomfortable proximity to their own political moment. The criticism that developed out of this canon both identified Euripides as an untimely modern and produced a series of hostile appraisals of his work. In the conjuncture of modernism in the early twentieth century, professional classicists and modernist poets both accepted the claim of Euripides’ untimely modernity and transvalued its terms: the projection of a ruptural, anticipatory modernity onto Euripides allowed the tragedian to assume the cast of a fellow-traveler of the literary projects of modernism itself. Following the modernist conjuncture, the untimely modernity claim has thoroughly influenced, and frequently dominated, the translation, adaptation, and interpretation of Euripides both inside and outside the professional study of Classics.
Social Isolation and Cognitive Functioning: A Quasi-Experimental Approach
Authors: Okamoto Shohei , Kobayashi Erika
Published: December 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the relationship between social isolation and cognitive functioning.

Method

Data were retrieved from the National Survey of the Japanese Elderly, a nationally representative sample of Japanese adults, aged 60 years or older. We estimated a social isolation index to incorporate variables, such as social interactions, social engagement, and social support, with perceived social isolation, for a comprehensive measurement. The association of social isolation with cognitive functioning was assessed using a panel data fixed-effects model, controlling for age, socioeconomic status, health-related variables, and time-invariant heterogeneity. Moreover, we conducted analyses using the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to address the dynamic relationship of cognitive functioning and potential endogeneity.

Results

For both men and women, the association between social isolation and cognitive functioning was significant, particularly among those aged 75 or older, as a 1% increase in social isolation was associated with decreased cognitive functioning (24% decrease for men and 20% decrease for women). However, this association was not confirmed by the System GMM, after addressing endogeneity.

Discussion

Our findings potentially suggest that the association between social relationship and cognitive functioning reported in previous studies was biased, due to endogeneity. Although we did not observe causal impacts, this does not necessarily mean that social isolation does not have a negative impact on health, as both positive and negative consequences of social relationships may exist. Further research is needed to reveal the causal relationship, as well as the detailed mechanisms of health effects of social relationships.
Daily Social Interactions and HPA Axis Activity Among Midlife and Older Adults
Authors: Polenick Courtney A , Birditt Kira S , Turkelson Angela , Perbix Emily A , Salwi Shreya M , Zarit Steven H
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives

Older people experience fewer negative interactions and report less stress in response to interpersonal tensions. Less is known, however, about the implications of daily social interactions for biological stress responses. We evaluated links between daily positive and negative interactions and 2 key biomeasures of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). We also considered the moderating effects of age.

Research Design and Methods

Participants included a random sample of 93 individuals aged 40–95 who completed 14 days of daily diary interviews and provided saliva samples during 4 of those days.

Results

Three-level piecewise models showed that individuals had higher sustained DHEA-S levels on days after reporting more positive interactions. Young-old adults (60–79) had lower overall DHEA-S on days when they had more negative interactions than oldest-old adults (80 and older). Oldest-old adults showed a flatter decline in DHEA-S on days after they reported more negative interactions compared to midlife adults (40–59). Daily social interactions were not significantly associated with cortisol.

Discussion and Implications

Strategies to increase positive interactions may help to build physiological resilience to stress, particularly among midlife and young-old adults.
Differential haptoglobin responsiveness to aMannheimia haemolyticachallenge altered immunologic, physiologic, and behavior responses in beef steers
Authors: Wottlin Lauren R , Carstens Gordon E , Kayser William C , Pinchak William E , Thomson Jennifer M , Copié Valerie , O’Shea-Stone Galen P
Published: December 2020

Indicator traits associated with disease resiliency would be useful to improve the health and welfare of feedlot cattle. A post hoc analysis of data collected previously (Kayser et al., 2019a) was conducted to investigate differences in immunologic, physiologic, and behavioral responses of steers (N = 36, initial BW = 386 ± 24 kg) that had differential haptoglobin (HPT) responses to an experimentally induced challenge with Mannheimia haemolytica (MH). Rumen temperature, DMI, and feeding behavior data were collected continuously, and serial blood samples were collected following the MH challenge. Retrospectively, it was determined that 9 of the 18 MH-challenged steers mounted a minimal HPT response, despite having similar leukocyte and temperature responses to other MH-challenged steers with a greater HPT response. Our objective was to examine differences in behavioral and physiological responses between MH-challenged HPT responsive (RES; n = 9), MH-challenged HPT nonresponsive (NON; n = 9), and phosphate-buffered saline-inoculated controls (CON; n = 18). Additionally, 1H NMR analysis was conducted to determine whether the HPT-responsive phenotype affected serum metabolite profiles. The RES steers had lesser (P < 0.05) cortisol concentrations than NON and CON steers. The magnitude of the increases in neutrophil concentrations and rumen temperature, and the reduction in DMI following the MH challenge were greatest (P < 0.05) in RES steers. Univariate analysis of serum metabolites indicated differences between RES, NON, and CON steers following the MH challenge; however, multivariate analysis revealed no difference between HPT-responsive phenotypes. Prior to the MH challenge, RES steers had longer (P < 0.05) head down and bunk visit durations, slower eating rates (P < 0.01) and greater (P < 0.05) daily variances in bunk visit frequency and head down duration compared with NON steers, suggesting that feeding behavior patterns were associated with the HPT-responsive phenotype. During the 28-d postchallenge period, RES steers had decreased (P < 0.05) final BW, tended (P = 0.06) to have lesser DMI, and had greater (P < 0.05) daily variances in head down and bunk visit durations compared with NON steers, which may have been attributed to their greater acute-phase protein response to the MH challenge. These results indicate that the HPT-responsive phenotype affected feeding behavior patterns and may be associated with disease resiliency in beef cattle.
The ‘wave sign’ in hip arthroscopy: a systematic review of epidemiological factors, current diagnostic methods and treatment options
Authors: Onggo Jason Derry , Onggo James Randolph , Nambiar Mithun , Duong Andrew , Ayeni Olufemi R , O’Donnell John , Singh Parminder J
Published: December 2020

This study aims to present a systematic review and synthesized evidence on the epidemiological factors, diagnostic methods and treatment options available for this phenomenon. A multi-database search (OVID Medline, EMBASE and PubMed) was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on 18 June 2019. All studies of any study design discussing on the epidemiological factors, diagnostic methods, classification systems and treatment options of the wave sign were included. The Newcastle–Ottawa quality assessment tool was used to appraise articles. No quantitative analysis could be performed due to heterogeneous data reported; 11 studies with a total of 501 patients with the wave sign were included. Three studies examined risk factors for wave sign and concluded that cam lesions were most common. Other risk factors include alpha angle >65° (OR=4.00, 95% CI: 1.26–12.71, P=0.02), male gender (OR 2.24, 95% CI: 1.09–4.62, P=0.03) and older age (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07, P=0.03). Increased acetabular coverage in setting of concurrent cam lesions may be a protective factor. Wave signs most commonly occur at the anterior, superior and anterosuperior acetabulum. In terms of staging accuracy, the Haddad classification had the highest coefficients in intraclass correlation (k=0.81, 95% CI: 0.23–0.95, P=0.011), inter-observer reliability (k=0.88, 95% CI: 0.72–0.97, P<0.001) and internal validity (k=0.89). One study investigated the utility of quantitative magnetic imaging for wave sign, concluding that significant heterogeneity in T1ρ and T2 values (P<0.05) of acetabular cartilage is indicative of acetabular debonding. Four studies reported treatment techniques, including bridging suture repair, reverse microfracture with bubble decompression and microfracture with fibrin adhesive glue, with the latter reporting statistically significant improvements in modified Harris hip scores at 6-months (MD=19.2, P<0.05), 12-months (MD=22.0, P<0.05) and 28-months (MD=17.5, P<0.001). No clinical studies were available for other treatment options. There is a scarcity of literature on the wave sign. Identifying at risk symptomatic patients is important to provide prompt diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic techniques and operative options are still in early developmental stages. More research is needed to understand the natural history of wave sign lesions after arthroscopic surgery and whether intervention can improve long-term outcomes. Level IV, Systematic review of non-homogeneous studies.
Pop goes the tumour! Spontaneous haemorrhage of a hepatocellular carcinoma tumour
Authors: Agostinho Nelson , Bains Harinder K , Douglas Cameron P , Walcott James , Brown Kilian G M , Rawson Robert , Sandroussi Charbel , Perera Meegodage Ruwan Suramal
Published: December 2020

An 84-year-old man presented to a rural hospital in Australia with haemodynamic instability and abdominal pain. Investigation revealed haemorrhage from a lesion in his liver—an incidental finding of a hepatocellular carcinoma. Initial resuscitation and damage control surgery was performed at the peripheral hospital prior to transfer to a tertiary centre 386 km away for the second stage of management. The second stage of management included interventional radiological embolization of the bleeding liver vessel and subsequent resection of the liver tumour. This was all undertaken with new policies in place to limit the spread of infection at the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Acute schistosomiasis in paediatric travellers and comparison with their companion adults
Authors: Rabinowicz Shira , Leshem Eyal , Schwartz Eli
Published: December 2020

Background

Schistosomiasis in non-immune travellers can cause acute schistosomiasis, a multi-systemic hypersensitivity reaction. Little is known regarding acute schistosomiasis in children. We describe acute schistosomiasis in paediatric travellers and compare them with adult travellers.

Methods

A retrospective study of paediatric travellers (0–18 years old) diagnosed with schistosomiasis at Sheba Medical Center. Patients’ findings are compared with those of adult travellers from the same travel groups.

Results

in total, 18 children and 24 adults from five different trips to Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and Laos were infected (90% of the exposed travellers). The median bathing time of the infected children was 30 min (interquartile range (IQR) 15–30 min). The most common presentations were respiratory symptoms in 13 (72%), eosinophilia in 13 (72%) and fever in 11 (61%). Acute illness included a median of 2.5 symptoms. Three children required hospitalization and three were asymptomatic. Fatigue was significantly less common in children compared with similarly exposed adults (33% vs 71%, P = 0.03). Rates of hospitalization and steroid treatment were similar. The median eosinophil count in children was 1045 cells/μl (IQR 625–2575), lower than adults [2900 cells/μl (IQR 1170–4584)], P = 0.02.

Conclusions

Children may develop acute schistosomiasis following short exposure to contaminated freshwater, demonstrating a high infection rate. Severity seems to be similar to adults, although children report fatigue less commonly and show lower eosinophil counts. The disease should be suspected in children with multi-systemic illness and in asymptomatic children with relevant travel history.
A quest for long-distance signals: the epidermis as central regulator of pipecolic acid-associated systemic acquired resistance
Authors: Vlot A Corina
Published: December 2020

This article comments on:

Jiang SC, Engle NL, Banday ZZ, Cecchini NM, Jung HW, Tschaplinski TJ, Greenberg JT. 2021. ALD1 accumulation in Arabidopsis epidermal plastids confers local and non-autonomous disease resistance. Journal of Experimental Botany 72, 2710–2726.
Ethical Considerations for Surgical Planners from the Lessons Learned on USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) Deployment 2019
Authors: Younger Austin , Worlton Tamara J , Wallace Scott , Steigleman W Allan , Ortiz-Pomales Yan
Published: December 2020

Ethical issues can arise when planning for direct patient care surgical missions. Based on the lessons learned from the USNS COMFORT Deployment 2019, the authors present concise considerations and recommendations for future hospital ship surgical mission planning.
Detection of a High-Temperature Blackbody Hump in Black Hole Spectra. The strongly redshifted annihilation line
Authors: Titarchuk Lev , Seifina Elena
Published: December 2020

We detected a so called high-temperature blackbody (HBB) component, found in the 15 – 40 keV range, in the broad-band X-ray energy spectra of black hole (BH) candidate sources. A detailed study of this spectral feature is presented using data from five of the Galactic BH binaries, Cyg X–1, GX 339–4, GRS 1915+105, SS 433 and V4641 Sgr in the low/hard, intermediate, high/soft and very soft spectral states (LHS, IS, HSS and VSS, respectively) and spectral transitions between them using RXTE, INTEGRAL and BeppoSAX data. In order to fit the broad-band energy spectra of these sources we used an additive XSPEC model, composed of the Comptonization component and the Gaussian line component. In particular, we reveal that the IS spectra have the HBB component which color temperature, kTHBB is in the range of 4.5 – 5.9 keV. This HBB feature has been detected in some spectra of these five sources only in the IS (for the photon index Γ > 1.9) using different X-ray telescopes. We also demonstrate that a timescale of the HBB-feature is of orders of magnitude shorter than the timescale of the iron line and its edge. That leads us to conclude that these spectral features are formed in geometrically different parts of the source and which are not connected to each other. Laurent & Titarchuk (2018) demonstrated a presence of a gravitational redshifted annihilation line emission in a BH using the Monte-Carlo simulations and therefore the observed HBB hump leads us to suggest this feature is a gravitational redshifted annihilation line observed in these black holes.
Zinc dyshomeostasis in azoxymethane induced colonic precancerous and cancerous lesions in Fisher rats
Authors: Velagapudi Kavitha , Latha J Naveena Lavanya , Bodiga Vijaya Lakshmi
Published: December 2020

Zinc is an essential micronutrient involved in various biological processes, including growth, maintenance, proliferation and immune functions. It is also argued that tumors need zinc for maintenance and proliferation, although excess zinc may induce tumor cell apoptosis. Thus, the role of zinc merits attention in the carcinogenic process. Scanty literature is available on the mechanisms underlying the alterations in tissue zinc in colon cancer and how the altered zinc levels contribute to the preneoplastic lesions and progression to cancer. Zinc homeostasis is regulated by the gastrointestinal tract and involves interplay of host, dietary, environmental and social factors such as alcohol consumption. The DNA alkylation agent azoxymethane (AOM), which is primarily activated in the liver, induces a high incidence of initiation and promotion steps of precancerous lesions in the colon of rats. The altered expression of hepatic zinc transporters by AOM may lead to zinc dyshomeostasis in liver. Earlier reports showed that ZIP14 was located on the inner lane of plasma membrane of hepatocytes, and increased level of ZIP14 could sequester zinc from plasma into liver under infection or in response to cancer. Decreased serum zinc concentration, despite increased liver zinc also indicates altered liver zinc mobilization and failure to regulate zinc homeostasis. During the transformation from normal colonic mucosa to colonic epithelial hyperplasia and aberrant crypt formation, a reduction in zinc concentration is observed. It will be interesting to study further if the same trend continues throughout tumor progression towards adenocarcinomas. Lowered local zinc concentrations in the colon epithelium may not just reflect a bystander effect, but may induce cell proliferation and compromise DNA integrity due to impairment of zinc-containing proteins. In congruence with the tissue zinc concentrations, metallothionein levels were found to be less induced in AOM—administered colon compared to normal healthy colon, indicating less accumulation and sequestration of zinc. Lowered tissue zinc levels in small and large intestine were also associated with increased expression of mRNA and protein ZnT1, known to transport cytosolic zinc to extracellular space. In this regard, the mode of zinc responsiveness to ZnT1 mimics that of metallothionein, albeit at a lower level for ZnT1.
Discordance Among Antibiotic Prescription Guidelines Reflects a Lack of Clear Best Practices
Authors: Rost Lauren M , Nguyen M Hong , Clancy Cornelius J , Shields Ryan K , Wright Erik S
Published: December 2020

Background

Antibiotics are among the most frequently administered drugs globally, yet they are often prescribed inappropriately. Guidelines for prescribing are developed by expert committees at international and national levels to form regional standards and by local experts to form hospital guidance documents. Our aim was to assess variability in antibiotic prescription guidelines for both regional standards and individual hospitals.

Methods

A search through 3 publicly accessible databases from February to June 2018 led to a corpus of English language guidance documents from 70 hospitals in 12 countries and regional standards from 7 academic societies.

Results

Guidelines varied markedly in content and structure, reflecting a paucity of rules governing their format. We compared recommendations for 3 common bacterial infections: community-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and cellulitis. Hospital guidance documents and regional standards frequently disagreed on preferable antibiotic classes for common infections. Where agreement was observed, guidance documents appeared to inherit recommendations from their respective regional standards. Several regional prescribing patterns were identified, including a greater reliance on penicillins over cephalosporins in the United Kingdom and fluoroquinolones in the United States. Regional prescribing patterns could not be explained by antibiotic resistance or costs. Additionally, literature that cited underlying recommendations did not support the magnitude of recommendation differences observed.

Conclusions

The observed discordance among prescription recommendations highlights a lack of evidence for superior treatments, likely resulting from a preponderance of noninferiority trials comparing antibiotics. In response, we make several suggestions for developing guidelines that support best practices of antibiotic stewardship.
Studies of emission regions of the X-ray pulsar Hercules X-1 with pulse-phase-resolved spectra observed with Suzaku
Authors: Kondo Keisuke , Dotani Tadayasu , Inoue Hajime
Published: December 2020

Pulse-phase-resolved X-ray spectra of the X-ray pulsar Her X-1 observed with Suzaku are analyzed. The analysis is based on a hypothesis that the observed variations of the continuum spectra associated with the neutron star spin originate in the changes of the projection areas of the emission regions viewed from the observer, and that the spectral shape observed from each of the emission regions does not change with the viewing angle variation. We calculate the ratios of the fluxes in each energy bin between arbitrary pairs of the pulse-phase-resolved spectra over the entire energy range. We identify flat portions in these ratio spectra, which are likely to indicate the intrinsic emission components that have invariant spectral shapes, in the three energy bands of below ∼1 keV, 2–6 keV, and above ∼18 keV. Then, we approximately solve the simultaneous equations for the intrinsic spectral components from a pair of the phase-resolved spectra that show flat portions in the ratio spectrum. As a result, spectra of the three components are obtained as the low-, medium-, and high-energy bands corresponding to those for the flat portions. They are found to be well fitted with a soft blackbody, a cut-off power law, and a hard blackbody model, respectively. Finally, we fit all the phase-resolved spectra simultaneously with a composite model of three continuum components together with a cyclotron absorption feature and an iron line, and obtain an acceptable result. The origins of the cut-off power-law and hard blackbody components are discussed in relation to recently developed theoretical models.
Prizes versus Contracts as Incentives for Innovation
Authors: Che Yeon-Koo , Iossa Elisabetta , Rey Patrick
Published: December 2020

Procuring an innovation involves motivating a research effort to generate a new idea and then implementing that idea efficiently. If research efforts are unverifiable and implementation costs are private information, a trade-off arises between the two objectives. The optimal mechanism resolves the trade-off via two instruments: a cash prize and a follow-on contract. It primarily uses the latter, by favouring the innovator at the implementation stage when the value of the innovation is above a certain threshold and handicapping the innovator when the value of the innovation is below that threshold. A cash prize is employed as a supplementary incentive only when the value of innovation is sufficiently high. These features are consistent with current practices in the procurement of innovation and the management of unsolicited proposals.
The potential vulnerability of reserved powers trusts
Authors: Duncan Chris , Brandts-Giesen Henry
Published: December 2020

Trusts are commonly used for asset protection, however the popularity of revocable trusts and reserved powers trusts has led to a tendency to draft trust deeds with extensive powers reserved to the settlor or some other person to ensure that an element of control over the trust is retained. That approach is not without risk and the extent and scope of any reserved powers can have unintended consequences and can lead to a trust's asset protection characteristics being eroded. In this article we look at some of the key decisions where the use of reserved powers resulted in a loss of the asset protection their trusts sought to achieve, highlighting the risks to trust structures in utilising reserved powers, and offer some practical guidance on how those risks might be mitigated when forming a new structure or dealing with existing structures where extensive powers have been reserved.
Alternative forms of deposit insurance and the quest for European harmonized deposit guarantee scheme-centred special administrative regimes to handle troubled banks
Authors: Bodellini Marco
Published: December 2020

Since normal corporate insolvency proceedings run by law courts and purely aimed at liquidating troubled entities are generally considered inappropriate for peculiar institutions like banks, having a special administrative regime, which provides the authorities with resolution-like tools, is of paramount importance to maintaining the stability of the system and reducing the destruction of value. Still, in order for these special administrative regimes to properly work and, thereby, for the winding up to be orderly, as provided by the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, an active and leading role should be played by deposit guarantee schemes. Accordingly, this article advocates the adoption of special administrative regimes dedicated to troubled banks, harmonized at the European Union level and based on the interventionist role of deposit guarantee schemes, which I define as harmonized deposit guarantee scheme-centred special administrative regimes. But, from this perspective, a review of the European Union legislation, with regard to State aid provision and depositor preference, is needed to enable such schemes to properly perform their function through the so-called optional measures. And, in this regard, the article advances some reform proposals.
Survival Cost and Diverse Molecular Mechanisms of Magnaporthe oryzae Isolate Resistance to Epoxiconazole
Authors: Cai Meng , Miao Jianqiang , Chen Fengping , Li Botao , Liu Xili
Published: December 2020

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most destructive diseases on rice worldwide. Epoxiconazole is a 14α-demethylation inhibitor (DMI) with excellent control on rice blast; to date, no resistant isolates have been observed in the field. Four mutants resistant to epoxiconazole were generated from three parental isolates via fungicide adaptation. Resistance was stable after 10 weekly consecutive transfers on fungicide-free medium. Three parameters, including growth rate, sporulation in vitro, and aggressiveness, were significantly lower for mutants compared with their parental isolates, with the exception of the low-resistance isolate. Sporulation and aggressiveness were negatively correlated with effective concentration values for 50% inhibition of mycelial growth for parental isolates and mutants (P < 0.05). Cross-resistance was found between epoxiconazole and prochloraz (ρ = 0.863, P = 0.000) or difenoconazole (ρ = 0.861, P = 0.000). The resistance factor for mutants was positively correlated with the relative expression of MoCYP51A in epoxiconazole treatment (r = 0.977, P = 0.02). In addition, two putative amino acid substitutions in MoCYP51A were found in two resistant mutants: Y126F in the high-resistance mutant and I125L in the low-resistance mutant. Mutation Y126F reduced the affinity of MoCYP51A with epoxiconazole, whereas I125L was not in the binding pocket of epoxiconazole. No amino acid change or overexpression in MoCYP51B was found in any of the mutants studied. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report DMI resistance observed in M. oryzae. The survival cost of M. oryzae resistance to epoxiconazole might be the reason why DMI resistance has not yet emerged in field populations worldwide.
Steps to Improve Understanding of Prescription Opioid Risks
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: December 2020

According to this study:

Several steps can be taken to improve the amount and quality of the safety and efficacy data used in support of new drug applications for opioid analgesics.
Acute Pancreatitis in a Pregnant Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Authors: Narang Kavita , Szymanski Linda M. , Kane Sunanda V. , Rose Carl H.
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND:

Pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection are at risk for a variety of COVID-19 complications.

CASE:

We report a case of acute pancreatitis in a pregnant patient hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia. Comprehensive evaluation ruled out other etiologies of acute pancreatitis. Preterm labor developed at 33 5/7 weeks of gestation, and the patient delivered a liveborn male neonate; neonatal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) screening was negative. The patient improved significantly postpartum and was discharged home on postpartum day 3.

CONCLUSION:

Coronavirus disease 2019 may present in pregnancy with a myriad of clinical symptoms other than respiratory. Acute pancreatitis represents an infrequent complication of primary COVID-19 infection.
Inhibition of miR-322-5p Protects Cardiac Myoblast Cells Against Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis and Injury Through Regulating CIAPIN1
Authors: Cai Xinyong , Wang Shu , Hong Lang , Yu Songping , Li Bin , Zeng Hong , Yang Xu , Zhang Ping , Shao Liang
Published: December 2020

Hypoxia leads to insufficient supply of blood and nutrients, which is major incentive for cardiomyocyte injury and apoptosis. Previous studies reported the regulation effects of microRNAs (miRNAs) in myocardial infarction, whereas function and molecular mechanisms of miR-322-5p were still unclear. Therefore, our study focused on the biological role of miR-322-5p in hypoxia-induced cardiac myoblast cells apoptosis and injury. The expression levels of miR-322-5p and cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1) were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in cardiac myoblast cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazol-3-ium bromide (MTT), lactic dehydrogenase, and flow cytometry assays were performed to examine proliferation, injury, and apoptosis of cardiac myoblast cells, respectively. The protein expression levels were evaluated with western blot assay. The relationship between miR-322-5p and CIAPIN1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter analysis. We found that miR-322-5p level was increased in cardiac myoblast cells exposed to hypoxia. In addition, miR-322-5p silencing could weaken injury and apoptosis in cardiac myoblast cells induced by hypoxia; meanwhile, inhibition of miR-322-5p activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signal pathway. Besides, CIAPIN1 was a target mRNA of miR-322-5p based on bioinformatics prediction. CIAPIN1 knockdown reversed the effects of miR-322-5p silencing on hypoxic cardiac myoblast cells. Suppression of miR-322-5p protected cardiac myoblast cells against hypoxia-induced injury and apoptosis through regulation of CIAPIN1 expression and PI3K/AKT signal pathway.
Technical Details of the Sigma Factor Alarm Method within Alpha CAMs
Authors: Justus Alan
Published: December 2020

Some test must be applied to the low-level count data from alpha continuous air monitors (CAMs) to determine if the count is statistically significant (i.e., significantly above background). The method should be as sensitive as possible, automatically desensitizing when required due to radon progeny, yet in such a manner as to not exceed an acceptable false-alarm rate. The test that has been historically used within many alpha CAMs to accomplish these goals is the so-called sigma factor approach. In this paper, this approach is discussed with respect to four common CAM algorithms. These algorithms are referred to as the theoretical best possible algorithm, the 4-ROI algorithm, the tail-fitting algorithm, and the peak-fitting algorithm. Relative sensitivities are estimated for each algorithm.
Prevention of eyelid malposition by three-step supporting technique in the transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty
Authors: Hu Xiao-Gen , Zhou Yang , Ji Kai
Published: December 2020

Background:

To investigate the effectiveness of the three-step supporting technique for prevention of eyelid malposition in the transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty.

Methods:

It was a chart review of more than 10-year experiences of our method. From 2006 to 2017, a total of 697 patients underwent the three-step supporting technique in the transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty. The three steps included septum tightening, orbicularis canthopexy, and muscle plication. The assessment of outcome was made at 6 months. The results were assessed by evaluating pre- and postoperative appearance with Garcia-McCollough scale for lower eyelid overall appearance evaluation. The complication of eyelid malposition was evaluated in accordance with the grading system for post blepharoplasty eyelid malposition.

Results:

Among the 697 patients, 285 patients underwent fat excision and 412 received fat repositioning for correction of the trough deformity. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 36 months: 94.2% of the patients had improvement, 4.4% no improvement, and 1.4% poor results; 95.1% (n = 663) had almost normal position, 3.2% (n = 22) scleral show, only 1.7% (n = 12) mild eversion, no patient frank eversion. All the 12 patients with slight malposition recovered through conservative treatment.

Conclusion:

Three-step supporting technique is safe and effective for lower blepharoplasty with minimal chance of eyelid malposition.
Prenatal diagnostic techniques and IVF in patients with coagulopathies
Authors: García-Lozano Juan C. , Lozano-Arana Maria D.
Published: December 2020

Hemophilia and other hereditary coagulopathies tend to be associated with a huge negative impact both for individuals who suffer the disease and for their families. In this respect, hemophilia carriers feel the need to make reproductive decisions which will inevitably affect their children, their families and from themselves. Genetic and reproductive counseling is of the essence to alleviate these women's distress. Prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) allow couples at high-risk of transmitting genetic diseases like hemophilia and other hereditary coagulopathies to prevent the birth of children with the disease. The main difference between prenatal diagnosis and PGD is related to the time at which diagnosis is made. Prenatal diagnosis is done when the woman is pregnant, and both the performance of the technique and its result can affect the course of pregnancy. PGD is a diagnostic procedure in which embryos created in vitro are analyzed for genetic defects before being transferred to the uterus. Performance of both prenatal diagnosis and PGD is subject to a few prerequisites: the establishment of an exact clinical diagnosis, an understanding of the parental genetic alterations that are responsible for the disease and technical feasibility of genetic diagnosis. These couples should be provided with complete, up-to-date and easy-to-understand information.
Efficacy of Chinese herbal injections combined with fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Shuo , Wang Xueqian , Zhang Ying , Zhou Tong , Hu Shuaihang , Tian Peiyu , Li Zheng , Li Yuxiao , Gui Yuerong , Dong Jun , Hou Wei
Published: December 2020

Background:

Fluoropyrimidine combined with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy have become the first-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Chinese herbal injections (CHIs), as an important part of TCM, have been widely applied as adjunctive treatments to chemotherapy in patients with advanced CRC. However, the efficacy of this combination therapy has not been evaluated comprehensively.

Methods:

We will conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. 7 databases will be searched for related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to August 31, 2020: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), SinoMED and Wanfang Database. Two researchers will perform study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias independently. The primary outcomes are the disease control rate (DCR) and the objective response rate (ORR), the secondary outcomes are progression-free survival (PFS), survival rate, quality of life (QoL) and adverse effects. Cochrane Review Manager (RevMan 5.3) software will be used to analyze the outcomes.

Results and Conclusion:

This systematic review will evaluate the efficacy of CHIs and fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for advanced CRC so as to provide valuable evidence to the application of CHIs in advanced CRC.

Systematic review registration:

INPLASY registration number: INPLASY2020100050.
Risk factors of readmission to acute care hospital among individuals with heart failure and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) at inpatient rehabilitation setting (STROBE compliant article)
Authors: Kim Yong Kyun , Balcetis Nomeda , Novitch Richard , Oh-park Mooyeon
Published: December 2020

In post-acute care hospital setting, the heart failure (HF) individuals with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) have about 30% of transfer to acute care hospitals which requires readmission. There is relative increase in cost and mortality due to the readmission.

The goal of this study is to identify possible risk factors at Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) to decrease the rate of readmission to acute care hospitals.

This study is retrospective study at the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU)

Twenty one individuals with HF and LVAD were admitted to IRU. We determined 2 subgroups. One is the readmission group (Readmission) and the other is the control group (Control). Readmission (n = 6) is the individuals who were transferred to acute care hospital, and Control (n = 15) is the individuals who were discharged.

To compare Readmission group with Control group and evaluate demographic, laboratory, and functional outcome parameters. Main Outcome Measures are Body Mass Index (BMI), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and Functional independence measure (FIM).

At admission, INR in Readmission group was 3.4 ± 1.2 and in Control group was 2.2 ± 0.5 with a statistically significant p value (P = .004) and FIM score in Readmission group was 81.2 ± 15.9 and in Control group was 96.3 ± 11.5 with a statistically significant p value (P = .023).

The study showed the individuals with HF and LVAD at IRU had high INR and low FIM which may be the cause for readmission and need more attentive care. This data can help identify the factors causing readmission and help reduce the rate of readmission. Further evaluation is necessary to determine the cause for readmission.