bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of suicide‐related behaviors among physicians: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Dong Min , Zhou Fu‐Chun , Xu Shi‐Wei , Zhang Qinge , Ng Chee H. , Ungvari Gabor S. , Xiang Yu‐Tao
Published: October 2020

Objective

Suicide is a major cause of premature death among physicians, but the prevalence of suicide‐related behaviors (including suicidal ideation, SI and suicide attempt, SA) is inconsistent across studies. This meta‐analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of suicide‐related behaviors among physicians and its associated factors.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched from commencement date to August 14, 2018. Eligible studies on the prevalence of suicide‐related behaviors among physicians were included.

Results

Thirty‐five eligible studies with 70,368 physicians were included. The lifetime prevalence of SI was 17.4% (95% CI: 13.8%–21.8%), while the 1‐year prevalence was 8.6% (95% CI: 7.1%–10.3%), 6‐month prevalence was 11.9% (95% CI: 2.7%–39.2%), and 1‐month prevalence was 8.6% (95% CI: 5.6%–13.0%). The lifetime prevalence of SA was 1.8% (95% CI: 0.9%–3.7%), while the 1‐year prevalence was 0.3% (95% CI: 0.1%–0.8%). Subgroup analyses revealed that geographic region was significantly associated with lifetime and 1‐year prevalence of SI, while sample size was significantly associated with 1‐month prevalence of SI.

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis found a relatively high prevalence of suicide‐related behaviors, particularly lifetime SI, among physicians. Appropriate preventive and treatment measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of suicide‐related behaviors in this population.
Cryogenic cleaning of tin-drop contamination on surfaces relevant for extreme ultraviolet light collection
Authors: Böwering Norbert , Meier Christian
Published: October 2020

Improvement of tool reliability and uptime is a current focus in the development of extreme ultraviolet lithography. The lifetime of collection mirrors for extreme ultraviolet light in tin-based plasma light sources is limited considerably by contamination with thick tin deposits that cannot be removed sufficiently fast by plasma etching. For tin droplet splats sticking to large substrates, we have developed and compared several efficient cleaning techniques based on cryogenic cooling. A silicon carbide substrate and different silicon wafer samples with up to 6 in. diameter with the surface uncoated, multilayer-coated, unstructured, and grating-structured were tested. After tin dripping onto heated samples, embrittlement of droplet contamination is induced in situ by stresses during phase transformation, following the initiation of tin pest with seed crystals of gray tin. Conversion of initially adhesive deposits to loose gray tin has been reached in less than 24 h on all tested surfaces by continuous cooling with cold nitrogen vapor to temperatures in the range of −30 to −50 °C. Alternatively, stress-initiated tin removal by delamination of β-Sn droplet splats has been attained via contraction strain induced by strong cooling to temperatures of around −120 °C. Profilometry has been used to analyze the bottom side of tin droplet splats removed from a grating-structured wafer. The in situ tin cleaning techniques give results comparable to fast ex situ cleaning that has been achieved either by sample immersion in liquid nitrogen or by splat removal after CO2 snowflake aerosol impact using a hand-held jet-nozzle. The implementation of the in situ phase conversion concept for the cleaning of collector mirrors in commercial light sources for lithography is discussed.
Selective lateral photoelectrochemical wet etching of InGaN nanorods
Authors: Zhao Chunyu , Zhang Xu , Tang Chak Wah , Wang Jiannong , Lau Kei May
Published: October 2020

Vertically aligned InGaN nanorods (NRs) sandwiched between GaN layers on sapphire substrates were synthesized by photoelectrochemical (PEC) wet etching. The InxGaN/InyGaN superlattice layer was laterally etched into NRs by selectively removing the material between dislocations due to the nonradiative recombination occurring at the dislocations. The mechanism of this PEC etching is examined in detail by characterizing it with different InGaN doping concentrations, KOH concentrations, and etching times. A lateral etch rate of 80 nm/min was achieved for an n-type doping concentration of 1.1 × 1019 cm−3 and a KOH concentration of 2.2M. This demonstration provides a simple but promising method for GaN nanostructure fabrication, which suggests further potential applications for GaN-based optical devices.
Do Handcycling Time-Trial Velocities Achieved by Para-Cycling Athletes Vary Across Handcycling Classes?
Authors: Muchaxo Rafael E.A. , de Groot Sonja , van der Woude Lucas H.V. , Janssen Thomas W.J. , Nooijen Carla
Published: October 2020

The classification system for handcycling groups athletes into five hierarchical classes, based on how much their impairment affects performance. Athletes in class H5, with the least impairments, compete in a kneeling position, while athletes in classes H1 to H4 compete in a recumbent position. This study investigated the average time-trial velocity of athletes in different classes. A total of 1,807 results from 353 athletes who competed at 20 international competitions (2014–2018) were analyzed. Multilevel regression was performed to analyze differences in average velocities between adjacent pairs of classes, while correcting for gender, age, and event distance. The average velocity of adjacent classes was significantly different (p < .01), with higher classes being faster, except for H4 and H5. However, the effect size of the differences between H3 and H4 was smaller (d = 0.12). Hence, results indicated a need for research in evaluating and developing evidence-based classification in handcycling, yielding a class structure with meaningful performance differences between adjacent classes.
Real-Time Data Collection to Examine Relations Between Physical Activity and Affect in Adults With Mental Illness
Authors: Madden Danielle R. , Nok Lam Chun , Redline Brian , Dzubur Eldin , Rhoades Harmony , Intille Stephen S. , Dunton Genevieve F. , Henwood Benjamin
Published: October 2020

Adults with serious mental illness engage in limited physical activity, which contributes to significant health disparities. This study explored the use of both ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) and activity trackers in adults with serious mental illness to examine the bidirectional relationship between activity and affect with multilevel modeling. Affective states were assessed up to seven times per day using EMA across 4 days. The participants (n = 20) were equipped with a waist-worn accelerometer to measure moderate to vigorous physical activity. The participants had a mean EMA compliance rate of 88.3%, and over 90% of completed EMAs were matched with 30-min windows of accelerometer wear. The participants who reported more positive affect than others had a higher probability of engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Engaging in more moderate to vigorous physical activity than one’s usual was associated with more negative affect. This study begins to address the effect of momentary mood on physical activity in a population of adults that is typically difficult to reach.
Spatial and temporal variations in global soil respiration and their relationships with climate and land cover
Authors: Huang Ni , Wang Li , Song Xiao-Peng , Black T. Andrew , Jassal Rachhpal S. , Myneni Ranga B. , Wu Chaoyang , Wang Lei , Song Wanjuan , Ji Dabin , Yu Shanshan , Niu Zheng
Published: October 2020

Land-cover change exerts more influence on soil respiration in boreal and temperate regions than climate change.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Campylobacter jejuni Strains That Show Significantly Different Colonization Potentials in Chickens
Authors: Sung Kidon , Khajanchi Bijay K. , Hiett Kelli L. , Line J. Eric , Khan Saeed A.
Published: October 2020

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of robust (A74/C_24-3) and poor (A74/O_2-2) chicken-colonizing
Campylobacter jejuni
isolates. Whole-genome sequence analyses of these isolates will be helpful in facilitating further studies to identify genetic factors used in chicken colonization.
16S rRNA Gene Diversity in Ancient Gray and Pink Salt from San Simón Salt Mines in Tarija, Bolivia
Authors: Pecher Wolf T. , Martínez Fabiana L. , DasSarma Priya , Guzmán Daniel , DasSarma Shiladitya
Published: October 2020

DNA from 250 million-year-old pink and gray salts from mines in Tarija, Bolivia, subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysis provided evidence for similar but distinct prokaryotic communities. The results constitute a snapshot of archaeal and bacterial microorganisms in these remote and ancient salt deposits.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Novel
Psychrobacter
sp. Strain AJ006, Which Has the Potential for Biomineralization
Authors: Lee Jun Ho , Lee Pyung Cheon
Published: October 2020

A novel
Psychrobacter
sp. strain, AJ006, was isolated from Antarctic soil. Its complete genome sequence consists of a single circular chromosome (3,032,533 bp; G+C content, 44.0%) and a single linear plasmid (49,070 bp; G+C content, 41.7%). Chromosomal genes encoding carbonic anhydrase and urease, key enzymes in a biomineralization process, were predicted.
Virome Structure of the Small Aral Sea
Authors: Alexyuk Madina , Bogoyavlenskiy Andrey , Amanbayeva Makhabbat , Alexyuk Pavel , Moldakhanov Yergali , Anarkulova Elmira , Imangazy Anar , Berezin Vladimir
Published: October 2020

Here, we present a virome analysis of the surface waters of the Small Aral Sea. In this case, shotgun metagenomic sequencing of the RNA and DNA virus community was used.
Longest continuously erupting large igneous province driven by plume-ridge interaction
Authors: Jiang Qiang , Jourdan Fred , Olierook Hugo K.H. , Merle Renaud E. , Whittaker Joanne M.
Published: October 2020

Large igneous provinces (LIPs) typically form in one short pulse of ∼1–5 Ma or several punctuated ∼1–5 Ma pulses. Here, our 25 new 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages for the main construct of the Kerguelen LIP—the Cretaceous Southern and Central Kerguelen Plateau, Elan Bank, and Broken Ridge—show continuous volcanic activity from ca. 122 to 90 Ma, a long lifespan of >32 Ma. This suggests that the Kerguelen LIP records the longest, continuous high-magma-flux emplacement interval of any LIP. Distinct from both short-lived and multiple-pulsed LIPs, we propose that Kerguelen is a different type of LIP that formed through long-term interactions between a mantle plume and mid-ocean ridge, which is enabled by multiple ridge jumps, slow spreading, and migration of the ridge. Such processes allow the transport of magma products away from the eruption center and result in long-lived, continuous magmatic activity.
Physical activity is good for older adults—but is programme implementation being overlooked? A systematic review of intervention studies that reported frameworks or measures of implementation
Authors: Gray Samantha M , McKay Heather A , Nettlefold Lindsay , Race Douglas , Macdonald Heather M , Naylor Patti-Jean , Sims-Gould Joanie
Published: October 2020

Objective

To examine older adult physical activity (PA) intervention studies that evaluated implementation and/or scale-up. Research question 1: What implementation and/or scale-up indicators (specific, observable and measurable characteristics that show the progress of implementation) were reported? Research question 2: What implementation and/or scale-up frameworks were reported? Research question 3: Did studies evaluate the relationship between implementation or scale-up of the intervention and individual level health/behaviour outcomes? If yes, how?

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Publications from electronic databases and hand searches (2000 to December 2019).

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Any PA intervention studies with community-dwelling older adult participants (mean age ≥60 years). Required indicators: (a) Must report amount of PA as an outcome, with validated self-report or objective measures, and (b) Must have reported at least one implementation or scale-up framework and/or one implementation or scale-up indicator.

Results

137 studies were included for research question 1, 11 for question 2 and 22 for question 3. 137 studies reported an implementation indicator: 14 unique indicators. None were specified as indicators for scale-up evaluation. 11 studies were guided by an implementation or scale-up framework. 22 studies described a relationship between an implementation indicator and an individual-level health outcome.

Conclusion

There is need for implementation research that extends beyond analysis at the individual level, includes clearly defined indicators and provides a guiding framework to support PA initiatives in older adults. Such implementation studies should evaluate factors in the broader context (eg,political, environmental) that influence scale-up.

PROSPERO registration

CRD42018091839
Fifteen year quality of life outcomes in men with localised prostate cancer: population based Australian prospective study
Authors: Mazariego Carolyn G , Egger Sam , King Madeleine T , Juraskova Ilona , Woo Henry , Berry Martin , Armstrong Bruce K , Smith David P
Published: October 2020

Objective

To assess treatment related changes in quality of life up to 15 years after diagnosis of localised prostate cancer.

Design

Population based, prospective cohort study with follow-up over 15 years.

Setting

New South Wales, Australia.

Participants

1642 men with localised prostate cancer, aged less than 70, and 786 controls randomly recruited from the New South Wales electoral roll into the New South Wales Prostate Cancer Care and Outcomes Study (PCOS).

Main outcome measures

General health and disease specific quality of life were self-reported at seven time points over a 15 year period, using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey scale, University of California, Los Angeles prostate cancer index, and expanded prostate cancer index composite short form (EPIC-26). Adjusted mean differences were calculated with controls as the comparison group. Clinical significance of adjusted mean differences was assessed by the minimally important difference, defined as one third of the standard deviation (SD) from the baseline score.

Results

At 15 years, all treatment groups reported high levels of erectile dysfunction, depending on treatment (62.3% (active surveillance/watchful waiting, n=33/53) to 83.0% (non-nerve sparing radical prostatectomy, n=117/141)) compared with controls (42.7% (n=44/103)). Men who had external beam radiation therapy or high dose rate brachytherapy or androgen deprivation therapy as primary treatment reported more bowel problems. Self-reported urinary incontinence was particularly prevalent and persistent for men who underwent surgery, and an increase in urinary bother was reported in the group receiving androgen deprivation therapy from 10 to 15 years (year 10: adjusted mean difference −5.3, 95% confidence interval −10.8 to 0.2; year 15: −15.9; −25.1 to −6.7).

Conclusions

Patients receiving initial active treatment for localised prostate cancer had generally worse long term self-reported quality of life than men without a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Men treated with radical prostatectomy faired especially badly, particularly in relation to long term sexual outcomes. Clinicians and patients should consider these long term quality of life outcomes when making treatment decisions.
The world needs our science: broadening the research pipeline in anesthesiology
Authors: Adams Meredith C B , Memtsoudis Stavros G
Published: October 2020

Anesthesiologists are innovative and adaptable problem solvers. Despite these talents, our field is still working to consistently develop and support the translation of innovation and creativity into productive scientists. This article is focused on opening the discussion on identifying the gaps and move toward developing a sustainable and diverse research pipeline.
Red alder defense mechanisms against western tent caterpillar defoliation
Authors: Boateng Kennedy , Hawkins B.J. , Constabel C. Peter , Yanchuk Alvin D. , Fellenberg Christin
Published: October 2020

Red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) is a tree of high economic and ecological importance, yet is subject to severe defoliation during episodic outbreaks of tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.). We evaluated variation in western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum Packard, 1864) (WTC) resistance among and within red alder populations and clones and investigated potential defense mechanisms. Bioassay feeding trials were conducted with WTC on 20 red alder clones from 10 provenances (two clones per provenance). Phenology and quality of red alder leaves were analyzed to determine whether bud burst, leaf chemical content, water content, or physical traits are determinants of WTC preference. Alder clones differed in percent leaf area eaten by WTC and in leaf defense traits. The concentrations of total phenolics, condensed tannin, and the diarylheptanoid oregonin were negatively correlated with the percent leaf area eaten by caterpillars. In addition, a potential threshold was observed above which the concentration of each of the chemicals appeared to reduce WTC feeding. In particular, foliar concentrations of oregonin >20% of leaf dry mass were consistently associated with reduced feeding. The effects of oregonin concentration in red alder leaves on tent caterpillar feeding is a novel finding.
Bohr Hamiltonian with screened Kratzer potential for triaxial nuclei
Authors: Omon Y. , Ema’a Ema’a J. M. , Abiama P. Ele , Ben-Bolie G. H. , Ateba P. Owono
Published: October 2020

In this paper, Bohr Hamiltonian is used to describe the behaviors of triaxial nuclei with screened Kratzer potential. The Nikivorov–Uvarov method is used to derive the energy spectrum and corresponding wave function. The electric quadruple transition ratios and energy spectrum of the [Formula: see text]Xe, [Formula: see text]Xe, [Formula: see text]Xe, [Formula: see text]Xe, [Formula: see text]Xe, [Formula: see text]Pt, [Formula: see text]Pt and [Formula: see text]Pt are calculated and compared with the experimental data. The results are in good agreement with experiment data.
On classification of super-modular categories of rank 8
Authors: Bruillard Paul , Plavnik Julia , Rowell Eric C. , Zhang Qing
Published: October 2020

We develop categorical and number-theoretical tools for the classification of super-modular categories. We apply these tools to obtain a partial classification of super-modular categories of rank [Formula: see text]. In particular we find three distinct families of prime categories in rank [Formula: see text] in contrast to the lower rank cases for which there is only one such family.
The Effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance Factors on Firms’ Cost of Debt: International Evidence
Authors: Houqe Muhammad Nurul , Ahmed Kamran , Richardson Grant
Published: October 2020

This study examines the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on firms’ cost of debt (COD). Based on a sample of 18,950 firm-year observations from 41 countries over the period of 2008–2015, we find a significant negative association between aggregate ESG performance and firms’ COD. We also observe a significant negative association between the individual ESG performance factors (E, S, and G) and firms’ COD. In addition, the negative association between aggregate/individual ESG performance and firms’ COD is economically significant, ranging from 16.93% to 21.20% of median COD values. Finally, disclosure of ESG performance, stakeholder orientation, investor protection, control of corruption, and social progress have pronounced effects on the negative association between ESG performance and firms’ COD. Taken together, our results suggest that ESG performance has a significant negative effect on firms’ COD from an international perspective.
Assessment of myocardial viability using a minimally invasive laser Doppler flowmetry on pig model
Authors: Litvinova Karina , Stegemann Berthold , Leyva Francisco
Published: October 2020

The intra-operative real-time assessment of tissue viability can potentially improve therapy delivery and clinical outcome in cardiovascular therapies. Cardiac ablation therapy for the treatment of supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmia continues to be done without being able to assess if the intended lesion and lesion size have been achieved. Here, we report a method for continuous measurements of cardiac muscle microcirculation to provide an instrument for real-time ablation monitoring. We performed two acute open chest animal studies to assess the ability to perform real-time monitoring of creation and size of ablation lesion using a standard RF irrigated catheter. Radiofrequency ablation and laser Doppler were applied to different endocardial areas of alive open-chest pig. We performed two experiments at three different RF ablation energy setting and different ablation times. Perfusion signals before and after ablation were found extensively and distinctively different. By increasing the ablation energy and time, the perfusion signal was decreasing. In vivo assessing the local microcirculation during RF ablation by laser Doppler can potentially be useful to differentiate between viable and nonviable ablated beating heart in real time.
Decision Making Across Adulthood
Authors: Strough JoNell , Bruine de Bruin Wändi
Published: October 2020

This review summarizes research and theory on aging and decision making. We trace the conceptual and historical origins of using behavioral decision-making tasks to identify age differences in decision-making competence. We review cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that suggest that some facets of decision-making competence remain relatively stable across adulthood. We describe how older adults’ decision-making competence may be challenged by complex decisions that tax their fluid cognitive abilities, especially when decisions are not seen as personally relevant. We discuss how relying on life experience can offset declines in fluid reasoning skills and how age-related shifts in motivation and improvements in emotion regulation provide an advantage when decisions involve losses and missed opportunities. We discuss how existing knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the aging decision maker might be applied to improve decision-making competence and outline next steps for advancing understanding of decision making across adulthood.
Multifunctional bilateral muscle control of vocal output in the songbird syrinx
Authors: Méndez Jorge M. , Goller Franz
Published: October 2020

A new experimental approach was used to analyze the involvement of individual muscles in birdsong vocal control. Ablation of tracheobronchial muscles showed how these muscles contribute in manner specific to the acoustic structure of sound segments and how disruption of airflow regulation affects bilateral coordination. The results of this study illustrate that the gating muscles serve multiple functions in control of acoustic features and give further insight into the complex motor control of birdsong.
Whole Genome 5′-Methylcytosine Level Quantification in Cirrhotic HCV-Infected Egyptian Patients with and without Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Awad Ahmed M. , Ragab Wafaa S. , Degheidy Nourhan , Ooda Said Ahmed
Published: October 2020

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism used by cells to control gene expression. DNA methylation is a commonly used epigenetic signaling tool that can hold genes in the “off” position. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered a major risk for chronic liver impairment. It is the most common leading cause of HCC. The present work is aimed at studying whole genome 5′-methylcytosine levels in cirrhotic HCV-infected Egyptian patients. In the present study, 120 Egyptian adults were included. They were divided into two groups: group І (40 apparently healthy control subjects) and group ІІ (80 HCV-infected patients). Furthermore, group II was subdivided into 2 subgroups according to the presence of HCC in HCV-infected subjects. To all studied subjects, the level of 5-mC% was measured in peripheral blood. In the present study, the median of 5′-methylcytosine% in the control group (group I) was 2.5, in the HCV group (group IIa) was 2.45, and in the HCC group (group II b) was 2.25. A stepwise decrease in 5′-methylcytosine% from the control (group I) toward HCC (group IIb) was observed, taking into consideration that the stepwise global hypomethylation was not statistically significant (p=0.811). There was a negative correlation between ALT and 5′-methylcytosine% (p=−0.029). From this study, we can conclude that global DNA 5′-methylcytosine% does not differ in HCV-infected cirrhotic patients and HCC patients when compared to normal controls. Consecutively, we had concluded that there is no impact of 5′-methylcytosine% on the development of liver cirrhosis or HCC. Moreover, the negative correlation between 5′-methylcytosine% and serum ALT level denotes a trend of decrease in 5′-methylcytosine% with more liver damage.
Complexity Analysis and Control in Time-Delay Vaccine Supply Chain considering Cold Chain Transportation
Authors: Dai Daoming , Wu Xuanyu , Si Fengshan
Published: October 2020

Due to the important role of the vaccines in the prevention of global epidemics, this paper focuses on a vaccine transportation supply chain composed of one distributor and one retailer. Based on the assumption that the decision-maker does not make a decision instantaneously, we present a decision-making time-delay model. Firstly, we captured some sufficient conditions of delay-induced bifurcation for the model by regarding different combinations of the decision delay periods as the bifurcation parameters and analyzed how the speed of decision-making adjustment of distributor or retailer affects the critical point of system stability. Secondly, we made a numerical simulation on the model by using a two-dimensional bifurcation diagram, largest Lyapunov exponent, and entropy and chaotic attractor, respectively. Finally, we used two coordination methods to control chaos and compared them. The results show that when the decision delay exceeds a certain threshold, the system will lose stability or go into chaos. The precipitous speed of decision variable adjustment of the distributor or retailer will increase the entropy of the system and lead the system into a chaotic state. When the vaccine supply chain is in chaos, the effect of external control on chaos is better than that of internal control on chaos.
Effects of Five Daily Activities on Harmonic Analysis of the Radial Pulse
Authors: Chen Pan-Jen , Wu Han-Kuei , Hsu Po-Chi , Lo Lun-Chien , Chang Hen-Hong
Published: October 2020

All daily physiological activities have some effects on the body, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that pulse diagnosis can reflect the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body. This study aimed to explore the effects of five physiological activities, namely, sleep, exercise, ingestion, defecation, and shower, on pulse waves of the radial artery. Thirty test subjects were recruited for the study, and a wearable pulse signal measurement device was used for self‐measurement of radial artery pulses before and after various physiological activities. All collected data were subjected to fast Fourier analysis, which transformed each wave from its time domain to frequency domain of 10 harmonics to describe the changes in pulse waves. The results were as follows: exercise and sleep had larger but opposite effects on the pulse waves; defecation and sleep relaxed the body and had the same trend of effect on the pulse waves. Both exercise and ingestion require energy to proceed, and both exert a burden on the body, and the pulse waves showed the same trend of changes. In contrast, shower had a little effect on the pulse waves. Preliminary observation in this study showed that relaxation of the body could increase high‐level harmonics, whereas stress could increase low‐level harmonics. Further studies are warranted to unravel the physiological significance of this finding.
Effects of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase 2 (CAMKK2): A Comprehensive Study
Authors: Khalid Zoya , Almaghrabi Omar
Published: October 2020

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) is a protein kinase that belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family. It phosphorylates kinases like CAMK1, CAMK2, and AMP, and this signaling cascade is involved in various biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and proliferation. Also, the CAMKK2 signaling activity is required for the healthy activity of the brain which otherwise can cause diseases like bipolar disorders and anxiety. The current study is based on in silico bioinformatics analysis that combines sequence- and structure-based predictions to mark a SNP as damaging or neutral. The combined results from sequence-based, evolutionary conservation-based, and consensus-based tools have predicted a total of 18 nsSNPs as deleterious, and these nsSNPs were further subjected to structure-based analysis. The six mutant models of V195A, V249M, R311C, F366Y, P389T, and W445C showed a higher deviation from the wildtype protein model and hence were further taken for docking studies. The molecular docking analysis has predicted that these mutations will also be disruptive to the protein-protein interactions between CAMKK2 and PRKAG1 which will create an evident reduction in the kinase activity. The current study has enlightened us that a few of the significant mutations are prime candidates in CAMKK2 which could be the fundamental cause of various bipolar and psychiatric disorders. This is the first detailed study that predicts the deleterious nsSNPs in CAMKK2 and contributes positively in providing a better understanding of disease mechanisms.
Stability Monitoring and Analysis of High and Steep Slope of a Hydropower Station
Authors: Shi Guangcheng , Gu Gongkai , Zhou Hua , Tao Zhigang , Pan Hongyue , Tang Ting , Yin Qian
Published: October 2020

Slope deformation and failure are major challenges for hydropower station engineering. Taking the left bank slope at the exit of the flood discharge tunnel of the Wudongde Hydropower Station in China as an example, the deformation mechanism of the high-steep rock slope was studied. The height of the slope is about 200 m, which is affected by slope excavation, rainfall, and atomized rain. The results of multipoint displacement meters, surface deformation monitoring, and anchoring stress meters showed that the deformation and deformation rate of the slope have increased dramatically. Through the comprehensive analysis of the slope, it is found that the overall lithology of the slope is poor, the excavation disturbance causes the redistribution of the stress in the slope, and the excavation surface is relatively steep, which provides space for the deformation of the slope rock mass. Unloading relaxation leads to a large number of new fissures in the slope rock mass. These new fissures and fault fracture zones provide convenient conditions for rainfall and atomized rain infiltration. The rainwater infiltrated along the slope surface, formed the seepage field in the slope body, and weakened the rock-soil mass parameters. Meanwhile, saturated runoff is formed on the slope, causing large deformation of the slope rock mass. However, the migration of water in the slope has a time effect, and its influence on the stability of the slope also has a time effect. It is difficult for traditional monitoring methods to monitor the resulting changes in internal sliding force of the slope. Therefore, a remote monitoring and early warning system for landslide anchor cable force was introduced to monitor the slope stability changes caused by the impact of water flow and rainfall infiltration, which provided a reasonable and scientific reference for subsequent slope construction.
Impact of Integrating Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Levels into Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Score for Survival Prediction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Abdel-Wahab Reham , Hassan Manal M. , George Bhawana , Carmagnani Pestana Roberto , Xiao Lianchun , Lacin Sahin , Yalcin Suayib , Shalaby Ahmed S. , Al-Shamsi Humaid O. , Raghav Kanwal , Wolff Robert A. , Yao James C. , Girard Lauren , Haque Abedul , Duda Dan G. , Dima Simona , Popescu Irinel , Elghazaly Hesham A. , Vauthey Jean-Nicolas , Aloia Thomas A. , Tzeng Ching-Wei , Chun Yun Shin , Rashid Asif , Morris Jeffrey S. , Amin Hesham M. , Kaseb Ahmed O.
Published: October 2020

Background: Liver reserve affects survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is used to predict overall survival (OS) and to prioritize HCC patients on the transplantation waiting list, but more accurate models are needed. We hypothesized that integrating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels into MELD score (MELD-IGF-1) improves OS prediction as compared to MELD. Methods: We measured plasma IGF-1 levels in training (n = 310) and validation (n = 155) HCC cohorts and created MELD-IGF-1 score. Cox models were used to determine the association of MELD and MELD-IGF-1 with OS. Harrell’s c-index was used to compare the predictive capacity. Results: IGF-1 was significantly associated with OS in both cohorts. Patients with an IGF-1 level of ≤26 ng/mL in the training cohort and in the validation cohorts had significantly higher hazard ratios than patients with the same MELD but IGF-1 >26 ng/mL. In both cohorts, MELD-IGF-1 scores had higher c-indices (0.60 and 0.66) than MELD scores (0.58 and 0.60) (p < 0.001 in both cohorts). Overall, 26% of training and 52.9% of validation cohort patients were reclassified into different risk groups by MELD-IGF-1 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: After independent validation, the MELD-IGF-1 could be used to risk-stratify patients in clinical trials and for priority assignment for patients on liver transplantation waiting list.
Copeptin and Nesfatin-1 Are Interrelated Biomarkers with Roles in the Pathogenesis of Insulin Resistance in Chinese Children with Obesity
Authors: Yin Chunyan , Liu Weihua , Xu Erdi , Zhang Meizhen , Lv Weicheng , Lu Qi , Xiao Yanfeng
Published: October 2020

Background: Copeptin and nesfatin-1 have recently been identified as novel peptides that play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity-related insulin resistance in adults. However, the relationship between them has not yet been elucidated, and their circulating levels in children with obesity have not been adequately studied. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate whether their levels are altered in Chinese children with obesity, as well as to determine the correlation of these 2 peptides with each other, with insulin resistance, and with other biochemical parameters. Methods: A total of 156 children were enrolled in this study, including 101 children with obesity and 55 lean controls. Anthropometric parameters and clinical data of all subjects were collected, and circulating tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin, leptin, copeptin, and nesfatin-1 levels were measured using ELISA. Results: Serum copeptin and nesfatin-1 levels were significantly elevated in children with obesity and children with insulin resistance compared to control subjects. In addition, nesfatin-1 and copeptin levels were found to be significantly positively correlated with one another by Pearson’s correlation and partial correlation. In multiple regression analysis using nesfatin-1 or copeptin as the dependent parameter, a significant correlation was observed between nesfatin-1 and copeptin, and associations between each of them with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were detected. Conclusion: These novel findings shed light on the possible interplay role of these 2 molecules in obesity-related insulin resistance.
LINC00460 Enhances Bladder Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Migration by Modulating miR-612/FOXK1 Axis
Authors: Li Jianwei , Huang Sihuai , Zhang Yanmei , Zhuo Weifeng , Tong Baocheng , Cai Fangzhen
Published: October 2020

Introduction: LincRNA (long intergenic noncoding RNA) has been indicated as a mediator in tumorigenesis of bladder carcinoma. This study was performed to evaluate the role of LINC00460 in bladder carcinoma progression. Methods: Expression levels of LINC00460 in bladder carcinoma tissues and cell lines were analyzed via qRT-PCR. MTT, EdU (5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine) staining, and colony formation assays were utilized to evaluate cell viability and proliferation. The wound healing assay was performed to evaluate bladder cancer cell migration, and the transwell assay was used to evaluate cell invasion. The microRNA (miRNA) target of LINC00460 and the corresponding target gene were validated via the dual luciferase activity assay. The tumorigenic function of LINC00460 was determined via establishment of a xenotransplanted tumor model. Results: LINC00460 was elevated in bladder carcinoma tissues and cell lines. Elevated LINC00460 was associated with shorter overall survival of bladder carcinoma patients. Overexpression of LINC00460 promoted cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and migration, while silencing of LINC00460 indicated the opposite effect on bladder carcinoma progression. LINC00460 could directly bind to miR-612 and inhibit miR-612 expression. Moreover, LINC00460 expression was negatively correlated with miR-612 in patients with bladder carcinoma. FOXK1 (Forkhead Box K1) was identified as the target of miR-612 and upregulated in patients with bladder carcinoma. Overexpression of FOXK1 attenuated interference of LINC00460-inhibited bladder carcinoma progression. Knockdown of LINC00460 suppressed in vivo bladder carcinoma growth. Conclusions: LINC00460 promoted bladder carcinoma progression via sponging miR-612 to facilitate FOXK1 expression, suggesting that LINC00460 might have the potential of being explored as a therapeutic target for treatment of bladder carcinoma.
Endobronchial Ultrasound Elastography for Differentiating Benign and Malignant Lymph Nodes
Authors: Gompelmann Daniela , Kontogianni Konstantina , Sarmand Nilab , Kaukel Philine , Krisam Johannes , Eberhardt Ralf , Herth Felix J.F.
Published: October 2020

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound elastography that provides information on tissue stiffness may help distinguish malignant from benign mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes. Objectives: In this prospective trial, we assessed the diagnostic value of elastographic images and the interobserver agreement in its evaluation. Method: Elastographic images from 77 lymph nodes in 65 patients were reviewed by 3 pneumologists. The elastographic image was classified based on the predominant colour: predominantly green, intermediary, and predominantly blue. With 2 or 3 interobserver matches, the corresponding elastographic image was correlated with the pathological result obtained from endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and/or other invasive procedures. Results: All 3 reviewers had agreement in classifying elastographic images in 45% (35/77). Overall, the interobserver agreement among the 3 readers for classifying elastographic pattern was found to be moderate (Fleiss Kappa index = 0.519; 95% CI = [0.427; 0.611]). On cytological/histological evaluation, 55 lymph nodes were malignant and 22 were benign. In classifying “green” as benign and “blue” as malignant, the sensitivity and specificity were 71% (95% CI = [54%; 85%]) and 67% (95%-CI = [35%; 90%]), respectively. Conclusions: Elastography will not replace invasive EBUS-TBNA due to a moderate interobserver agreement and insufficient sensitivity and specificity. However, elastography will, maybe, present an additional feature to identify malignant lymph nodes in the context of clinical, radiological, and cytological results.
Individual Psychosocial Resilience, Neighborhood Context, and Cardiovascular Health in Black Adults
Authors: Kim Jeong Hwan , Islam Shabatun J. , Topel Matthew L. , Ko Yi-An , Mujahid Mahasin S. , Vaccarino Viola , Liu Chang , Sims Mario , Mubasher Mohamed , Searles Charles D. , Dunbar Sandra B. , Pemu Priscilla , Taylor Herman A. , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Baltrus Peter , Lewis Tené T.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Despite well-documented cardiovascular disparities between racial groups, within-race determinants of cardiovascular health among Black adults remain understudied. Factors promoting cardiovascular resilience among Black adults in particular warrant further investigation. Our objective was to examine whether individual psychosocial resilience and neighborhood-level cardiovascular resilience were associated with better cardiovascular health in Black adults, measured utilizing Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) scores.

Methods:

We assessed LS7 scores in 389 Black adults (mean age, 53±10 years; 39% men) living in Atlanta, Georgia. A composite score of individual psychosocial resilience was created by assessing environmental mastery, purpose in life, optimism, resilient coping, and depressive symptoms. Neighborhood-level cardiovascular resilience was separately determined by the census tract-level rates of cardiovascular mortality/morbidity events. Generalized linear mixed regression models were used to examine the association between individual psychosocial resilience, neighborhood cardiovascular resilience, and LS7 scores.

Results:

Higher individual psychosocial resilience was significantly associated with higher LS7 (β=0.38 [0.16–0.59] per 1 SD) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. Similarly, higher neighborhood-level cardiovascular resilience was significantly associated with higher LS7 (β=0.23 [0.02–0.45] per 1 SD). When jointly examined, high individual psychosocial resilience (>median) was independently associated with higher LS7 (β=0.73 [0.31–1.17]), whereas living in high-resilience neighborhoods (>median) was not. The largest difference in LS7 score was between those with high and low psychosocial resilience living in low-resilience neighborhoods (8.38 [7.90–8.86] versus 7.42 [7.04–7.79]).

Conclusions:

Individual psychosocial resilience in Black adults is associated with better cardiovascular health.
Prehospital Triage Strategies for the Transportation of Suspected Stroke Patients in the United States
Authors: Venema Esmee , Burke James F. , Roozenbeek Bob , Nelson Jason , Lingsma Hester F. , Dippel Diederik W.J. , Kent David M.
Published: October 2020

Background and Purpose:

Ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) could benefit from direct transportation to an intervention center for endovascular treatment, but non-LVO patients need rapid IV thrombolysis in the nearest center. Our aim was to evaluate prehospital triage strategies for suspected stroke patients in the United States.

Methods:

We used a decision tree model and geographic information system to estimate outcome of suspected stroke patients transported by ambulance within 4.5 hours after symptom onset. We compared the following strategies: (1) Always to nearest center, (2) American Heart Association algorithm (ie, directly to intervention center if a prehospital stroke scale suggests LVO and total driving time from scene to intervention center is <30 minutes, provided that the delay would not exclude from thrombolysis), (3) modified algorithms with a maximum additional driving time to the intervention center of <30 minutes, <60 minutes, or without time limit, and (4) always to intervention center. Primary outcome was the annual number of good outcomes, defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2. The preferred strategy was the one that resulted in the best outcomes with an incremental number needed to transport to intervention center (NNTI) <100 to prevent one death or severe disability (modified Rankin Scale score of >2).

Results:

Nationwide implementation of the American Heart Association algorithm increased the number of good outcomes by 594 (+1.0%) compared with transportation to the nearest center. The associated number of non-LVO patients transported to the intervention center was 16 714 (NNTI 28). The modified algorithms yielded an increase of 1013 (+1.8%) to 1369 (+2.4%) good outcomes, with a NNTI varying between 28 and 32. The algorithm without time limit was preferred in the majority of states (n=32 [65%]), followed by the algorithm with <60 minutes delay (n=10 [20%]). Tailoring policies at county-level slightly reduced the total number of transportations to the intervention center (NNTI 31).

Conclusions:

Prehospital triage strategies can greatly improve outcomes of the ischemic stroke population in the United States, but increase the number of non-LVO stroke patients transported to an intervention center. The current American Heart Association algorithm is suboptimal as a nationwide policy and should be modified to allow more delay when directly transporting LVO-suspected patients to an intervention center.
The description of the tiger beetle larvae of Cosmodela aurulenta (Fabricius, 1801)(Coleoptera, Cicindelidae)
Authors: PUTCHKOV ALEXANDER V. , MARKINA TETIANA YU.
Published: October 2020

All larval instars of the tiger beetle species Cosmodela aurulenta aurulenta (Fabricius, 1801) which is the type species of the genus Cosmodela Rivalier, 1961 are described and illustrated here for the first time, based on material from Bali Island (Indonesia). A brief review of habitat preferences and ecology for adults and larvae of Cosmodela aurulenta are provided. Differences between C. aurulenta and C. batesi (Fleutiaux, 1893) and allied Palaearctic genera of the subtribe Cicindelina are discussed. The preliminary key of known larvae of relevant genera and subgenera of the Oriental Region is given.
Attenuation of acute and chronic inflammation using compounds derived from plants
Authors: Bondy Stephen C , Wu Meixia , Prasad Kedar N
Published: October 2020

The appearance of excessive inflammatory activity is associated with onset of many disease states. Such non-productive responses are often the basis of the mortality consequent to incurring numerous disorders. The current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the virus “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” is a striking reflection of the inadequacy of current medical science to adequately address this issue. The usefulness of a range of materials of botanical origin in the attenuation of both chronic and acute inflammatory responses to various disease stressors is described. The properties of preparations of plant-based origin often parallel those of synthesized pharmacologics, but differ from them in some key respects. These differences can lead to more traditional preparations having distinct therapeutic advantages but also a number of specific shortcomings. The strengths and weaknesses of these materials are objectively contrasted with that of a more orthodox pharmacological approach. Each of these emphases in style has specific advantages and they should not be considered as competitors, but rather as accomplices in combating adverse states involving derangement of immune function.