bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient Perspectives on the Effect of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patients With Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Gupta Latika , Kharbanda Rajat , Agarwal Vishwesh , Misra Durga Prasanna , Agarwal Vikas
Published: December 2020

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its subsequent effects on health care systems have significantly impacted the management of chronic rheumatic diseases, including systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods

In this context, a 25-item anonymized e-survey was posted on the Twitter and Facebook e-groups and pages of various scleroderma organizations and patient communities to assess the problems faced by patients with SSc during the pandemic, with a focus on effects on the disease, drug procurance, continuity of medical care, and prevalent fears among patients.

Results

Of the 291 participants (median age of 55 [43.5–63] years, 93.8% females), limited systemic sclerosis was the most common diagnosis (42.3%). Many patients experienced problems attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic (119, 40.9%), of which 46 (38.7%) required an increase in medicines, and 12 (10.1%) of these needed hospitalizations for disease-related complications. More than one-third (36.4%) were on glucocorticoids or had underlying cardiovascular risks (39%) that would predispose them to severe COVID-19.

A significant proportion (38.1%) faced hurdles in procuring medicines or experienced disruption in physiotherapy sessions (24.7%). One-quarter (24.1%) felt it was difficult to contact their specialist, whereas another 7.2% were unable to do so. Contracting COVID-19 was the most prevalent fear (71.5%), followed by infection in the family (61.9%), and a flare of the disease (45.4%). Most respondents preferred teleconsultations (55.7%) over hospital visits in the pandemic period.

Conclusion

The results of the patient survey suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many patients with SSc and may translate to poorer outcomes in this population in the postpandemic period.
Counterclockwise Rotational Orthognathic Surgery for the Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Class II Dentofacial Deformity
Authors: Choi Jong Woo , Jeong Woo Shik , Kang Min Kyu , Lee Jang Yeol , Chung Yoo Sam
Published: December 2020

Traditionally, maxillomandibular advancement is an orthognathic surgical procedure that has been used to manage obstructive sleep apnea in patients not able or willing to maintain adherence to continuous positive airway pressure therapy or for patient who are not able to adhere to treatment. However, maxillomandibular advancement often leads to unsatisfactory cosmetic results.

This prospective study investigated functional and esthetic outcomes using polysomnography and 3-dimensional computed tomography, after counterclockwise rotational orthognathic surgery. We enrolled 17 patients with obstructive sleep apnea, who underwent orthognathic surgery at single institution between March 2013 and December 2018.

After 12 months, the patients' mean self-rated score for facial appearance, using a 10-step visual analog scale, was 7.36. The preoperative apnea-hypopnea index and respiratory disturbance index were 34.70 and 37.45, respectively; postoperative indices were 11.60 and to 12.69, respectively (P = 0.003, 0.003). The mean posterior pharyngeal airway space increased from 5357.88 mm3 preoperatively to 8481.94 mm3 after 6 postoperative months.

Counterclockwise rotational orthognathic surgery for the correction of obstructive sleep apnea turned out to be the ideal solution not only in the correction of the sleep apnea, but also in the facial esthetics.
Endoscopy-Assisted 1-Stage Correction of the Crooked Nose Airway Function and Aesthetic Morphology
Authors: Jianfang Zhao , Lifeng Xie , Yonghuan Zhen , Li Zhu , Dong Li , Yang An
Published: December 2020

Objectives

The aims of the study were to explore the application of endoscopy in the correction of septal deviation and nasal skeletal deviation in crooked nose deformity and, using multiple evaluation methods, to investigate the effect of endoscopy-assisted 1-stage surgery in restoring crooked nose airway function and aesthetic morphology.

Methods

From March 2015 to March 2018, 45 patients with nasal septum and skeletal deviation were treated with endoscopy-assisted septoplasty simultaneously with rhinoplasty. The follow-up period was at least 8 months. Treatment effects were evaluated both objectively and subjectively using various methods.

Results

All cases showed certain degree of airway function and nose morphology improvement. In patients with abnormal nasal ventilation, the volume and minimal cross-sectional area increased significantly after the surgery (t = 2.470 and 3.134, respectively, P < 0.05). External nose deviation distance measured on 3-dimensional models decreased significantly from 3.230 ± 1.661 mm to 1.997 ± 1.037 mm after the surgery (t = 3.772, P < 0.05). Patients visual analog scale score of nasal patency and nose morphology were significantly improved (t = 5.795 and 7.187, respectively, P < 0.05). Overall patient satisfaction was 100%, and no complication (nasal septal perforation, nasal cavity synechia, etc) was reported.

Conclusions

Septal deviation combined with external nose deflection can be corrected by endoscopy-assisted rhinoplasty and septoplasty simultaneously, to achieve 1-stage improvement of crooked nose morphology and nasal airway function. This approach has the advantages of minimal invasion, clear surgery vision, less pain, and shorter recover time. It has fewer complication and better outcomes and worth clinical promotion and application.
Reconstruction of Tibia Fracture With Soft Tissue Defect
Authors: Tsai Po-Lun , Ziegler Otto R. , Sudario-Lumague Rowena , Lin Tsan-Shiun
Published: December 2020

Background

We aimed to compare different methods to treat lower leg soft tissue defects with tibia fracture using free flaps and pedicled flaps. We also highlighted the aesthetic outcome after using 1-stage secondary debulking procedure for tibia area.

Patients and Methods

From December 2000 to March 2017, 83 patients with lower leg defects and tibia fractures were reconstructed using 71 free flaps and 12 pedicled flaps. One-stage secondary debulking procedures were performed for 39 patients after flap reconstruction. Infection control and aesthetic outcomes using 5-point Likert scale were reviewed after a 16-month follow-up.

Results

Twenty-five myocutaneous free flaps, 45 fasciocutaneous free flaps, 1 fibula free flap, 12 pedicled flaps of which 8 were distally based sural artery flaps, and 4 medial gastrocnemius flaps were used. The flap survival rate was 100%. There was no recurrence of osteomyelitis in any patient after reconstruction with any of these flaps. Using a 5-point Likert scale, performance of a 1-stage secondary debulking procedure showed statistically significant difference in terms of contour, color, and texture compared with the group without debulking procedure.

Conclusions

The use of free flaps and pedicled flaps in the reconstruction of lower leg defects with tibia fracture is reliable and results in good infection control. A 1-stage secondary debulking procedure delivers excellent long-term aesthetic outcome after reconstruction of the tibia area.
The Newcastle Microsurgery Fellowship
Authors: Berner Juan Enrique , Magdum Ashish
Published: December 2020

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Plastic Surgery Department offers a 12-month, intense and comprehensive fellowship covering almost every aspect of reconstructive microsurgery. Across its 2 sites at The Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital, over 175 free flaps are performed every year, spanning the breadth of head and neck oncology, sarcoma, facial palsy, and breast and limb reconstruction. The appointed fellow is expected to be involved in at least 90 microsurgical cases, plus a reasonable number of complex nonfree flap reconstructions. An overview of this hands-on microsurgery fellowship is hereby presented based on the experience of 2 recent fellows.
Assessment of Freestyle Local Facial Perforator Flaps for Coverage of Facial Defects
Authors: Ellabban Mohamed A. , Ibrahim Ahmed M. , Gomah Amr A. , Salah Omar , Abdelrahman Islam , Steinvall Ingrid , Adly Osama A. , Aboelnaga Ahmed M.
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To assess local freestyle facial perforator flaps in the reconstruction of small to medium-sized facial defects.

Materials and methods:

In a case series, local freestyle perforator flaps were used in Suez Canal University Hospital to reconstruct 28 facial defects in 26 patients between 2017 and 2019. Adequate perforators were identified near those defects and flaps were designed as propeller or VY advancement. Four scales from the FACE-Q (satisfaction with facial appearance, satisfaction with the outcome, psychological function, and appearance-related psychosocial distress) and 2 scales from the SCAR-Q (Appearance scale and Symptom scale) were used as well as the observer part of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. The mean follow up period was 10 months.

Results:

Complete reconstruction was achieved in all cases with a high rate of patient satisfaction which was assessed by FACE-Q and SCAR-Q. Moreover, observer assessment by Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score showed high patient satisfaction with the scars with a mean (SD) 15.5 (3.4) and there was a positive correlation between subjective and objective: results (r2 from 0.27 to 0.41, P < 0.01). Regarding complications, bulkiness occurred in 2 flaps, congestion in 2 flaps, dehiscence in 1 flap, and tip necrosis in 5 flaps. Accordingly, secondary intervention in the form of medicinal leech therapy was used in 3 flaps, delayed closure for the dehisced flap and debulking for 1 flap.

Conclusions:

Local freestyle perforator flap reconstruction is one of the recommended techniques for small to medium-sized facial defects which gives a high aesthetic outcome and patient satisfaction.
Secondary Cervicofacial Soft Tissue Reconstruction With Upper Trapezius Myocutaneous Flap in “Frozen Neck” With Bone Flap and Reconstructive Plate Exposure
Authors: Navarro Cuéllar Carlos , Alonso Dafne Gascón , Antúnez-Conde Raúl , Martínez Marc Agea , Martínez Eduardo Monteserín , Cuéllar Ignacio Navarro , Fernández-Micheltorena Pablo Montes , Escobar José Ignacio Salmerón
Published: December 2020

A frozen neck is a scarred neck with severe fibrosis with a loss of tissue planes secondary to prior irradiation with or without surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of cervicofacial reconstruction in patients with soft tissue defects and bone flap and reconstruction plate exposure with the upper trapezius myocutaneous flap. Fifteen oncologic patients with prior surgery and radiotherapy developed soft tissue dehiscence with bone and osteosynthesis material exposure. All patients had either a frozen neck or a vessel-depleted neck. The soft tissue defects were reconstructed, the osteosynthesis material was removed and the bone flap exposure was covered in all patients. One patient developed a seroma and 1 patient reported wound dehiscence. In terms of esthetic results, 6 patients referred a good esthetic result, whereas 8 patients referred a fair result and 1 patient a poor result. Two patients with prior radical neck dissection reported a poor functional result in the ipsilateral shoulder, previously to secondary reconstruction. Functional neck dissection was performed in 10 patients, 8 patients referred a good functional outcome and 2 patients reported a fair result. The upper trapezius flap is an extremely reliable source for secondary cervicofacial soft tissue reconstruction in “frozen neck.” In comparison with other locoregional flaps, the upper trapezius flap fulfills all aesthetic and functional criteria for secondary cervicofacial soft tissue reconstruction.
The Value of Extracellular Cold-Inducible RNA-Binding Protein (eCIRP) in Predicting the Severity and Prognosis of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Preliminary Observational Study
Authors: Wang Ling , Li Rui-Fang , Guan Xiao-Lan , Liang Shuang-Shuang , Gong Ping
Published: December 2020

Background:

Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) acting as a novel damage-associated molecular pattern molecule promotes systemic inflammatory responses, including neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia. We aimed to observe the changes of serum eCIRP and evaluate whether the increased serum eCIRP was associated with the severity and prognosis in patients with restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Methods:

A total of 73 patients after ROSC were divided into non-survivor (n = 48) and survivor (n = 25) groups based on 28-day survival. Healthy volunteers (n = 25) were enrolled as controls. Serum eCIRP, procalcitonin (PCT), the pro-inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL)-6 and high mobility group protein (HMGB1), the neurological damage biomarkers neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and soluble protein 100β (S100β) were measured on days 1, 3, and 7 after ROSC. Clinical data and laboratory findings were collected, and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) were calculated concurrently. Cerebral performance category scores on day 28 after ROSC were recorded.

Results:

Serum eCIRP, IL-6, TNF-α, PCT, and HMGB1, NSE and S100β were significantly increased within the first week after ROSC. The increased levels of eCIRP were positively correlated with IL-6, TNF-α, lactate, NSE, S100β, CPR time, SOFA score, APACHE II score, and HMGB1 after ROSC. Serum eCIRP on days 1, 3, and 7 after ROSC could predict 28-day mortality and neurological prognosis. Serum eCIRP on day 3 after ROSC had a biggest AUC [0.862 (95% CI: 0.741–0.941)] for 28-day mortality and a biggest AUC [0.807 (95% CI: 0.630–0.981)] for neurological prognosis.

Conclusions:

Systemic inflammatory response with increased serum eCIRP occurred in patients after ROSC. Increased eCIRP level was positively correlated with the aggravation of systemic inflammatory response and the severity after ROSC. Serum eCIRP serves as a potential predictor for 28-day mortality and poor neurological prognosis after ROSC.
Pharmacological and Genetic Inhibition of Translocator Protein 18 kDa Ameliorated Neuroinflammation in Murine Endotoxemia Model
Authors: Giga Hiroshi , Ji Bin , Kikutani Kazuya , Fukuda Shuji , Kitajima Takashi , Katsumata Seishi , Matsumata Miho , Suhara Tetsuya , Yamawaki Shigeto , Shime Nobuaki , Hosokawa Koji , Aizawa Hidenori
Published: December 2020

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a diffuse brain dysfunction associated with sepsis. The development of an effective strategy for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention is essential for the prevention of poor prognosis of SAE. Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is a mitochondrial protein implicated in steroidogenesis and inflammatory responses. Despite accumulating evidence that implicates TSPO in the neuroinflammatory response of the central nervous system, the possible role of TSPO in SAE remains unclear. The aim of this study is to address a role of TSPO in neuroinflammation using mice 24 h after systemic injection of LPS, which consistently demonstrated microglial activation and behavioral inhibition. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that hippocampal TSPO expression was induced following the systemic LPS injection, associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Interestingly, pretreatment with the TSPO antagonist, ONO-2952, or germ-line deletion of the TSPO gene exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect with significant suppression of LPS-induced production of those cytokines. These effects demonstrated by the ONO-2952 or TSPO knockout were associated with significant recovery from behavioral inhibition, as shown by improved locomotor activity in the open field analysis. Histological analysis revealed that ONO-2952 pretreatment suppressed the LPS-induced activation of TSPO-expressing microglia in the hippocampus of mice. Collectively, these results suggest that TSPO plays a critical role in the SAE mouse model. Based on this finding, monitoring TSPO activity, as well as the progress of endotoxemia and its sequelae in the animal model, would deepen our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism of SAE.
“Safer at home”: The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on epidemiology, resource utilization, and outcomes at a large urban trauma center
Authors: Chiba Hiroto , Lewis Meghan , Benjamin Elizabeth R. , Jakob Dominik A. , Liasidis Panayiotis , Wong Monica D. , Navarrete Sixta , Carreon Robert , Demetriades Demetrios
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire global health care system. In California, because of a high burden of cases, a lockdown order was announced on March 19, 2020. This study investigated the impact of the lockdown on the epidemiology and outcomes of trauma admissions at the largest trauma center in Los Angeles.

METHODS

A retrospective study comparing epidemiological and clinical characteristics and outcomes of trauma admissions during the lockdown period (March 20, 2020, to June 30, 2020) to a similar period in the previous year (March 20, 2019, to June 30, 2019) was performed. Data collection included demographics, mechanism of injury, prehospital transportation, substance use, injury severity, resource utilization, and outcomes.

FINDINGS

There were 1,202 admissions during the lockdown period in 2020 and 1,143 during the same calendar period in 2019. Following the lockdown, there was a reduction in the automobile versus pedestrian admissions by 42.5%, motorcycle injuries by 38.7%, and bicycle accidents by 28.4% but no significant effect on the number of motor vehicle accident admissions. There was an increase in ground level falls by 32.5%, especially in the elderly group. The absolute number of gunshot wounds increased by 6.2% and knife injuries by 39.3%. Suicides increased by 38.5%. Positive testing for substance use increased by 20.9%. During the lockdown, patients suffered less severe trauma, with Injury Severity Score of <9 (p < 0.001), as well as less severe head (p = 0.001) and severe chest trauma (p < 0.001). Trauma deaths were reduced by 27.9%, and the crude overall mortality was significantly lower during the lockdown period (4.1% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.046). Intensive care unit admission rates, mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit length of stay were all reduced.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 had a significant effect on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and critical care resource utilization of trauma admissions in a large academic trauma center. These findings may help in planning and optimization of hospital resources during the pandemic.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Epidemiological study, level III; Retrospective observational, level III.
Salesforce product knowledge in Islamic financial institutions; development and validation of measurement scale
Authors: Shamsudheen Shinaj Valangattil , Chowdhury Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to develop and validate scale to measure the “product knowledge of salesforce in Islamic financial institutions”.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 371 responses were collected from the salesforce of Islamic financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates. Study adopted both exploratory and confirmatory approach with fundamental principles of Islamic finance. Content validity test and factor analysis are employed to refine measurement items and define as well as validate the scale, respectively.

Findings

Total three dimensions were extracted, i.e. “System”, “Features” and “Contracts” through “exploratory factor analysis” (EFA), and evidence of validation of measurement scale/construct was reported through “confirmatory factor analysis” (CFA).

Research limitations/implications

The span of the study is limited to a single country. Future studies are suggested to employ the newly developed scale/construct in the research frameworks and obtain the overall model fit.

Practical implications

The scope of developed and validated measurement scale is broad and can be applied in any kind of Islamic financial institutions in which the study requires capturing product knowledge of salesforce with special reference to peculiar characteristics of Islamic financial institutions.

Originality/value

While there is ample literature addressing the issues of competence and need for capacity building among Islamic banking practitioners in general, little has been explored with special reference to the salesforce, their degree of knowledge about the product they offer to the customers and a scale to measure their knowledge that envelopes the specific features of Islamic finance. These gaps serve as justification for undertaking this study.
A fully unsupervised and highly generalized deep learning approach for random noise suppression
Authors: Saad Omar M. , Chen Yangkang
Published: December 2020

In this study, we proposed a deep learning algorithm (PATCHUNET) to suppress random noise and preserve the coherent seismic signal. The input data are divided into several patches, and each patch is encoded to extract the meaningful features. Following this, the extracted features are decompressed to retrieve the seismic signal. Skip connections are used between the encoder and decoder parts, allowing the proposed algorithm to extract high‐order features without losing important information. Besides, dropout layers are used as regularization layers. The dropout layers preserve the most meaningful features belonging to the seismic signal and discard the remaining features. The proposed algorithm is an unsupervised approach that does not require prior information about the clean signal. The input patches are divided into 80% for training and 20% for testing. However, it is interesting to find that the proposed algorithm can be trained with only 30% of the input patches with an effective denoising performance. Four synthetic and four field examples are used to evaluate the proposed algorithm performance, and compared to the deconvolution and the singular spectrum analysis. The results indicate the ability of the proposed algorithm in attenuating the random noise and preserving the seismic signal effectively despite the existence of a large amount of random noise, for example, when the input signal‐to‐noise ratio is as low as −14.2 dB.
State dependence explains individual variation in nest defence behaviour in a long‐lived bird
Authors: de Jong Margje E. , Nicolaus Marion , Fokkema Rienk W. , Loonen Maarten J. J. E.
Published: December 2020

Parental care, such as nest or offspring defence, is crucial for offspring survival in many species. Yet, despite its obvious fitness benefits, the level of defence can consistently vary between individuals of the same species. One prominent adaptive explanation for consistent individual differences in behaviours involves state dependency: relatively stable differences in individual state should lead to the emergence of repeatable behavioural variation whereas changes in state should lead to a readjustment of behaviour. Therefore, empirical testing of adaptive state dependence requires longitudinal data where behaviour and state of individuals of the same population are repeatedly measured.

Here, we test if variation in states predicts nest defence behaviour (a ‘risky’ behaviour) in a long‐lived species, the barnacle goose Branta leucopsis. Adaptive models have predicted that an individual's residual reproductive value or ‘asset’ is an important state variable underlying variation in risk‐taking behaviour. Hence, we investigate how nest defence varies as a function of time of the season and individual age, two state variables that can vary between and within individuals and determine asset.

Repeated measures of nest defence towards a human intruder (flight initiation distance or FID) of females of known age were collected during 15 breeding seasons. Increasing values of FID represent increasing shyness.

We found that females strongly and consistently differed in FID within‐ and between‐years. As predicted by theory, females adjusted their behaviour to state by decreasing their FID with season and age. Decomposing these population patterns into within‐ and between‐individual effects showed that the state‐dependent change in FID was driven by individual plasticity in FID and that bolder females were more plastic than shyer females.

This study shows that nest defence behaviour differs consistently among individuals and is adjusted to individual state in a direction predicted by adaptive personality theory.
Plant volatiles mediate evolutionary interactions between plants and tephritid flies and are evolutionarily more labile than non‐volatile defenses
Authors: Wang Hua , Zhou Wenlong , Li Zhao , Niklas Karl J. , Sun Shucun
Published: December 2020

Studies show that plant defenses influence the host‐use of herbivores and tend to be evolutionarily more labile than herbivore traits (e.g. feeding preferences). However, all previous studies have focused exclusively on non‐volatile plant defenses thereby overlooking the roles of plant volatiles.

We hypothesized that volatiles are equally important determinants of herbivore host‐use and are evolutionarily more labile than herbivore traits. To test these hypotheses, the following experiments were conducted.

We identified the volatiles and non‐volatiles of 17 Asteraceae species and measured their relative contents. We also used a highly resolved bipartite trophic network of the 17 host species and 20 herbivorous (pre‐dispersal seed predator) tephritid fly species to determine the evolutionary interactions between plants and herbivores.

The chemical data showed that interspecific similarity in volatiles—but not non‐volatiles and phylogenetic distance—significantly accounted for the herbivore community across the plant species; this implies that plant volatiles—but not non‐volatile compounds and species identity—dictate plant‐tephritid fly interactions. Moreover, we observed phylogenetic signal for non‐volatiles but not for volatiles; therefore closely related herbivores do not necessarily use closely related host species with similar non‐volatiles, but do tend to attack plants producing similar volatiles. Thus, plant volatiles are evolutionarily more labile than non‐volatiles and herbivore traits associate with host use.

These results show that the interactions between plants and herbivores are evolutionary asymmetric, shed light on the role of plant volatiles in plant–herbivore interactions, and highlight the need to include data for both volatiles and non‐volatiles when investigating plant–animal interactions.
Enhancing ecosystem services in apple orchards: Nest boxes increase pest control by insectivorous birds
Authors: García Daniel , Miñarro Marcos , Martínez‐Sastre Rodrigo
Published: December 2020

Ecological intensification in croplands aims to enhance biodiversity‐based ecosystem services, helping to increase yield while reducing agricultural environmental impacts. Identifying ecological intensification tools of wide applicability and easily implemented by farmers is, therefore, an imperative. Here, we verify the efficiency of provisioning artificial nest boxes for insectivorous birds to reinforce pest biological control in apple orchards.

The study was conducted in 24 cider‐apple orchards in Asturias (NW Spain) over 3 years. We compared the effect of insectivorous birds between orchards with and without nest boxes occupied by different bird species, through insectivory estimates based on attack on a sentinel pest and measurements of arthropod abundance in apple trees. We also identified preys that birds of different species captured to feed nestlings.

Bird occupancy of nest boxes was widespread, ranging 25.0%–33.3% each year. Great tit was the dominant species, followed by blue tit and, occasionally, common redstart.

Predation pressure on apple pests increased in orchards with nest boxes, as judged by the increased proportion of sentinel models attacked by birds (34.9% increase in 2018 and 41.1% in 2019), decreased biomass of tree‐dwelling arthropods (−51.7%) and reduced probability of apple pest occurrence (from 57% to 40%), compared to orchards without nest boxes.

Nesting species showed different predatory roles in apple orchards. Fewer attacks on sentinel pests but lower arthropod biomass was associated with blue tit rather than great tit. Besides, blue tit fed nestlings at a faster rate and included in their diet a higher proportion of apple pests than great tit, which preyed mostly on other herbivorous insects.

Synthesis and applications. We demonstrated the usefulness of nest boxes for insectivorous birds in enhancing biological control of apple pests at a regional scale, identifying tit species as complementary predators of apple pests and herbivores. From the farmers' perspective, providing nest boxes in orchards may represent an efficient, easy to implement, cheap and attractive measure of ecological intensification, compatible with other actions fostering biodiversity in croplands.
A relationship between unrecognized anaemia and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patient with cardiovascular risks
Authors: Choi Byoung Geol , Kim Jung Boone , Rha Seung‐Woon , Kim Suhng Wook , Lee Min Woo , Lee Michael S. , Choi Se Yeon , Byun Jae Kyeong , Cha Jinah , Na Jin Oh , Choi Cheol Ung , Park Chang Gyu , Seo Hong Seog , Oh Dong Joo , Hong Sunghoi
Published: December 2020

Studies on anaemia in diabetic patients are well known. However, the data regarding association of anaemia on the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) are very limited. We aimed to evaluate the association of anaemia on the development of DM and major clinical outcomes in a series of the Korean population during 5‐year clinical follow‐up. The patients were retrospectively enrolled using the electronic database of Korea University Guro Hospital from January 2004 to February 2013. A total of 17 515 subjects without a history of DM were analysed. The World Health Organization definition of anaemia was used. Patients were divided into the anaemia group (n = 2907 patients) and the non‐anaemia group (n = 14 608 patients). The primary endpoint was the development of DM. To adjust baseline potential confounders, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed. After PSM analysis, two matched groups (2731 pairs) were generated and their baselines characteristics were balanced. During 5‐year follow‐up, the anaemia group had a higher incidence of type 2 DM (10.7% vs 7.7%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.356; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.021–1.802; P = .035), and total death (2.6% vs 1.2%; HR, 2.449; 95% CI, 1.337–4.486; P = .004) compared to the non‐anaemia group. In the present study, anaemia was associated with higher rate of the development of DM and mortality during 5‐year clinical follow‐up. A randomized trial is needed to determine whether this results can be reproducible or not for the final conclusion.
Shock index as a predictor for short‐term mortality in helicopter emergency medical services: A registry study
Authors: Björkman Johannes , Raatiniemi Lasse , Setälä Piritta , Nurmi Jouni
Published: December 2020

Background

The value of shock‐index has been demonstrated in hospital triage, but few studies have evaluated its prehospital use. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between shock‐index in prehospital critical care and short‐term mortality.

Methods

We analyzed data from the national helicopter emergency medical services database and the Population Register Centre. The shock‐index was calculated from the patients' first measured parameters. The primary outcome measure was 1‐ and 30‐day mortality.

Results

A total of 22 433 patients were included. The 1‐day mortality was 7.5% and 30‐day mortality was 16%. The median shock‐index was 0.68 (0.55/0.84) for survivors and 0.67 (0.49/0.93) for non‐survivors (P = .316) at 30‐days. Association between shock‐index and mortality followed a U‐shaped curve in trauma (shock‐index < 0.5: odds ratio 2.5 [95% confidence interval 1.8‐3.4], shock‐index > 1.3: odds ratio 4.4 [2.7‐7.2] at 30 days). Patients with neurological emergencies with a low shock‐index had an increased risk of mortality (shock‐index < 0.5: odds ratio 1.8 [1.5‐2.3]) whereas patients treated after successful resuscitation from out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest, a higher shock‐index was associated with higher mortality (shock‐index > 1.3: odds ratio 3.5 [2.3‐5.4). The association was similar for all ages, but older patients had higher mortality in each shock‐index category.

Conclusion

The shock‐index is associated with short time mortality in most critical patient categories in the prehospital setting. However, the marked overlap of shock‐index in survivors and non‐survivors in all patient categories limits its predictive value.
Global versus local framing of the issue of food waste: The role of Identification With All Humanity and the implications for climate change communication
Authors: Pong Vivien
Published: December 2020

Food waste is a major source of carbon emissions at the local and global levels. Effective public communication is essential for mitigation engagement. This study refers to the climate change communication literature to examine global versus local message framing and its interaction effects with a global identity—Identification With All Humanity (IWAH)—versus a local (American) identity on food waste mitigation behaviour. I propose that, due to its all‐inclusive nature, when IWAH is strong there will be no difference between reading a globally versus a locally framed message for intentions concerning food waste mitigation behaviour. By contrast, individuals with a weak IWAH will be less likely to engage in mitigation behaviour after reading the globally framed compared to the locally framed message, whereas a strong local (American) identity is hypothesized to induce higher mitigation engagement in the local framing condition than the global framing condition. Results showed no interaction effects except for one behavioural proxy measure, whereas IWAH was a consistent predictor of most of the mitigation behavioural intentions. The present research assesses IWAH with regards to climate change mitigation efforts and sheds light on the existing inconsistent findings about the effects of local versus global framing on climate change.
Racial Capital, Abolition, and a Geographic Argument for Reparations
Authors: Inwood Joshua F.J. , Livia Brand Anna , Quinn Elise Andrea
Published: December 2020

Tracing the development of Lehman Brothers from their roots as a dry goods store in Montgomery, Alabama, into a Fortune 500 global financial services company that collapsed in the 2007 financial crisis reveals the contours of US‐style racial capitalism. We highlight how race and capital are geographically rooted in the United States. At the heart of our argument is an understanding of the geographic imperative of capital which creates and exploits differences to wrench capital’s profits from the blood, sweat, and toil of racialised bodies. Perhaps most geographically significant, we advance a second, interrelated argument, the geographic case for reparations. By arguing the system itself is entirely and wholly wrapped in race in ways that extend and advance practices of exploitation, we understand reparations that do not fundamentally undermine, transform, destabilise or smash the system as doomed to be short‐term solutions to long‐term structural problems.
How Swedish guidelines on urinary tract infections in children compare to Canadian, American and European guidelines
Authors: Brandström Per , Lindén Magnus
Published: December 2020

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common in children and the guidelines focus on preventing kidney damage. We compared the 2013 national Swedish guidelines on UTIs in children with the guidelines from America, Canada, UK, Spain, Italy and European urologists. This showed that urinalysis and urine cultures are endorsed by all the guidelines, but sampling techniques and bacteria levels differ. They all recommend initial oral treatment and renal ultrasound to detect major anomalies in infants. The Swedish guidelines are more liberal on antibiotic prophylaxis.

Conclusion

Differences in diagnostic criteria, workup and accepted methods for urine sampling were noted and are discussed.
A 52‐week prophylactic randomised control trial of omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in bipolar disorder
Authors: McPhilemy Genevieve , Byrne Fintan , Waldron Mairead , Hibbeln Joseph R. , Davis John , McDonald Colm , Hallahan Brian
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVES

Previous work suggests supplementation with omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may improve mood symptoms in bipolar disorder (BD) although findings remain unclear. In this study, we assess the efficacy of omega‐3 PUFA administration for prophylaxis in BD using a clinical trial design over 52‐weeks (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04210804).

METHODS

Individuals with BD (n = 80) were randomised to receive placebo (n = 40) or 1 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus 1 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; n = 40) adjunctively for 52‐weeks. The primary outcome measure comprised the number of mood episode relapses including hospital admissions and medication changes experienced. Secondary outcome measures included time to first mood episode relapse and change in psychometric measures of depression and elation (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Young Mania Rating Scale).

RESULTS

No significant differences in the number of mood episode relapses (U = 490.00, p = 0.14) or the number of individuals requiring admission to hospital (χ2 = 0.67, p = 0.41) or medication adjustment in the omega‐3 PUFA compared to the placebo group were noted. Time to relapse was not significantly different between groups (Log Rank χ2 = 0.41, p = 0.52). Change in Young Manic Rating Scale (F(3.12, 152.86) = 2.71, p = 0.05) was significantly different between treatment groups over 12‐months, with scores at 9‐months and 12‐months significantly lower than those at 3‐months in the omega‐3 group and not in the placebo group. Change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Global Clinical Impression and Global Assessment of Functioning were not different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a minor reduction in hypomania scores in the omega‐3 PUFA group compared to placebo, we find little evidence that the supplementation of omega‐3‐PUFAs exhibits prophylactic benefit in BD.
Collective resilience in the disaster recovery period: Emergent social identity and observed social support are associated with collective efficacy, well‐being, and the provision of social support
Authors: Ntontis Evangelos , Drury John , Amlôt Richard , Rubin G. James , Williams Richard , Saavedra Patricio
Published: December 2020

Social support and an emerging sense of community are common in flooding, but postflood group dynamics have not been fully addressed. In the context of a flooded community, we explore how social identification with one’s community emerges and affects well‐being, collective efficacy, and social support. Results from a quantitative survey show that social identification was positively associated with common fate, collective efficacy, and well‐being through residents’ expectations of support and shared goals. Importantly, social identification and disaster exposure interacted: For flooded residents, observing support was associated with providing support regardless of levels of social identification. For unaffected residents there was no association between observed and provided support, regardless of levels of social identification. However, for indirectly affected residents observing support was associated to providing support but only when they highly identified with the community. We argue that structural factors should also be considered when exploring the effects of group membership.
Diagnostic RET genetic testing in 1,058 index patients: A UK centre perspective
Authors: Fussey Jonathan Mark , Smith Joel Anthony , Cleaver Ruth , Bowles Christopher , Ellard Sian , Vaidya Bijay , Owens Martina
Published: December 2020

Objective

Diagnostic germline RET analysis is offered to all patients with a diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or other conditions associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) in the United Kingdom. Here, we report the experience of a single centre's germline RET analysis over a 21‐year period.

Design

Retrospective case‐note review.

Patients

All index patients referred to the Exeter Genomics Laboratory for diagnostic germline RET analysis between 1997 and 2018, and unaffected family members, undergoing predictive testing.

Measurements

The rate and nature of pathogenic variant detection were recorded, as well as the indication for testing.

Results

1,058 index patients and 551 unaffected family members were tested. The overall rate of pathogenic variant detection was 10.2% amongst index patients and 29% amongst unaffected family members. The commonest indication was isolated MTC, and amongst the 690 patients with isolated MTC, 68 (9.9%) were found to harbour a RET pathogenic variant. Of those with presumed sporadic MTC, 8.5% were found to harbour germline RET pathogenic variants, compared with 36.4% of those with a family history of MEN2‐associated conditions. Pathogenic variants were identified in 3.6% and 0% of patients with isolated phaeochromocytoma and primary hyperparathyroidism, respectively.

Conclusions

Although the detection rate of RET germline pathogenic variants in patients with presumed sporadic MTC was significant, the overall detection rate in those with MTC was lower than expected in this series. Advances in RET analysis in response to reports of new variants over the last two decades are likely to have improved the pick‐up rate in recent years.
Analyzing Machine‐Learned Representations: A Natural Language Case Study
Authors: Dasgupta Ishita , Guo Demi , Gershman Samuel J. , Goodman Noah D.
Published: December 2020

As modern deep networks become more complex, and get closer to human‐like capabilities in certain domains, the question arises as to how the representations and decision rules they learn compare to the ones in humans. In this work, we study representations of sentences in one such artificial system for natural language processing. We first present a diagnostic test dataset to examine the degree of abstract composable structure represented. Analyzing performance on these diagnostic tests indicates a lack of systematicity in representations and decision rules, and reveals a set of heuristic strategies. We then investigate the effect of training distribution on learning these heuristic strategies, and we study changes in these representations with various augmentations to the training set. Our results reveal parallels to the analogous representations in people. We find that these systems can learn abstract rules and generalize them to new contexts under certain circumstances—similar to human zero‐shot reasoning. However, we also note some shortcomings in this generalization behavior—similar to human judgment errors like belief bias. Studying these parallels suggests new ways to understand psychological phenomena in humans as well as informs best strategies for building artificial intelligence with human‐like language understanding.
Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Sensory Neurons are Sensitive to the Neurotoxic Effects of Paclitaxel
Authors: Xiong Chenling , Chua Katherina C. , Stage Tore B. , Priotti Josefina , Kim Jeffrey , Altman‐Merino Anne , Chan Daniel , Saraf Krishna , Canato Ferracini Amanda , Fattahi Faranak , Kroetz Deanna L.
Published: December 2020

Chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose‐limiting adverse event associated with treatment with paclitaxel and other chemotherapeutic agents. The prevention and treatment of CIPN are limited by a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this toxicity. In the current study, a human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived sensory neuron (iPSC‐SN) model was developed for the study of chemotherapy‐induced neurotoxicity. The iPSC‐SNs express proteins characteristic of nociceptor, mechanoreceptor, and proprioceptor sensory neurons and show Ca2+ influx in response to capsaicin, α,β‐meATP, and glutamate. The iPSC‐SNs are relatively resistant to the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel, with half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 38.1 µM (95% confidence interval (CI) 22.9–70.9 µM) for 48‐hour exposure and 9.3 µM (95% CI 5.7–16.5 µM) for 72‐hour treatment. Paclitaxel causes dose‐dependent and time‐dependent changes in neurite network complexity detected by βIII‐tubulin staining and high content imaging. The IC50 for paclitaxel reduction of neurite area was 1.4 µM (95% CI 0.3–16.9 µM) for 48‐hour exposure and 0.6 µM (95% CI 0.09–9.9 µM) for 72‐hour exposure. Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, slower movement of mitochondria down the neurites, and changes in glutamate‐induced neuronal excitability were also observed with paclitaxel exposure. The iPSC‐SNs were also sensitive to docetaxel, vincristine, and bortezomib. Collectively, these data support the use of iPSC‐SNs for detailed mechanistic investigations of genes and pathways implicated in chemotherapy‐induced neurotoxicity and the identification of novel therapeutic approaches for its prevention and treatment.
Histomorphological and immunophenotypical spectrum of cutaneous myoepitheliomas: A series of 35 cases
Authors: Plaza Jose A. , Brenn Thomas , Chung Catherine , Salim Sadia , Linos Konstantinos D. , Jour George , Duran Rincon Juanita , Wick Mark , Sangueza Martin , Gru Alejandro A.
Published: December 2020

Myoepithelial tumors comprise a group of mesenchymal lesions that show heterogeneous histomorphological features, including dual epithelial, neural, and myoid differentiation. Cutaneous myoepithelioma is a rare neoplasm that is composed primarily of myoepithelial cells and represents one end of a histopathological spectrum of cutaneous myoepithelial neoplasms including chondroid syringoma and myoepithelial carcinoma. These tumors display a wide histopathological spectrum and immunophenotypical profile often showing epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation. In this series, we studied 35 cases of cutaneous myoepitheliomas. Our cases highlighted the broad histopathological range where most cases showed a non‐infiltrative and non‐encapsulated tumor exclusively located in the dermis and with no subcutaneous involvement. The majority of our cases had a solid growth pattern (syncytial pattern) and the remainder of cases had a multinodular growth pattern. The tumor cells were epithelioid in 23 cases, spindled in eight cases and there was a mixture of epithelioid and spindled cells in four cases. Mitotic figures ranged from 0 to 5 per 10 HPF. By immunohistochemistry epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was expressed in 59% of cases S100 was positive in 88% of cases, CAM 5.2 was positive in 16% of cases, AE1/AE3 was positive in 44% of cases, p63 was positive in 17% of cases, smooth muscle actin was positive in 38% of cases, desmin was positive in 6% of cases, calponin was positive in 22% of cases, and glial fibrillary acidic protein was positive in 36% of cases. In addition, there were five cases without EMA, keratin, or p63 expression that only showed S100 expression. We describe a large series of cutaneous myoepitheliomas delineating their histomorphological spectrum and immunophenotypical profile. Awareness of some of the unusual histopathological features and the heterogeneous immunohistochemical may pose difficulties for the diagnosis.