bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prescribers' compliance with summary of product characteristics of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban—A European comparative drug utilization study
Authors: Rottenkolber Marietta , Schmiedl Sven , Ibánez Luisa , Sabaté Mònica , Ballarín Elena , Vidal Xavier , Leon‐Muñoz Luz María , Huerta Consuelo , Martin Merino Elisa , Montero Dolores , Gasse Christiane , Andersen Morten , Aakjær Mia , De Bruin Marie Louise , Gerlach Roman , Tauscher Martin , Souverein Patrick C. , van den Ham Rianne , Klungel Olaf , Gardarsdottir Helga ,   the PE&PV consortium
Published: October 2020

Despite a tremendous increase of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) prescriptions in recent years, only few data is available analysing prescribers' adherence to Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). We aimed to assess adherence to registered indications, contraindications, special warnings/precautions, and potential drug‐drug interactions for three DOAC compounds (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban) in six databases of five European countries (The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, and Germany). We included adult patients (≥18 years) initiating DOACs between 2008 and 2015. For several SmPC items, broad definitions were used due to ambiguous SmPC terms or lacking data in some databases. Within the study period, a DOAC was initiated in 407 576 patients (rivaroxaban: 240 985 (59.1%), dabigatran: 95 303 (23.4%), and apixaban: 71 288 (17.5%)). In 2015, non‐valvular atrial fibrillation was the most common indication (>60% in most databases). For the whole study period, a substantial variation between the databases was found regarding the proportion of patients with at least one contraindication (inter‐database range [IDR]: 8.2%‐55.7%), with at least one special warning/precaution (IDR: 35.8%‐75.2%) and with at least one potential drug‐drug interaction (IDR: 22.4%‐54.1%). In 2015, the most frequent contraindication was “malignant neoplasm” (IDR: 0.7%‐21.3%) whereas the most frequent special warning/precaution was “prescribing to the elderly” (≥75 years; IDR: 25.0%‐66.4%). The most common single compound class interaction was “concomitant use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs” (IDR: 3.0%‐25.3%). Contraindications, special warnings/precautions, and potential drug‐drug interactions were present in a relevant number of new DOAC users. Due to broad definitions used for some SmPC terms, overall proportions for contraindications are prone to overestimation. However, for unambiguous SmPC terms documented in the databases sufficiently, the respective estimates can be considered valid. Differences between databases might be related to “true” differences in prescription behaviour, but could also be partially due to differences in database characteristics.
NH‐sulfoximine: A novel pharmacological inhibitor of the mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATPase, which suppresses viability of cancerous cells
Authors: Strobbe Daniela , Pecorari Rosalba , Conte Oriana , Minutolo Antonella , Hendriks Christine M. M. , Wiezorek Stefan , Faccenda Danilo , Abeti Rosella , Montesano Carla , Bolm Carsten , Campanella Michelangelo
Published: October 2020

Background and Purpose

The mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATPsynthase is pivotal for cellular homeostasis. When respiration is perturbed, its mode of action everts becoming an F1Fo‐ATPase and therefore consuming rather producing ATP. Such a reversion is an obvious target for pharmacological intervention to counteract pathologies. Despite this, tools to selectively inhibit the phases of ATP hydrolysis without affecting the production of ATP remain scarce. Here, we report on a newly synthesised chemical, the NH‐sulfoximine (NHS), which achieves such a selectivity.

Experimental Approach

The chemical structure of the F1Fo‐ATPase inhibitor BTB‐06584 was used as a template to synthesise NHS. We assessed its pharmacology in human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells in which we profiled ATP levels, redox signalling, autophagy pathways and cellular viability. NHS was given alone or in combination with either the glucose analogue 2‐deoxyglucose (2‐DG) or the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide.

Key Results

NHS selectively blocks the consumption of ATP by mitochondria leading a subtle cytotoxicity associated via the concomitant engagement of autophagy which impairs cell viability. NHS achieves such a function independently of the F1Fo‐ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1).

Conclusion and Implications

The novel sulfoximine analogue of BTB‐06584, NHS, acts as a selective pharmacological inhibitor of the mitochondrial F1Fo‐ATPase. NHS, by blocking the hydrolysis of ATP perturbs the bioenergetic homoeostasis of cancer cells, leading to a non‐apoptotic type of cell death.
Computerization and immigration: Theory and evidence from the United States
Authors: Basso Gaetano , Peri Giovanni , Rahman Ahmed S.
Published: October 2020

Recent technological changes have been characterized as “routine‐substituting” because they reduce demand for routine tasks and increase demand for analytical and service tasks. Little is known about how these changes have impacted immigration, or task specialization between immigrants and native‐born individuals. In this paper, we show that such technological progress has attracted immigrants who increasingly specialize in manual‐service occupations. We also suggest that openness to immigration attenuated the job and wage polarization faced by native‐born from technological changes. We explain these facts with a model of technological progress and endogenous immigration. Simulations show that unskilled immigration attenuates the drop in routine employment proceeding from technological change, enhances skill upgrading for native‐born and raises economy‐wide productivity and welfare.
Clinical features and thyroid dysfunction in adverse events involving the pituitary gland during PD‐1 blockade therapy
Authors: Yamauchi Ichiro , Taura Daisuke , Hakata Takuro , Fujita Haruka , Okamoto Kentaro , Ueda Yohei , Fujii Toshihito , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: October 2020

Objective

Programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1) blockade therapy, an immune checkpoint treatment, can induce hypophysitis or hypopituitarism as an immune‐related adverse event (pituitary irAE). We aimed to clarify the clinical features of pituitary irAEs during PD‐1 blockade therapy.

Design, Patients and Measurements

This retrospective study investigated consecutive patients treated with nivolumab, an anti‐PD‐1 antibody, at Kyoto University Hospital between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2019. We examined patients’ baseline characteristics and analysed the clinical data of those who developed pituitary irAEs.

Results

Of the 374 recruited patients, 7 (1.9%) developed pituitary irAEs, and each presented with isolated secondary adrenal insufficiency. In 4 patients, changes in ACTH were delayed relative to those in cortisol: when serum cortisol levels fell below the reference range, plasma ACTH levels were still normal. Pituitary irAEs were accompanied by elevated serum‐free T3 (fT3) levels, which resolved with glucocorticoid replacement. Serum TSH levels were not suppressed despite elevated serum fT3 levels and 1 patient even presented with high fT3 level above the reference range (fT3, 7.1 pmol/L; free T4 (fT4), 13.9 pmol/L; and TSH, 5.1 mIU/L).

Conclusions

Isolated secondary adrenal insufficiency was a common pituitary irAE during PD‐1 blockade therapy. This condition was accompanied by thyroid dysfunction, including elevation of fT3 without TSH suppression.
Framework for Capturing and Editing of Anisotropic Effect Coatings
Authors: Filip J. , Vávra R. , Maile F. J. , Kolafová M.
Published: October 2020

Coatings are used today for products, ranging from automotive production to electronics and everyday use items. Product design is taking on an increasingly important role, where effect pigments come to the fore, offering a coated surface extra optical characteristics. Individual effect pigments have strong anisotropic, azimuthaly‐dependent behaviour, typically suppressed by a coating application process, randomly orienting pigment particles resulting in isotropic appearance. One exception is a pigment that allows control of the azimuthal orientation of flakes using a magnetic field. We investigate visual texture effects due to such an orientation in a framework allowing efficient capturing, modelling and editing of its appearance. We captured spatially‐varying BRDFs of four coatings containing magnetic effect pigments. As per‐pixel non‐linear fitting cannot preserve coating sparkle effects, we suggest a novel method of anisotropy modelling based on images shifting in an angular domain. The model can be utilized for a fast transfer of desired anisotropy to any isotropic effect coating, while preserving important spatially‐varying visual features of the original coating. The anisotropic behaviour was fitted by a parametric model allowing for editing of coating appearance. This framework allows exploration of anisotropic effect coatings and their appearance transfer to standard effect coatings in a virtual environment.
Natural Leaders: Some Interlocutors Elicit Greater Convergence Across Conversations and Across Characteristics
Authors: Cohen Priva Uriel , Sanker Chelsea
Published: October 2020

Are there individual tendencies in convergence, such that some speakers consistently converge more than others? Similarly, are there natural “leaders,” speakers with whom others converge more? Are such tendencies consistent across different linguistic characteristics? We use the Switchboard Corpus to perform a large‐scale convergence study of speakers in multiple conversations with different interlocutors, across six linguistic characteristics. Because each speaker participated in several conversations, it is possible to look for individual differences in speakers' likelihood of converging and interlocutors' likelihood of eliciting convergence. We only find evidence for individual differences by interlocutor, not by speaker: There are natural leaders of convergence, who elicit more convergence than others across characteristics and across conversations. The lack of similar evidence for speakers who converge more than others suggests that social factors have a stronger effect in mediating convergence than putative individual tendencies in producing convergence, or that such tendencies are characteristic‐specific.
What Does “Mind‐Wandering” Mean to the Folk? An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Irving Zachary C. , Glasser Aaron , Gopnik Alison , Pinter Verity , Sripada Chandra
Published: October 2020

Although mind‐wandering research is rapidly progressing, stark disagreements are emerging about what the term “mind‐wandering” means. Four prominent views define mind‐wandering as (a) task‐unrelated thought, (b) stimulus‐independent thought, (c) unintentional thought, or (d) dynamically unguided thought. Although theorists claim to capture the ordinary understanding of mind‐wandering, no systematic studies have assessed these claims. Two large factorial studies present participants (N = 545) with vignettes that describe someone's thoughts and ask whether her mind was wandering, while systematically manipulating features relevant to the four major accounts of mind‐wandering. Dynamics explains between four and 40 times more variance in participants' mind‐wandering judgments than other features. Our third study (N = 153) tests and supports a unique prediction of the dynamic framework—obsessive rumination contrasts with mind‐wandering. Our final study (N = 277) used vignettes that resemble mind‐wandering experiments. Dynamics had significant and large effects, while task‐unrelatedness was nonsignificant. These results strongly suggest that the central feature of mind‐wandering is its dynamics.
High prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a positive prognostic indicator for non‐small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis
Authors: Xu Shanqi , Cao Shoubo , Geng Jianxiong , Wang Chunyan , Meng Qingwei , Yu Yan
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Increasing evidence shows the close association between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and overall survival (OS) of solid cancers including lung cancer. However, the role of PNI in non‐small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) with bone metastasis remains unclear.

Objective

To explore the prognostic role of PNI in NSCLC patients with bone metastasis.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 259 initially diagnosed NSCLC with bone metastasis was conducted. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to assess the potential prognostic roles of parameters.

Results

The most common symptoms initially presented were cough and chest pain. Two hundred patients (77.2%) received the treatment of bisphosphonates. Patients with low PNI were found in 154 (59.5%) patients. Median survival time for all cases was 286 days. The median OS for patients with low and high PNI was 227 and 389 days, respectively. The 6‐month, 1‐year and 2‐year survival rates for patients with low PNI were 66.2%, 29.9% and 10.4% compared to 79.0%, 52.4% and 26.7% in patients with high PNI level. On univariate analysis, female patients, non‐smokers, high PNI and systematic chemotherapy (P < 0.05) were shown to be closely correlated with a better prognosis of NSCLC patients with bone metastasis. Only PNI (P = 0.002), systematic chemotherapy (P = 0.026) and distant metastasis number (P = 0.044) held statistical significance on multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

PNI represents a non‐invasive, efficiency and convenient biomarker of NSCLC patients with bone metastasis. High PNI, systematic chemotherapy and distant metastasis number <2 are independent positive prognostic factors of NSCLC patients with bone metastasis.
Longitudinal assessment of illegal leopard skin use in ceremonial regalia and acceptance of faux alternatives among followers of the Shembe Church, South Africa
Authors: Naude Vincent N. , Balme Guy A. , Rogan Matt S. , Needham Mark D. , Whittington‐Jones Gareth , Dickerson Tristan , Mabaso Xolani , Nattrass Nicoli , Bishop Jacqueline M. , Hunter Luke , O'Riain M. Justin
Published: October 2020

Despite having protected status, poaching for the illegal trade and traditional use remains a primary threat to leopards (Panthera pardus) across southern Africa. Addressing this threat is challenging, not only because it is difficult to uncover and monitor illicit behavior, but because law enforcement and alternative intervention strategies need to account for cultural and political sensitivities to prove effective and sustainable. With up to 4 million followers in southern Africa, the recently‐established Nazareth Baptist “Shembe” Church represents the principal culturo‐religious use of illegal leopard skins in the world. This longitudinal study used in‐person questionnaires (n = 8,600) and telephone follow‐ups (n = 2,300) with Shembe followers to explore socio‐economic and experiential factors related to the desirability and possession of illegal leopard skins before and after receiving a faux alternative through the Furs for Life (FFL) intervention program. Proportional possession of authentic skins was relatively low among followers who received faux skins (21%), with declines of 7 and 13% in subsequent authentic skin acquisition and desirability, respectively. Logistic regression models revealed that authentic skin possession, both before and after receiving a faux skin, was primarily related to employment status. Desire for authentic skins increased with recipient age, but decreased with improved knowledge of leopard population status since receiving the faux skin. Followers who were dissatisfied with faux skins were likely to express a continued desire for authentic skins. Most followers (95%) were, however, satisfied with the faux alternative, having retained and worn it at gatherings, with little noticeable damage or perceived societal judgment. These results support the FFL intervention as a means of protecting leopards: Although authentic skins were still acquired, demand decreased significantly over 3 years with shifts in perception favoring faux leopard skin alternatives.
Conservation of native plants in the seed base Bank of Chile
Authors: Pañitrur‐De la Fuente Carolina , Ibáñez Sergio T. , León Mario F. , Martínez‐Tilleria Karina , Sandoval Ana
Published: October 2020

Despite the value of Chilean flora, 46% of the species, currently evaluated, are critically endangered or endangered, so ex situ conservation measures are key to their preservation. We analyzed the current state and conservation gaps of the native species preserved in the Seed Base Bank (SBB) of the Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), the main curator of Chile's plant genetic resources. Our analysis showed that 3,040 seed accessions of native species are preserved in the SBB, corresponding to 1,256 species, which represents 26.9% of the Chilean flora. The area with the largest number of accessions collected corresponds to the northern and central parts of the country, indicating that there has been a bias in terms of concentrating efforts on the continental regions and ignoring other important geographical regions of Chile, such as those located in the insular territory. A quarter of the threatened plants belonging to the Chilean flora are not currently conserved in the SBB, as they are vascular species without seeds, which cannot be protected in the long term under the traditional conditions of a seed bank. Additional collection and research efforts are required to increase the collection of native species in the SBB, especially threatened and endemic species.
Local community benefits from elephants: Can willingness to support anti‐poaching efforts be strengthened?
Authors: Ngorima Agripa , Brown Abigail , Masunungure Current , Biggs Duan
Published: October 2020

Poaching of Africa's elephants has led to substantial population declines over the last decade. Local communities coexisting with elephants can play an important role in strengthening protection measures against poaching. Our paper empirically examined how the spread of costs and benefits associated with elephants, and associated ownership rights, influenced community attitudes to support anti‐poaching activities. Based on surveys of 90 community members in the Zimbabwean part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, our results show that 92% of the respondents were unwilling to engage in conservation activities due to lack of financial gain from elephants. Local communities identified numerous benefits and costs associated with elephants. The majority (54%) of community members identified meat from the elephant as an essential benefit to their livelihoods. The most significant cost identified by the majority (60%) of respondents was crop destruction. The reported costs influenced villagers' perceptions of elephants with 71% of respondents stating that continued incurred costs has reduced their willingness to participate in conservation activities. More so, the majority (88%) of respondents indicated that these costs have led to locals supporting actions to reduce elephant numbers. Furthermore, 82% of respondents indicated a lack of remorse when an elephant was killed after destroying their crops, and 95% of community members identified that feelings of bitterness toward elephants increased as they encountered costs. Our results suggest that gaining local support for elephant conservation to be more sustainable in low income regions, the overall benefits from elephants should outweigh the costs they impose.
Serosal‐exposure sign during colonic endoscopic submucosal dissection of a recurrent polyp in ascending colon scar
Authors: Ramos‐Zabala Felipe , Beg Sabina , Parra‐Blanco Adolfo
Published: October 2020

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The effect of specific locomotor experiences on infants’ avoidance behaviour on real and water cliffs
Authors: Burnay Carolina , Cordovil Rita , Button Chris , Croft James L. , Schofield Matthew , Pereira Joana , Anderson David I.
Published: October 2020

Infants’ avoidance of drop‐offs has been described as an affordance learning that is not transferable between different locomotor postures. In addition, there is evidence that infants perceive and act similarly around real and water cliffs. This cross‐sectional study investigated the effects of specific locomotor experiences on infants’ avoidance behaviour using the Real Cliff/Water Cliff paradigm. The experiments included 102 infants, 58 crawling, but pre‐walking, infants (Mage = 11.57 months, SD = 1.65) with crawling experience ranging between 0.03 and 7.4 months (M = 2.16, SD = 1.71) and 44 walking infants (Mage = 14.82 months, SD = 1.99), with walking experience ranging between 0.13 and 5.2 months (M = 1.86, SD = 1.28). The association between crawling experience and crawlers’ avoidance of the real and water cliffs was confirmed. Importantly, crawling and total self‐produced locomotor experience, and not walking experience, were associated with walkers’ avoidance behaviour on both cliffs. These results suggest that some degree of perceptual learning acquired through crawling experience was developmentally transferred to the walking posture. A longer duration of crawling experience facilitates a more rapid recalibration to the new walking capability. In addition, there was no difference in infants’ avoidance of falling on the real and the water cliff. However, infants explored the water cliff more than the real cliff, revealing more enticement to examine bodies of water than for drop‐offs. A video abstract of this article can be viewed athttps://youtu.be/23LXIGiLhHI
Physical fitness and brain source localization during a working memory task in children with overweight/obesity: The ActiveBrains project
Authors: Mora‐Gonzalez Jose , Esteban‐Cornejo Irene , Migueles Jairo H. , Rodriguez‐Ayllon María , Molina‐Garcia Pablo , Cadenas‐Sanchez Cristina , Solis‐Urra Patricio , Plaza‐Florido Abel , Kramer Arthur F. , Erickson Kirk I. , Hillman Charles H. , Catena Andrés , Ortega Francisco B.
Published: October 2020

The present study aims (i) to examine the association of physical fitness components (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness, speed‐agility, and muscular fitness) with brain current source density during working memory; and (ii) to examine whether fitness‐related current density was associated to working memory performance and academic achievement. Eighty‐five children with overweight/obesity aged 8–11 years participated in this cross‐sectional study. Physical fitness components were assessed using the ALPHA test battery. Electroencephalography recordings were performed during a Delayed Non‐Match‐to‐Sample task that assessed working memory. Brain source analysis was carried out using sLORETA to estimate regional current source density differences between high and low (H–L) working memory loads. Academic achievement was measured by the Spanish version of the Woodcock‐Johnson III test battery. The main results showed that higher cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with higher H–L current density differences in frontal, limbic, and occipital regions during encoding and maintenance task's phases (β≥0.412, p ≤ 0.019). A limbic area was further related to better working memory performance (β=0.267, p = 0.005). During retrieval, higher cardiorespiratory fitness was also associated with higher current density in temporal regions (β=0.265, p = 0.013), whereas lower muscular fitness was associated with higher current density in frontal regions (β=–0.261, p = 0.016). Our results suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, but not speed‐agility nor muscular fitness, is positively associated with brain current source density during working memory processes in children with overweight/obesity. Fitness‐related current density differences in limbic regions were associated with better working memory.
Review of pheromone receptors in heliothine species: expression, function, and evolution
Authors: Yang Ke , Wang Chen‐Zhu
Published: October 2020

Heliothine species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Heliothinae) include some of the world’s most devastating pest species, such as Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) in the Americas and Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in the Old World. Sex pheromone communication of these agricultural pest species has been investigated from pheromone receptors (PRs) to brains and behavior in detail. In recent years, great progress has been made in the mechanistic dissection of pheromone reception, demonstrating that PRs play a key role in determining the response characteristics of pheromone‐sensitive olfactory receptor neurons. In this review, we focus on the functional characterization of PRs in heliothine species, and summarize recent progress in the identification of receptors tuned to principal sex pheromone components including Z11‐16:Ald, Z9‐16:Ald, Z9‐14:Ald, and other related alcohols and acetates. Evolution of PRs in ligand selectivity is also discussed. The efficiency and faithfulness of three frequently used heterologous expression systems – Xenopus laevis Daudin oocytes, modified HEK 293 cells, and Drosophila ‘empty neuron’ mutants – are compared, and the research strategies, skills, and perspectives in the studies are envisioned. Finally, we propose future research topics on PRs in heliothine species.
Predictors of social and role outcomes in first episode psychosis:A prospective12‐month study of social cognition, neurocognition and symptoms
Authors: Griffiths Sian Lowri , Birchwood Max , Khan Aneela , Wood Stephen J.
Published: October 2020

Background

Poor functioning is common in psychosis, with predictors of poor outcome including negative symptoms and deficits in neurocognition (NC) and social cognition (SC). The extent to which these variables contribute unique variance in social and role trajectories remains inconclusive. Identifying robust predictors of outcome will inform targeted interventions in early psychosis, where functional trajectories are being set.

Method

Prospective 12‐month follow‐up study investigating the predictive values of NC and SC on social and role functioning in individuals with first‐episode psychosis (FEP), within the context of clinical variables. 98 individuals with FEP (mean age = 24; male = 77) were assessed within the first year of diagnosis on functioning (social and role), cognition (SC and NC) and psychosis symptoms.

Results

Negative symptoms were the only significant predictor of 12‐month social (χ2 = 9.59,P = .002, OR = 1.12) and role (χ2 = 10.86,P < .001, OR = 1.16) functioning in FEP. In exploratory analyses, negative symptoms mediated the relationship between baseline social knowledge and social functioning (Z = 1.92,P = .05;d = 0.56), and between baseline logical memory and role functioning (Z = 2.40,P = .02;d = 0.80) at 12‐month follow‐up.

Conclusion

Although social and role trajectories in early psychosis appear somewhat distinct, negative symptoms were the best prognostic marker of social and role outcome in FEP, and mediated the relationship between SC and social outcome, and NC and role outcome; these relationships may be important when considering interventions to improve functional outcome in early psychosis.
Clinical staging for youth at‐risk for serious mental illness: A longitudinal perspective
Authors: Addington Jean , Liu Lu , Farris Megan S. , Goldstein Benjamin I. , Wang Jian Li , Kennedy Sidney H. , Bray Signe , Lebel Catherine , MacQueen Glenda
Published: October 2020

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify a sample of youth in distinct stages of risk for the development of a serious mental illness (SMI) according to a published clinical staging model and to follow this sample longitudinally to determine clinical changes over time. This article reports the 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up of the cohort.

Methods

This study recruited 243 youth, ages 12 to 25. The sample included (a) 42 healthy controls, (b) 41 nonhelpseeking individuals with no mental illness but some risk of SMI, for example, having a first‐degree relative with an SMI (stage 0), (c) 53 youth experiencing distress and mild symptoms of anxiety or depression (stage 1a), and (d) 107 youth with attenuated symptoms of SMIs such as bipolar disorder or psychosis (stage 1b). Participants completed a range of measures assessing depression, anxiety, mania, suicide ideation, attenuated psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, anhedonia and beliefs about oneself at baseline, 6‐ and 12‐months.

Results

There were few changes for healthy controls and stage 0 participants, although approximately 7% did move to a symptomatic stage within 12‐months. Of stage 1a participants, 50% remained symptomatic, with 7.5% moving to stage 1b or developing a SMI. Approximately 9% of stage 1byouth developed a SMI within 12‐months and approximately one‐third had remission of symptoms during the follow‐up.

Conclusions

Results suggest that the implementation of a transdiagnostic staging model may be useful in youth mental health and support consideration of clinical stage‐based treatment for youth with early features of risk.
Academics' effectiveness and professional development in Croatia: Challenges for human resource management in higher education institutions
Authors: Sušanj Zoran , Jakopec Ana , Đorić Ana
Published: October 2020

The relationship between higher education and profound global economic, social, technological and political transformations underway in recent decades is attracting growing public and professional interest. In this context, governmental bodies, higher education institutions and academics are under pressure to improve the effectiveness and professional development of academic staff. This article explores the need to adapt current human resource management practices in higher education in Croatia as a response. The article presents recent empirical data from higher education institutions in Austria, Croatia and Finland collected in the international project “Modernisation of Higher Education Institutions through Enhancement of Human Resources Management Function”. Descriptive indicators of current human resource management practices in higher education institutions reveal substantially different levels of development and use of certain practices to manage the effectiveness and professional development of academics. This article discusses the role of the human resource function at higher education institutions, the possibilities of using specific human resource development activities designed for different job roles held by academics, the importance of a performance management system that suits the academic environment, and the need for a strategic approach to human resource management at higher education institutions.
Survival trends in elderly myeloma patients
Authors: Jones Adam , Bowcock Stella , Rachet Bernard
Published: October 2020

Objective

Myeloma is primarily a disease of the elderly, but older patients experience poorer outcomes. Effective treatments may not be offered to older patients over fears about toxicity, particularly for those with comorbidities. We aimed to characterise the trend in survival disparity between older and younger patients and assess to what extent comorbidity might explain these disparities.

Methods

We examined records for 56 010 patients diagnosed with myeloma in England between 1998‐2014. The Hospital Episode Statistics database provided information on comorbidity. Net survival was estimated for each diagnosis period. Adjusted excess hazard ratios for the effect of age were estimated using flexible parametric models.

Results

Net survival increased for all age groups over the study period. However, older patients experienced a higher risk of death from their disease consistent between 1998 and 2014. Adjusting for comorbidity made little difference to the estimates.

Conclusion

Factors other than comorbidity must explain the poorer survival experience of elderly patients. Treatment data were not examined and should be employed by future population studies. Inconsistent treatment of elderly patients with myeloma may be prevented by further use of pragmatic clinical trials which are inclusive of older adults, and also wider utilisation of frailty scores.
Evidence for embryo–embryo interactions in controlling hatching time and synchronization in the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: Tanaka Seiji , Kotaki Toyomi
Published: October 2020

The mechanisms controlling egg diapause and circadian rhythms of hatching activity have been extensively studied in insects. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the mechanisms controlling synchronized hatching from an egg mass. In this study, we examined the possible involvement of embryo–embryo interaction in controlling hatching time in Halyomorpha halys (Stål). Eggs tended to hatch earlier as the egg mass size increased. Egg separation and clumping of separated eggs at various times showed that hatching synchrony was largely determined shortly before hatching. However, whether eggs were kept in a mass or separated until several hours before hatching also influenced the hatching time, indicating the presence of embryo–embryo interactions. Eggs derived from different masses and kept in physical contact with one another hatched synchronously if their ages were within approximately 8 h. In this case, both younger and older eggs advanced only in hatching time, in contrast to a case of locusts reported by others. Eggs separated by more than 7 mm hatched as synchronously as those kept in a mass when glued to the same substrate, suggesting an important role of the egg substrate in transmitting the vibrational hatching signals to neighboring sibling eggs to synchronize hatching.
Effect of restoration measures in Atlantic rivers: A 25‐year overview of sea and riverine brown trout populations in the River Bidasoa
Authors: García‐Vega Ana , Leunda Pedro M. , Ardaiz José , Sanz‐Ronda Francisco Javier
Published: October 2020

Effective protection of migratory fish requires long‐term conservation encompassing active restoration and management measures with follow‐up studies. The main findings of long‐term (1995–2019) monitoring of anadromous and potamodromous brown trout Salmo trutta in the River Bidasoa are presented. The main aims were evaluating trout number and median migration date changes, and assessing the effects of management (closures, size limits and quotas, fish stoking) and connectivity measures (fishways and weir removals). Results showed an increasing trend in upstream migrants and decrease in migration dates (earlier migrations). Effects of overlapping measures were difficult to differentiate and were affected by environmental conditions. Statistical analysis demonstrated that fishing closures (2008–2011) and fishway construction (2008) were of great importance, whereas the effect of fish stocking (2003–2012) was variable and unclear. The unexpectedly short‐term effect of three weir removals (2014–2016) may have been due to unusually high discharges in March, affecting the recruitment during previous years.
An appraisal of the drivers of Norwegian spring‐spawning herring (Clupea harengus) recruitment
Authors: Garcia Théo , Planque Benjamin , Arneberg Per , Bogstad Bjarte , Skagseth Øystein , Tiedemann Maik
Published: October 2020

Norwegian spring‐spawning herring (NSSH, Clupea harengus) is a key species in the food‐web and for fisheries in the north‐east Atlantic. NSSH has been the focus of many ecological and fisheries studies over decades and several hypotheses have been put forward to explain variations in its recruitment. We conducted an extensive literature review of the processes that have been hypothesized to control recruitment at age‐2 years. From this review, we constructed a conceptual model to represent how these processes are inter‐connected. We then evaluated several of these hypothesized processes using quantile regression modelling and the most recent available data series as input. Most of the hypotheses were not supported by our analyses. Only two hypotheses were supported: the top‐down control of herring larval stage by Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and the positive effect of temperature on recruitment. For the latter the interpretation of the results is nevertheless ambiguous when the latest years (1998–2018) of observations are included, as the correlation then changes from positive to negative. Furthermore, when retesting the hypotheses on age‐2 years estimates, we observe a benefitting effect of a consistent strong forcing of the Norwegian Coastal Current and a possible positive effect of the NSSH spawning stock on recruitment. How much these hypotheses can be used to make predictions about future recruitment of herring remains to be tested but based on our results, the relatively short time series available and the dispersion of the observations around the regression models, we can anticipate that such predictions would have limited use for the purpose of fisheries assessment and management.
Warming temperatures could expose more than 1.3 billion new people to Zika virus risk by 2050
Authors: Ryan Sadie J. , Carlson Colin J. , Tesla Blanka , Bonds Matthew H. , Ngonghala Calistus N. , Mordecai Erin A. , Johnson Leah R. , Murdock Courtney C.
Published: October 2020

In the aftermath of the 2015 pandemic of Zika virus (ZIKV), concerns over links between climate change and emerging arboviruses have become more pressing. Given the potential that much of the world might remain at risk from the virus, we used a previously established temperature‐dependent transmission model for ZIKV to project climate change impacts on transmission suitability risk by mid‐century (a generation into the future). Based on these model predictions, in the worst‐case scenario, over 1.3 billion new people could face suitable transmission temperatures for ZIKV by 2050. The next generation will face substantially increased ZIKV transmission temperature suitability in North America and Europe, where naïve populations might be particularly vulnerable. Mitigating climate change even to moderate emissions scenarios could significantly reduce global expansion of climates suitable for ZIKV transmission, potentially protecting around 200 million people. Given these suitability risk projections, we suggest an increased priority on research establishing the immune history of vulnerable populations, modeling when and where the next ZIKV outbreak might occur, evaluating the efficacy of conventional and novel intervention measures, and increasing surveillance efforts to prevent further expansion of ZIKV.
Large uncertainties in future biome changes in Africa call for flexible climate adaptation strategies
Authors: Martens Carola , Hickler Thomas , Davis‐Reddy Claire , Engelbrecht Francois , Higgins Steven I. , von Maltitz Graham P. , Midgley Guy F. , Pfeiffer Mirjam , Scheiter Simon
Published: October 2020

Anthropogenic climate change is expected to impact ecosystem structure, biodiversity and ecosystem services in Africa profoundly. We used the adaptive Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (aDGVM), which was originally developed and tested for Africa, to quantify sources of uncertainties in simulated African potential natural vegetation towards the end of the 21st century. We forced the aDGVM with regionally downscaled high‐resolution climate scenarios based on an ensemble of six general circulation models (GCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). Our study assessed the direct effects of climate change and elevated CO2 on vegetation change and its plant‐physiological drivers. Total increase in carbon in aboveground biomass in Africa until the end of the century was between 18% to 43% (RCP4.5) and 37% to 61% (RCP8.5) and was associated with woody encroachment into grasslands and increased woody cover in savannas. When direct effects of CO2 on plants were omitted, woody encroachment was muted and carbon in aboveground vegetation changed between –8 to 11% (RCP 4.5) and –22 to –6% (RCP8.5). Simulated biome changes lacked consistent large‐scale geographical patterns of change across scenarios. In Ethiopia and the Sahara/Sahel transition zone, the biome changes forecast by the aDGVM were consistent across GCMs and RCPs. Direct effects from elevated CO2 were associated with substantial increases in water use efficiency, primarily driven by photosynthesis enhancement, which may relieve soil moisture limitations to plant productivity. At the ecosystem level, interactions between fire and woody plant demography further promoted woody encroachment. We conclude that substantial future biome changes due to climate and CO2 changes are likely across Africa. Because of the large uncertainties in future projections, adaptation strategies must be highly flexible. Focused research on CO2 effects, and improved model representations of these effects will be necessary to reduce these uncertainties.
Ecologically adaptable Populus simonii is specific for recalcitrance‐reduced lignocellulose and largely enhanced enzymatic saccharification among woody plants
Authors: Lv Zhengyi , Liu Fei , Zhang Youbing , Tu Yuanyuan , Chen Peng , Peng Liangcai
Published: October 2020

Woody plants provide enormous biomass resource convertible for biofuels and bioproducts, but they are of typical lignified secondary cell walls with strong recalcitrance against biomass degradation. It thus becomes critical to find out the desirable woody plant enabled for efficient biomass enzymatic saccharification. In this study, we collected totally seven biomass samples from three major hardwood species showing worldwide geographic distributions and diverse cell wall compositions. Under acid (H2SO4) and alkali (NaOH, CaO) pretreatments, all biomass samples showed remarkably enhanced enzymatic saccharification, but the Populus simonii species had the highest hexoses yields from all pretreatments performed. In particular, the mild and green‐like pretreatment (10% CaO, 50°C) could lead to more than 70% cellulose degradation into fermentable hexoses in the P. simonii species, but only 24%–38% cellulose digestions were examined in the other six samples. Importantly, the P. simonii species is of the lowest ratios of lignin S/G and hemicellulose Xyl/Ara among seven samples, being two major factors accountable for much improved lignocellulose recalcitrance. These consequently caused the most reduced cellulose DP in the pretreated P. simonii residues for enhanced biomass saccharification. Furthermore, this study performed a genome‐wide profiling of gene expression to confirm distinct wall polymer biosynthesis and biomass metabolism in the P. simonii species, consistent with its significantly improved lignocellulose recalcitrance. Therefore, this study has found out the desirable model of woody plants for efficient biomass enzymatic saccharification under cost‐effective and green‐like pretreatments, providing a powerful strategy for genetic lignocellulose modification in woody plants and beyond.
Characterization of hepatitis B virus DNA integration patterns in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Li Mengge , Du Min , Cong Hui , Gu Yuanyuan , Fang Yuan , Li Jin , Gan Yu , Tu Hong , Gu Jinyang , Xia Qiang
Published: October 2020

Aim

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration is one of the mechanisms contributing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, the status of HBV integration in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is poorly understood. This study aims to characterize the viral integration in HBV‐related ICC.

Methods

The presence of HBV S and C gene in ICCs and the paratumor tissue was determined by polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing. Hepatitis B virus integration was detected by a high‐throughput capture sequencing method. The expression analysis of the genes targeted by HBV in ICC was undertaken in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset.

Results

Hepatitis B virus S and/or C gene fragments were detected in 71.43% (10/14) ICCs and 57.14% (8/14) paratumor tissues. Using the high‐throughput capture sequencing approach, 139 and 183 HBV integration breakpoints were identified from seven ICC and seven paired paratumor tissues, respectively. Seven genes (TERT, CEACAM20, SPATA18, TRERF1, ZNF23, LINC01449, and LINC00486) were recurrently targeted by HBV‐DNA in different ICC tissues or different cell populations of the same tissue. TERT, which is the most preferential HBV target gene in HCC, was found to be repeatedly interrupted by HBV‐DNA in three different ICC tissues. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, TERT, as well as three other HBV recurrently targeted genes (SPATA18, TRERF1, and ZNF23), showed differential expression levels between ICC and para‐ICC tissues.

Conclusions

Taken together, HBV integration is a common event in HBV‐related ICC. The HBV recurrent integration genes identified from this study, such as TERT, provide new clues for further research on the causative link between HBV infection and ICC.
Hepatocellular carcinoma after Fontan surgery: A systematic review
Authors: Rodriguez De Santiago Enrique , Téllez Luis , Guerrero Antonio , Albillos Agustín
Published: October 2020

Aim

Fontan surgery is often the procedure of choice for patients with congenital single effective ventricle. In the long term, elevated systemic venous pressure and chronic ischemia following this procedure could lead to advanced chronic liver disease and there is also a risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review systematically summarizes the characteristics and outcomes of this rare condition.

Methods

PubMed and Embase databases were searched from inception to January 2020 for studies reporting on HCC after Fontan surgery. The factors analyzed were clinical presentation, histology, imaging findings, treatments, and survival. Our primary analysis was based on biopsy‐proven HCC.

Results

The records selected were 26 observational studies (19 case reports/case series and seven cohort studies) including 65 biopsy‐proven HCC. Age at the time of HCC diagnosis ranged from 12 to 52 years, and 62% of the patients were female. Only one case occurred earlier than 10 years after Fontan surgery. Twenty patients had no imaging or histological evidence of liver cirrhosis and 78.3% had elevated α‐fetoprotein levels. Advanced stage was the most common at diagnosis. The most frequent treatments were transarterial chemoembolization (n = 18) and surgery (n = 12). One‐year survival was 50% and only four patients (6.2%) were under liver imaging surveillance. We also analyzed 17 patients with non‐biopsy‐proven HCC.

Conclusions

After Fontan surgery, HCC usually occurs at least 10 years later and can develop in the absence of cirrhosis. Biopsy is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis. Patients were diagnosed at a late stage and survival outcomes were poor, highlighting a need for liver surveillance.
An exercise intervention for people with serious mental illness: Findings from a qualitative data analysis using participatory theme elicitation
Authors: Yap Jade , McCartan Claire , Davidson Gavin , White Chris , Bradley Liam , Webb Paul , Badham Jennifer , Breslin Gavin , Best Paul
Published: October 2020

Background

People with severe mental illness (SMI) often have poorer physical health than the general population. A coproduced physical activity intervention to improve physical activity for people with SMI in Northern Ireland was evaluated by co‐researchers (researchers with lived experience of SMI) and academic researchers using a new approach to participatory data analysis called participatory theme elicitation (PTE).

Objective

Co‐researchers and academic researchers analysed the data from the pilot study using PTE. This paper aimed to compare these analyses to validate the findings of the study and explore the validity of the PTE method in the context of the evaluation of a physical activity intervention for individuals with SMI.

Results

There was alignment and congruence of some themes across groups. Important differences in the analyses across groups included the use of language, with the co‐researchers employing less academic and clinical language, and structure of themes generated, with the academic researchers including subthemes under some umbrella themes.

Conclusions

The comparison of analyses supports the validity of the PTE approach, which is a meaningful way of involving people with lived experience in research. PTE addresses the power imbalances that are often present in the analysis process and was found to be acceptable by co‐researchers and academic researchers alike.