bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Nag‐like dioxygenase initiates 3,4‐dichloronitrobenzene degradation via 4,5‐dichlorocatechol in Diaphorobacter sp. strain JS3050
Authors: Gao Yi‐Zhou , Palatucci Mallory L. , Waidner Lisa A. , Li Tao , Guo Yuan , Spain Jim C. , Zhou Ning‐Yi
Published: October 2020

The chemical synthesis intermediate 3,4‐dichloronitrobenzene (3,4‐DCNB) is an environmental pollutant. Diaphorobacter sp. strain JS3050 utilizes 3,4‐DCNB as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. However, the molecular determinants of its catabolism are poorly understood. Here, the complete genome of strain JS3050 was sequenced and key genes were expressed heterologously to establish the details of its degradation pathway. A chromosome‐encoded three‐component nitroarene dioxygenase (DcnAaAbAcAd) converted 3,4‐DCNB stoichiometrically to 4,5‐dichlorocatechol, which was transformed to 3,4‐dichloromuconate by a plasmid‐borne ring‐cleavage chlorocatechol 1,2‐dioxygenase (DcnC). On the chromosome, there are also genes encoding enzymes (DcnDEF) responsible for the subsequent transformation of 3,4‐dichloromuconate to β‐ketoadipic acid. The fact that the genes responsible for the catabolic pathway are separately located on plasmid and chromosome indicates that recent assembly and ongoing evolution of the genes encoding the pathway is likely. The regiospecificity of 4,5‐dichlorocatechol formation from 3,4‐DCNB by DcnAaAbAcAd represents a sophisticated evolution of the nitroarene dioxygenase that avoids misrouting of toxic intermediates. The findings enhance the understanding of microbial catabolic diversity during adaptive evolution in response to xenobiotics released into the environment.
Family–teacher partnerships: families' and teachers' experiences of working together to support learners with disabilities in South Africa
Authors: McKenzie Judith , Shanda Nozwelo , Aldersey Heather Michelle
Published: October 2020

Family and teacher partnerships have an important role to play in the education of learners with disabilities. The South African Schools Act of 1996 has made provision for families to play a pivotal role in the school governing body, whether their child has a disability or not. National and international research shows that strong family–teacher partnerships improve children's academic performance as well as the family's quality of life. This study explores families' and teachers' co‐operative experiences of supporting learners with disabilities in special and full‐service schools in South Africa. Data were drawn from 39 individual interviews with teachers and five focus group discussions with 27 family members of learners with disabilities. The findings show both positive and negative interactive experiences regarding communication, extending learning from school to home, power dynamics and advocacy, and commitment. Consideration of these aspects will contribute to improving education for learners with disabilities.
Organizational integration, practice capabilities, and outcomes in clinically complex medicare beneficiaries
Authors: Colla Carrie , Yang Wendy , Mainor Alexander J. , Meara Ellen , Ouayogode Marietou H. , Lewis Valerie A. , Shortell Stephen , Fisher Elliott
Published: October 2020

Objective

To assess the association between clinical integration and financial integration, quality‐focused care delivery processes, and beneficiary utilization and outcomes.

Data Sources

Multiphysician practices in the 2017‐2018 National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems (response rate 47%) and 2017 Medicare claims data.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study of Medicare beneficiaries attributed to physician practices, focusing on two domains of integration: clinical (coordination of patient services, use of protocols, individual clinician measures, access to information) and financial (financial management and planning across operating units). We examined the association between integration domains, the adoption of quality‐focused care delivery processes, beneficiary utilization and health‐related outcomes, and price‐adjusted spending using linear regression adjusting for practice and beneficiary characteristics, weighting to account for sampling and nonresponse.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

1 604 580 fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 or older attributed to 2113 practices. Of these, 414 209 beneficiaries were considered clinically complex (frailty or 2 + chronic conditions).

Principal Findings

Financial integration and clinical integration were weakly correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.19). Clinical integration was associated with significantly greater adoption of quality‐focused care delivery processes, while financial integration was associated with lower adoption of these processes. Integration was not generally associated with reduced utilization or better beneficiary‐level health‐related outcomes, but both clinical integration and financial integration were associated with lower spending in both the complex and noncomplex cohorts: (clinical complex cohort: ‐$2518, [95% CI: −3324, −1712]; clinical noncomplex cohort: ‐$255 [95% CI: −413, −97]; financial complex cohort: ‐$997 [95% CI: ‐$1320, ‐$679]; and financial noncomplex cohort: ‐$143 [95% CI: −210, ‐$76]).

Conclusions

Higher levels of financial integration were not associated with improved care delivery or with better health‐related beneficiary outcomes. Nonfinancial forms of integration deserve greater attention, as practices scoring high in clinical integration are more likely to adopt quality‐focused care delivery processes and have greater associated reductions in spending in complex patients.
Excellent suppression of physiological myocardial FDG activity in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis
Authors: Sankaran Shyam S , Kyprianou Katerina , Cherk Martin H , Nadebaum David P , Beech Paul A , Khor Robert , Zimmet Hendrik , Hare James L , Larby Annabel , Yap Kenneth SK , Barber Thomas W
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Suppression of physiological myocardial FDG activity is vital in patients undergoing PET/CT for assessment of known or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of physiological myocardial FDG suppression following a protocol change to a 24‐h high fat very low carbohydrate (HFVLC) diet and prolonged fast.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients undergoing FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of cardiac sarcoidosis was performed. Prior to June‐2018, patients were prepared with a single very high‐fat low carbohydrate meal followed by a 12–18 h fast (group 1). After June‐2018, a protocol change was initiated with patients prepared with a HFVLC diet for 24‐h followed by a 12–18 h fast (group 2). Focal myocardial activity was classified as positive, absent activity as negative and diffuse/focal on diffuse activity as indeterminate.

Results

A total of 94 FDG PET/CT scans were included with 46 scans in group 1 and 48 scans in group 2. Studies were classified as positive, negative or indeterminate in 25 (54%), 7 (15%) and 14 (30%) scans in group 1 and in 13 (27%), 33 (69%) and 2 (4%) scans in group 2, respectively. In scans classified as negative, myocardial FDG activity was less than mediastinal blood pool activity in 5/7 (71%) scans in group 1 and 33/33 (100%) scans in group 2.

Conclusion

Excellent myocardial FDG suppression can be achieved using a 24‐h HFVLC diet and prolonged fast, resulting in a very low indeterminate scan rate in patients with known or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis.
Myositis induced by durvalumab in a patient with non‐small cell lung cancer: A case report
Authors: Kobayashi Miyuki , Saiki Masafumi , Omori Chisa , Ide Shuichiro , Masuda Kazuki , Sogami Yusuke , Hata Takanori , Ishihara Hiroshi
Published: October 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibition is associated with a broad spectrum of immune toxicities referred to as immune‐related adverse events (irAEs). Myositis is known to be a potentially fatal irAE. Here, we report a case of immune‐related myositis after the administration of durvalumab. A 60‐year‐old man with stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma was treated with durvalumab after concurrent chemoradiation therapy. After the third dose of durvalumab, his serum CK level was elevated, and soon thereafter myalgia of the proximal muscles and blepharoptosis were observed. We diagnosed immune‐related myositis based on the results of pathological examination and initiated systemic corticosteroid therapy. His symptoms then improved and the serum CK level immediately dropped to within a normal range. Clinicians should be aware of possible myositis during the early phase of durvalumab therapy.
Tinkering Care, State Responsibility, and Abandonment: Nuclear Test Veterans and the Mismatched Temporalities of Justice in Claims for Health Care
Authors: Trundle Catherine
Published: October 2020

This article critically engages with Mol, Moser, and Pols’ notion of “tinkering” care (2010) as “attentive experimentation.” I explore the limits of tinkering care for United Kingdom and New Zealand military veterans who participated in British nuclear bomb testing in the Pacific. Although the British state has assured the men that they were exposed to safe levels of radiation, test veterans continue to believe their ill health is service related. Over fifty years of seeking care and recognition, the test veterans have dealt with multiple state actors and medical professionals who have successively taken over responsibility for their care and their claims. Each new agent seeks novel ways to fine tune service provision, biomedical knowledge about the men’s illnesses, as well as their experiences of care. All the while, they offer no final endpoint to claim making, knowledge production, care provisions, and compensation. This approach is starkly in contrast to the urgent temporality within which aging veterans seek definitive decisions, care, and recognition that reduces (rather than extends) their engagements with the state. This article thus considers the moments and circumstances when actors actively work against the unsettled, experimental qualities of care in order to feel truly cared for.
Transcultural adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Asia
Authors: Naeem Farooq , Latif Madeeha , Mukhtar Firdaus , Kim Youl‐Ri , Li Weihui , Butt Mirrat Gul , Kumar Nimisha , Ng Roger
Published: October 2020

Background

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is an evidence based therapy and is now recommended by national organizations in many high income countries. CBT is underpinned by the European values and therefore for it to be effective in other cultures it needs to be adapted.

Aims

This paper describes an evidence based approach to culturally adapt CBT in Asian context, areas of focus for such adaptation and lessons learned.

Methods

An environmental scan of the literature, description of local CBT associations and perspectives from these organizations.

Results

Cultural adaptation of CBT focuses on three main areas; 1 awareness of culture and related issues, 2 assessment and 3 adjustment in therapy techniques.

Conclusions

The last decade has seen an increase in culturally adapted CBT in Asia, however, more work needs to be done to improve access to CBT in Asia.
Clinical significance of BIM deletion polymorphism in chemoradiotherapy for non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wakabayashi Yu , Masuda Takeshi , Fujitaka Kazunori , Nakashima Taku , Okumoto Joe , Shimoji Kiyofumi , Nishimura Yoshifumi , Yamaguchi Kakuhiro , Sakamoto Shinjiro , Horimasu Yasushi , Miyamoto Shintaro , Iwamoto Hiroshi , Ohshimo Shinichiro , Hamada Hironobu , Hattori Noboru
Published: October 2020

The standard treatment for locally advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by anti‐programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (anti‐PD‐L1) treatment. BIM deletion polymorphism induces the suppression of apoptosis resulting from epidermal growth factor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors in EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients. We aimed to examine the effects of BIM polymorphism on CRT and anti‐PD‐L1/PD‐1 treatment in NSCLC patients. In this retrospective study of 1312 patients with unresectable NSCLC treated at Higashi‐Hiroshima Medical Center and Hiroshima University Hospital between April 1994 and October 2019, we enrolled those who underwent CRT or chemotherapy using carboplatin + paclitaxel or cisplatin + vinorelbine, or anti‐PD‐L1/PD‐1 treatment. Of 1312 patients, 88, 80, and 74 underwent CRT, chemotherapy, and anti‐PD‐L1/PD‐1 treatment, respectively, and 17.0%, 15.2% and 17.6% of these patients showed BIM polymorphism. Among patients receiving CRT, the progression‐free survival was significantly shorter in those with BIM deletion than in those without. In the multivariate analyses, BIM polymorphism was an independent factor of poor anti‐tumor effects. These results were not observed in the chemotherapy and anti‐PD‐L1/PD‐1 treatment groups. In in vitro experiments, BIM expression suppression using small interfering RNA in NSCLC cell lines showed a significantly suppressed anti‐tumor effect and apoptosis after irradiation but not chemotherapy. In conclusion, we showed that BIM polymorphism was a poor‐predictive factor for anti‐tumor effects in NSCLC patients who underwent CRT, specifically radiotherapy. In the implementation of CRT in patients with BIM polymorphism, we should consider subsequent treatment, keeping in mind that CRT may be insufficient.
Impact of cytological pitfalls in the Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology, on surgical decision‐making of patients with thyroid nodules: Can these pitfalls be avoided?
Authors: Rana Chanchal , Singh Kul Ranjan , Ramakant Pooja , Babu Suresh , Mishra Anand
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The purpose was to assess diagnostic accuracy of the Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology, reasons for disagreement and cytological pitfalls with impact on surgical decisions in patients with thyroid nodules.

Methods

Cases of thyroid cytology with histological follow up were included followed by cytological‐histological correlation and were reviewed to look for reasons for discrepancies. The impact of disagreements and partial agreements on surgical decision was evaluated. Overall and complete diagnostic accuracy were calculated along with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for malignant and neoplastic lesions.

Results

Of 446 cases included in the study, there was complete agreement in 358 cases, partial agreement in 22 cases and disagreement in 66 patients. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 98.5% with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 80%, 99.6%, 100%, 72.7% and 94.3% respectively for malignant lesions. Overall diagnostic accuracy was highest for the malignant category. Follicular patterned lesions, Hürthle cell‐rich smears and overlapping cytological features between benign and malignant follicular neoplasm were the main reason of discrepancy. The discrepancy in cytological diagnosis altered the decision of type of surgery performed in 13.6% of the patients.

Conclusion

Fine needle aspiration cytology remains a powerful screening tool to aid decision‐making in the majority of the patients. Histological‐cytological discrepancy can adversely impact the management of patients. Factors causing an adverse impact on surgical management were rare and potential avoidable reasons for them were identified. Cytological pitfalls may be avoided through screening for minor components, clinico‐radiological correlation and experience.
Climate change aggravates bog species extinctions in the Black Forest (Germany)
Authors: Sperle Thomas , Bruelheide Helge
Published: October 2020

Aim

Bogs and transition mires in Central Europe have undergone tremendous changes in the last decades, declining in spatial extent and favourable conservation status. However, species extinctions have been documented only rarely because of a lack of reliable floristic data. Here, we assessed species losses of bog complexes and analysed their potential drivers.

Location

Black Forest, Germany.

Methods

We made use of the unique situation that the majority of bogs in the Black Forest (124 sites) had been systematically surveyed from 1972 to 1980 and resurveyed the flora of the same sites between 2017 and 2020. In addition, we included further data from the preceding decades.

Results

Out of 88 species for which we compiled site occupancy data, two species went extinct in the whole study area and 37 decreased from 1972 to 2020, losing on average 33% of their initial frequency. In contrast, 46 species displayed a positive trend. While decreasing species were characteristic of raised bogs, moorland ponds and base‐rich mires, increasing species were typical of poor mires, fens and wet meadows. Species losses were higher at low elevation, pointing to increasing temperature increase and decreasing precipitation as main drivers of extinction, while habitat area, distance to the nearest site and land use played no significant role. The mean altitude at which extinctions of populations occurred increased with time. Assuming a continuation of the observed negative trends for declining bog species, our models predict the extinction of further ten species by 2045.

Main Conclusion

Our study highlights the value of systematic and comprehensive past biodiversity surveys to assess biodiversity change. We demonstrated that low‐mountain habitats have already suffered biodiversity loss as a result of climate change. There are only limited management options against rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation.
AUCTIONS WITH LEAKS ABOUT EARLY BIDS: ANALYSIS AND EXPERIMENTAL BEHAVIOR
Authors: Fischer Sven , Güth Werner , Kaplan Todd R. , Zultan Ro'i
Published: October 2020

In sequential first‐ and second‐price private value auctions, second movers are informed about the first movers' bid with commonly known probability. Equilibrium bidding in first‐price auctions is mostly unaffected, but there are multiple equilibria in second‐price auctions affecting comparative statics across price rules. We show experimentally that informational leaks in first‐price auctions qualitatively confirm the theoretical predictions. In second‐price auctions, we analyze and experimentally confirm the existence of focal equilibria, and provide evidence for individual consistency in equilibrium selection. (JEL D44, C72, C91)
Long‐term change in the avifauna of undisturbed Amazonian rainforest: ground‐foraging birds disappear and the baseline shifts
Authors: Stouffer Philip C , Jirinec Vitek , Rutt Cameron L. , Bierregaard Richard O. , Hernández‐Palma Angélica , Johnson Erik I. , Midway Stephen R. , Powell Luke L. , Wolfe Jared D. , Lovejoy Thomas E.
Published: October 2020

How are rainforest birds faring in the Anthropocene? We use bird captures spanning > 35 years from 55 sites within a vast area of intact Amazonian rainforest to reveal reduced abundance of terrestrial and near‐ground insectivores in the absence of deforestation, edge effects or other direct anthropogenic landscape change. Because undisturbed forest includes far fewer terrestrial and near‐ground insectivores than it did historically, today’s fragments and second growth are more impoverished than shown by comparisons with modern ‘control’ sites. Any goals for bird community recovery in Amazonian second growth should recognise that a modern bird community will inevitably differ from a baseline from > 35 years ago. Abundance patterns driven by landscape change may be the most conspicuous manifestation of human activity, but biodiversity declines in undisturbed forest represent hidden losses, possibly driven by climate change, that may be pervasive in intact Amazonian forests and other systems considered to be undisturbed.
Lockdown & me …!! Reflections of working women during the lockdown in Vadodara, Gujarat‐Western India
Authors: Venkataraman Anuratha , Venkataraman Anjali
Published: October 2020

This qualitative study reminisces about the experiences of working women in Vadodara during the lockdown from April to May 2020. It articulates their voices of how they understood themselves during the lockdown and relates their ongoing internal dialogue to the larger conversation on what it means to be a woman in the feminist, gender studies, and in the sociology of work literature. Indian women operate within an intersectional space between Western individualism and persistent patriarchal traditional gendered roles. Their sense of who and what they are, arises through their performative acts of their many roles as daughters, wives, mothers, and daughters‐in‐law. Therefore, their context becomes essential in understanding their lived experiences. Every woman in this study played multifaceted roles during the lockdown, which was not acknowledged by others around them thereby making them feel undervalued. The existential question of who and what am I, which was always in the background, now screamed in their mind. Loneliness and emotional turmoil grew in them, as the interactions within and beyond the house became indifferent, infrequent, and recreative opportunities receded. Work and childcare pressures were harsh on their time and emotions. The fear of getting infected in an earmarked COVID‐19 hotspot was real and frightening. Hence, they well and truly became locked down!
The inclusivity of inclusion approaches: A relational perspective on inclusion and exclusion in organizations
Authors: Dobusch Laura
Published: October 2020

Organizational inclusion has become a key concept when dealing with the topic of diversity and inequality in organizations. Its core claim is to be all‐embracing and to “leave no one behind.” However, can mainstream as well as critical inclusion approaches live up to this claim? In this article, I revisit two central concepts—belongingness and recognition—of both approaches from a feminist disability lens in general and the interests and needs of autistic people in particular. The analysis shows that mainstream and critical inclusion approaches rely on implicit ableist assumptions, which results in autistic people becoming “the other Other” of the organizational inclusion discourse. Yet, instead of judging the “inclusion project” as failed, the article pleads for the acknowledgement of inclusion as always partial, based on implicit boundary drawing. Such a view makes it possible to discuss the il‐/legitimacy of certain boundaries and their inclusionary and exclusionary consequences.
The impact of assurance on compliance management systems on bank directors' decisions
Authors: Quick Reiner , Sayar Sanjar
Published: October 2020

Numerous corporate scandals, in conjunction with managerial misbehavior, demonstrate the need for compliance management systems (CMS) and the relevance of CMS assurance. This study investigates the impact of CMS assurance on German bank directors' perceptions and decisions, and analyzes whether the type of assurer and the level of provided assurance are relevant. For this purpose, we conducted an experiment with 105 bank directors and used ANOVA to analyze their reliance on the hypothetical company's CMS, and their decisions regarding credit granting, purchase, and recommendation of shares. We chose a 2 × 2 + 1 between‐subjects design, manipulating the assurance provider (audit firm vs. third party) and the level of assurance (limited vs. reasonable), and adding a control condition without any assurance. Our results suggest that assured CMS positively affect bank directors' perceptions and decisions, compared to CMS without assurance. Furthermore, we find that our perception measure and all three of our decision measures are strongly associated with the choice of assurance provider, but only two decision measures are associated with the assurance level. Bank directors prefer assurance provision by an audit firm, whereas the findings regarding the impact of the assurance level are inconclusive. The study's results, which confirm the decision‐usefulness of CMS assurance, are of interest for managers, in particular compliance officers, auditors, creditors, regulators, and academics.
Evaluation of SIMCA and PLS algorithms to detect adulterants in canola oil by FT‐IR
Authors: Gagneten Maite , Buera María del Pilar , Rodríguez Silvio D.
Published: October 2020

Adulteration of canola oil with four potential edible oils was analysed using FT‐IR and chemometric methods. The adulterants (corn, peanut, soya bean and sunflower oils) were studied in four different proportions (canola oil + adulterant oils: 90 + 10, 95 + 5, 98 + 2 and 99 + 1 in volume). Excellent classification results were obtained when multi‐class approaches were performed with a maximum error of 3%, using 1630 or 16 wavenumbers as variables. In the case of one‐class approaches, the selection of variables (16 wavenumbers) was necessary, improving the classification error to 5%. The differences observed using the different methods were related to the nature of each model depending on how the boundaries are set in each of them, responding either to a PCA‐based or PLS‐based algorithm.
Looking Beyond Employment: Participation Profiles of Syrian Refugees in the Netherlands
Authors: Miltenburg Emily , Dagevos Jaco
Published: October 2020

There is growing support at policy level in the Netherlands for the notion that different forms of participation by newly arrived refugees should take place simultaneously, not sequentially. Using Dutch large‐scale survey data on Syrian refugees with a residence permit, this study explores whether this policy idea of a parallel approach of (economic, educational and societal) participation is provided in practice. We find that Syrians on average combine two forms of participation: language lessons are the most dominant form of participation and are regularly combined with volunteering, but far less commonly with employment or education. With a latent class analysis, we found four participation profiles: two small active groups (termed active seekers and eager learners) and two less active groups (language learners and cautious starters). Higher pre‐migration human capital, more activities in the asylum reception centre, more contacts with natives and being younger and male are associated with more participation.
Letter to the Editor: ‘On Quantile‐based Asymmetric Family of Distributions: Properties and Inference’
Authors: Rubio Alvarez Francisco J.
Published: October 2020

We show that the family of asymmetric distributions studied in a recent publication in the International Statistical Review is equivalent to the family of two‐piece distributions. Moreover, we show that the location‐scale asymmetric family proposed in that publication is non‐identifiable (overparameterised), and it coincides with the family of two‐piece distributions after removing the redundant parameters.
Influence of pressure and dwell time on pressure‐assisted sintering of calcium cobaltite
Authors: Bresch Sophie , Mieller Björn , Schönauer‐Kamin Daniela , Moos Ralf , Reimann Timmy , Giovannelli Fabien , Rabe Torsten
Published: October 2020

Calcium cobaltite Ca3Co4O9, abbreviated Co349, is a promising thermoelectric material for high‐temperature applications in air. Its anisotropic properties can be assigned to polycrystalline parts by texturing. Tape casting and pressure‐assisted sintering (PAS) are a possible future way for a cost‐effective mass‐production of thermoelectric generators. This study examines the influence of pressure and dwell time during PAS at 900°C of tape‐cast Co349 on texture and thermoelectric properties. Tape casting aligns lentoid Co349. PAS results in a textured Co349 microstructure with the thermoelectrically favorable ab‐direction perpendicular to the pressing direction. By pressure variation during sintering, the microstructure of Co349 can be tailored either toward a maximum figure of merit as required for energy harvesting or toward a maximum power factor as required for energy harvesting. Moderate pressure of 2.5 MPa results in 25% porosity and a textured microstructure with a figure of merit of 0.13 at 700°C, two times higher than the dry‐pressed, pressureless‐sintered reference. A pressure of 7.5 MPa leads to 94% density and a high power factor of 326 µW/mK2 at 800°C, which is 11 times higher than the dry‐pressed reference (30 MPa) from the same powder.
Editorial: For crying out loud: Infant signaling and parental responsiveness
Authors: Zeanah Charles H.
Published: October 2020

Crying represents a powerful signal for human newborns. How parents should respond has been a matter of debate, with some urging prompt responding and others expressing concern about spoiling. Despite the fervor of the debate, few longitudinal observational studies have addressed the question. A new study in this issue by Bilgin and Wolke provides important data about ignoring crying in early infancy and its predictive correlates. The results of their investigation are discussed in the context of attachment and behavioral theories.
Lipid metabolism disorders contribute to the pathogenesis of Hepatospora eriocheir in the crab Eriocheir sinensis
Authors: Ding Zhengfeng
Published: October 2020

The microsporidia Hepatospora eriocheir has been identified as an emerging pathogenic agent in the commercial crab Eriocheir sinensis. Histology analysis indicated that hepatopancreas was a significant target for H. eriocheir infection. However, the functional consequences of such tissue tropism remain poorly studied. Considering that hepatopancreas was a centre for lipid metabolism and energy supply, we furtherly investigated the comparative lipid metabolism profiles between the control and H. eriocheir‐infected hepatopancreas by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS)‐based lipidomics approach. Results confirmed that H. eriocheir induced apparent alterations of lipid metabolic phenotypes in hepatopancreas. Sixty‐seven lipids, including triglyceride (TG), diglyceride (DG), sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), ceramide (CER), hexosyl ceramide (HEX CER) and (o‐acyl)‐1‐hydroxy fatty acid (OAHFA), were significantly changed and could be determined as effective biomarkers. TG and DG accounted for the largest proportion (58.2% and 11.9%, respectively). Notably, over 94% of the distinguished lipids presented a similar modified trend with profoundly reduced contents, implying blatant energy exploitation of the parasite. These lipids were involved in pathways of energy and lipid metabolism and signal regulation. Such information suggests that H. eriocheir possibly “starves” the host via destructing hepatopancreas tissue together with appropriate host energy resources, leading to the corresponding alterations of lipid metabolism and a decrease in the colour of the hepatopancreas.
Successful treatment of delayed pressure urticaria with 300 mg of omalizumab every 14 days
Authors: Saylam Kurtipek Gulcan , Zekey Emre , Tuncez Akyurek Fatma
Published: October 2020

Delayed pressure urticaria is a rare form of chronic inducible urticaria characterized by erythematous‐painful plaques that develop in areas of the skin exposed to prolonged pressure. Its treatment is very difficult, and its response to antihistamines is variable. Cases of delayed pressure urticaria, which have been completely controlled with the use of omalizumab in recent years, have been reported.
Virginia Health Catalyst: A public health perspective frames strategies to ensure oral health is health
Authors: Bedard Holland Sarah
Published: October 2020

The Virginia Oral Health Coalition was created to increase the number of Virginians who access dental services. The organization celebrates its tenth birthday with the expanded focus of ensuring everyone in the state has equitable access to comprehensive health care that includes oral health. It also has a new name ‐ Virginia Health Catalyst. Why does removing ‘oral health’ from its' name honor dental care more than keeping it?
Prescribing antibiotics by dentists in Colombia: Toward a conscientious prescription
Authors: Angarita‐Díaz María del Pilar , Bernal‐Cepeda Lilia , Rodriguez‐Paz Martha , Vergara‐Mercado Martha , Herrera‐Herrera Alejandra , Forero‐Escobar Diana , Mora‐Reina Julián , Ochoa‐Acosta Emilia María , Maya‐Giraldo Mónica , Caceres‐Matta Sandra , Tamayo Julián , Martinez‐Cajas Carlos , Fortich‐Mesa Natalia , Bermudez‐Reyes Patricia , Vergara‐Bobadilla Henry
Published: October 2020

Objectives

Inappropriate prescription of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the awareness, attitudes, and intention to practice of dentists prescribing antibiotics in Colombia in order to design a virtual learning environment on this subject.

Methods

In a descriptive study across seven cities, 700 dentists from different Colombian cities were requested to complete a validated questionnaire containing five sections: general information, awareness on antibiotic effectiveness and antibiotic resistance, attitudes regarding prescription decision, intention to practice concerning clinical cases, and complementary information. The level of awareness, attitudes, and intention to practice was determined and Chi‐square test was used to determine the existence of significant differences among cities.

Results

The majority of dentists showed a medium level regarding the number of correct answers on awareness (62.4 percent) and attitudes (88.7 percent) and a high level on intention to practice (91.7 percent). Common errors within the awareness section included the meaning of the term “antibiotic resistance” (35 percent) and most dentists were not convinced that such resistance could be derived from prescription of antibiotics (51.2 percent). In the attitudes section, only 45 percent declared that they prescribe antibiotics based mainly on symptoms, and the intention to practice section showed a significant percentage of unnecessary prescription (51 percent for pacemaker users) or absence of prescription (53.9 percent for ventricular septal defect) in antibiotic prophylaxis for infectious endocarditis (IE).

Conclusion

The dentists interviewed should be trained and made aware of antibiotic resistance, microbiological and clinical foundations, and current antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines.
Prevalence and risk factor for refractive error in rural Chinese adults in Kailu, Inner Mongolia
Authors: Cheng Fang , Shan Li , Song Wulian , Fan Pan , Zhang Lijuan , Wang Xinyu , Yuan Huiping
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of refractive error in adults 40 years of age and older in Kailu, Inner Mongolia.

Methods

A population‐based, cross‐sectional study was conducted in Chinese adults. Spherical equivalent (S.E.) refractive error was determined from the right eye. Myopia and hyperopia were defined as a spherical equivalent (S.E.) < −0.5 dioptres (D) and >0.5 D, respectively. Since the prevalence of high myopia will vary with the precise criterion chosen, the prevalence of this condition was calculated for thresholds of both <−5.0 D and <6.0 D. Astigmatism was defined as cylinder power >0.5 D. Anisometropia was defined as a difference in S.E. between the two eyes >1.0 D.

Results

The prevalence of myopia, high myopia (<−5.0 D/<−6.0 D) and hyperopia in Kailu adults was 60.3% (95%CI: 58.95–61.71), 5.5% (95%CI: 4.82–6.10) /4.0% (95%CI: 3.47–4.57) and 12.2% (95%CI: 11.26–13.11), respectively. The age‐ and gender‐standardised prevalence of myopia, high myopia (−5.0 D/−6.0 D) and hyperopia were 62.5% (95%CI: 61.05–63.99), 5.0% (95%CI: 4.34–5.61) /3.5% (95%CI: 2.99–4.04) and 10.6% (95%CI: 9.71–11.49), respectively. 52.9% had refractive astigmatism >0.5 D and 18.8% of subjects had clinically significant anisometropia. Age was significantly associated with hyperopia, high myopia, astigmatism and anisometropia. Myopia was more prevalent in females. Individuals with a higher educational level had a greater and lesser likelihood of myopia and astigmatism, respectively.

Conclusions

Myopia affects around two‐thirds of the rural Chinese population over 40 years of age in Kailu. This high prevalence highlights that rural populations should be included in epidemiological studies of refractive error. Further investigations are needed to clarify the role of environmental factors in myopia development.
Early school‐age cognitive performance post–pediatric heart transplantation
Authors: Gold Anna , Bondi Bianca C. , Ashkanase Jenna , Dipchand Anne I.
Published: October 2020

Background

As survival in pediatric heart transplantation (HTx) has improved due to medical advances, the analysis of long‐term outcomes impacting quality of life such as cognition and development becomes increasingly important. Neuropsychological assessments provide a comprehensive understanding of individual needs, allowing for the development of tailored recommendations and interventions.

Methods

Routine neuropsychological assessment was completed between 5 and 7 years of age in this cohort of pediatric HTx recipients at our center (Jan 2014‐Oct 2018), including tests of general intellect (WPPSI‐IV, WISC‐V), academics (WIAT‐II/III), perceptual‐motor abilities (Beery VMI), and memory (CMS). Relevant medical variables were collected.

Results

Among 25 children, the median age at testing was 6.7 (IQR:5.8‐7.4) years, with a median time since HTx of 5.2 (IQR:4.8‐6.8) years. Medical diagnoses included congenital heart disease (CHD; 56%) and cardiomyopathy (44%). Cognitive functioning across the intellectual, academic, and perceptual‐motor domains fell within the low‐average range, while memory abilities fell within the average range. DSM‐5 clinical diagnoses were provided for 14 (56%) children: Intellectual Disability‐Mild (20%), Learning Disability (20%), Language Disorder (8%), and Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (12%). The presence of neurological issues and/or CHD predicted poorer performance on various neuropsychological domains.

Conclusions

Over 50% of this cohort of pediatric heart transplant recipients seen for routine post‐HTx neuropsychological assessment received a clinical psychological diagnosis, notably higher than rates in the general population. This population requires monitoring to ensure that high risk children are identified and successfully supported in school and their community.
Long‐term psychosocial outcomes of adults transplanted in childhood: A social work perspective
Authors: Puma Lynn , Doyle Maya
Published: October 2020

While much research exists regarding medical outcomes for pediatric end stage renal disease (ESRD) populations and for adults receiving dialysis or kidney transplant, the understanding of long‐term psychosocial outcomes for individuals diagnosed with ESRD or transplanted in childhood remains limited. A literature review was undertaken by two social work researchers to identify relationship, education, employment, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes for this population utilizing PUBMED and PsycInfo databases. Inconsistencies in the MeSH terms and keywords used across the relevant articles were noted. The impact of transplantation in childhood is significant across multiple facets of social development including but not limited to peer/intimate relationships, education and employment and QOL, and overall well‐being. When compared to healthy peers, those with ESRD were delayed in all areas of social development. While improvements in psychosocial outcomes have occurred alongside improved graft and patient survival, more focused longitudinal and qualitative inquiry is needed. Partnerships are needed across disciplines and across those caring for different age cohorts in pediatric, adult nephrology, and transplant practices.
Quality Disclosure Strategy under Customer Learning Opportunities
Authors: Zhu Han , Yu Yimin , Ray Saibal
Published: October 2020

For experience goods (products or services), given the uncertainty about their actual quality and the growing popularity of social media, potential customers nowadays depend on experiences of peers who have used the goods previously to learn about their quality. In this paper, we study how such customer learning affects a firm's (credible) quality disclosure strategy as well as other relevant decisions. To model such learning, we adopt the anecdotal reasoning framework, which we show to be rational and a special case of the Bayesian framework. There are two main insights that we glean from this study. First, we find that the incorporation of the learning behavior significantly alters the optimal disclosure strategy from its single threshold structure in the extant literature to a multi‐threshold policy. Specifically, firms with high‐ or low‐quality goods prefer not disclosing quality information in order to utilize the pricing flexibility that such a strategy affords; on the other hand, a medium‐quality firm might disclose its quality level, even though this hinders its pricing flexibility, so that customers are confident about it when purchasing the product. Second, we show that the change in the disclosure strategy impacts the optimal pricing decision, which can be non‐monotone in the quality level. Our results suggest that when disclosure is expensive, high‐quality firms are better off educating potential customers through advertising or social media, rather than disclosing their quality levels. They also suggest to policymakers that mandatory quality disclosure may not be socially optimal as more customers obtain quality information through peer learning. Our findings are robust and hold true under quite general customer valuation distributions, in capacitated settings and even when price can be used as a signal of quality level by firms.
Impact of Penalty Cost on Customers' Booking Decisions
Authors: Zhang Jianghua , Long Daniel Zhuoyu , Wang Rowan , Xie Chi
Published: October 2020

We study a novel newsvendor‐type problem where the information on demand quantity is not exogenously given. The customer needs to make the booking decision based on her estimation on demand, which is affected by the value of shortage penalty cost. The problem is motivated by low‐cost airline service practices where passengers need to book baggage allowance for their travel. The baggage overweight price affects the accuracy of passengers' baggage weight estimation and thus their booking quantities. Through stochastic decision models, we analytically characterize the impact of shortage penalty cost on passengers' booking decisions as well as airline's profit. We consider various modeling settings, including a system with multiple passengers and a system where passengers have stochastic inconvenience costs on not‐carrying overweight baggage. The results and insights from our study provide guidelines for firms to set their optimal penalty prices.
Improving the Accuracy of Project Schedules
Authors: Lorko Matej , Servátka Maroš , Zhang Le
Published: October 2020

How to avoid project failures driven by overoptimistic schedules? Managers often attempt to mitigate the duration underestimation and improve the accuracy of project schedules by providing their planners with excessively detailed project specifications. While this traditional approach may be intuitive, solely providing more detailed information has proven to have a limited effect on eliminating behavioral biases. We experimentally test the effectiveness of providing detailed specification and compare it to an alternative intervention of providing historical information about the average duration of similar projects in the past. We find that both interventions mitigate the underestimation bias. However, since providing detailed project specification results in high variance of estimation errors due to sizable over‐ and underestimates, only the provision of historical information leads to more accurate project duration estimates. We also test whether it is more effective to anchor planners by providing historical information simultaneously with the project specification or to provide the historical information only after beliefs regarding the project duration are formed, in which case planners can regress their initial estimates toward the historical average. We find that the timing of disclosing information does not play a role as the estimation bias is mitigated and the accuracy is improved in both conditions. Finally, we observe that the subjective confidence in the accuracy of duration estimates does not vary across the interventions, suggesting that the confidence is neither a function of the amount nor the detail of available information.
The Effect of Operational Process Changes on Preoperative Patient Flow: Evidence from Field Research
Authors: Kistler Justin T. , Janakiraman Ramkumar , Kumar Subodha , Tiwari Vikram
Published: October 2020

We partnered with a leading US academic medical center to empirically examine the impact of operational process changes designed to improve preoperative flow of patients through the perioperative environment. We focus on the implementation of centralized decision‐making and the introduction of an information technology (IT)‐enabled intraoperative prompt, on efficiency, as measured by preoperative patient processing time. We analyze over 33,000 individual surgical cases in a unique field experimental setting to conduct an empirical investigation of the effects of each intervention on patients' time spent in preoperative processing. To identify the causal effect of each process change, we leverage our field experimental research design and cast our analyses in the difference‐in‐differences modeling framework. We compare the preoperative patient processing time of two distinct patient groups, a treatment group that is impacted by the implemented operational changes and a control group that was not impacted by the changes, before and after each process change. Our results suggest a 3.4% reduction in preoperative processing time with only centralized decision‐making in place, yet suggest a 10.8% reduction in preoperative processing time when centralized decision‐making is paired with the IT‐enabled intraoperative prompt. We also find evidence of a complementarity effect between our process changes and surgeon prior process experience. Our study contributes to the healthcare operations literature by demonstrating the benefits of coordinated information flow within the patient supply chain. We offer insights for hospital managers and healthcare operations scholars alike on the role of information coordination in improving preoperative patient flow with minimal impact on existing resources and staff.
Distribution of gold and silver and its relation with hypogene ore minerals in the Esperanza porphyry deposit, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Authors: Kojima Shoji , San Martín María Constanza , Nagase Toshiro , Nakashima Daisuke , Bisso Claudio , Menzies Andrew
Published: October 2020

Modes of occurrence of Au‐ and Ag‐bearing phases and their relation with associated hypogene ore minerals were examined with the objective to elucidate Au‐Ag distribution at the Esperanza porphyry deposit in the Eocene Centinela copper belt, using ore‐microscope modal analysis, semi‐quantitative analyses by automated mineralogy, electron probe microanalysis, and secondary ion mass spectrometer. The Esperanza hypogene mineralization is characterized by early‐stage chalcopyrite‐rich veinlets in the potassic alteration zone and later polymetallic stage with tennantite and galena in the chlorite‐sericitic alteration zone. Only the early‐stage chalcopyrite contains fine‐grained electrum (Au68Ag32 ‐ Au81Ag19) and hessite (Ag2Te), and thus yields positive correlations in Cu vs. Au and Cu vs. Ag grades that are clearly recognized in the hypogene sulfide zone. The early‐stage chalcopyrite grains frequently exhibit polysynthetic twinning suggestive of inversion from intermediate solid solution. These features suggest that the fine‐grained electrum and hessite are products exsolved in the cooling process with the intermediate solid solution to chalcopyrite inversion. In contrast, tennantite and galena of the later‐stage mineralization contain no detectable Ag, and it is thus proposed that the early‐stage inverted chalcopyrite is the principal storage of economically important precious metals.