bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of conventional histological parameters in excision specimens of breast cancer over a 7 year period and association with immunohistochemical categories
Authors: Sanyal Parikshit , Singh Anshuman , Ganguli Prosenjit , Barui Sanghita
Published: June 2020

Background

Along with conventional histological examination, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a useful adjunct to assessment of a breast cancer excision specimen. Previous studies have shown differences in behavior of neoplasms depending on their histopathological as well as immunohistochemical categories; in particular, triple negative breast cancers (on IHC) show the worst prognosis.

Objectives

To find association, if any, within conventional histopathological characteristics (size, grade, stage, mitotic count, desmoplasia, dense inflammatory infiltrate, lymphovascular invasion) and between the conventional parameters and immunohistochemical categories of breast cancer, in both primary and post neo adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) specimens.

Methods

177 breast cancer excision specimens examined over last 7 years were assessed retrospectively, their histopathological parameters were recorded. In cases where immunohistochemistry was performed (N=108) the specimen was placed in one of the immunohistochemical categories: Luminal A, Luminal B, Her2 and Triple negative cancers. The data was then analysed by standard statistical methods.

Results

No statistically significant association was found between the histopathological parameters and IHC category was. However, a strong correlation was seen between lymphovascular invasion within the primary tumor and increasing lymph node involvement. There was also a reduction in ER and PR expression in neoplasms post NACT, while HER2 expression remained largely unchanged.

Conclusion

There might be additional genetic subtypes underlying the immunohistochemical phenotypes which determine the morphological characteristics of the neoplasm.
A Deep Learning Based Cardiac Cine Segmentation Framework for Clinicians – Transfer Learning Application to 7T
Authors: Ankenbrand Markus Johannes , Lohr David , Schlötelburg Wiebke , Reiter Theresa , Wech Tobias , Schreiber Laura Maria
Published: June 2020

Background

Artificial neural networks have shown promising performance in automatic segmentation of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. However, initial training of such networks requires large amounts of annotated data and generalization to different vendors, field strengths, sequence parameters, and pathologies is often limited. Transfer learning has been proposed to address this challenge, but specific recommendations on the type and amount of data required is lacking. In this study we aim to assess data requirements for transfer learning to cardiac 7T in humans where the segmentation task can be challenging. In addition, we provide guidelines, tools, and annotated data to enable transfer learning approaches of other researchers and clinicians.

Methods

A publicly available model for bi-ventricular segmentation is used to annotate a publicly available data set. This labelled data set is subsequently used to train a neural network for segmentation of left ventricular and myocardial contours in cardiac cine MRI. The network is used as starting point for transfer learning to the segmentation task on 7T cine data of healthy volunteers (n=22, 7873 images). Structured and random data subsets of different sizes were used to systematically assess data requirements for successful transfer learning.

Results

Inconsistencies in the publically available data set were corrected, labels created, and a neural network trained. On 7T cardiac cine images the initial model achieved DICELV=0.835 and DICEMY=0.670. Transfer learning using 7T cine data and ImageNet weight initialization significantly (p<10−3) improved model performance to DICELV=0.900 and DICEMY=0.791. Using only end-systolic and end-diastolic images reduced training data by 90%, with no negative impact on segmentation performance (DICELV=0.908, DICEMY=0.805).

Conclusions

This work demonstrates the benefits of transfer learning for cardiac cine image segmentation on a quantitative basis. We also make data, models and code publicly available, while providing practical guidelines for researchers planning transfer learning projects in cardiac MRI.
Deregulated cellular circuits driving immunoglobulins and complement consumption associate with the severity of COVID-19
Authors: Marcos-Jiménez Ana , Sánchez-Alonso Santiago , Alcaraz-Serna Ana , Esparcia Laura , López-Sanz Celia , Sampedro-Núñez Miguel , Mateu-Albero Tamara , Sánchez-Cerrillo Ildefonso , Martínez-Fleta Pedro , Gabrie Ligia , del Campo Guerola Luciana , López-Trascasa Margarita , Martín-Gayo Enrique , Calzada María , Castañeda Santos , de la Fuente Hortensia , González-Álvaro Isidoro , Sánchez-Madrid Francisco , Muñoz-Calleja Cecilia , Alfranca Arantzazu
Published: June 2020

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes an abrupt response by the host immune system, which is largely responsible for the pathogenesis and outcome of COVID-19. We aimed to investigate which specific responses from either cellular or humoral immunity associate to severity and progression of COVID-19.

Methods

A cohort of 276 patients classified in mild, moderate and severe, was studied. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were quantified by flow cytometry, and immunoglobulins and complement proteins by nephelometry.

Results

At admission, dramatic lymphopenia of T, B and NK cells associated to severity. However, only the proportion of B cells increased, while T and NK cells appeared unaffected. Accordingly, the number of plasma cells and circulating follicular helper T cells (cTfh) increased, but levels of IgM, IgA and IgG were unaffected. When degrees of severity were considered, IgG was lower in severe patients, suggesting an IgG consumption by complement activation or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Activated CD56-CD16+ NK-cells, which mediate ADCC, were increased. Regarding complement, C3 and C4 protein levels were higher in mild and moderate, but not in severe patients, compared to healthy donors. Moreover, IgG and C4 decreased from day 0 to day 10 in patients who were hospitalized for more than two weeks, but not in patients who were discharged earlier.

Conclusion

Our study provides important clues to understand the immune response observed in COVID-19 patients, which is probably related to viral clearance, but also underlies its pathogenesis and severity. This study associates for the first time COVID-19 severity with an imbalanced humoral immune response characterized by excessive consumption of IgG and C4, identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention.
Machine Learning Models Identify Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Gawriljuk Victor O. , Kyaw Zin Phyo Phyo , Foil Daniel H. , Bernatchez Jean , Beck Sungjun , Beutler Nathan , Ricketts James , Yang Linlin , Rogers Thomas , Puhl Ana C. , Zorn Kimberley M. , Lane Thomas R. , Godoy Andre S. , Oliva Glaucius , Siqueira-Neto Jair L. , Madrid Peter B. , Ekins Sean
Published: June 2020

With the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic there is an urgent need for the discovery of a treatment for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Drug repurposing is one of the most rapid strategies for addressing this need and numerous compounds have been selected forin vitrotesting by several groups already. These have led to a growing database of molecules within vitroactivity against the virus. Machine learning models can assist drug discovery through prediction of the best compounds based on previously published data. Herein we have implemented several machine learning methods to develop predictive models from recent SARS-CoV-2in vitroinhibition data and used them to prioritize additional FDA approved compounds forin vitrotesting selected from our in-house compound library. From the compounds predicted with a Bayesian machine learning model, CPI1062 and CPI1155 showed antiviral activity in HeLa-ACE2 cell-based assays and represent potential repurposing opportunities for COVID-19. This approach can be greatly expanded to exhaustively virtually screen available molecules with predicted activity against this virus as well as a prioritization tool for SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug discovery programs. The very latest model for SARS-CoV-2 is available atwww.assaycentral.org.
A new fractal model for the soliton motion in a microgravity space
Authors: Wang KangLe
Published: June 2020

Purpose

On a microgravity condition, a motion of soliton might be subject to a microgravity-induced motion. There is no theory so far to study the effect of air density and gravity on the motion property. Here, the author considers the air as discrete molecules and a motion of a soliton is modeled based on He’s fractal derivative in a microgravity space. The variational principle of the alternative model is constructed by semi-inverse method. The variational principle can be used to establish the conservation laws and reveal the structure of the solution. Finally, its approximate analytical solution is found by using two-scale method and homotopy perturbation method (HPM).

Design/methodology/approach

The author establishes a new fractal model based on He’s fractal derivative in a microgravity space and its variational principle is obtained via the semi-inverse method. The approximate analytical solution of the fractal model is obtained by using two-scale method and HPM.

Findings

He’s fractal derivative is a powerful tool to establish a mathematical model in microgravity space. The variational principle of the fractal model can be used to establish the conservation laws and reveal the structure of the solution.

Originality/value

The author proposes the first fractal model for the soliton motion in a microgravtity space and obtains its variational principle and approximate solution.
Public opinion information dissemination in mobile social networks – taking Sina Weibo as an example
Authors: Wang Xiwei , Xing Yunfei , Wei Yanan , Zheng QingXiao , Xing Guochun
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Social media, especially microblog, has become one of the most popular platforms for public opinion dissemination. However, so far few studies have been conducted to explore information dissemination under the mobile environment. This paper aims to introduce the approach to analyze the public opinion information dissemination in mobile social networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper chooses “network attack” as the research topic and extracts 23,567 relevant messages from Sina Microblogs to study the structure of nodes for public opinion dissemination and the characteristics of propagation paths on mobile internet. Public opinion dissemination is compared on both mobile and non-mobile terminals.

Findings

The results reveal the characteristics of public opinion dissemination in mobile environment and identify three patterns of information propagation path. This study concludes that public opinion on mobile internet propagates more widely and efficiently and generates more impact than that on the non-mobile internet.

Social implications

The methods used in this study can be useful for the government and other organizations to analyze and identify problems in online information dissemination.

Originality/value

This paper explores the mechanism of public opinion dissemination on mobile internet in China and further investigates how to improve public opinion management through a case study related to “network attack.”
Distributional analysis of rural-urban household healthcare expenditure differentials in developing countries: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Ampaw Samuel , Nketiah-Amponsah Edward , Agyire-Tettey Frank , Senadza Bernardin
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Equity in access to and use of healthcare resources is a global development agenda. Policymakers’ knowledge of the sources of differences in household healthcare spending is crucial for effective policy. This paper aims to investigate the differences in the determinants of household healthcare expenditure across space and along selected quantiles of healthcare expenditure in Ghana. The determinants of rural-urban healthcare expenditure gap are also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was obtained from the sixth round of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 6) conducted in 2013. An unconditional quantile regression (UQR) and a decomposition technique based on UQR, adjusted for sample selection bias, were applied.

Findings

The results indicate that differences in the determinants of household healthcare expenditure across space and along quantiles are driven by individual-level variables. Besides, the rural-urban health expenditure gap is greatest among households in the lower quantiles and this gap is largely driven by differences in household income per capita and percentage of household members enrolled on health insurance policies.

Originality/value

The findings show that there are differences in the determinants of household health expenditure along with the income distribution, as well as between rural and urban localities, which would call for targeted policies to address these inequalities.
Leadership and motivation for improved academic performance in schools in low socio-economic contexts
Authors: Heystek Jan , Emekako Raymond
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper examines motivational practices and engagements of schools – through strategies developed by principals with the members of the school management team – to improve academic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used an interpretive approach within a qualitative design in which schools were purposefully selected. In each of the sampled schools, individual interviews were conducted with the principal as well as a focus group with the school management team and another focus group was identified teachers.

Findings

The main findings reveal that school labelling (where schools are labelled as underperforming schools) as a public notice was identified as the main push towards intrinsic motivation, especially when positive results in learner performance are eventually achieved. Extra classes, teaching collaboration, monitoring and team building were some of the main strategies used. Efforts appear to focus on performance in Grade 12 examinations. Therefore, the study recommends that attention be spread across all grades as a long-term improvement plan for the education system. Furthermore, since these strategies have worked successfully, the national and the provincial education departments should consider developing plans for academic improvement based on these strategies.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributed to the understanding of school improvement in a specific context of low socio economic and societal context and schools are able to improve in spite of the challenging context. This is specifically in a developing country's context. More research can be conducted about the specific influence of intrinsic motivation and how extrinsic factors can become internalised as intrinsic motivation factors.

Practical implications

The findings from this project can provide leadership at schools with the necessary information and examples of what can be done to get teachers to improve the performance in a challenging context. The use of extrinsic as well as intrinsic motivational actions can provide the leadership with the necessary guidelines to implement in their schools. The appointment of principals with specific characteristics needed attention in policy as well as the practice of the appointment process.

Originality/value

The research is contributed to the knowledge of school improvement from a perspective of a developing country and is using motivational theories within this context. The limited literature which links motivation to the process of school improvement is advanced from ice perspective of low socio economic context in a developing country.
Lesson study as a vehicle for improving SEND teachers’ teaching skills
Authors: Holmqvist Mona
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Collaborative professional development for inclusive teaching is a limited area of research, although there is an extensive need for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) teachers. Research findings of how teachers’ professional development can contribute to support the development of powerful learning situations for all students are presented in this special issue. The aim is to contribute to the knowledge of how the use of lesson study can develop teachers’ capabilities to offer high-quality education for students with SEND.

Design/methodology/approach

The guest editor presents each of the papers and introduces key themes and concepts.

Findings

The collection of papers is divided into two themes; the first has a focus on lesson study used by teacher educators during SEND in-service training. In this theme, the teachers are the students who are studying different fields of SEND, supported by teacher educators. The second theme studies different forms of lesson studies carried out by researchers and teachers in the collaboration focused aspects of content that are of importance for students in SEND.

Research limitations/implications

The papers focus on areas of education with a limited research tradition, and as a result, the studies may be seen as starting points for further research. The results so far lack generalisability. Therefore, the researchers have to test the findings further under different conditions and with wider groups of teachers and students.

Practical implications

The results of the papers can be used to develop both SEND teacher education, and collaborative professional development for in-service SEND teachers. This issue will, therefore, be of interest to school and system leaders.

Originality/value

The papers contribute initial findings from an under-researched area and also combine lesson study with methods and designs not previously explored.
How to design fashion retail's virtual reality platforms
Authors: Xue Liangchao , Parker Christopher J. , Hart Cathy
Published: June 2020

Purpose

High-street fashion retail faces an uncertain future because of fluctuating consumer shopping habits. To revive fashion retailers, adopting disruptive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) becomes important to offer highly valued consumer experiences. Yet v-commerce designers still lack sufficient guidance to create effective retail environments. This paper establishes the v-commerce experience that targets fashion consumers’ desire and presents 13 specific design guidelines.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 22 participants, 20 consumers and two VR developers were interviewed regarding attitudes towards VR, motivation to shop through v-commerce and the moderating variables that influence virtual environment perceptions.

Findings

Consumers expect a vivid shopping environment with authentic product features instead of the more common simulated environment. Hedonically motivated consumers are more open to v-commerce than utilitarian consumers and consumers aged 18–34 years regard interactivity, personalisation and social networking as critical to offer a cost-efficient shopping experience.

Research limitations/implications

This paper explored the ways v-commerce delivers creative experiences to facilitate consumer purchase behaviour, contributing to the high street's regeneration. Yet consumers have too high expectations of lifelike interaction in v-commerce, which is beyond contemporary VR's capabilities. Future research should focus on developing authenticity of v-commerce environments, i.e. vivid interaction with product and people.

Originality/value

This paper establishes the fundamental design rules for v-commerce platforms, enabling designers to create effective retail environments, sympathetic to the consumer's cognitive desires.
Transitional palliative care interventions for older adults with advanced non-malignant diseases and frailty: a systematic review
Authors: Sezgin Duygu , Hendry Anne , Liew Aaron , O'Donovan Mark , Salem Mohamed , Carriazo Ana María , López-Samaniego Luz , Rodríguez-Acuña Rafael , Kennelly Siobhan , Illario Maddalena , Arnal Carda Cristina , Inzitari Marco , Hammar Teija , O'Caoimh Rónán
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To identify transitional palliative care (TPC) interventions for older adults with non-malignant chronic diseases and complex conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the literature was conducted. CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase and Pubmed databases were searched for studies reporting TPC interventions for older adults, published between 2002 and 2019. The Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal.

Findings

A total of six studies were included. Outcomes related to TPC interventions were grouped into three categories: healthcare system-related outcomes (rehospitalisation, length of stay [LOS] and emergency department [ED] visits), patient-related outcomes and family/carer important outcomes. Overall, TPC interventions were associated with lower readmission rates and LOS, improved quality of life and better decision-making concerning hospice care among families. Outcomes for ED visits were unclear.

Research limitations/implications

Positive outcomes related to healthcare services (including readmissions and LOS), patients (quality of life) and families (decision-making) were reported. However, the number of studies supporting the evidence were limited.

Originality/value

Studies examining the effectiveness of existing care models to support transitions for those in need of palliative care are limited. This systematic literature review identified and appraised interventions aimed at improving transitions to palliative care in older adults with advanced non-malignant diseases or frailty.
The impact of social media use for communication and social exchange relationship on employee performance
Authors: Chen Xiayu , Wei Shaobo
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the underlying mechanisms through which social media use for vertical and horizontal communication enhance employee performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the research model, the authors conducted a questionnaire survey in China. The authors used a customer panel database provided by a marketing research firm in China to identify appropriate respondents. Finally, the authors received 243 valid responses.

Findings

The authors find that social media use for vertical communication (SMUVC) is positively related to leader-member exchange (LMX) and social media use for horizontal communication (SMUHC) is positively related to team-member exchange (TMX). LMX and TMX are positively related to employee performance. LMX is positively associated with TMX. Besides, task complexity positively moderates the relationship between LMX and employee performance, while it negatively moderates the relationship between TMX and employee performance.

Originality/value

First, it adds to the literature by investigating the underlying mechanisms of how social media use for communication influences job performance. By identifying LMX and TMX as the underlying mechanisms, the authors make comprehensive considerations of how the vertical and horizontal relationships link the effect of social media use for communication on employee performance. Second, despite the growing evidence demonstrates that high-quality LMX and TMX can individually contribute to employee job performance, little research has considered both LMX and TMX relationships simultaneously and their effects on job performance. Finally, by establishing task complexity as a key moderator on the relationships between LMX and TMX and job performance, the study could explain the inconsistent findings in the literature that the effects of LMX and TMX are significant in some studies yet not significant in other studies.
Leadership styles and employees’ work outcomes in nonprofit organizations: the role of work engagement
Authors: Aboramadan Mohammed , Dahleez Khalid Abed
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of transformational and transactional leaders’ behaviors on employees’ affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior in the context of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). Additionally, this study attempts to examine the role of work engagement, as an intervening mechanism as work engagement in NPOs has been empirically neglected (Park et al., 2018).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were conducted from 400 employees working in Italian NPOs in the North of Italy. For verifying the hypotheses of this study, structural equation modeling techniques were implemented.

Findings

It was found that both transformational and transactional leaderships influenced positively affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior, and work engagement was revealed to have significant positive mediating effects on the relationship between the variables examined in this study.

Practical implications

The results of this study may be beneficial to leaders and supervisors of NPOs, specifically regarding the influence of the leaders’ behaviors on the employees’ outcomes.

Originality/value

Due to the limited number of studies conducted on leadership in nonprofit organizations, this study theoretically and empirically contributes to the leadership literature as it is the first study to investigate the two styles of leadership on work-related outcomes via work engagement in the nonprofit sector.
Trade-off between value creation and value appropriation?
Authors: Silveira Cleo Schmitt , Oliveira Marta Olivia Rovedder de , Heldt Rodrigo , Luce Fernando Bins
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Managers face the challenge of balancing resources needed to support value creation and value appropriation. In this study the authors analyze the impacts of innovation investments (i.e. value creation: VC) on advertising expenditures (i.e. value appropriation: VA), and vice versa, and verify the effects of these options on short- and long-term performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The effects of these two activities on short- and long-term performance were analyzed observing a panel of 4,090 companies of Standard and Poor's Compustat database from a 40-year period. The authors adopted the panel vector autoregressive (VAR) approach, using the generalized method of moments (GMM).

Findings

Although there is a trade-off between the strategic emphases on creating and appropriating value, there is also a synergy between them. The results from the impulse response functions support the argument for a virtuous business circle: companies that choose to intensify their investments in R&D tend to increase advertising expenditures, and vice versa.

Practical implications

Managers, rather than having to deal with a trade-off between allocating resources either on VC or VA activities, can capitalize on synergetic benefits resulting from the interaction among them.

Originality/value

The relationship between the VC and VA activities transcends the trade-off imposed by resource restrictions, since the interaction between them creates additional benefits afforded by the synergy of these activities.
Targeted integration by homologous recombination enables in situ tagging and replacement of genes in the marine microeukaryote Diplonema papillatum
Authors: Faktorová Drahomíra , Kaur Binnypreet , Valach Matus , Graf Lena , Benz Corinna , Burger Gertraud , Lukeš Julius
Published: June 2020

Diplonemids are a group of highly diverse and abundant marine microeukaryotes that belong to the phylum Euglenozoa and form a sister clade to the well‐studied, mostly parasitic kinetoplastids. Very little is known about the biology of diplonemids, as few species have been formally described and just one, Diplonema papillatum, has been studied to a decent extent at the molecular level. Following up on our previous results showing stable but random integration of delivered extraneous DNA, we demonstrate here homologous recombination in D. papillatum. Targeting various constructs to the intended position in the nuclear genome was successful when 5′ and 3′ homologous regions longer than 1 kbp were used, achieving N‐terminal tagging with mCherry and gene replacement of α‐ and β‐tubulins. For more convenient genetic manipulation, we designed a modular plasmid, pDP002, which bears a protein‐A tag and used it to generate and express a C‐terminally tagged mitoribosomal protein. Lastly, we developed an improved transformation protocol for broader applicability across laboratories. Our robust methodology allows the replacement, integration as well as endogenous tagging of D. papillatum genes, thus opening the door to functional studies in this species and establishing a basic toolkit for reverse genetics of diplonemids in general.
Identification of an extracytoplasmic function sigma factor that facilitates c‐type cytochrome maturation and current generation under electrolyte‐flow conditions in Shewanella oneidensisMR‐1
Authors: Koga Ryota , Matsumoto Akiho , Kouzuma Atsushi , Watanabe Kazuya
Published: June 2020

Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 was cultured on electrodes in electrochemical flow cells (EFCs), and transcriptome profiles of electrode‐attached cells grown under electrolyte‐flow conditions were compared with those under static (nonflow) conditions. Results revealed that, along with genes related to c‐type cytochrome maturation (e.g., dsbD), the SO_3096 gene encoding a putative extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor was significantly upregulated under electrolyte‐flow conditions. Compared to wild‐type MR‐1 (WT), an SO_3096‐deletion mutant (∆SO_3096) showed impaired biofilm formation and decreased current generation in EFCs, suggesting that SO_3096 plays critical roles in the interaction of MR‐1 cells with electrodes under electrolyte‐flow conditions. We also compared transcriptome profiles of WT and ∆SO_3096 grown in EFCs, confirming that many genes upregulated under the electrolyte‐flow conditions, including dsbD, are regulated by SO_3096. LacZ reporter assays showed that transcription from a promoter upstream of dsbD is activated by SO_3096. Measurement of current generated by a dsbD‐deletion mutant revealed that this gene is essential for the transfer of electrons to electrodes. These results indicate that the SO_3096 gene product facilitates c‐type cytochrome maturation and current generation under electrolyte‐flow conditions. The results also offer ecophysiological insights into how Shewanella regulates extracellular electron transfer to solid surfaces in the natural environment.
Molecular identification of forensically important beetles in Saudi Arabia based on mitochondrial 16 s rRNA gene
Authors: Alajmi Reem , Abdel‐Gaber Rewaida , Haddadi Rania
Published: June 2020

Forensic science uses scientific methods to help the scientists who study evidence to assist in the solving of crimes. Coleoptera is the most diverse and speciose group of insects that have an important role in many scientific fields especially forensic entomology. In addition, it is difficult to morphologically identify and discriminate between them. In the present study, the molecular analysis using mitochondrial DNA information was conducted to swiftly and accurately identify the recovered Coleoptera species. A molecular identification method involving a 221‐bp segment of the 16 s ribosomal RNA (16 s rRNA) gene from three beetle species, collected from a rabbit carcass, was evaluated. The analysis with maximum likelihood method recovered a generally well supported phylogeny, with most currently accepted taxa and species groups as monophyletic. These results will be instrumental for the implementation of the Saudian database of forensically relevant beetles.
Can Ipilimumab restore immune response in advanced NSCLC after progression on anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 agents?
Authors: Sternschuss Michal , Peled Nir , Allen Aaron M. , Dudnik Elizabeth , Rotem Ofer , Kurman Noga , Gal Omer , Reches Hiba , Zer Alona
Published: June 2020

Anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 agents play a crucial part in the treatment of non‐small cell cancer (NSCLC) demonstrating improved overall response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS). Recent studies evaluating combination treatment with anti‐PD‐1 and anti‐CTLA‐4 suggests improved outcome but also increased toxicity. Evidence is scarce regarding subsequent treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPI) after progression on anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1. A total of 15 patients were treated with a combination of anti‐PD1 agent and ipilimumab after confirmed progression of disease on anti‐PD1/PDL1 alone during 2017. Clinical data were retrieved retrospectively. Disease control rate (DCR) was defined as partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD). The overall DCR was 33.3% (n = 5); two patients with PR and three patients with SD, three of whom had prior documented disease control on anti‐PD1. The immune‐related adverse event (irAE) rate was 40% (n = 6); two patients had grade 3 AE and one patient died of pneumonitis. While the median time to progression was two months (range 0.5–16), four of the five patients with PR/SD experienced durable benefit for 8–16 months. This small retrospective cohort of heavily pretreated unselected patients suggests ipilimumab might reboost the immune response in patients with advanced NSCLC following progression of disease on anti‐PD1 therapy, while delaying exposure to the higher toxicity rates associated with upfront combination therapy. This strategy should be explored prospectively.
Renin‐angiotensin system blockers and 1‐year mortality in patients with post‐operative acute kidney injury
Authors: Slagelse Charlotte , Gammelager Henrik , Iversen Lene H. , Liu Kathleen D. , Sørensen Henrik T. , Christiansen Christian F.
Published: June 2020

Background

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE‐I) and angiotensin‐receptor blocker (ARB) users may be associated with increased mortality in patients with post‐operative acute kidney injury (AKI), but data are limited. We studied whether users of ACE‐I/ARBs with AKI after colorectal cancer surgery (CRC) were associated with increased 1‐year mortality after AKI.

Methods

This population‐based cohort study in Northern Denmark included patients with AKI within 7 days after CRC surgery during 2005‐2014. From reimbursed prescriptions, patients were classified as ACE‐I/ARB current, former, or non‐users. We computed the cumulative 30‐day and 1‐year mortality after AKI with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using the Kaplan‐Meier method (1—survival function). Hazard ratios (HRs) comparing mortality in current and former users with non‐users were computed by Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, controlling for potential confounders.

Results

We identified 10 713 CRC surgery patients. A total of 2000 patients had AKI and were included. Thirty‐day mortality was 16.5% (95% CI 13.7‐19.8), 16.2% (95% CI 11.3‐22.8), and 13.4% (95% CI 11.6‐15.4) for current, former, and non‐users. Adjusted HR was 1.26 (95% CI 0.96‐1.65) and 1.19 (95% CI 0.78‐1.82) for current and former users compared with non‐users. One‐year mortality rates were 26.4% (95% CI 22.9‐30.4), 29.8% (95% CI 23.2‐37.8), and 24.7% (95% CI 22.4‐27.2) in current, former, and non‐users. Compared with non‐users, the adjusted 1‐year HR for death in current and former users were 1.29 (95% CI 0.96‐1.73) and 1.11 (95% CI 0.91‐1.35).

Conclusion

Based on our findings, current users of ACE‐I/ARB may possibly have a small increase in mortality rate in the year after post‐operative AKI, although the degree of certainty is low.
Board‐level ethics committees in large European firms
Authors: Garcia‐Blandon Josep , Castillo‐Merino David , Argilés‐Bosch Josep Maria , Ravenda Diego
Published: June 2020

After the approval of a code of ethics, the creation of a permanent board‐level ethics committee is the next step in the institutionalization of business ethics. This study explores how the board's structure and demographic characteristics explain the decision to form an ethics committee. The analysis is based on the constituents of the Standard and Poor's Europe 350 index. Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that ethics committees are more likely to be found in firms with a lower presence of executive directors and of directors holding MBA degrees. However, we also observe that boards chaired by executive directors seem to favor the creation of an ethics committee. Additionally, as we had anticipated, firms with stronger agency conflicts seem to be more willing to create committees. The analysis conducted with segmented samples reveals that the model has greater explanatory power when applied to firms from common‐law and French civil‐law countries than when applied to firms from the German–Scandinavian civil‐law area. Finally, our results indicate that a firm's country of origin is a more influential factor in explaining the decision to create an ethics committee than the industry to which it belongs or even the magnitude of its agency conflicts.
Impact of PNPLA3 (rs738409‐G) polymorphism on post‐transplant outcomes after liver transplantation for alcohol‐related liver disease
Authors: Yoo Tae , Lee Kwang‐Woong , Yi Nam‐Joon , Hong Suk Kyun , Lee Jeong‐Moo , Kim Hyeyoung , Lim Jieun , Seo Sooin , Suh Kyung‐Suk
Published: June 2020

Introduction

We aimed to evaluate the association between PNPLA3 polymorphism and post‐liver transplantation (LT) outcomes related to alcohol relapse (AR).

Method

We retrospectively analyzed data from patients receiving LT for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) from 04/2014 to 12/2017. Liver‐related clinical outcomes were assessed by the gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) level and alcohol‐related liver failure (ARLF). Genotyping was performed using prospectively collected DNA samples in both donors and recipients.

Results

A total of 83 recipients were enrolled. Post‐LT AR occurred in 31 patients (37.3%). Thirty‐one patients (14 AR, 9 abstainers) showed elevated GGT levels, and 3 AR patients experienced ARLF. In the multivariate analysis, rs738409 G allele carrier and heavy drinking (HRAR score ≥ 4) were independent risk factors for elevated GGT levels (odds ratio [OR] = 8.69, P < .01; OR = 13.07, P = .01) and ARLF (OR = 4.52, P = .04; OR = 19.62, P = .03). Among 15 heavy AR patients, being an rs738409 G allele carrier was related to GGT elevation (P = .03) and ARLF (P = .04), but it was not related to GGT elevation in mild drinkers (n = 16) or abstainers (n = 52).

Conclusion

PNPLA3 polymorphism of the recipient genotype can independently affect the post‐LT prognosis of LT patients for ALD, especially in heavy AR patients. Therefore, strong abstinence education is recommended in patients with this single nucleotide polymorphism.
Patterns and correlates of prescribed and non‐prescribed pregabalin use among a sample of people who inject drugs in Australia
Authors: Sutherland Rachel , Dietze Paul M. , Gisev Natasa , Bruno Raimondo , Campbell Gabrielle , Memedovic Sonja , Peacock Amy
Published: June 2020

Introduction and Aims

Pregabalin is a gamma‐aminobutyric acid analogue registered and subsidised for the treatment of neuropathic pain in Australia. Despite pre‐clinical evidence of low abuse potential, there are increasing reports of extramedical use and overdose deaths involving pregabalin. This study aimed to describe patterns of pregabalin use among an Australian sample of people who inject drugs (PWID) and identify sociodemographic, substance use and mental/physical health correlates of prescribed and non‐prescribed use.

Design and Methods

Data were obtained from the 2018 Illicit Drug Reporting System, comprising a cross‐sectional sample of 905 PWID recruited from Australian capital cities. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify correlates of past 6‐month prescribed and non‐prescribed pregabalin use.

Results

One‐quarter (25%) of participants reported any past 6‐month pregabalin use, with 10% reporting prescribed use and 15% non‐prescribed use. Past 6‐month use of prescribed benzodiazepines and non‐prescribed pharmaceutical opioids were associated with both prescribed and non‐prescribed pregabalin use compared to no recent pregabalin use. Pain/discomfort on the day of interview was significantly associated with prescribed pregabalin use. Recent use of non‐prescribed benzodiazepines and illicit stimulants and past year non‐fatal overdose were significantly associated with non‐prescribed pregabalin use (compared to no recent pregabalin use).

Discussion and Conclusions

Pregabalin use was relatively common among an Australian sample of PWID. Benzodiazepine and pharmaceutical opioid use were positively correlated with both prescribed and non‐prescribed pregabalin use, suggesting that education campaigns regarding the risks of harm associated with concomitant use of these substances are warranted (targeting both health professionals and consumers).
Project Narratives: Investigating Participatory Conservation in the Peruvian Andes
Authors: Cieslik Katarzyna , Dewulf Art , Buytaert Wouter
Published: June 2020

This article shares findings from a participatory assessment study of a community‐based environmental monitoring project in the Peruvian Andes. The objective of the project was to generate evidence to support sustainable livelihoods through participatory knowledge generation. With the use of narrative framing, the study retrospectively reconstructs the project's trajectory as perceived by the three stakeholder groups: the community, the researchers, and the implementing NGO. This analysis reveals discrepancies between the stakeholder groups both in their view of the course of events and their understanding of the purpose of the intervention. However, while the storylines depict differing project trajectories, they often agree in terms of long‐term goals. The study also uncovers some neglected positive externalities that are of considerable significance to local stakeholders. These include community‐to‐community knowledge transfer, inter‐generational knowledge sharing and ecosystem knowledge revival. The article illustrates how assumptions and expectations about participatory projects are encapsulated in narratives of positive change despite the limited level of agreement among stakeholders about what such a change should comprise. It sheds light on development narratives and their power to shape stakeholders’ perceptions in accordance with their beliefs and priorities. This is of special importance for ecosystem governance projects, which are sensitive to normative differences and subject to competing claims.
Use of small‐caliber intraductal balloon catheter for straightening the looped cystic duct during endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage
Authors: Jimbo Hitomi , Asai Satoshi , Takeshita Kotaro
Published: June 2020

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Graduation after 10 years of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme: Surviving but still not thriving
Authors: Sabates‐Wheeler Rachel , Lind Jeremy , Hoddinott John , Tefera Taye Mulugeta
Published: June 2020

Motivation

Many social protection programmes aspire to graduate poor people out of poverty. While some successfully ensure food security and survival for the poorest, few have moved large numbers of people sustainably out of poverty and into productive livelihood opportunities.

Purpose

This article aims to understand better the challenges to sustainable graduation out of poverty, and why graduation has been so difficult to achieve in many social protection programmes.

Approach and Methods

We define graduation and identify primary objectives related to food security and consumption and secondary objectives for asset accumulation. We then apply this thinking to the case of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) in Ethiopia, drawing on evaluation spanning the first 10 years of the programme.

Findings

The programme has been successful on some fronts—such as saving lives, reducing distress sales and providing community‐level services—while on others, such as household asset building and livestock accumulation, it has failed to deliver. Given this, we ask why the programme has underperformed in building household assets, and further, why the PSNP programme proceeded to prematurely graduate so many households despite the lack of evidence on livelihood strengthening.

It seems that the PSNP was unable to lift most households out of poverty, owing to lack of capacity to design and implement measures to raise incomes and to lack of opportunities to do so. Many households, however, were graduated out of PSNP, apparently because field staff had quotas to fulfil, whether or not the households had progressed out of poverty.

Policy implications

The PSNP shows how a programme can succeed in its primary objective of alleviating deep poverty and preventing people from becoming destitute. But it also shows that to reach the more ambitious target of graduating households out of poverty, more funds and administrative capacity are needed to generate additional household economic activity. Investments in complementary rural services are needed as well.
Left ventricular rotational deformation changes by speckle tracking imaging before and 24 hours after transcatheter closure of large secundum atrial septal defects in children
Authors: El‐Sisi Amal Mahmoud , Gabr Abd El‐Moneam Ahmed Mohammed , Afia Ali Abdellatif , Abu‐Seif Hassan Saad , Agha Hala M. , AlSayad Tarek kotb
Published: June 2020

Background: Large atrial septal defects (ASDs) in children cause increased volume overload of the right side of the heart which in turn lead to impairment of left ventricular (LV) performance. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate immediate LV rotational deformation changes in children with large ASDs post‐device closure and removal of right ventricle (RV) volume overload. Patients and Methods: Twenty children who underwent transcatheter closure (TCC) of large secundum ASDs were included in the study. LV rotational deformation was assessed pre‐ and 24 hours post‐device closure using speckle tracking imaging (STI). Results: 55% were females with mean age 6.1 ± 3.5 years. LV peak basal clockwise rotation improved significantly (−6.9 ± 2.6° before vs −10.3 ± 4.1° after TCC, P = .005), and time to peak clockwise rotation (345.1 ± 124.7 milliseconds (ms) before vs 282.2 ± 82.9 ms after closure, P = .02). There was no significant difference in apical rotational parameters including peak counterclockwise rotation (P > .05 for both). LV twist (11.3 ± 3.8° before vs 17.5 ± 7.1° after closure, P = .001) and torsion (2.1 ± 0.7°/cm before vs 3.1 ± 1.2°/cm after closure, P = .01) were significantly improved, mainly as the result of improvement of LV basal rotation. LV revealed a significant increase in LV end‐diastolic volumes (P = .02) 24 hour after TCC with no significant change (P > .05) in end‐systolic volumes after closure. Conclusion: Increased peak LV twisting and torsion were attributed to the improved peak systolic clockwise basal rotation after TCC of large ASDs in children.