bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mouse Model of Sublethal Leptospirosis: Protocols for Infection with Leptospira Through Natural Transmission Routes, for Monitoring Clinical and Molecular Scores of Disease, and for Evaluation of the Host Immune Response
Authors: Nair Nisha , Gomes‐Solecki Maria
Published: November 2020

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira species that are maintained in sylvatic and domestic environments by transmission among rodents and other carriers. Humans become infected after contact of breached skin or mucosa with contaminated water or soil. Understanding persistent or sublethal infection in a host is critical for controlling human risk of exposure to pathogenic Leptospira. Animal models that recapitulate disease progression after infection via natural transmission routes are more appropriate for validation of vaccines and therapeutics. Furthermore, the ability to measure shedding of live Leptospira in urine of reservoir and carrier hosts can be used to develop new diagnostic assays and sensors to evaluate human risk of exposure. We developed inbred mouse models of Leptospirosis, that bypass survival as a criterion, in which we can analyze both pathogen and host factors affecting sublethal infection (<1 month), including shedding of Leptospira in urine. Mice are infected with pathogenic Leptospira using a physiologic route, and the clinical, histological, and molecular scores of disease are measured. Furthermore, the host immune response to Leptospira is evaluated. This mouse model also provides a tool in which to test fundamental hypotheses related to host‐pathogen interactions and the immune mechanisms engaged in protective and pathogenic immune responses. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC

Basic Protocol 1: Culture and maintenance of virulent Leptospira

Basic Protocol 2: Infection of mice through a physiologic route and collection of clinical scores and biological samples

Basic Protocol 3: Analysis of pathogenesis after Leptospira infection
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is associated with sustained reduction in health care utilization and cost
Authors: Yonatan‐Leus Refael , Strauss Asher Y. , Cooper‐Kazaz Rena
Published: November 2020

Our objective was to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of psychodynamic psychotherapy on the reduction in health care utilization and cost while controlling for age, gender, and year. Health care utilization and cost were examined yearly in 1,675 patients from 2 years before outpatient psychotherapy (i.e., baseline) to three consecutive years after psychotherapy in a naturalistic longitudinal design. A multilevel analytic approach (LMLM) was applied to account for repeated measures effect and missing data. In the year prior to psychotherapy, there was a significant increase in total cost compared with baseline (14.8%) and in use of health care services (primary and specialist doctors' visits and outsourced referrals). In the first year following therapy, there was a significant decrease in total cost (10%) and in use of health care services (all doctors' visits, imaging, and outsourced referrals). The decrease was to baseline levels or lower and was maintained for two additional years. Psychiatric medication usage increased significantly after psychotherapy and remained so. The overall cumulative decrease in total cost per patient over 3 years after therapy was 3,665.92 NIS, equalling a 69% average cost of psychotherapy. Further cost saving can be expected due to the reduction in sick leave, disability, and psychiatric hospitalization. These findings support the notion that providing outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy can be financially beneficial to health care systems, although further research is required for causal inferences. Also, an increase in health care utilization along with scarce physical findings may indicate unaddressed psychological distress and warrant referral for mental assessment and possible psychotherapy.
The efficacy of internet‐based cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Guo Shangyu , Deng Wenrui , Wang Hongtao , Liu Jiayuan , Liu Xiaoyu , Yang Xinxin , He Cengceng , Zhang Qiqi , Liu Boya , Dong Xinghua , Yang Zifan , Li Ziqi , Li Xiaoming
Published: November 2020

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common lifelong anxiety disorders. Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has proven to be effective in treating people with SAD, it may not be available for a considerable proportion of patients. Internet‐based CBT (ICBT) is more accessible than face‐to‐face treatment. This meta‐analysis evaluated the efficacy of ICBT in patients with SAD. We searched five databases, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Health Management Information Consortium, Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE, and identified 20 eligible randomized controlled trials published from inception to 25 July 2020, with the outcome data from 1,743 participants. The results indicated that ICBT had a significant positive effect on patients with SAD compared with the control groups (g = −0.55). A subgroup analysis revealed that ICBT and CBT had an equal effect on treating patients with SAD (g = −0.18). There was also no difference between ICBT and ICBT plus other therapies in the treatment of patients with SAD (g = −0.07). The effect size of ICBT on patients with SAD was maintained at the 6‐month follow‐up (g = −0.08) and at the 12‐month follow‐up (g = −0.17). The findings of this review demonstrated that ICBT can significantly reduce SAD symptoms and that ICBT and face‐to‐face CBT produce equivalent effects. The results of this meta‐analysis contributed to the literature on ICBT for the treatment of patients with SAD, although numerous aspects of ICBT were identified for future investigations.
Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide Inhibition Dramatically Increases Plasma Exposure but not Pharmacodynamic Effect nor Inferred Hepatic Intracellular Exposure of Firsocostat
Authors: Kirby Brian J. , Lutz Justin D. , Yue Mun Sang , Garrison Kimberly L. , Qin Ann Ran‐Ran , Ampaw Lorraine , Beysen Carine , Myers Robert P. , Kearney Brian P. , Mathias Anita
Published: November 2020

Firsocostat (FIR: previously GS‐0976), a highly sensitive OATP substrate, reduces hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) by inhibiting acetyl‐CoA carboxylases (ACC). Measuring the pharmacodynamic (PD) efficacy of FIR on DNL provides a unique opportunity to determine optimal dosing strategies for liver‐targeted OATP substrates in settings of altered OATP function. A randomized, four‐way crossover drug‐drug interaction study was conducted. Hepatic DNL, a marker for ACC activity, was measured in 28 healthy volunteers after reference, single dose FIR 10 mg, FIR 10 mg plus the OATP inhibitor rifampin (RIF) 300 mg i.v., or RIF 300 mg i.v. (control for DNL effect of RIF), each separated by a 7‐day washout. Samples were collected for pharmacokinetic (PK) and PD assessments through 24 hours after each treatment. Hepatic DNL and its inhibition by FIR were assessed. Twenty‐four subjects completed the study. All adverse events were mild. RIF alone increased hepatic DNL area under the effect curve from time of administration up to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUEClast; 35.7%). Despite a 5.2‐fold increase in FIR plasma exposure (area under the concentration‐time curve from zero to infinity (AUCinf)) when administered with RIF, FIR alone, and FIR + RIF had the same hepatic PD effect, 37.1% and 34.9% reduction in DNL AUEClast, respectively, compared with their respective controls. These findings indicate that large decreases in OATP activity do not alter hepatic intracellular exposure (as inferred by no change in PD) for drugs that are primarily eliminated hepatically and permeability rate‐limited, such as FIR. These results support PK theory that has been difficult to test and provide practical guidance on administration of liver‐targeted drugs in settings of reduced OATP function.
High‐risk human papilloma virus was not detected in a Norwegian cohort of oral squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue
Authors: Søland Tine M. , Bjerkli Inger‐Heidi , Georgsen Jeanette B. , Schreurs Olaf , Jebsen Peter , Laurvik Helene , Sapkota Dipak
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The presence of and the causative role of high‐risk human papilloma virus (HPV) is a subject of controversy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The disagreement can be related to the misclassification of OSCC as oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and/or lack of standard detection methods. This study aimed to examine the presence of transcriptionally active high‐risk HPV in a homogenous Norwegian cohort of primary and second primary OSCC of the mobile tongue (oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma—OTSCC).

Methods

Tissue microarrays containing formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded cores of 146 OTSCC from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue (n = 128 primary and n = 18 second primary) from a multicentric Norwegian cohort were examined for the presence of high‐risk HPV by DNA‐ and RNA‐in situ hybridization (ISH) assays and p16 immunohistochemistry.

Results

Transcriptionally active HPV (E6/E7 mRNA) was not identified in any of the OTSCC specimens. In parallel, no tumors were positive for HPV by DNA ISH. Although, 61 (42%) OTSCC demonstrated p16 positivity with varying staining intensity and subcellular localization, only two cases demonstrated strong and uniform p16‐staining (both cytoplasmic and nuclear) in >70% of cancer cells. The absence of transcriptionally active high‐risk HPV in this cohort of OTSCC indicates that high‐risk HPV is an unlikely causative factor in the present material.
The effect of managerial ability on corporate social responsibility and firm value in the energy industry
Authors: Gong Yujing , Yan Cheng , Ho Kung‐Cheng
Published: November 2020

We investigate the role of managerial ability in the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm performance in the energy industry, where sustainability issues are of special interest. We first identify a positive association between CSR and firm value, which, however, disappears when considering managerial ability. Only the MA‐associated components of CSR increases energy firms' value. Finally, managers with superior ability can still efficiently implement CSR activities to foster firm value during the financial crisis. Taken together, these results suggest that higher managerial ability is a crucial certification of the benefit of CSR investment, which in turn improves firm value, particularly during unstable periods.
The interplay among green brand knowledge, expected eudaimonic well‐being and environmental consciousness on green brand purchase intention
Authors: Zhou Zhimin , Zheng Fucheng , Lin Jialing , Zhou Nan
Published: November 2020

Building on a novel perspective of expected eudaimonic well‐being, this study investigates how green brand knowledge affects green brand purchase intention. In addition, the influences of two mediating variables (expected self‐acceptance and expected social contribution) and a moderating variable (environmental consciousness) on this process are examined. The proposed model is tested by using structural equation modelling with a sample of 529 Chinese respondents. The results indicate that green brand knowledge directly affects green brand purchase intention and indirectly influences green brand purchase intention via expected self‐acceptance and social contribution. Moreover, environmental consciousness significantly moderates the relationship between green brand knowledge and expected social contribution. These findings offer practical insights for managers in developing effective marketing strategies to enhance consumers' green brand purchase intention.
Evaluating the Cytometric Detection and Enumeration of the Wine Bacterium, Oenococcus oeni
Authors: Bartle Louise , Mitchell James G. , Paterson James S.
Published: November 2020

Flow cytometry is a high‐throughput tool for determining microbial abundance in a range of medical, environmental, and food‐related samples. For wine, determining the abundance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well‐defined and reliable. However, for the most common wine bacterium, Oenococcus oeni, using flow cytometry to determine cell concentration poses some challenges. O. oeni most often occurs in doublets or chains of varying lengths that can be greater than seven cells. This wine bacterium is also small, at 0.2–0.6 μm and may exhibit a range of morphologies including binary fission and aggregated complexes. This work demonstrates a straightforward approach to determining the suitability of flow cytometry for the chain‐forming bacteria, O. oeni, and considerations when using flow cytometry for the enumeration of small microorganisms (<0.5 μm). © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
A Bayesian Dirichlet process community occupancy model to estimate community structure and species similarity
Authors: Sollmann Rahel , Eaton Mitchell Joseph , Link William A. , Mulondo Paul , Ayebare Samuel , Prinsloo Sarah , Plumptre Andrew J. , Johnson Devin S.
Published: November 2020

Community occupancy models estimate species‐specific parameters while sharing information across species by treating parameters as sampled from a common distribution. When communities consist of discrete groups, shrinkage of estimates toward the community mean can mask differences among groups. Infinite‐mixture models using a Dirichlet process (DP) distribution, in which the number of latent groups is estimated from the data, have been proposed as a solution. In addition to community structure, these models estimate species similarity, which allows testing hypotheses about whether traits drive species response to environmental conditions. We develop a community occupancy model (COM) using a DP distribution to model species‐level parameters. Because clustering algorithms are sensitive to dimensionality and distinctiveness of clusters, we conducted a simulation study to explore performance of the DP‐COM with different dimensions (i.e., different numbers of model parameters with species‐level DP random effects) and under varying cluster differences. Because the DP‐COM is computationally expensive, we compared its estimates to a COM with a normal random species effect. We further applied the DP‐COM model to a bird data set from Uganda. Estimates of the number of clusters and species cluster identity improved with increasing difference among clusters and increasing dimensions of the DP; but the number of clusters was always overestimated. Estimates of number of sites occupied and species and community‐level covariate coefficients on occupancy probability were generally unbiased with (near‐) nominal 95% Bayesian Credible Interval coverage. Accuracy of estimates from the normal and the DP‐COM was similar. The DP‐COM clustered 166 bird species into 27 clusters regarding their affiliation with open or woodland habitat and distance to oil wells. Estimates of covariate coefficients were similar between a normal and the DP‐COM. Except sunbirds, species within a family were not more similar in their response to these covariates than the overall community. Given that estimates were consistent between the normal and the DP‐COM, and considering the computational burden for the DP models, we recommend using the DP‐COM only when the analysis focuses on community structure and species similarity, as these quantities can only be obtained under the DP‐COM.
Landscape‐scale differences among cities alter common species’ responses to urbanization
Authors: Fidino Mason , Gallo Travis , Lehrer Elizabeth W. , Murray Maureen H. , Kay Cria A. M. , Sander Heather A. , MacDougall Brandon , Salsbury Carmen M. , Ryan Travis J. , Angstmann Julia L. , Amy Belaire J. , Dugelby Barbara , Schell Christopher J. , Stankowich Theodore , Amaya Max , Drake David , Hursh Sheryl H. , Ahlers Adam A. , Williamson Jacque , Hartley Laurel M. , Zellmer Amanda J. , Simon Kelly , Magle Seth B.
Published: November 2020

Understanding how biodiversity responds to urbanization is challenging, due in part to the single‐city focus of most urban ecological research. Here, we delineate continent‐scale patterns in urban species assemblages by leveraging data from a multi‐city camera trap survey and quantify how differences in greenspace availability and average housing density among 10 North American cities relate to the distribution of eight widespread North American mammals. To do so, we deployed camera traps at 569 sites across these ten cities between 18 June and 14 August. Most data came from 2017, though some cities contributed 2016 or 2018 data if it was available. We found that the magnitude and direction of most species' responses to urbanization within a city were associated with landscape‐scale differences among cities. For example, eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) responses to urbanization changed from negative to positive once the proportion of green space within a city was >~20%. Likewise, raccoon (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) responses to urbanization changed from positive to negative once the average housing density of a city exceeded about 700 housing units/km2. We also found that local species richness within cities consistently declined with urbanization in only the more densely developed cities (>~700 housing units/km2). Given our results, it may therefore be possible to design cities to better support biodiversity and reduce the negative influence of urbanization on wildlife by, for example, increasing the amount of green space within a city. Additionally, it may be most important for densely populated cities to find innovative solutions to bolster wildlife resilience because they were the most likely to observe diversity losses of common urban species.
Repellency of forty‐one aromatic plant species to the Asian citrus psyllid, vector of the bacterium associated with huanglongbing
Authors: Yan Zhaogui , Zhang Qun , Zhang Nan , Li Wan , Chang Cuiying , Xiang Yan , Xia Changxiu , Jiang Tengyu , He Wei , Luo Jie , Xu Yongrong
Published: November 2020

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most devastating citrus disease worldwide. The organism associated with the disease is spread by an insect vector, Diaphorina citri, commonly known as Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Current management of HLB relies either on physical removal of the infected plants or on chemical control of ACP. Both methods are costly and not overly effective. In addition, public concerns regarding insecticide residues in fruit have greatly increased in recent years. It has been hypothesized that plant volatiles could act as repellents to ACP, thus reduce the incidence of HLB. To test this hypothesis, the repellency of fresh tissues of 41 aromatic plant species to ACP was investigated. The repellency of individual species was determined using a Y‐tube olfactometer. Our results showed that volatiles of five plant species were highly effective in repelling ACP with repellency as much as 76%. Among these, the tree species, Camptotheca acuminate, and the two shrubs, Lantana camara and Mimosa bimucronata, could potentially be planted as a landscape barrier. The two herbs, Capsicum annuum and Gynura bicolor, could potentially be used as interplantings in orchards. This is the first time that the repellency of fresh tissues from a diverse range of plant species to ACP has been determined. Although further field evaluation of various interplanting regimes and landscape barriers are needed to assess their effectiveness, our results showed that these aromatic species, being highly repellent to ACP, offer great potential as more cost‐effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to the current methods of managing HLB.
Modeling the effects of grassland management intensity on biodiversity
Authors: Klein Noëlle , Theux Coralie , Arlettaz Raphaël , Jacot Alain , Pradervand Jean‐Nicolas
Published: November 2020

A growing food demand and advanced agricultural techniques increasingly affect farmland ecosystems, threatening invertebrate populations with cascading effects along the food chain upon insectivorous vertebrates. Supporting farmland biodiversity thus optimally requires the delineation of species hotspots at multiple trophic levels to prioritize conservation management. The goal of this study was to investigate the links between grassland management intensity and orthopteran density at the field scale and to upscale this information to the landscape in order to guide management action at landscape scale. More specifically, we investigated the relationships between grassland management intensity, floral indicator species, and orthopteran abundance in grasslands with different land use in the SW Swiss Alps. Field vegetation surveys of indicator plant species were used to generate a management intensity proxy, to which field assessments of orthopterans were related. Orthopteran abundance showed a hump‐shaped response to management intensity, with low values in intensified, nutrient‐rich grasslands and in nutrient‐poor, xeric grasslands, while it peaked in middle‐intensity grasslands. Combined with remote‐sensed data about grassland gross primary productivity, the above proxy was used to build landscape‐wide, spatially explicit projections of the potential distribution of orthopteran‐rich grasslands as possible foraging grounds for insectivorous vertebrates. This spatially explicit multitrophic approach enables the delineation of focal farmland areas in order to prioritize conservation action.
Protective behavior or ‘true’ tool use? Scrutinizing the tool use behavior of ants
Authors: Módra Gábor , Maák István , Lőrincz Ádám , Juhász Orsolya , Kiss Péter János , Lőrinczi Gábor
Published: November 2020

In the genus Aphaenogaster, workers use tools to transport liquid food to the colony. During this behavior, ants place or drop various kinds of debris into liquids or soft food, and then, they carry the food‐soaked tools back to the nest. According to some authors, this behavior is not "true" tool use because it represents two separate processes: a defense response to cover the dangerous liquid and a transport of food. Here, we investigated the debris dropping and retrieving behavior of the ant Aphaenogaster subterranea to establish which of the two hypotheses is more probable by conducting manipulative experiments. We tested the responses of eight colonies (a) to liquid food (honey‐water) and nonfood liquids (water) in different distances from the nest and (b) to nonthreatening liquids previously covered or presented as small droplets. We also tested whether the nutritional condition of colonies (i.e., starved or satiated) would affect the intensity and rate of debris dropping. Our results were consistent with the tool‐using behavior hypothesis. Firstly, ants clearly differentiated between honey‐water and water, and they directed more of their foraging effort toward liquids farther from the nest. Secondly, ants performed object dropping even into liquids that did not pose the danger of drowning or becoming entangled. Lastly, the nutritional condition of colonies had a significant effect on the intensity and rate of object dropping, but in the opposite direction than we expected. Our results suggest that the foraging behavior of A. subterranea is more complex than that predicted by the two‐component behavior hypothesis and deserves to be considered as "true" tool use.
Pretreatment Camellia Seeds by Protease and Application to Extraction of Camellia Oil
Authors: Qian Junqing , Zhao Xiaohua , Zhao Changyan , Yang Haiyan , Gou Lihong , Wang Wentao , Guo Hui
Published: November 2020

High‐temperature pretreatment that is currently used in camellia oil extraction can have negative effects on the quality of camellia oil. In this study, the enzymatic pretreatment of camellia seeds is explored as an alternative to high‐temperature pretreatment. The main conditions for enzymatic pretreatment of camellia seeds including enzyme, pH, temperature, time, and buffer solution are optimized using the response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions of enzymatic pretreatment, the oil recovery is close to 75%. Moreover, residual oil recovery from camellia seeds subjected to 1398 neutral protease pretreatment (4 g per kg seeds) and high‐temperature pretreatment are 5.62 ± 0.08% and 9.97 ± 0.18%, respectively. The enzymatic pretreatment is further applied to pre‐pressing solvent extraction of camellia oil, the cake oil recovery from camellia seeds subjected to enzymatic pretreatment is higher than that from high‐temperature pretreatment. These results show that enzymatic pretreatment of camellia seeds has potential for application in the oil industry.

Practical Applications : This study suggests that enzymatic pretreatment can replace high‐temperature pretreatment and improve oil recovery and oil quality. Ultimately, this method can be used to extract camellia oil.
Identification of the prepared foods promising for dietary folate intake in Beijing, China
Authors: Islam Md Shariful , Mehmood Shahid , Zhang Chunyi , Liang Qiuju
Published: November 2020

The aim of the present study was to analyze folate content and composition in foods consumed daily by Chinese people. The concentration of seven folate derivatives in sixty‐four selected foods was determined by a liquid‐chromatography tandem‐mass spectrometry method. The total folate levels ranged from 0.28 to 129 µg/100 g fresh weight, with an average of 21.18 μg/100 g. The highest folate content was found in boiled egg yolk and waxy corn (>120 µg/100 g), abundant folate levels in cooked vegetables such as hot pepper, spinach, soybean sprout, stem lettuce, coriander, and broccoli (44–72 µg/100 g), and lowest in Coca Cola (0.28 µg/100 g). 5‐Methyl‐tetrahydrofolate was the major folate derivative in various foods, accounting for 72% of the total folates on average, with the highest being 90% in egg yolk. These data will enable estimation of the daily folate intake and allow dietary recommendations to improve folate status in humans.
Associations Between Intake of Sugar‐Containing Beverages in Infancy With Liver Fat Accumulation at School Age
Authors: Geurtsen Madelon L. , Santos Susana , Gaillard Romy , Felix Janine F. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V.
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

Sugar‐containing beverage intake is a major risk factor for obesity in both children and adults and appears to be associated with NAFLD in adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between sugar‐containing beverage intake in infancy and liver fat accumulation and NAFLD among school‐aged children.

Approach and Results

In a population‐based prospective cohort study of 1,940 infants, we assessed sugar‐containing beverage intake at 1 year with a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Liver fat fraction and NAFLD (liver fat fraction ≥5.0%) were assessed with MR. Higher sugar‐containing beverage intake in infancy was not associated with higher liver fat accumulation at 10 years of age when assessed continuously (SD, 0.03; 95% CI,

0.02, 0.07, per one‐serving/day increase of sugar‐containing beverage intake) or categorically (P = 0.38). However, compared to infants with <1.0 serving/day, those with >2.0 servings/day had the highest odds of NAFLD at 10 years of age (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.34, 6.83). These associations remained borderline significant after additional adjustment for sugar‐containing beverage intake and body mass index at school age (P = 0.13). Stratified analyses showed stronger associations between sugar‐containing beverage intake in infancy and NAFLD at 10 years of age among children of mothers with lower educational attainment (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12, 1.97) and among children with overweight or obesity (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05, 2.07).

Conclusions

Higher sugar‐containing beverage intake in infancy was associated with NAFLD in school‐aged children, independent of sugar‐containing beverage intake and body mass index at school age. Limiting the intake of sugar‐containing beverages in infancy may help prevent liver steatosis at school age.
Association of Metabolic Risk Factors With Risks of Cancer and All‐Cause Mortality in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Lee Yun Bin , Moon Hyemi , Lee Jeong‐Hoon , Cho Eun Ju , Yu Su Jong , Kim Yoon Jun , Zoulim Fabien , Lee Juneyoung , Yoon Jung‐Hwan
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

Long‐term antiviral therapy can effectively suppress viral replication and improve clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but it cannot eliminate risk of HCC. We investigated the association of metabolic risk factors with the risks of cancer and all‐cause mortality in patients with CHB.

Approach and Results

This nationwide population‐based study from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database consisted of adults with CHB who underwent health examinations from 2007 through 2012. We collected baseline data on metabolic risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. The risks of developing HCC, non‐HCC cancer, and overall death were analyzed according to the metabolic risk profile. The study population composed of 317,856 patients (median age, 46 years [interquartile range, 37‐54 years]; 219,418 men [69.0%]) had 2,609,523.8 person‐years of follow‐up. A total of 18,850 HCCs, 22,164 non‐HCC cancers, and 15,768 deaths were observed during a median follow‐up period of 8.5 years. The metabolic risk factor burden was positively associated with the risks of HCC, non‐HCC cancer, and all‐cause mortality (all P < 0.0001 for trend). Patients with ≥3 metabolic risk factors, compared with those without metabolic risk factors, showed adjusted hazard ratios of 1.23 (95% CI, 1.16‐1.31) for HCC, 1.34 (95% CI, 1.27‐1.41) for non‐HCC cancer, and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.23‐1.39) for all‐cause mortality. Among patients receiving antiviral therapy for over 5 years, the risk‐increasing association of the sum of metabolic risk factors with the risks of HCC and overall death was consistent.

Conclusion

The metabolic risk factor burden was associated with increased risks of HCC, non‐HCC cancer, and all‐cause mortality in patients with CHB.
Public libraries as health literate multi‐purpose workspaces for improving health literacy
Authors: Naccarella Lucio , Horwood Jacqui
Published: November 2020

Now more than ever, in this COVID–19 pandemic, our individual and collective ability to access, understand and apply information to inform our health care and broader lifestyle decisions ie, to be health literate ‐ has life or death consequences. This paper reflects upon the proposition of public libraries as health literate multi‐purpose workspaces for improving health literacy. We draw upon our combined experiences as evaluators of organizational health literacy initiatives, and library sector development, engagement and advocacy. Key ideas were presented as part of the 2020 State Library Victoria seminar series on ‘Libraries: The Heart of a Healthy Community’. Key messages included: Public libraries are well positioned to contribute to the health literacy movement, as they provide the general public with: universal free access to information and services; extensive in‐house and outreach educational collaborative learning opportunities; and health and wellbeing support by being welcoming, safe, and trusted community spaces. To date, limited discussion exists about conceptualizing public libraries as health literate multi‐purpose workspaces for supporting and sustaining public library health literacy efforts. A health literate organizational framework is suggested to support libraries simply supporting health information literacy to being recognised as health literate organizations. Five workspace principles (empowerment, equitable, inclusive, collaborative and integrated) are suggested to provide directions for public libraries as health literate multi‐purpose workspaces for improving the health literacy of individuals, communities, organizations and indeed systems. To inform the design, implementation and evaluation of public libraries as workspaces for improving health literacy, key principles‐focused evaluation questions are suggested for consideration.

So what?

Public Libraries as welcoming, safe, and trusted community organizations are well placed to be health literate multipurpose workspaces for improving health literacy.
Tensions in talent: A micro practice perspective on the implementation of high potential talent development programs in multinational corporations
Authors: Garavan Thomas N. , Morley Michael J. , Cross Christine , Carbery Ronan , Darcy Colette
Published: November 2020

Drawing on the utility of paradox theory and adopting a micro‐practice perspective, we explore the implementation of high potential talent development (HiPo) programs in multinational corporations (MNCs). In doing so we take an emergent approach to implementation and seek to cast light on some of the day‐to‐day tensions that arise, along with key responses that salient actors appear to make when navigating these paradoxes. Through an inductive, mixed method study involving nine MNCs, we found that, over time, actors construed three particular sets of performance paradoxes relating to variations in their goals, in their beliefs, and in their roles in the particular HiPo programs in focus. We also found that these actors responded to the tensions experienced using an assortment of both defensive and proactive actions. Finally, we uncovered that both the tensions and responses in play vary with the implementation phase of the HiPo program. We highlight some key practice implications that arise from our work, acknowledge attendant limitations and identify possible directions for future research.
The accuracy of drainage network delineation as a function of environmental factors: A case study in Central and Northern Sweden
Authors: Yan Yanzi , Lidberg William , Tenenbaum David E. , Pilesjö Petter
Published: November 2020

Drainage networks delineated from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), are the basis for the modelling of geomorphological and hydrological processes, biogeochemical cycling, and water resources management. Besides providing effective models of water flows, automatically extracted drainage networks based on topography can diverge from reality to varying degrees. The variability of such disagreement within catchments has rarely been examined as a function of the heterogeneity of land cover, soil type, and slope in the catchment of interest. This research gap might not only substantially limit our knowledge of the uncertainty of hydrological prediction, but can also cause problems for users attempting to use the data at a local scale. Using 1:100000 scale land cover maps, Quaternary deposits maps, and 2 m resolution DEMs, it is found that the accuracy of delineated drainage networks tends to be lower in areas with denser vegetation, lower hydraulic conductivity, and higher erodibility. The findings of this study could serve as a guide for the more thoughtful usage of delineated drainage networks in environmental planning, and in the uncertainty analysis of hydrological and biochemical predictions. Therefore, this study makes a first attempt at filling the knowledge gap described above.
Time‐varying responses of stock returns to market illiquidity: Stress scenario with regime‐switching framework
Authors: Ben Soltane Héla , Naoui Kamel
Published: November 2020

We test the time‐varying stock return responses to both expected and unexpected market illiquidity. Using a Markov‐switching methodology on Tunisian market data, we find that expected and unexpected market illiquidity effects on Tunisian small‐cap returns are always negative and stable. But for large caps, unexpected market illiquidity (illiquidity shock) effect on stock returns varies over time across two distinct regimes. In the first regime, illiquidity shocks have small effect on stock returns, whereas in the second regime, this effect rises threefold compared to its magnitude in first regime. The second regime (stress scenario) is short lived and characterized by high volatility. We also find that effect of expected market illiquidity on large cap returns is insignificant. In addition, we investigate the factors that lead to the stress scenario on stock exchange of Tunis. We find that stress scenario is contingent to funding illiquidity and economic distress in Tunisia. Results prove that Tunisian economic distress occurred in the context of subprime crisis and Tunisian political crisis of 2010.
Clinical features of pregnant women in Iran who died due to COVID‐19
Authors: Amini Moghadam Soheila , Dini Parisa , Nassiri Setare , Motavaselian Mahtab , Hajibaba Marzieh , Sohrabi Masoudreza
Published: November 2020

Background

To evaluate the clinical presentation of pregnant women in Iran who died due to COVID‐19.

Methods

Data were evaluated of pregnant women who died following a laboratory diagnosis of COVID‐19. The data were obtained from electronic medical records. Additionally, a questionnaire was completed for each patient, including demographic, clinical, laboratorial, imaging, and treatment data. In case of missing information, a member of the research team contacted the first‐degree relatives via phone.

Results

Of 32 pregnant women who tested positive for COVID‐19, 15 were enrolled into the study (mean age 30.0 ± 5.0 years). The mean time from first symptoms to death was 12 ± 7.0 days. Pre‐existing comorbidities were seen in six patients. The main presentations at admission were fatigue and coughing, but most of the women had a fever below 38 °C. Increased white blood cell count and neutrophils were noticeable. A significant drop of saturation of O2 with ground glass and consolidation seen in both lungs were prominent. The most common complications were acute respiratory distress syndrome followed by respiratory failure.

Conclusion

Computed tomography findings, O2 pressure, and regular blood assessment may be considered suitable indicators for the surveillance of patients.
Parabens enhance the calcium‐dependent testicular mitochondrial permeability transition: Their relevance on the reproductive capacity in male animals
Authors: Martins Fátima C. , Videira Romeu A. , Oliveira Maria Manuel , Silva‐Maia Daniela , Ferreira Fernanda M. , Peixoto Francisco P.
Published: November 2020

Parabens, alkyl ester derivatives from p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, are extensively used as antimicrobial preservatives. Nonetheless, due to its widespread and massive employment, several studies highlighted the association between parabens and alterations in the reproductive system. This study aimed to relate the adverse effect of the most commonly used parabens in testis mitochondria with male fertility. From all the parabens used, propyl and butyl were the ones that most negatively decreased the respiratory control ratio. In the case of butyl, inhibitions of 20% and 60% were observed, respectively, at the lowest and highest concentration, when compared to the control group. The membrane potential was only significantly affected by propyl (14%) and butyl (31%), and at a concentration of 250 µM. Succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase, and ATPase activities showed a nonsignificant decrease. Cytochrome c reductase, on the other hand, showed statistically significant inhibitions for both propyl (56%) and butylparaben (55%). The susceptibility to the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening was increased by all parabens, although this increase was markedly significant for propyl and butyl. These results show that the susceptibility of mitochondria to parabens is dependent on the alkyl chain length and parabens hydrophobicity, and the main mitochondrial target is Complex II–III and MPTP. Hence, this study demonstrates the contribution of parabens exposition to the inhibition of testis mitochondrial function and their putative noxious effect on the male reproductive system.
The novel ALK inhibitor ZX‐29 induces apoptosis through inhibiting ALK and inducing ROS‐mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in Karpas299 cells
Authors: Zhou Xuejiao , Zhang Xiaoning , Wu Zhuzhu , Xu Xiaobo , Guo Ming , Zhai Xin , Zuo Daiying , Wu Yingliang
Published: November 2020

It is a well‐known fact that 60%−85% of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is mainly driven by the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion protein. Although ALK‐positive ALCL patients respond significantly to ALK inhibitors, the development of resistance is inevitable, which requires the development of new therapeutic strategies for ALK‐positive ALCL. Here, we investigated the anticancer activities of N‐(2((5‐chloro‐2‐((2‐methoxy‐6‐(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)pyridin‐3yl)amino)pyrimidin‐4‐yl)amino)phenyl)methanesulfonamide (ZX‐29), a newly synthesized ALK inhibitor, against nucleophosmin−ALK‐positive cell line Karpas299. We demonstrated that ZX‐29 decreased Karpas299 cells growth and had better cytotoxicity than ceritinib, which was mediated through downregulating the expression of ALK and related proteins, inducing cell cycle arrest, and promoting cell apoptosis. Moreover, ZX‐29‐induced cell apoptosis by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). In addition, ZX‐29 increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cells pretreatment with N‐acetyl‐
l‐cysteine could attenuate ZX‐29‐induced cell apoptosis and ERS. Taken together, ZX‐29 inhibited Karpas299 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through inhibiting ALK and its downstream protein expression and inducing ROS‐mediated ERS. Therefore, our results provide evidence for a novel antitumor candidate for the further investigation.
Perfectionism, efficacy, and daily coping and affect in depression over 6 months
Authors: Richard Alexandra , Dunkley David M. , Zuroff David C. , Moroz Molly , Elizabeth Foley J. , Lewkowski Maxim , Myhr Gail , Westreich Ruta
Published: November 2020

Objective

This study examined how perfectionism and efficacy impacted the maintenance of daily coping and affect in depression over six months.

Method

Forty‐six depressed patients (69.6% female, mean age = 41.11 years) completed measures of perfectionism dimensions (self‐critical, personal standards), efficacy, and depressive severity at Time 1. Participants then completed daily diaries of stress appraisals, coping, and affect for 7 consecutive days at Time 1 and Time 2, 6 months later.

Results

Perfectionism dimensions and efficacy were differentially correlated with appraisals, coping, and affect across Times 1 and 2. Behavioral disengagement tendencies mediated the relation between self‐critical perfectionism and daily negative affect over 6 months, controlling for depressive severity. Efficacy was related to daily positive affect over 6 months through problem‐focused coping tendencies.

Conclusions

Results highlight the importance of addressing perfectionism, efficacy, and daily coping tendencies to more effectively reduce distress and bolster resilience in people with depression.
The impact of a cascade testing video on recipients’ knowledge, cognitive message processing, and affective reactions: A formative evaluation
Authors: Aeilts Amber M. , Carpenter Kristen M. , Hovick Shelly R. , Byrne Lindsey , Shoben Abigail B. , Senter Leigha
Published: November 2020

Cascade genetic testing is essential to clarify cancer risk in families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) due to pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA1 or BRCA2. To date, data suggest that family communication of genetic testing results, with or without the aid of clinical resources such as a provider‐written family letter, is impacted by multiple barriers. These barriers eventually lead to sub‐optimal uptake of cascade genetic testing. We designed a 2‐min animated video that a proband can share with relatives to notify them that the proband has tested positive for a pathogenic variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2. We studied the video via hypothetical scenario in an unselected population to simulate the process by which a relative receives unsolicited genetics information about their family member. We assessed the impact of the video on three specific domains: knowledge, cognitive message processing, and affective reactions. A total of 399 participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk completed the study, and 373 were analyzed. The video significantly improved content knowledge/recall (p < .0001) from pre‐ to post‐video viewing, indicating effective message communication. Items used to measure cognitive processing showed preliminary tendencies toward systematic message processing, which could be desired in familial communication aimed at initiating a specific action—in this case, cascade genetic testing. A majority of participants (66%) reported positive affective reaction as they indicated that they would feel gratitude if they received the video message from a relative, and did not evidence a negative affective reaction to receiving the information. Our data suggest that a video message can effectively communicate information about cascade genetic testing to potential relatives with as little as two minutes of content. Our data suggest that video messaging to assist family communication is a reasonable approach that increases understanding and is unlikely to cause harm.
Preferences of Italian patients for return of secondary findings from clinical genome/exome sequencing
Authors: Godino Lea , Varesco Liliana , Bruno William , Bruzzone Carla , Battistuzzi Linda , Franiuk Marzena , Miccoli Sara , Bertonazzi Benedetta , Graziano Claudio , Seri Marco , Turchetti Daniela
Published: November 2020

Exome/genome sequencing (ES/GS) is increasingly becoming routine in clinical genetic diagnosis, yet issues regarding how to disclose and manage secondary findings (SFs) remain to be addressed, and limited evidence is available on patients’ preferences. We carried out semi‐structured interviews with 307 individuals undergoing clinical genetic testing to explore their preferences for return of SFs in the hypothetical scenario that their test would be performed using ES/GS. Participants were 254 females (82.7%) and 53 males (17.3%), aged 18–86 years; 73.9% (81.1% of those with lower education levels) reported no prior knowledge of ES/GS. Prior knowledge of ES/GS was more common among patients tested for Mendelian conditions (34.5%), compared to those undergoing cancer genetic testing (22.3%) or carrier screening (7.4%). Despite this reported lack of knowledge, most participants (213, 69.6%) stated they would prefer to be informed of all possible results. Reasons in favor of disclosure included wanting to be aware of any risks (168; 83.6%) and to help relatives (23; 11.4%), but also hope that preventive measures might become available in the future (10, 5%). Conversely, potential negative impact on quality of life was the commonest motivation against disclosure. Among 179 participants seen for cancer genetic counseling who were interviewed again after test disclosure, 81.9% had not heard about ES/GS in the meantime; however, the proportion of participants opting for disclosure of any variants was lower (116; 64.8%), with 36 (20.1%) changing opinion compared to the first interview. Based on these findings, we conclude that genetic counseling for ES/GS should involve enhanced education and decision‐making support to enable informed consent to SFs disclosure.