bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune Classification of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Su Sumeyye , Akbarinejad Shaya , Shahriyari Leili
Published: July 2020

Since the outcome of treatments, particularly immunotherapeutic interventions, depends on the tumor immune micro-environment (TIM), several experimental and computational tools such as flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and digital cytometry have been developed and utilized to classify TIM variations. In this project, we identify immune pattern of clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) by estimating the percentage of each immune cell type in 526 renal tumors using the new powerful technique of digital cytometry. The results, which are in agreement with the results of a large-scale mass cytometry analysis, show that the most frequent immune cell types in ccRCC tumors are CD8+ T-cells, macrophages, and CD4+ T-cells. Saliently, unsupervised clustering of ccRCC primary tumors based on their relative number of immune cells indicates the existence of four distinct groups of ccRCC tumors. Tumors in the first group consist of approximately the same numbers of CD8+ T-cells, CD4+ T-cells, and macrophages, while tumors in the second group have a significantly high number of macrophages compared to any other immune cell type (P-value< 0.01). The third group of ccRCC tumors have a significantly higher number of CD8+ T-cells than any other immune cell type (P-value< 0.01), while tumors in the group 4 have approximately the same numbers of macrophages and CD4+ T-cells and a significantly smaller number of CD8+ T-cells than CD4+ T-cells (P-value< 0.01). Moreover, there is a high positive correlation between the expression levels of IFNG and PDCD1 and the percentage of CD8+ T-cells, and higher stage and grade of tumors have a substantially higher percentage of CD8+ T-cells. Furthermore, the primary tumors of patients, who are tumor free at the last time of follow up, have a significantly higher percentage of mast cells (P-value< 0.01) compared to the patients with tumors for all groups of tumors except group 3.
A fast, accurate, and generalisable heuristic-based negation detection algorithm for clinical text
Authors: Slater Luke T , Bradlow William , Motti Dino FA , Hoehndorf Robert , Ball Simon , Gkoutos Georgios V
Published: July 2020

Background

Negation detection is an important task in biomedical text mining. Particularly in clinical settings, it is of critical importance to determine whether findings mentioned in text are present or absent. Rule-based negation detection algorithms are a common approach to the task, and more recent investigations have resulted in the development of rule-based systems utilising the rich grammatical information afforded by typed dependency graphs. However, interacting with these complex representations inevitably necessitates complex rules, which are time-consuming to develop and do not generalise well. We hypothesise that a heuristic approach to determining negation via dependency graphs could offer a powerful alternative.

Results

We describe and implement an algorithm for negation detection based on grammatical distance from a negatory construct in a typed dependency graph. To evaluate the algorithm, we develop two testing corpora comprised of sentences of clinical text extracted from the MIMIC-III database and documents related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients routinely collected at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS trust. Gold-standard validation datasets were built by a combination of human annotation and examination of algorithm error. Finally, we compare the performance of our approach with four other rule-based algorithms on both gold-standard corpora.

Conclusions

The presented algorithm exhibits the best performance by f-measure over the MIMIC-III dataset, and a similar performance to the syntactic negation detection systems over the HCM dataset. It is also the fastest of the dependency-based negation systems explored in this study. Our results show that while a single heuristic approach to dependency-based negation detection is ignorant to certain advanced cases, it nevertheless forms a powerful and stable method, requiring minimal training and adaptation between datasets. As such, it could present a drop-in replacement or augmentation for many-rule negation approaches in clinical text-mining pipelines, particularly for cases where adaptation and rule development is not required or possible.
Activation of bone marrow adaptive immunity in type 2 diabetes: rescue by co-stimulation modulator Abatacept
Authors: Santopaolo Marianna , Sullivan Niall , Thomas Anita C. , Alvino Valeria , Nicholson Lindsay , Gu Yue , Spinetti Gaia , Kallikourdis Marinos , Blom Ashley , Madeddu Paolo
Published: July 2020

Hypothesis

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by low-grade inflammation. Here, we investigated the state of adaptive immunity in bone marrow (BM) of patients and mice with T2D. We also tested if inhibition T cell co-stimulation by Abatacept could rescue the immune profile of T2D mice.

Methods

Flow-cytometry and cytokine analyses were performed on BM samples from patients with or without T2D. Moreover, we studied the immune profile of db/db and control wt/db mice. A cohort of db/db mice was randomized to receive Abatacept or vehicle for 4 weeks, with endpoints being immune cell profile and indexes of insulin sensitivity and heart performance.

Results

T2D patients showed increased frequencies of BM CD4+(2.8-fold, p=0.001) and CD8+T cells (1.8-fold, p=0.01), with upregulation of the activation marker CD69 and homing receptor CCR7 in CD4+(1.64-fold, p=0.003 and 2.27-fold, p=0.01, respectively) and CD8+fractions (1.79-fold, p=0.05 and 1.69-fold, p=0.02, respectively). CCL19 (CCR7 receptor ligand) and CXCL10/11 (CXCR3 receptor ligands), implicated in T cell migration and activation, were the most differentially modulated chemokines. Studies in mice confirmed the activation of adaptive immunity in T2D. Abatacept reduced the activation of T cells and levels of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. Additionally, Abatacept improved indexes of cardiac systolic function, but not insulin sensitivity.

Conclusions

These novel findings support the concept of BM adaptive immune activation in T2D. Modulation of T cell co-stimulation could represent an attractive and immediately available modality to dampen inappropriate activation of adaptive immune response and protect from target organ damage.
Pygmaeomycetaceae, a new root associated family in Mucoromycotina from the pygmy pine plains
Authors: Walsh Emily , Luo Jing , Khiste Swapneel , Scalera Adam , Sajjad Sana , Zhang Ning
Published: July 2020

A new genus, Pygmaeomyces, and two new species are described based on phylogenetic analyses, phenotypic and ecological characters. The species delimitation was based on concordance of gene genealogies. The Pygmaeomyces cultures were isolated from the roots of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) and pitch pine (Pinus rigida) from the acidic and oligotrophic New Jersey Pygmy Pine Plains; however, they likely have a broader distribution because their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences have high similarity with a number of environmental sequences from multiple independent studies. Based on the phylogeny and phenotypical characters, a new family Pygmaeomycetaceae is proposed to accommodate this new lineage in Mucoromycotina. Pygmaeomycetaceae corresponds to Clade GS23, which was identified based on a sequence-only soil fungal survey and was believed to be a distinct new class. Compared to the culture-based methods, we observed that sequence-only analyses tend to over-estimate the taxonomic level. Results from this work will facilitate ecological and evolutionary studies on root-associated fungi.
Deep learning and computer vision will transform entomology
Authors: Høye Toke T. , Ärje Johanna , Bjerge Kim , Hansen Oskar L. P. , Iosifidis Alexandros , Leese Florian , Mann Hjalte M. R. , Meissner Kristian , Melvad Claus , Raitoharju Jenni
Published: July 2020

Most animal species on Earth are insects, and recent reports suggest that their abundance is in drastic decline. Although these reports come from a wide range of insect taxa and regions, the evidence to assess the extent of the phenomenon is still sparse. Insect populations are challenging to study and most monitoring methods are labour intensive and inefficient. Advances in computer vision and deep learning provide potential new solutions to this global challenge. Cameras and other sensors that can effectively, continuously, and non-invasively perform entomological observations throughout diurnal and seasonal cycles. The physical appearance of specimens can also be captured by automated imaging in the lab. When trained on these data, deep learning models can provide estimates of insect abundance, biomass, and diversity. Further, deep learning models can quantify variation in phenotypic traits, behaviour, and interactions. Here, we connect recent developments in deep learning and computer vision to the urgent demand for more cost-efficient monitoring of insects and other invertebrates. We present examples of sensor-based monitoring of insects. We show how deep learning tools can be applied to the big data outputs to derive ecological information and discuss the challenges that lie ahead for the implementation of such solutions in entomology. We identify four focal areas, which will facilitate this transformation: 1) Validation of image-based taxonomic identification, 2) generation of sufficient training data, 3) development of public, curated reference databases, and 4) solutions to integrate deep learning and molecular tools.

Significance statement

Insect populations are challenging to study, but computer vision and deep learning provide opportunities for continuous and non-invasive monitoring of biodiversity around the clock and over entire seasons. These tools can also facilitate the processing of samples in a laboratory setting. Automated imaging in particular can provide an effective way of identifying and counting specimens to measure abundance. We present examples of sensors and devices of relevance to entomology and show how deep learning tools can convert the big data streams into ecological information. We discuss the challenges that lie ahead and identify four focal areas to make deep learning and computer vision game changers for entomology.
EARLY SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN WITH WILMS TUMOR AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN WESTERN KENYA
Authors: Nyakundi Nancy Kerubo , Musau Pius , Saula Peter
Published: July 2020

Purpose: To evaluate the early surgical outcomes of children with Wilms Tumour at a teaching hospital in Western Kenya.
Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children diagnosed with Wilms tumour at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital over a one-year period. The participants data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Data on preoperative chemotherapy cycles, staging and predominant histological component, tumour rupture, early postoperative complications, duration of stay in surgical unit and mortality were obtained through chart reviews. Statistical association between patient characteristics and surgical outcomes were done.
Results: Thirty children with Wilms tumour were recruited into the study, with a mean age of 3.8 (SD 1.5) years and a female to male ratio of 1.7:1. They all presented with an abdominal mass. The median duration of symptoms was 8 weeks (IQR 4, 12) prior to admission. Over half (53.3%) of the participants received 6 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy while the rest received more. Two thirds of the tumours were on the left side while 53% of all tumours were classified as intermediate risk tumours. The early postoperative complications were intestinal obstruction (6.7%), surgical site infection (3.3%) and tumour rupture (3.3%). Post-operatively, patients stayed an average of 6.5 (SD 1.6) days in the surgical ward. There was a statistically significant association between duration of symptoms and surgical ward stay period (p=.044). There was no correlation between sociodemographic characteristics, clinical staging, and post-operative complications. None of the children died peri-operatively.
Conclusions: The Early surgical outcomes were favourable despite late presentation that increased the duration of stay in the surgical ward.
Optimal sample pooling: an efficient tool against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Goyal Saurabh , Bist Priti , Sharma Rakesh
Published: July 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation has presented multiple imminent challenges to the nations around the globe. While health agencies around the world are exploring various options to contain the spread of this fatal viral infection, multiple strategies and guidelines are being issued to boost the fight against the disease. Identifying and isolating infected individuals at an early phase of the disease has been a very successful approach to stop the chain of transmission. But this approach faces a practical challenge of limited resources. Sample pooling solves this enigma by significantly improving the testing capacity and result turn around time while using no extra resources. However, the general sample pooling method also has the scope of significant improvements. This article describes a process to further optimize the resources with optimal sample pooling. This is a user-friendly technique, scalable on a national or international scale. A mathematical model has been built and validated for its performance using clinical data.
Determinants of quality of life in Latin American people with drug-resistant epilepsy: A cross-sectional, correlational study
Authors: Díaz-Torres Marco Antonio , Buzo-Jarquín Edith Giselle , Rodríguez-Martínez Aime Carolina , De León-Altamira Diana Laura , Padilla-Rivas Gerardo , Castillo-Torres Sergio Andrés , Olivas-Reyes Jaime Enrique Giovann , Cisneros-Franco J. Miguel
Published: July 2020

One third of people with epilepsy (PWE) continue to have seizures despite adequate antiepileptic drug treatment. This condition, known as drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) significantly impairs their social, family and work environment. The aims of this study were to assess the quality of life (QoL) in PWE with DRE and to investigate which factors are associated with a better QoL. This was a cross-sectional observational study of 133 Latin American PWE. QoL was assessed with the Spanish version of the Quality of Life with Epilepsy questionnaire (QOLIE-10). Independent clinical variables were analyzed with non-parametric statistics and their association with QoL was investigated with multiple linear regression. Poor quality of life was found in 25.8% of PWE. A low number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was the major factor associated with better quality of life, closely followed by seizure frequency. We conclude that careful selection of AED treatment may contribute to improving both seizure control and QoL.
Age Matters: COVID-19 Prevalence in a Vaping Adolescent Population – An Observational Study
Authors: Tandan Nitin , Regmi Manjari Rani , Maini Ruby , Ibrahim Abdisamad M. , Koester Cameron , Lara Garcia Odalys Estefania , Parajuli Priyanka , Al-Akchar Mohammad , Bhattarai Mukul , Kulkarni Abhishek , Robinson Robert
Published: July 2020

Background

Currently, there is limited or no data demonstrating that vaping is associated with increased transmission or prevalence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Our study aims to investigate the relationship of vaping with the prevalence of COVID-19 infection across the United States and in the District of Columbia.

Methods

COVID-19 case counts by state and the District of Columbia were obtained via the Worldometers website on 04/30/2020. Prevalence of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents were calculated using estimated 2019 population data from the US Census Department. Age ranges analyzed were: high school age children, Ages 18-24, Ages 25-44, and Ages 45-65. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to determine if the rate of vaping was correlated with a higher prevalence of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population.

Findings

The Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that persons vaping between 18 years and 24 years of age had a correlation coefficient of 0.278 with prevalence of COVID-19 infection (p=0.048). Vaping high school students had a correlation coefficient of 0.153 with prevalence of COVID-19 (p=0.328). Persons vaping in the age group 25-45 years had a correlation coefficient of 0.101 in association to COVID-19 prevalence (p=0.478). And finally, persons vaping between the age 45-65 years old had a correlation coefficient 0.130 with respect to COVID-19 prevalence (p=0.364).

Interpretation

Increased COVID-19 prevalence is associated with vaping in the adolescent population between ages 18 and 24. Further prospective studies need to be performed in order investigate the severity of outcomes of vaping in association with COVID-19 infection.

Funding

Nothing to disclose.
Intergenerational communication barriers and pitfalls of business families in transition—a qualitative action research approach
Authors: Zehrer Anita , Leiß Gabriela
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the pertinent issues, barriers and pitfalls of intergenerational communication in business families during their leadership succession period.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on relational leadership theory, the paper makes use of an action research approach using a qualitative single case study to investigate communication barriers and pitfalls in business transition.

Findings

Through action research, interventions were taken in the underlying case, which increased the consciousness, as well as the personal and social competencies of the business family. Thus, business families stuck in ambivalent entanglement understand their underlying motives and needs within the change process, get into closer contact with their emotional barriers and communication hindrances, which is a prerequisite for any change, and break the succession iceberg phenomenon.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should undertake multiple case studies to validate and/or modify the qualitative methods used in this action research to increase the validity and generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

Given the large number of business families in transition, our study shows the beneficial effects action research might have on business families’ communication behavior along a change process. The findings might help other business families to understand the value of action research for such underlying challenges and decrease communication barriers.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies to have addressed intergenerational communication of business families using an action research approach.
Intellectual capital and service quality within the mobile telecommunications sector of Egypt
Authors: Abd-Elrahman Abd-Elrahman Hassanein , El-Borsaly Azza Abd-Elqader , Hafez Eglal Abd-Elmoneim , Hassan Sally Ali
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) (i.e. human capital, structural capital, relational capital) and service quality (SQ) within the Egyptian mobile telecommunications setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey of 384 top- middle- and supervisory level managers from three Egyptian mobile telecommunications companies.

Findings

Hypotheses related to the relationship of human, structural and relational capital and their influence on SQ were tested. Results show that Egyptian mobile telecommunications companies have mostly emphasized the use of structural capital to boost their SQ.

Research limitations/implications

This is an empirical research applied in the Egyptian telecommunications setting. Its relationships need further investigation in other settings and countries. Also, the traditional limitations of a cross-sectional study apply with respect to the attribution of causality and the time lag effects.

Practical implications

The optimal procedure for the Egyptian mobile telecommunications companies is to focus their efforts on managing all three components of IC in order to improve their SQ and performance.

Originality/value

This is one of the very few researches to study the relationship between intellectual capital and service quality and the first to investigate these relationships in the Arab Region within the mobile telecommunications setting.
Everywhere and nowhere at once: the challenges of following in multi-sited ethnography
Authors: Van Duijn Sarah
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In multi-sited ethnography, “following” (of, e.g. persons, objects and events) is used as a device to structure fieldwork. The purpose of this paper is to problematize and substantiate the notion of following, illustrating that, when adopting a “following” strategy, the endless number of potential trails one could follow may lead a fieldworker to be both everywhere and nowhere at once.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the experiences and insights derived from a multi-sited ethnography of the strategic collaborations that emerged after the Dutch healthcare reform of 2015. Fieldwork was conducted between 2015 and 2017, and consisted of participant observations, shadowing and interviews.

Findings

An approach well suited to studying the contemporary problems that cut across organizational boundaries, multi-sited ethnography is both valuable and more challenging due to: (1) the continuous need to negotiate access, which stimulates the researcher to reflect on his or her positionality in the field; (2) the inevitable pressure it puts on a researcher to “unfollow” their field(s) and to regain critical distance and (3) its perplexing ability to highlight the lack of a whole, unveiling instead a plethora of perspectives across sites which may or may not align.

Research limitations/implications

This paper ends with three key considerations for future multi-sited research endeavours.

Originality/value

Although the metaphor of following can help to structure fieldwork, the practice of following in multi-sited ethnography is not as straightforward as it appears: there are countless potential “paths” to follow, and researchers themselves must decide which trails to choose and when to step back and “unfollow” their field(s).
Is offense worth more than defense and pitching? Marginal revenue product and revenue sharing in major league baseball
Authors: Ehrlich Justin Andrew , Potter Joel M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Sports economists have consistently found that winning positively impacts team revenue fans prefer to allocate their entertainment dollars to winning teams. Previous research has also found that fans do not have a preference for how their team wins. However, this research ignores the significant variability in revenue that can exist between teams with similar attendance figures. The authors contribute to the literature by testing whether profit maximizing teams should pay different amounts for different types of production by estimating the marginal revenue product of a win due to offense, defense and pitching.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the 2010–2017 Major League Baseball seasons and an Ordinary Least Squares-Fixed Effects approach, the authors test whether a unit of offensive, defensive and pitching production generates differing amounts of team revenue both before and after revenue sharing. The authors then test if team Wins Above Replacement is a good approximation of actual wins while accounting for the previously observed nonlinear relationship between wins and revenue.

Findings

The authors found that marginal revenue product estimates in the postrevenue sharing model for mowar, pwar and dwar are nearly identical to each other. Further, after predicting prerevenue sharing, the authors find that fans have no preference for mowar, pwar or dwar play styles.

Originality/value

The findings illustrate that team decision-makers appear to be acting irrationally by paying more for offense than they do for defense. Thus, the findings suggest that team decision-makers should value defensive wins and pitching wins at the same rate as offensive wins on the free agent market.
Outlet selectivity: how and when does it work?
Authors: Ku Hsuan-Hsuan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

A common tactic employed by retailers to enhance shoppers' purchase intentions is to promote a special offer product for purchase only at certain selected stores. This research aimed to identify the specific processes by which restricting the outlets drives intention to buy.

Design/methodology/approach

Three between-subjects experiments examined the effect on purchasing intention of outlet selectivity, as mediated by participants' perceptions of temporal accessibility and geographic accessibility (study 1), and investigated the extent to which decisions to buy might be moderated by the limited number of stores where the item would be available (study 2) and by “limited market,” in which the right to buy a product is restricted to a limited set of consumers (study 3).

Findings

The study findings are that joint consideration of the perceived temporal and geographic accessibility of a product generates two possible ways in which availability limited to certain stores makes the product seem hard to get and motivates consumer purchase decisions. However, such effect is confined to conditions in which the distribution of those outlets is low-density. When there was no change in those scores if restrictions were lower, participants' responsiveness to decreased availability was significantly raised by announcing that the chance to buy the product is further limited to “eligible” customers.

Originality/value

This research focused on consumer responses to outlet selectivity, a branch of inquiry that treats an overlooked facet of limited availability and provides useful assistance for developing methods to stimulate consumers' desire to purchase.
The role of the museumscape on positive word of mouth: examining Italian museums
Authors: Conti Emanuela , Vesci Massimiliano , Castellani Paola , Rossato Chiara
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to develop an all-encompassing model to analyse various aspects of atmospherics, including components of the museum space and its physical surroundings. Moreover, it evaluates whether the identified attributes of the “museumscape” affect the positive word of mouth of museum visitors.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study adopts a quantitative methodology. Data were collected through direct interviews with visitors at three Italian art museums and through a structured questionnaire. All dimensions were measured with multiple items on a five-point Likert scale. To assess the influence of the museumscape attributes on positive word of mouth, a structural equation model is performed adopting the two-stage testing procedure estimating the measurement model in the first stage and running a confirmatory factor analysis to assess reliability and demonstrate convergent and discriminant validity for all multi-item measures.

Findings

Six attributes of the museumscape are delineated (ambient conditions; facilities and convenience; signs and signage; staff behaviour; art gallery quality; exhibition space aesthetics). The latter three positively influence visitors' positive word of mouth.

Research limitations/implications

The study expands frameworks from previous service museum marketing research in general and service museum research on atmospherics in particular. The framework developed here identifies the direct predictive power of museumscape cues on positive museum visitor's word of mouth, thus increasing knowledge of the customer service experience and service quality and atmospherics management.

Practical implications

The constructs discovered here may help museum managers to carefully design and manage the museumscape to enhance visitors' satisfaction and loyalty.

Originality/value

This study is the first application of servicescape theory in the museum context; previous applications focus on for-profit sectors.
Long noncoding RNAs: Important participants and potential therapeutic targets for myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury
Authors: Ding Yu‐Ming , Chan Elsa Ching , Liu Li‐Chang , Liu Zhi‐Wei , Wang Qiong , Wang Jian‐Li , Cui Xiao‐Pei , Jiang Fan , Guo Xiao‐Sun
Published: July 2020

Myocardial ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is one of the leading causes of coronary artery disease‐associated morbidity and mortality. While different strategies have been used to limit I/R injuries, cardiac functions often do not recover to the normal level as anticipated. Recent studies have pointed to important roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development of myocardial I/R injury. LncRNA is a class of RNA molecules of more than 200 nucleotides in length which are not translated into proteins. I/R causes dysregulation of lncRNA expression in cardiomyocytes, thereby affecting multiple cellular functions including mitochondrial homeostasis, apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, suggesting that manipulating lncRNAs may be of great potential in counteracting I/R injury‐induced myocardial dysfunctions. In this review, we provide an updated summary on our knowledge about contributions of lncRNAs to the development of I/R injury, with an emphasis on the functional links between several well established cardiac lncRNAs and regulation of cellular outcomes post I/R.
The relations between morphological awareness and reading comprehension in beginner readers to young adolescents
Authors: James Emma , Currie Nicola K. , Tong Shelley Xiuli , Cain Kate
Published: July 2020

Background

Morphological awareness plays a crucial role in supporting higher‐level text processing. We examined its contribution to reading comprehension in children of different ages and ability levels in order to determine when and for whom morphological awareness is of particular importance.

Methods

Three groups of children (aged 6–8 years, N = 128; 9–11 years, N = 126; and 12–13 years N = 147) completed judgement and production tasks to measure awareness of compounding, inflections and derivations. Nonverbal reasoning, vocabulary, phonological awareness, word reading and reading comprehension were also assessed.

Results

Principal component analysis yielded a single primary factor of morphological awareness for each age group. Separate hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that this morphological awareness factor accounted for significant unique variance in reading comprehension for groups of 6–8 and 12–13 years, beyond age, nonverbal reasoning, vocabulary, phonological awareness and word reading. Vocabulary also uniquely predicted reading comprehension in all three age groups. Quantile regression analyses at three points in the reading comprehension distribution (0.1, 0.5 and 0.9) indicated that morphological awareness and vocabulary predicted reading comprehension to a similar extent across the ability range.

Conclusions

Our results clarify the fundamental role of morphological awareness in reading comprehension across all levels of readers. In addition, vocabulary and morphological awareness each make critical contributions to comprehension ability in developing readers across the ability range.
Comprehensive support of family caregivers: Are there health system cost offsets?
Authors: Van Houtven Courtney Harold , Smith Valerie A. , Stechuchak Karen M. , Berkowitz Theodore S. Z. , Miller Katherine E. M. , Shepherd‐Banigan Megan , Kabat Margaret , Henius Jennifer
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To examine the effect of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Caregivers (PCAFC) on total VA health care costs for Veterans.

Data Sources

VA claims.

Study Design

Using a pre‐post cohort design with nonequivalent control group, we estimated the effect of PCAFC on total VA costs up through 6 years. The treatment group included Veterans (n = 32 394) whose caregivers enrolled in PCAFC. The control group included an inverse probability of treatment weighted sample of Veterans whose caregivers were denied PCAFC enrollment (n = 38 402).

Data Extraction

May 2009‐September 2017.

Principal Findings

Total VA costs pre‐PCAFC application date were no different between groups. Veterans in PCAFC were estimated to have $13 227 in VA costs in the first 6 months post‐PCAFC application, compared to $10 806 for controls. Estimated VA costs for both groups decreased in the first 3 years with a narrowing, but persistent and significant, difference, through 5.5 years. No significant difference in VA health care costs existed at 6 years, approximately $10 000 each, though confidence intervals reflect significant uncertainty in cost differences at 6 years.

Conclusions

Increased costs arose from increased outpatient costs of participants. Sample composition changes may explain lack of significance in cost differences at 6 years because these costs comprise of early appliers to PCAFC. Examining 10‐year costs could elucidate whether there are long‐term cost offsets from increased engagement in outpatient care.
Identification and characterization of long noncoding RNAs and their association with acquisition of blood meal in Culex quinquefasciatus
Authors: Azlan Azali , Halim Mardani Abdul , Mohamad Faisal , Azzam Ghows
Published: July 2020

The Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) is an important vector that transmit multiple diseases including West Nile encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and lymphatic filariasis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) involve in many biological processes such as development, infection, and virus–host interaction. However, there is no systematic identification and characterization of lncRNAs in Cx. quinquefasciatus. Here, we report the first lncRNA identification in Cx. quinquefasciatus. By using 31 public RNA‐seq datasets, a total of 4763 novel lncRNA transcripts were identified, of which 3591, 569, and 603 were intergenic, intronic, and antisense respectively. Examination of genomic features revealed that Cx. quinquefasciatus shared similar characteristics with other species such as short in length, low GC content, low sequence conservation, and low coding potential. Furthermore, compared to protein‐coding genes, Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs had lower expression values, and tended to be expressed in temporally specific fashion. In addition, weighted correlation network and functional annotation analyses showed that lncRNAs may have roles in blood meal acquisition of adult female Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. This study presents the first systematic identification and analysis of Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs and their association with blood feeding. Results generated from this study will facilitate future investigation on the function of Cx. quinquefasciatus lncRNAs.
Impact of Point‐of‐care Testing on Length of Stay of Patients in the Emergency Department: A Cluster‐randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Hausfater Pierre , Hajage David , Bulsei Julie , Canavaggio Pauline , Lafourcade Alexandre , Paquet Anne Laure , Arock Michel , Durand‐Zaleski Isabelle , Riou Bruno , Oueidat Nathalie
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Crowding is a frequent concern in the emergency department (ED). Laboratory point‐of‐care testing (POCT) has been proposed to decrease patients' length of stay (LOS). Our objective was to determine whether an extended panel of POCT solutions could reduce LOS.

Methods

This was a single‐center, prospective, open‐label, controlled cluster‐randomized study. Blood test processing was randomized into 1‐week inclusion periods: interventional arm (laboratory analyses performed on POCT analyzers implemented in the ED) or control arm (central laboratory). The primary endpoint was LOS of patients in the ED. Secondary endpoints were time to result (TTR), ED crowding surrogates, and average total cost of an ED visit in each arm.

Results

A total of 23,231 patients were included and 20,923 were analyzed for the main outcome measure. Mean ± SD age was 46 ± 20 years, and 7,905 (36%) underwent blood sampling. Mean ± SD LOSs were 203 ± 161 and 210 ± 168 minutes in the POCT and control arms, respectively. LOS reduction for the entire ED population was −9 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] = −22 to 5, p = 0.22) compared to the control arm and −17 minutes (95% CI = −34.0 to 0.6, p = 0.06) for patients undergoing blood sampling. The mean ± SD TTRs were 28 ± 31 and 79 ± 34 minutes in the POCT and control arms, respectively (TTR reduction = −51 minutes, 95% CI = −54 to −48 minutes, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The implementation of an extended panel of POCT solutions in an ED did not significantly reduce the LOS, but reduced the TTR.
Reporting of alcohol as a contributor to death in Australian national suicide statistics and its relationship to post‐mortem alcohol concentrations
Authors: Chitty Kate M. , Schumann Jennifer L. , Moran Lauren L. , Chong Daniel G. , Hurzeler Tristan P. , Buckley Nicholas A.
Published: July 2020

Aim

To describe the assignment of International Classification of Disease (ICD)‐10 alcohol codes as underlying or contributory causes of death by the Australian Bureau of Statistics during mortality coding for suicides according to the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) detected at autopsy.

Design

Population‐based case‐series descriptive analysis.

Setting and participants

Data for all alcohol‐related (Alc+) suicide deaths (aged 15+) in Australia from 2010–2015 (n = 3132) from the National Coronial Information System.

Measurements

Alc+ suicides were categorised as those with a post‐mortem BAC ≥0.05 g/100 mL. The outcome variable was whether the case was assigned an ICD‐10 alcohol code (F10.0–F10.9, R78.0, T51, X45 and/or X65). We estimated OR for the assignment of codes in Alc+ suicides using BAC as the key predictor. We also examined several covariates that have been implicated in the risk of Alc+ suicides.

Findings

An ICD‐10 alcohol code was assigned during the mortality coding process in 47.6% (n = 1491) of Alc+ suicides. Higher BAC was associated with higher odds of having a code assigned; cases with a BAC over 0.20 g/100 mL over were twice as likely to have an alcohol code assigned (adjusted OR [AOR] = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.59, 2.67) compared with cases with a BAC of 0.050–0.075 g/100 mL. Compared with New South Wales, higher likelihood of code assignment was found in Northern Territory (AOR = 3.85, 95% CI = 2.32, 6.63) and Western Australia (AOR = 2.89, 95% CI = 2.27, 3.68). Compared with 15–24 year olds, 25–44 (AOR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.63, 0.99) and 65–84 year olds (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43, 0.93) were less likely to have a code assigned.

Conclusions

An ICD‐10 alcohol code was not assigned as an underlying or contributory cause of death in over half of suicides in Australia (2010–2015) with a BAC ≥0.05 g/100 mL. The higher the BAC detected at autopsy, the more likely cases were to be assigned an alcohol code during the mortality coding process.
Drug‐related harm coinciding with income assistance payments: results from a community‐based cohort of people who use drugs
Authors: Richardson Lindsey , Dong Huiru , Kerr Thomas , Milloy M‐J , Hayashi Kanna
Published: July 2020

Background and Aims

Income assistance is critical to the health and wellbeing of socio‐economically marginalized people who use illicit drugs (PWUD). However, past literature paradoxically identifies unintended increases in drug‐related harm coinciding with synchronized payments that may magnify signals for drug use. The scope of such harm has not been fully characterized among non‐institutionalized populations. This study examined socio‐demographic, health and drug use‐related correlates of payment‐coincident drug‐related harm.

Design

This observational study uses data from prospective community‐based longitudinal cohorts of PWUD between December 2013 and May 2018.

Setting

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Participants

A total of 1604 PWUD receiving monthly income assistance. Our sample included 586 (36.5%) women, 861 (53.7%) non‐white participants and 685 (42.7%) people living with HIV.

Measurements

The primary outcome was a self‐reported composite measure of drug‐related harm in the past 6 months coinciding with income assistance, including higher‐frequency substance use, non‐fatal overdose and service barriers or interruptions. Subanalyses disaggregated this outcome.

Findings

Payment‐coincident drug‐related harm was reported among 77.7% of participants during the study period. In multivariable models, key correlates positively and significantly associated with payment‐coincident harm included: street‐based income generation [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26–1.74, P < 0.001], sex work (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.35–2.04, P < 0.001), illegal income generation (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.35–1.83 P < 0.001), homelessness (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.13–1.58, P < 0.001), exposure to violence (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.03–1.66, P = 0.032), daily crack cocaine use (aOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.59–2.50, P <  0.001), heavy alcohol use (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.37–1.97, P < 0.001) and injection drug use (aOR = 2.55, 95% CI = 2.01–3.23, P < 0.001). In subanalyses, specific harms were more likely among individuals reporting social, structural and health vulnerabilities.

Conclusions

In Vancouver, Canada, people who use illicit drugs who receive income assistance report high prevalence of payment‐coincident drug‐related harm, particularly people experiencing socioeconomic and structural marginalization or engaging in high‐intensity drug use.
Efficacy of verbenone and a blend of verbenone and nonhost volatiles for protecting lodgepole pine from mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Fettig Christopher J. , Munson A. Steven
Published: July 2020

Significant research has been devoted to the development of semiochemical repellents for mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins. Several formulations of the beetle's antiaggregation pheromone verbenone (4,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐3‐en‐2‐one) are registered to protect pine trees and stands.

We compared the efficacy of verbenone and Verbenone Plus for protecting individual lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. and small stands of P. contorta from mortality attributed to D. ponderosae. Verbenone Plus is a blend of semiochemicals [(−)‐verbenone, acetophenone, and (E)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol + (Z)‐2‐hexen‐1‐ol] originally developed to inhibit aggregation of western pine beetle D. brevicomis LeConte. It is the only effective semiochemical repellent that protects ponderosa pine P. ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws. from mortality attributed to D. brevicomis, but has yet to be registered or commercialized.

Both verbenone and Verbenone Plus were effective for protecting individual P. contorta and small stands of P. contorta from mortality attributed to D. ponderosae. Verbenone alone was as effective as Verbenone Plus.

An obstacle to the broader use of semiochemical repellents for the management of bark beetles is the relatively high cost and specificity of the semiochemicals involved. A semiochemical repellent with efficacy across multiple bark beetle species and hosts, such as Verbenone Plus, would be desirable, assuming the additional components are not cost‐prohibitive or limit registration.
Clinical correlates of rhinovirus infection in preschool asthma
Authors: Jartti Tuomas , Liimatainen Unna , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Vahlberg Tero , Bachert Claus , Finotto Susetta , Kowalski Marek L , Sobanska Anna , Lukkarinen Heikki , Pasioti Maria , Vuorinen Tytti , Zhang Nan , Zimmermann Theodor , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G
Published: July 2020

Background

Investigation of preschool asthma is important since not all children outgrow their illness during this age. Data are scarce on the role of rhinovirus (RV) infections in this patient group.

Objectives

To investigate the role of RV infections in preschool asthma: (i) susceptibility factors, (ii) clinical course, and (iii) medium‐term outcome.

Methods

A total of 130 asthmatic children aged 4‐6 years from the multinational PreDicta cohort were prospectively followed for a 12‐month period. Allergy tests and a standard health questionnaire were carried out at study entry. Respiratory virus presence in nasopharyngeal washes was studied at illness visits and at 3 scheduled visits.

Results

At study entry, mean age of the children was 5.3 years. Of 571 visits, 54% were positive for any virus and 39% for RV. Patient characteristics were only assessed with RV infection due to low number of other viruses. The use of supplementary vitamin D was inversely associated with RV infection (P < .05). RV infection was associated with more severe course of acute illness in terms of more severe nighttime coughing, more sleep disturbances, and more days with runny nose (all P < .05). RV infection was also associated with more severe disease course during the 12‐month follow‐up in terms of more nights with awakenings and more days of exercise‐related symptoms (both P < .05).

Conclusions

Vitamin D supplementation may have an anti‐rhinovirus effect. Both short‐ and medium‐term outcomes suggest RV infection to be an important clinical marker of instable preschool asthma.
Laser‐facilitated epicutaneous immunotherapy with hypoallergenic beta‐glucan neoglycoconjugates suppresses lung inflammation and avoids local side effects in a mouse model of allergic asthma
Authors: Korotchenko Evgeniia , Schießl Viktoria , Scheiblhofer Sandra , Schubert Mario , Dall Elfriede , Joubert Isabella A. , Strandt Helen , Neuper Theresa , Sarajlic Muamera , Bauer Renate , Geppert Mark , Joedicke David , Wildner Sabrina , Schaller Susanne , Winkler Stephan , Gadermaier Gabriele , Horejs‐Hoeck Jutta , Weiss Richard
Published: July 2020

Background

Allergen‐specific immunotherapy via the skin targets a tissue rich in antigen‐presenting cells, but can be associated with local and systemic side effects. Allergen‐polysaccharide neoglycogonjugates increase immunization efficacy by targeting and activating dendritic cells via C‐type lectin receptors and reduce side effects.

Objective

We investigated the immunogenicity, allergenicity, and therapeutic efficacy of laminarin‐ovalbumin neoglycoconjugates (LamOVA).

Methods

The biological activity of LamOVA was characterized in vitro using bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells. Immunogenicity and therapeutic efficacy were analyzed in BALB/c mice. Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) was performed using fractional infrared laser ablation to generate micropores in the skin, and the effects of LamOVA on blocking IgG, IgE, cellular composition of BAL, lung, and spleen, lung function, and T‐cell polarization were assessed.

Results

Conjugation of laminarin to ovalbumin reduced its IgE binding capacity fivefold and increased its immunogenicity threefold in terms of IgG generation. EPIT with LamOVA induced significantly higher IgG levels than OVA, matching the levels induced by s.c. injection of OVA/alum (SCIT). EPIT was equally effective as SCIT in terms of blocking IgG induction and suppression of lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, but SCIT was associated with higher levels of therapy‐induced IgE and TH2 cytokines. EPIT with LamOVA induced significantly lower local skin reactions during therapy compared to unconjugated OVA.

Conclusion

Conjugation of ovalbumin to laminarin increased its immunogenicity while at the same time reducing local side effects. LamOVA EPIT via laser‐generated micropores is safe and equally effective compared to SCIT with alum, without the need for adjuvant.