bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Crystal Is Creepy, but Cool”: Mapping Folk Theories and Responses to Automated Personality Recognition Algorithms
Authors: Liao Tony , Tyson Olivia
Published: April 2021

This article examines Crystal Knows, a company that generates automated personality profiles through an algorithm and sells access to their database. These algorithms are the result of a long line of research into computational and predictive algorithms that track social media practices and uses them to infer individual characteristics and make psychometric assessments. Although it is now computationally possible, these algorithms are not widely known or understood by the general public. Little is known about how people would respond to them, particularly when they do not even know their online activities are being assessed by the algorithm. This study examines how people construct “snap” folk theories about the ways personality algorithms operate as well as how they react when shown their outputs. Through qualitative interviews ( n = 37) with people after being presented with their own profile, this study identifies a series of folk theories that people came up with to explain the personality algorithm across four dimensions (data source, scope, collection process, and outputs). In addition, this study examined how those folk theories contributed to certain reactions, fears, and justifications people had about the algorithm. This study builds on our theoretical understanding of folk theory literature as well as certain limitations of algorithmic transparency/sovereignty when these types of inferential and predictive algorithms get coupled with people’s hopes and fears about employment, hiring, and promotion.
Farewell to Holbrook & Schindler’s (1989) “Song-Specific Age”? – Little Evidence for Lifelong Influence of Age-Specific Musical Preferences
Authors: Kopiez Reinhard , Weigang Jan , Platz Friedrich , Düvel Nina
Published: April 2021

As predicted by Holbrook and Schindler (1989) in a seminal study, popular music from the charts released when a person is roughly 23.47 years old (so-called Song-Specific Age, SSA) has a particularly positive impact on that person’s song evaluations decades later. In our replication study, N = 162 participants ( M age = 59.1 years, SD = 17.3) indicated their preferences for 18 song excerpts randomly selected from a corpus of 87 German Top 10 chart hits, released between 1930 and 2017. The fitting of a quadratic curve (as in the original study) to the aggregated ratings revealed a much earlier overall SSA peak at 14.16 years ( R 2 = .184). The best approximation to the original SSA peak of 23.47 years was found only for the elderly subgroup of participants aged 50+ years with an SSA value of 22.63 years, however, with a relatively low goodness-of-fit ( R 2 = .225). To summarize, the original finding of an SSA peak in the phase of early adulthood (23.47 years) could not be confirmed in terms of a point estimate. Instead, various subgroups showed various SSA peaks. The decomposition of ratings on the song level by latent profile analysis revealed four basic rating patterns (constantly high, constantly low, increasing, and decreasing over time) that might explain the different findings of the overall course of SSA regression curves within our subgroups without reference to the concept of SSA. Results are discussed in favor of current dynamic models of lifelong changes in musical preferences. We conclude that today, the SSA proposition – at least in its original form – seems to be of only limited validity for the explanation of musical preferences.
Physician Burnout in Primary Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Portugal
Authors: Baptista Sofia , Teixeira Andreia , Castro Luísa , Cunha Maria , Serrão Carla , Rodrigues Andreia , Duarte Ivone
Published: April 2021

Background

Primary care physicians have been present on the frontline during the ongoing pandemic, adding new tasks to already high workloads. Our aim was to evaluate burnout in primary care physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as associated contributing factors.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with an online questionnaire disseminated through social media, applying the snowball technique. The target population was primary care physicians working in Portugal during the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to sociodemographic data, the questionnaire collected responses to the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), the Resilience Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21). Data were collected from May 9 to June 8, 2020, a period comprising the declaration of a national calamity and then state of emergency, and the subsequent ease of lockdown measures. Levels of burnout in 3 different dimensions (personal, work, and patient-related), resilience, stress, depression, and anxiety were assessed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with burnout levels.

Results

Among the 214 physician respondents, burnout levels were high in the 3 dimensions. A strong association was found between gender, years of professional experience, depression and anxiety, and burnout levels.

Conclusions

Physician burnout in primary care is high and has increased during the pandemic. More studies are needed in the long term to provide a comprehensive assessment of COVID-19’simpact on burnout levels and how to best approach and mitigate it during such unprecedented times.
Advocacy Without Adversity: Developing an Understanding of Micropolitical Theory to Promote a Comprehensive School Counseling Program
Authors: Oehrtman Jeremy P. , Dollarhide Colette T.
Published: April 2021

School counselors are urged to create systemic change within a school system by working as an advocate, leader, and collaborator within the school. Each of these roles requires a school counselor to be skilled in micropolitics and micropolitical literacy. This article explores the main concepts of micropolitical theory and its application to the school counseling profession. We also discuss the limitations and implications of this position.
Competency Framework Development for Effective Human Resource Management
Authors: Midhat Ali Muhammad , Qureshi Sheheryar Mohsin , Memon Muhammad Saad , Mari Sonia Irshad , Ramzan Muhammad Babar
Published: April 2021

Competence becomes competitive advantage for a business at all times. Making human resource more effective, competence-based hiring, development, and performance evaluation are popular phenomena discussed in the literature though not very common in practice. Despite their importance, the reason these are not commonly implemented may be the complexity of the subject and the absence of a generalized framework, which can be adopted with little or no modifications. There have been efforts made for competency framework development, but these are occupation-specific and usually limited in implementation. A need for an easily replicated general framework exists, which has followed a structured and scientific methodology utilizing professional expertise during development, which is simple to understand and is applicable to as many jobs as required. This article examines in detail the development approach of a generic competency framework using scientific tools and producing weighted ratings of competencies. The purpose is to establish confidence in potential users for a methodology that is applicable to the development of a similar framework for a diverse array of jobs.
Transformation of Sociocultural Integration Policy and Inherent Political Theories in the United Kingdom: A Way Forward
Authors: Ahmed Samiul Parvez , Ahmed Sarwar Uddin , Hasan Ikramul
Published: April 2021

The contemporary integration policies (Community Cohesion Agenda [CCA]) of the United Kingdom have been criticized for their foundational weaknesses, conceptual inadequacies, myopic views with regard to the complexity of the issue, lack of evidence, and so on. Vast majority of the studies conducted to verify this discourse have been done in the line of theoretical arguments of diversity management rather than exploring their connections to a target community in reality. This study aims at establishing a linkage between the growing theoretical arguments of the integration discourse with empirical data in light of the policy framework of the CCA. We have selected the fastest growing Bangladeshi community of the CCA-adapted Aston City of Birmingham as the representative group of the ethnic minority communities of the United Kingdom. Qualitative data collection approach has been followed, where primary in-depth interviews were conducted on various policy actors, social workers, faith leaders, and Bangladeshi residents of Aston. The entire policy instrument, starting from its broad purposes to operational strategies, has been severely challenged by both residents of the community and relevant policy-implementing bodies in Aston. CCA policies appear to be largely inclined toward the interculturalism/communitarianism ideology rather than to multiculturalism. However, the empirical evidence shows that the need for multiculturalism, to be more specific—Bristol School of Multiculturalism, as a political theory remains in the integration discourse in the context of the United Kingdom. Findings are expected to have implications on practitioners and policy makers in designing diversity management policy instruments by having a wider synthesized view on both theoretical argument and empirical data.
Personal Involvement of U.S. Vietnam Veterans in Harming Civilians and Prisoners: The Roles of Antisocial Predispositions and Combat Situations
Authors: Dohrenwend Bruce P. , Yager Thomas J.
Published: April 2021

Our previous research with U.S. Vietnam veterans focused on war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We used data from a clinically diagnosed subsample of 254 men from the 1986–1988 National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). We found that one of the most important factors associated with war-related PTSD was veterans’ participation in harm to civilians and/or prisoners (13% of the veterans). In the present research, we used the larger sample (1,183) of NVVRS male veterans to investigate the relative importance of veterans’ predispositions to antisocial behavior by contrast with their combat situations in their involvement in harm. We found that severity of combat situation is much more important. However, veterans who harmed both civilians and prisoners have elevated scores on prewar antisocial behavior and the most elevated Vietnam-related guilt feelings. In addition, harmers as a whole are more likely than nonharmers to have died by the time of a 2012–2013 follow-up of the NVVRS study.
Thoracic Myelopathy in Ossified Ligamentum Flavum: Surgical Management and Long-Term Outcome Following 2 Different Techniques of Surgical Decompression
Authors: Bagga Rajdeep Singh , Shetty Ajoy P. , Viswanathan Vibhu Krishnan , Reddy Gurijala Jyotheswara , Kanna Rishi Mukesh , Rajasekaran S.
Published: April 2021

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective:

Thoracic ossified ligamentum flavum (TOLF) has been reported to present with varying degrees of neuro-deficit and multiple factors have been purported to affect its outcome. Purpose of study was to analyze factors affecting outcome and impact of ultrasonic osteotome (UO).

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF between 2010 and 2017. 77 patients with complete clinico-radiological records and 2 years follow-up were included. Initial 45 patients, conventional high-speed burr (HSB-group A) was used for decompression. In others, UO was used in combination with HSB (group B). Myelopathy was graded using modified Japanese orthopaedic association grading pre-operatively and each postoperative visit. At final follow-up, recovery rate was calculated. Radiological details including location, morphology, dural ossification, signal change and spinal ossifications were recorded.

Results:

Mean mJOA at presentation and final follow-up were 4.3±1.8 and 7.6±1.9 respectively (p = 0.001). HRR was 49.9±23 at final follow-up. A significant reduction in dural tear (12.5%; 29%) and surgical time (125.8±49.5; 189.4±52.5) were observed in group B (p = 0.00). However, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.18) in recovery rates between groups A (44.8±26.1) and B (52.8±24.3). Symptom duration (p = 0.00), severity of myelopathy (p = 0.04) and cord signal changes on MRI (p = 0.02) were important predictors of outcome.

Conclusion:

Use of UO significantly reduced operative time and dural tears, although resulted in similar recovery rate as compared with HSB. Pre-operative severity of myelopathy, symptom duration and presence of cord signal change were the most significant predictors of outcome.
Is convention hip precaution necessary after total hip arthroplasty?
Authors: Chan Vincent WK , Chan MT , Chan PK , Yan CH , Chiu KY
Published: April 2021

Background:

Dislocation is one of the most common causes of revision after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Standard hip precautions are thought to enhance soft-tissue healing and reduce dislocations. However, lifestyle restrictions affect a patient’s rehabilitation, quality of life (QOL), and satisfactions. We aim to compare conventional (CP) and minimal hip precautions (MP) after THA.

Methods:

Retrospective review of prospectively collected data in posterolateral approach THA. Chief surgeon assigns patients to CP or MP group. CP group had to sleep supine, used elevated toilet seats and chairs, avoid hip flexion greater than 90°, and no internal rotation or adduction for 6 weeks. MP group had no restrictions in hip movements, except for the combined flexion, adduction and internal rotation. All had a minimum 1-year follow-up. The number of dislocations, length of stay (LOS), time to independent toileting, Harris Hip Scores, QOL, and health perceptions, assessed by EuroQol 5D-5L, was compared between CP and MP groups.

Results:

Fifty-five THAs were included. CP group consisted of 17 primary and 12 revision THAs; MP group consisted of 21 primary and 5 revision THAs. There were two dislocations and both are revisions in CP group. Overall rate of dislocation was 6.9% in CP group and no dislocation in MP group (p-value > 0.05). MP group had shorter LOS (12 vs 19 days, p-value 0.04), higher EQ5D-5L health perception scores at 1-year (81.7 vs 70.9, p-value 0.01).

Conclusion:

MP group had shorter LOS and better health perceptions 1-year after THA with no increase in dislocation rates.
Translation Into Spanish and Proposal to Modify the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (OSICS) Version 12
Authors: Beas-Jiménez Juan de Dios , Garrigosa Antonio León , Cuevas Pilar Doñoro , Riaza Luis Martínez , Terés Xavier Peirau , Alonso Juan Manuel , Recio María Isabel Álvarez , Bolados Cristian Cofré
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

To publish the Spanish translation of Version 12 of the sports injury classification system called Orchard Sports Injury Classification System and propose a modification to include a numerical code that reflects the impact of the injury on sports functionality.

Methods:

The members of the working group on the epidemiology of sports injury, of the Group for the Study of the Muscle-Tendon System (GESMUTE), and of the Spanish Society of Sports Traumatology (SETRADE), carried out a bibliographical review on the epidemiological classification systems of injuries, 3 face-to-face consensus meetings, and various online pieces of work, following the Delphi work methodology.

Results:

The Spanish translation of Version 12 of the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System is fully accessible and free of charge at https://gesmute.es/traduccion-espanola-osics-12/ . The current project proposes to add, at the end of the current coding system of Version 12, a numerical code (0: No Functional impairment; 1: Limits Sports Activity; 2: Prevents Sports Activity; 3: Limits Daily Life Activities), to indicate any functional repercussions caused by the injury.

Conclusion:

We present the Spanish translation of Version 12 of the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System. We propose as an improvement the inclusion of functionality criteria in sports injury classifications; more specifically, our proposal could be an improvement to the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System Version 12.
Lifting the lid on impact and peer review
Authors: Clift Joseph , Cooke Anne , Isles Anthony R. , Dalley Jeffrey W. , Henson Richard N.
Published: April 2021

Brain and Neuroscience Advances has grown in tandem with the British Neuroscience Association’s campaign to build Credibility in Neuroscience, which encourages actions and initiatives aimed at improving reproducibility, reliability and openness. This commitment to credibility impacts not only what the Journal publishes, but also how it operates. With that in mind, the Editorial Board sought the views of the neuroscience community on the peer review process, and on how they should respond to the Journal Impact Factor that will be assigned to Brain and Neuroscience Advances. In this editorial, we present the results of a survey of neuroscience researchers conducted in the autumn of 2020 and discuss the broader implications of our findings for the Journal and the neuroscience community.
A study of the cognitive function of Chinese characters based on the semiotics of  writing
Authors: Shim Hyounjoo
Published: April 2021

This paper attempts to critique phonocentrism based on linguistic signs and explores the cognitive functions of Chinese characters through semiotic concepts and approaches. From the semiotics of writing, this paper suggests a model of Chinese characters’ perceptive cognition which works on schema of character codes and signification. This model logically demonstrates the process by which consumers recognize Chinese orthographic signs and associate with certain meanings. This paper also analyzes the process of signification performed by consumers in the Sinosphere. Specifically examining some cases of branding strategies by Chinese and Korean companies, it endeavors to test the efficacy of the model by applying it to the model for perception cognitive of Chinese character. This study aims at expanding the discursive space for the incorporation of convergence theory and methodology. Presenting a semiotic model of sensory perception, the paper attempts to contribute to the establishment of semiotics based on Chinese characters which display eminent iconic, symbolic and cognitive functions.
A new perspective on hanzi: Based upon  the multi-dialectical analysis of the Four  Ways of Writing
Authors: Jeon Guk-jo
Published: April 2021

This work is, most of all, designed to wrestle with taken-for-granted explanations as to how hanzi is composed and in what ways the composition the Four Ways of Writing (四書) can be analysed. Beginning with posing a self-reflective question on the academic identities of us, the hanzi civilisation researchers, and looking for a possible answer to it within the context of an Eagletonian conceptualisation of human animality or creatureliness, the work then methodologises the multi-dialectical analysis by virtue of méta-linguistique, transduction, and abstraction concreté. The full-scale analysis of the Four Ways of Writing comes next, taking four steps: first, synthesising the existing definitions, explanations and interpretations of them; second, abstracting the synthesis up to the multi-dialectical analysis; third, introducing a topology of the Four Ways of Writing; and fourth, analysing characters related to and expanding from two radical characters of 門 and 刀 with the aid of a dynamics of trialectics between the form, sound and meaning. Resting upon all the analyses performed, the work suggests the following conclusion. Amongst hanzi’s main characteristics is morphographicality (表形性), still the most distinctive within the analytical framework of the Four Ways of Writing. It is the very form of hanzi, as a matter of fact, that also turns out to be multi-dialectical: first, that which constitutes writing as the character trialectically related with both the sound and meaning; second, that which characterises writing as écriture of the dialectical relationship between human beings and nature; and last, that which dialectically elucidates who we are and what we are capable of.
Research on vocabulary related to modern postal systems in East Asia
Authors: Shin Woongchul
Published: April 2021

Focusing on the modern postal system, this essay tracks the current usage of vocabulary and the process of change in each region of East Asia. To start with, it confirms the synchronic distribution pattern of postal terms in East Asia through local laws. It then examines the background of the creation of 郵便 ( yûbin) in Japan as a new modern word in terms of institutional and linguistic history. It highlights, in this regard, the Japanese specificity behind the birth of the modern term 郵便, investigating how the term has been accepted in other East Asian regions such as China and Korea. Finally, it summarizes the following findings: first, through a linguistic phenomenon that can be accounted for by a theory called character-morphemes, 便 ( bin, tayori). In Japanese this came to acquire the meaning of ‘letter’ and ‘communication means’ which would not have existed when it had been initially passed down from China. Second, in modern Chinese, the word 郵便 ( yóubiàn) did not have the vitality to overwhelm other competing vocabulary in situations where such Japanese meanings were not shared; and last, in Korea, on the other hand, a branch similar to Japan existed in the usage of the word 便 ( phyen) before modern times. Such a tendency, in fact, induced the acceptance of the new modern term 郵便 ( wuphyen).
Reliability of Sonography for the Prediction of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children With Mild Hydronephrosis
Authors: Valavi Ehsan , Nickavar Azar , Parsamanesh Mohammad
Published: April 2021

Objectives:

Postnatal evaluation of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) remains controversial in patients with antenatal hydronephrosis (HN). The objective of this study was to identify the significance of mild postnatal HN as a marker of VUR and its severity.

Materials and Methods:

Sonographic findings of 248 children (351 kidneys) with persistent postnatal HN were evaluated for the incidence and severity of primary VUR.

Results:

The majority of patients had mild (67.8%) HN, followed by moderate (27.6%) and severe (4.6%) HN. VUR was identified in 14.7% of patients with mild HN, 18.5% of patients with moderate HN, and 18.7% of patients with severe HN. About 11.44% of patients with mild HN had low-grade VUR, followed by moderate (45.71 %) and severe grades (42.85%).

Conclusion:

A large number (89%) of patients with mild HN had moderate to severe VUR. In this cohort, renal sonography was not a reliable method for the prediction of VUR and its severity in patients with mild postnatal HN. However, it was reliable for high grades of VUR. These results are limited due to the study design and the inability to generalize these findings. These results should be replicated across other multiple clinics, thereby recruiting more variety of patients, to validate these study recommendations.
Connected Components-based Colour Image Representations of Vibrations for a Two-stage Fault Diagnosis of Roller Bearings Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Ahmed Hosameldin O. A. , Nandi Asoke K
Published: April 2021

Roller bearing failure is one of the most common faults in rotating machines. Various techniques for bearing fault diagnosis based on faults feature extraction have been proposed. But feature extraction from fault signals requires expert prior information and human labour. Recently, deep learning algorithms have been applied extensively in the condition monitoring of rotating machines to learn features automatically from the input data. Given its robust performance in image recognition, the convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture has been widely used to learn automatically discriminative features from vibration images and classify health conditions. This paper proposes and evaluates a two-stage method RGBVI-CNN for roller bearings fault diagnosis. The first stage in the proposed method is to generate the RGB vibration images (RGBVIs) from the input vibration signals. To begin this process, first, the 1-D vibration signals were converted to 2-D grayscale vibration Images. Once the conversion was completed, the regions of interest (ROI) were found in the converted 2-D grayscale vibration images. Finally, to produce vibration images with more discriminative characteristics, an algorithm was applied to the 2-D grayscale vibration images to produce connected components-based RGB vibration images (RGBVIs) with sets of colours and texture features. In the second stage, with these RGBVIs a CNN-based architecture was employed to learn automatically features from the RGBVIs and to classify bearing health conditions. Two cases of fault classification of rolling element bearings are used to validate the proposed method. Experimental results of this investigation demonstrate that RGBVI-CNN can generate advantageous health condition features from bearing vibration signals and classify the health conditions under different working loads with high accuracy. Moreover, several classification models trained using RGBVI-CNN offered high performance in the testing results of the overall classification accuracy, precision, recall, and F-score.
Terminal Groups-Dependent Near-Field Enhancement Effect of Ti3C2Tx Nanosheets
Authors: Yang Ying-Ying , Zhou Wen-Tao , Song Wei-Long , Zhu Qing-Quan , Xiong Hao-Jiang , Zhang Yu , Cheng Sheng , Luo Pai-Feng , Lu Ying-Wei
Published: April 2021

Both multilayered (ML) and few-layered (FL) Ti3C2Tx nanosheets have been prepared through a typical etching and delaminating procedure. Various characterizations confirm that the dominant terminal groups on ML-Ti3C2Tx and FL-Ti3C2Tx are different, which have been assigned to O-related and hydroxyl groups, respectively. Such deviation of the dominant terminals results in the different physical and chemical performance and eventually makes the nanosheets have different potential applications. In particular, before coupling to Ag nanoparticles, ML-Ti3C2Tx can present stronger near-field enhancement effect; however, Ag/FL-Ti3C2Tx hybrid structure can confine stronger near-field due to the electron injection, which can be offered by the terminated hydroxyl groups.
Critical audit matters and stock price crash risk
Authors: Zhi Xiaoqiang , Kang Zuming
Published: April 2021

Using manually collected data on the number and category of critical audit matters (CAMs) in the period 2016–2017, we investigate the hitherto unexplored questions of whether CAMs affect firm-specific crash risk, how CAMs influence crash risk in the Chinese capital market, and recognize CAMs that contain incremental information. Our findings are as follows: (1) Crash risk decreases after implementing the new audit standard requiring the disclosure of CAMs; (2) CAMs release negative information and change the capital market information environment; (3) only corporate-idiosyncratic CAMs contain incremental information; (4) crash risk is mitigated only by CAMs disclosed by companies with a high shareholding of institutional investors. The main conclusion of our study is a positive assessment of the new audit standard and of CAMs in terms of protecting the interests of investors and strengthening the stability of the capital market to provide a new perspective for supervising the implementation of the new audit standard.
The transcriptomic responses of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to high temperature stress alone, and in combination with moderate hypoxia
Authors: Beemelmanns Anne , Zanuzzo Fábio S. , Xue Xi , Sandrelli Rebeccah M. , Rise Matthew L. , Gamperl A. Kurt
Published: April 2021

Background

Increases in ocean temperatures and in the frequency and severity of hypoxic events are expected with climate change, and may become a challenge for cultured Atlantic salmon and negatively affect their growth, immunology and welfare. Thus, we examined how an incremental temperature increase alone (Warm & Normoxic-WN: 12 → 20 °C; 1 °C week− 1), and in combination with moderate hypoxia (Warm & Hypoxic-WH: ~ 70% air saturation), impacted the salmon’s hepatic transcriptome expr\ession compared to control fish (CT: 12 °C, normoxic) using 44 K microarrays and qPCR.

Results

Overall, we identified 2894 differentially expressed probes (DEPs, FDR < 5%), that included 1111 shared DEPs, while 789 and 994 DEPs were specific to WN and WH fish, respectively. Pathway analysis indicated that the cellular mechanisms affected by the two experimental conditions were quite similar, with up-regulated genes functionally associated with the heat shock response, ER-stress, apoptosis and immune defence, while genes connected with general metabolic processes, proteolysis and oxidation-reduction were largely suppressed. The qPCR assessment of 41 microarray-identified genes validated that the heat shock response (hsp90aa1, serpinh1), apoptosis (casp8, jund, jak2) and immune responses (apod, c1ql2, epx) were up-regulated in WN and WH fish, while oxidative stress and hypoxia sensitive genes were down-regulated (cirbp, cyp1a1, egln2, gstt1, hif1α, prdx6, rraga, ucp2). However, the additional challenge of hypoxia resulted in more pronounced effects on heat shock and immune-related processes, including a stronger influence on the expression of 14 immune-related genes. Finally, robust correlations between the transcription of 19 genes and several phenotypic traits in WH fish suggest that changes in gene expression were related to impaired physiological and growth performance.

Conclusion

Increasing temperature to 20 °C alone, and in combination with hypoxia, resulted in the differential expression of genes involved in similar pathways in Atlantic salmon. However, the expression responses of heat shock and immune-relevant genes in fish exposed to 20 °C and hypoxia were more affected, and strongly related to phenotypic characteristics (e.g., growth). This study provides valuable information on how these two environmental challenges affect the expression of stress-, metabolic- and immune-related genes and pathways, and identifies potential biomarker genes for improving our understanding of fish health and welfare.
Blood CD3-(CD56 or 16)+ natural killer cell distributions are heterogeneous in healthy adults and suppressed by azathioprine in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides
Authors: Merkt Wolfgang , Salzer Ulrich , Thiel Jens , Jandova Ilona , Bergner Raoul , Venhoff Ana C. , Venhoff Nils
Published: April 2021

Background

Cytotoxic Natural Killer (NK) cells are increasingly recognized as a powerful tool to induce targeted cell death in cancer and autoimmune diseases. Still, basic blood NK cell parameters are poorly defined. The aims of this study were 1) to establish reference values of NK cell counts and percentages in healthy adults; 2) to describe these parameters in the prototype autoimmune disease group ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV); and 3) to investigate whether NK cell counts and percentages may be used as activity biomarkers in the care of AAV patients, as suggested by a preceding study.

Methods

CD3-(CD56 or 16)+ NK cell counts and percentages were determined in 120 healthy adults. Lymphocyte subset and clinical data from two German vasculitis centers were analyzed retrospectively (in total 407 measurements, including 201/49/157 measurements from 64/16/39 patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), respectively).

Results

CD3-(CD56 or 16)+ NK cell counts and percentages in healthy adults were highly variable, not Gaussian distributed and independent of age and sex. NK cell percentages ranged from 1.9 to 37.9% of lymphocytes, and were significantly more dispersed in AAV (0.3 to 57.6%), while the median percentage was not different between AAV and healthy donors. In contrast, median NK cell counts were significantly lower in AAV compared to healthy donors. Sub-group analyses revealed that NK cell counts were low independent of AAV entity and disease activity. Azathioprine therapy was associated with significantly lower NK cell counts and percentages compared to non-azathioprine therapies. In 13.6% of azathioprine-treated patients, percentages were </= 1% which may be interpreted as temporary NK cell deficiency. NK cell counts and percentages could not separate active from inactive AAV.

Conclusions

NK cell counts and percentages in blood are heterogeneous and can presently not be recommended as biomarker in clinical care of AAV patients. Azathioprine treatment was associated with significantly low NK cells. These findings may be relevant for the development of drugs that aim at exploiting NK cell cytotoxicity and may help to identify patients at risk to develop malignant or infectious co-morbidities.
Cold acclimation can specifically inhibit chlorophyll biosynthesis in young leaves of Pakchoi
Authors: Wang Huiyu , Li Zhubo , Yuan Lingyun , Zhou Hefang , Hou Xilin , Liu Tongkun
Published: April 2021

Background

Leaf color is an important trait in breeding of leafy vegetables. Y-05, a pakchoi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis) cultivar, displays yellow inner (YIN) and green outer leaves (GOU) after cold acclimation. However, the mechanism of this special phenotype remains elusive.

Results

We assumed that the yellow leaf phenotype of Y-05 maybe caused by low chlorophyll content. Pigments measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the yellow phenotype is closely related with decreased chlorophyll content and undeveloped thylakoids in chloroplast. Transcriptomes and metabolomes sequencing were next performed on YIN and GOU. The transcriptomes data showed that 4887 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the YIN and GOU leaves were mostly enriched in the chloroplast- and chlorophyll-related categories, indicating that the chlorophyll biosynthesis is mainly affected during cold acclimation. Together with metabolomes data, the inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis is contributed by blocked 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis in yellow inner leaves, which is further verified by complementary and inhibitory experiments of ALA. Furthermore, we found that the blocked ALA is closely associated with increased BrFLU expression, which is indirectly altered by cold acclimation. In BrFLU-silenced pakchoi Y-05, cold-acclimated leaves still showed green phenotype and higher chlorophyll content compared with control, meaning silencing of BrFLU can rescue the leaf yellowing induced by cold acclimation.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that cold acclimation can indirectly promote the expression of BrFLU in inner leaves of Y-05 to block ALA synthesis, resulting in decreased chlorophyll content and leaf yellowing. This study revealed the underlying mechanisms of leaves color change in cold-acclimated Y-05.
Dexmedetomidine decreased the post‐thyroidectomy bleeding by reducing cough and emergence agitation – a randomized, double‐blind, controlled study
Authors: Kim Sang Hun , Kim Yoo Seok , Kim Seongcheol , Jung Ki Tae
Published: April 2021

Background

Bleeding after thyroidectomy occurs due to violent coughing during emergence. Dexmedetomidine is helpful for the smooth emergence and suppression of cough. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of dexmedetomidine on postoperative bleeding after thyroidectomy.

Methods

Randomized, double-blind, controlled trials were conducted in female patients (ASA I–II, aged 20 to 60 years). The patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Approximately 15 min before the end of the surgery, dexmedetomidine was administered (0.6 µg/kg/h) without a loading dose in group D (n = 69), and normal saline was administered in group S (n = 70) at the same infusion rate. Hemodynamic data, coughing reflex, extubation time, Ramsay sedation scale (RSS), and recovery time were assessed during the administration of the study drugs and recovery from anesthesia. The amount of postoperative hemorrhage was measured for 3 days.

Results

Data from a total of 139 patients were analyzed. The incidence of severe cough was significantly lower in group D than in group S (4.3 % vs. 11.5 %, P = 0.022). The emergence agitation in the postanesthetic care unit was significantly lower in group D than in group S (P = 0.01). Postoperative bleeding was significantly lower in group D than in group S until the second postoperative day (P = 0.015).

Conclusions

Dexmedetomidine can be helpful in decreasing bleeding after thyroidectomy by reducing coughing and emergence agitation.

Trial registration

This study was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (registration number NCT02412150, 09/04/2015).
Correction to: Induction techniques that reduce redistribution hypothermia: a prospective, randomized, controlled, single blind effectiveness study
Authors: Roth Jonathan V. , Braitman Leonard E. , Hunt Lacy H.
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Effect of preoperative versus postoperative use of transversus abdominis plane block with plain 0.25 % bupivacaine on postoperative opioid use: a retrospective study
Authors: Kalu Richard , Boateng Peter , Carrier Lauren , Garzon Jaime , Tang Amy , Reickert Craig , Stefanou Amalia
Published: April 2021

Background

Enhanced recovery protocols optimize pain control via multimodal approaches that include transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative vs. postoperative plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP block on postoperative opioid use after colorectal surgery.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study comparing postoperative opioid use in patients who received preoperative (n = 240) vs. postoperative (n = 22) plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP blocks. The study was conducted in a single tertiary care institution and included patients who underwent colorectal resections between August 2018 and January 2020. The primary outcome of the study was postoperative opioid use. Secondary outcomes included operative details, length of stay, reoperation, and readmission rates.

Results

Patients who received postoperative plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP blocks were less likely to require postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) (59.1 % vs. 83.3 %; p = 0.012) and opioid medications on discharge (6.4 % vs. 16.9 %; p = 0.004) relative to patients who received preoperative TAP. When needed, a significantly smaller amount of opioid was prescribed to the postoperative group (84.5 vs. 32.0 mg, p = 0.047). No significant differences were noted in the duration of postoperative PCA use, amount of oral opioid use, and length of stay.

Conclusions

Plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP block administered postoperatively was associated with significantly lower need for postoperative PCA and discharge opioid medications. The overall hospital length of stay was not affected by the timing of TAP block. Because of the limited sample size in this study, conclusions cannot be generalized, and more research will be required.
Characterization of subclinical diastolic dysfunction by cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking in adult survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with anthracyclines
Authors: Barbosa Maurício Fregonesi , Fusco Daniéliso Renato , Gaiolla Rafael Dezen , Werys Konrad , Tanni Suzana Erico , Fernandes Rômulo Araújo , Ribeiro Sergio Marrone , Szarf Gilberto
Published: April 2021

Background

The use of anthracycline-based chemotherapy is associated with the development of heart failure, even years after the end of treatment. Early detection of cardiac dysfunction could identify a high-risk subset of survivors who would eventually benefit from early intervention. Cardiac magnetic resonance feature-tracking (CMR-FT) analysis offers a practical and rapid method to calculate systolic and diastolic strains from routinely acquired cine images. While early changes in systolic function have been described, less data are available about late effects of chemotherapy in diastolic parameters by CMR-FT. The main goal of this study was to determine whether left ventricular (LV) early diastolic strain rates (GDSR-E) by CMR-FT are impaired in long-term adult survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Our secondary objective was to analyze associations between GDSR-E with cumulative anthracycline dose, systolic function parameters and myocardial tissue characteristics.

Methods

This is a single center cross-sectional observational study of asymptomatic patients in remission of NHL who previously received anthracycline therapy. All participants underwent their CMR examination on a 3.0-T scanner, including cines, T2 mapping, T1 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement imaging. Derived myocardial extracellular volume fraction was obtained from pre- and post-contrast T1 maps. CMR-FT analysis was performed using Trufi Strain software. The data obtained were compared between anthracycline group and volunteers without cardiovascular disease or neoplasia.

Results

A total of 18 adult survivors of NHL, 14 (77.8%) males, at mean age of 57.6 (± 14.7) years-old, were studied 88.2 (± 52.1) months after exposure to anthracycline therapy (median 400 mg/m2). Compared with controls, anthracycline group showed impaired LV global early diastolic circumferential strain rate (GCSR-E) [53.5%/s ± 19.3 vs 72.2%/s ± 26.7, p = 0.022], early diastolic longitudinal strain rate (GLSR-E) [40.4%/s ± 13.0 vs 55.9%/s ± 17.8, p = 0.006] and early diastolic radial strain rate (GRSR-E) [− 114.4%/s ± 37.1 vs − 170.5%/s ± 48.0, p < 0.001]. Impaired LV GCSR-E, GLSR-E and GRSR-E correlated with increased anthracycline dose and decreased systolic function. There were no correlations between GDSR-E and myocardial tissue characteristics.

Conclusions

Left ventricular early diastolic strain rates by CMR-FT are impaired late after anthracycline chemotherapy in adult survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Predictors of willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S
Authors: Kelly Bridget J. , Southwell Brian G. , McCormack Lauren A. , Bann Carla M. , MacDonald Pia D. M. , Frasier Alicia M. , Bevc Christine A. , Brewer Noel T. , Squiers Linda B.
Published: April 2021

Background

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts continue, public health workers can strategize about vaccine promotion in an effort to increase willingness among those who may be hesitant.

Methods

In April 2020, we surveyed a national probability sample of 2279 U.S. adults using an online panel recruited through address-based sampling. Households received a computer and internet access if needed to participate in the panel. Participants were invited via e-mail and answered online survey questions about their willingness to get a novel coronavirus vaccine when one became available. The survey was completed in English and Spanish. We report weighted percentages.

Results

Most respondents were willing to get the vaccine for themselves (75%) or their children (73%). Notably, Black respondents were less willing than White respondents (47% vs. 79%, p < 0.001), while Hispanic respondents were more willing than White respondents (80% vs. 75%, p < 0.003). Females were less likely than males (72% vs. 79%, p < 0.001). Those without insurance were less willing than the insured (47% vs. 78%, p < 0.001). Willingness to vaccinate was higher for those age 65 and older than for some younger age groups (85% for those 65 and older vs. 75% for those 50–64, p < 0.017; 72% for those 35–49, p < 0.002; 70% for those 25–34, p = NS and 75% for ages 18–24, p = NS), but other groups at increased risk because of underlying medical conditions or morbid obesity were not more willing to get vaccinated than their lower risk counterparts.

Conclusions

Most Americans were willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but several vulnerable populations reported low willingness. Public health efforts should address these gaps as national implementation efforts continue.
Impact of COVID-19 infection on life expectancy, premature mortality, and DALY in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Vasishtha Guru , Mohanty Sanjay K. , Mishra Udaya S. , Dubey Manisha , Sahoo Umakanta
Published: April 2021

Background

The COVID-19 infections and deaths have largely been uneven within and between countries. With 17% of the world’s population, India has so far had 13% of global COVID-19 infections and 8.5% of deaths. Maharashtra accounting for 9% of India’s population, is the worst affected state, with 19% of infections and 33% of total deaths in the country until 23rd December 2020. Though a number of studies have examined the vulnerability to and spread of COVID-19 and its effect on mortality, no attempt has been made to understand its impact on mortality in the states of India.

Method

Using data from multiple sources and under the assumption that COVID-19 deaths are additional deaths in the population, this paper examined the impact of the disease on premature mortality, loss of life expectancy, years of potential life lost (YPLL), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) in Maharashtra. Descriptive statistics, a set of abridged life tables, YPLL, and DALY were used in the analysis. Estimates of mortality indices were compared pre- and during COVID-19.

Result

COVID-19 attributable deaths account for 5.3% of total deaths in the state and have reduced the life expectancy at birth by 0.8 years, from 73.2 years in the pre-COVID-19 period to 72.4 years by the end of 2020. If COVID-19 attributable deaths increase to 10% of total deaths, life expectancy at birth will likely reduce by 1.4 years. The probability of death in 20–64 years of age (the prime working-age group) has increased from 0.15 to 0.16 due to COVID-19. There has been 1.06 million additional loss of years (YPLL) in the state, and DALY due to COVID-19 has been estimated to be 6 per thousand.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has increased premature mortality, YPLL, and DALY and has reduced life expectancy at every age in Maharashtra.